September 2012 – JonKPhoto

Danger Time.

September 26, 2012September 26, 2012 jonkphotoLeave a comment

Back in the day, when I first began my educational journey into photography, I met two people about a week apart. Ashley Lawler and I became “significant others” and have remained that way for the better part of half a decade. Carl Amyoni and I have remained very close friends and instigators of each others’ bad habits for a similar time frame.

Now – this is all nice and nostalgic, but personal relationships aside, we also make up a trio of photographic entertainment.

In the early stages of our acquaintance, we decided to start a series we initially called the “Canadian Olympics.” It would consist of ham-hocked trials, regular risk of personal injury, and a lot of plaid. In the end it will probably be a series of images of people doing incredibly stupid things.

As is the case with too may things these days, the concept fell through and all we were left with was a series of “promo shots” and one very elaborate and flame-filled take on the luge.

Recently, I have been wrapping up a series of time-sucking endeavors and can see a gleaming orb of free time rising on the eastern horizon.

Furthermore – I feel that if I stick this in the world-wide-web, it will prompt people to bother me about new pictures.

YES YOU! I AM RELYING ON YOU TO PESTER ME FOR WORK.

In the meantime – enjoy this blast from the past with a special guest appearance by my cousin, Mike Strong.

– Jon

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Cosmetics Shmosmetics

September 10, 2012September 11, 2012 jonkphotoLeave a comment

A few weeks ago, I mentioned a project in the works that may or may not have involved assorted non-makeup like materials in place of actual cosmetics.

Well here’s the project. But first – let me dig through a few minutes of back-story.

I was given an assignment to “create a project.” … … OK – for all of you non-art people out there, let me lay this out. When someone essentially says “Do something,” it’s a problem. See, no many project ideas you have tucked away for a rainy day, that level of challenge instantly negates any of your previous concepts. What they’re really saying is, “So, you think you’re creative, huh? Think you got a head on them shoulders? Fine. Bring it. Show me what you got. It better be MIND-BLOWING.”

This invariably leads to panic attacks and a violent barrage of second guessing yourself.

But that is all leading up to the real point…. This dude –> Caleb Charland. He takes (what I like to refer to as) “pictures of science.” Whether it’s actually science or just looks “sciencey”is irrelevant. The point is that he inspired me to make things. Things like catapults and dead-falls.

Then I thought, “What could I use such harmful devices for that would be photographically interesting?” AH HA! —- Splattering my friends and acquaintances with assorted food and art mediums.

So it began.

But after a few days of though i realized that things I could fling really only came in lumpy, liquidy, flakey, or powdery consistencies and that I would quickly run out of delivery methods. So, I racked my brain further.

That’s when I went to Rite Aid to get something (probably razors or soap or something). BUT! While I was there, I couldn’t help but notice the 5-foot tall posters of seductive looking ladies flashing their mascara-ridden lashes at me.

Then it just clicked in my head like a bad-idea shotgun chambering a round of inappropriate.

People flip through “Cosmo” and see models making ridiculous faces then say to themselves “if I use that makeup, I could look equally as stupid.” OK, they probably don’t say that, but it’s sort of the unconscious process that goes on.

I got to thinking, what would happen if I got people to slather their visages with Alphabet Soup, corn starch, or pizza toppings? Would marinara be the new black in next summer’s line up?

No. Probably not… But I still got people to do it.

That’s gotta count for something.

Here you go.

– J

on

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Ride ‘Em

September 2, 2012September 2, 2012 jonkphotoLeave a comment

It’s Labor Day weekend. I ate a burger that was larger than what should have been able to fit in my stomach. I drank beer…

And I went to a rodeo.

I feel excessively American right now.

All and all it was certainly a unique experience. The rodeo circuit is a culture I was, up until now, completely unfamiliar with. There we speed races, bronco ridin’, calf wranglin’, and bucking bull riding’. The craft services pretty much paired with a local festival or fair.

The lead rodeo clown was a bit of a pleasant surprise – he actually had a comedy routine. Furthermore, he was pretty funny.

This really all pales in comparison to the action. I was expecting some flailing and danger and whatnot, but… OK – here’s the lineup:

Steer wrestling: These guys ride on their horse along side a steer, fly off the back of the horse, land on the steer, tackle it to the ground, tie it up…

Steer wranglin’: One step better – the old rope and horn routine where they ride behind the steer and try to lasso it. The dude got the steer, jumped off his horse, and body slammed a cow. I know – that snuck up on you fast. Let me recap so you can absorb it – HE BODY-SLAMMED A COW.
Bull riding: Well you know what that is, but did you know you’re allowed to stand RIGHT next to the fence? I had my camera INSIDE THE RING. That didn’t count for much though because the second they opened the paddock, the rider got thrown and slammed between a 6 foot steel fence and half a ton of rampaging bull.

It was awesome. I want to go again. Here are some pictures.

– Jon