40 in 30

Reflective, that is how I feel about turning 40 years old 30 days from today.

Looking back what progress have I made? I can honestly say that I am beginning to be “ok” with who I am. It seems that I have gotten a lot more things right then wrong in my life at 40. I have a wife and daughter that are better than I deserve. I share a business with my wife and daily I work with a purpose. I live in a home that is warm and filled with light and love (with a whole bunch of great photos, guitars, aromas from the kitchen and pitter patter of little feet.)

The greatest lesson that I have learned “so-far” is that having parents in your life as an adult is important. The first twenty years of a child’s life is dedicated to keeping your child alive and well. My parents did that, thanks mom & dad for that. Adults need parents. That is the lesson learned. I still need to be parented too. Advice, structure, wisdom, time, conversation, understanding and all the whatnot’s of a life is needed. Now that I am the father of a 3yr old I understand the importance of being a son at 40 yrs old.

At 40 I believe my work and artistic life have progressed. I am happy about that. I have honed my crafts and cultivated my skills, read books, kept journals, said my prayers and eaten my vegetables. I have played music, taken photos, gotten in shape, written stories, essays and rants even occasionally been published. I have walked in the woods, traveled abroad; I have climbed rocks, drunk wine, ate countless numbers of pizza slices and have kept my dog by my side for the past 16 years.

Perennial work in progress is the who, what and why of my zeal for life. To the next idea, know how much I looking forward to discovering you. The fear of stopping to develop in mind, body and spirit is my muse.

The second 40 years holds the divine mystery in front of me. Raising a daughter to be kind and intelligent, sustaining a business that can be passed down to the next generation, being a good husband, father, son and citizen to the life that has been given to me.

Simple, purposeful and with rhythm - those are the words to describe how I will live out the second set of 40 years to come.

In my eighties I hope I am in the last 20 plus yrs of my life, if I am so blessed. Sharing this journey with my wife I will learn how to oil paint, tinker in my woodshop, enjoy grandchildren and do whatever my wife wants to do, probably travel…nonetheless, if I pick up my dirty socks and place the dirty dishes in the dishwasher I think she will keep me around.

To all the angels, geniuses and genies in a bottle that have guided my way on this journey…thank you, deep bows of gratitude to you.

Twitter 100 Wanted

Twitter confusion – How can someone follow or have followers that reach into the thousands of people? Is it possible to gleam any worthwhile information from such a large networking-audience?

I am always adding & deleting following/followers on my Twitter page. If you’re negative I delete you, if you’re repetitive I delete you, if you seldom update I delete you. If you can teach me something I follow you, if you make me laugh I follow you, if you can expand my thinking I follow you.

The people I would like to follow must be purposeful.

Twitter experiment - Small social networking on a large platform.

I am looking to follow and be followed by 100 dedicated-purposeful users.

Think about this as an experiment with a catalyst of experiencing different cultures.

Let’s build a "100 twitter club"…you can follow me here.

Workshop

Just signed the contract to teach a workshop @ Silver Eye Center for Photography in PGH, Purposeful Blogging for Photographers

(Event dates & details coming soon…)

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 3 sec (3)
Aperture: f/16
Focal Length: 44 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Books, Wines & a Cycling Platypus

I just read, actually mostly viewed, "Things I learned in my life so far" by graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister. I ordered this book from the library after reading a recommendation. The book is comprised of separated journals all placed in a single sleeve to look like a book. This work is hypnotic in nature.

Tonight I pick up Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words by Jay Rubin. It will have to hold me over until the next Murakami novel 1Q84 is released. The Japan release of this novel is this summer 2009, if anybody knows the U.S. release date is please let me know.

I accidentally stumbled on to Chilean wine a couple of weeks ago, Emiliana Organico. American wine can taste synthetic and heavy. Elizabeth is enjoying the chardonnay and I like carmenere red. We have not enjoyed a wine this much since Italy.

Check out Elizabeth's blog redesign by Chris Miller a.k.a the Cycling Platypus. Chris did a great job and was easy to work with; deep bows of gratitude to Chris for putting up with all our questions and suggestions.

Halloween Wedding Giveaway Contest!!

The following vendors would like to announce that we are holding a contest to give away a FREE wedding! Read below for all of the exciting details!

PITTSBURGH HALLOWEEN WEDDING GIVEAWAY CONTEST

Craig Photography$2500 Value
Lavish Events $3000 Value
Wenning Entertainment$1500 Value
Alex’s Flowers $500 Value
Jody’s Pantry$5300 Value
Dress My Chair$2500 Value
Eye Magnet Jewelry$300 Value
All Star Limousines$250 Value
Toast Letterpress$750
Betsy’s Barn

The vendors have come together to give away free Halloween Costume-themed Wedding to one lucky couple!

All you have to do to enter is upload a video on our “Pittsburgh Halloween Wedding Giveaway” Facebook page with you and your fiance and tell us why you think you should win. If you don’t already have a Facebook account, sign up and then enter the search terms “Pittsburgh Halloween Wedding Giveaway” in the “search” tool and our page will come up. Become a “fan” of the site and then scroll down to the “video upload” section of the Facebook page and upload the video you made with your fiance.

–Wedding will be held on 10/31/09 at Betsy’s Barn.
–Must be a costume-themed wedding, ie
–all guests and entire wedding party (including bride and groom) must dress up in a costume to attend.
–Limited to 125 guests (including entire wedding party).
–Must be willing to do on camera and written interviews.
–Winner will be decided by public voting. Anyone can vote and voters can vote any time during the contest by sending an email to the provided email address (pittsburghgiveaway@me.com). One vote per email address. The couple with the most votes wins.–Voting ends begins April 13 and ends August 10. Winner announced on the Pittsburgh Halloween Wedding Giveaway Facebook page August 14.


INCLUDES:
–free day of photography including all edited photos with reprinting rights for printing, and upload to private website.
–free wedding planning services.–free DJ services for reception.
–$500 worth of wedding day flowers.–free catering for 125 guests plus Halloween themed wedding cake.
–free limo service for wedding couple.
–free Halloween decoration service for wedding ceremony and reception
–free venue–free tux rental
–free makeup and hair service for the bride
–free invitations–free fashion jewelry for the bride

Video entries will be received from April 13, 2009 until August 10, 2009. The winner will be announced on August 14, 2009 at 3pm on the Wall of the Pittsburgh Halloween Wedding Giveaway Facebook page.

Good Luck!

On Being a Prius Owner “so-far”

Things that have disappointed me “so-far” about being a Prius owner:

-People do not applaud when I enter a building.
-Starkbucks does not give me free soy lattés.
-Being an elitist is lonely
-Savings of only 19 cents a month on car insurance.
-I cannot find my car in an Ikea parking lot.
-Al Gore still will not accept my phone calls.
-Nobody cares that I’m an eco-snob.
-No key??? It comes with a smart key which is actually called a fob. I fear all things called “fob”.
-Not sure if the Prius is Scientology approved (read this).
-As of yet to have my name added to the celebrity hybrid drivers list.
-Bumper sticker confusion? Do I place an Apple logo, Vegans are Cool, Enlighten-Up, Coexist on my Prius’s backside?

Things that I love about being a Prius owner “so-far”:

-It’s the coolest iPod accessory ever.
-You don’t have to plug your Prius into to your computer to recharge the batteries.
-I feel closer to Barak Obama.
-Oprah hugged me.
-My Moleskin notebook looks extra cool sitting on the passenger seat.
-Jesus loves me more – this I know is true….

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Auto, Fired, Return detected

8 Days - Updates

Monday – Received confirmation that I will teach my fist workshop at Silver Eye Center for Photography in Pittsburgh. (Sneak peak here)

Tuesday – I was ask to be a guest speaker at RMU

Wednesday – We were notified that we were selected for The Knot Best of Weddings 2009 magazine

Thursday – Elizabeth’s project went big time (sneak peak here)

Friday – I had two photos select to be in a book “This is Pittsburgh” that will come out this Fall. (Sneak peak here & here)

Saturday – Wonderful Wedding

Sunday - Wonderful Wedding, which I even got to play guitar at the reception.

Monday – Bought a Prius – finally

Today – Humbled and grateful

~ my thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Pittsburgh Police who lost there life in the line of duty.

Recommendation

~Enjoy
Are You an M.O. Snob? by Johathan Fields
My Little Cookie Monster by David Burke
Chicks Who Clicks Gets a New Home! by Gwen Bell

Short Stories - Your Favorite One

Some of these have been published some of them have been rejected.

What is your favorite one?

No Demons
Rainbow in a ghost town
I Dream of Heaven
The Shepherd & Alpaca
I never thought the afterlife would look like this
Rooftop Sanctuary
Joe the Ugly Art Critic

The Knot Best of Weddings 2009 Pick

WE DID IT AGAIN!

How excited are we?? We are proud to announce that CRAIG PHOTOGRAPHY has been rated by local brides and voted The Knot Best of Weddings 2008/2009 Pick. Please pick up a copy of The Knot Best of Weddings 2009 magazine and check out our listing.

Moment

Current Reading: The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
Current Music: Heartplay by Charlie Haden & Antonio Forcione
Smells: Chili
Mood: Full of life
Sounds: Noise
Temperature: 68 degrees

Thoughts: I'm not just sweatpants and cookie dough

Dreams and Imagination

Sunday afternoon driving back to Pittsburgh from Philly on the turnpike – this is my view from behind the wheel of my car…

Bright blue sky, white clouds lined with a pink hue and golden sunbeams breaking through the clouds. All of it lining the horizon as far as the eye could see. I drove into this sight for about 48 miles of straight highway that lead into the Blue Mountains of PA. This was a painted landscape directly out of a Disney movie, it was that grand.

In the trunk of my car I had my camera and tripod but I never stopped to photograph this view. Yes, it was killing me at first but I wanted to get home to see my daughter after three days of being away.

Two phrases kept repeating in my head:
- Art is here to give people the opportunity to dream.
- Art is the dialogue of the imagination.

I am not sure if these are original thoughts or random sentences from past readings. Either way, perfect words for the experience.

That is what I did, dream and imagine.

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 15
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 24 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Taking Off

Friday – Late night wedding photo shoot

Saturday – Meeting up with friends somewhere in PA???

Sunday – Nikon School in Philadelphia

P.S. isn’t this a cool pic..see you next week!!!

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 30
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 24 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Having Purpose

This is a photograph of my father and my grandfather. I did not know my grandfather; he passed away before I got to know him.

The photo is 65yrs old and has purpose, real sense of purpose to it. The connection I have to this photo is hard to place into words. It holds my past and is rooted in my present. I am most likely older now than my grandfather was when this photo was taken.

The photo sits on my nightstand and it is the last thing I look at before I turn off the lights. It is the first thing I see in morning when my alarm clock sounds.

When I look into this photograph I imagine a different photo that nobody else gets to see. I see my father standing behind the see-saw and my nephew, Dominic, his first grandchild, seated on the see-saw. I see myself standing in front of them taking this picture.

My photography career has progressed, I am older and I am now the father. This is the type of photography I want to create. Work with a purpose to generate a memory that grandchildren and great grandchildren will get to place on their nightstand.

To my grandfather, I am glad I know your face…I will meet you in heaven.

Craig Photography Creative Photo Contest Winner

As we mentioned before, the winner of our contest was Jessica and her husband Matthew. Their idea was to re-create 2 old photographs of Jessica's grandparents that they took of each other while on their honeymoon.

We thought this idea was very sweet, nostalgic and purposeful. Jessica and Matthew are planning on hanging all 4 photographs in their home.

We had a great time the day of the shoot. Jessica and Matthew were so much fun to hang out with. The shoot took place at Roland's in the Strip District because they have a set of windows that were similar to the windows in the original photos.

Let us know what you think!

Moment

Current Reading: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Current Music: WYEP.org
Smells: Blueberries
Mood: Happy
Sounds: Bell and Whistles
Temperature: 44 degrees
Thoughts: Be culturally significant and have confidence

Updates

Saturday ~ Photographed the contest winners (photos to come). Great time, great couple, great project…this project had purpose.

Sunday ~ A film crew follows us around on a shoot for our first promotional-documentary video about us.

Monday morning ~ work, need sleep, must work but need sleep, coffee, coffee, and coffee….repeat!!!!

All your “How To” question answered

Use a tripod
Lowest ISO possible
Eat your vegetables
Exercises
Say your prayers
Keep a journal
Meditate
Repeat

This Stuff Can Not Be Made Up

Last night I was driving behind a mini-van on my way to the gym (of course it is always a mini-van). The driver had to come to a complete stop every time they had to use their turn signal, EVERY TIME on a two lane road.

It took me an extra 15 min to get to the gym, but no road rage at all…it was just too damn funny to get upset over.

At the gym I am swimming laps. Standing on the edge of the pool is a very large man in a tiny blue Speedo swimsuit. Yes, eye-scaring but also it was quite impressive to see how far that tiny blue Speedo fabric can stretch.

At this point I am about 15 minutes into swimming laps and the large man in the tiny blue Speedo standing on the edge of pool is starting to stretch…yoga-pose-type of stretching. I start screaming in my head “please God make it so I do not look”. My prayers were not answered. I looked and more eye-scaring images burnt into my head.

Next - large man in a tiny blue Speedo swimsuit Jr. comes out of the locker room in matching tiny blue Speedo. Now I am hearing circus music in my head. The Mini-me lad meets his Dad at the edge of the pool and they start dancing like Irish Leprechauns.

Ok – the Leprechaun part is made up but everything else happened.

Recommendation

A must read: By Julian Walker
The Masks of God:Introduction to Forthcoming Book!

City Night Gallery

See updated gallery photos (here)

Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 8
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 15 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Moment

Current Reading: The Art Instinct by Denis Dutton
Current Music: The Church: Under the Milky Way
Smells: Leftovers
Mood: Sense of connection, a communion with the creative process
Sounds: Too much noise
Temperature: 46 degrees & sunny
Thoughts: Branding yourself authentically is a personalized service of photographers today.

Question - Art or the Artist

Thank you to all for answering my question yesterday. The bulk of responses is on my Facebook page. Follow the conversations over at Facebook about art or the artist… Let’s be friends….

Question

Is it more important to understand the art or the artist?
~ comments needed for a project~

Photo of the Week

Camera: Nikon D700
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/1.6
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: No Flash

Joe the Ugly Art Critic - Short Story

In hindsight it is essential to look back when traveling across the country without a destination.

Its dusk, my motorcycle is hot from the day’s drive. The two water bottles strapped to the back fender are warm but drinkable.

I sit next to my friend who has lost in the DNA game of chance. No redeeming qualities to this man. He lost before his life even began.

My friend’s name is Joe and Joe is ugly. Not in the typical sense of letting-himself-go type of ugly. He is ugly on a skull level and there is nothing you can do to fix that. He is not deformed or structurally damaged, it’s just that he has an odd shaped skull. Joe is a good argument for evolution stopping abruptly and skipping over the few remaining people standing in line.

Why did I ask Joe to travel with me? When you’re ugly people notice, when your job is to criticize people notice. He is an art critic who preaches about the end of modern society. “Nowhere left to go on the ladder of life when your job is to judge creation itself”, that’s his motto. Not a happy person. The essential humanness that ties us all together is void in Joe’s life. I find that interesting.

The song lyrics “I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name” will not stop running through my head. I hate that song. Joe has insulted 32 of the last 35 people we have met. His motorcycle keeps breaking down.

“Twelve hundred touring sportsters for the traveling motorcyclist! it is the Porsche of the motorcycle world!”, he keeps yelling that at the top of his lungs every time the bike breaks down. That’s what the saleslady told him as he wrote a check of 15,000.00 dollars for this lemon on two wheels. My bike is a loaner from my cousin. I think he paid $750.00 for it eight years ago.

Joe gets off his bike and steps to the edge of the cliff that we have parked our bikes on. He looks at me and says “write this down: God used to live on this Earth. He got tried of everybody picketing outside his window. Observation is fundamental to making sense of this ever present moment of now”. Then he fell back off the cliff, ending his life.

“Hindsight is essential” is all I could to say….goodbye ugly art critic Joe.