We will become well acquainted with snow and ice as we charge into 2015. In the meantime, this photo is a reminder that Spring and Summer are not too far off, replete with bottled H2O!
Summer and bottled water
All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved.
joelongobardiphotography.com/
joelongobardiphotography.com/books
Out Of Chaos Comes Order
The title of this blog is really a paraphrasing of the Nietzsche quote, “One must have chaos within oneself to give birth to a dancing star.” Still, it is an appropriate lead in to this post.
Street photography never ceases to present new challenges and new ideas. I’ve found this image (taken in October 2014) to be a lesson in finding order out in the urban landscape.
Shot from the hip
Shot from the hip (actually, more chest height) using a 28mm lens, my focus was dead on, but my composition was less than orthodox. The obvious focus is the woman who is very aware that I am attempting to sneak a candid shot, only to be found out with a smile! Off to the right is a generous amount of negative space also beckoning for your attention. I am not adverse to using off-kilter shots and negative space, but having made several attempts to find the best crop, I realized that this is how I saw the shot unfold, and would not have bothered to capture the moment if the scene, on an unconscious level (think “Gestalt”), did not call out to me even outside the viewfinder. What salvaged the entire photo is the quick grab of the motorcyclist just breaking out of the frame, pulling the eye towards some semblance of completion. The woman conversing on the right adds some tension pulling the eye back into the direction of the woman on the left. But, the cyclist adds just enough implied weight due to motion and his momentum as he breaks out of the box, and so directs the eye back to the right. The photo therefore reads from left to right, appealing to Western sensibilities. The image manages to convey balance even though the tilt of the frame is generating a gravitational force that wants to pull everything down to the left.
Overall, a successful image where the human condition and randomness merge to create layers of wanted and unintentional detail.
All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved.
joelongobardiphotography.com/
joelongobardiphotography.com/books
This is a reposting of a blog from 2010.
June 29, 2010.
Heading back to my car after taking shots of people hula hooping as they do every Tuesday during the Summer at Pritchard Park, I was intrigued by a jeep with a veteran’s plate and several bikes hanging from a rack fashioned to the back of the vehicle. Hesitant (call it a hunch), I eventually indulged in a quick shot for posterity. Immediately, I was approached by a rather, let’s say, inquisitive individual who wanted to know why I was taking a picture of his jeep (Djata Son, man on left).
Homeless Verterans Outreach
Explaining that I found the bikes interesting, I offered to delete the picture if it bothered him. He asked if I would email him a copy. I said, give me your email. He was slightly agitated, saying he’s been taking pictures longer than I’ve been alive. I’ve seen him carrying a Nikon D300 around town. Eventually he came around to giving me an email: a sign behind the front windshield of his jeep that read homelessveteransoutreach@yahoo.com and advised that I take a picture of the sign so that I would have his email. I complied! He insisted that I take some photos of him and his partner as he pointed out that I clearly had plenty of shots available on my digital camera.
I promised that I would email the photos (not sure if he actually believed me). His friend later approached me as I headed back to my car asking if I could donate to their fund. I did. He asked if I had a card. I gave him a copy that I had in my camera bag.
As I left them to approach my car, they asked who I worked for. I replied “I work for myself!”
I’m glad I took that photo, or I would have missed out on getting to talk to these people.
Kismet!
All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved.
joelongobardiphotography.com/
joelongobardiphotography.com/books
November 3, 2014
I met this girl recently passing through downtown Asheville sitting at the corner of Lexington and Walnut. I spoke with her for a short while, inquiring about the sign. She said her backpack and associated gear was stolen and was trying to drum up some funds to replace it. I gave her a few dollars to help out. I asked if I can take her photo, and she was kind enough to oblige. I left, wishing her much luck in acquiring a new traveling pack.
All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved.
joelongobardiphotography.com/
joelongobardiphotography.com/books
October 17, 2014.
Just prior to Halloween, these two anonymous characters dressed in red were causing quite the stir as they moved about downtown Asheville on a mobile busking spree. Not to be outdone, local “superhero”, and Lazoom Tour favorite, “Beer Man” made an appearance in the background photobombing this shot.
Beer Man Photobombing
All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved.
joelongobardiphotography.com/
joelongobardiphotography.com/books
October 22, 2014
I was recently invited by violinist/guitarist Marc Hennessey of the local Asheville band To All My Dear Friends to take some photographs of his ensemble videotaping atop the Aloft Hotel located in downtown Asheville. Below are several photos of a series I captured that afternoon.
Marc Hennessey
The video was filmed and choreographed by photographer/filmmaker Erin Derham (Busker Blues) and her team as a part of a promotional campaign for the group’s new album Bloom.
Josh Newton
It was a windy, but dry and sunny October afternoon. Simultaneously wielding two cameras outfitted with different lenses, and striving to stay out of the way, I shot just outside and around the field of view of the film crew.
Marc and Josh
The images presented here capture the cinematic essence I felt was conveyed by the group’s performance as they mimed to their music played over speakers.
More information on the new release and project is available at toallmydearfriends.com.
For more photos, visit the To All My Dear Friends Album on flickr.
All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved.
joelongobardiphotography.com
‘Before I Die’ wall in Asheville, North Carolina. The title was modified to read “Before U Die” by an unknown contributor. Passersby are encouraged to inscribe personal messages on the wall describing what they would like to accomplish before leaving this life. Pictured is disabled war veteran and resident of Asheville, “Happy”, being offered cash by passerby.
All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved.
joelongobardiphotography.com
joelongobardiphotography.com/books
I was recently honored by several libraries with the inclusion of my first self-published book “Urban Photography From the Streets Of A Bohemian Mountain Town: The Art Of Performance” as part of their publicly available catalogs. The libraries include the Holly Library located on Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College campus, and the North Carolina Room located at the lower level of Pack Memorial Library in downtown Asheville.
The book is a journal of street photography capturing all manners of street performances including the art of living, creating, and being an Ashevillian. The photos document the dichotomies and juxtapositions of an urban bohemian environment intertwined with a southern Appalachian culture.
The book is available in both print and ebook. For more information, visit: http://joelongobardiphotography.com/books.html
Urban Photography From The Streets Of A Bohemian Mountain Town
ZOOM IN, an exhibition of Asheville Street Photography, will be on display from August 1 – Oct. 15, 2014. An opening reception with the artists will be held from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7 at The Green Sage Cafe in the Westgate Mall.
The exhibit consists of six local Street Photographers: Missy Corrales, Joe Longobardi, Tony Hood, David Simchock, Bill Weldner and Paul Rollins. The photographs capture local street photography from the different perspectives of each photographer.
The exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information, including cafe hours, visit The Green Sage Cafe website, or call 828.505.0144.
Urban Photography From The Streets Of A Bohemian Mountain Town
I will hold an exhibition and book release announcement this August at Grateful Steps Publishing House, Bookshop and Gallery for my upcoming street photography book entitled “Urban Photography From the Streets Of A Bohemian Mountain Town,The Art Of Performance. A Journal of Asheville Street Photography.”
The work incorporates a mix of photojournalism with a traditional approach to street photography. The book documents in both words and images the dichotomies and juxtapositions of an urban bohemian environment intertwined with a southern Appalachian culture. The collection focuses on the performance of living, creating, and being an “Ashevillian” in downtown Asheville. The exhibition will showcase photographic excerpts from the book, including street performers and daily life in the city.
The work will be available in both print and ebook. For information on the book, visit http://joelongobardiphotography.com/books.html
Grateful Steps is located at 159 South Lexington Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. The exhibit will run from August 1 to August 30, 2014. Opening reception is on a Friday, August 8 at 6pm. All works on display are for sale.
For further information, visit GratefulSteps.org for updates of upcoming events, or contact Micki Cabaniss Eutsler at micki@gratefulsteps.org.
All images © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved. joelongobardiphotography.com/
Content © Joe Longobardi. All Rights Reserved. Powered by WordPress