Hip Hop 2 Health

I did the videography and editing on this video for Child Guidance & Family Solution. Being someone who has only ever used a digital workflow for video I always wonder about what a pain collaborations like must have been back in the day. I shoot and upload the raw footage for the marketing firm to view(in this case Public Design) and then also a rough cut. They come back with the edits they would like to see. When we get it right they send it to the client to see. I then make any additional edits. Finally they will send me the graphics and I drop them and the sound in and clean up the cuts and colors.
There is still a lot of work involved - but digital mixed with cloud storage is amazing.

Washed Out Film, Washed Up Camera

I loaded my late 90's Minolta Freedom Zoom camera with some Fuji Superia for St. Patrick's Day - I have a tradition of shooting old point & shoot cameras for the holiday. Most of the St. Pat's photos that came out ok will be on facebook - I finished the roll up in Ohio City and that is what I have here. I was pretty unimpressed with the results. I have done much better with my early 80s film cameras than this one. There was a lot of missed focus and the majority of the exposures were way blown out. I actually had to bring down all of the highlights in Photoshop to even make it worth posting a few of these.

So here are some snaps to check out - but this camera will be spending the rest of its life on the shelf.

Fitz Photo Show #12

I started with a pln - then went in a totally different direction. You never know what will happen on this highly entertaining photography show!

Akron Cruise

On late Friday afternoon I took off from the studio on my vintage Peugeot bicycle. I captured some of my ride with my GoPro Hero 5 Black and edited this video together showing some of my favorite parts.
Later in the night I ended up at The Hive Mind for a show - my previous blog has photos of the bands I saw.

Hive Mind

On Friday night I rode my bike out to the DIY venue, The Hive Mind, to see Gabe Schray, Stems, and Operator Music Band play.

Since I was out riding I only had my Canon 6D with the 16-35mm f/2.8 lens - no flash. The venue was very dark and there was no light on the bands besides the back lighting coming from the projection screen. It made trying to get some useful shots interesting. All of these were shot at ISO's between 6400 and 12,800. I think the photos came out unique with the challenge though. 

Akron2Akron: Downtown to Campus

The weather probably suppressed the turnout for the latest Akron2Akron walking tour - but by not donning a raincoat and bundling up you all missed out on another great tour.

"Emily Butler provided some insight into the workings of the STEM school. Nick Moskos gave us the inside scoop of the Freedom Trail. Willy Kollman uncovered some lesser known stories about history of The University of Akron. And Shammas Malik led us through the cold, asking questions about the relationship between UA and downtown Akron." - Akron2Akron FB page.

Common Threads #2

Last night the second in the series of Common Threads events took place at the Rialto Theatre in Kenmore. This one focused on foreign born students. It was interesting to hear the perspectives on Akron and its people(and the United States in general). At times it was fun and funny - but also inspiring - I think a few tears might have been shed in the audience.

Common Threads is a monthly collaboration between the Knight Foundation and Global Ties to bring people from culturally diverse backgrounds together in a common space to share their story and engage in community dialogue. Follow them on Facebook to find about upcoming events.

The Process II

The other day I went down to Canal Fulton to photograph the glassblowing process for a local artist. I had done this for him before - but he has since switched studios. He also wanted the process of him making one of his signature angels documented. This was a fun shoot - I have to keep on my toes to stay out of the way and capture the right angles - and I also find glassblowing fascinating. Here is just a small selection of photos that I took.

G.S. Schray - Gabriel LP Release

On Friday at Thursday's G.S. Schray released his latest record -'Gabriel'. Kit Freund and Mist opened the show. Gabe came out and started solo before being joined by a band. It was a fun night with a lot of familiar faces. As my friend Wes put it, "Its like a high school reunion with people we didn't go to high school with."

Victim's Assistance Mardi Gras

I shot the Victim's Assistance Program Mardi Gras at Tangier for the third time the other night. VAP is an amazing organization that does so much to help people navigate through the aftermath of a victimization and or trauma. I love being able to do this for them.

During the cocktail hour a I set up a "photo booth" like area and take photos of the people as they arrive. When everyone moves to sit down and eat I tear down the lighting set-up and move into the other room to cover the event - ceremony and dancing. The believe the event sells out every year as so many people in the community want to support the work the heroes do(it is also a good time).

Snow Day at the Pump House

On Sunday afternoon Akron Civic Commons, Knight Foundation, Let's Grow Akron, and Ohio & Erie Canalway hosted a community event at the Pump House on Summit Lake. There were ice carving demos, ice cube water color painting, snow cones, hot chocolate, a couple of fire pits and drum performances. The Pump House is eventually going to be renovated and then the community events won't only be on its grounds - but inside as well. It is going to be a great community space in a beautiful location.

Day in The Land

Erin manages the Countryside Conservancy Farmer's Market but did not have one on Saturday. She wanted to head up to Shaker Square to check out theirs. So we drove up to the North Union Farmers Market. We picked up some goodies and chatted with some of her friends but they didn't have any prepared food so next we headed off to get some lunch. Well, we got the ball rolling and ended up spending most of the day in Cleveland....

Akron2Akron

Last night I photographed another one of the Akron2Akron walking tours. With the February date they decided to schedule a mostly inside tour - of Quaker Squarer(formerly Quaker Oats) and Greystone Hall(formerly the Masonic Temple) - but this being Ohio it turned out to be a beautiful 70. Anyways - both places are loaded with history - they are such cool buildings. Quaker Square's grain silos were converted into a hotel and are now University of Akron dorm rooms. The old Masonic Temple is now run by the Akron/Summit County Visitors Buildings and is used for everything from weddings to plays.

I always think I know so much Akron history but come away from these tours knowing so much more. Put March 18th on your calendar to take advantage of the next one.

Torchbearer's Anniversary Dinner

TorchBearers had there Anniversary Event last night at the Tangier. This year was a little different from years past as there was a sit down dinner in the banquet room. It is amazing to me to look around a room like this, see so many great people, and knowing that so many of them are now my friends. When I quit my job as a farm hand a few years back to pursue my dream as a photographer I don't think I could have imagined it being like this. On top of that it was so cool to be photographing an event where two of my high school classmates were the honorees - Betsy Bare Hartschuh as Torchbearer's Distinguished Alumnae and Kyle Kutuchief & John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as the recipient of the Read Family Friends of Young Leaders Award.

Polar Bear Jump

I have seen photos of my friends jumping in the freezing water at Portage Lakes State Park for years but I had never been there. The Polar Bear Jump raises money for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. This year it was a beautiful day, air temperature-wise, the water was still ice cold. ....but I don't know for sure - I wasn't there to jump - but to photograph my friends at the law firm KNR. They had raised the second largest amount of anybody at the event.

Common Threads Akron

Saturday evening I photographed the first Common Threads Akron which was held at Birchwood Supply Co. It is a series of events that are sponsored by the Knight Foundation and Global Ties Akron to bring people from different cultural backgrounds together to engage in conversation. This event focused on the foreign born - sharing their stories and contributions to Akron. It was an engaging evening, sometimes fun, sometimes heartbreaking but totally worthwhile.

Summit Brew Path Launch

On Friday I was lucky to attend the launch of the Summit Brew Path at Thirsty Dog Brewing. This program is sponsored by the Akron/Summit County Visitor's Bureau. The idea is to pick up a passport, go and get a beer at a brewery, get it stamped, and when you visit all you get a prize.

Friday was a fun night to get to meet so many of the brewers and talk to the ones I had met before. One - I'm already a brewery nerd, two - I took photos of all the breweries for the website. Kind of a dream job, ya know?

Glass

I've been shooting glass art for a local artist for a few years now. He dropped off a few pieces at the studio the other day for me to photograph. I really like shooting his stuff because it is challenging but when I get it right I think it looks super cool. He recently switched where he blows his glass and I'm going to be heading out there to shoot his process soon - that should make for a interesting shoot.