Divinely inspired baked goods
I have started a new series on baked items appearing in my kitchen
Fausto and Marc on WGN Radio
Here’s a snippet of Fausto and Marc’s appearance on WGN Radio Dec. 19, 2009.
Fausto and Marc on WGN Radio
Critical focus control
I am a huge fan of Canon’s wide-aperture lenses. As an example of the ability of this lens to throw the background into a beautiful color mush (known technically as “bokeh”) I present this shot of Willy taken with the Canon 50mm 1.2 L lens. Willy is the creative balloon artist featured recently. It’s almost impossible to get a critically-sharp image without using the Hoodman Loupe. But I’m really looking forward to getting the Zacuto Z-finder (I’ve got mine on order, it won’t be long I’m told). The Z-finder is a 3x magnification loupe that attaches to the back of the viewfinder…just activate Canon’s live view function, change the focus point to where the eyes are and then use the zoom button to magnify 10x to achieve the sharp focus. Without the Z-finder or other loupe, being able to get exact focus is impossible.
Mandy at Zacuto was kind enough a few months back to show me their version 1 of the Z-finder. I was knocked out by how cool it was and by all reports the version 2 is even better and is fast becoming the must-have device for not just shooting video, but for the critical focus application mentioned here. Not only is the Z-finder well-adapted to shooting and focusing video, I’ll be using it for focus and also for more discreet photography in situations where the shutter sound is just too loud. To enter this semi-stealth mode, enable live view, use the Z-finder for focusing and take pictures without the normal clunk of the shutter. I can’t wait!
Finding the right background
Michael plays his cello in our new place Aug. 20, 2009. I think the pictures improve as the background gets a little less cluttered. You can try this with your own photos if you like by isolating your subject against a simpler surrounding environment. The last image takes on more of the nature of a “photograph,” as the others are more keepsake snapshots. What do you think?
Balloon art at Millennium Park
Balloon artist Willy Chyr appears at Millennium Park August 21, 2009 as part of the Science Chicago LabFest! celebration. Chyr’s jellyfish-like creations are a product of the University of Chicago graduate’s interest in physics and magic. Read more about him here. A short video I made of the afternoon is on Youtube.
Anna Wintour in New York
I didn’t get eye contact, but I did catch the Most Famous Bob in the World on the red carpet for an AmFAR benefit at Cipriani’s 42nd St. Feb. 12, 2009.
Anna Wintour
Mandy Moore in Chicago
Mandy Moore appears at the LaSalle Power Co. in Chicago. The singer was in town to promote Gain laundry detergent June 15, 2009.
Comcast Center in Philadelphia
From time to time I like to post images from the recent past. Today, I’m posting two pictures of the headquarters for the Comcast cable company in Philadelphia after a storm on May 20, 2008.
Get well soon Ben Franklin!
Ben Franklin (Ralph Archbold) and Linda Wilde (Betsy Ross) at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, May 28, 2008. Photo © JasonSmith.com for GPTMC
Philadelphia’s beloved Ben Franklin impersonator, Ralph Archbold, is recovering from a stroke. The 67-year-old actor has been a familiar figure around Philadelphia since 1982.
Here’s the scoop from the Philadelphia Daily News on his condition.
I was fortunate to get to know him and to photograph his real-life wedding last year to Linda Wilde, herself a noted character actor in Historic Philadelphia.
Get well soon Ben!
Fausto at Latin Pride Chicago
I like the flickr video player better than any other I’ve seen out there. It’s clean and simple. So here, as a test, is a short video of my friend Fausto and his brief appearance at the Latin Pride festival in Chicago’s Humboldt Park June 13, 2009. Fausto makes a podcast called the Feast of Fun that runs five days a week with his partner Marc.
New York City street corner
Chicago is great, but from time to time I miss the view from my apartment in New York. Here’s my visual reminder…
Yellow cabs rush through the intersection of 14th St. and Sixth Ave. in New York.
Cameron Esposito in Chicago
Cameron Esposito appears on the Feast of Fun in Chicago. © JasonSmith.com
Rufus Wainwright in New York
Rufus Wainwright at Cipriani 42nd St. New York City. © JasonSmith.com
Rufus looked uncomfortable on the red carpet at Cipriani’s on 42nd St. for a benefit for The Paley Center for Media in New York until he started chatting with fans. He came alive and I was able to get this picture of him looking a little less stiff.
Gregory Douglass performs
Gregory Douglass visits the Feast of Fun podcast May 8, 2009. © JasonSmith.com
Feast of Fun slideshow
My good friends Fausto Fernós and Marc Felion taped the 1000th show of their wonderful gay comedy podcast the Feast of Fun (formerly the Feast of Fools). Check out the photo montage I put together of photos from the over 11-year history of their silly antics. Find out more at their website.
Fausto and Marc Dance with Gregg Shapiro
Fausto and Marc Dance with Gregg at the Feast of Fun from Jason Smith on Vimeo.
Bea Arthur in Chicago
“Maude” and “Golden Girl” star Bea Arthur has died. Here’s the news from the Times. Here are a few shots I got of her when she was in Chicago a while back.
Bea Arthur chats with Bill Gubrud at an appearance at Sidetrack May 21, 2001. Photo by http://www.JasonSmith.com
Bea Arthur appears at Sidetrack May 21, 2001. Photo by http://www.JasonSmith.com
Bea Arthur appears at Sidetrack May 21, 2001. Photo by http://www.JasonSmith.com
Bea Arthur appears at Sidetrack May 21, 2001. Photo by http://www.JasonSmith.com
Bea Arthur appears at Sidetrack May 21, 2001. Photo by http://www.JasonSmith.com
Bea Arthur appears at Sidetrack May 21, 2001. Photo by http://www.JasonSmith.com
Janet in Philadelphia
Janet Carter is one of the nicest women I got to photograph when I lived in Philadelphia. I hope you can see some of her positive energy that she shared with the camera when she came by the studio for a photo shoot.
Janet Carter
Faye Dunaway?
Is this Faye Dunaway? I photographed this woman at the premiere of “Every Little Step,” a documentary about “A Chorus Line” at the Paris Theater in New York April 13, 2009.
Here’s a bit from the Facebook thread:
Wow, Suzanne Vega has let herself GO.
No, I’m serious…who do you think this woman is?
She looks too good to be Faye Dunaway … said with love. SAID WITH LOVE!
that is not faye.
OK..my parents said she looks very much like her, but that she also looked too young to be her.
way too young!
This is definitely not Faye Dunaway. She looks like a theatre person I remember from the 1980s/90s, but can’t honestly think of her name.
Not Faye, alas.
I dunno… sure looks like her to me. I saw her on Grey’s Anatomy recently and I couldn’t get past those crazy cheekbones. These look like the ones I saw. But then who knows…
I think it is her. The relative shape of the front two teeth match another picture out there. So do the cheekbones and the slightly short left eyebrow. Having said this, blond hair suits her oh so much better!
Not her eyes.
Thanks everyone. I have submitted the photo to my agency and warned them to do a little checking on their end before releasing it as her. I’ll let you know what the professionals on the other side of the screen decide!
Doesn’t look like her to me. (The eyes are different.)
very close resemblance of her. Looks like her w/some great ‘work’ done (wink, wink)
she’s got the wintour hair. except it’s not blonde.
Not her. She lives in my neighborhood. She was blonde last time I saw her. She doesn’t smile. If she was screaming insane shit when you took this…I might say it was her.
Wow, Tim that is pretty awesome spy info there. Thanks!
Official word from the agency: It is not Faye Dunaway (but she sure looks like her). Thanks everyone!
David and Comet
Chicago’s true renaissance man, David Andora poses with his best friend Comet.
David Andora and his best friend Comet
Vision in blue
My friend Fausto Fernós, co-host of the popular Feast of Fun podcast (recently renamed from the Feast of Fools) has been a photo great subject for years. We worked together at a newspaper for a long time and shared many crazy times. I’m going to go back into the archives from time to time to share pictures like these. Hear his show at Feast of Fun.
Fausto Fernós