Kitty Center

Hoooo-boy.

So the construction of this book has been put off until yesterday as I have been having a difficult time deciding on what it should even look like. I have been sketching ideas on notebook paper and nothing has really felt right. In the past few days I have been researching tintypes. I love the look of tin type. There is an element that feels as though you can touch the subject in a good tintype. Almost a 3d effect.  I had wanted to try to simulate miniature portraits photographically, but that didn’t feel right either. I looked into tintype process and it is expensive and requires a lot of practice, not to mention how dangerous the chemicals. So then I looked into making faux tintypes. Most of the digital examples of faux tintype effects I viewed seemed cheesy. Then I stumbled across a blog that mentioned printing onto transparencies and adhering them to foil, foil tape or mylar.

Here is a link to the basic instructions. I found that spray adhesive works much better than Mod Podge or Elmers, however, the white adhesives make a lot of artifacts that can be pretty cool but requires long drying time.

http://www.ehow.com/how_10066671_make-faux-tintype.html

After doing tests with different glues I did some more tests after I found I liked the spray adhesive. I used glass with the back painted gold and silver. The glass made the images very 3d and way too blurry.

I used the dull side of foil. One sheet painted gold and one unpainted. I printed images in color and in black and white onto a transparency and glued them to the foils. I rolled them with a rolling pin and let them dry.

I recently found these fantastic toaster oven guts (the pans) at Goodwill. They are aluminum and scratched and dulled. Inspired by tintypes I bought them thinking they would be great for faux tintypes. I plan to use them and I am holding off on a test mount until I can find some more lovely aluminum toaster oven pans. Foil is the back up plan if the result is not as lovely as the foil.  In person the foil mount tests are warm and rich, and the color prints are gem toned. I love them.

Once again I am having problems uploading photos. I am creating a tumbr so I can link y’all to photos but  I cannot get my email verified with them. I am not getting the verification email. Technical problems here…

To me the word home means the place where I am comfortable and I feel the most if not truly like me. I have a few places and people I consider “home”.

It was an honor to stay with Bennie and Janene when I visited Nashville. I had never been to Bennie’s home and knowing what I know about Sideshow Bennie  I envisioned collections of very esoteric items spanning many interests. I was correct to a degree and upon taking a closer look at the items in Bennie and Janene’s home, I could see an epic narrative of three fascinating interwoven lives. Bennie and Janene have a daughter who grew up in the house.

I stayed in Larkens room, which is now the guest room. The walls are a bright yellow with shelves on the wall painted white and green. It’s a very retro feel, with framed Hindi deities hung linearly along the wall above the bed. Bennie said that Larken loved yellow so the room got painted bright yellow. On the shelves are family photo albums, beautiful sea shells, vintage knickknacks, and framed family photos.

While I unpacked I noticed a picture of my dog on the shelf, and then stepping closer, a picture of my partner and myself. Both were framed and propped on the shelf at eye level. I could see the photos while sitting in bed too. Janene later said that she does this for all her guests. They just get the photos off of Facebook and print them. She mentioned that she likes the idea of seeing them from the bed when you wake up. What a lovely touch of home for guests!

A touch of home.

Cozy and colorful. I loved this room.

Bennie and Janene made me feel at home like I have never felt at home other than my own home. By this I mean truly comfortable. I could ask for anything or help myself to just about anything. They both took time out of their busy schedules to spend time with me. Bennie drove me around Nashville and gave me my own private sight seeing tour chock full of  historical fact and personal anecdotes. We went out to eat, we walked around sites, we went to Cheekwood Museum, We called on friends. We hung out and did our own things around the house, we watched movies and TV. The cherry on top of the visit was Bennie’s cooking. As it turns out Janene has a masterful hand in the kitchen as well. They both made recipes gluten free for me as they know my diet restrictions. I gobbled down the gluten free Hello Kitty shaped cookies Janene baked for me. They were sort of like a sugar cookie and shortbread with cinnamon. Before I left Olympia I knew I would be taking the “When in Rome” attitude and eat bird and mammal meat during my visit.  I also did not want Bennie to make a tofu bastard of one of his brilliant pork recipes. I am confident he could carry it out beautifully with tofu but I felt it would be an insult to his experience and skill to present a task that actually snubs his talent.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is not for those with a growl in their belly. Proceed with caution. And do not lick the screen.

Some fine home cooked meals by Bennie and Janene:

Catfish with cornmeal breading, beans with homemade Tasso, and homemade coleslaw.

The beginnings of grits and gumbo

The conjuring of grits and gumbo

Bennie’s grits and Gumbo. I have been fortified.

Janene and her beautiful cake. She also made GF shortcake for me so I could have strawberry shortcake.

Smoked all night and ready for the oven. The man prepares pork with patience and love.

Pulled pork (smoked over night in Bennie’s portable smoker on the porch), homemade coleslaw, Bennie’s BBQ sauce, and a potato and cheese casserole of which I inhaled two servings.

Shortcakes cooling in the dining room.

Hmm, strangely I am getting hungry. I looked for a picture of the gluten free biscuits and gravy they made for breakfast with Bennie’s homemade sausage. Oh it was delightful and maybe too dangerous to post. It’s probably for the best that I can’t find the photo.

Update: I found the photo. Oh my stars!

Homemade GF biscuits and gravy with Bennie’s homemade sausage. Yes it is real butter.

Bennie and Janene’s home spoke of comfort and fun  as well as tradition and exploration. It turns out that the house itself was built by Bennie’s father.  Bennie grew up there and eventually returned to live there with Janene and raise their daughter there. Maybe it is Bennie’s sense of connection that makes the place feel grounded. Or that they have both lived there for so long. Maybe it’s just that Bennie and Janene are cool-cats and know how to make people feel comfortable. I appreciated the touches, like a small basket of travel size items on the dresser in case a guest forgets something.  I want to make others feel as good in my home as good as I felt in theirs. It was not only a delightful visit but a learning experience and I am grateful to Bennie and Janene.

On my flight from Salt Lake City to Nashville I sat next to Bruce.  I am calling him Bruce because he resembled a young Bruce Willis. Bruce is 5’6″ with an extremely muscular build. Two of my lower arms were equivalent in size to one of his lower arms. He wore an orange t-shirt and tan cargo shorts with grey New Balance cross trainers. He had stubble on is face. We started with light chat for a few minutes and our conversation quickly got deep. He’s a special forces army medic. He had been in Afghanistan this time for, I think he said, 15 months. He will be returning in a year after he completes more medical and language & culture training at Fort Campbell. His job will be to become immersed in the community his team are assigned and create a relationship of trust and cooperation so that they may better provide defense training and health care. Immersion requires that Bruce look the part. Bruce must look the part.  Bruce has to grow his facial hair and let his hair grow. He said that there are some things he finds frustrating in the culture he has experienced in Afghanistan. One of them is that when Bruce has tried to provide medical treatment to women and children the men will say that the women and children do not need it, to treat them instead. It’s a complicated situation bringing forth fear, trust, values, religion, pride, everything.

Bruce has shot and killed people. He has also saved people’s lives. He has experienced devastating loss. During an ambush a member of his team was shot several times and Bruce tried to save him. His team mate was also a good friend from high school. Bruce said that he did every possible thing to keep his friend alive for transport but he died. “After that” Bruce said, “Nothing could phase me anymore.”

Bruce shared with me details about some of the training he has had to endure. Part of his training has been to be captured by the “enemy” and interrogated and tortured. Because he managed to not give any information after hours of intense interrogation and torture ( including a broken finger)  he was placed in an underground box for over 24 hours. I am told that during torture exercises the torturers are allowed to break certain bones.

Bruce told me some things that were hard to  hear and not be judgmental about. He told me some things he preferred I not repeat and I agreed to respect that.

He said that Afghanistan is nothing like the media portrays. He said people are so kind and generous with the little they have it’s humbling. He shared his sentiment that American civilians have no clue what it is like unless they have family that is military. I think what he meant was that we haven’t walked in his shoes. I would not want to walk in his shoes.

Bruce is single. His military career has cost him a marriage because he is away from home all the time. I asked Bruce if he was without a home since he was away for so long and leaving again. He said he owns a house close to Fort Campbell and that he will be living in his house again and not on base.  He seemed very happy about living in his house again.

When Bruce spoke about being part of a community in Afghanistan and providing health care for them his eyes lit up and he talked with a smile. I asked him why he chose the Army and he said “Because I love it.” Then he said “I love helping people.” This is what he does http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions/foreign-internal-defense.html

Bruce, a bright, funny, caring, intelligent, life saving human being who has also cold bloodily killed other human beings in the name of self defense in a war.  We have all accepted this irony.  When societies construct reasons to kill one another systematically there is no escape from irony.

I feel lucky to have met Bruce and heard his story. We talked from Salt Lake City to Nashville. We talked all the way to baggage claim where we hugged and said goodbye.

It’s a big world.

Mt Rainier from Delta window seat.

I got lights: LimoStudio 6500K Day Light 400 Watt Photography 33″ Silver Reflector Umbrella Continuous Photo Lighting Kit, AGG287.

As soon as I got the lights  I set only one up and took pix of Larry. Update: In trying to figure out how to insert a gallery as I have exceeded my storage on WordPress..I deleted the photo pf the Larry.

Here’s a pic of myself.  I did forget to set the white balance on my camera and no editing, so these are shot on auto and they are straight out of camera. Yeah, just one light at night with the blinds closed. Pretty nifty huh? Looks like daylight to me.

Here is what one of the light units look like. It is not fully extended.

This light kit seems great for what I need it for now. They are in no way rickety, but I do feel that the stands could not withstand continuous rugged travel. I have a third stand exactly like the light stands and I got it to hold a boom for my reflectors. The stands must be weighted outside. A light breeze will take them down if they are not weighted. I think they will last longer if they are mostly used in a stationary setting.  I am learning to use new equipment and it is pretty fun as well as frustrating.

I also purchased reflectors. I tested one when it was still light outside and it was very helpful. The rectangular five in one is alright. The round reflector gold side throws sunlight really well. I do not have a photo of that yet.

I still do not quite have the hang of my light meter.

I have bad shooting habits.  I forget that I can meter and adjust controls on my camera because I have been shooting in auto for so long. I still feel like “when in doubt shoot in auto”.

I am relearning how to use my Nikon D3000. I am realizing now that I want to upgrade when I can afford it. I would like to buy a Nikkor lens with a wider aperture. With a wider aperture one can shoot in low light with a higher shutter speed.   Mine only goes to f 3.5.

There is so much to know and so much to do.

I have been stumbling around trying to figure out how to teach myself something I need to know about lighting. I am going to tell you about my process so far. Equipment and accessory acquisition seems to have taken forever. I am still waiting for stuff to arrive UPS.

I have purchased so far an on camera flash diffuser, an air blower, lens cloths, a Sekonic light meter, Bescor LED light, adapter for light, two different sizes of reflectors. I need to order or make a bender for my strobe. I am considering buying a new strobe. Mine is old and cheap.

Above is what I have been using to take pictures.

Here are some of the mentioned additions.

So I thought I would test out the on camera flash diffusers at 400 iso, 1/40 shutter, and f-3.5.

Without diffuser:

With white diffuser:

With yellow diffuser:

With blue diffuser:

I found the diffusers to mute the light so I tried a lower shutter speed with lighter results.  iso400, 1/30 shutter, and f-3.5.

With white diffuser:

With yellow diffuser:

With blue diffuser:

It’s pretty neat. I went to a wedding on Sunday and used the white diffuser for the first time. It did a good job. I usually get really washed out skin with my on camera flash. I also get the moans from my subjects being blinded by my flash. The diffuser helped with that a little bit. Here is an out of camera shot I took at the wedding with the white diffuser. Now I did not use manual mode because the light was really low and I wanted to capture as much as possible without thinking so I set the camera  mode on auto.

At the wedding:

I like how the diffuser allows their skin to look real and healthy and not like washed out vampire demons emerging  from the darkness.

This is what the room looked like without flash:

There was a photographer there. I spoke with him about chatting about lighting at a later time. He agreed to meeting me at some point and discussing lighting. He said that he was disappointed that he had to use flash for the event but he made the best of it and rigged a bounce for his strobe. I am looking forward to seeing his results.