stop action video FTW

I got bogged down editing a personal project: portraits I made at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival in 2010 and 2012.
 

What to do?

A stop action video using about 3000 of the images I shot. It's sort of a home  movie for a very large, very knit covered family.  I purposefully kept it a little wonky, and very speedy. When the book and e-book come up, everyone can stare athe images as long as they wish! 

Meanwhile, how fun to use this medium to give a sneak peek of what I am up to. And so many  people have watched it--over 11,000 in the last 10 days--you have to admire the power of online videos. 

More info here.  Enjoy!

RIP Phyllis Diller: a photo shoot to remember

A decade ago I was assigned to shoot a portrait of Phyllis Diller, the great comedian. I walked in to her hotel suite at the arranged time.  No fuss, no publicist.   Just me, my assistant and her famous big laugh. After talking for a few minutes, one thing was clear. Phyllis Diller was a brilliant woman. Trained as a concert pianist, she became a comedian to support her family, at a time when women just didn't do that. All the domestic ineptness, over-the-top shtik? A persona. Phyllis Diller was a performance artist, before we knew what that was.

She was wearing a perfectly tailored royal blue suit. After making some photos in the sitting area, we decided to play around with the location--a large suite at a spa hotel. A fluffy robe was borrowed from the gift shop, my assistant  overfilled a bath with bubbles, Ms Diller made a wardrobe  change.  Somewhere in the mix, I found myself standing there talking to her, in a marble and brass bathroom, with my camera in one hand and her bra in the other. I'm glad to say I had the presence of mind to stop and just appreciate the moment, before we started shooting again.

What an honor.  Rest in peace, Ms Diller.

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See more portraits of brilliant people (some funnier than others) on my website.

the joy of organization

There are people who organize linearly. Everything in a row, filed away off the desk, alphabetized and outlined using roman numerals and letters. Then there are those  who need some randomness to function. Maybe they just don't like to follow rules?

sept 99 1st day of kindergarten........last day of high school 2012

I might be one of those people. But yesterday, having a system made my day.

The concept: It was my younger son's last day of high school. On his way out, I insisted he stop to pose on the front step, just like he did starting kindergarten. Maybe, um,  a little less eagerly.

Next idea: I'd pair the photos. The kindergarten shot was 1999, pre-digital. I had to really think hard to recall what my filing system was for color negs then- and there they were, in the 8/99 box

Mission accomplished. 

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see more family life moments sprinkled in my portfolio at www.gzucker.com

peace conflict

I want to choose the perfect photo for you. Something for the season. Something with some meaning, maybe unusual. Or funny. Or, though it's not usually my thing, breathtakingly beautiful. Something just right. 

I've been saving this image all year but, now that it's the right time, I'm thinking it's a little odd.  

 Wishing you a season of love, a new year of prosperity, and a clarity of vision. 

P E A C E