Shutter Mike Photography

Just an ordinary wall?  Probably to the hundreds of people that walk by it without noticing.  But it has history, character and incredible details when you stop and really notice it – like through a camera lens.  Everyday objects can become great subjects when you really take the time to notice.

Against the Yellow Wall

This photograph was taken outside of the El Charro restaurant in downtown Tucson, AZ.  I did a full day of shooting with nothing but my 50 mm 1.7 prime lens.  It is a surprisingly versatile lens.

St. Philips in the Hills Church is one of my top photography spots in Tucson, AZ.  It has the look and feel of an old Spanish mission and a cloister.  There are hidden patios and gardens with iron gates such as this one all over the property.  It also has a maze-like feel as though the buildings, patios and gardens sprouted off of the main church in a very organic fashion.  That makes it great for wandering around and discovering hidden photograph opportunities around each corner.

This wreath was hanging on the door of the original El Charro Restaurant in Tucson, AZ.  El Charro has been a part of Tucson since the 1920s and now has 4 locations including the one where this wreath hangs on Court Ave in downtown.  I captured this image with my new (to-me) Minolta 50 mm f/1.7 prime lens on my first full day of shooting with it.  I love this lens!  I have almost been converted to a prime lens only user after shooting all day without switching to any of my zoom lenses and being very happy with the results.   I might have to start looking for a prime telephoto soon.

I wrote about the Tucson Portrait Project back in August when it was first revealed.  It is a public art display in Tucson located where 4th Ave. passes under the railroad tracks and reemerges in downtown.  I finally got a chance to see it in person this past weekend.  The project website indicates it is still a work in progress.  That explains why there is only one panel up at this point.  But from that one panel you can tell the final completed installation is going to be awesome.

The concept is very simple, portraits of Tucsonans (and in some cases their dogs and chickens) in black and white on 4 x 4 tiles united together to  form a mosaic of sorts.  But that simple concept says a lot about Tucson and its residents, which I gather was the intention.  The project is really well done and further enhances the revised 4th Ave underpass with its park, water features and many potential  photographic subjects.

If you are in the area (which if you are in Tucson you should be at least once) it is well worth a stop to check out this public art installation.

Hippie Gypsy is a “smoke shop” on 4th Ave. in Tucson, AZ.  The building is covered in murals featuring “Hippie” counter culture icons such as Jim Morrison and the Beatles.

If you have any interest in photography you undoubtedly know who Ansel Adams is.  His landscape photography, particularly of the Southwestern US, is world renowned.  So if you are in the Southwest between now and February 14, 2010 you have a great opportunity to check out an exhibit at the Tucson Museum of Art featuring more than 100 of his photographs.

Ansel Adams has ties to Tucson through the Center for Creative Photography that he co-founded at the University of Arizona in 1975.  A trip to Tucson to see the exhibit and then take in the Center for Creative Photography would be well worth it.  If you have extra time to spend in Tucson bring your camera and check out some of these top spots for photography in Tucson.

The Tucson Portrait Project is a public art display being installed in Tucson, AZ.  Recent reconstruction of the underpass at 4th Ave. allowed for Patch & Clark Design of Tucson to work on this photographic display of Tucsonans.  When complete it will feature two walls of nearly 7,000 4 x 4 photographic portrait tiles taken in February of 2009 of Tucson residents.  Although not finished, the first public reveal of the wall will be today, Thursday, August 20th.  A web site has also been launched where those featured on the tiles can see their portraits.  www.tucsonportraitproject.com

I suppose a little shameless self promotion never hurt.  I have had my first photograph published by someone other than myself (and not a friend or family).  I have a Flickr account where I post many of the same photos I put on shuttermike.com.  The other day I got an email through Flickr from a company called Schmap.com saying they selected one of my Tucson photos for the “short list” to be in the next edition of their Tucson Guide.  Then today I got another email from them saying they had selected the photo and it was now published in the new Tucson guide on schmaps.com.  Pretty cool.