North shore phragmites

"North shore," Tim Connor

Grape boy at the orgy

"Grape boy," Tim Connor, All rights reserved

Painting faces

"Faces," Tim Connor, All rights reserved

I couldn't walk past

"Smash up," Tim Connor, All rights reserved


"Faceless pharaoh," Tim Connor, All rights reserved

Boy in garden 2 (without the chain link)

"Boy in garden (no chain link)," Tim Connor, All rights reserved

Lately my pictures don't please me. I have experienced this before. I protect my fragile self-esteem by doing other things.

Bike shooter

"Boy in garden,Crown Heights," Tim Connor, All rights reserved

Today I got out & did some shooting. I rode my bike to Prospect Heights in a few minutes, then dawdled east into Crown Heights, where I made the picture above. I realized biking is an excellent way to explore for photos (it helps to have a lock -- which I now do -- so I can leave the bike & walk around). I've biked with camera before of course, but the shooting was always secondary to the transportation -- to getting somewhere. Also, I was typically intent on getting some exercise. This time I didn't care that I'm out of shape. I had no destination. Hello, summer.

Too real

"Farmer, Napoleon, Ohio," Tim Connor, All rights reserved

I shot this on assignment a few weeks ago & like it very much. But at that time the spring still hadn't popped in N.E. Ohio & not even weeds were showing in this farmer's corn field. Also, the one day I had out there was heavily overcast or raining from first light to last. Dressed in muddy shirt & jeans & much-worn john deere cap, my subject met me at his barn & we walked out to his field . He was unfailingly generous and kind, but it was clear he had been working in the barn before I got there & was ready to go back to work the minute I left. We had a good session & I got a variety of framings & expressions.

When I got back to New York, no one wanted to use this picture or any of the others like it, including those in which the farmer is grinning. "Too depressing," they said. Luckily, I had made some lovely, friendly shots of the farmer & his dad & their little dog back by the farmhouse, & we used those. The writer & the editor liked it & so will the farmer, so there's nothing to complain about. It worked out fine.

But I like this one best. And I'm glad I don't have to argue against squaring up the horizon.

Good news

"Madonna with gas and electric," Tim Connor, All rights reserved

At yesterday's auction for the Winter Summer Institute this photo at 6" x 8"(snappier in the print) sold for $220. Asking price was $150. Other two pix (see yesterday's post) also sold for suggested first bid or above.

Yay!

My pix at auction to benefit a great cause

Original prints of two of my favorite pictures (below) will be featured in a silent auction next Sunday night to raise money for the Winter-Summer Institute's upcoming trip to the rural mountains of the Malealea Valley in Lesotho, southern Africa. These amazing New Yorkers will join theater contingents from South Africa and Lesotho to make theatre with the local villagers that reflects community concerns about the region's HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Read more here. There's also food, drink, awesome music, movies and more art. A night that will rock you...


" 'Backyard hanging laundry with cat' by Tim Connor," 11 x 14 original print


" 'Those are the hills of hell my love' by Tim Connor," 5 x 7 original print