Classics from the Crypt and Haunted Tours

Looking at the past few weeks on our blog and Facebook page I noticed we've had fewer posts the past month because we have been very busy. Earlier this month we had the opportunity to work with a museum near my hometown in northern Illinois. Our good friends at The Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum in Rockford asked us if they could sell some of our pictures for their upcoming paranormal tours, photos we had taken during our spring trip earlier this year. They also asked us to design a graphic for t-shirts to sell during the event. Of course we jumped at the chance and worked hard to design something they would be proud of. If you are ever in the Rockford area you MUST stop at the Tinker Swiss Cottage and take a tour of this beautiful home. Steve and the staff are very knowledgeable and passionate for the history of the place, plus they are truly wonderful people to talk to. Don't forget to take their Paranormal Tour in the fall...just the thing to get into the Hallowe'en spirit!

http://www.tinkercottage.com

During the past few weeks we also designed a poster and program cover for an upcoming concert "Classics from the Crypt". The Wausau Symphony and Band will play music from movies like Jaws and Harry Potter. During the performance we will also have an exclusive art exhibit featuring photographs from our collection. If you are in the Wausau, Wisconsin area Saturday, October 29th, visit the Grand Theatre at 7:30 to enjoy the haunting music and visit us in the Great Hall next door to view our display or just to hello.

Drooker's American Ruins

Sorry for the long lapse in posting, I’ve been incredibly busy with my job and with life in general. So much has happened since my last post I’m still trying to take it all in. So I will start with my most recent outing.

Anna and I recently enjoyed a photography exhibit at Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau. The photographs were by photographer Arthur Drooker and from his book American Ruins. The photos where shot in infrared and taken across the US. It was a treat to see these prints up close instead of in a book.

The photos themselves had a bit of a sepia tint to them that added to the warmth they evoked. The infrared added a sense of mystery, but not in a macabre way that Simon Marsden portrays. I got to talk with Drooker about his work and working with IR and could have talked much longer if it were not for other interested visitors to the museum wanting to talk with him also. We talked f-stops, researching subjects and places to visit. The only thing I felt was missing for the evening was a good glass of wine. They served sparkling grape juice.

While researching how to photograph with IR and looking for inspiration I did come across his work and found his work wonderful but not exactly what I truly wanted to accomplish.

After talking with Drooker I felt I was heading in the right direction with my technical skills and vision for my own personal project. If anyone has the chance to see his work in person or purchase his book you will not be disappointed. Of course we had a photo postcard autographed by him to remember that wonderful evening.

Here are a few links to enjoy:

http://www.americanruinsbook.com/

http://http://www.arthurdrooker.com/

Since my last post we haven’t traveled often for my haunted project. I have taken a few pictures on other trips not relating to the haunted subjects themselves and have come away with some great images. More on those in the near future.