David Sorcher's PhotoWorld

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Slippin' Through the Alley…

©David Sorcher 2014

Ah, the finicky weather of March. Yesterday it was sunny and 70º, today it's in the thirties and raining. So glad i got outside when i did. Cincinnati is a town with some great alleys. My neighborhood of Northside in particular has some of my favorites. These alleys once saw a lot of use as back entrances to homes, but now they are largely ignored. I continue my exploration of Northside down some roads less traveled by…

©David Sorcher 2014

Of course, i need to get to an alley first. With the late afternoon sun providing some nice light and shadow play i found some images along the main drag of Hamilton Ave. hard to ignore.

©David Sorcher 2014

I was drawn by the color combo here, almost a primary relationship (though the dress on the right is a bit green/blue).

©David Sorcher 2014

Park Chili is a bit of an institution in Northside, though i must admit i have never eaten there. But i do love the architecture of this building and its classic signage.

©David Sorcher 2014

As i was crouching to shoot the hood ornament on this rusty old Jaguar the car owner called out to me "Hey, why are you taking a picture of that car?" I gave him the only answer i know, "Because i'm a photographer." It seemed to satisfy him.

©David Sorcher 2014

This was my target alley, one i have never walked before, but had taken notice of the night before. It just seemed inviting, don't you think?

©David Sorcher 2014

These alleys once provide off street access to homes, but that access has mostly been sealed off, i suppose for security purposes. Driveways and gates are now walled or fenced off.

©David Sorcher 2014

Old garages stand mostly unused and in disrepair.

©David Sorcher 2014

Nature meets metal and loses. This old tree trunk clings to the chain link fence it grew up into as it now rots away.

©David Sorcher 2014

Another old garage that might now be used for storage, but is no longer used for vehicles.

©David Sorcher 2014

Re-purposed Coke bottles hang is a backyard as bird feeders.

©David Sorcher 2014

Northside native artwork decorates a post. A totem or a warning?

©David Sorcher 2014

Where there is an "in" there is also an "out" and i found a few more images on my way home from the alley shoot.

©David Sorcher 2014

My parting shot for the day of the Park Cafe and now shuttered old Safe-A-Lot store. Contrails in the sky seemed a prediction of the gray, cold day to follow, but there was surely a sense of spring in the air this day.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Diverse By Design

Last week certain showed the level of diversity that is sometimes involved in my work. I have often read that in order to have a successful photography career the trick is to specialize, but frankly i just don't know how that is possible in journalism. Within a week's time i shot men's Roller Derby, The Eagles concert, breaking news of the illegal Greenpeace action at P&G headquarters, a school board debate on arming teachers in schools, the Bockfest parade, food shots and interiors for a restaurant opening and finally back to Roller Derby action, this time with the women's team at their home opener.

©David Sorcher 2014

First, men's Roller Derby. The Cincinnati Battering Rams are a relatively young team, but they looked strong in this match-up with the Chicago Bruise Brothers. You can view my full gallery of the game HERE.

©David Sorcher 2014

I've never considered myself much of an Eagles fan, but their history and number of hit songs cannot be denied. Many of you probably know how much i enjoy shooting live music regardless of the genre. Frankly i am concentrating so much on the images that i hardly hear the music anyway. This was a sound board shoot, which none of us concert shooters are very fond of, but i had the luxury of using a 200-400mm zoom which took just a little bit of the pain off that restriction. You can see more of this show HERE.

©David Sorcher 2014

I was very excited to shoot for Greenpeace again and had a great time shooting the unfolding drama of activist on the P&G towers as they hung giant banners on the building deriding P&G's use of palm oil from Indonesian rain forests while hanging from climbing gear. You can see more of this shoot HERE.

©David Sorcher 2014

On Thursday i was called to cover a special school board meeting in Boone Co. on a plan to arm teachers in some Kentucky school. There were speakers on both sides of the issue, but in the end the board chose not to follow through on the plan. You can see more of this shoot HERE.

©David Sorcher 2014

I shot the annual Bockfest opening on Friday, certainly my favorite beer-centric festival in Cincinnati (yes, we have quite a few). You can see more of this shoot HERE.

I cannot speak for the food or drink, which i have yet to try, but Dick's Last Resort made for a very colorful photo shoot on Saturday. You can see more HERE.

And finally i came full circle Saturday night back to the flat track of Roller Derby, this time with our women's team at the Cincinnati Gardens. I've been a big fan of this sport (especially the grrrls) since it began here in Cincy and will always jump at the chance to shoot it when offered. See more HERE.

So there you have it, my week in photos. I hope you enjoyed it as much as i did. I am sure that many photographers are quite happy and secure in their speciality fields, but there is something to be said for not knowing exactly what might be next on your plate…and i wouldn't have it any other way. :-)