I love this quick portrait of my great niece, Jordyn. Although very young (not even talking yet), she already evinces the timeless look of a girl happy with her purse. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 800, 1/350 at f0.95)2013 PAW (Picture a Week)
My 2008 PAW is here
My 2009 PAW is here
My 2010 PAW is here
My 2011 PAW is here
My 2012 PAW is here
The basic framework of my PAW has always been that the selected image must be taken during the preceding calendar week - Monday through Sunday. Late in 2008, in recognition that shooting film imparts a delay into the process, I made the exception that a film image could be used during the calendar week in which it was developed and reviewed - basically whenever I got around to bending over the processed film strip or transparency with a loupe. And in 2011 I added two more tweaks to my "rule": any images shot after my weekly selection was made could be used in the following week; and two wild cards were available - on those two respective weeks any image taken during the calendar year could be used.
As the sixth year of this effort gets underway, I'm going to add yet another tweak: an image may be drawn from any taken during the previous 30 days. No longer am I going to limit my selection to just the preceding calendar week. The purpose here is to acknowledge those shooting occasions where I end up with several images I like but (outside the two wildcards) could heretofore use only one. I'm hopeful that this rolling 4-week selection universe will result in slightly higher quality images.
I love this quick portrait of my great niece, Jordyn. Although very young (not even talking yet), she already evinces the timeless look of a girl happy with her purse. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 800, 1/350 at f0.95)
An image found during one of my frequent walks through Arlington Cemetery. No words necessary. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 320, 1/750 at f2)
Good light is a key factor in the majority of good photographs. Then again, sometimes it just doesn't matter.
This pretty young lady was part of the small entourage working with Mario Lopez as he filmed a pre-inaugural 'Extra' segment in Arlington, with the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Capital in the background. The harsh, contrasty light sucked by all conventional standards. It didn't matter. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, 6-stop ND filter, iso 320, 1/750 at f0.95)
One more shot from the Mario Lopez 'Extra' shoot last week. I'm actually a little conflicted about this image. On the one hand, it is slightly unbalanced. The right-hand side of the image clearly doesn't have a lot going on, the blown-out background of the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Mounument being insufficient to raise much interest there. On the other hand, I very much liked Mario's unposed glance into the heavens. In the end, I think that element is sufficient to anchor the shot. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, 6-stop ND filter, iso 320, 1/500 at f0.95)
As I was leaving Arlington Cemetery - somewhat in a hurry as weather was moving in and had more than a mile to walk to get back to my truck - I turned my eyes toward the quickening sky. The light looked almost surreal and I just stopped in wonder. The last shot of the day. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 320, 1/4000 at f4)
I like bad weather. It provides a different palatte of tones and texture from what we normally see. And so it was on this day when I awoke to misting rain and fog, my first thought was how long would it last? My second was what could I marry it with? Street photography was mostly out - people generally avoid such weather. And so you're pretty much left with landscapes of some sort, whether they be urban or rural. I first drove into Arlington and spent a few hours roaming around the cemetery there. Leaving there, I headed home "the back way." This shot was my favorite - a quiet scene outside The Plains. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 320, 1/4000 at f0.95)
This spare image is of a former slave quarters. There's not much more I can add. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 800, 1/500 at f0.95)
Those that have died, yet live, as long as any that remain still remember. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 320, 1/1000 at f2)
I have photographed the Vietnam Memorial countless times over the years, in daylight and at night, in winter and in summer, in sunlight and in rain, when it was crowded and when it was quiet. This was the first time I ever saw service men and women marching past, solemnly acknowledging their fallen predecessors. Serendipity. I cannot think of a more fitting juxtaposition. I was honored to be there. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 400, 1/750 at f4)
I don't normally take shots of homeless people. They are a too obvious "target" and, sadly, a frequent subject of beginning street photographers. Alas. Unless one has a specific Salgadoesque project in mind - and few photographers are prepared or able to follow through meaningfully with such a project - they oft as not are simply paens to bad taste. At best they are simply trite. At worst they are immensely disrespectful to the subjects being photographed. All of which may hold true in this shot of mine. I took it mostly because I was struck by the anonymousness of the feet. A bit of abstraction which seemed to sharpen the pain of it all. That, and the ever present knowing, of course, that there but for the grace of God, go I. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 320, 1/4000 at f0.95)
This shot, this angle, looking eastward along the wall of the Vietnam Memorial with the Washington Monument standing as a beacon in the distance, is probably my favorite view in all of DC. I have photographed it many times, and will no doubt many times more. In this case, I purposely drew up close to the flag with a very wide aperture (f0.95) so as to blow out the background. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 320, 1/4000 at f0.95)
One of the glistening wonders in this world is the loyalty of dogs. Here I was doing one of my frequent strolls through Old Town Alexandria when I came upon this fellow intensely interested (worried?) about his master. She was inside getting a cup of coffee (and, as an aside, saw me taking the shot through the window and asked to see it). (Leica Monochrom, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH (ver 1), yellow filter, iso 320, 1/4000 at f2)
An old time Indian motorcycle was about the last thing I expected on my morning stroll through the Penn Quarter section of Washington, DC. Catching a shot of it with my manual-focus Leica was a bit of a challenge, but this one worked out. Made my day! (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 320, 1/1000 at f4(?))
My first color image in quite a while. this shot was taken at the opening of the DC Leica Store "DC As I See It" Exhibition. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 2000, 1/180 at f2)
Old Town Alexandria. At the Fish Market. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/1500 at f4)
At first glance, this was an image I thought to be rather pedestrian. But the more I looked at it, the more I saw elements that I found intriguing. The receding lines of the picture frames on the left. The symmetrical reflections of the two gentlemen in the glass. The subtle, reflected image of the hands of the otherwise unseen third person. I rather like how it all pulls together. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 2000, 1/125 at f2)
A self-portrait reflection from a store-front during my evening stroll through old town Warrenton. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 1600, 1/250 at f0.95)
I came across this touching scene, of what I presume is a mother spending an afternoon at her son's grave. What can one can say? (Leica Monochrom, iso 320, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, 1/2000 at f4)
Mitko stopped by my office after lunch and asked "do you have your good camera with you?" There was a mother duck with just-hatched ducklings just up the street (laid and hatched in a small, 8x10' raised bed of grass in the sidewalk, right on 21st Street). After awhile the intrepid mama collected her brood and marched them several blocks, including crossings of the very busy K Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The journey brought out the very best in people. (Leica Monochrom, iso 320, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, 1/1500 at f4)
Another from Arlington Cemetery. No words necessary. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 320, 1/2000 at f4)
An intriguing scene one afternoon in Washington, DC. These attractive young ladies were interested in one of DC's less-than-common occurrences. I was more interested in their reaction to it. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 320, 1/1500 at f4)
The earliest in the week - day one - I have ever posted on any of my PAWs. But this image seemed apropo for this Memorial Day. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 320, 1/1000 at f4)
A quick capture of a brief, quiet moment between Earle and Charlene on our recent Blue Ridge Runners ride. (Leica M9, Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, iso 640, 1/350 at f2)
The last shot of the day from this little angel's naming ceremony. There may be nothing purer in the world than the joy expressed in an infant child. Especially when she's your granddaughter. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 1600, 1/350 at f0.95)
I did a small series of these two one late morning. This was my favorite. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 800, 1/500 at f0.95)
Small town carnivals are a cultural icon in the US. Despite that, and despite their being image-rich environments, I hadn't been to one in years. So when Ginny suggested we head down to Amissville for their annual celebration, I thought why not? (Leica M, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH (ver 1), iso 400, 1/500 at f2)
Independence Day in the United States is full of color, of flags and parades and fireworks. It's also, indirectly, about sacrifice. And so this week's image seemed appropriate. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/3000 at f4)
It's sometimes strange what we're attracted to as photographers. This is a non-descript alleyway that, despite its rather mundane appearance, has always attracted me. Something about the texture in the very old masonry, as a backdrop to the window with the pictures in it - and with the who-knows-what-it's-supposed-to-be star sitting off by itself. I've shot a bunch of variations (albeit, those variations quickly limited by the narrowness of the alley) of the image over the years. I like this one. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 320, 1/3000 at f4)
An image from a few weeks ago. That's my daughter-in-law and granddaughter and so admittedly there's a personal emotional bias. But even putting that aside, I like the image. It speaks, for me, to the best in all of us... love and wonder. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/350 at f2)
First wildcard of the year. And, by executive decree, I am changing the rule that says the wildcard must be taken in the same calendar year. In this case, this was an image I made on the last afternoon of my New York Street Photography workshop with Peter Turnley last year, several hours after we had celebrated our goodbye lunch (I was not leaving until the following day). Peter never saw this one. But I liked it. And I suspect he would as well - and probably would have encouraged its inclusion in my final workshop portfolio. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH (ver 1), iso 400, 1/2000 at f2)
A typical street-shooting scene. I grabbed this image last week during a couple-hour stroll in DC. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, yellow filter, iso 320, 1/4000 at f2.8)
Very late posting this week because of the week-long Harley road trip I took last week. Here is one image from that trip. One that I think of as being somewhat iconic of the experience. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH (ver 1), iso 160, 1/500 at f4)
Another very late posting. No excuse, other than still catching up on things after my mid-summer Harley trip. Anyway, this image was taken on one of my sojurns down to Old Town Alexandria. Walking back to my truck after a couple hours of street shooting, I saw this couple checking out their bikes, framed by the row of bikes themselves. I quickly opened up the f-stop to soften the guy and gal - some, but not too much. One frame and then the moment was gone. It came out just like I envisioned it. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 320, 1/1500 at f4).
This week marks the 50-year anniversary of the famous civil rights march. I headed down to The Mall to see what image opportunities might present themselves. Took the Monochrom and 50 Summicron APO, with a yellow filter. One thing that became instantly apparent is the degree to which Trayvon Martin has become a cultural icon within the black community. Images of him greatly outnumbered those of MLK. More images of the day can be found here. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, yellow filter, iso 320, 1/1500 at f2.8)
Another image from the anniversary march on DC a few days ago. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, yellow filter, is 320, 1/2000 at f4)
Returning home after a four-day motorcycle trip. One of my favorite roads. Alongside one of my favorite trout streams. (Leica M9, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH (ver 1), iso 160, 1/350 at f2)
I hadn't been to Arlington for a awhile so on this beautiful Saturday afternoon I decided to head on over there and see what was new. Turns out, of course, that nothing is ever new. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/4000 at f2)
Another from Arlington Cemetery. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/4000 at f2)
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are an African breed that were bred to hunt lions. Their fierceness and bravery are legendary. In spite of that very high aggressiveness, they are extremely protective, particularly of children. Here, Jasiri, our 4-year old Ridgeback, meets a new little friend for the first time. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/1500 at f2)
Week 40 (9/30/13 - 10/6/13) -Image 1
Week 40 (9/30/13 - 10/6/13) -Image 2
Most of Arlington Cemetery is both solemn and spartan. The dead, most of them, have been gone for many years. For acre upon acre, there is little but grass and marble, the distant echo of sacrifice. Section 60 is different. Section 60 is where the recent dead - those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan - are buried. You walk through that section and you feel the pain like a raw, visceral thing. You are never alone. The family and friends of the recent dead are there with you, grieving. Fresh death has a particular, urgent awfulness to it. And so it's not surprising that Section 60 has ended up with all sorts of little personifications - medallions, religious mementoes, photos, letters, and countless other small artifacts that revealed a tiny something about the person buried there. That gave the person who placed it there a tiny measure of comfort.
Arlington Cemetery, in its infinite wisdom, has now decided that all those artifacts are inappropriate. They swept through and removed everything. They seek, I suppose, that distant echo.
The two images here are the front and back of the same tombstone.
(Image 1: Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 320, 1/2000 at f2)
(Image 2: Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 320, 1/3000 at f2)
Another self-portrait, on yet another motorcycle trip. Whereas the one taken during week 36 was with my M9, this one was taken with my M-240. Same lens. (Leica M, Summilux 35/1.4 ASPH (ver 1), iso 200, 1/1000 at f2)
I love this image because of how it expresses the wonder and innocence of a young child. This lovely little girl was visiting our local sports field complex with the rest of her family, while her older sister played in a soccer match. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/1500 at f2)
A shot of the Vietnam Memorial, right at dawn. I was attracted by the luminescent quality of light coming through the flags. The external viewfinder accessory on the Leica M-240 helped me get low enough to capture it. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/4000 at f2)
Here is an image from an iconic place - the very spot where Martin Luther King Jr., stood while delivering his famous speech. I've photographed the spot several times, but have never really been happy with the results, until this one. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/4000 at f4)
One of the cool things about street photography is that it is so bound to serendipity. You don't ever know what you're going to get. In this week's shot, I was wandering around Penn Quarter - following Mary Ellen Mark's gallery opening at the DC Leica Store, and then a nice dinner and beer at Elephant and Castle - when I came upon this young woman being photographed by another young woman. I grabbed a shot from the side, and then angled my way around so I could get her face. As I did, she looked away from her friend and towards me. I was glad she didn't smile until after I got my shot. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 1600, 1/180 at f0.95)
As most people know, the Washington Monument suffered structural damage during the earthquake of August 2011. The long-running repairs from that earthquake required that scaffolding be placed around the entire obelisk. Happily, the engineers mounted countless individual lights inside the scaffolding - giving the structure a unique, albeit temporary, look. This shot was taken on the last weekend before the long process of removing that scaffolding began. It will be nice to get our old "normal" Washington Monument back. But it was nice to have the unique look of the "temporary" monument during the repairs. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 1600, 1/125 at f0.95)
I captured this image on one of my trips to the Lincoln Memorial. I was attracted by the relaxed, contemplative pose struck by the young lady. I thought it injected a hint of mystery into the image. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, f2 at 1/45)
Another gallery opening shot, this one captured at the Mary Ellen Mark opening a few weeks ago at my favorite shop... the DC Leica Store. (Leica Monochrom, Noctilux, iso 800, 1/500 at f0.95)
When I'm out street shooting - or really anywhere, for that matter - I'm always looking for interaction and emotion. Something that elicits a response. Sometimes that's some item or artifact. More often it's people themselves. Like the image of the young couple here, captured along the Alexandria waterfront. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/500 at f8)
I captured this image at the conclusion of the Scottish parade in Old Town Alexandria. I was attracted by the timeless nature of the Scotsmen and the lady in the foreground with the hat. It struck me that it's the kind of image that one might have come across many years ago, somewhere in Europe. (Leica Monochrom, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 320, 1/750 at f4)
A few weeks ago I stopped by the Jumper Show put on by Fox Chase Farm in Middleburg. The vast majority of participants are women of various ages. I was particularly impressed with this young lady. I suspect she has a great avocation in front of her. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/1500 at f4)
An image captured a few weeks ago on one of my street shooting sojurns into Old Town Alexandria. This couple was lost in themselves, in the very best sort of way. (Leica M, Summicron 50/2.0 apo, iso 200, 1/4000 at f2.8)
Here is a video slideshow (mp4 format, 1080 x 1920p) of my favorite shots from 2013. Many are from the PAW here. Some are outtakes.