ben shot me

new daily blog

2010-07-18T23:05:00.003-04:00

I have been doing a new daily blog at capephotos.net. Click here to check it out. I will also continue to blog here from time to time.

skippy harris video

2010-06-06T23:19:00.002-04:00

Blogging this year has gone a bit to the back burner. A couple of weeks ago I had great fun doing stills for a video in production for skippy harris...there is not much I need to blog about in that regard either, just mo fun than you can shake your cheeks at.

from the archives

2010-05-09T18:26:00.003-04:00

I was surfing photos absentmindedly when I stumbled across a shot with an umbrella and the figure hopping a puddle similar to the Cartier-Bresson iconic image, when suddenly this image of mine flashed to my mind. I wanted to bring it back or show it again or see it myself again...I suppose this means it is one of my greatest hits?

an unexpected day in paris

2010-05-01T10:44:00.004-04:00

This is an image from a series of images titled "an unexpected day in paris" and perhaps one of my favorite photos I have ever captured. In saying this and examining the images I have been presenting, I am having trouble determining how other viewers react to what I have been producing. I have a singular view of these images and am the only one who can hold them in complete context, even as the context slips from my evaporating experience. How do you, the ones so distant from this perspective, interact? Can they, will they, do they serve a purpose outside mine?

studio on camp st

2010-03-27T18:44:00.005-04:00

We are very fortunate to know some very talented people. Individuals and groups that inspire by their devotion to a craft. One of these people is Ryan Montbleau who with his band invited e and I to the studio to witness the laying down of tracks for his next studio album. What a treat to listen, watch and shoot. Thank you Ryan and keep up the good work.

scars

2010-03-10T22:23:00.004-05:00

scars of pleasure scars of pain....

i have always had something of a secret fascination with scars. i have a number of them. my left foot from a trike accident. my right big toe from when i almost cut off my foot with a sit down lawn mower, the round pock from the Bonner machine on the end of the deformed softball broke index finger, the line on the right side of my back from diving into water not deep enough. that hole in my heart from love lost. the Disney world nose job from over by the tea cups, the burn on the back of my left hand that only i can see and most recently the hockey stick to the eyebrow. I wear these blemishes with pride and wonder what scars others have, and the stories behind them and do they want them photographed and recorded?

labels

2010-01-30T17:47:00.004-05:00

I may have already posted this in last years mini blogs. I couldn't remember the word until reminded by e, so it shouldn't be a surprise that I can not remember if this topic has already been posted. Hopefully posting it this time will cement the coming term to my memory. I am introduced as, or asked often, if I am a professional photographer. Something about this term does not sit well with me. This is one of those things that I can not really put in to clear terms, but it immediately does not sit well in my ears and never comes from my mouth. I am not and not sure I would ever desire to be or to be called a professional photographer. So this leaves me searching for words or a word to define what you see that I do. It is I believe photography. You might have suggestions, but I recently came upon one I am comfortable with, short of just simply a photographer.

I am an independent photographer.

back to the blog

2010-01-23T13:01:00.004-05:00

I took a little time off from the blog here... everyday blogging is a lot, but that is not what I am here to blog about. Last night e and I were fortunate to attend the sold out (free tickets?) talk by Christo down in the hole. During the question and answer part he was asked how does he respond to the question of "Why?" does he want to do the projects he does. His answer to the question of why? There is no reason! Just because he wants to, because he thinks it will be fun. He wants to see the result, live the process. It is meaninglessness he says and yet it is so much his everything. E and I discussed the results of his work and neither of us would characterize the results as something we love, but after his revealing the process I can say I am now a huge fan of his process, work and personalty. And therefor now a fan of the results as well.

day 365 December 31

2010-01-01T12:25:00.003-05:00

There you go. 365 mini photo blogs. Next for me is to put together the entire 365 (ish) phoenix 365 photos. Thanks for visiting over the last year. In year ten I plan on posting regularly, however probably not daily. Please continue to come by and see what is going on. Speaking of year ten, I intend to mark it shooting daily self portraits.

Lastly if you enjoy what you see here and wonder what the photos I might take might look like should I be at some invent you know of... tell me about it, I enjoy new places and challenges. Happy new year!

day 364 December 30

2010-01-01T12:13:00.002-05:00

I just hired a new editor... sorry if you read these blogs as drafts before the editor came in and fixed the errors. Back to the stats. 2009 saw over 30,000 images shots. Fortunately for everyone... I am the only editor of this overwhelming number of images. That works out to a picture every 1050 seconds or so for those who like that sort of thing.

day 363 December 29

2010-01-01T12:07:00.004-05:00

The third day of the head injury really featured the bruising in its full bloom. The stranger part was the remaining partial numbness to a portion of my scalp some distance from the injury. I believe this to be residual to the lidocaine injection in the wound. Not a big deal...but interesting.

day 362 December 28

2010-01-01T12:04:00.003-05:00

The day after the injury I had 8 stitches, some swelling and the beginning of some bruising. It's funny how something, someplace, or someone can set certain days apart from each other. Or conversely how easy it is to let the days run into each other with little to set them apart.

day 361 December 27

2010-01-01T11:57:00.003-05:00

There is not usually a lot of blood and gore at this blog. That all changes with the post for this day. I play Dek hockey in Lakeville, MA. I love it. I would play everyday. Presently I participate in pick up games on Sunday and Thursday and league play on Mondays. On this Sunday game, very early in, I got an accidental stick to the forehead. A little over an hour later I was driving myself to the Falmouth Hospital ER.

day 360 December 26

2010-01-01T11:53:00.001-05:00

The end of the year brings reflection.

day 359 December 25

2010-01-01T11:51:00.001-05:00

Christmas and px reflects on how art touches her life.

day 358 December 24

2010-01-01T11:47:00.002-05:00

It was the night before Christmas and not a creature was stirring just a web cam in the house.

day 357 December 23

2010-01-01T11:41:00.003-05:00

We took to calling old man Humphry "Grubby H" during his stay during Dog Camp II. You are a good dog little man, you will be missed someday......but not on our watch!

day 356 December 22

2010-01-01T11:37:00.002-05:00

Holidays, this year e and I began wondering as we age how to keep the magic involved with these days alive. We are looking at some ideas for next year.

day 355 December 21

2010-01-01T11:33:00.003-05:00

Like a blizzard falling on the year's end, Dog Camp II buried us in pups for year end.

day 354 December 20

2010-01-01T11:30:00.003-05:00

There were deer tracks in the driveway. I popped a cookie in the mouth of the John Deere driver and shortly after our hill and our driveway were cleared of the '09 blizzard.

day 353 December 19

2010-01-01T11:27:00.002-05:00

miss px anticipating blizzard 09.

day 352 December 18

2010-01-01T11:21:00.003-05:00

Am thinking that it is hard to do 365 mini blogs. Short, sweet and meaningful. How do you manage to do this all year....perhaps I should look to the dog?

day 351 December 17

2010-01-01T11:12:00.003-05:00

For those who like stats, thousands of naps where taken at bogg hill in this past year. Stay tuned for more fascinating stats.

day 350 December 16

2010-01-01T10:38:00.004-05:00

Phoenix would be a totally great work dog. We probably should hire her out to contractors, I am positive she would help sales and land clients.

day 349 December 15

2010-01-01T10:34:00.003-05:00

Pudding box light effect....

day 348 December 14

2010-01-01T09:10:00.001-05:00

As the year of daily blogs also draws to an end I take paws.

day 347 December 13

2010-01-01T09:02:00.003-05:00

One of our favorite non-relative little peeps.

day 346 December 12

2010-01-01T08:48:00.005-05:00

We hope visitors to bogg hill will notice a change here in the new year. The plan is for built-in seating by the the back porch windows.

day 345 December 11

2010-01-01T08:44:00.002-05:00

I think this pond has no name... perhaps e and I should name it? What do you think e? If it does have a name I am pretty confident we can come up with a better one.

day 344 December 10

2010-01-01T08:17:00.003-05:00

I did not pose many of the year's phoenix photos. I did pose this one and it makes me wonder if I should have posed more of them. She is a very good and patient model. Who decided on the spelling of that word (patient)...something is not right!

day 343 December 9

2010-01-01T08:12:00.002-05:00

Quite a few girls still really love the king..... long live the king!

day 342 December 8

2010-01-01T07:59:00.007-05:00

Another piece of last year's work- I will begin looking at finishing is the phoenix 365 project. I am looking forward to putting together all those images into one big set.

day 341 December 7

2010-01-01T07:50:00.004-05:00

I have been a little remiss on keeping up with the blog lately. I am up early on the first of a new, to finish off the year. This will allow me to get started on next year's, which is now this year's, projects.

day 340 December 6

2009-12-23T08:18:00.001-05:00

Starting on January 2nd the Burrito Place will begin delivery. I assume the driver will be in this outfit?

day 339 December 5

2009-12-23T08:11:00.003-05:00

What exactly are guidelines. What are the repercussions of not following them? At the Bruins game Paul wondered to me what to do with the peanut shells. I guided him to the arena floor, but he surely could have also put them on the seat to his right. The guideline I gave was surely and only a suggestion, meaning in a free society peanut shells can go just about anywhere until bullies or lawyers get involved.

day 338 December 4

2009-12-23T08:02:00.002-05:00

Originally this post had something different. Then I was issued guidelines and got so irritated I removed the original, better post. It, the original post, also inCORPorated phoenix but she was at the office not working over the fork as she is here.

day 337 December 3

2009-12-07T20:38:00.001-05:00

Cuteness reigns.

day 336 December 2

2009-12-07T20:35:00.002-05:00

Despite appearances, her body is still properly attached to her head.

day 335 December 1

2009-12-07T20:33:00.001-05:00

An ideal Christmas gift.

day 334 November 30

2009-12-07T20:29:00.002-05:00

Troop knucklehead in their full glory. Now that they are gone we have a little peace. I should remind myself to not take pictures like this where things appear calm and under control. NOTE TO SELF - This picture is an illusion.

day 333 November 29

2009-12-07T20:23:00.001-05:00

One of our favorite local authors, T.M. Murphy has a new book out and the entire benshotme staff went to have our copies signed in Sandwich.

day 332 November 28

2009-12-07T20:19:00.003-05:00

Another bonus shot only available here at the blog. Nothing remarkable here, could be the days phoenix 365 shot, might not be. Next years daily project has been on my mind and I have settled on a year of self portraits, tentatively titled 'ben shot i'

day 331 November 27

2009-12-07T20:09:00.003-05:00

This one is not the image that I have in my November gallery over in the archives... it is a little darker....but a little sharper, so I can encourage you to click on this and enjoy the depth it seems to have. In case your wondering... I really do not like photos like this... Do you?

day 330 November 26

2009-12-02T21:34:00.002-05:00

On a different note... e has cracked herself up twice this day. Once when her computer told her to "resume failure" and then while discussing the size of eagle eyes; "They should outlaw softball and just have baseball"

day 329 November 25

2009-12-02T21:31:00.002-05:00

Phoenix has not been able to get any of her holiday shopping done yet. Maybe next week.

day 328 November 24

2009-12-02T21:25:00.002-05:00

There is a certain quality to some black and white images that I realize I have been wanting to create..... this is not it. But this quality has me shooting in in black and white(digitally) presently to see where and how I might reproduce or replicate the look I admire.

day 327 November 23

2009-12-02T21:18:00.001-05:00

I returned to this.

day 326 November 22

2009-11-27T09:54:00.004-05:00

I choose the long layover in London. 22 hours. I was up early and caught my 6 pm flight (that was also an adventure). During the day in London I had the full breakfast, visited Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, I walked the banks of the Thames, rode a double decker tour bus, minded the gap, updated my facebook, saw a 4d short film and I bought socks.

day 325 November 21

2009-11-27T09:45:00.002-05:00

I have been very lucky to get to travel some for work lately. For a long time I have dreamed of traveling the world taking photographs, while this was not exactly the way I drempt - it will do.

day 324 November 20

2009-11-27T09:34:00.002-05:00

We are often drawn back to the sea. My uncle again this year was talking about buying land in Maine as an answer to rising sea levels. I think many people think that global warming is causing the ice caps to melt and this is resulting in the sea level rising. Of greater effect is the thermal expansion of water as the temperature increases, but I suspect knowing why is of little comfort to those seeking something to fear.

day 323 November 19

2009-11-27T09:11:00.003-05:00

Vlachos tavern is where I ate my first snail and this gentleman told us the origin of mad cow.

day 322 November 18

2009-11-27T08:41:00.002-05:00

It was a strange experience to spend a week in a foreign country and primarily only see a hotel and its surrounding restaurants. I also did not sleep full nights while visiting, often waking well before sunrise to watch the sunrise over the Mediterranean.

day 321 November 17

2009-11-27T08:37:00.001-05:00

The beach actually was not so nice in this section of Cyprus.

day 320 November 16

2009-11-27T08:27:00.002-05:00

The hotel area east of Larkana, Cyprus had three functioning hotels and one abandoned one. Ollie and I would spend a morning wandering around the shell of the former resort.

day 319 November 15

2009-11-27T08:25:00.003-05:00

It is fun to travel around the globe to a hotel on a beach in Cyprus and grab your camera to walk down to the beach to find friends standing there doing the same thing you are. Taking in the scene at your temporary home for the week.

day 318 November 14

2009-11-27T08:01:00.001-05:00

Reasons for coming home.

day 317 November 13

2009-11-27T07:56:00.001-05:00

We finally made our second appearance at Falmouth's best restaurant, The Glass Onion. Another fantastic meal was had. If you are with writing distance of the message and need a place to bring your favorite people for a real meal, this is your place.

day 316 November 12

2009-11-27T07:52:00.002-05:00

When px has her little ears down it often means something. In the woods when she is required to "walk good" it means that she is concentrating. When you just arrive home it means she missed you and wonders where you have been.

day 315 November 11

2009-11-27T07:50:00.001-05:00

e often says she has a big nose.

She doesn't

day 314 November 10

2009-11-27T07:46:00.002-05:00

I am going to need to start compiling the 365 of phoenix images soon. I don't know why, someone should? This is the first time I have recorded this expression which leaves me hopeful that there is still new ground to cover.

day 313 November 9

2009-11-27T07:37:00.003-05:00

(micro-news report by ben allsup for benshotme)

At the home of the Allszplat family on Cape Cod Massachusetts this fall has seen a change to couch blanket usage. Seen in this recent picture the gray couch blanket was formerly reserved for only guests using the guest facilities. The household decision to make this blanket a house blanket to be replaced when next guests are due is expected to be seen through.

day 312 November 8

2009-11-27T07:33:00.004-05:00

Just before leaving for Cyprus I invented something major. Micro-news. I hope to begin reporting micro-news in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned?

day 311 November 7

2009-11-27T07:29:00.004-05:00

Beebee Woods has been damp and calm the last several days. I carry my camera there but generally there is nothing there a I want to shoot. That said out by the farm by ice house farm there is a tree that looks very Tolkien-esk that I could do hobbit portraits by. If only I did portraits and new a hobbit or two.

day 310 November 6

2009-11-27T07:25:00.002-05:00

Time to get the blog all caught up again.... Things have been transpiring against the weekly update lately and now there are 3 weeks worth of catching up to do. Let there be blogs.

day 309 November 5

2009-11-10T00:13:00.003-05:00

Wiki also says Portrait photography is a popular commercial industry all over the world. Many of those words concern me,especially popular, industry and commercial.

day 308 November 4

2009-11-10T00:05:00.001-05:00

Little px likes to lick her chops.

day 307 November 3

2009-11-09T23:32:00.002-05:00

So the Wikipedia says about portraiture that the eyes are directed at the recorder/viewer. I guess this is not a family portrait.

day 306 November 2

2009-11-09T23:20:00.002-05:00

This year was a phoenix photo every day... I am pretty settled on next year being a portrait everyday. I should probably go look up what portrait actually means.

day 305 November 1

2009-11-09T23:06:00.002-05:00

The blog is a little behind, and I have had a bad night. Probably not the best night to try to catch it up (the blog). But on the bright side I need the typing practice. Toad the Wet Sprocket, there I typed it.

day 304 October 31

2009-11-02T21:54:00.001-05:00

six trick or treaters, two frogs, one pumpkin, one gnome, one witch and one tiger princess. It was a banner year.

day 303 October 30

2009-11-02T21:49:00.001-05:00

Sweetness check.. Check 100 percent sweet.

day 302 October 29

2009-11-02T21:46:00.002-05:00

Poor Ms e lost one fourth of her wisdom.......teeth this day.

day 301 October 28

2009-11-02T21:44:00.001-05:00

Anyone read here? Want to be in pictures?

day 300 October 27

2009-11-02T21:39:00.003-05:00

three hundred days in a row... suddenly seems like a lot.

day 299 October 26

2009-11-02T21:22:00.002-05:00

We really do not encourage this...she only gets busy like this on certain "spots".

day 298 October 25

2009-11-02T20:58:00.002-05:00

Sleepy.

day 297 October 24

2009-10-25T15:25:00.002-04:00

Foliage - I am not sure I believe in it....

day 296 October 23

2009-10-25T14:45:00.001-04:00

The days will be getting short and dark soon might need to set up a living room studio finally....

day 295 October 22

2009-10-25T14:26:00.004-04:00

Px!

day 294 October 21

2009-10-25T14:24:00.003-04:00

A wonderful little family.

day 293 October 20

2009-10-25T13:43:00.002-04:00

My friends don't want to play :(

day 292 October 19

2009-10-25T13:40:00.001-04:00

Flooded bogs equals pouncing season.

day 291 October 18

2009-10-25T13:35:00.002-04:00

Phoenix would like you to know the last photo was not Ireland.

day 290 October 17

2009-10-25T12:59:00.002-04:00

Guinness is good, but it is better in Ireland, period.

day 289 October 16

2009-10-25T12:45:00.003-04:00

This post has nothing to do with this picture. Having done a bunch of driving in Europe and now having done some driving on returning to the states, I have decided that the European driver is far superior. Presently my biggest pet peeve with the state side driver is the "I own the road mentality". Just a little reminder to my friends on the road, the left hand lane on the highway is the high speed passing lane. Please do not TRAVEL in this lane!!!

week 38 day 262 shot of the week

2009-10-21T14:38:00.001-04:00

Once in a life time shots... how many do I have in me?

day 288 October 15

2009-10-21T13:06:00.001-04:00

......

day 287 October 14

2009-10-21T13:00:00.002-04:00

The bottom of the inspirational trough...hopeful to spring onto the next wave here soon...

day 286 October 13

2009-10-21T12:58:00.001-04:00

Little Ella ended up in the hospital, but on the bright side she made some new friends and is now home and feeling much better.

day 285 October 12

2009-10-21T12:32:00.002-04:00

Going to need to find a new project. Thinking tripod, or darkroom or both.....

day 284 October 11

2009-10-21T12:27:00.003-04:00

After being away from the home we built for longer than I had ever been before, I, we returned to our daily lives fairly seamlessly. Extra puppy kisses aside.

day 283 October 10

2009-10-21T12:23:00.003-04:00

I am not exactly stupid, I am not exactly smart. I am a fairly poor front lines editor, but I can often see the correct path.

day 282 October 9

2009-10-21T11:47:00.003-04:00

Busy spinning worlds create illusions of stress and joy.

day 281 October 8

2009-10-21T11:35:00.004-04:00

Last year I shot a picture nearly everyday, apparently I missed a day in March. This year I have shot everyday and have in addition added a phoenix 365 photo for each day. The phoenix photo has given me a subject everyday, a reason to shoot. As the year comes to a close I wonder what I might do for next years project.

?

day 280 October 7

2009-10-21T10:47:00.004-04:00

I am very behind in the blog at the moment. This makes it seem somewhat more daunting to "catch up". Maybe the pictures alone will have to do.

day 279 October 6

2009-10-17T20:55:00.003-04:00

The day job had myself and a colleague leading the class in instruction of flying yellow submarines.

day 278 October 5

2009-10-17T20:45:00.002-04:00

A weariness overcame me while in Kiel, the result of weeks in hotels and on the move. Kiel had a calm quiet reserve that was comforting and disconcerting at the same time. I think some of the photos I took there can capture a little of this.

day 277 October 4

2009-10-17T20:41:00.002-04:00

Sometimes you need to step back put your back to the door, take a deep breath, relax and assess the situation.

day 276 October 3

2009-10-17T20:36:00.002-04:00

Um... I believe this translates to no peeing on the guy pooping in the nook around the side of the church....

week 37 day 253 shot of the week

2009-10-10T12:31:00.003-04:00

The mountains of Italy. The shots of the week are a little behind.... so here come 3 or more in a row!