Author Archives: GAR

Photographer’s Choice – Martin Seelig

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A Modern day Huck Finn?

Martin Seelig - Austin's Birthday

Martin Seelig - Austin's Birthday

Probably not but if you were casting a movie of the adventures of Huck, this young lad would be an excellent candidate. Martin captured this b&w shot of Austin on his birthday, sitting on the front porch between two buddies. The freckles, the smile and most of all the very casual haircut is strongly reminiscent of the carefree days of every boy growing up Martin says, ” I really like the expressions on the boys’ faces because it reminds me of a long time ago when I was a kid.” If you can look at this shot and not think back to your younger days when life was so much simpler and the days were passed looking for crawfish in the creek, you are missing something important. This photo was taken using film and Martin expressed the wish that he had had a faster film to allow more depth of field. In this case, it’s best he didn’t. The focus is exactly where it should be. And color would simply not have worked.
Technical Details:
Camera – Maxxum 9
Lens – Minolta 70-210mm at 210mm
Exposed at f4, 1/80th second
Film – Kodak PX 125 metered at 100
Developer – Adonal 1+50 for 13min

Photographer’s Choice – Pat Considine

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A Fiery Steed Ascends into the Heavens

Pat Considine - Galloping Across the Sky

Pat Considine - Galloping Across the Sky

Hamlet: Do you see yonder cloud that’s almost in shape of a camel?
Polonius: By th’ Mass, and ’tis like a camel, indeed.
Hamlet: Methinks it is like a weasel.
Polonius: It is backed like a weasel.
Hamlet: Or like a whale.
Polonius: Very like a whale

Hamlet shows his “madness” to the clueless Polonius using this age old kids game of reading cloud formations. Puffy white clouds continuously changing shape in the wind are the usual setting but Pat has upped the ante with this capture of a menacing August sky. This image of a  fiery mane and the sinewy body of a powerful steed climbing into the heavens is at the root of Greek mythology. Pat was actually framing and shooting the dramatic sky and didn’t realize until he processed the image that he had captured such a definable portrait, with even the hint of an ancient petroglyph. One of those pleasant surprises caused by being in the right place and pressing the shutter button at the magic moment.  An excellent example of creative photography.

This photograph is just one of several by ACC members now on display at the Ashe Arts Council, “The Skies Have It”.  The exhibit runs through Friday, February 3.  Stop by to check it out.