Another day, another debate over Miles Davis or Charles Mingus or Thelonius Monk, trumpet versus vibraphone and which is less important: drums or or bass.

Please don't start debating jazz with me. I just like to talk to the folks who let me take their pictures. Can you see his wheels turning before his opening salvo?

For me, photographing people is like good jazz; there's always an arrangement but far more important is the interaction, collaboration, spontaneity and the heaping helping of improvisation we all bring to the party. (works for me anyway)

Another day, another flawed photo that speaks volumes more than the perfect ones

A few moments ago, I was marveling at the work of +Carl Stovell over on Google+ (have a look as I think his work is quite amazing) and I came across a quote by Scott Adams included in Carl's post about Creative Perfectionism that I happen to have hanging in my studio. I love the quote and it bears repeating:

"Creativity is making mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
Scott Adams

It's a constant debate isn't it: When is something a simple (honest) mistake or something more.

And who gets to decide?

I for one have an ongoing love/hate relationship with mistakes. But having said that, it's something I encourage my folks to strive for and make on a daily basis for that is where growth is and Art lies waiting, hiding...

Facing conflict

Veterans to be and Veterans from days past.

On a day of celebration, their eyes tell a very different story.

Finally, a sad fact on top of it all:

One in four homeless people in America are veterans.

Acknowledging small accomplishments

Two Gibbons contemplating Darwin's Theories of Adaptation and Natural Selection

"...hmmm, it's not an elephant"

     "Nope. And it's not a pig."

"It could be an anteater. Nah...nose is too short."

     "...it's not a hippo"

"Sure seems friendly enough. So whattya you think it is?"