Reminders...

The older I get, the more it seems I surround myself with reminders.  Depending on where I am, those reminders can be Post-It notes, things stuck on the fridge with magnets, scraps of paper with unintelligible notes scribbled on them sitting on my desk, etc. But those are not the type of reminders I was thinking of...

This is the coffee mug I use at work.  While it may seem odd that a UCF employee (and alum) would use a University of Florida-related coffee cup, this is (you guessed it) a reminder.  For nearly 12 of the 15 years (so far) I have worked for UCF, I was in the Career Services department.  Since career services departments are not football teams, all 10 state University career centers enjoyed a collaborative, non-competitive relationship. There was a time, several years ago, when we helped the UF Career Center setup their recruitment management software.  It was on that visit to Gainesville when I got this coffee cup.

Okay, blah, blah, blah work, blah blah blah.  What's my point?  Well, this coffee cup from the UF Career Center was given to me by Dr. Wayne Wallace, their director. At the time I took it home, tossed it in the cabinet with the dozen or so other coffee mugs and didn't think much of it. A few years later (which, coincidentally was a few years ago), Wayne passed away after a very brief illness. When I heard of his passing, I dug out the coffee cup and brewed a cup. Turned out that the coffee tasted exactly the same as every other cup of coffee in every other coffee mug, but I enjoyed that cup just a little more.  So, to make a long story even longer, I brought the cup in to use at work. Now, every day I have a cup of coffee and a reminder of a respected colleague who is no longer here.  And, just like the phenomenon that happened at home, I enjoy each cup just a little bit more than if it were in one of the other mugs.

No real point to make today, other than to perhaps suggest that you surround yourself with things that make you smile or mean something to you.  The world can be a dark place sometimes, and things like this can add a little bit of light when it's needed. 

Fridge Magnets

A few months after my mother passed away, my father gave up traveling.  They were a traveling team, and I guess Dad just didn't want to do it on his own.  That's understandable, as my parents had been road junkies for as long as I can remember.

I still remember visiting Niagara Falls at the age of 3, and driving to Florida when I was 8.  In those days, Disney had ticket books for their rides.  Space Mountain was an E-Ticket, as I recall... Back then I-95 wasn't complete all the way through Florida, and you had to get off the Interstate and drive surface roads in some areas.  We didn't take Interstates all the time anyway, there were lots more interesting things on the back roads of America. If we never got off the Interstate, we never would have gone to Marineland, or Gatorland, or countless other bits of roadside America that are not built next to an exit ramp.

So, after my Dad stopped traveling, I tried to keep his interest in the road alive in different ways.  I'd buy him DVDs about Route 66 and National Parks, and when he started slowing down a bit I would buy him jigsaw puzzles to do, many with location themes.  On the occasions when I would travel somewhere, I started to buy him refrigerator magnets from the places I went, just so he would have a visual reminder of some of the places he and Mom had been (or not been). What else can you bring back for someone who has been damn near everywhere and already has a house full of stuff...

I was down at my Dad's house two weeks ago, packing up some of my stuff that was still there (he passed away in February).  After walking past his refrigerator a few dozen times that day, I decided to take those fridge magnets with me.  Some are at home on my refrigerator, some are now in my office (see photo above).  They are, oddly enough, not a reminder of the road for me, but rather a reminder of a life well lived.  And a man greatly missed...

No photography talk today, sorry.  just a reminder: If you're not having fun while you're out shooting, you're probably doing something wrong.

Is It Yesterday Already?

Yes indeed, here it is June 1st.  Another year going by remarkably quickly, just a little faster than the one before.  And with each passing year I seem to gain more appreciation for something that seemed like punishment as a child: Black & white...

When I was a kid, the family color TV was in the living room, and when I got a TV for my room it was black & white.  I still remember the fun times spent adjusting the rabbit ears antenna to get fuzz out of the picture, only to have it get fuzzy as soon as I let go of the antenna. Ahh, memories.  But I was thinking more about black & white photos when I decided to write this. When I was 10, 15, 20 (hell, maybe 30) years old I didn't understand why people had coffee table books of Ansel Adams photos.  With all of the amazing colors in nature, why would you want to look at it in black & white?

Well, fast forward to adulthood.  Once I started to really look at black & white (and I credit the amazing photography of Clyde Butcher with turning me into a true fan), I began to understand the magic that black & white brings with it.  I always thought one of  the hardest parts of taking photos was getting the color right, so the photo tells an accurate story.  Turns out that color is fairly easy.  Black & white is hard, because you have to use shading and light to tell the story.  A color photo engages your eyes, a black & white photo engages your mind.

I am still a novice with black & white, and I don't know if I'll ever get it right.  But it's fun trying.  And, as I say over and over, photography should be fun.  If you're not having fun when you're out shooting, you're probably doing something wrong.  Happy Black & White Wednesday!

Going Topless...

No, not me (trust me).  As I was walking Cody this morning, enjoying what may be the last sub-70 degree morning until November, I thought about convertibles.  I've only had one, a Manx body dune buggy built on a 1963 VW chassis with a 40-horsepower 1200cc flat four that topped out at about 63mph.  It was a lot of fun, although hardly a practical car.

I've had the opportunity to photography many convertibles through the years.  One of the more unusual ones (for me anyway) was this '62 Lincoln Continental.

If the body style looks familiar to you but you're not sure where you've seen one before, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas while riding in one.  But that isn't what I wanted to talk about. What's so interesting to me about this car is the fact that it's a four-door convertible.  Not only that, it's got suicide doors.  That's not something you see very often, and that goes back to one of my recurring blogtography themes...

Look for the unusual. Sometimes it's right in front of you, sometimes you have to search for it, and sometimes you have to compose it. With the top up and doors closed, this white Lincoln doesn't draw much attention. But when you put the top down and open up the doors, it tells a much more interesting story. I don't believe they ever made another convertible with suicide doors, although I can't say that with 100% confidence.  I can, however, say that there have not been any other modern-era 4-door suicide-door convertibles.

Enjoy topless weather while you can, be it your car or yourself...Remember, if you're not having fun while you're out shooting, you're probably doing something wrong.

Neon Nights...

One of my favorite things from the era before I was born (besides the cars and music) is neon. One of our Noble (or inert, depending on your periodic table) gasses, neon has been used in signage since the '20's.  It really had its heyday in the '50's, when cars had fins, towns had diners and drive-in movies, and lonely dark roads were cast aglow in the light from neon signs.

The glow is what makes neon special to me.  Look at the sign above. Notice how each section has it's own distinct background color?  The green glow up top, the subtle blue glow at the bottom give this sign a warmth that you just don't get with LED or fluorescent lights. Neon signs are expensive to buy, expensive to run, and expensive to fix, but they are truly things of beauty. You don't see much neon around anymore, and that's a shame.  Sacrificing beauty for efficiency has taken away another bit of America and replaced it with Generica. 

So, what's this got to do with photography?  Not much, other than to reiterate one of my recurring themes through these blog posts: Look around for things that are interesting or different to shoot, and take a few shots. You never know what you might end up with, and you never know what might spark a new interest.  Remember, if you're not having fun when you're out shooting,then you're probably doing something wrong...

America...

I don't talk about politics anymore, and that has worked well for the last couple of years. But I have reflected on the "make America great again" slogan many times recently, and I have to say that whoever decided America isn't great at the moment was mistaken.  Let's go for a quick cruise...

If you've ever driven up or down I-95, or ridden in a bus, cab, tow truck or on a train that runs near it, you have seen signs for South of the Border. Yes, the heart of Americana (and thus America), just a few hundred feet into South Carolina, is a shining example of America's greatness. Loved by northerners for easy access to fireworks, and loved by southerners for its kitschiness, South of the Border represents the American dream (albeit under a giant sombrero).

How the heck does S.O.T.B. represent America's greatness, you ask? Well, ask yourself this: What other countries in the world have opportunities for entrepreneurs to build tacky gift shops, and advertise them for so many hundreds of miles that the kids are begging you to stop there and get them a t-shirt? That is a uniquely American phenomenon, and it a perfect example of what continues to make America great. If you have a dream, you can chase it here in America. Even if your dream is to sell key chains and salt and pepper shakers in Dillon, SC.  People want to come here because it is a great country, not because it used to be one...

Again, I won't get on a political bandwagon here (or anywhere else anymore), but I think America continues to be pretty great.  If someone had a slogan that said "make America even greater" I might be inclined to listen to some of his or her rhetoric. But I don't think we'll see that rolled out any time soon.  And by the way, if you've never stopped at South of the Border, you really should.  It's a fun little place, and they have been around for over 50 years. Pedro is aging better than I am...

http://www.thesouthoftheborder.com/

Superheroes...

It seems like there is a new superhero movie coming out almost every week these days.  They are obviously profitable or the movie makers would move on to a different subject. What really makes me sad though, is that nobody has ever made a movie about my favorite superhero.  In fact, there was a time that my favorite superhero was "America's Favorite Superhero."  Can you guess who it is?

That's right, Bud Man! There was a time when Anheuser-Bush (now owned by InBev, a Belgian mega-brewer) used Bud Man for their marketing campaigns. I remember visiting Bush Gardens on a family vacation in the '70's, and Bud Man merchandise was all over their gift shops.  In fact, I still have a Bud Man beach towel from a later visit.  The Bud Man magnet, pictured above, was on a rat rod at a local car show a few years ago.

Where is Bud Man today?  I guess he probably retired several years ago, so maybe he's playing shuffleboard at the Old Superhero home in Sarasota (or wherever it is that old superheroes retire to). The point of today's ramblings:  The Bud Man magnet was a little detail on a single car in a show with 100+ vehicles.  I would bet that I was the only one who took a photo of it that day.  Photos don't have to be iconic to be interesting. Sometimes, the little things leave a lasting impression.

Will there ever be a return of Bud Man?  My guess is no, because I'm sure in today's politically-correct world there would be something wrong with a superhero that represents a beer company. And besides, would a superhero who spoke French, Dutch, or German (the languages of Belgium) really be able to recapture the title of America's Favorite Superhero?

I guess that covers it for today.  Go out and shoot something, with your camera of course.  And remember: If you're not having fun while you're out shooting, you're probably doing something wrong...

Burnin' For You...

It's funny how song titles seem to capture a lot of my post ideas.  If you're not familiar with Burnin' For You, it's a song by Blue Oyster Cult, a band from my old stomping grounds (Long Island).  The song itself has nothing to do with today's topic: Burnouts...

Who doesn't love a good burnout?  The smoke, the smell, the display of power all work together to make a burnout great fun.  It's been several years since I've had a car capable of doing a big smoky burnout, so I have to live vicariously through others' burnouts.  This weekend, while I was covering an event at a local drag strip, I got to immerse myself in an extra cool burnout:

Times and tires have changed.  I've never seen a big blue burnout before (although I love the alliteration...).  Besides the obviously cool blue smoke, it was nice to be at ground level to take a few photos.  I know most people tend to shoot burnouts from the front of the car, and that's why I thought I'd shoot some from the back.  Taking the same photo that everyone else is taking may net you a good photo, but it has to be better than everyone else to get noticed.  Stepping away from all the other photographers and taking your own photo sometimes nets you a more interesting photo. 

Coffee break over, time to get back to work.  Happy shooting, and remember: If you're not having fun, you're probably doing something wrong.

Later, hater...

Someone recently commented to me that they didn't "get" the whole "I'm a Chevy guy" or "I'm a Ford guy" as so many claim to be.  I confess that I don't get it either, as I like and appreciate all cars that are done well, be it Ford, Mopar, GM, AMC, or import.  But that argument also exists in the photography world...

I hear "I'm a Nikon person" or "I'm a Canon person" all the time.  I guess I'm guilty of it as well, as I have been using Canon gear for years so I became a "Canon guy" somewhere along the way.  But the part I don't understand is when I hear people trash talking one or the other.  I've heard Nikon people talk down Canon equipment, and vice versa.  Since both make excellent stuff, I just don't get the hate.

As a photographer, I have always believed that the  best camera is the one you have in your hands when you want to take a photo.  Who cares if it's Canon, Nikon, Pentax, etc.  What should matter is the photo that you take, not what you take it with.

Not much content today, but that's how it goes sometimes.  Happy shooting.  Remember, if you're not having fun you're probably doing something wrong...

Who Made Who...

The unfortunate and untimely passing of Prince last week caused a huge uptick in the amount of his music played on the radio, MTV, and other outlets.  I heard "Little Red Corvette" more times in the last week than in the last 10 years.  Not a bad thing, because it's a good song, but it got me wondering about how icons are made...

One of my favorite movies happens to be Smokey and the Bandit.  Jackie Gleason, aka Sheriff Beauford T. Justice, was one of the two most important elements in that movie (in my opinion). The other, of course, was the black Trans Am.  Pontiac got a lot of great advertising by providing cars for that movie.  The Trans Am was a badass; fast, great burnouts, hell it even jumped a river while outrunning every Grand LeMans cop car in the South.

So, my question to myself was simple: Did Smokey and the Bandit make the Trans Am an icon? The movie came out in 1977, so I looked at Trans Am production numbers for 1977, 1978 and 1979.  Not exactly scientific (at all), but interesting and maybe anecdotal. 
1977: 68,745
1978: 93,341
1979: 117,108
Based on the huge production increase, it's not entirely unreasonable to think that the movie helped to turn the Trans Am into an icon. Obviously there's other factors involved, but it's enough to make you go hmm...

If a movie can make an icon, can a song?  Well, the Corvette was an icon long before the Prince song came out, but could the song have an influence on color choice? The song came out in 1982, so I looked at Corvette production by color for 1982, 1984 and 1985:
1982: 25,407 built. 2,155 were red, or roughly 8.5%
1984: 51,547 built. 12,942 were red, or roughly 25%
1985: 39,729 built. 10,424 were red, or roughly 26%

Do the number really mean anything?  Probably not, but it was fun to ask the question and look at some production numbers to see if there was even the possibility of a relationship. The Corvette changed body style in 1984, so it's entirely possible the C4 just looks better in red than other colors.  But it's enough to make you go hmm...

Up On The Roof...

"When this old world starts getting me down..." I was listening to oldies (I know, big surprise) yesterday at my desk, and The Drifters song "Up On The Roof" came on.  (By the way, if you want to see what I listen to, feel free to find me on Spotify and check out at the playlists I have created.)  Yesterday's song was today's motivation, so here goes...

One of the many things I love about photography is how many different ways the same subject can look from different perspectives.  When I see other photographers shooting at the same events/parks, etc. as me, I usually try to get their card so I can look at their work later on.  Not to compete, not to compare, just to try to view things from a different perspective.  Every once in a while I even step out of "lazy" mode and try to find a new perspective on my own to try...

"I climb way up to the top of the stairs..." that Drifters song again.  I had the opportunity to create a different perspective not too long ago. I was at a car show that was being held at a local restaurant, and the parking lot circled a good part of the building.  Someone was gracious enough to allow me roof access, and I was able to take some photos of the event from a very different perspective than my usual one.

I guess the over-arching message here is to try to look at things a little differently from time to time.  Perspective is everything. Sometimes, seeing things from a different point of view tells a different story than the one you're used to.  Looking up, or (as in this case) looking down, looks different than looking at.  The roof happened to be all mine that morning, but I'm guessing that's because nobody else asked.  "And if this world starts getting you down, there's room enough for two up on the roof..." Yep, same song.  Thanks to the Drifters for some motivation.  Remember, if you're not having fun when you're out shooting, you're probably doing something wrong.

First Car...

I went to a car show over the weekend (big surprise...).  While I was there, I was talking to the owner of a nicely restored Mustang II and I mentioned that my first car was a Mustang II.  He said that he was surprised how many people have told him the exact same thing. That got me thinking about yesteryear...

If you're not familiar with the Mustang II, or if you haven't seen one before, you're not alone.  The reinvention of the Mustang came about because of the gas crisis of the early '70's. In 1974, the Mustang II hit the streets as a compact, fuel-efficient (for their time) car that evoked memories of the Pinto much more than memories of previous Mustangs. Mine sported the 90-horsepower, 2.3 liter 4-cylinder paired to an automatic, capable (in theory) of 0-60 times...

I don't want to bash the Mustang II.  In fact, I loved mine in spite of it's anemic performance.  It was my first car, and who doesn't have all sorts of fun memories attached to their first car?  Cruising with your friends, going to the beach, buying beer at the drive-thru, the list goes on.  In NY where I grew up you could get a junior license at 16, so I used to drive my Mustang to Driver's Ed in high school to get my regular license.

The Mustang turned 52 years old yesterday.  Happy birthday, Mustang!  I hope I look as good as you if I make to 52 years old...

The Road Less Traveled

Last summer I was able to spend a couple days exploring part of Route 66, the Mother Road, in central Oklahoma. One of the many interesting stops I made was in Warwick, OK at the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum. Originally built as a gas station in 1921, it now houses dozens of vintage motorcycles.

What makes places like this, little bits of roadside America, so interesting to me is the people you encounter.  While I was here, I had a really interesting conversation with the owner.  He told me the history of some of the motorcycles, as well as the building itself.  All the time we were talking, I kept thinking of one of my favorite song lyrics from Neil Young: "See the losers in the best bars, Meet the winners in the dives,  Where the people are the real stars, All the rest of their lives." There's a human factor that you get in small town America that no longer exists in the big cities...

As I was wrapping up my visit, taking a look at the back side of the building, a motorcycle rolled in:

It was a ragged looking old Honda twin, with an Illinois license plate.  The rider was a young guy, early 20's and he was on his way to California.  He was doing Route 66 from one end to the other, on his own.  I envied him a bit, as that's one very liberating personal journey to take.  As I got into my rental car and drove off, down Route 66, that Neil Young song was stuck in my head.  The people are the real stars on our journey through this world.

Route 66 to some is a symbol of a bygone era, the slow way to get from one place to another.  To me it's a great reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination.  Slowing down and looking around can freshen your perspective.  As a photographer, it often leads to unique photo ops as well...

Don't Blink...

If you do, you might miss it.  Wait a second, is that really a post office?  Yes indeed, it is.

This is America's smallest U.S. Post Office, in beautiful Ochopee, FL. Never heard of Ochopee?  Don't worry, not many people have. (You can tell it's small, look at the size of their post office). Ochopee is located on Tamiami Trail in the midst of Big Cypress National Preserve down in Everglades country.

I took this photo a few years ago when I was passing through, on my way to Chokoloskee. (Don't worry if you've never heard of Chokoloskee, it's only a little bigger than Ochopee).  This drive across the Southern Everglades was made possible many years ago when the Tamiami Trail was built.  Unfortunately, the road cut off much of the water flow into the Everglades, and they have been struggling to survive for decades.  But all hope is not lost...

Several years ago, the Army Corp. of Engineers began an ambitious project to elevate parts of Tamiami Trail to restore more water flow into the Everglades. You can read more specifics here http://www.evergladesfoundation.org/what-we-do/projects/tamiami-trail/

The first mile of elevated roadway is complete, so that's good news.  There's more to be done, but a step forward is a step in the right direction.  If you have not visited the Everglades, I'd encourage you to do so. There's no place else like it in the world.  And on your back (or on your way to Chokoloskee), take a ride through Ochopee to see the post office.  Just don't blink, you might miss it...

A Moment to Reflect...

We all step back and reflect sometimes. We look at old photos, talk to old friends, and we reflect on those moments and memories as we go through our days.  But I'm not waxing nostalgic as I talk about reflecting for a moment today, I'm talking about real reflections...

Last summer I was in Oklahoma to shoot some photos for Eckler's at their International show.  Summer weather in Oklahoma can get pretty nasty pretty quickly, and storms can roll in with very little warning.  This day was no exception.  A 15-minute downpour came before many of the show cars could be moved or covered.  As soon as the rain stopped though, there was a brief moment when the standing water on the blacktop turned the parking lot into a great big mirror and I was able to get a few shots of some classic Chevy's (like the shot above).  Within a few minutes, the red-hot Oklahoma sun came back out and dried the blacktop, turning my big mirror back into a plain old parking lot, albeit one with a bunch of car owners drying off (and out) their classics...

Reflections can turn an absolutely ordinary photo into an interesting one.  As summer approaches, we will be getting afternoon storms on an almost daily basis here in Florida.  Take your camera out, and take a moment to reflect.  The results may be interesting...
Russ Muller Photography