Triptych: TRIP-tik: a picture in three panels side by side.

Would you describe my  family triptych portrait session?

My Triptychs Are An Interpretive Work Of Portrait Art

I strive for my triptychs to create a provocative, powerful and insightful moment in your lives.  It’s much more than a “family portrait”.

Our First Meeting Is Informative

It’s a time for  questions but more  importantly to view the triptychs full scale.  It’s very difficult to appreciate the impact of a work of art that can be over 5’ wide when it is confined to a computer screen and appears 6” wide.

A Triptych Session Is An Interactive Process

The shooting day is relaxed and slowly paced.  We meet, ask and answer questions, select clothing, prepare for the sitting, then adjourn to the studio.

There is A Strong Urge To Sit, Look Into The Camera And Smile. Please, Suppress It.

Unlike a typical portrait session, this one is designed to capture a moment in time and reveal your individual personalities.  We’ve all been trained to sit, look into the camera and smile. This is quite different.   As the family begins to naturally interact, my camera and I fade into the background.

My Mission

I capture the nuances of expression, which I accomplish by photographically splitting your group into thirds: The left third, the right third, and the center third.

At the session’s close, I have captured upwards of 200 frames. Before you leave, we set a date to review the final selection and to choose your triptych.

Images before editing

The photographer shakes up the familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it.   - With apologies to Anais Nin

Now, my behind the scene work begins.  The images are spread out on a virtual table dividing them into their respective thirds: left, right, center. Next I edit the initial large take to a select 40-60 images.  From this select, I assemble 1-5 potential triptychs for your final selection. .   Before we meet, I may devote  an entire day assembling images to create your family triptych selection.

Gestalt: The Whole Is Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts

The last meeting begins with an air of excitement. I stress how the family triptych should be viewed as a whole.  If anything, they are similar to three frames of cinema film. One plays into the next creating a dynamic interchange.

During the process, an image may be substituted from the select group. This is welcomed. As family members you know each other better than I.  I’m intuitive but not all knowing .

The triptych is brought to life through my imagery and our partnership. It is therefore essential this last step be completed in one sitting without input from others who may not understand the nature of the triptychs.

By the end of the session, your triptych is selected. Then, three to four weeks later, I delivery your beautiful framed work of portrait art.

Family Triptych

The Benham Studio Gallery had its farewell party Sunday night. Its doors close for good December 24th, 2009.

Marita outside Benham 12/08

WOW!! What a party and what a run!!

As usual, Marita provided a venue for the creatives of Seattle to celebrate, catch up, swap stories, and exchange a few ideas. The gallery doors will soon be closed but Marita Holdaway, the gallery owner and driving force of Benham, is still around. You will now find her roaming the San Juans, involved with arts groups or virtually at http://www.benhamgallery.com. Marita provided many, many things to the Seattle art community.  However, for me,  the gallery space represented an extension of her ability to bring people and ideas together. Of course, there are several other wonderful photo galleries in Seattle but to my knowledge none have created the unique environment that Benham Studio Gallery provided.

The Gallery was the conduit to meet local as well as out-of-town photographers.

It’s doors opened the opportunities to share dinners, drinks, tell a few jokes and explore ideas. That will be missed. Over the years I connected with photographers from around the globe. Many of which I have stayed in touch with and have even created meaningful friendships with a few. The 90’s at the Benham through Marita were a great time for social networking…Perhaps Benham Studio Gallery was one of the first “social networking” media, years before the internet made the term common place.

Benham Studio Gallery will be missed.

I’m confident that Seattle will spawn another meeting place for us photographers. Perhaps it’s here and I haven’t found it yet! Regardless, Farewell Benham Gallery and

to Marita: Your photographic community and I love you

and wish continued success. Bon Voyage!

Last week I had a party for a few clients and friends ( See Party Pics).  I made gumbo for several days.

Maybe as much as a couple of gallons. In my desire to be a gracious host, I also ordered another 3/4 gallon from Marcela’s in Pioneer Square.  The top chef and co-owner is Anthony a true New Orleans son who migrated here after the distructive storms of earlier in this decade. As traditional and reminiscent of New Orleans fare as I’ve tasted in Seattle. Check it out!

In the end, I had three gumbo offerings: sausage and chicken (from Marcela’s); andouille sausage, shrimp, chicken; and, turkey sausage, chicken, shrimp and okra. Sorry no vegetarian gumbo…

My event was a big success and I was pleased with the turn out and food.  Although copious amounts of gumbo were consumed, I ended up with about one gallon that I continue to enjoy.

At the same time as my friends and I were celebrating life, a long time business chum passed away. It’s always hard to talk about death, but in David Azose’s death I discovered an abundance of life and tradition. I attended his funeral. I was unaware but David was a Jewish and the funeral seemed to be very traditional, possibly Reform Jewish.

I arrived minutes before the ceremony and was greeted to my delight by a full auditorium. First, I sat next to a woman who discreetly informed me the men sat on the right.  I turned to see most of them wore yamakas.  The rabbi spoke eloquently in Hebrew and English. After a few minutes, a simple pine or wooden casket was wheeled by me to the front. I  have been to less than a dozen funerals in my life and I was a bit surprised and discomforted by the casket being wheeled down the aisle.  Reflecting on this mild discomfort, I also reveled in the tradition and reverence extended. There were many stirring reflections on David’s life. It was clear of the countless ways in which David touched so very many people.  In less than an hour the service was over.

Afterward, I  drove to the corner, parked for a moment, cried, took in the experience and began to move through my day. As the day continued to unfold, I reflected on that hour of love, mourning, grief and the appreciation of being allowed a moment with death, remembrance and ultimately underscoring how thankful I am for having this time. Although these are tough times, as a middle class American and artist, I am thankful I can provide a needed service mostly on my own terms and live in a remarkable city…

It’s been observed, that all southern men are heavily influenced by their mothers.  My mother, in her own way, wasn’t much different. In 1974 after two years in the Army, I was prepared to return to my life, such as it was, in Baton Rouge. My mother took me aside and said, “If you don’t leave the south now, you never will”.  She was prepared to “lose” me in order to open my horizons.

Traveling West '74Army ID 1972

Army I.D. 1972

This then is how I began my travels through the west ending in May of 1975 in Seattle. Fresh into town, I found Seattle to be a grand place to live, except for the weather.  That first summer passed pleasantly into fall. October of ’75 had one day without rain. I made it through and I have learned to cope with the long days without sunshine. I purchased a rain jacket, cap, a pair of Birkenstocks, hiking boats and went forward.

I had four years of G.I. bill to use, a great desire to learn and some grand schools from which to choose.  After my third degree, the last being in bio-medical photography, I left the NW for a job in Birmingham, AL.  There I managed the medical photography department of the University of Alabama’s medical school. After 4 months I moved on.   I can say it was a poor match up on both sides.  I  returned to the NW. My mother’s message was whispering in my ear to leave the south.  As much as I love the south, it’s culture, the food, my close friends and family, the Northwest is and was a better fit.

I moved to Tacoma for a job with the Army, this time as a civilian. For a while I worked as a medical photographer at Madigan Hospital before being hired by the UW. In January of ’80, I became the UW’s second “official” photographer. For over a decade I honed my craft, raised a family and along the way grew restless. Ready to seek new adventures, I started a commercial photography business. After a few years of part-time UW and part-time commercial work and with a gulp and a boot I  hurled myself  full-time into freelance photographer. It was the early 90’s.

Jon Shirley and Bill Gates Microsoft Annual Report

My  first important commercial assignment was for a then small and little known company called Microsoft. I recall on a Thursday I meet with Microsoft’s art director, she reviewed my work and said, “Great! We’ll start the annual on Monday.” I wasn’t totally sure what we’d do, but I went home and told my wife that it paid really well and I’d be traveling to NYC among other places.” My next annual report was for Nordstrom but took  1 1/2 years to snare and a lot of portfolio reviews. From then forward, I was busy with primarily corporate work, teaching & lecturing, portrait and personal work.

From there to here has been 20+ years. Annual reports are almost a thing of the past. My art director friend left Microsoft a decade ago. Now my focus is  on portrait work, teaching, creative pursuits and staying  close to Seattle.

This is my first posting on my blog. To be honest, I don’t exactly know what I’m supposed to do here. I did some inter-net research and no one seems to have an answer.  I hope my occasional words are of interest to anyone out in cyberland.

Enjoy and carpe diem

Thanks to Rebecca Bolte for her help with the lovely new site!