Michigan Photographers: Bobby Alcott responds to reader questions

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Falling Water by Bobby Alcott

BenGreen asks “What photographers influence your work?”

I’ve always loved Annie Leibovitz, and was simply moved by her show at the DIA – it was an honor to be there. Garry Winogrand, W. Eugene Smith … I’m moved by the photographer that can capture the spirit of a person in a single frame. Architecturally, Margaret Bourke-White was an very early influence on my design, and later, my photography.

Waiting for the Hero by Bobby AlcottCave Canem wonders “What kinda party stores should one ‘knock over’ to get a decent digital setup like yours?”

The ones that have a liquor license, of course.

One of the drawbacks of being a pro photographer is that one constantly has to reinvest in new equipment. It’s not a vanity thing, and not everything needs to be replaced — my main camera, a Hasselblad 500 EL/M, was built in 1965 — but the market changes rapidly, and to fall behind is to give up. Digital backs, lighting, new DSLR bodies, software … all are critical and volatile tools that have to be state of the art.

Bill Alcott (a relative) says “Please say something about the location of this photo.”

Last November, Cave Canem and I planned this elaborate shoot to coincide with the only time a full moon would rise over the city of Detroit as seen from Windsor. FhOdXr by Bobby AlcottWell, the shoot was a bust, as we were way, way too close to make the moon dramatic enough. It was 4:30am when we gave up trying to make it work, and he suggested we go to the Ford Rouge factory to get some cool sunrise shots. We stood on a bridge over the Rouge River as the colors crept up on us. Cave has better shots of this place, but I was happy with the way this came out.

Kiddarhma (and CC) ask “How did you get EXPOSURE:Detroit going, and how is it going?”

My wife is from the wonderful city of Pittsburgh, and so we spend a few weekends there a year, visiting her Mom. I became friends with a great bunch of photographers there, and the beginning of our friendship coincided with the birth of the EXPOSURE program – a localized group of photographers that form a support system to grow as shooters and, once a month, to take over a space and celebrate the work of one of it’s members by devoting a gallery opening to them. After the Pittsburgh group found some real success, the founder of the group, Joey Kennedy, asked me if I would start a Detroit chapter to help local photographers grow and shine — how could I resist? I’ve had so many people help me along my path, and it thrills me to help others as well.

Let There Be Light by Bobby AlcottEXPOSURE.Detroit is going through a bit of a remake right now, as participation wasn’t at a sustaining level. We’re now starting to see the transformation bring real change to the group, and the members are becoming more involved. I’m excited about the future of the group.

Joan wants to know “Are there are any people or places in Michigan you’d really like to photograph?”

Other than the city, which offers a never-ending canvas to a photographer, I enjoy the coastlines and sailing. Not much compares to shooting a regatta on board a dinghy! I do love the Traverse City area, Petoskey and Harbor Springs — beautiful areas to landscape. Mackinac Island has been thoroughly photographed, but there are always new ways to show an old subject. The Dunes are fantastic at sunset, too. This is a magical state to photograph; there are so few places in the country that offers everything we have here.

Michigan Photographer Profile III

Prequel: Skyed

Day I: Michigan in Pictures talks with Bobby Alcott

Day II: Bobby Alcott responds to reader questions

Day III: Bobby’s Favorite

Michigan Photographers: Michigan in Pictures talks with Bobby Alcott

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

light and paths to it by Bobby Alcott

Today, Wednesday & Thursday Michigan in Pictures will be talking with Detroit photographer Bobby Alcott for our third Michigan Photographer Profile.

Michigan in Pictures: Tell us a little something about yourself Bobby

Bobby Alcott: I’m a native Metro Detroiter – born here in 1969, and grew up on the East side. I now live in downtown Detroit with my lovely wife Elizabeth, daughter Abby… and another baby girl due in April. purity by Bobby AlcottI’m kind of a regular guy: graduated from MSU, love my Red Wings and Tigers, love all people of all walks of life, and hope to make a difference someday.

MP: How did you get involved with photography?

Bobby: I’ve always owned a camera, it seems – from a 110 to a Disc (remember those?) to SLRs. I dabbled a bit in college; East Lansing can be so intensely beautiful in the Springtime, and any guy attending State will tell you how pretty the girls are. I was a TV and Video Production Major, so it was a natural one-off. It wasn’t until the birth of my first daughter, Abby, in 2001 that I again took photography seriously. I realized then how badly I had missed it as a creative outlet, and started to admit to myself that I might be fairly good at it, too.

Then, for my 35th birthday, my father gave me a used digital camera he got from a friend of his — and I was hooked. I literally didn’t have it out of my reach for the first several months. I found Flickr, and the feedback at that point was a supremely important confidence builder. Only by Bobby AlcottThe more I shot, the better I got. The better I got, the more I experimented. I invested in better equipment, and the snowball was rolling downhill at full speed.

MP: You’re a full-time photographer now – did you ever think you would get to that point and what led you here?

Bobby: I was the kind of guy that never really laid out a path; I guess because I never wanted to be railroaded into one thing because I hadn’t honestly figured out what it was I loved to do. Therefore, I’ve had my fair share of jobs – great, good, bad and awful. Through the years, I’ve been in retail, insurance, a programmer and a dishwasher. I’ve also been a sportscaster, an illustrator, the lead singer of a funk band (with a few CDs to my name), and I’ve sung over 200 TV and radio commercials. It’s not that I failed at any of these jobs – I just never fell in love with them (except for the singing, which I still do now).

A year ago now, I was the Creative Director for a small ad agency when it finally hit me. After 37 years, I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life – or at least, I resigned myself to the theory that I needed to make this photography thing work. Rum on a Run by Bobby AlcottI pow-wowed with my wife, and we figured out we had ‘x’ amount of time, financially, to make it work. I was ready to go back to school full-time for photography when I met my mentor, Jack Weber, at Acme Photo in Highland Park. He took me under his wing and hired me as a third assistant at the studio. I worked all last summer there, doing what thirds do: driving the van, hauling the equipment, getting lunch for the crew – basically starting from scratch. I learned so very much last summer, and as painful as it was on my ex-hockey-player knees, it was invaluable experience. I spent my time building my portfolio – spending all my time learning about the business and techniques and tricks and don’ts (many more than do’s).

Luckily, the good folks at Acme started to take notice of what I was doing, and after some discussions, they offered me representation. As of January 1, I’ve been fully represented by Acme Photo Works, and I couldn’t be working with a better bunch of people.

Feelin' It by Bobby AlcottI’m very – VERY – fortunate to be able to make a living doing what I do.

MP: You have been a pretty active member of Flickr’s community of Detroit photographers. What do you feel working with other photographers adds to your own work?

Bobby: Flickr, without question, was a major factor in my development as a photographer. How wonderful is it that, in this day and age, you can bounce ideas off a million other photographers? It’s the community aspect that makes Flickr so unique; moreso that any other photo site, I think.

MP: Speaking of Detroit, it’s obvious that you love the city. What are your three favorite things about it?

Bobby:

  1. I moved to Detroit for the sheer diversity of it, as I was raised in a very homogenous area. I love the different walks of life, the various cultures and the differing opinions.
  2. I love that Detroit is, more than anything, a work in progress. What fun is it to live in a city or town that seems complete? Here, I have a chance to put my efforts and opinions into the development of a major city.
  3. Frankly, I love being near the sports teams. I’m a huge Wings and Tigers fan, and being here for all the craziness of parades and playoffs; being caught up in the pride of the city is unreal.

Taught by Bobby AlcottMP: Your photography spans a wide range: music, sports, architecture, travel, portraits – what’s your favorite type of photography.

Bobby: I don’t know that I have a favorite type of photography yet. I initially started shooting the architecture of the city, which constantly reminds us all of what once was, but more importantly, what the effects of racism and race-based economic plans can do to a city and it’s people. Since then, I’ve enjoyed portraiture much more, and I’ve always loved tabletop work. My goal is to spend more time shooting in the studio, working with people and objects.

Michigan Photographer Profile III

Prequel: Skyed

Day I: Michigan in Pictures talks with Bobby Alcott

Day II: Bobby Alcott responds to reader questions

Day III: Bobby’s Favorite
More from Bobby Alcott

Bobby Alcott Photography – features a great slideshow. Really.

Photos from UrbanTiki on Flickr -Bobby’s Flickr page.

A Holga, Lake Erie and Sterling State Park

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Lake Erie

Holga: Lake Erie, photo by Matt Callow.

I wavered back and forth between this one and Matt’s other photo of ice on Lake Erie. The photo was taken at Sterling State Park between Monroe & Detroit Beach, and Matt has helpfully placed it on a map.

Wikipedia says that William C. Sterling State Park is:

…the only Michigan state park located on the shores of Lake Erie. The park encompasses 1,300 acres. The park sits just north of where the River Raisin empties into the lake. The park boasts many lagoons and marshes, providing good habitat for a variety of wildlife and bird life. The park is situated in Monroe County just south of Detroit Beach/ Sandy Creek and north of the city of Monroe. It is the fourth busiest state park in the state. The park is located less than a mile from Interstate 75, which provides easy access from the neighboring areas of Detroit and Toledo. The main attractions at the park include the beach, a boat launch, and shore fishing. Over two miles of asphalt surface are available for bike riding. Hiking trails are also available.

On the Wing

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On the Wing

On the Wing, photo by Apocaplops.

Apocaplops writes A lone Bald Eagle flies over Huron National Forest, in northern Michigan. He adds that it is better viewed large and also has two more photos of this very big bird (click below). He also (also) has, by admission, too darn many cameras.
Bald Eagle (Michigan) Bald Eagle (Manistee)

Van Dyke: Elizabeth Park

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Elizabeth Park

Van Dyke: Elizabeth Park, photo by Matt Blackcustard.

It’s been a little while since we’ve blogged one of Matt’s photos.

This one was taken with a modified Voigtlander brilliant pinhole (apparently the pinhole was not standard). It is a Van Dyke brown print, which you can learn about here and here. One of the things I learned is that the process was named for the resemblance of the print color to the brown oil paint named for the Flemish painter Van Dyck.

Elizabeth Park is on the Detroit River in Wayne County and has the distinction of being Michigan’s first county park.

A Little Lomo from Grand Rapids, Michigan

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A Little Lomo

A Little Lomo, photo by docksidepress.

Well, this isn’t actually from a Lomo camera, but it certainly has a Lomo vibe.

What the heck is this Lomo, anyway? The best place to find out is at the Lomographic Society International where you can learn about the Lomo’s birth in the LOMO Russian Arms and Optical factory (where the Lomo Compact Automat was born) and subsequent rise to world domination. Almost at least.

Be sure to click on the 10 Golden Rules, where you learn to Take your camera everywhere you go, to shoot from the hip and generally chuck everything you know about photography out the window.

Reading about lomography really made me smile … maybe it will make you smile too.

hanging on

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hanging on

hanging on, photo by jamelah.

Jamelah wrote this about this photo: I got to borrow a canon digital rebel this week, and I think I’m officially converted to dslr worship. Yeah. I don’t know if they’re getting this back, without first having to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

I think I’m in the “keep hanging on” camp.

Holga Tower Detroit

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Last one of the Holga Tower

Last one of the Holga Tower, photo by G0Da.

G0Da likes water towers and his holga.

For those who may not know just what the heck a “holga” is, here’s the Lomographic Society International’s explanation of the Holga:

Did you think your eyes were open? I’m afraid to say that until this very moment they have been closed. The unassuming Holga is here to save you from a future of digital pixels and images shared on small screens on cameras or phones. We have all become numbed with photography, there is no denying it, but a chunky camera made almost entirely of plastic has been put on this Earth to save us. It will reawaken your vision, fill you with joy, make you see beauty when you thought it had disappeared forever, and bring out sunshine on a cloudy day.

Through the viewfinder: Detroit at night

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Detroit at night, photo by caterpillars

I was linking to “TTV” photos on Michigan in Pictures and noticed that the photo that had been here was lost in the mists of the internets. Fortunately, that lets me feature one of my all time favorite (if fake) TTV shots. You can (and should) check out Laura’s fake TTV slideshow.

Some resources for TTV photography:

Pinhole: Clock

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Clock

Pinhole: Clock, photo by Matt Blackcustard.

Where does one cross the line from photography to fine art? Somewhere around 1:15, I’m guessing. I love the details on this photo: Paintcan pinhole camera, 4×5″ Fomapan 100, 5 elephant exposure, contact print onto expired Kodak Polycontrast Rapid II, developed in Dektol applied with a paintbrush. 5 Elephant exposure. Nice to see that the rigors of scientific photography are not being overlooked!

While we’re on the subject of pinhole photography & fun, Matt writes:

I ran a pinhole workshop for teens at the Ann Arbor District Library back in August. They made pinhole cameras from paint cans and cookie tins and then ran around outside taking pictures of each other for a couple of hours. It was lots of fun. Well now it’s time for the show! (click for event info)A selection of the work they made that afternoon (plus some photos of the workshop in action) is now on display at the AADL Malletts Creek branch, running until October 30th. There’s a reception Friday 22nd (that would be TONIGHT) from 5 – 6:30pm.