Weekend Review

Phipps Conservatory


Everyone has to get over to Phipps Conservatory!!! I have never been there and honestly I could have spent the entire day there. It is one of the greatest places to photograph I think in Pittsburgh.

For starters every room has small details that could make a picture. It is also filled with such a variety of people that it all just really worked.

As a tip I would say get up close to everything and use the lighting in there to your advantage.

Also don't just visit Phipps once a year, each season holds something different.  They also have exhibits and special events that appeal to everyone.

They even sometimes have live music like Chatham Baroque. Check them out they were a great surprise to my first visit to Phipps.


I will be posting a couple of slide shows from Phipps and other events this weekend later this week. So be sure to check back!

Halloween Hotspots

Its Halloween week and there are some great spooky places to photograph.

Here are list of places that will have Halloween theme events. This would be a great time to get out and have fun with the holiday.

This week at Phipps Conservatory

Halloween Happenings

Oct. 29, 2010 4-8 p.m.

Bring the kids in costume and enjoy a variety of Halloween activities throughout the Conservatory. Free with paid admission.

Gargoyles and Early Music

Fri., Oct. 29, 2010 Between 5 and 9 p.m.

During this special presentation, Phipps welcomes the nationally esteemed Chatham Baroque ensemble to its Palm Court during Fall Fridays. Throughout the evening, the trio will play period instruments such as the viola da gamba, theorbo, baroque guitar and baroque violin. These concerts are free with general admission. This year marks Chatham Baroque's 20th season. 

Halloween Mayhem

Oct 30, 2010 12:00 pm until 4:00 pm for more information check out Pittsburgh Magazine Big Chemistry Halloween Party Oct 29, 2010 to Oct 30, 2010 9:00 pm until 12:00 am for more information check out Pittsburgh Magazine   I'm pretty sure anywhere in Pittsburgh is going to fun. So make sure you get out and photograph any crazy, spooky things you see!  I will post next week all the things I encountered this weekend.

Favorite Spots in Pittsburgh

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Photographer Spotlight

Charlee Brodsky


I recently found out about Charlee Brodsky, and I fell in love with her photography. She is a Pittsburgh native and works as a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.


Her photography is simple not to complex, but it holds a lot of emotions. She has done projects about Homestead, India, and her daughters.

Charlee Brodsky really gets deep and uses the raw moment to express something that some people could miss. She grabs the simple moments and makes them extraordinary photos.

I'm hoping to do an interview with her soon. I will post it if I do get the interview on here. Check back soon!



Here are a few sites to check out about Charlee Brodsky.

http://www.charleebrodsky.com/india.html

http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/beyond/2008/summer/charlee-brodsky.shtml

http://www.design.cmu.edu/show_person.php?t=f&id=CharleeBrodsky

Photographer Spotlight

Jim Schafer

This photograph is from Jim Schafer's website.
It is an original photograph from The
National Air & Space Museum.

Jim Schafer is a fantastic architectural photographer here in Pittsburgh.  Architectural photography is in art all in it self. This takes great skill and even greater camera equipment.  Jim Schafer not only does his own freelance and commercial work, he is a professor at Point Park University. That is where I found out about him. I had him for two classes here at Point Park. He knows his stuff and he does a great job at critiquing.

Jim Schafer taught me three major things in his classes.
One: Frame your shot  before taking the photograph. Framing a shot can also give you a way to frame other shots. A photographer could do a long shot or a close shot.
Two: Don't get to complex. Take a simple shot, it can go a long way.
Three: Stand up for your image. If you believe in it support it and tell the story behind it.

Jim Schafer has had the opportunity to photograph some amazing places. With being an architectural photographer he gets to photograph some crazy angles. This is the best part I think. He gets access to spots many people don't.

Overall Jim Schafer is the man! He gets to photograph places people only wish they had access to.
Check out his website and you will be amazed! http://www.jimschaferphotography.com/

Weekend Recap

Pumpkin Patch

I thought this weekend I wasn't going to have any time to do anything other then homework and soccer, but I found a couple of hours to get out to the Triple B Farms pumpkin patch.

Fall is my all time favorite season to photograph. The colors and weather make for great photographs in my eyes.  I have moved all over but and have lived in cities and countrysides, but when fall comes around I get this longing to be near a farm. Its one of my top things to photograph.

At Triple B they have hayrides, farm animals, and wild kids running all around. This makes for the perfect place to photograph. Triple B farms offers all kinds of things for families to do, but for a photographer they set up the perfect open space filled with little moments to capture.

The mix of colors and excited faces makes it easy to set up some great photographs. I highly recommend getting out to some kind of pumpkin patch this season because you will for sure come away with some great photographs.

My tips for this would be keep your eyes open, you never know what you will see especially with kids and huge pumpkins! Also try and explore all ends of the pumpkin patch, don't worry about feeling silly about getting on hayrides or sliding down slides. It will in the end keep you smiling and you will capture some great moments.

Let me know what you did this weekend and feel free to post your own weekend recap.

Weekend Events!!

This weekend I will be limited to what I can shoot because of a soccer game I have in New York, but I will be sure to post some soccer photographs if I get some. That doesn't mean that there isn't some awesome events still going on in the city!

Here are a few I recommend attending

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh :Ordinary Madness at Carnegie Museum of Art, October 15, 2010–January 9, 2011, Heinz Galleries

Events listed below are from the Pittsburgh City Paper

Fri., Oct. 15 -- Art
Add racism to the list of Cuban controversy. When the first half of Queloids: Race and Racism in Cuban Contemporary Art debuted in Havana this past April, it was the first time the word "racism" had appeared at an art show in the city post-revolution. Subsequently, The Mattress Factory gathered the 13 artists whose work is represented in the exhibition's second half. Thankfully, all 11 who are living can attend in person: A 2004 attempt to bring Cuban artists to the museum was barred by Bush administration policies. Tonight is the show's opening reception. WG 6 p.m. Show continues through Feb. 27. 500 Sampsonia Way, North Side. $10. 412-231-3169 or www.mattress.org


Sat., Oct. 16 -- Comics 
If the first-ever Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo has its way, our comics culture and talent will cease to be among this town's best-kept secrets. The two-day PIX highlights work that's small-press or self-published (and even hand-made) -- more like a craft fair than a convention, says organizer Bill Boichel, longtime owner of comics nexus Copacetic Comics. A newly renovated Strip District space, in the Guardian Storage building, hosts 40-plus exhibitors (most of them regional) and guest luminaries from Kevin Huizenga (Super Monster, Ganges) to local heroes Ed Piskor and Jim Rugg. BO 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Also 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Oct. 17. 2839 Liberty Ave., Strip District. Free. www.pixcomics.com 


Sat., Oct. 16 -- Rock
Now in its 20^th year making music, Maryland's Clutch has long toed the line between cult popularity and the mainstream. The rock-metal-stoner-funk hybrid is touring in support of its latest, last year's Strange Cousins From the West, but loyalists can expect tunes stretching back to its first few albums, from the early to mid-'90s. The band's recently released live album features a recreation of its second, self-titled record in its entirety. Tonight, Clutch plays the Trib Total Media Amphitheatre on a tour that also features Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society, Children of Bodom and 2 Cents. Andy Mulkerin 6 p.m. Station Square. $35-40. All ages. 412-642-1100 or tribtotalmediaamp.com



Sat., Oct. 16 -- Music   
Hans Tammen plays what he calls "endangered guitar," but his setup isn't what you'd expect. It's a guitar, yes, but also computer and a set of electronics that process and react to what he plays on the fretboard. It's not a completely determined process; the computer has its role, just as the human player does. The German improv artist recently released Oxide, an album he recorded with violinist Christoph Irmer. The duo performs tonight in a show set up by frequent CP contributor Manny Theiner at Garfield Artworks, along with a local guy who knows a thing or two about manipulating electronics, Michael Johnsen. AM 8 p.m. 4931 Penn Ave., Garfield. $7. All ages. 412-361-2262

Check some of these out and let me know what you thought. Post your comments and photographs here. 

Photo Spotlight

Joy Ike

Like I said I would I am posting another event  I attended this weekend. On Sunday the Carnegie Library had their music corner and it featured Joy Ike. She is one of my all time favorite local Pittsburgh artists. She is a deep musician that has the passion of being a singer/song writer. I always feel that these are the best people to take pictures of. She has amazing passion for what she does and I always find it fun to photograph her. She keeps me on my toes with not only photo options but with new music. She also usually has different friends play with her so this is always a surprise to see who she will have with her for each event. I like photographing things that I love and music is definitely one of my passions.

That's way I think it would be great if everyone got out and photographed one of their passions. It will help you get loose and get back into the best part of photographing. Sometimes I lose perspective in my photography, I forget to get the real meaning behind the photograph and sometimes come out with dull photo's. So this is a test to get back out there and photograph with meaning and reconnect with the passion of photographing.

Get out there and photograph something you love and feel free to post what ever it is on here!

I will be posting some weekend events and maybe a few other things, check back and keep posting!

Zombie Fest 2010

What an out of control end to a crazy weekend of events! If you didn't get the chance to get out this weekend, you definitely missed out on some great photographs!

On Friday I posted a list of RAD events that would be going on all weekend, but I did however miss out on mentioning the main event that I would be attending.

Zombie Fest took over Market Square today 10.10.10. It was out of control fun! Market Square was filled with brain eating, blood dripping, and eye popping zombies. This made for  a spectacular photo opportunity.

There was no downfall to photographing zombies. Everyone that I came in contact with was ready to pose for a picture which made my life extremely easy! I couldn't ask for friendlier zombies.

They were doing some really cool stuff at this event. Like a brain eating contest, live bands, zombie walks, zombie Olympics, ugly awards, and they even had cast members from "Night of the Living Dead."

This was an amazing event with some awesome people involved! I really applaud everyone that got dressed up and got out there.

If you have any photos from this event feel free to share what you saw while walking amongst the dead!

I will be posting the other events I attended later this week, but feel free to post anything you guys attended on here.

Weekend Events!

This weekend is packed with amazing events here in Pittsburgh. For the most part Sunday will be the day everyone should try and get out to at least a couple of these events. These events will offer you the chance to get out and see different parts of the city. It will also help produce great photographs!

I will be attending some of these events and will post my pictures from it next week. I hope you will post your photographs and comments about the events!

Friday October 8, 2010 Events

Pittsburgh Center of the Arts is free all day Friday. This would be a great opportunity to check out whats going on over there.

Saturday October 9, 2010

Bulgarian Cultural Center

Free Admission 9AM-3PM
Preserving and presenting the cultural values and rich traditions of the Bulgarian/Macedonian people, the Museum includes oil paintings, graphics, icons, photographs, ceramics, costumes and more.
449-451 West Eighth Ave. (West Homestead) bmnecc.org

Society for Contemporary Craft

Free Admission and Activities 10AM-2PM
Free RADical experiences for all ages including exhibition tours of DIY: A Revolution in Handicrafts, a bookbinding demonstration, scavenger hunt, and make-your-own ring activity.
21st and Smallman Streets (Strip District) contemporarycraft.org • facebook.com/sccpgh

Frick Art & Historical Center
Free Admission 10AM-5PM
The Frick offers an array of FREE activities for the entire family. Explore the first floor of Clayton, the restored home of the Frick family, discover amazing vehicles in the Car and Carriage Museum, and view fine and decorative art at The Frick Art Museum.  Scavenger hunts for kids and take-home art activities!
7227 Reynolds Street (Point Breeze) thefrickpittsburgh.org

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Free Admission 10AM-5PM

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: Pittsburgh Sketch Crawl
Free Admission 10AM-4PM
Join us for a 6-hour drawing marathon on a journey through Downtown scenic plazas. Bring your own preferred art supplies, sketch book and come along for as long as you’d like. Artist-illustrator Rick Antolic will be on hand at each location. For artists of all levels.  Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Must register by email: education@pgharts.org or phone 412-471-6079.
803-805 Liberty Ave. (Downtown Cultural District) pgharts.org

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Free Concert 11AM-Noon
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has been a vital part of the City of Pittsburgh’s heritage for more than 100 years. Audiences around the world have claimed the PSO as their orchestra of choice! Join your PSO for a program of classical favorites. Visit the box office or call 412-392-4900 for advance tickets.
Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave. (Downtown) pittsburghsymphony.org

All Classical WQED -fm 89.3
Carolyn M. Byham Studio
Free Admission 11AM-2PM
Take a free tour inside WQED-FM 89.3 Carolyn M. Byham Studio and meet on-air talents Jim Sweenie and Jim Cunningham as they broadcast LIVE from Katz Plaza in the Cultural District.
655 Penn Ave. (Katz Plaza; Downtown Pittsburgh)  wqed.org/fm • twitter.com/wqed

Pittsburgh Opera and Attack Theatre

Free Admission Noon-1PM
Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists will focus on Rossini and The Barber of Seville, the opera which opens the new season. Attack Theatre will perform sneak peeks of their exciting and physically charged repertory this season.
Pittsburgh Opera, 2425 Liberty Ave. (Strip District)
pittsburghopera.org • twitter.com/pittsburghopera
attacktheatre.com • twitter.com/attacktheatre

Allegheny County Hartwood Acres Hay Day
Free Admission Noon-4PM
Come for all sorts of fun story-telling, slides, pony rides, an arts and crafts center, a petting zoo, music and much more!
200 Hartwood Acres (North Hills) www.county.pa.us/parks

MCG Jazz Youth Arts Open House
Free Admission 2-4PM
From 2-3PM: Make It and Take It.  Engage in fun projects in ceramics and design arts with MCG Youth Arts teaching artists. From 3-4PM: MCG Jazz Aurora jazz fusion performance for all ages provides a unique and memorable understanding of jazz’ influence on contemporary music of the 1970s and 1980s.
1815 Metropolitan Street (North Side) mcgjazz.org

Sunday October 9, 2010

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Free Admission 9AM-4PM
Take an exotic vacation without leaving the ‘burgh! Travel through an Asian forest to see tigers, snow leopards and a real dragon. Safari through the African Savanna to watch young springbok playing and elephants bathing in their watering hole. Pass under huge sand tiger sharks and a polar bear swimming over your head to see performances by Gateway to the Arts (11:30AM and 12:30PM) and Pittsburgh Opera (noon). Don’t miss the baby sea lions in one of the top children’s zoos in the country. Sponsored by PPG Industries. Gates close at 4PM; Zoo closes at 5PM
One Wild Place (Highland Park)  pittsburghzoo.org • twitter.com/pittsburghz

Gateway to the Arts at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
11:30AM-Noon and 12:30-1PM
Sing, dance and discover new instruments with Gateway to the Arts’ artists for two fun-filled 30 minute interactive performances. In Bubbe Tells a Tale, Grandma Bubbe (Barbara Russell) and klezmer musician Janice Coppola share the Yiddish folktale It Could Be Worse with animals, clapping and dancing. Best for ages 3-7. Rhythmic Cultures sparks the imaginations of children and parents with participatory music and dance activities. The cultural traditions of Appalachia, Africa and Louisiana are explored and all are welcome to join the fun.
gatewaytothearts.org

Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
Free Admission 10AM-5PM
The History Center and Sports Museum are Smithsonian-affiliated museums that include six floors of exhibitions showcasing more than 250 years of regional history. Don’t miss our newest exhibitions, including Beat ‘Em Bucs: The Story of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates. Performances by Bulgarian Folk ensemble Otets Paissi (1PM), South Hills Chorale (2PM0 and Pittsburgh Youth Ballet (3PM). Tickets for Vatican Splendors are an additional charge and may be purchased through TicketMaster.
1212 Smallman Street (in the Strip District)
heinzhistorycenter.org • twitter.com/historycenter

Fort Pitt Museum

Free Admission 10AM-5PM
At the Fort Pitt Museum, the newest member of the History Center’s museum, experience interactive exhibitions that tell the story of Western Pennsylvania’s pivotal role during the French & Indian War, the American Revolution, and as the birthplace of Pittsburgh.
101 Commonwealth Place in Point State Park (Downtown)  heinzhistorycenter.org

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Free Admission Noon-5PM

Sunday Afternoon Music Series
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh presents Joy Ike
Free Admission 2-3PM
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has free programs every day! Visit carnegielibrary.org for a complete listing of children’s activities, book discussions, storytimes, poetry readings, musical performances, crafts, and more!
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main; First Floor Quiet Reading Room
4400 Forbes Ave. (Oakland) carnegielibrary.org

North Side "Charm Bracelet" Free Admission Sites
Get to know the sparking gems that link Pittsburgh’s North Side family district, all on October 10.

 

 

Venture Outdoors

Free Admission 10AM-Dusk
Experience Pittsburgh’s three rivers in a flat-water kayak. No experience necessary. You’ll receive a PFD and basic safety and paddling instruction. Restrictions: Must be at least 35 pounds. Minors under 18 must have a parent/guardian sign a risk waiver. A driver’s license will be held as a deposit while you’re on the water.
Kayak Pittsburgh, under Clemente Bridge at PNC Park (North Shore)
ventureoutdoors.org • kayakpittsburgh.org

 

 

National Aviary

Free Admission 10AM-5PM
Get nose to beak with flamingoes, penguins, macaws, owls and more. Watch as birds eat, bathe, fly and play in free-flight exhibits. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a real penguin colony at Penguin Point.
700 Arch Street (North Side) aviary.org

 

 

Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Free Admission Noon-5PM
Take off on fantastic flights of imagination at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and return to earth to slide down a bowling alley, build and launch a boat, ink your own silkscreen, catch words that fall from the sky and much, much more. Performances by Children’s Festival Chorus and Children’s Museum Outreach performers We’re Holden Puppets, Storytellers Alan Irvine & Tim Hartman and musician Lee Robinson.
10 Children’s Way (North Shore) pittsburghkids.org

 

 

Mattress Factory

Free Admission 1-5PM
The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art that presents art that you can get into: room-sized environments created by in-residence artists.
500 Sampsonia Way (North Side)  mattress.org • twitter.com/mattressfactory





All of these were pulled from http://www.radworkshere.org/interior.php?pageID=52

Don't forget look for photographs from some of these events next week, and post a couple of your own. 

Charles “Teenie” Harris

http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/mainhtml.cfm?page=harris.html

Charles "Teenie" Harris was photographer born in Pittsburgh in 1908. He was well known in the local area for capturing the life of the minority in Pittsburgh. Harris wasn't like many photojournalists, he stayed in the local area and covered issues like the legendary Negro League of Pittsburgh. He also played for the League in Pittsburgh. He was also known as a working class photographer which was a title that stuck with him until his death in 1998. The reason I wanted to pick Harris as our featured photographer this week is because his 2011 photography tour is starting to get a little buzz. His show is being produced by the Carnegie. Another great fact about Harris is that he was known as "One Shot" Harris. This was because he never had to re shoot anything or make someone go back into position he went with the image he got. I think this amazing because so many photographers today go back and re shoot a lot of things which I think loses the original moment. He also has a great book out that I highly recommend I looked it over recently and I found really fascinating. Over all I think Harris really captures the essential moment and doesn't mess with it, and I think this is key to becoming a great photographer. Knowing when you have the moment and going with it instead of trying to make it into something its not.

 For more information on Harris check out some of these sites. 

http://www.cmoa.org/teenie/intro.asp

http://www.pbs.org/blackpress/film/transcripts/harris.html

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A56540

http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/mainhtml.cfm?page=harris.html

Glass Center

Not only did I get some Shepard Fairey photographs this weekend, but I also went to the RAD day at the Glass Center. It was awesome and packed with beautiful pieces by various artists. The free demonstrations were killer to photograph. I have already signed up for a class in December to make a Pimp cup (AKA just a goblet). It was totally worth the drive out there. Check out the photographs and let me know what you think and send some of your own.



And check out The Glass Centers website for more information and upcoming events.

http://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org/

Shepard Fairey

So this weekend I had the chance to get out and find some really awesome Shepard Fairey murals. It wasn't hard at all to find them. The main three locations for them are in the South Side, North Side, and Downtown. Check out what I found and post your photos!