some favorites, 2011

Standing in front of the magazine rack at my local bookseller I realized that it was THAT time of year - you know, "person of the, who left us" time of year. It is also the "best images" time of year - Sports Illustrated Best Sports Photos Issue, Rock Climber Photo Annual, etc. So, here we go - the "chris smith photography blog best images of 2011".  Well, maybe not the best - but ones that were certainly memorable to make.

sunset, Bowen's Island

old kodachromes

When I photographed Jim Bloom cutting tobacco during the summer of 1988 I had no idea that the image would become the foundation for my "Last Farmers" project.  It was an early September evening, more August than fall, when I spotted Jim working his way down the rows of tobacco on his father's farm.  A roll of Kodachrome 200 and a 35mm Nikkor lens captured the scene. The beauty of Kodachrome was not only its longevity (100 years +, if archived properly), but it's colors.  When aged (I have some that are 60 years), the old slides begin to mellow to softer tones.  With the "Last Farmers" I digitally processed the photos as if they were 100 year old sepia-toned tintypes.  The look seemed to fit the project. Recently, however, I have been re-working many of the images, hoping to recreate the look of Kodachrome - a film and process that too, has slipped into the past.  The first photo, Jim & the original Kodachrome; the second, Loren Huddleston & Adobe Lightroom.

available light

I'm often asked what I mean when I say that a photo was shot in "available light" - and my stock answer is the old photo cliche, "any light that is available to you when you are there."  Sunlight, GE bulbs, overhead fluorescents, studio strobes - you get the idea.  This image, shot for Cincinnati Magazine's Best of the City issue, was done with available light - late day rainy sky & overhead fluorescents and a little white fill card.  

catching up

A couple of images got lost in the shuffle, so as we edge closer to winter here's a little of autumn, not too long ago.

headed home

Nothing like a wet, winding backroad.  Mix in a Camaro SuperSport and you've got pure fun, 
all the way home.

the casino shoot

At French Lick, taking photographs of the Resort's Casino, and my client Doug suggests we put our models (employees of the resort) up on the elevated stand with the Harley that the casino is giving away. Not a good idea, I think.  Guess I was wrong...