Kurt Elling and September 11

I got this in a recent mailing from Kurt, I remember the first time I listened to this recording. It was available at the time on his web site. The way he approached it was both compassionate and fearless, and as you listened to it you could not help but be moved. Especially when you consider when the concert took place.


Take a moment to read about this great musician, maybe visit his web site and listen to a few songs. I think you might just find yourself a new favorite to listen to. So far he has not had a recording come out that was not outstanding, however I highly recommend the outtakes from the Chicago Green Mill session. Listen to Resolution from the great John Coltrane album A Love Supreme. If that does not blow your mind, then it may already be blown.


Read, listen, enjoy
Bryan

Nothing Can Harm You, Not While I'm Around

Just days after September 11, 2001, Kurt held his long-planned CD release concert in Chicago for Flirting With Twilight.  Cathleen Falsani wrote a very moving article for the Chicago Sun-Times and later included it in her 2006 book, The God Factor:  Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People.
She wrote in part:

It was the first Saturday night after life changed forever Sept. 11. People waiting patiently to enter the theater were unusually quiet as security guards checked and double-checked IDs, even for those who didn't intend to drink. A queer pall of uneasiness hung in the air.
Many of the smartly dressed folks waiting to hear Chicago jazz vocalist Kurt Elling sing selections from his new album, "Flirting with Twilight," had had to force themselves out of the house that night, had to take a deep breath, say a few prayers, and put on something festive, even though that was the last thing they were feeling.

Once inside, the nightclub glowed warmly with candlelight, a few concertgoers milled by the bar ordering cocktails, while others found seats set up club-style in the intimate venue. But still, that nasty pall was present.

Elling took the stage with his five-piece band and played the National Anthem.

Everyone stood. Everyone sang. Some people cried.

Then there was grace.

"I came to sing for you tonight because someone wants us to suffer," Elling told the hushed crowd. "Someone wants us to fail--as a nation, a culture, as a people. We fold? They win. We stay home in fear or depression? They win. Culture must continue. Joy must come out. Life is stronger than death."

Then Elling, 33, a Grammy-nominated jazzman and all-around hip cat, quoted from the Hebrew Scriptures. The book of Job: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him."

"We are not encircled by darkness. We're surrounded by a circle of light whose center is everywhere, and whose circumference is nowhere. We have beheld this glory; it is full of grace. If we were to ask such a God of grace, what do you think God would say?" Elling asked.

His band answered, playing the first few notes of "Not While I'm Around," a Stephen Sondheim tune from the musical "Sweeney Todd."

Strange choice? Listen to the words:

"Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. No one's gonna hurt you, no sir, not while I'm around. Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays. I'll send 'em howling, I don't care. I've got ways.

"No one's gonna hurt you, no one's gonna dare. Others can desert you, not to worry--whistle, I'll be there. Demons will charm you with a smile, for a while. But in time, nothing can harm you, not while I'm around."

Grace indeed. 

Chinese Lanterns

I was checking out my Google Plus account and came across this post about Chinese Lanterns at a wedding.

The photographs taken by Ryan Brenizer a NYC wedding photographer are beautiful.

Ryan's point with the post was that anytime someone uses them at their wedding it will make it has day as a photographer.

I would tend to agree, so here is a subliminal message to plan them into your wedding and call me to photograph the wedding.<G>

Bryan

Valentina and Yuri Engagement Session

This week I had the pleasure to spend some time with Valentina and Yuri in Naperville. Valentina is from Russia and Yuri is from Estonia. Which for some odd reason reminded me of the movie "Encino Man" with Pauly Shore and Brendan Fraser. Since they tried to pass Brendon's character off as being from Estonia, since I am guessing they thought no one would have any idea what someone from Estonia would act like.

A bonus to this was the fact that I was two blocks from Heaven on Seven, the best Cajun food north of Louisiana! I stopped in after we finished shooting and had some etoufee and a small cup of gumbo. The food was made even better by the free show I had at the bar as I ate. Two young men just out of Army boot camp came in and decided to try their hottest hot sauce on a cracker. Since they have about 200 different bottles of hot sauce on the wall and in their private stash have pure capsaicin which is what makes the peppers hot this is not really a good idea. Well the fun started after they tried a small dollop on a cracker of one of the runners up to the hottest sauce. A lot of water drinking and fanning of the face and looking generally nauseated ensued. One of them was determined to go on to the hottest sauce, and somehow convinced the owner to do it with him. This was even more fun since after eating it, the owner just stood there looking at him while he looked like he was about to die and guzzled water. The owner finally had some mercy on them and brought out a small glass of milk. I am not sure the owner has taste buds as he never drank anything at all.

Back to the original purpose of this post, I wanted to share a video slide show of their session, I hope you enjoy it.

Quote for the Day!

No one can do inspired work without genuine interest in his subject and understanding of its characteristics. - Andreas Feininger

Street Photography

I found this great article on Street Photography and wanted to share it.

Go Slow, Go Fast: How to Ease Your Way into Street Photography with a 2-Step System

I really like the first shot that showed up when I loaded it, lots of shadow creates a leading line and someone walking with a green umbrella.

This is something I enjoy but do not seem to do often enough. If you are in the local area drop me a note maybe we can go for a walk one day and visit and take a few photographs of one of the cities in the burbs or head into Chicago.
Take Care
Bryan

 

This is Brease, from a recent shoot where I was forced to shoot in the middle of a bright sunny day. This photo is an exception, but most of the time we worked with her back to the sun and a simple large white reflector to soften the shadows, most of the photographs turned out great, nice soft features, no highlights blown out. I'll post a link to the rest of the shoot once I am done editing.

To keep it simple I metered on her face, just below her eyes, and set the camera on manual, this way I did not have to worry about the background or where the camera metered for each individual shot. Many times manual mode is your friend, I recommend using it! The other alternative if the light is changing rapidly is to meter just below the eye with your in camera meter set to spot,select exposure lock, reframe and take the photograph.

As you  you can see sometimes the sun can be your friend, in this case I think it helps set the mood. The photograph is carefree and she seems to be day dreaming.

If you do not follow the Digital Photography School you should, lots of useful information for all levels of photographers.

I found this article in a recent e-mail from DPS I just had such a shoot I thought you might find it useful.

13 Tips for improving outdoor portraits

Welcome to our blog, this is out first post, the ice is broken!

Bryan