Writer’s block

Breaking Through Creative Roadblocks

In the creativity industry, there's a tongue-in-cheek rule of thumb: if you hit a mental roadblock, run headfirst into the nearest wall. This jolt will reset your mental wiring, and you'll either cure the writer's block or forget what writer's block even is.

Alternatively, you could simply look out your window and write what you see.

Right outside my work window, there's a small mountain of snow. It has been larger before and was actually completely removed at one point. Now, it'll probably just melt in place for the rest of the year. Melting snow usually isn't pretty.

However, it's a hopeful sign of spring. This winter was unusually typical, with several significant snowfalls and a couple of serious deep freezes. We will have flooding, and it will be a messy spring.

And the weather forecast today? More snow

Wolf Moon over Downtown Red Wing

Capturing the Wolf Moon: A Yearly Tradition

This is a photo I try to capture every year. It is the largest and brightest full moon of the year and is called the Wolf Moon.

Last year I missed the opportunity, but in 2009, I managed to capture it about 5 minutes after it was at its most dramatic (Full Moon over Barn Bluff).

This year, I suddenly remembered it was Wolf Moon time and jumped in my car, driving all over town to find an interesting perspective. I pretty much ended up where I shot this moon two years ago. You have to be quick because this moon rises very quickly.

Shot in RAW, 47mm, 1/200 second at f/2.8, handheld.

-25 Fahrenheit

Back in early December 2010 there was a blog entry that discussed the love-hate-love relationship with the Minnesota Winter (The paradox of the Minnesota winter...).

This morning the temperature dipped to -25 degrees Fahrenheit. That falls squarely in the "hate" category, although it does have a certain scientific curiosity.

Weather this cold has some very unique properties. You can take a cup of coffee and launch the coffee in the air and it will freeze before it hits the ground. Also, because the air is so dense, all kinds of ground effects occur with exhausts fumes. Animals continue about their business and almost seem unaware of how cold it is. However, the dog didn't care for it. It was impossible to keep the car warm.

This photo was taken at 6:30 in the morning. It was the only bank that had a working clock/thermometer, as the cold weather made the other electronic signs fail.

But outside of the science, weather this cold kind of sucks.

Please keep arms and legs in the vehicle

Looking Forward: Lessons and Excitement for 2011

Back in July of this year, there was a blog posting that discussed the first half of the year and what the second half of the year looked like (1st Cutting...).

Now, at the end of the year, it seems overwhelming to look back. That being said, the point of this entry will be all about looking forward.

If there's one lesson learned in this business, it's to trust your gut. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. And if it does feel right, it probably is. 2011 feels very right.

The new website is close (and late) to being rolled out. Products are being refined, and some new projects are already in the queue. It will be very busy and a lot of work.

But it is still a labor of love, and that is what really matters.

Thank you for your support. We are very grateful for our customers.

The paradox of the Minnesota winter

The Love-Hate Relationship with Minnesota Winters

Winter in Minnesota is an emotional roller coaster of love-hate-love.

It begins beautifully, with the whitest, lightest, and gentlest snow transforming the landscape into a fresh and different world. This is the first "love."

This initial love affair with winter typically lasts through December—or until the first day the high temperature doesn't climb above zero, or the first time you have to jump-start your car or change a flat tire.

Enter the first "hate."

For the next six to eight weeks, you need to endure this because there's no escaping it. You can try heading south for a couple of weeks, but you're only running away from reality. And reality will be waiting when you return.

And return you will.

Then, quite suddenly, things begin to feel positive again. Usually, it's a bright sunny day in March or the first time you hear a robin sing—enough to give you a burst of positive momentum. This is the second "love."

Minnesota winters have a sinusoidal rhythm, and there's a certain comfort in that regularity.

Trains are cool

It is difficult to take a bad picture of a moving train. They are just that photogenic.

Trains are big and powerful. They kick up dust wherever they go and nothing better get in the way of a moving train.

Slow your shutter speed down, find a static element in the foreground and shoot as many exposure combinations as you can, as quickly as you can.

Treasure Island family portraits

An annual delight: Family Portraits at Treasure Island Casino

This business is project-driven, which means we get involved in projects that have a beginning and an end. Some projects have longer life cycles than others, and all projects are unique.

Our most recent project is a series of family portraits. The Human Resources department at Treasure Island Casino has contracted us to provide family portraits (photos taken, printed, and framed) for all of their 1,500 employees who want to participate. At first glance, this might seem like a church directory project, where efficiency is prioritized over creativity.

But it isn't, and here's why:

Each family has their own story to tell. There was the man who, despite being extremely body-conscious, proudly showed me his gastric bypass scar. Or the young family with a little boy who had serious skin graft scars all over his body from a bad burn accident, yet he was busy running around, trying to keep up with his older siblings. Or the married couple who have been together for 55 years and still enjoy ribbing each other with wisecracks. This photo is of a young mom who had just found out she is pregnant. Her joy is obvious, and she is so excited that she is exaggerating her pregnant belly.

Another aspect was the challenge of using a very spartan set consisting only of a white vinyl backdrop and a simple bench while still making every image unique. It was easy to fall into patterns of using common poses that would always work. The challenge was to slowly add to the repertoire of winning poses by experimenting.

Initially, this project was not especially welcomed because the hours were long and crazy (the casino operates on a 24-hour basis), but after two weeks of photography, I am really sorry to see it end. The casino employees are fun and genuinely fond of each other. The demographics are at the lower end of the income scale, so it has been an especially well-received perk by the employees.

This has been a lot of fun.