Thursday, January 30, 2014

Shooting Around the Politics

I have been fortunate within the past year to have had an opportunity to photograph the Ohio governor and two successive mayors of the city of Cincinnati. Admittedly i have only seen eye-to-eye politically with one of these three men (and i won't tell you which), but it is not my place as a photojournalist to place the weight of my own politics on the portraits i have taken of these gentlemen for publication. Hopeful any elected official will be judged by his or her actions and accomplishments, not by how well i managed to make them look in my photographs.
The Feburary Cincy Magazine is running my image of recently elected Mayor John Cranley on the cover.

Cincinnati; Mayor; John Cranley
©David Sorcher 2014

Honestly this was the last photo i expected to see show up on this month's cover and i'll tell you why in a moment. In fact i had no idea i was even shooting for a possible cover that day. This shoot didn't evolve in anyway similar to my shoot with the out-going mayor Mark Mallory just a few weeks earlier. Mark was scheduled as a dedicated photo shoot. It was just me and Mark (with, of course, both mine and the mayor's assistants in tow) and Mark offered me an unprecedented amount of his time and the keys to the castle, so to speak, leading to the most excellent location for our clock tower shots (definitely my favorite portrait session of the year). For Mayor Cranley, however, i came along with the interviewer, Peter Bronson. I hate to generalize, but that almost always puts me, as the photographer, at somewhat of a disadvantage. This is, of course, no fault of Pete. When time is at a premium, as i was sure it was that morning with a brand new mayor attempting to sort out the business of his new office, the interview, the words, are always going to take precedence. I ran into the same situation when i shot Governor Kasich.

Cincinnati; Mayor; John Cranley
©David Sorcher 2014

So the great majority of my photographs of the mayor that morning were existing light candids taken during the interview process. As Pete questioned the Mayor on everything from influences to the streetcar controversy i stealthily circled the room trying my best to find moments of either stillness or expressiveness and hopefully come away with at least a few shots where the subject's mouth wasn't awkwardly open in some half-stated response. 

Cincinnati; Mayor; John Cranley
©David Sorcher @2014

I wasn't quite sure exactly how much time the mayor was willing to give us, but as the interview dragged on i was pretty sure that any time i would have one-on-one with Mr. Cranley was going to be short. So at one point i stopped shooting and set up an umbrella light at the mayor's desk in preparation for the possibility of some posed shots. Now, i wasn't all that excited about a shot at his desk. It is, after all, the expected shot of office, a standard set up with desk, chair and flags in the background. I did a similar shot for Mayor Mallory just to cover all the bases and hoped that the magazine would have the good taste to use one of my more inventive options (they did). But as the clock ticked on it was looking more and more like i would have few other opportunities, if any, for a posed shot. Sure enough, once Pete had finished i had no more than just a couple of short minutes to shoot the image which would become this month's cover. I took only three or four frames before the members of the mayor's ten o'clock meeting began filing into the room. As the meeting started i was still breaking down my light stand. If i had not had the forethought to set up my lights in advance i would have only had the candids to submit. Fortunately the mayor gave me at least one good expression and it all worked out. 

Cincinnati; Mayor; John Cranley
©David Sorcher 2014

Being the perfectionist i tend to be it would probably be fair to say that i left that morning not feeling fully satisfied with the images i had captured, though not too worried since i was not yet aware that the magazine was thinking they might find a cover shot in there somewhere. Still, i wanted to offer them a bit more to choose from. I had taken it upon myself to spend a good part of the mayor's first day in office earlier that week down at City Hall because the much heated streetcar debate seemed to be coming to a head. To give you the short story, the Cincinnati streetcar is a controversial project that had received much support from the previous mayor and administration. It was cleared to proceed, but Mayor Cranley had run on a platform that promised to squash the program and the newly elected city council had lost its solid majority in favor of proceeding. Hundreds of citizens turned out to speak their mind on the subject and the new mayor's agenda was put immediately to the test. 

Cincinnati; Mayor; John Cranley
©David Sorcher 2014

Cincinnati; Mayor; John Cranley
©David Sorcher 2014

Above Mayor Cranley is seen reviewing the proposed routes for the streetcar as citizens speak to the city council in an open meeting. After a short stoppage of a couple of weeks to review the figures work has indeed continued on the streetcar. Two councilmen were convinced to change their vote on the matter after the review. It was undoubtable a major blow to the mayor's agenda and probably seemed an inconceivable turn of events at the time of his interview. 
If you catch me at the bar someday i might actually have something to say about politicians, issues and streetcar projects over a beer and a shot. Like anyone else, i have opinions, perhaps stronger than most. But when it comes to talking about these photographs you will no doubt find my discussion limited to ƒ-stops and shutter speeds, framing, ISO and lighting techniques. While i was privy to the conversation, having been in the room at the time, i have not read the article and will not be commenting on anything that our new mayor may have said in his interview with Mr. Bronson. I am and will remain photographically neutral on politics.  








Friday, January 17, 2014

Frostbite Fridays

I layered myself well, i really did, steeling myself against the bitter, wind-whipping cold outside because i just can't let the fact that Cincinnati is actually having a winter this year stay this intrepid photographer from the pursuit of his sacred art…but it just wasn't enough. Sure, i was toasty warm all over, Literally from head to toe…except, of course, for my naked fingers sticking out of my super cool, glow in the dark, skeleton hand, cut-off gloves. My goal was another trip to Wesleyan Cemetery, now beautifully dusted with a thin layer of snow. But i couldn't get more than a few block before i realized that my hands were so vulnerable that shooting was impossible. My fingers were quickly heading for frostbite. It took more than 5 minutes after i got home for the severe pain to subside. The tips of my fingers are still tingling as i type.
Lesson learned. Tomorrow i hit Northside surplus for some real gloves.
I did manage a few captures before surrendering to the pain…

©David Sorcher 2014

©David Sorcher 2014

©David Sorcher 2014

©David Sorcher 2014

©David Sorcher 2014

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A Walk in the Boneyard

Well, 2014 is definitely here as we hit the midpoint of the month of January. We survived the brutal cold of the Polar Vortex, but yesterday the temperature was back up again to an almost balmy 48ºF. I'd been doing a lot of hibernating, but finally got out in the daylight for a good walk. I headed over to Wesleyan Cemetery, an historic boneyard in my Northside neighborhood that was founded way back in 1843. Strangely (for me), i have only been in this cemetery once and a second visit was long over due.

Wesleyan Cemetery; Cincinnati; Northside
©David Sorcher 2014

Wesleyan Cemetery; Cincinnati; Northside
©David Sorcher 2014

Wesleyan Cemetery; Cincinnati; Northside
©David Sorcher 2014

Wesleyan Cemetery; Cincinnati; Northside
©David Sorcher 2014

Wesleyan has had a rough and litigious history. It was mismanaged and overgrown for years (wish i had visited it back then) and many of the stones and graves have been disturbed. It has been somewhat renovated, but the landscape still resembles something of a battleground. This only adds to the intrigue of the place for me. 

Wesleyan Cemetery; Cincinnati; Northside
©David Sorcher 2014

Wesleyan Cemetery; Cincinnati; Northside
©David Sorcher 2014

Wesleyan Cemetery; Cincinnati; Northside
©David Sorcher 2014

Wesleyan Cemetery; Cincinnati; Northside
©David Sorcher 2014

Some big old trees had been taken down recently and i found the patterns and lines in the cut wood very attractive. Frankly i was not sure where i was heading when i set out and probably would have brought a tripod along if i knew i would be doing this kind of work, but i made do with a steady hand for these close-ups with the macro. 
I believe this location bears more exploration on my part and expect that you will be seeing more from here in the near future. 




Thursday, January 2, 2014

Favorite Images of 2013

This past year has certainly been and interesting one, but then, aren't they all? It's been a year of ups and downs for me for sure, but all in all i am still measuring my water glass as more half full than empty. My greatest disappointments probably stem mostly from the falling off of teaching assignments. Seems the kids just aren't enrolling for a photography education these days so after four years of steady work as an educator i have had no classes to teach since the summer. But i've taking that extra time to gather my strength around my personal projects and believe this has not been a bad thing on the creative side of things even if the pocketbook has suffered somewhat. I got work into three different group shows this year which was a great experience for me and has fueled my desire to mount at least one solo show in the coming year (the closest i will come to a New Year's resolution ;->). I would image that 2014 will be yet another "interesting" year.
In reflection i would like to post some of my favorite images from 2013. My last blog entry was pure music photography so i will leave those out of this collection, but being the eclectic photographer that i am i will show images from a number of the different genres i work in. Please remember to click on any image for an enlarged gallery view. Enjoy!

Nova Scotia
©David Sorcher 2013

Nova Scotia; Ice
©David Sorcher 2013

Nova Scotia; Ice
©David Sorcher 2013

Nova Scotia
©David Sorcher 2013

Nova Scotia; Inlet; Birds
©David Sorcher 2013

Last year at this time i was in Nova Scotia. In more than a decade of yearly visits to my wife's family this was the very first time i got to experience this most beautiful place in the wintertime. It opened up an entirely new aspect of its beauty for me.

Cheese cake
©David Sorcher 2013

I did promise you all genres of photography. Of course , this is really just a landscape done with foodstuffs instead of land, rocks and trees. I usually avoid direct sunlight when shooting food, but this strip of light created such a nice accent and a luscious color in the caramel.

Garden of the Gods
©David Sorcher 2013

Garden of the Gods
©David Sorcher 2013

Garden of the Gods
©David Sorcher 2013

Garden of the Gods
©David Sorcher 2013

Speaking of landscapes, i had the pleasure of spending a morning in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs this year, a location i certainly need to return to. 

©David Sorcher 2013

This young lady was the first portrait of the year that i was really happy with. It was shot for an article about the impact of student loans forcing new grads to live with their parents again in order to afford making payments. I was pleased with the symbolism of the swing tying my subject back to her childhood roots along with the home in the background with mom and dad on the porch. 

Roller Derby; Battering Rams
©David Sorcher 2013

Roller Derby; Battering Rams
©David Sorcher 2013

Roller Derby; Battering Rams
©David Sorcher 2013

Roller Derby; Battering Rams
©David Sorcher 2013

The past few years i have become very fond of shooting our local Rollergirl teams. This year was the start of our men's team, the Battering Rams. I look forward to shooting them more this year. 

Cincinnati; Ben-Gals
©David Sorcher 2013

As you might image, very few things are quite as unpleasant as being forced to spend an afternoon on the playing field with the Cincinnati Ben-gals. Poor, poor me! ;-)

Monsanto; Protest; Cincinnati
©David Sorcher 2013

It was a slow year for protest photography, especially after spending so much time in the previous two shooting Occupy Cincinnati. So i was excited to get back in the streets for this anti-Monsanto demonstration. 

©David Sorcher 2013

I just loved the light and the moment here, a timeless interaction between father and son.

©David Sorcher 2013

Here is another of my favorite portraits of the year, this one of my beautiful wife Veronica. 

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

These are a few interior still life images that i am fond of, shot in my in-law's home in Nova Scotia.

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

Of course i do tend to spend more time outdoors when in Nova Scotia. 

©David Sorcher 2013

A long exposure painting-with-light image of the island cabin is one of the few times i have experimented with this technique. Perhaps more is ahead in the coming year. 

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

And a bit of northern wildlife from the summer trip to Nova Scotia. 

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

OK, probably best we take a break from Nova Scotia at this point. Obviously it is a place that yields a lot of good images for me. You're probably all a little bit thirst right now, so let's take a look at a few of my favorite drink shots from the year. 

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

I have come to receive great satisfaction from capturing a good drink shot, something i need to do fairly frequently as i shoot a lot of bar and restaurant tour galleries for the local newspaper. 
Of course, maybe you would like something a bit more solid with that beverage. So here are a few of my favorite food shots of the year. 

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

OK, lunch is over. Let's move on… :-)

©David Sorcher 2013

I've been shooting the morning kitchen light off and on a lot this year and this is one of my most satisfying efforts on that front.

©David Sorcher 2013

Hopefully this autumn funerary image won't upset you after all that food and drink. :-)

©David Sorcher 2013

I love these yin/yang bees all dusted with pollen. This and the next few shots were all from a trip to the Kingston area of Canada. 

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013 

©David Sorcher 2013 

The following images are from my shoot with the Governor of Ohio earlier this year. I didn't really have any one-on-one attention with him as i would have liked. He was either on the podium or engaged with the writer for the interview, but i was pretty happy with my performance as a photographer, even if i am not so fond of his performance as governor. 

Govenor John Kasich
©David Sorcher 2013

Govenor John Kasich
©David Sorcher 2013

Govenor John Kasich; Ohio
©David Sorcher 2013

Govenor John Kasich; recycling
©David Sorcher 2013

I added the last image because it gives reason and purpose to the event i was shooting the governor at, the opening of a new electronics recycling plant. Finding a good significant tie in shot at an event like this is always a challenge and i was pleased when the magazine i was shooting for recognized my effort by publishing one of the shots from this perspective. 

Cincinnati; Mayor Mark Mallory
©David Sorcher 2013

Cincinnati; Mayor Mark Mallory
©David Sorcher 2013

Cincinnati; Mayor Mark Mallory
©David Sorcher 2013

I had more political opportunities this year, capturing outgoing Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory for a legacy article in Cincy Magazine. This was probably my favorite portrait session of the entire year. The best of these shots for me were taken in the clock tower at City Hall and getting up there was an awesome experience in and of itself. The final triptych was shot a couple of days earlier at the mayor's final State of the City address. 
I am not sure why i am turning all my favorite portraits to black & white, but there is just something classic about them that way. I like the way the monochrome removes all distractions of color and allows the viewer to fully focus on the person in the frame. 

Julia Knight; Country Music
©David Sorcher 2013

Julia Knight; Country Music
©David Sorcher 2013

Julia Knight; Country Music
©David Sorcher 2013

Julia Knight; Country Music
©David Sorcher 2013

A poised 17 year old singer/songwriter Julia Knight was another of my favorite portrait sessions of the past year. Again i lean towards the black & white, but i am also fond of the analogous relationships in the color renditions. 

©David Sorcher 2013

©David Sorcher 2013

I'll end on this note, not to seem particularly dark or macabre, but because this body of work that i call Future Fossils is foremost on my docket for manifesting into a physical gallery show this year. In the symbolism of the tarot the death card signifies not the end, but change. Of course we all pray for that change to be a positive one, but change, like death, is inevitable, so i welcome it with the accepting passive passion of a Buddhist monk. Happy 2014 everybody! May the changes to come be positive and rewarding for all. :-)