Cody at work...

After looking at the recent post from Cody, I submit this photo of the photographer in the moment.

Recentness

The scenes of Spring are phenomenal here in MT. The weather has been offering up some fantastic light and I'm excited knowing that it will only get better. Welcome back, wamth of Montana.

I will be updating the template soon. 'Links' has been useless forever and I plan to bring back the Participants list. As always, comments and requests are welcome. Thanks.

CR

Experience Music Project

I am doing a showing of some of some photos at Rockford Coffee, in Bozeman, next month. This will be my first showing of photos, so naturally everyone is invited to attend. I will post the details as they unravel. Here is a sample of some of the images I will be showing. The images are a textural study of the Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle. As a whole I don't find this Frank Gehry building particularly appealing, but when you are up close and personal with it, it has many different faces to connect to. These photos were taken on various days in 2001, 2002, and 2003.

A poignant memory

I was scheduled to do some portfolio work for a young model from Bozeman. She was going to arrive at my studio at about 10 am and we had several shots mapped out. I was getting the lights set up, cameras checked and loaded, having my morning coffee when an office mate from down the hall entered my studio, white as a ghost and visibly shaken. He asked if I had seen or heard what was going on in NYC. In a moment I was on the internet looking at the most horrific images of buildings collapsing, papers, concrete, steel and human bodies falling from the sky. A quick call to my sister in law relieved my fear that my nephew might have been in harms way... but the news was good. My nephew Theo had called briefly to say he and his wife were safe, but it was obvious that life, as we know it was about to change.

In walked Jill Jin, a young woman with a disheveled aura and eyes that were speaking of the pain in her heart, but not given to tears. She was wearing a garment of shock and apprehension. Conversation was difficult under the circumstances. We sat calmly and discussed the options of rescheduling the shoot. She was about to walk out, when I had the thought that these photos might be about something much more meaningful than images for a model portfolio. It was a time much un-like what I had expected, but I decided to capture the moment that was given to me... regardless. I uttered the idea as best I could and Jill agreed. The following images, although poignant have a very unique beauty. I could try to describe the moment in words, but I think the images speak for themselves.

Jill recently emailed me and asked for these images. Thanks to Jill, I relived those moments and rediscovered these images today. It caused me to dig down into my old files, like the memories of the painful realizations in life that we tend to forget. For some reason it was today of all days, when a highly disturbed student walks onto a campus in Virginia and takes over 30 innocent lives. My heart goes out to all those that lost loved ones on that day in New York several years ago, and today in Virginia.

So, in my late night thoughts, I don't know exactly how to bring this full circle, except to encourage all of us to embrace love and not hate, to practice compassion for ourselves and each other, and most of all to find forgiveness in our hearts.


Images Copyright 2007 Larry Stanley

Maybe this belongs on my personal blog. Cody, feel free to delete if you feel it's out of place. I thought I would stir the pot and see if other's would pour out the images and life experiences they've been sitting on! Sincerely, Larry

Music - front room style!

I've just got to share this place with folks around the Bozeman/Livingston area. Looking for an amazing place to take friend or campanion to hear some great music... up close??? I've got the place.

It's a home in the Springhill area that hosts the most intimate, amazing music experience in the area. It's like having a great talent come to your home for the evening. Big Sky High, is a spacious home/recording studio that is owned and operated by Dave Goodwin at the Goodwin Ranch. The great room and adjoining living room is filled with comfy couches and chairs. It holds about 100 people max. Put this place on your list for that special date.

Saturday night, we were invited to see Darrell Scott perform. Darrell is a well published singer/songwriter from Nashville. His voice and excellent guitar work is an experience not to be missed. He'll be performing again in the Livingston area this July 1st with a number of other famous performers. You should keep an eye on the Big Sky High website for details.

Also, I have to mention that this beautiful angel Jessica Kilroy played during the intermission. What a voice!

Here are a few images of the concert and the glowing hands of Darrell Scott. All images ©2007 Larry Stanley










And this is Jessica Kilroy...

April on the Yellowstone

I took my camera for a walk today, along with my Lab - Yeshe and my friend's Golden - Barker. After a week of really nice Spring-like weather that we've been enjoying here, along comes the real "Spring" weather. That's where you don't know what to expect next!

But... the visuals are great! It was a glowing, foggy wonderland that I'll share with you.

Chicago Transit woes...

The Chicago Transit Authority recently launched a $530 million dollar project to expand and upgrade the Brown line elevated tracks. Today they began the most restrictive part of the construction - complete elimination of a track and reduction of rail cars during rush hour. This part of the construction is scheduled for the next 3 years, much to the dismay and frustration of many Chicagoians. To commemorate this occasion, here is a photo of the old station at the Belmont Ave. stop (part of my old stomping grounds).