Again, Missed Work – The Addams Family
2023’s season at the Opera House included The Addams Family musical. I was fortunate enough, and temporarily stable enough, to shoot the dress rehearsal – we thought it was to die for. While I managed to get the color images to the Director, off and on electrical...
This is Havre de Grace…
Nan, my editor and chief, has decided on the image. Here’s a quick screen shot of the cover for the book i’m working on for the fall. Of the approximately 120 pages, I probably have the easier thirty done, arrrrgh. Tentative plans are to put it on Kickstarter...
I Get a Nice Shout-out on YouTube…
Now that I have my heart beat back, I can report on wwhat was happening during my down time. Strong heart / crap electrical system. It seems that in January my book The Moon has been Eaten got a shout-out from a big-time YouTube photography channel (along...
Upon Discovering a folder of left-out images from last September…
It has been a rough year with a lot of distraction – that’s my only excuse. In September I shot the local Autumn Moonshine Bellydance Hafla at the Opera House. But half the images, for the most part finished then, were never included in the Folio for that...
Gentlemen Prefer Sax
As I finished up with the New Years Eve images from the Vandiver, I realized I missed two – so I thought I’d post them alone, finishing up 2023 – I can trim the site archives down some, putting the year’s postings into a pdf. The intro shot is Matt Casarino...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails New Years Eve at the Vandiver – On the Dance Floor
OK, the dance floor is not lit at all. Lights would make tancing to a Speakeasy band something other than a private affair. So these were taken with a hope and a prayer – thinking Maybe shooting at iso 12,800, and underexposing by two stops at that, might...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails New Years Eve at the Vandiver – Bangtails on the Dance Floor
Thd eopening image is Rosie (Katie) and Nate. The floor was quite dark, so I just that jas a dark, grainy effect. Below is Jesse dancing with Arianna and L.H. James dancing with his wife. Again, a lot gets lost in the dark, but it’s real. Both of these appear...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails New Years Eve at the Vandiver – at the Mic
Oops, I’m adding text later. Still a little off since getting out of the hospital. The intro image shows the guys lined up around Rosie (Katie Gordon). After that a couple shots of duets and trio numbers. Not thinking clear enough for anything else right...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails New Years Eve at the Vandiver – Nate on Base
These are running quite a ways behind – after a couple of rough weeks, and a stay in the hospital,, my mojo is compromised for a while. I’m being “conditioned” for an operation February 7 to fix the electrical system in my heart, again. In the meantime,...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails New Years Eve at the Vandiver – Rosie
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails New Years Eve at the Vandiver –Rosie,aka Katie Gordon. This was our first ever New Years Eve night out – we pretty much like to just stay home. Not only was the show great – it was our kind of New Years, over at 10:45 and onoy...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails New Years Eve at the Vandiver – the Crooners
I know this a bit late – a lot of issues holding thins up right now. This is the first posting of images from Rosie Jack and the Bangtails New Years celebration at the Vandiver – great entertainment, good food, good time. Crooners Jesse Hutchinson and L.H....
Santa and His "Rain Gear"
The Christmas parade in Havre de Grace bing another of their night phenomena, means few shots that really work, while making for a couple of really nice ones. This posting finishes my images for this time around – all evoking commentary. The intro shot is,...
"I'm the Grinch – and I Have Legs"
Again with one of Havre de Grace’s night parades – I’m getting used to it. Here JimmyO Burril is the Grinch while April Burril drives the town cart alongside. The second image shows off the legs…
I have a couple of more shots that I will get to soon....
Very Cold but Worth it…
I took my camera out at night, at 27 degrees and windy, to take a few shots of Liz Miller’s dance and recital at the Hays House on the HCC campus. The performance very effectively brought to the fore the holding and mistreatment of slaves at the site. While...
Halloween in havre de Grace 2
I came out from Halloween thinking I hadn’t gotten much. After waiting a week, I find I’m a little surprised. I really like some of these. The intro shot struck me as a Halloween version of the Burger King – and I don’t have a name. Then, below, a couple...
Halloween in Havre de Grace – this shot stands alone…
We did get out for a few shots of Halloween in Havre de Grace, where part of Washington Street is shut to traffic and the whole town stays open to kids of all ages. I took a few shots – more should come later. I found these two charming young ladies behind...
The Hushdown at the Harmer's Town Art Center Opening
After all the hoopla and ceremonies opening the new Farmer’s Town Art Center, there were a few crafts and a series of bands providing music. The final group, as the sun, up and bright, gradually went over opposing buildings and a chill wind set in. I took...
Just a few shots from the Pride Festival Drag Show
Just a couple of shots from the Pride Festival Drag Show. The intro shot, and first below, shows Sarabesque – I think it was about four years back that I got a great shot of her in the first local Pride Festival. The second shot shows an attendee of the...
Dancing in the Street & Street Chess – First Friday Style
Even though things got a late start – I came out with a couple of additions to my First Friday collection. The intro shot another dancing-in-the-street scene and, below, an addition to the growing body of Street Chess images. My first exposure, this one,...
A couple of shots from the First Friday Drum Circle
Thankfully, Cliff Giles’ First Friday Drum Circle is surviving without him – not quite back to full force yet, but still providing some interesting shots. I was waling away from taking the second shot here – she’s a very dedicated regular – when I caught...
Halloween in Havre de Grace – it's coming…
This was taken on First Friday in October in Havre de Grace. The newest of JimmyO Burril’s painted street decorations sits behind the bench on the central corner downtown (ok, the walkway there does have a little slant to it). As usual, the steets were full,...
Waterfront Festival
We had an opportunity for only a quick walk through the Waterfront Festival early in September – and then I managed to misplace the couple of shots I fired off. Found them at the front of a card used later. I did think this view of a sidewalk painter doing...
Other People's Art – Pottery by Carrie
Whenever we grab up a work by another artist, small or large, I like to post it here. Roaming through the Havre de Grace Art Show I saw this bowl and just thought it would look cool in Nan’s studio. I took a phone shot of it sitting on her easel, in fromt...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails – Duets
Finishing up with the Rosie Jack and the Bangtails performance with a few shots of duets, both in the stage area and on the dance floor. The intro shot shows KT (Rosie Jack) and L.H. James. Then below KT and Jesse followed by James and Jesse…
The...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails – the Band
I tried to get a good individual shot, through the pulled back curtains, of each of the band members. But first I shot got of Matt and Nate (Sax and Base) playing together – and then couldn’t decide between two exposures, maybe they can…
Caleb on...
Rosie Jack and the Bangtails – the Songbird and the Crooners
We saw the first performance of Rosie Jack and the Bangtails – all also members of the Vaudeville troupe Rogue Swan – at the Vandiver. They will be the main attraction New Years Eve at the Vandiver – we are already checking the site almost daily because,...
More from Rogue's 80s Music Show at Vandiver
I enjoy performance shooting – it’s a challenge. One restricting factor is that most of the final pieces are more important for the subjects than they are to myself, as a photographer. And sometimes, the shots that I wind up liking aren’t anywhere near their...
Rogue's 80s Show at the Vandiver
It had to be postponed, so it was pretty close to this week’s upcoming “Rosie Jack and the Bangtails Speakeasy”. This is the one we have been waiting for – though it should feature a somewhat different set of Rogue performers. As far as the 80s music fest,...
September First Frriday – Drum Circle
I’ve been covering goings on at the Drum Circle on First Friday since before it was acctually a drum circle, just Cliff Giles and a drum or two. My collection of images depicting kids of all ages is getting pretty large – and the circle pictures constitute...
Doing it in the Street – First Friday in September
Yeah, I’m still playing catch-up. Nothing gets me behind like the twice a year Haflas. First Friday was on the 1st, but at least I’m ahead of the next First Friday. This first of two postings features All but the five images to be added next time of kids...
Moonshine Autumn Bellydance Gala – april Monique
Finally I’ve worked this shoot to our own local April Monique. Since she also manages thse Haflas, I figured she would want me to concentrate on others among the ladies first. Vry difficult to choose an intro shot from these – I like all four. The first...
Moonshine Autumn Bellydance Gala – Lorelei
Lorelei, and for some reason I can never spell that one right, is another somewhat familiar face in these. There are always new faces, as well as some regulars. This young lady can really get into spins, hair going everywhere. Her lighting was mostly blue,...
Moonshine Autumn Bellydance Gala – Kalayla
Slings and arrows of outrageous lighting – and all that jazz. These are coming along slower than usual, but, with a lot of help from Nan, the pit bull is on it. Kalayla is always a treat to watch – always different, and often with a surprise moment.
Included...
Moonshine Autumn Bellydance Gala – Jo Wall
From a mixture of blue and purple light – with two colors I do have something to work with. Jo Wall also acted as host througn most of the show – evidently she’s something of a card. I selected two shots that “worked”. If I get one that I’m happy with, I...
Tick Tick……Boom
I hate to do two postings in one day, but this one is time sensitive. I got in to see the final rehearsal-run of Tick Tick…Boom at the State Theater here in town – today (Friday), Saturday and Sunday. I converted a few of the shots into b&w – the show is...
Moonshine Autumn Bellydance Gala – Taschen
Taschen provided me with a nice horizontal – which I’ll almost always use as the intro image. It fits better on the blog. She was pretty much in all blue light, but that seems to work well with her. She, as well as Naimah, teaches bellydance. One of the...
Moonshine Autumn Bellydance Gala – Naimah 2
It’s one thing to have complete control over lighting, etc. – it’s quite another to work with action, in extremely low, color lights. It is so satisfying to emerge with a few images, however flawed, that manage to say something. In the end, it’s my favorite...
Moonshine Autumn Bellydance Gala – Naimah
Bellydance Hafla results are somthing of a coin toss – the ladies are moving fast while lighting is changing color semingly at whim. Naimah is a regular – tall enough that I’ve mentioned to her that she’s the only dancer who I’ve spotted extending a hand...
Rogue's "That 80s Show" – upcoming
I managed to get a couple of shots in while Rogue Swa was setting up for last Friday’s show – we won’t actually be there until Thursday’s performance this week. Last time I checked, there were only a half dozen or so tickets left. I just hope we recognize...
Maria Annegarn – My Happy Place No.2
An Other People’s Art posting. We can’t help it – we just acquired another work from a local artist. This work is by Maria Annegarn, who shows in RiverView Gallery in town (where we both show). She just recently brought in a few major piecesm to go along...
PDF eBook of Rogue Swans First Two Vaudeville Performances
Here is the PDF eBook of “Vaudeville Cabaret” and “The Last Call” – Rogue Swan’s first tow Vaudeville performances at the Opera House here in town. These performances were back in 2018 and 2019 – I’m finally caught up creating eBooks of all of Rogue’s major...
First Fridy August – Remains of Radio, wow…
I confess, we don’t always get to all the side streets on First Fridays. This time we exited up the other end than usual. Creole de Gras was hosting a band we weren’t familiar with – Remains of Radio. I couldn’t find a name for the singer, but wow. That’s...
First Friday in August – Drum Circle & Street Chess
Cliffs Giles' legacy – the First Friday Drum Circle, continues to be a big attraction for kids – and the kid in the rest of us… And, as usual, August's proved a big attraction to the kids (and the kid in us)…
AND this month provided me with another...
New PDF eBook – Rogue Swan Invades the UK
Free download – this one took a little longer – so many numbers and so little time. It’s an iPad and Reader optimized PDF eBook – joining a growing number on the site. Many of the images were posted, many not. For anyone involved in Rogue Swan’s production...
Library Talk – Saturday August 5
Wow, they did a nice poster up for this. 2:00 pm Saturday August 5 I will give a color slide show (with Rapanui music) and talk about our 2006 to 2016 Easter Island project. Three years total on the Island. At the end, anyone who endures the drive to Jarrettsville,...
DRUM CIRCLE – first Friday in June
I was worried when there was no Drum-Circle the First Friday in May. It appeared in June, but sadly Cliff Jiles was obviously sorely missed. I remember taking his picture the first time he sat with his one drum outside his wife’s little shop on First Friday...
Oops – back to First Friday in June
Well, I will beat the onset of First Friday in August with these. A couple more to come – these two celebrate a pair of openings. The first heralds rhe opening of a new “Paranormal and Oddities” shop in town. OK, it was bright and contrasty – but it seems...
Finally – laying out the pdf ebook of Rogue Swan Invades the UK
Admittedly, I’m nowhere finished with doing-up the images from this show – so many numbers!. But enough is covered to take a break and spend the last two days laying out the interractive pdf ebook of Rogue Swan Invades the UK – and get most of the titles,...
"Shes not There" - "Shadows in the Rain" Intense
Intense – Caleb sang an old favorite “She’s not There” with Alex and April. then “Shadows in the Rain” solo. I’m making progress here – actually beginning to set up the PDF and move images in. If Rogue ever contemplates this many numbers in a performance...
"The Song that Goes Like this…" – Amy and Jesse
With the number of really great performances in this show, it would impossible to pick a favorite. But on the list would be “The Song That Goes……”, with Amy and Jesse. They played it up to the hilt. And once again, I couldn’t bring myself to eliminate as...
"Life on Mars" – Katie and Arianna
“Life on Mars” – I repeat, photographing for Rogue is something of an education when it comes to music. I keep getting introduced to stuff I didn’t know existed. It seems there IS life on Mars. And once again it was impossible, after combining Lilli’s and...
"Paint it Black" – James and Nate
“Paint it Black” – another number I had no familiarity with. For some reason, it does help a little if I do. The final shot proved impossible to get during the performance – they were down among the tables. But I did get it in a horizontal in dress rehearsal,...
"Gimmie Gimmie" (a man after midnight)…
Starts off slow with Arianna, Jessy and Jess in the spotlight off to the side of the stage – then it becomes as rousesome as it can get. The second shot shows the three ladies exiting on the right as the song continues. “Gimmie Jimmie (a man after midnight)”...
"Immigrant Song" 2
Again, this segment should probably have one image, or even two. But since I would need all four for the pdf anyway, here they are. The final image is a wider view, showing one member of the audience saluting the singers.
Added a little larger...
"Immigrant Song" 1 – Moxie
I tried to trim this down to one closeup of Moxie (Marion Jackson) and one of the group singing the "Immigrant Song". But, being as I simply could not bring myself to eliminate any of these, let along two, I decided on a separate posting – Moxie’s mother...
Battle of the Saxes and "Goodbye Blue Sky"
Figuring out a title for the opening image was a hoot. I considered Size Matters, My Sax is Bigger than Yours and a few others. This little bit with Amy and Matt opened Act II. Off the stage, they were moving and not well lit – but I thought it kind of a...
"Bring on the Men" – and the Red Menace
Finally, out from under the bane of every Rogue Swan show, what I see as the red menace.“Bring on the Men” was performed (very effectively) with red stage lighting – effectively that is for the number itself and the audience. Not so much for the camera....
"Bring on the Men"
It took watching a documentary about music and performance photography (mostly from the film days) to put my performance work with Rogue Swan and the Haflas into perspective. I’m never quite satisfied with most of my results – well, duh. I have no control...
"Moonage Daydream" – Alex
Alex’s tribute to David Bowie – very low-light performance of “Moonage Daydream". The intro shot was taken from the side in dress rehearsal. It’s a pretty good look for Alex. The second shot, during the performance, is a drastic cropping of a full-stage...
"Layla" and "Tattoos" – Nate and Caleb
If nothing else, this posting demonstrates beautifully some of the differences between shooting performance vs dress rehearsal. Performance lighting is harsh, leaving deep shadows in unexpected and awkward places, not to mention bleached out highlights....
"FLASH"
“Flash”, the Queen Flash Gordon theme song. I thought the visuals, and the song were actually better done here than in the movie. It seemed like freaking everyone was on stage – which didn’t help with taking shots. It was choreographed for fast action with...
"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
L.H James not only made this sound great, he made it look good. I liked these four shots the best – yet there were others I could have used. I tried to select one or two, really I did. In some ways the last shot here is a favorite, but it is a drastic crop...
From "I'm Into Something Good" to Shakespeare
Jesse, backed up by Ron and Caleb joyfully struts and sings “I’m Into Something Good”. Then, leading into the next number, he leaves the stage and teams up with Arianna to add some comic relief by attempting a scene from Romeo and Juliet – soon thwarted....
"Heart of Stone"
The intro shot, made while KT, April and Moxie performed “Heart of Stone” catches a moment in the plot that Rogue used to join the various numbers into a show unit. Really a neat effect. In some ways the lighting was easier to wrestle with than that on stage....
"Because" and "The Chain"
Will still be tackling Rogue Swan Invades the UK for a while. As I mentioned some of these were shorter numbers with less going on than others. First here – the Beatles’s “Because” sung by the Barbershop trio, The Three Quarters (Ron, Ed and Matt). They...
Pinball Wizard
Rogue’s latest show is proving a little different to process images from. Sure the venue was a little tricky, but been-there before. The big difference is the sheer number of segments to the show – three to four times as many numbers. Many can be covered...
Body Talks and Be My Number 2 – Spotlight on Bre
It was a difficult decision, but both of these are from dress rehearsal – I just like them so much bettrer than those taken performance night. Lens, angle and all that… Bre not only has one heck of a voice, she can command a stage. The intro shot is from...
You Really Got Me
Yes, Rogue did the Kinks. Caleb backed up by L.H.James and April made “You Really Got Me” sound and look good. The first two images here are from the performance with a long lens fromt he back, note Caleb’s arms. Loved the sound of this one…
The next...
Wannabe
Rogue Swan Invades the UK sported about twice as many numbers as most shows – a lot of the music was pop in origin, and therefore shorter in length. That makes for somewhere around thirty five separate performances to deal with. No way am I going to try...
Sympathy for the Devil
Sometimes one image says it all. This was one different and impressive belly-dance. The mere force, spins, matching movements to such an intense piece. And here the stance and expression more than hint at what is to follow.
Working these up one number...
"Beck's Bolero"
Jeremy Hicks-Kachik and the Rogue band play “Beck’s Bolero”. Lighting was shifting and insanely harsh – effective to the eye, but…. And lots of action on Jeremy’s part – I managed to get two shots off that I like.
Added a little larger to their own...
"Son of a Preacher Man"
Arianna singing “Son of a Preacher Man” with Bre on chorus. After getting my shot, I first zoomed in on the left where Natasha (who chimes i with a number of wind instruments) was on sax and Alex on guitar.
Then I swung the lens to the right to catch...
While My Guitar Gently Weeps…2 – Pure Class
The one image among these that Lilli thought she was going to get away with selecting just doesn’t do her performance justice. There’s something classy about the intro shot along with the fact that it is the first in the sequence – Lilli positioned in the...
While My Guitar Gently Weeps…1
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – Lilli high above the stage on a Lyra Hoop while Arianna and Alex perform a ballet, accompanied by KT and LH James singing. It was a lot to take in. These show the number at different stages. Next posting will be a series...
Rogue Swan Invades the UK - Cast Photo
So many exposures and so little time. I got pretty far behind on these – but now I can work on catching up. As far as rehearsal images go, those not done yet will probably not appear here – but will be included at the end in the PDF eBook of the show. Dress...
Three Quickies Between Performances…
Shot the performance last night from the back – not the easiest thing to do where the audience slants down to the stage. Tonight we return to simply sit and enjoy the great show (after taking the cast photo).
Again, the folio will have to wait...
Last Before Performance…
Backed up on rehearsal images, but with first performance tonight, I’m posting the first four from dress rehearsal. For this show, dress and performance shots will be joined in their own folio (for performance I will be restricted to the rear with my big...
I'm Exhausted – the Cast must br ready to Drop…
Hours on end swinging a heavy camera and lens around truing to keep up with the goings on on stage, then an equivalent number of hours getting the jpegs out to Lilli and working up the needed B&Ws. I’m exhausted, but then realize that there’s no way I could...
Stage Lighting can be a Challenge…
Wow, the stage lighting combined with the house lights being up makes for some challenges. That plus I have to get used to the show’s timing so I can be prepared for noteworthy moments when they occur in the actual show. Images today finish up with Lilli’s...
More from Rogue testing out the Stage
Lilli picked about 16 that Rogue liked for B&W work-up. Here’s the second batch of 4. Stage not finished no costumes (except maybe James at times). Lighting is atrocious at this point, making for a bit of work on my part – but they’re worth it. The intro...
Rogue vs the State Theater Stage
One of the more fascinating parts of preparing for a performance is the labor that goes into adapting the venue for the particular show. I included an early shot of the evening, showing both some of the raw construction going on in front – expanding the...
Final Cast Portraits for Rogue Swan Invades the U.K.
Had to wait for Katie and Nate to get home from Scotland. That’s it, except for Lilli (who claims she’s too fond of the head shot from the last show and a couple of other scary-cats, that completes the cast portraits. in the program April will use small...
First Friday – Street Rogues
Street made narrower by booths, split lighting, people standing around – did the best I could shooting with the camera well over my head. At least these two shots show something of the exhuberence Rogue dacers put into the show. This took place in front...
BLOG INDEX – see PDFs above for complete collections older than January 2024
Easter Island Journal
2006 thru 2020.PDF
Zipped file…
Blog Postings
2013-2016.PDF
Blog Postings
2017-2018.PDF
Blog Postings
2019 PDF
BLOG ARCHIVES
Blog Postings
2020 PDF
Blog Postings
2021 PDF
Blog Postings
2022 PDF
Blog Postings
2023 PDF
