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| 'Je-tameeka-ho-vah' - 2007 snake |
the fine art of bowhunting
Smith & Bresson Club
Smith & Bresson Club - I was inspired to create the Smith & Bresson Club for photography by the Pope and Young Club, which is for bowhunters. There are certain requirements, which a bow kill needs to satisfy in order to qualify for acceptance in the Pope and Young Club. The criteria to be accepted in the Smith & Bresson club will be based on my own subjective view of my work, which I will score. In short, those photographs that are part of this club will be my best work and those pieces, which would be part of an exhibition. Any photos that meet this criteria, will be marked by a small skull icon. To view the documentary THE BLUE WHITETAIL, go to the following website; http//:filmfreeway.com/873363 or click on the Smith & Bresson logo above.
March 31, 2012
March 30, 2012
March 29, 2012
March 28, 2012
March 27, 2012
Mourning 2 & 1
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| 'Mourning 2' - 1986 snake |
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| 'Mourning 1' - 1986 snake |
Change. The prospect of change is intimidating enough that the very idea might keep you from trying something new. It’s completely overwhelming, yet absolutely necessary.
When I decided to hunt with a stick (or recurve) bow, I was apprehensive about shooting an arrow without any aiming devices such as those offered on my compound bow. But, through the usual means (practice, patience, and more practice) I was able to overcome the daunting task of relying purely on my instinctive hand/eye ability to hit my mark. Now, I am comfortable using both types of bows in the woods and it has made me a better hunter.
Digital scanning and printing gave me that similar, uneasy feeling. However, to move my work forward, I knew I would have to learn to scan my negatives and digitally ‘dodge and burn’. I asked a long-time friend, Kris Merola, to tutor me in my digital quest and thanks to her skills as a teacher, photographer and all-around technical advisor, I have finally eased my pig-headed notions that analogue methods of black and white photography are the only ones that are valid.
Many thanks to Kris. Her willingness and patience to teach, in addition to her knowledge and talent as a photographer, have been keys to moving my work into its next phase.
March 26, 2012
March 25, 2012
March 24, 2012
March 23, 2012
March 22, 2012
March 21, 2012
Bad Shutter Curtain
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| 'Bad Shutter Curtain' - 1991 snake |
Mistakes are almost always going to happen and they are almost always going to disrupt your quest for whatever goals you are trying to achieve. In this instance and without knowing, the shutter curtain on my Leica M-2 went out of sync. Most of the film was unusable, but I was able to salvage this shot. Processing film is not full-proof either. I’ve made mistakes in not winding the film correctly, which causes stains on the negative, as was the case in the photograph titled D-76 (Opening Day, February 1, 2012).
When bowhunting, mistakes usually mean not filling your deer tag. On one particular hunt, I was (quite honestly) lazy and doing stupid things, which caused me to be late in getting to the woods. While I was fumbling around with my equipment, trying to get set, a nice 8-pointer presented a shot just ten yards from me. I figured that the deer would likely see and smell me…but it did not. Miraculously, I was able to nock an arrow and send it through the chest of the buck.
Sometimes mistakes just work...but usually, you don't get that lucky.
March 20, 2012
March 19, 2012
March 18, 2012
March 17, 2012
March 16, 2012
March 15, 2012
March 14, 2012
March 13, 2012
March 12, 2012
March 11, 2012
March 10, 2012
March 9, 2012
Bowhunting 1 & 2
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| 'Bowhunting 1' - 1984 snake |
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| 'Bowhunting 2' - 1984 snake |
Bowhunting 1 & 2. Finding a good ambush spot is key for successful bowhunting. My favorite spot is an area I have nicknamed ‘The Pit’. ‘The Pit’ is a swampy depression, where I have a tree stand on a creek’s edge which empties into a swampy bog. I have taken many deer in this spot, but I am constantly (some might say obsessively) looking for different places to set up ambush locations where, after thorough scouting, I determine that deer will pass through and within bow range.
In the ambush spot I found for these photos, I noticed the afternoon light shining through the trees and forming shadows around the two parking lot arrows. I sat in wait for a specific ‘deer’ to pass by. When one did, I took the ‘deer’ with my metaphorical bow and arrow.
March 8, 2012
March 7, 2012
March 6, 2012
March 5, 2012
March 4, 2012
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