A Morning in Dublin (hat is not art)- 10 Color Images

I'm not sure if the sign means to say "That is not art?" or "What is not art" or something else. I think I prefer simply "hat is not art?" I also like the condensation inside the container of ketchup.

A Hallway in Dublin

These images seem appropriate as the first poll results start coming in on this election day. Today sort of feels like we are walking down a hallway not knowing what's around the corner or whom will occupy the empty chair. Will we be looking forward or backward in the mirror? I suppose one person's forward is another person's backward. We shall see by the end of the day.

Rist Canyon Fire Fighters Art Sale and Auction

If you are looking for something to do this weekend the Rist Canyon Fire Dept. is having an art fundraiser. I'll have a booth set up between 11-5. I will have some work available for purchase and a print in the silent auction. So, please stop by, support local business and the fire fighters! Who can argue with food, beer, and a petting zoo?!

Pet Portraits-Hercules and Athena

Last week I had a pet portrait session with Hercules and Athena. Hard to believe, but the garage was able to withstand its first tussle of the gods, a.k.a. huskies. (I better put that down in the insurance!) They were a bit excited at first, so we took them to the backyard to run around with Buckwheat. It succeeded in tiring them out a bit and then the rest of the shoot incorporated a lot of tongue wagging, mostly from me as I am out of shape! However, overall it was a good time for all. My thanks to Jo Carney for allowing me to photograph her beautiful dogs and thanks to Sylvia of Sylvia's Pet and House Sitting for the introduction! I'd like to extend this project and eventually turn it into a book of local (to the Fort Collins area) pets. So, if you have, or know of, a photogenic pet and/or one with a lot of character and you would like them to be part of this project please get in touch with me! Pet parents are encouraged to be photographed with their pets, too! It's not only for dogs, I want to photograph ALL types of pets. I might draw the line at a "pet rock." Actually, I DO to photograph the person with a pet rock! That would be awesome.

'Suspended Cords' at Cuppy's Coffee Shop

You may remember a ways back a post I did about photographing headphone cables during "Creativity Week" here on the blog. Well, as promised, here are more images from that series. I wanted to hold off posting anything further until I found a place to show the work. Now, thanks to Cuppy's Coffee Shop at 353 W. Drake here in Fort Collins, they have a home on the wall. So, if you're in the neighborhood, you can stop by and get your caffeine and art fix at the same time. And, if you were so inclined, you could probably even get in touch with me and I'd probably meet you down there.

These images are the result of hours of throwing cables into the air. Sometimes I'd get something interesting, though most times I'd get a mangled ball of cords or just a blank frame. There's no digital manipulation here. After photographing Goletaville, where everything in the frame became very purposeful, measured, and precise, I needed to do something completely different. I needed to delve into randomness. I don't remember why I started throwing cables into the air and photographing them, but the first time I did I was reminded of the beauty and expressiveness of a line. A feeling I hadn't had since my days in art school. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense that this would come about after Goletaville. It being a project where I returned, in a way, to high school. Art school followed quickly thereafter.

Line drawings and blind contour drawings were always my favorite things to do in class. I also love the line drawings of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Actually, I think I photograph because I can't draw or paint, so I'm always trying to emulate those guys in some manner. And let's not forget Joan Miro.

Lastly, these are for sale, so if you are interested in purchasing any please contact me at matt@mgravesphoto.com. These are inkjet prints available in 5x7, 8x10, or 13x19 personally printed by me on Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl paper unless otherwise requested. The edition is open. Thanks!

Accordion with Case Study

The accordion I found at Foothills Flea Market while shooting the office commission was so great I had to post more.

Law Office Commission

A few weeks ago I finished a commission for the law office of a friend of mine in Oregon. It was a really great experience to create a personalized group of images to celebrate the start of her new practice. It's always interesting voyaging down the creative rabbit hole. The only direction she gave me was "vintage office" and "black and white." I stumbled around for a few days shooting this and that old thing, but then I stumbled into Foothills Flea Market in Fort Collins and it became clear what to do. All these themes started to arise. Themes of education, culture, travel, time and dedication, and communication. All things that go into making a great lawyer. And knowing my friend, I knew all those themes fit her well. Then, it was a matter of finding the right lighting. I chose to keep it low-key and stark to create an austere and contemplative mood. I wanted to make something that was individual to her and something she could appreciate for a very long time. In total I printed 9 13x19inch ink jet prints on smooth pearl paper. I can't wait to see them all hung up in her office! My thanks to Foothills Flea Market for allowing me to set up a small studio area and photograph whatever I wanted! It's a great way to spend a day.

Connecting Signs Grand Opening

 

Congratulations to everyone at Connecting Signs! The grand opening was a success as they have a wonderful start to their new business. They do great work. They even printed an image of mine on canvas which was big and beautiful! It's a very exciting time! The open house was great, the catering was amazing, and watching the vehicle wrap was awesome. If you ever get one done, I would definitely make it a point to stop by and watch them do it. Connecting Signs is actually located just down the road from the mgravesphoto studio. They're at 2643 Midpoint Dr. Ste. E Fort Collins phone #970-493-0133. Give them a call or stop on by if you need some signage!