Art Attack Halloween Sessions are in full Swing!

I have truly been having a great time with my newest sessions. They can be called a “Pop Up” Session or a “Mini Session”…I call them my “Art Attack Sessions”. I coined this phrase after I had an anxiety attack one weekend due to me stressing about life and work and money, and forgetting about using my heart in a better way than worry and stress.

So, this month my Halloween Art Attack Sessions are seriously the BEST investment and the pricing will be a cup of tea for you! Call me, tell me your costume, and I will plan with you the perfect way to transform yourself into a piece of art.

The final product can be as simple as a web file, or as cool as a 15x30 LONG THIN Wrapped canvas print. We also can create a mock up Record Album for you to proudly display on an easel in the corner of your favorite room of your home.

When it comes to using YOU as part of an art piece, you will realize how unique you are. It will help you think out of the box, and you will use this method in your work, your family life, and even as a method to pull you out of anxiety or depression.

Contact me for pricing and plans, starting at $195. It can be you alone, with a significant other, or with your best friends. Let’s open your mind and make art happen. And if you do know know what to wear, we can design ideas together. You may want to base it upon one piece of clothing, or a certain location. You may want to add a wig or a prop…the ideas are endless.

The above image truly is one of my recent favorite ones. I met these besties and we did a shoot. I brought along a very cool wispy piece of fabric and the entire time we were giggling and laughing at the energy it took to wrap all three friends together. Finally I had to literally tie them together with a knot in front. They reminded me of the sisters in Hocus Pocus, and that underlying force was how we designed this awesome image. Oh…and did I tell you that they are are team of paranormal investigators…wow! https://www.instagram.com/soulsisterssupernatural

Contact me at alison@bleucotton.com for your So Cal shoot. I also travel the globe for sessions and work at paranormal conventions for coverages including these sessions. If you plan to vacation here in So Cal, I offer Art Attack Camps which include a 2 day experience which will BLOW YOUR MIND! Reach out today! Thanks! ali

Photography at Virginia City, NV with Soul Circle Paranormal

I really do not understand why I am obsessing about my upcoming event in Virginia City, NV…

Actually, I do.

It is because this event is really an amazing weekend happening this November. I photographed it a year ago, and am going to photograph it again in less than two months. I cannot wait! Tara, Ryan and Shane are the ultimate hosts, and they have some incredible speakers, and lots of haunted locations to explore. It is an intimate event…and TOTALLY for those who want to experience an adventure!!

Last year, the group of attendees were people who you would become friends with and connect for the rest of your life. I really hope you will join me on this incredible journey of the PARANORMAL!

I photographed amazing portrait sessions, covered the event, and created event yearbooks. This year I will add on a cool way to receive your photos on a private site during the week! I cannot wait!

If you ARE going, let me know and we can book you a special Capturing Souls shoot. Bring a costume for even more fun!!!

https://soulcircleparanormal.com/ is the link for the event. You do not want to miss Aaron Sagers, Heather Taddy, Charlie Kryszewski, Janice Oberding, Michelle LeBaron, and Shane Pittman. Also, the antique stores in VC are amazing. The dress I wore in the first image was from Janice Oberding’s booth, which I bought right before my shoot called “There are Ghosts”.

Here are three Chameleon shoots I did during this event…wow…every one has an incredible backstory!!! I was blessed to have planned some shoots for my own portfolio…Ya know, smuggling my wigs in!… and the craziest thing about one of them as it was later described in a session, that I was transcribing some gal named Beatrice, with curly dark hair and white gown. Check out this image!

I also love Roxanne… this hat I wore had sooooooo much history…the mothball smell and the feel was insane! Here they are below. Enjoy, and join me in November!!!

There are Ghosts

Beatrice

Roxanne - Virginia City NV

Every Image has a Back Story - BTI

I have been thinking about my childhood a lot lately. My life seems to be going forward, but my memories keep going deeper back in time. Some of the images I create are based on a certain memory which I cherish, and I want to document while I can. The Hamilton quote has been sung in my head quite a bit lately.

“How do you write like you’re running out of time? Write day and night like you’re running out of time? How do you write like tomorrow won’t arrive? How do you write like you need it to survive?” I seem to create images like I need it to survive.

I am in the planning stages of writing a series of AliZines which share the backstories to many of these photographs.

I picture my work, hanging in the small art gallery at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. A future middle school teacher (named Jan), selects only a small group of her students, who are excelling in art class, to spend a morning at the gallery (which distinctly smells like clay).

The students are taught how to analyze the photographs in the showcase, and discuss the meanings of each image. At the end of the session, the art teacher presents each student with an AliZine of the images and my interpretation of each piece created. The students grow up with a love for art, and make the world a better place expressing themselves with their creativity, too.

Here are three in a series about my schooling. I created all three pieces during different years, not in sequence, and with no intention of them fitting together perfectly to represent Elementary School, Middle School, and High School.

This first piece is called “Baggage”.

It started with me finding the dress at the local Savers. I had flashbacks to this outfit as a 1976 Kindergarten student. I wanted to transform myself back into my childhood self. I needed the portrait at my Elementary School, The Bernice A. Ray School. That one story building with the 1970’s designed “Multipurpose Room” sunken auditorium, was part of who I am today.

I also wanted to include what was part the identity of an elementary school student from K - 4. (Fifth Graders were too cool for it) …The lunch box. Yes, I own a collection of lunchboxes. They had been waiting for this moment all of their lives to be in a portrait, I am sure.

I created this, not only as a nod to my 90% excellent childhood, but also due to that 10% of not so good memories. This 10% is the baggage one takes with them from these years forward into adulthood.

It confronts that 10% of memories which causes one to have to go to therapy at age 50. One small memory which may be the root of a adult’s character. Why they are who they are. A memory of being an outcast for one month in 4th grade by their best friends, or maybe flipping upside down on a bike rack and banging up their head, so to miss the school bus going home, in kindergarten, or perhaps wondering if their eating problem stems from winning the donut on the string eating contest at Halloween one year.

We take a lot of baggage with us from our childhood, and this is my way to express not only the wonderful memories of my school days, but also how the spark of just a few negative moments are engrained in our lives and unconsciously form us as adults.

This second piece is called “Mall Rats.”

I am completely obsessed with indoor malls. It brings me back to my middle school years when my sisters and I yearned to shop at malls. You would think we were heading to Disneyland. I even wrote about every item I bought at the Mall, including what I paid for them and what stores they came from.

The closest Mall to us was about an hour and a half away. It was always an adventure going there for the day and shopping our hearts out for new outfits, jewelry, records, and decorations for my room. Our cousins on both sides of my family lived within minutes of their Malls…within minutes! Lucky dogs! The best school breaks were when I was in middle school and my mom would drop us off to the cousins house for vacation, and on a few of those days, my aunts would drop the 5 cousins off at the mall for the day.

The sound and smell of an indoor fountain running, the mainstay of stores such as Kay-Bee Toys, Joann’s Nut House, Claires, Brookstone, Sam Goody, Mrs Fields, Orange Julius, Tape World, B Dalton, Radio Shack, Benetton, Kinney Shoes, Pet Stores galore, Kmart, Ames, Bradlees, Deb, Musicland, and of course, Spencer Gifts with the naughty black light section in the back were heaven to me.

I now live 10 minutes from a few malls in Southern California, but they are outdoor malls full of high end stores. BLAH. But, I did not realize until a few years ago that I have been living near an indoor mall that still has an orange julius in it! When I found it I was extatic! But…I also learned that it was going to be sold and torn apart. NOOO. I decided I must document this magic before it would be lost to local future generations of Mall Rats.

So, this image represents my awkward yet cool middle school years, the first times I was out in a group of my sisters and cousins without parents. I would check out the guys in the mall, and freak out if they ever looked back. No cell phones, no internet, no teenage credit cards, no kids shopping who looked like super models, and the only over priced-store I remember was Benetton.

Indoor Malls will never be the same again, and I was blessed to have had them when I was a teen. I love that this group of friends I created are all trying to be the “In-Crowd.” Cool, copycatting each other, and all going through their awkward early teens differently. Yet they stick together in their matching tees and living their life simply yet to the fullest they know how, as they hang at the Indoor Mall.

This last image is called “The Prom”.

Not Prom…I would love to know why kids these days dropped the THE.

I grew up at a very cool High School. We did not have bells between classes, we did not have study halls, we were able to sign out of campus during our breaks, we wanted to change the mascot to a sloth, and we yearned to hang in the Senior Lounge when we hit Senior Year.

Although truthfully…I sat in the Senior Lounge once, (on a bean bag or carpet covered block), when I first became a Senior. I looked around at the other seniors sitting on beanbags looking back at me, and my awkward self never went back. Instead I would sign out of school, walk over to my grandmother’s apartment across the street, drink instant coffee, eat gingersnaps, watch “Hazel” on tv, and play cards with my Gram.

I had the BEST High school years, and I did not realize this until I became an adult.

In this image, I wanted to capture this moment that was never part of my BEST memories. Another interesting fact about Hanover High School is that we never had homecoming or a Prom Queen or King. Did I miss out on worrying about not winning the most votes, or worrying about what if I did win the most votes, having pig blood dumped on me? (ok, another fact about growing up during the 80’s was that we all read Stephen King WAY too young and it shaped our generation awesomely!)

No, I did not miss not having a Prom at all.

I think watching the anguish of Molly Ringwald in so many John Hughes movies allowed me to vicariously live through her, and get that drama out of my system. Don’t get me wrong, I still had my own drama. For example that weekend, on a dare, I called up a Junior I had a crush on when I was a freshmen, and two hours later bumping into him at the Record Store, and then on Monday, having my older sister tell me she heard all about it directly from him.

So, this image of a perfect prom moment is one I created for myself. As a 48 year old woman, I found a BNWT Prom Dress (that is Brand New With Tags, if you are not hip like me), at the Listen Center in my hometown. I ordered a Prom Queen Sash and a crown off of Amazon, and I asked my creative Aunt Carolyn, during a visit, if she had any extra flowers and ribbon I could make into a wrist corsage, (of course presented to me from my record store crush in this storyline, ha!).

I drove by my high school, took some photos of the classic brick exterior, and Voila! With a little magic, my imaginary moment was made, in front of my High School! A dream I never needed or wanted came true. :)

There you have it, some BTI from three of my favorite Chameleon Shoots about three stages of life. It is a joy to share a bit more about my work and how I create my pieces.

Thank you for reading this post and learning more about my art. Feel free to comment on this feed or on the Facebook link, if you found the article that way. I appreciate your appreciation for my photography.

Art Attack Portrait Sessions

March is Women’s History Month.

I am pleased to announce a new series of sessions available…Art Attack Portraits for Women. I will be traveling to New England and offering these one-of-a-kind sessions from March 13-16th in the Upper Valley.

The Session involves a bit of prep work from both of us, and then “your wildest dreams will come true”. I want to know your spirit animal, your favorite decade, your Hollywood icon, your favorite album cover, music video and MORE!

Can we ruin some clothes? Do you want to try a different hair color? How about being someone else for an hour?

LET’S MAKE ART!

The hour-long session plus one included retouched, art-worked, social media file is $295. You may purchase additional art pieces either in print or for social media. You may also choose to pre-purchase art. Let’s chat about your wall space and vision. Contact Ali at alison@bleucotton.com to hold your spot, and start the creative juices flowing!

13 Years Since MJ's Memorial

I cannot believe I was at Michael Jackson’s Memorial 13 years ago. And,that he died 13 years ago this year, and…that I still listen to the 1980s Apple Music lists and he pops up with the most amazing songs… he influenced the Gen Xers so much. I am heart broken by the drama and issues revealed in his later life, but he was a part of my growing up and who I am today, and to be at his public memorial was simply emotional.

I entered emails daily to get randomly chosen tickets and I was chosen for a set of two. My daughter-in-law and I were the ticket holders so we went to this moving event which was broadcasted internationally. These images are taken by a Canon G 11 camera… yes they are not the sharpest, but you can still see the coverage I got from it in nose-bleed seats.

It was very harmonious, and full of love, and an event I feel blessed to have attended. I am so sad he is gone. He was an artistic inspiration to me. I hope you enjoy these moments I captured. And I won’t even go into the story about how we forgot where we parked and it took three hours to find the parking structure we parked in.

Mariah Carey

Queen Latifah… I had her CD in college before she became a superstar on TV. Ladies First!

Lionel Ritchie

Stevie Wonder

Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant…I gulp realizing I never knew I got this shot of Kobe and he is now with MJ. And I met Magic Johnson again and was honored to have my photo taken with him.

Jennifer Hudson

Reverend Al Sharpton

Brooke Shields

Jermaine Jackson

Our view

The family… this image of Blanket Jackson on the far right just makes me so sad.

Swimming in Fans

I have this Tee, too.

Jesse Jackson. I remember my Aunt and Uncle supporting him for President. Here I am photographing him in 2009.

Memorial Outside Staples Center

Vendor Selling Stuff

Mixed Emotions 7-4-22

It is so ironic that the last post I made was in January and I spoke of John Hughes. Now I speak of Highland Park, Illinois, famous from his movie locations. This is where a senseless tragedy occurred at a 4th of July Parade.

I was already pissed about the SCOTUS decisions last week, and yesterday morning I created this series of images relaying the hurt myself and so many others felt this year. A day we are supposed to celebrate our country. This sequence of images are named “Mixed Emotions”…This truly has a deeper meaning as I watch the news and the aftermath of a violent day that did not have to occur.

I dedicate it to all of us who feel the pain. I tribute it to the “45 injured or deceased” and all who hurt and are broken.

Update - There were FIVE Mass Shootings on July 4th. We just only heard of ONE on the NEWS….we are broken.

John Hughes, You're My Hero

Lately, our family has been binge-ing on John Hughes Films. I realized they are a perfect way to bond with my 14 year old son. First we watched Breakfast Club. I forgot how heavy some parts were, and hoped I did not lose him with them. The next morning I heard him playing "Don't You Forget About Me" by Simple Minds, and I knew the movie resonated with him as it did for me in 1987.

So, the next night we watched 16 Candles. And a few nights later we watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Then we watched Some Kind of Wonderful.

Now, I have only watched SKofW a few times, as that movie was not as strong to me...the lead was a guy instead of a girl, no crazy quotable moments, and not a real romantic ending like you get with Pretty in Pink or 16 Candles, with a killer top song to listen to as I kiss my mirror or pillow pretending it was Jake or Blane.

So, when I watched it this time I really was focusing on it more than the others, which, by the way, I know almost line by line..."What's happening hot stuff?"...."Fred, she's gotten her boobies"...etc. etc...

One thing I really loved about watching SKofW, the other night, is that I really found the main character, Keith, as such an amazing soul. I was so happy Fisher could see how utterly sweet he was. I think for teen boys this is a a perfect film. It doesn't have the odd characters like Long Duck Dong, Duckie, or Principal Rooney, but that allowed us to be drawn to Keith a bit more. I also loved watching Watts as she struggled being the perfect friend, supporting Keith as he pursued Amanda Jones, although she loved him more than a friend.

The movie still seemed to rush through some poignant areas, like I realized Amanda Jones' boyfriend was a TOTAL ABUSIVE asshole, and her character learning how to stand up to him and walk away was missed before for me. My stomach turned when I watched Hardy, the ass, act the way he did. As a teen this did not stand out, but as an adult and having experienced jerks like this, it really triggered me.

The BEST thing about this movie, though, is I asked my son if he would like me to Chauffer him and his date to his winter formal. I would dress up in a suit and drive them, open the doors for them, sit in the parking lot all night until the dance was over, and drive them home....just like Watts did. He actually said I could...maybe... So that is a Win in my book. :)

This Chameleon Shoot was taken a few years back, but now that I look at it, I see Watt's, carrying her drumsticks wherever she went. They are her passion and part of her, as my camera is to me. I love looking back at my self portraits, and perhaps they don't have a deep meaning when I create them, but they gain more depth as time goes on.

Now, this image will remind me of the time I spent with my 14 year old son, sharing my teenage movies and how they taught me, knowing that he will be shaped by them, too.

Jack

I have been photographing my friend Jack for a few years now, whenever I am with him.

He is in a hospital rehab center after a fall, and I went to go visit him today.

One thing which I was blessed to witness was meeting his roommate, who became friends with Jack when he moved in to the same room at the rehab. Jack said I need to photograph him. I said, "Well, if he wants me to take his photo I will."

The man said, "Yes, and please take one of Jack, as we are good friends now. We want photos of each other."

This....

How incredible...that these two men have bonded as Nursing Home roommates, and it is important for them to capture this time in their lives to remember this friendship, not knowing how long it will last. Roommates don't last long in nursing homes.

I used the friend's phone to photograph the friend, (I pulled the divider over as a backdrop for his photo as he sat in his wheelchair by his bed, and used the window light for the main light). I also photographed Jack on the friend's phone. I then took a few of the men on my phone too, for Jack. I will make some physical prints for both of them, for each other to keep.

I absolutely love these images. Some of the finest portraits, full of depth. Simple I-phone photos, but their expressions are simply amazing, as they were posing to make memories for each other.

I could cry right now.

This image of Jack was one I took before the pandemic, when I had lunch with him at our weekly lunches. Oh how things change before you realize it... I am glad I have this image, too, and I cherish Jack..

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Future 40x60 Print

Over the weekend I scanned a few rolls of 35mm film out of my Dad's collection of negatives I have attained. There is always one on each roll which really take me back in time, and they are not always "posed at the camera". The images which are taken of life as it happened are my favorite.

This is the first image for my Virtual Gallery. When I was a kid, the living room in my Grandmother's home was the area where we all gathered in a circle to visit.

In this image, I believe my Grandmother sat down to chat in the corner of the L shaped couch, in the single seat, which allowed her to jump up and go into her kitchen around the corner to check on food in the oven.

This cushion seat on the corner of the couch was not the most comfortable spot to sit in, as you only had the funky wallpapered wall behind you for back support, unless you sat turned, so you could face the opposite tv, couch and recliner (where my uncle is sitting with his socked feet up comfortably). In that case you had no back support and just squatted and leaned forward on this corner spot in order to be a part of the circle of chat only, and not to lounge.

As a kid I hardly knew my Grandmother to visit in a seated position like this, hand up to her face, and enjoying the company with the her kids and significant others. This image shows her beautiful profile at an age I never knew her in. (I was probably born 6 year after this image was taken.)

I also love that my dad had his 35mm camera wherever he went, and he probably saw the way the natural lamp light hit her face. He and my mom probably claimed the long end of the L couch and were comfortably snuggled up together as they chatted with her older siblings across the small room. This angle which he shot this image reminds me of my many years sitting in this spot of that unusual couch with my sisters and cousins on holiday visits.

My Dad would tell me "shoot wide open at a 30th on manual with no flash" and that is what he did on this image. It came out beautiful and makes me want to pull out my old Canon AT-1 to keep 35mm on me wherever I go.

If and when I live in a huge home with lots of wall space, I will print this image as a 40x60 and place it on a wall of my private gallery to enjoy daily. Until then, it is part of my smaller print collection I have, and also it is my first digital file I am including in my "Virtual Gallery" online. I am so lucky to have the ability to time travel through his negatives. He would have never known this one click would inspire a future generation to write a piece on a 1960s L shaped couch and the memories of a grandmother.

Mourning Cat Young

My heart has been hurting since I learned of Cathy Young's passing on Sunday.

I was blessed to spend time with her and her daughter, Tess, when I met and photographed them in 2015.

We never reconnected except a few years ago when Cat called me out of the blue with a message she received from one of her clients who dreamed about me in a life or death situation...I am so thankful for her reaching out for me, knowing it was about something pretty far out there. (I still carry my "Cat" Self Defense Key Chain with me when I walk the dog and think of her call daily.)

Cat made such a difference to so many. I send her family and friends love and strength, and I am thankful I could capture her soul on that beautiful summer day in Pennsylvania. xoxo

National Kite-Flying-Day

It is National Kite-Flying-Day.

When was the last time you flew a kite?

Thanks to my sister, we spent a few hours outside of Belle Fourche, South Dakota at the geographic center of the United States in 2012, flying a kite. On an incredible road trip with her, my mom, and my 5 year old son, she brought along items to make experiences for us to remember as we traveled.

I love that I have took this image. It brings back all sorts of memories of our travels and how joyful a 5 year old can be on a breezy day.

In a world of technology and virtual experiences, this moment with a kite is super special.

My History Photographing Campaigns

I have to give my dad and grandfather the credit.

I have always been intrigued with Presidential elections. This may be because I grew up in New Hampshire and my dad was in the loop with the campaigns which stopped by Hanover… a hub location for rallies. He was not only an photographer, but also on the Hanover Police force and was always on duty during visits.

My grandfather was also a professional photographer, who worked in many locations in New England. I am blessed to own the original prints and negatives he created of Dwight Eisenhower, Robert Frost, and Norman Rockwell. I hold dear my Dad’s negative of JFK taken on a snowy afternoon outside the historic Hanover Inn. My mom’s photographs of Barbara Bush are also in my collection.

During high school I got a bug for photojournalism. My family was shopping at a mall in Manchester NH on a school winter break when my dad pointed out Dick Gephardt, Republican Presidential candidate at a Presser in the Mall. I was ON it. I jumped in the pool of photographers and grabbed my shots with the 35 mm Canon black and white camera which I carried with me night and day.

Presidential Candidate Jack Kemp was the next one I tracked down in Hanover. My dad saw my excitement over Gephardt and told me as about the opportunity as he had to do police duty for it, and dropped me off with my camera in hand to wait for Kemp to leave the presser outside of the Hanover Inn in the sub zero temps. I got my shot!

A few years later I was in Northern Vermont at college, and one of my government teachers suggested a group of us skip his evening class and get extra credit to travel 2.5 hours across the Northwest part of the state and go to a VP elect Al Gore rally for Presidential candidate Clinton. Oh yes!….

I pushed my way to the front of the University of Vermont Hall (later that year I went back to the same place for a Public Enemy concert...who would have known!) and I photographed Howard Dean and Patrick Leahy introducing future VP Al Gore…and then I captured the future Vice President, himself. It was an incredible night, once again, as I really felt the energy of new leaders, who were making history, and I loved the challenge to document it for my self assignment.

In 1994, I was officially in photography school. Photojournalism 101 was the assignment. I loved brainstorming with Dad about my homework. I was walking in his footsteps and was proud to have him in my photography world. Dad mentioned to me Bob Dole was going to be in town. What?…Bob Dole? Oh yes!

The best thing about photographing Bob Dole is I had my Medium format along with my 35mm. The assignment needed me to use my Bronica, which was a larger camera and negative. This definitely turned a lot of heads in the press pool. It was a joy to complete my Photojournalism 101 assignment with a top notch sitter.

Two years later I moved to Washington DC, and truly was a blessed soul working in a studio that plomped me into locations like the Willard and Hay-Adams Hotel, and events including ones like the 1997 National Prayer Breakfast and a Senate Meet and Greet in the US Capitol with ESPN Celebrities. I remember two things about that US Capitol event as a 25 year old…the security dogs would not leave one of my light stand bags alone, (…the duct tape inside confuses sniffers apparently), and Newt Gingich winked at me, which made me uncomfortable. It wasn’t until 20 years later I learned from a friend in Southern California that “Newt winks at everyone”, including him… Ok…that mystery was solved.

I left DC in 1999 to work in Southern California, which allowed my amazing corporate opportunities photographing speakers such as Past President William J Clinton, Admiral William McRaven and Formal British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The beginning of 2020 allowed me a special opportunity to photograph and meet a few of the Democratic Presidential Candidates as I had an emergency trip to be with my mother in Hanover on New Years Day. Little did I know Hanover was hopping with rallies such as Elizabeth Warren, Tusli Gabbard and Tom Steyer during my visit. I was renewed with passion, as with each “self-assignment” I learned more techniques for documenting their distinct lighting, crowds and emotion of their 90 minute talks. I was able to be quiet as a mouse, yet jump forward when I need to make a shot happen.

My father, who passed in 2009, was surely smiling down on me as I created the best documentation of these events. I had pride in stopping time just as he did with John F Kennedy right outside the Hanover Inn on a snowy day, as I was, during this historical year of 2020.

In February of 2020, only a few weeks later I had the tv on a quiet So Cal weekday in February to hear local news announce Bernie Sanders was speaking only about 20 minutes away from my home, in, oh… about 2 hours. My camera was already packed!….You know the rest of the story…

Halloween 2020 Thoughts

We are upon Halloween 2020. What will your new 2020 tradition be? (hopefully only a ONE year tradition).

We plan on no trick or treating but, instead, scary movies, doing a drive by seeing decorations, pumpkin carving, and maybe virtual costume visits via Zoom.

I want to decorate our yard but no candy to kids. (“Sorry Folks, park’s closed. Moose should have told you at entrance”).

I will gather a candy basket to give to my kid from #thegreatpumpkin (a la Easter bunny) instead of any touchy sneezy treats from neighbors. Better safe than sorry.

What are your inner thoughts on taking candy from strangers during a pandemic?

Of course the 2020 Halloween is a Saturday, Full Moon, and on Time Change. (“Isn’t it Ironic....Don’t cha think???”). Doh..

Visiting Irving

I had to cancel our trip to see my Mom over Easter Break. We had to cancel our August Vacation to see her, too. Fuck Covid.

When lack of human contact had reached its peak, and I needed to travel across the country to social distantly visit my mom, I finally did…last week.

I felt like Rocky Balboa prepping a fight with Clubber. I booked my flight and ignored my emotions and planning for a week. I then studied about the flight precautionary stats, happy to see that the middle rows are open on Southwest, and the air quality and cleaning standards are upped incredibly. I got a Covid test from my doctor and waited 5 days for the clean bill of health.

I then purchased extra masks to double up…pulled out a hoodie to wear… rubber gloves, sanitizer, spray - rubbing alcohol, cleaning wipes, a face shield, oxygen meter, thermometer…….and xanex.

When I arrived at my mom’s house I spent four days with a mask on and socially distant to her. My bedroom was my chilly “open-window” haven, to rip off my mask and breathe.

So, so surreal….

The craziest thing is when I landed on the plane I got a text that tRump and Melania had Covid. So, that suggestion that I “leave my phone down and ignore the news” was null and void.

My anxiety hit a peak the second night I was here, as I made a covid testing appointment at 3am on the internet to have another test to confirm I did not catch it on the plane. (I did cancel it the next morning when I realized I may have been paranoid and I did not want to fight with my insurance for any reason at all 3 weeks in the future for not getting approval out of state….). I did buy extra tylenol, cough drops, zinc, and horseradish as my head convinced myself I had plane covid.

It’s been amazing, seeing my mom. Sometimes we need to make choices. I am glad I made this choice after months of contemplating.

One of my plans here, while visiting mom and while socially distant myself with her for many days, was to create art, and to document this incredible Autumn foliage, since I never get to New England during the Fall. So I did.

Today as I was poking through my closet (ok, my old closet I still have teenage shit in…)… I found Irving. Irving was my dad’s ventriloquist dummy who I have adored since a kid.

I decided I needed a portrait with Irving. Today was a perfect day for me to connect with my dad through my camera. I wanted to give life to Irving through my photography as my dad gave him life through his ventriloquism. I realized as I looked at the bag label “US Army”, that my dad having this dummy with him while he served in the Army is the reason why I am who I am. My Awesome Dad brought a Ventriloquist Doll with him in the Army!

No excuses…be who I want to be. Entertain and make art. I will and I do. Just as my dad did.

Along with these images, I designed 6 more other “Chameleon” sessions this week for shooting. It makes me so happy. These included Apple Picking, RBG, my Great Grandfather’s Farm, My Great Grandmother’s Phone, Changing Leaves, Witches, and Martha Washington.

After the 4th day with my mom, I did remove my mask and hugged her at night instead of “elbowing” her. It was the hardest decision to make.

Here is my ode to my dad up in heaven. He has showed me many signs this week. Here is my thank you to him.

It's been 6 Months since the Universal Reset Began.

It's been exactly 6 months that the "Great Pause" began...March 15th for our family and business.

I was thinking about what memories I could share here...but there are no photos from the cancelled trip to the Angels Spring Training...no photos from the cancelled trip to NH for Easter...no photos from the cancelled last days of school for our son... No family photos from our cancelled big 4th of July party...No photos from our cancelled summer trip...No photos from the cancelled first day of school on campus last week.

It's been a real crappy 6 months...but we are blessed to have a healthy family and many memories from our virtual visits online with loved ones. We realize what the most important things are in our lives.

Although I have memories of various projects which have kept my creative juices flowing, like my 2020 Twelve Superheroes, Chameleon Shoots, Zoo Paintings, Film Porchtraits, and Stealing the Easter Bunny's identity, I think this photo below best represents the timespan from last March... 6 months that passed so fast, but feel like a span of 25 years. Oh have we grown in so many ways during 2020.

Ya, that Russian “Face App” I played with briefly and then deleted in 2019 would represent more than I ever would imagine in the year 2020. May we take a deep breath and focus on the next six months ahead. Stay safe, stay sane, and make magical memories to replace the ones we have lost behind us.

Brian J Cano Capturing Souls Portrait Session

Has it really been since June that I posted a blog post?

1.

It’s been almost 5 months now since the shutdown began, and over 6 months since word got out about an awful new virus spreading, which started me prepping for the unknown future.

August has my most favorite month, for the past many years, as I would travel back east for a special family reunion, and I would also travel to photograph an amazing event in Northern Michigan, in Sault Ste. Marie. (www.MiParacon.com) It is one of the best Paranormal Conventions around.

Alas, this year, these travels will not happen this year due to Covid 19. :(

2.

I have been looking back at portraits that I have created over the years in Michigan. I have been so fortunate to photograph incredible people. These portraits really push my creativity forward, and I love that my sitters are open to my unique ideas to capture their souls. My usage of digital, flash, natural light, hotlights, film, and infrared, has allowed me to create one of a kind portraits.

I wanted to share this awesome selection of images I photographed of Paranormal Investigator, Brian J Cano. I had met him about 7 years ago at an event in Philadelphia, and photographed the coolest session of him in the downtown. (Imgs 1 & 2) His site is www.patreon.com/brianjcano…check him out!

Last year, he hired me again for a session while we both were at the Michigan Paracon. We spent about an hour at creating a variety of dramatic images at the event located at the Kewadin Casino and Hotel. The environment is beautiful, but poses challenges for photography. One must look beyond the parking lots and simple landscape surrounding the building.

3.

We met at sunset…and used the last amount of sun as the main light and a two-toned background of the distant, shaded brick wall of the hotel, and a closer, sunset lit cement pillar. The contrast of colors worked incredibly well as a unique backdrop. (Img 3)

Then, we moved down a quiet road in the middle of a field and used the incredible red glow in the post sunset sky for the background. I LOVED that the clouds created angel wings and I centered Brian in front of them, (as he is truly an angel in the Paranormal Industry!) (Img 6)

4.

After the fact, we had to discuss the silhouette of a man behind Brian in one of the images, on this road, but he debunked it as a passerby we never noticed with the fun we were having during the session…Damn, I thought I caught a ghost…but I am glad I had an expert to analyze the data!

Once the sun was gone, we used a nearby area which was fenced, enclosing an electrical company’s '“Doo- Hang-Y” (official term), where we used the fence as the session area. This location lent itself perfectly to the feel of closed off locations like prisons or abandoned buildings where many of his investigations take place at. (Img 4)

5.

…Of course, the army of mosquitos, which must have been hired to guard the area, did their duty and ate us alive. Doh!

We rushed away from the woods and ended up inside the hotel to finish up the session. I had a studio set up ready to shoot…(yes, I am one of those creepy photographers with hotel rooms set up as a studio), with hot lights and a backdrop to create some images on my Hasselblad. These images also came out incredibly cool… described by Brian…”The pose and the grain really sets a mood…welcome to the Twilight Zone….” This film image is now released publicly for the first time ever here. (Img 5)

Please do check out Brian’s website! www.Patreon.com/Brianjcano He is an knowledgeable leader in the industry. I truly love his teaching style and his passion for the Paranormal. Also, check out the rest of the line up for the 2021 MiParacon as I am now counting down the months until we can gather there again. Next year I plan on bringing a 4x5 camera, so book your sessions early with me!

6.

My Jeepney

I received a wonderful gift from a very important person last month.

I was gifted a new (to me!) car in May! What a an amazing gift to receive. Thank you, JCPs!

It was also exciting, because my jeep, “Bleuberry the Jeepney”, which we bought in 2012, and has been a wonderful vehicle, was available and ready for a new owner. This was the perfect opportunity to share the love and pass the good deed on to another family member….our Sweet 16 Granddaughter.

So, yesterday, when we gathered to celebrate Dad’s Day and our oldest granddaughter’s bday, we had the fun experience of giving her a present…a gift box holding a set of car keys. We watched her expression as she opened the box, then we shared with her it that it was for our Jeep.

Yes, I’m a weirdo, and prior to giving her the Jeep, I had to complete the shoot that I thought of over a year ago which I had not completed. Hence, this image was taken 6 hours before it was gifted.

I learned of a selfie challenge in 2018 from China called “Flaunt Your Wealth Challenge”, which involves photos of people falling out of their cars, on the ground - surrounded by luxury bags, shoes, and sometimes wads of cash. It was so odd that it intrigued me and I wanted to add to the collection of humans who fall out of their car, spreading their important “stuff” around them as they lay limp in the tableau.

Of course…I had to represent me…and my luxury collection of cameras.

Here is my art. I love that it is me in my typical “professional photography assignment” session clothing. I gathered my favorite cameras I have worked with, in my collection, and I have my Jeep…for one last moment. This image is a wonderful final hurrah before Bleuberry heads to her new owner. Thank you dear Jeepney, for your service over the past 8 years. xo ali

PS … Can you identify the beautiful cameras in this image?

Graduations

I was working on my scrapbooks tonight, and realized I needed to add photos from Fisher’s 6th grade graduation photos from a year ago, June 2019. (Elementary runs through 6th grade)…

This year I am sensitive for the Seniors who are graduating in such an unusual time in our world. Looking at these images, taken in a “normal year”, I feel so blessed that we captured such memorable photos. I never realized they would be so important. It was a special time…and I truly took it for granted…

I also realized, as I have gained weight over the Covid, that a year ago, when I thought I looked like crap, I actually look back now, and I realize I am happy with how I looked in the photo of me with my only son on his graduation day. Yes, I have mom hair, but as my shag grows now, I have been pondering doing the Jane Fonda cut again….I could do it again.

Anyhoo… looking at a year ago, I realize that every moment is precious, and these three photos are significant in so many ways. To all the Seniors..whether Kindergarten, 5th grade, 6th grade, 8th grade, or 12th grade, in 2020, you are amazing, and there is a reason why you experienced this Covid during your graduation year. You will launch from it, and when you are running the world, you will make it the best place ever. Thank you in advance….when I’m 64…(A La Beatles")…

World Oceans Day 2020

My Great Grandmother's 126th Birthday... Today.

In conversation with my mom, a few years ago, I learned my Great Grandma was born on May 22nd, in 1894. She died in 1980…but if she were still alive, it would be her 126th Birthday today.

I think that I am really thinking of her this year because she lived through so much and when I met her and knew her, we never really connected.

I mean, I was between 0 and 9 years old when my mom would take me and my sisters to her farm in Norwich, VT. Our lives overlapped, but not in a way that we could share stories, or that I knew about asking her what her youth was like.

Right now, I think of all the incredible questions to ask her…what did she do on the millennial? New Years Eve, 1899 -1900? What was it like during the 1918 Pandemic? During all of the Wars? The different Presidents? The automobiles…the planes…the radio, the tv…and of course…photography?

What is really cool is that these images are all from my Great Aunt’s photo album (her daughter), that I received after my great aunt passed. My Aunt Irma was amazing at archiving such important memories.

Remember…this is my side of the family who were not professional photographers…they were just a hardworking farm family who understood why photography is so important to future generations. I am so blessed to have a family tree on both sides who “got it” when it came to documenting their lives.

Here is my homage to Grammy Cook. I am honored to be here because of her. The first two Images are I how I knew her. The rest are of her in younger years, and oh…how I long to time travel to meet her during her youth.

Happy 126th Grammy Cook!