Jon Mack's Crossroads Blog

Distant Memories

jonmack60 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:35:47 +0000

The Pacific Northwest winter with its gray, gloomy days that seem to drag on are relieved by the memories of last summer’s blaze of color. I love color and the ways that it contrasts and compliments its environment. Everywhere I looked natures palate brought so many shapes and angles into contrast with unique combinations . Such a contrast to gray winter monotones. I did spot snowflake blossoms on a stroll a couple of days ago – harbingers of colors to come.

Progress, incremental but still progress. Finished the photo shoots from last August and now working my way through September. Seven more that will be finished within the next couple of weeks, hopefully. I’m looking forward to the Dahlias – two day shoot with lots of color, experiments and the bonus of the blossoms in front of the Seattle Asian Art Museum.

Surgery next Tuesday – hoping that it will make my walkabout’s easier and longer in duration and frequency. Only time will tell. I feel fortunate to have access to quality medical care through the VA health care system. Say what you want about the government – this is a classic example of how it benefits our society.

Posting a flower from the entrance to the Woodland Park Rose Garden.

Tints and Tones of Orange

Wait and Hope

jonmack60 — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:34:59 +0000

It’s tough for me to be patient and stay involved in the day when there are so many variables impacting the near future. People have been generous in their donations and I appreciate it. I’m trying to set up times to deliver the framed prints and it’s proving to be challenging but ultimately doable. I’m hoping to start my dental care ASAP – funds are still pretty tight, as I’m sure they are for most folks.

I realize I haven’t taken the time for a photo shoot in more then two months – still a ton of images to finish from last summer. Life is hectic and I have surgery scheduled two weeks from tomorrow (02/28).

Rocky and I will be holding an exhibit at Ocean Gallery in Kirkland from 04/07 to 04/28. Rocky set the gig up and I’m pretty excited – it’ll be my 1st gallery show. I will be exhibiting floral pieces as a compliment to his larger landscape pieces. I’m meeting with the gallery owner tomorrow and will be posting the information as soon as I am confident everything is in place. We’re hoping for an opening on Saturday April 7th from 5 to 8 pm.

I’m slowly but surely working my way through last summers work and here’s a shot at the Queen Anne P-Patch of a rose. I still have a whole shoot from Woodland Park Rose Garden to process. Time management is tough with so many irons in the fire but I’ll figure it out.

Something to contemplate during gray skies.

Unanticipated Generosity

jonmack60 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:21:03 +0000

Life can engender many emotions. The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster. Disappointment at indifference and surprise at cheerful generosity from unanticipated sources. You never know who will or won’t help – until you ask.

Several people responded to my requests by indicating that they didn’t have the resources or that they don’t donate money to friends or acquaintances. I appreciate that those folks at least took the time to acknowledge my request – to me that is just as important as the ability to help out. A number of people did not respond at all – not sure whether or not it is simple indifference or the desire to avoid having to say no. I’m just moving forward and not worrying about what did not occur.

A number of people are being quite kind and generous. I want to acknowledge how much I appreciate their consideration and efforts to help out. It really is amazing who chose to help and the degree to what they did to help. I am so thankful for the friends who are there when you need their assistance.

Uploaded images to my website and print on demand websites I utilize. I had my first couple of online sales – a long time coming but hopefully a sign of better times to come. I also worked on a triptych suggested to me by my friend John Manuwal. It is 3 images of the Cooper lake inlet – it was fun experimenting. The image of the triptych and the original photograph was well received. I think that passion, play and fun are all deeply interconnected – well they are for me.

I’m posting the triptych which I titled ‘Triptych the Light Fantastic’ and the original piece “Cooper Lake inlet.’ Hope they bring beauty to the eye of the beholder.

Cooper Lake Inlet Upended

Triptych the Light Fantastic

If I logout of facebook I can’t gain access via the use of either link

jonmack60 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:06:14 +0000

Quite a conundrum. I having a hard time activating a link to my donor gallery. I’ve tried a couple of different ways of setting up a link. And, the gallery is suppose to be available to the general public.

You can check out my website – a portion of the images there are a part of my donor gallery. Also, my flickr photostream contains the gallery images and tons of other posted images – which can be intimidating to look through. Best bet on flickr is to look at the ‘sets’ I’ve established. Sort of breaks it up into bite size albums. My website is also divided into galleries and I know for a fact that it is accessible to all.

http://jonmack.photoshelter.com/

Using the flickr image to see my sets/albums requires you to click on the flickr image on my blog, once you arrive at the image – if you click on photostream in the right hand margin it will take you to the set/galleries I have established.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cascademotif/

Until I can figure out a way for anyone/everyone to directly access my ‘donor’ gallery the additional $10 for other images is eliminated.

Hope this helps people locate my donor gallery

jonmack60 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:50:07 +0000

Try this link if you are having difficulty accessing the gallery via the link I established on my blog page. Copy and paste into your browser address box if the link is not clickable. This stuff sure can be complicated.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2537845806566.2113960.1266247638&type=1

It’s a definite exercise in humility, and a bit humiliating, asking people for help. We live in a country where the philosophy is that ‘if you can’t get it on your own, there must be Something wrong with you.’

In most other respects my life is OK. Designing a flyer for my niece. Lots of medical appointments with upcoming surgery the end of February. Got a place to live, food, clothes, access to medical care, transportation, my photography gear. It is all about the half full glass.

Helping Hands

jonmack60 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:54:54 +0000

Friends, I need your helping hands. My dentist informs me that I need extensive work on my lower front teeth or risk their permanent loss.
I am requesting a $50 donation. Each donor(s) will be presented with an 8×10 custom print of my photography from a select gallery. The right hand side under Blog roll ‘donor gallery’ should take you straight to my select gallery. Each print will be signed, and matted into an 11×14 frame. The gallery will be linked online at my Blog, Facebook, Flickr and my website pages. The framed prints can be hand delivered in the local Seattle area or shipped with a minimal (S&H) fee; within 5-7 days of the donation. Hand delivery will be COD with shipped prints payed via Pay Pal.
I have qualms about asking for your assistance. However, I am at my wits end on how to pay for this essential dental care.

Jon Mack
206.781.8677

jon@jonmackphotography.com

http://jonmack.photoshelter.com/

http://jonmack60.wordpress.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cascademotif/

https://www.facebook.com/jonmackphotography

If you would like a print not located in the select gallery, that can be arranged with an additional $10 fee.

Life can interfere with one’s plans

jonmack60 — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:36:10 +0000

I’m a couple of weeks behind on my blog. Due to a series of medical problems I didn’t have the energy required to stay current. The medical situation has been rectified and I’m back in the saddle, so to speak.

I discovered that the local arboretum has a winter garden with plants that flower during the winter months. I had no idea until I came across an article and series of photos in the local paper. Definitely on my agenda – it’s been more than a month since my last photo shoot.

I’m continuing to have an amazing amount of fun revisiting my summer floral shoots and adding the finishing touches to some lovely work. Here are a few examples from the dahlia garden at Volunteer park.

Dahlia tints and tones

Purple star gazer

Orange Grove

Collecting and editing

jonmack60 — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:33:50 +0000

Working on a project as a gift to my immediate family. My brother Joel and his partner Kim have taken a multitude of images of their two daughters Madison and Ryanne. Initially they were sending them out as attachments but with the advent of Facebook they’re posted on their FB pages. I’ve pulled together all the attachments and and I’m about halfway through their FB postings. Essentially the finished project will have close to 10 years of images. I’m having fun and anticipating being able to give copies of the CD to my brother, sister, dad and mom. Probably should have started a month ago but better late then never.

I’m also continuing the process of editing last summers photo shoots – the never ending story. Tis fun and often exciting to get to work on my gorgeous and creative work that recall memories of sunny summer days. Here’s another from the UW Horticultural center.

Sunlight and a Golden crocosmia

Best wishes to all

jonmack60 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:03:30 +0000

and a Happy New Year.

The year has gone bye in a drawn out flash – both slow and fast – as most life experiences – anticipation – then what’s next.

Hosting Christmas at my home this year. Usually it’s 2 or 3 of us at my mom’s. This year it’s my ma here. Cooking is a creative passion of mine – it’s a process of adding a little bit of this and some of that. My kitchen sink approach to soups, stews and casseroles. I create tasty food and I have learned to be selective about my ingredients.

Working on my summer floral work. Exciting to go back to material garnered 3-4 months ago and spend time developing and enjoying beautiful photographs. Here are 2 examples from UW horticultural and one from the dahlia garden at Volunteer park.

Vol. park dahlia

UW Horticultural garden

UW Horticultural gardens

The well laid plans

jonmack60 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:07:08 +0000

of mice and men. Robert Burns

Tis the season to be jolly, right? I’m amazed at the amount of grief I’m experiencing at the loss of my old kitty. Perhaps, one can never truly be prepared for the losses of life. Stuff happens, so deal with it, really doesn’t make it any more palatable.

On that refrain, it looks look my aspirations for graduate school and teaching are not to be. The only two viable MFA programs in Seattle are out of reach – Seattle U.’s is orientated towards ‘Arts Leadership’ and U WA requires an BFA or it’s equivalent (400 level coursework) to apply for the MFA. Add in the fact that tens of thousands of teachers are currently unemployed or not working as a teacher – got to figure at least 1% teach photography – puts potential employment upon earning the MFA as being slim to none.

Guess that calls for plan B – unfortunately there is no plan B. Well I guess there is in my current effort to get my work seen and sold. The refrain ‘howzat workin fer ya’ comes to mind.

So, glass half full or half empty? Grumble about what I don’t have or be thankful for what I do have. Easy to figure that one one out when put into context.

Rocky lent me his lensbaby camera lens to experiment with. Talk about a steep learning curve and a bit of frustration. In my research about the lens it looks like to do justice to my floral work requires a macro kit for the lensbaby. The biggest advantage I see in regards to the lensbaby vs. my current set-up is the lensbaby has a gradient blur which isn’t possible in any other process or lens. A fun toy but a toy none the less. I’ve attached a lensbaby image where the gradient blur is obvious and it offers a fun result.

Tis the season