Well I needed some inspiration.

 My photography isn't normal.   Well let me rephrase that. If you're coming from my website (timmahgraphy.com) it looks quite normal.  Its what people want and how i make what little money i do so i can keep buying gear. I admit i am a gear head. I don't need everything out there but if there is a chance it will make my life a little bit easier in the long term i am all for it.  My personal projects, which never seem to get past the page however are completely off the way and perhaps a little zany. 

For whatever reason I draw my inspiration from song lyrics. Everything tells a story. I guess its because i was introduced to bands like Alice Cooper, King Diamond, Iron Maiden, and those theatrical bands at an early age.  Throw in, to a lesser degree Guns N Roses (remember the Trilogy?) , Slayer, Pearl Jam and even Marilyn Manson.  Yes I am a rocker. I admit it.  Now I listen to some really weird shit like Amigo the Devil, Bridge City Sinners and Harley Poe. Which really push the narratives in their songs.

This is the stuff I get inspired by. My brain goes into interpretation mode and i start seeing these stories play out in my head.

Take for instance the song The Cannibal Within by Amigo the Devil.  one set of lyrics goes

"In a major turn of events
it turns out that I'm depressed
They say i use jokes and joy to avoid the realization
But I can find solutions for that
just turn on the radio and cock it back
I just don't wanna blow my brains out to Hotel California"

So something like this my brain goes into analyzing mode.  What would this look like as a photo? 

well lemme tell ya

I can see someone sitting in a one room apartment, hotel or something along those lines. With an overhead light just sitting at a table with a huge wall calendar with comedy dates on it as if this guy might be a comedian (jokes and joy)

I also see a record player or cd player in the corner with The Eagles greatest hits or the actual Hotel California album sitting against it or on top of it with a weapon in his hand. maybe an ashtray with a lit cigarette for good measure

This would also be completely done in low contrast black and white.  

But this is a small sample how my brain looks for ideas.  And i have this ability to do this with alot of songs where i just break down the visual end of it and try to covert it into a visual form rather than a mental form.  It probably helps (me at least) i was also part of the Mtv generation when they actually played music.

Its a blessing and a curse.

Blessing because i can come up with these ideas. A curse because conceptual art isn't in high demand.

But things are looking good this summer. So who knows. maybe ill get to create some artistic stuff this summer because at the end of the day. thats what fulfils me.

We shall see.

Miserable weather (rant)

 April Showers bring May flowers.....

Yeah lets talk about that.  I have lived in Central NY all my life. As much as i have tried to get out, it turns to be "Hotel California" and I can't ever leave and every attempt has brought me back.  To quote Metallica, "Sad but True".

Doing photography without studio space you have to rely on the weather to work to your advantage. Add the fact that if photography isn't your main source of income (mine accounts for maybe 1/4th if that...thus why it hasn't gone full time) the weather plays a major role into your success. So the extra challenge is, since it isn't full time and I do have a full time the "good" weather also HAS to be on a day off from my full time job.  Which, where I am, is on the weekends... Yes folks I have "banker" hours.  One of the reasons why i took that full time job so i can actually do shoots on the weekends. 

Lately however, the weather has had other plans....

My area currently has had 27 (after this weekend 28) STRAIGHT weekends of either Snow or Rain. Supposedly the extended forecast (and yes i understand the weather changes) has rain for next weekend AND the following weekend... So 30 straight weekends

Where are the May flowers? My motorcycle hasn't even left the garage yet (i had it out by the end of April last year).   

I can deal with miserable weekends but when it starts affecting cash flow it becomes a problem.  I think I just have to accept that Central NY is the new Seattle. Maybe the sunshine will come after i leave the area again lol