I know this one is a little on the dark side, but I absolutely love it!

Also, Thank you Joe Paul for second shooting!

 I admit it, I can't stop myself from buying every cool old camera I find in thrift stores, pawn shops, or on craigslist.

  It may be a fad that will die out in a couple years to love the washed out colors and grainy low contrast images of old polaroids and plastic lens cameras. I don't care though, because a good image is a good image regardless of format. I've had a lot of fun shooting with some of my plastic lens 35mm  cameras that I've found here and there for less than a dollar each. It's a more fun way to get into low-fi photography (or lomography or holgagraphy or whatever you call it) to spend 35 cents on a plastic camera and shoot a roll than to buy a new "retro" camera for $50. You never know what you've got, and you never know what to expect from the negatives until you see them.

These are two more I picked up tonight at a thrift store. The polaroid was a quarter and the little "Kan Kon" was ninety nine cents. Of course feeding them will cost more, but its all for fun anyway. I'm wanting to do a few polaroid albums for portrait sessions. That's definitely something not all your friends get when they get their portrait made.

I'm shooting all week at Millcreek MX in Pell City, AL for the 2011 Thor Spring Classic amateur national motocross race. Practice ran all day Tuesday on Millcreek's slightly wet (but still very nice) track. It was overcast all day but for the most part the rain held off until practice was over. There were a few classes that I missed because of a little rain that I didn't want in my camera. So if you're looking through the albums and can't find your rider, either their photos haven't uploaded yet, or they were riding in the rain. Either way, I'll be shooting all the races this week and should have plenty of shots of every class.

Today (Wednesday) looks like a wash. Due to the crazy amount of rain that got dumped on us last night and this morning, RPM Sports has decided to delay racing until the track can be dried out a little and cleaned up. Racing will be pushed back to Thursday around . Until then, check out the shots from practice at http://photosteven.zenfolio.com/2011springclassic.

Check out Vurb Moto's (www.vurbmoto.com) blog for awesome photo/video updates on who's who in the amateur national scene this year at Millcreek. Also stay updated on the track's website at www.millcreekmotocross.com.

Here are a few shots from practice. To see more and order prints, click here http://photosteven.zenfolio.com/2011springclassic

If you have a show or event coming up and need photos, contact me through my website at www.PhotoSteven.com

I've learned that to incorporate light painting into a portrait (or portraiture into light painting), I have to take into consideration what I want to be in front. Its like layering in photoshop. In this one I first popped the subject (my bro James) with a speedlight through a small softbox. Then while he stood completely still, I ran around him waving my red light around to make the designs behind and beside him. If he had moved away from where he was standing, the light from the red torch would cover over his face and body. By the way, this is the only image that was photoshoped in this post. The rest are exactly as they were out of the camera except for some cropping.

The green orb in this one is an example of how hard it is to compose while standing in front of a camera in total darkness. My intention was to center the green orb up in the middle of the blue. I still love the green lines in both of these.

I hope some of you go out and play around with some lights soon. As always, please leave a comment and don't forget to find me on facebook and twitter.

Bummed out folks seeking shelter at the concession building.

Kevin Cozadd

When I got to the track it was pretty soggy from all the rain and no sign of getting any better. After wrapping my D90 with a 18-200 lens up in a plastic walmart bag I ran for cover in the stands where Kevin Kozad of MXers For Jesus was getting ready to have church with a bunch of sleepy looking muddy riders. If for nothing else I got to listen to Kevin's sermon and have church in the mud. I didn't get many photos, but I kicked the D90 into video and got Kevin's message below. Its shaky but the audio isn't too bad.

Only a couple minutes after the service, the track owner came out and announced that he was calling the race due to the weather and condition of the track. Not much you can do to control mother nature. Many riders had come from neighboring states to race. I loaded up, headed home, and slept the rest of the day :) Maybe I'll have better luck next week.

Lately I've had a lot to reflect on and evaluation of my current priorities. I'm excited for the direction that photography has taken me in the past year. At the same time, I miss music, old friends, and time that can't be had again.

Enough sentiment, I'm ready for this weekend. I'm lucky to be doing one of the things I love, photographing people. Coming to grips with what drives me to capture a still millisecond of someone else's existence leaves me with only the idea that I do it to better understand people. To catch that second of a smile, laugh, tear, or thoughtful empty gaze. I'm pretty happy with where I am and wherever I'm heading.

Please leave me a comment below.


 

Prints from the races are available in the recent shoots section of my site.   RECENT
I'm looking forward to shooting at the AMPMX August Classic this weekend. Come out for some great racing. Feel free to comment with any questions