Route 460 runs through the Virginia Appalachians. In THE DAY when I was 50 or so years younger, the road was important, overused and abused, discussed and cussed by anyone who had to get on it to travel east or west or even cross the road – chickens had no chance. Not for a moment did a chicken of any sense think about crossing that road anymore than a smart person would think about swimming the English Channel during WW2, what with warships, submarines, fighters and bombers and all the irritated people on both coasts. Plus, what would they say when they emerged on the other side? INVASION???
The road's travelers did provide some extra income for the few businesses in our little town of 322+/- people. The population had its daily ups and downs depending on who was happy or mad at whom and if we had a guest in the jail or not.
This particular afternoon I was parked next to my friend Curtis on an empty wooden pop case, propped against the storefront. The elderly men (younger than me at my current age) had the two prominent metal chairs where they could pontificate about the sad state of local and international politics and the general ruination of culture due to communism and rock and roll music and a totally absurd thing called canned biscuits.
Reflect on that. The wall of communism has fallen and the Chinese are now more capitalistic than the Rockefellers and only thing still vexing society are canned biscuits. It is a sad day, Nanny.
The posture and the company and the nearness to the highway to anywhere does make a young man's mind expand. Just then, Bill Blankenship, the town's most respected citizen, veteran and postmaster, brought me the primary source of my broader global education. (This was the second most important bulk mail package I ever received.) It was the July edition of the National Geographic Magazine.
Whatever Curtis and I were thinking of or talking about was quickly shelved. The Ro'C Cola, half-finished, was set soundly on the concrete. The two remaining Nekot crackers were carefully rolled up and stored for future consumption and my hands were made as clean as possible to receive the fresh paper, images and words. Even in the air drifting from the power plant, the powerful and familiar smell of the ink had become a prelude to joy. Before reading a line, the photos were quickly scanned so that the senior members watching over us could not accidentally see some aboriginal breast before I got to see it for the first time by myself.
None of that was in this issue.
No, there was something even better than the aforementioned budding female pulchritude.
Worked out in brown ink, made to look older and with pictures of castles with cannon ports and powerful war machines was a story about the mind of Leonardo Da Vinci. Explored was his curiosity about EVERYTHING. His art, his science, his engineering and his fear of having his ideas stolen. His keeping his journals written his unique cryptology. If only he had gotten the decoder ring from my last box of Cracker Jacks.
It would not be long before I learned to read his Latin and Greek and write his writing. I would learn to make ink and build tools and, I drove away, down Route 460, rarely returning.
Each trip back is usually for a funeral. The people that have passed have taken with them so much of what is important about that place. That little town is mostly gone, the widened 460 took away that special vantage, but not the memory.
Each time I eat a Nekot, it is a bit of communion with that time. If I could just find that RC Cola. Tim
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/ tim@timjohnsonphoto.com
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Journal and THE FOUNTAIN
IZZY CREO – not Izzy Stevens – another Izzy – from the movie staring the most wonderful and capable actor Hugh Jackman, Wolverine to most, Van Helsing to some and Tommy to so few, kept a journal. At the end of this saga, The Fountain, Izzy was dying and her husband was desperately looking for a cure for her – a last, complete cure.
Her final gift to him was her precious journal and her only request was that he finish it. The pen had a pretty nib and holder, the bound journal was nice leather and the paper was clearly a laid finish on rag paper. Her writing was done deliberately to show thoughtfulness and the weakening of her hand.
It was a story in which he was drawn into. The story of the Tree Of Life. Jackman plays three roles and each is deeper than the other. The lessons we learn are that life is precious, love is a gift not to be taken lightly and that there is something more than the days we have on this planet.
Rachel Weiss is simply beautiful and very strong in each of her characters. Hugh is sad at the loss of his true love and strong as he fights for her life and angry when things impede him and submissive as he confronts eternal TRUTH.
The film is about archetypes, not just individuals. The imagery is interesting and the more minimal the scenes, the greater the impact, to me.
The written words become everything. The loss of the wedding ring allows for its replacement by the nib and ink – a tattoo. Finding the Tree Of Life does come at the price of his own life and the result is UNDERSTANDING.
I wish the film had ended with his notes, finishing the journal. With the worn nib. With his own handwriting.
I wish he had put the journal and the seed pod on her grave.
But anything other than a GUM BALL POD! Aarrrgh! True love and a gum tree. Heavenly me! Walnut, Pecan, Maple. GUM BALL?
WOLVERINE!
Tim http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/ tim@timjohnsonphoto.com
Her final gift to him was her precious journal and her only request was that he finish it. The pen had a pretty nib and holder, the bound journal was nice leather and the paper was clearly a laid finish on rag paper. Her writing was done deliberately to show thoughtfulness and the weakening of her hand.
It was a story in which he was drawn into. The story of the Tree Of Life. Jackman plays three roles and each is deeper than the other. The lessons we learn are that life is precious, love is a gift not to be taken lightly and that there is something more than the days we have on this planet.
Rachel Weiss is simply beautiful and very strong in each of her characters. Hugh is sad at the loss of his true love and strong as he fights for her life and angry when things impede him and submissive as he confronts eternal TRUTH.
The film is about archetypes, not just individuals. The imagery is interesting and the more minimal the scenes, the greater the impact, to me.
The written words become everything. The loss of the wedding ring allows for its replacement by the nib and ink – a tattoo. Finding the Tree Of Life does come at the price of his own life and the result is UNDERSTANDING.
I wish the film had ended with his notes, finishing the journal. With the worn nib. With his own handwriting.
I wish he had put the journal and the seed pod on her grave.
But anything other than a GUM BALL POD! Aarrrgh! True love and a gum tree. Heavenly me! Walnut, Pecan, Maple. GUM BALL?
WOLVERINE!
Tim http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/ tim@timjohnsonphoto.com
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Inescapable Aphorisms
An aphorism is a novel packed into a single line. - Oleg Vishnepolsky
Good Art seems ancient to its contemporaries and modern to their descendants. - Plutarch
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. - Jesus Christ, Matt. 22:21 KJV
Mediocrity is forgiven more easily than talent. - Emil Krotky
Many of those who tried to enlighten were hanged from the lampposts. - Stanislaw Jerzy Lec
One death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic. - unknown, often attributed to Joseph Stalin
A lie told often enough becomes the truth. - Vladimir Lenin
Love the sinner and hate the sin. - St. Augustine of Hippo[3]
Truths are not relative. What are relative are opinions about truth. - Nicolás Gómez Dávila
Love is the only game in which a draw is the most desirable outcome. - Oleg Vishnepolsky
I know what I have given you, I do not know what you have received. - Antonio Porchia
My poverty is not complete: it lacks me. - Antonio Porchia
One lives in the hope of becoming a memory. - Antonio Porchia
I have hardly touched the clay and I am made of it. - Antonio Porchia
These lines drill into our brains and hearts. If you lift a pen and write them down, you get an additional impact. These are powerful words from the broadest range of people.
If you seek out a list of "aphorists" you will find that there are relatively few. The reason. Few people can clarify, condense and reduce big thoughts into just a few words.
I urge you to practice by the exercise of writing things out and working on clarity and brevity.
Say what you mean.
Then stop.
FINI
Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Good Art seems ancient to its contemporaries and modern to their descendants. - Plutarch
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. - Jesus Christ, Matt. 22:21 KJV
Mediocrity is forgiven more easily than talent. - Emil Krotky
Many of those who tried to enlighten were hanged from the lampposts. - Stanislaw Jerzy Lec
One death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic. - unknown, often attributed to Joseph Stalin
A lie told often enough becomes the truth. - Vladimir Lenin
Love the sinner and hate the sin. - St. Augustine of Hippo[3]
Truths are not relative. What are relative are opinions about truth. - Nicolás Gómez Dávila
Love is the only game in which a draw is the most desirable outcome. - Oleg Vishnepolsky
I know what I have given you, I do not know what you have received. - Antonio Porchia
My poverty is not complete: it lacks me. - Antonio Porchia
One lives in the hope of becoming a memory. - Antonio Porchia
I have hardly touched the clay and I am made of it. - Antonio Porchia
These lines drill into our brains and hearts. If you lift a pen and write them down, you get an additional impact. These are powerful words from the broadest range of people.
If you seek out a list of "aphorists" you will find that there are relatively few. The reason. Few people can clarify, condense and reduce big thoughts into just a few words.
I urge you to practice by the exercise of writing things out and working on clarity and brevity.
Say what you mean.
Then stop.
FINI
Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Saturday, May 23, 2009
How The Allies Won WWII
Dwight David Eisenhower, General of the Army and Supreme Commander of The Allied Expeditionary Forces, Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, General George Patton, General Of The Army Air Force Henry Arnold and Admirals Bull Halsey and Chester Nimitz, not to mention General George McArthur and their Russian counterparts and the Great Russian Winter (as well as the well-known truth: Russians Beat Prussians) each did their part to defeat the terrible and destructive forces of evil led by Adolph Hitler and his lesser, but no-less-evil, destructive confederates.
However, the basic fact of the matter is that the end of WW2 can be traced to the enlistment and efforts of seven very young friends from Narrows, Virginia. These mountain men opted out of their senior year of High School and joined the crusade against evil. They took their young bodies, hunting and athletic skills and turned the tide that soon brought the end to this terrible conflict.
Had they not made this sacrifice, the world would be a different place.
These seven trained together, shipped out together, saw action in both theaters of war and were responsible for shooting down enemy planes and supporting the launch of our own fighters off of the carriers on which they served. They were skilled welders, machinists – but most of all they were gunners.
They fired machine guns. They stood on the decks of CV-4, The USS Ranger, and fired the pitiful 50 calibre machine guns bare naked of any protection as the German fighters, bombers and torpedo planes attacked the ship. My dad, who rarely spoke of the action, did mention that, on one occasion, he could see the faces of the enemy pilots. The little Ranger had been a cruiser and had been converted into a light carrier. It had come through the Panama Canal and it was there that the seven did some work on the cranes and machinery of that important waterway. A few years ago, I got to see some of the hardware they had serviced.
They and the planes they supported patrolled the dangerous waters from Canada to the A, B, C islands, a favorite hideout for German submarines. Dad had some scars from a fight or two that was not war-related. Funny about that. I bet she WAS pretty.
After VE, the SEVEN, sans the Ranger, were sent to duty in the Pacific. They toiled on a couple of cruisers and a destroyer. They repaired guns and other equipment, but primarily, they were still gunners. This time they saw action against the Japanese fighters and bombers. Their weapon was an anti-aircraft cannon that needed manual loading and manual aiming. The team of seven did pretty well.
Hearing that the seven boys from Narrows were heading for his home islands, the Emperor decided to quit. Good move. The A-bombs turned out to be the most merciful calling cards ever delivered. Millions of lives were spared and a new Japan was created by General MacArthur from the rubble of Imperial Japan. The General could have handled things in Korea and SE China too, but his boys from Narrows were back home, marrying sweethearts and making babies and lives.
I wish it had been happily ever after for each of them and for their families.
Suicide and sadness was the price some of these men paid for our victory over tyranny. Their families and friends suffered too. But, tell you what, we will never forget what they did for us
I have the flag that covered my Dad's casket. My brothers have other mementos. We all have his hard-headed spirit. We are so proud of our uncles who served in the USN. We honor each of the boys from the hills who have gone to wars and police actions and private battles and lost their lives, health and innocence on some nameless an unimportant field.
Memorial, for me, is not a day, it is a feeling. It is stirred when I see THE flag. It is conjured up when I see any person in uniform.
Duty. Honor. Sacrifice. And that's how the seven young men from Narrows, Virginia won the Second World War.
Hats off and shoulders back to EVERYONE who has served and is serving this country in its time of need.
A grateful son of the mountains, Tim © www.timjohnsonphoto.com
However, the basic fact of the matter is that the end of WW2 can be traced to the enlistment and efforts of seven very young friends from Narrows, Virginia. These mountain men opted out of their senior year of High School and joined the crusade against evil. They took their young bodies, hunting and athletic skills and turned the tide that soon brought the end to this terrible conflict.
Had they not made this sacrifice, the world would be a different place.
These seven trained together, shipped out together, saw action in both theaters of war and were responsible for shooting down enemy planes and supporting the launch of our own fighters off of the carriers on which they served. They were skilled welders, machinists – but most of all they were gunners.
They fired machine guns. They stood on the decks of CV-4, The USS Ranger, and fired the pitiful 50 calibre machine guns bare naked of any protection as the German fighters, bombers and torpedo planes attacked the ship. My dad, who rarely spoke of the action, did mention that, on one occasion, he could see the faces of the enemy pilots. The little Ranger had been a cruiser and had been converted into a light carrier. It had come through the Panama Canal and it was there that the seven did some work on the cranes and machinery of that important waterway. A few years ago, I got to see some of the hardware they had serviced.
They and the planes they supported patrolled the dangerous waters from Canada to the A, B, C islands, a favorite hideout for German submarines. Dad had some scars from a fight or two that was not war-related. Funny about that. I bet she WAS pretty.
After VE, the SEVEN, sans the Ranger, were sent to duty in the Pacific. They toiled on a couple of cruisers and a destroyer. They repaired guns and other equipment, but primarily, they were still gunners. This time they saw action against the Japanese fighters and bombers. Their weapon was an anti-aircraft cannon that needed manual loading and manual aiming. The team of seven did pretty well.
Hearing that the seven boys from Narrows were heading for his home islands, the Emperor decided to quit. Good move. The A-bombs turned out to be the most merciful calling cards ever delivered. Millions of lives were spared and a new Japan was created by General MacArthur from the rubble of Imperial Japan. The General could have handled things in Korea and SE China too, but his boys from Narrows were back home, marrying sweethearts and making babies and lives.
I wish it had been happily ever after for each of them and for their families.
Suicide and sadness was the price some of these men paid for our victory over tyranny. Their families and friends suffered too. But, tell you what, we will never forget what they did for us
I have the flag that covered my Dad's casket. My brothers have other mementos. We all have his hard-headed spirit. We are so proud of our uncles who served in the USN. We honor each of the boys from the hills who have gone to wars and police actions and private battles and lost their lives, health and innocence on some nameless an unimportant field.
Memorial, for me, is not a day, it is a feeling. It is stirred when I see THE flag. It is conjured up when I see any person in uniform.
Duty. Honor. Sacrifice. And that's how the seven young men from Narrows, Virginia won the Second World War.
Hats off and shoulders back to EVERYONE who has served and is serving this country in its time of need.
A grateful son of the mountains, Tim © www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Memorial Day TO DO Lists
The Periodic Table
The Alphabet (we honor all of them)
The Arabic System Of Numerals (multiplying with Roman numerals was tedious)
The Dewey Decimal System (and the systems that have and will replace it)
The Gregg Manual Of Grammar
The Chicago Manual Of Style
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Wikipedia
The Metric System (download and marvel at the Powerpoint presentation, The Power Of 10)
The Well-Tempered Clavier (Piano) by JS Bach
Strong's Exhaustive Thesaurus (best left next to your unabridged dictionary)
Computer Code 01 10 00 11 & so on
The Betty Crocker Cookbook
The Book Of Lists (perhaps this list will make it into that list)
The Art Of War
Gray's Anatomy (bone up on this since the show has had its season finale
The Encyclopedia Brittanica (it is just the coolest)
Over this Memorial Day weekend, as we set out to remember a lot of things: chairs, coolers and sunscreen, I'd like to suggest remembering the people who have brought us so far down the road of civilization.
From howls to haunting music. Raw flesh to divine food that gives us chills. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding that drives our vision ever deeper into the cosmos. (Go Carl.)
The development and understanding of faith. The necessity of our faith being expressed in caring and not crusades.
Honoring the memory of the families that carried traditions across the ocean along with their names. Honoring our loved ones who were heroes in past wars.
Honoring the people who toil to bring us joy and simple pleasure. Being kind when we could look the other way. Encouraging the people we see who are really trying their best and might need a smile or word of direction.
Here is a simple list:
Do not fail to contact and clearly express your love to the people closest to you.
Give a word of thanks to a friend or elder or leader that tries to guide you and point the way to truth or Light.
Pray for any who have authority over you that their minds would be clear and their hearts would be pure as they carry out their tasks of leadership. If you can, write to them with your encouragement or concerns.
Lend a hand or give in some way to a weaker neighbor. There are so many fragile, needy people. Folk are weary, bone tired and some are LOST. You may be the one to help turn their life around, if that is your gift.
Think about yourself. Spend some time reflecting on your life: how you got to where you are today. How blessed you are. What you might want to change and the steps you need to take to make the change or changes. Look ahead, celebrate and grab a hand.
Oh yes, be careful. If you are driving, buckle your seatbelt and watch your speed. Do not text while driving and DO NOT drink while on the road. QUITE UNSELFISHLY, I don't want to have to spend time visiting YOUR cemetery plot next Memorial Day.
I love you, sweet reader. Tim Johnson http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
PS – For a hoot, get a copy of Milk, Eggs, Vodka or visit the website: www.grocerylists.org
The Alphabet (we honor all of them)
The Arabic System Of Numerals (multiplying with Roman numerals was tedious)
The Dewey Decimal System (and the systems that have and will replace it)
The Gregg Manual Of Grammar
The Chicago Manual Of Style
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Wikipedia
The Metric System (download and marvel at the Powerpoint presentation, The Power Of 10)
The Well-Tempered Clavier (Piano) by JS Bach
Strong's Exhaustive Thesaurus (best left next to your unabridged dictionary)
Computer Code 01 10 00 11 & so on
The Betty Crocker Cookbook
The Book Of Lists (perhaps this list will make it into that list)
The Art Of War
Gray's Anatomy (bone up on this since the show has had its season finale
The Encyclopedia Brittanica (it is just the coolest)
Over this Memorial Day weekend, as we set out to remember a lot of things: chairs, coolers and sunscreen, I'd like to suggest remembering the people who have brought us so far down the road of civilization.
From howls to haunting music. Raw flesh to divine food that gives us chills. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding that drives our vision ever deeper into the cosmos. (Go Carl.)
The development and understanding of faith. The necessity of our faith being expressed in caring and not crusades.
Honoring the memory of the families that carried traditions across the ocean along with their names. Honoring our loved ones who were heroes in past wars.
Honoring the people who toil to bring us joy and simple pleasure. Being kind when we could look the other way. Encouraging the people we see who are really trying their best and might need a smile or word of direction.
Here is a simple list:
Do not fail to contact and clearly express your love to the people closest to you.
Give a word of thanks to a friend or elder or leader that tries to guide you and point the way to truth or Light.
Pray for any who have authority over you that their minds would be clear and their hearts would be pure as they carry out their tasks of leadership. If you can, write to them with your encouragement or concerns.
Lend a hand or give in some way to a weaker neighbor. There are so many fragile, needy people. Folk are weary, bone tired and some are LOST. You may be the one to help turn their life around, if that is your gift.
Think about yourself. Spend some time reflecting on your life: how you got to where you are today. How blessed you are. What you might want to change and the steps you need to take to make the change or changes. Look ahead, celebrate and grab a hand.
Oh yes, be careful. If you are driving, buckle your seatbelt and watch your speed. Do not text while driving and DO NOT drink while on the road. QUITE UNSELFISHLY, I don't want to have to spend time visiting YOUR cemetery plot next Memorial Day.
I love you, sweet reader. Tim Johnson http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
PS – For a hoot, get a copy of Milk, Eggs, Vodka or visit the website: www.grocerylists.org
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
BACK UP YOUR FILES NOW AND FOREVERMORE
Digital Image Workflow
Tim Johnson Photography
The ease with which digital images are created, moved and deleted needs to be balanced with the way they are preserved. “In my computer” is no comfort when “my computer” crashes or is stolen. The following is a protocol for you to follow with your images.
save the originals
Most professional and serious amateurs shoot RAW files. These should be maintained separately. They are large and could be considered to be like slides or negatives. Most camera manufacturers have raw file converters as do Microsoft, Mac, Linux. Even if you are taking JPGs, I suggest taking the largest images possible and saving the originals intact until you are through with your projects related to those images. Even then, I would suggest saving the original shots to multiple drives and an archival DVD. Film and slides go in archival sleeves and the sleeves go in archival boxes. The boxes go into heat and humidity controlled rooms. Get in touch with Light Impressions for your archival storage materials.
organize
Picasa, Adobe Products, Corel PSP and many other software packages will organize your images by type and/or date. This will help you keep up with them and prevent you from keeping redundant copies in multiple folders on your hard drive or drives.
work on copies
Copy or convert the images into the format you will be working on in your software: Photoshop Elements, Paintshop Pro, and Quark all have native, proprietary file types that save your steps and files. Adobe products create PSDs, Paint Shop Pro creates PSPs and so on. The GIMP, an open source product, uses its native XCF. They can also save your files in web and transfer friendly (smaller) formats. Most printing services want files outside of folders. Loosey-goosey files on the drive work for most kiosks. They generally want JPGs. Some will work with TIFFs. A little-known item is that many photo kiosks do not like the U3 firmware built into some thumbdrives. Be prepared so that you are not disappointed or confused.
be nice when you share
Small files are faster for sharing. Most software has file-optimizing routines. This allows a file to maintain good quality and travel quickly. Some photo sharing sites automatically resize images. Kodak, Wolf, Ofoto and others just make the changes for you and post your images for others to visit.
back up your backups so there are no hiccups
At best, digital storage is transient. Hard drives crash and CDs and DVDs are fragile. The test of time simply has not been applied to digital formats. For instance, if you have some 8 track tapes, 8 inch floppy disks or SyQuest disks, what are the chances you can read the information that is stored on them? I recommend using internal, external and off-site storage services for your images. Migrate your images when you are able. Storage is cheap and your images are precious. Keep moving your images forward. Soon they will fit on a solid-state chip and 2001 & 2010 will be a memory complete with our images and memories.
Tim Johnson http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Tim Johnson Photography
The ease with which digital images are created, moved and deleted needs to be balanced with the way they are preserved. “In my computer” is no comfort when “my computer” crashes or is stolen. The following is a protocol for you to follow with your images.
save the originals
Most professional and serious amateurs shoot RAW files. These should be maintained separately. They are large and could be considered to be like slides or negatives. Most camera manufacturers have raw file converters as do Microsoft, Mac, Linux. Even if you are taking JPGs, I suggest taking the largest images possible and saving the originals intact until you are through with your projects related to those images. Even then, I would suggest saving the original shots to multiple drives and an archival DVD. Film and slides go in archival sleeves and the sleeves go in archival boxes. The boxes go into heat and humidity controlled rooms. Get in touch with Light Impressions for your archival storage materials.
organize
Picasa, Adobe Products, Corel PSP and many other software packages will organize your images by type and/or date. This will help you keep up with them and prevent you from keeping redundant copies in multiple folders on your hard drive or drives.
work on copies
Copy or convert the images into the format you will be working on in your software: Photoshop Elements, Paintshop Pro, and Quark all have native, proprietary file types that save your steps and files. Adobe products create PSDs, Paint Shop Pro creates PSPs and so on. The GIMP, an open source product, uses its native XCF. They can also save your files in web and transfer friendly (smaller) formats. Most printing services want files outside of folders. Loosey-goosey files on the drive work for most kiosks. They generally want JPGs. Some will work with TIFFs. A little-known item is that many photo kiosks do not like the U3 firmware built into some thumbdrives. Be prepared so that you are not disappointed or confused.
be nice when you share
Small files are faster for sharing. Most software has file-optimizing routines. This allows a file to maintain good quality and travel quickly. Some photo sharing sites automatically resize images. Kodak, Wolf, Ofoto and others just make the changes for you and post your images for others to visit.
back up your backups so there are no hiccups
At best, digital storage is transient. Hard drives crash and CDs and DVDs are fragile. The test of time simply has not been applied to digital formats. For instance, if you have some 8 track tapes, 8 inch floppy disks or SyQuest disks, what are the chances you can read the information that is stored on them? I recommend using internal, external and off-site storage services for your images. Migrate your images when you are able. Storage is cheap and your images are precious. Keep moving your images forward. Soon they will fit on a solid-state chip and 2001 & 2010 will be a memory complete with our images and memories.
Tim Johnson http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Love All The Letters To Life
We are often told to watch our “p's” and “q's”. We certainly do want to get the descenders on the correct side.
The letters we really need to practice are emphasized on the ever-popular WHEEL OF FORTUNE. In the FINAL SPIN for the BIG PRIZE the contestant is given R, S, T, L, N & E. These letters are the most commonly used in American English. “Z” is the least used.
So, for each “z” used, the other letters are used in this proportion:
e – 60
t – 42.5
i, n, o, & s – 40
h – 32
r – 31
d – 22
l – 20
u – 17
c & m – 15
f – 12.5
w & y – 10
g & p – 8.5
b – 8
v – 6
k – 4
q – 2.5
j & x – 2
So, you can become a better “wheelie” and you now can understand that American English is 92% German. Wiki on over to these two links, but come on back to finish this note.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_English
The real task for writers is putting these letters together into words and the task for people doing handwriting and calligraphy is to create legible art. You might pick a favorite letter or find some easier to make than others. However, you must learn to make them all.
Take commanding charge of your expressions, vocabulary, writing instruments and set down your thoughts and feelings. All writers are not calligraphers and all calligraphers do not continually create their own material.
Calligraphers do make legible art. The dance of the pen leaves readable footprints. Our letters, banners, posters, books and designs communicate on many levels. Information, inspiration and aggravation all flow through the hand and pen onto the paper or other media.
We like to make the letters and jazz up words that do have “z's” and “x's”, but we do like writing out things that matter.
I enjoy seeing the expression on a face when I write out a person's name in a fine hand. I like finishing a project that I've invested my talent and heart in. I really like seeing something that I did 25-30 years ago still hanging in a restaurant, office, home or school.
Stop lurking. Get out your pens, buy some fresh ink. (Your ancient gouache is still fine.) Join a class or a club or hide in a closet but write, use all the letters. Stretch your mind, abilities and skills and then come get some more.
You can do it. Do it. Classes are forming NOW at Wake Tech. Tim
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
The letters we really need to practice are emphasized on the ever-popular WHEEL OF FORTUNE. In the FINAL SPIN for the BIG PRIZE the contestant is given R, S, T, L, N & E. These letters are the most commonly used in American English. “Z” is the least used.
So, for each “z” used, the other letters are used in this proportion:
e – 60
t – 42.5
i, n, o, & s – 40
h – 32
r – 31
d – 22
l – 20
u – 17
c & m – 15
f – 12.5
w & y – 10
g & p – 8.5
b – 8
v – 6
k – 4
q – 2.5
j & x – 2
So, you can become a better “wheelie” and you now can understand that American English is 92% German. Wiki on over to these two links, but come on back to finish this note.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_English
The real task for writers is putting these letters together into words and the task for people doing handwriting and calligraphy is to create legible art. You might pick a favorite letter or find some easier to make than others. However, you must learn to make them all.
Take commanding charge of your expressions, vocabulary, writing instruments and set down your thoughts and feelings. All writers are not calligraphers and all calligraphers do not continually create their own material.
Calligraphers do make legible art. The dance of the pen leaves readable footprints. Our letters, banners, posters, books and designs communicate on many levels. Information, inspiration and aggravation all flow through the hand and pen onto the paper or other media.
We like to make the letters and jazz up words that do have “z's” and “x's”, but we do like writing out things that matter.
I enjoy seeing the expression on a face when I write out a person's name in a fine hand. I like finishing a project that I've invested my talent and heart in. I really like seeing something that I did 25-30 years ago still hanging in a restaurant, office, home or school.
Stop lurking. Get out your pens, buy some fresh ink. (Your ancient gouache is still fine.) Join a class or a club or hide in a closet but write, use all the letters. Stretch your mind, abilities and skills and then come get some more.
You can do it. Do it. Classes are forming NOW at Wake Tech. Tim
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
The Calligraphic Proccess - Pens, Ink & You
Calligraphic exercises are rarely just putting ink on paper.
For me, the process of writing begins with ink grinding. There is something sublime and serene about taking the quality ink stick to an ink stone and pulling water from the well up onto the grinding surface and using regular motions to create just the right viscosity of fluid for filling a quill or reed or metal nib with which to write well-formed letters.
Paper preparation comes next. That might sound tedious to someone in a hurry, but let's remember we are chasing perfection, not playing slap and tickle with this art form. Good paper still needs the attention of pumice, sandarach and the critical eye. We don't want a single loose fiber jumping into the split of the nib and ruining a line of writing.
Preparing the writing instrument is also critical and is part of the process. Whatever the writing instrument, we want it sharp, clean and prepared to receive our writing fluid. Cleaning it with soap and water is a start, a touch of acetone will remove oily impurities and a sharp eye on the edge will let us know that we will have a crisp edge and fine hair strokes and dandy finials.
Now, we prepare our mind and body. Michael Hughey, my first calligraphy tutor and expert in so many areas of lettering arts and design, suggests we begin with Mental Preparation, Relaxation which includes Breathing, even when writing. You see, even letters reveal if they are suffering from oxygen deprivation. Proper Posture. Proper pen-hold, The use of a slant board. And Practice.
We digress here because we must note that no major calligraphic work, be it a hand-lettered book, document or scroll, was ever created at a flat desk. Thus I set out to build portable, sturdy and inexpensive writing board for my students and colleagues and do to this day. They cost just $75 and will free your body from cramps, pain and bad posture. Plus, it makes you look cool as you write.
Now, we lay out our page, supposing we have something to say and we put pen to paper. We practice. We don't JUST practice. We practice perfectly. Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.
In my studio and in my classes, we use the correct tools, which are surprisingly inexpensive, we learn to sit and breathe and we learn to hold the pen. We make our letters correctly. We practice perfectly and we laugh a lot.
Get some of the good paper, get the good tools, get the best writing fluids and get Tim to coach you through the process of practicing perfectly. I'll put it in WRITING that you'll be happy with the results.
Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
For me, the process of writing begins with ink grinding. There is something sublime and serene about taking the quality ink stick to an ink stone and pulling water from the well up onto the grinding surface and using regular motions to create just the right viscosity of fluid for filling a quill or reed or metal nib with which to write well-formed letters.
Paper preparation comes next. That might sound tedious to someone in a hurry, but let's remember we are chasing perfection, not playing slap and tickle with this art form. Good paper still needs the attention of pumice, sandarach and the critical eye. We don't want a single loose fiber jumping into the split of the nib and ruining a line of writing.
Preparing the writing instrument is also critical and is part of the process. Whatever the writing instrument, we want it sharp, clean and prepared to receive our writing fluid. Cleaning it with soap and water is a start, a touch of acetone will remove oily impurities and a sharp eye on the edge will let us know that we will have a crisp edge and fine hair strokes and dandy finials.
Now, we prepare our mind and body. Michael Hughey, my first calligraphy tutor and expert in so many areas of lettering arts and design, suggests we begin with Mental Preparation, Relaxation which includes Breathing, even when writing. You see, even letters reveal if they are suffering from oxygen deprivation. Proper Posture. Proper pen-hold, The use of a slant board. And Practice.
We digress here because we must note that no major calligraphic work, be it a hand-lettered book, document or scroll, was ever created at a flat desk. Thus I set out to build portable, sturdy and inexpensive writing board for my students and colleagues and do to this day. They cost just $75 and will free your body from cramps, pain and bad posture. Plus, it makes you look cool as you write.
Now, we lay out our page, supposing we have something to say and we put pen to paper. We practice. We don't JUST practice. We practice perfectly. Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.
In my studio and in my classes, we use the correct tools, which are surprisingly inexpensive, we learn to sit and breathe and we learn to hold the pen. We make our letters correctly. We practice perfectly and we laugh a lot.
Get some of the good paper, get the good tools, get the best writing fluids and get Tim to coach you through the process of practicing perfectly. I'll put it in WRITING that you'll be happy with the results.
Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Just a few weeks ago, James Kilpatrick, a favorite author and grammarian of mine, laid down his pen, or at least signed off. In his eighties and having fought the good fight for clear, concise and correct expression in written American English, he felt it was time for him to retire. I think he had been overtaxed by bad taxonomy (nothing to do with critters, dear Jen), mixed metaphors and declining declensions far too long.
It is sad that people cannot write right or correctly.
“Banana”, a favorite food, gives people spelling fits. It must not be a brain food, unless you follow the banana with a nice cup of green tea, please spare the lemon. Earl Grey and a single lump of sugar make for better conversation.
Paleography, orthography, etymology, cartography and the study of documents and correspondence let us peek into the appearance and change the way we use the tools of communication, our words.
Since I was, as a child, somewhat feral in the woods of the interior of Appalachia, and could roam for hours unattended and not missed by any parent, social worker, government agent, law enforcement officer or religious zealot aiming to better my mind or save my soul, I will, on occasion, alone or in select company, send forth some pure primal sounds. Golden!
But the sounds do fade.
Gold is one of those much abused and misunderstood words. Let the people at Clairol & Suave have a seat. Blonds may or may not have more fun. I could observe, but not today. The point of this post is that the ROOT of the blond is not golden. The Periodic Table, which I am sure my readers have committed to heart, will know that the symbol for Gold is Au. Auburn comes Old French alborne, which meant blond, from Latin alburnus, "off-white."[1][2] The first recorded use of auburn in English was in 1430.[2][3] In hair color, auburn is frequently misused as a synonym for red. (Entry in Wilkipedia)
When gilding, I don't get blond letters or decorations, I lay down a pinkish gesso, I use a material called Armenian bole and my 24 carat gold leaf is rich, golden and not yellow. Give me the auburn. If I want blond, I use white gold.
Wordsmiths awaken! Spread your heart on paper. Read the passion that still burns between John and Abigail Adams. Look at the correspondence between the Tsar and Tsarina as the Romanov dynasty was crashing to its end. Flick the Bic - do your writing with a pigmented ink on decent paper.
But write out the words and spread your passion there for someone to read. Someone might soon or in a distant future discover a Bridges Of Madison County or The Muppets Take Fuquay-Varina, but the next generation, as well as the present needs to know your STORY. Lever your footprints in the wet concrete (not cement -and we'll defer to Ken Pike to tell you about that). Tim Blessed Sunday www.timjohnsonphoto.com
It is sad that people cannot write right or correctly.
“Banana”, a favorite food, gives people spelling fits. It must not be a brain food, unless you follow the banana with a nice cup of green tea, please spare the lemon. Earl Grey and a single lump of sugar make for better conversation.
Paleography, orthography, etymology, cartography and the study of documents and correspondence let us peek into the appearance and change the way we use the tools of communication, our words.
Since I was, as a child, somewhat feral in the woods of the interior of Appalachia, and could roam for hours unattended and not missed by any parent, social worker, government agent, law enforcement officer or religious zealot aiming to better my mind or save my soul, I will, on occasion, alone or in select company, send forth some pure primal sounds. Golden!
But the sounds do fade.
Gold is one of those much abused and misunderstood words. Let the people at Clairol & Suave have a seat. Blonds may or may not have more fun. I could observe, but not today. The point of this post is that the ROOT of the blond is not golden. The Periodic Table, which I am sure my readers have committed to heart, will know that the symbol for Gold is Au. Auburn comes Old French alborne, which meant blond, from Latin alburnus, "off-white."[1][2] The first recorded use of auburn in English was in 1430.[2][3] In hair color, auburn is frequently misused as a synonym for red. (Entry in Wilkipedia)
When gilding, I don't get blond letters or decorations, I lay down a pinkish gesso, I use a material called Armenian bole and my 24 carat gold leaf is rich, golden and not yellow. Give me the auburn. If I want blond, I use white gold.
Wordsmiths awaken! Spread your heart on paper. Read the passion that still burns between John and Abigail Adams. Look at the correspondence between the Tsar and Tsarina as the Romanov dynasty was crashing to its end. Flick the Bic - do your writing with a pigmented ink on decent paper.
But write out the words and spread your passion there for someone to read. Someone might soon or in a distant future discover a Bridges Of Madison County or The Muppets Take Fuquay-Varina, but the next generation, as well as the present needs to know your STORY. Lever your footprints in the wet concrete (not cement -and we'll defer to Ken Pike to tell you about that). Tim Blessed Sunday www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Friday, May 15, 2009
Recipe For A Plum Good Time
Sweet readers, On occasion, I will break from technical and artistic information speak and present something that may seem off-the-wall. However, this is plainly on the kitchen counter.
Plum Good Muffins
2 cups sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup oil
3 eggs
2 small jars of plum baby food
2 teaspoons allspice
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1. Combine and mix ingredients.
2. Spoon into mini muffin pans (large muffins and loaves do not work well)
3. Bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Having 2 or more pans speeds the baking process.
**Serve with plum preserves, plum jelly and/or butter.
This recipe originated at the Wild Plum Tea House in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They have an accompanying hot tea to serve with it, but that is for later. I will suggest that you use your mini-muffin pans and keep the baking swinging. Double the recipe for double the fun. For a really good time, call me to make sure that things are turning out as they should.
I will not promise that these muffins will strip pounds from your frame, relieve pain or have any other positive result other than make you smile, especially if you share them with someone who needs a boosted spirit. Your house will not need Febreze for a while and any family member or guest will salivate when they are bombarded with the smells. Open your windows and offer an olfactory invitation to the neighbors to join you for a treat.
Break out the notecards, BLOG the world or twitter it: I'm BAKING!
It might inspire some picture-taking, calligraphy or a nap. Happy weekend. Tim (c)
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Plum Good Muffins
2 cups sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup oil
3 eggs
2 small jars of plum baby food
2 teaspoons allspice
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1. Combine and mix ingredients.
2. Spoon into mini muffin pans (large muffins and loaves do not work well)
3. Bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Having 2 or more pans speeds the baking process.
**Serve with plum preserves, plum jelly and/or butter.
This recipe originated at the Wild Plum Tea House in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They have an accompanying hot tea to serve with it, but that is for later. I will suggest that you use your mini-muffin pans and keep the baking swinging. Double the recipe for double the fun. For a really good time, call me to make sure that things are turning out as they should.
I will not promise that these muffins will strip pounds from your frame, relieve pain or have any other positive result other than make you smile, especially if you share them with someone who needs a boosted spirit. Your house will not need Febreze for a while and any family member or guest will salivate when they are bombarded with the smells. Open your windows and offer an olfactory invitation to the neighbors to join you for a treat.
Break out the notecards, BLOG the world or twitter it: I'm BAKING!
It might inspire some picture-taking, calligraphy or a nap. Happy weekend. Tim (c)
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Video Tools Survey and More
Harald Heim, the creator of Harry's Plug-ins, a great person and source of free and share-ware plug-ins for Adobe, Corel and Quark products also offers a quarterly newsletter. He is so creative and tuned in to the graphics world and I am a fan of his creations.
Harald is also interested in what consumers want to do with images. He recently created a poll to find out what people are using to edit videos. Just under 200 responders gave him these results:
1. Adobe Premiere Pro 23%
2. Other 16%
3. Adobe Premiere Elements 14%
4. Pinnacle Studio Plus/Ultimate 9%
5. Sony Vegas Pro 6% Pinnacle Studio 6% Ulead VideoStudio 6%
6. Apple Final Cut Pro 4% Ulead MediaStudio 4%
7. Adobe After Effects 3%
8. Sony Vegas Movie Studio 3%
9. Apple Final Cut Express 2% Magix Video Pro 2%
10. Avid/Pinnacle Liquid 1%
So, we creatives are a mixed lot of consumers. We use a lot of Adobe products.
“Other” is an interesting answer that I would like to know more about. Maybe we could ask another friend, “Anonymous”, to do a sub-poll with that group and see just what the other programs are.
Whatever you use, I hope you are using your resources to rescue and document your past, record the present and get ready to capture the things that are unfolding in your present and future.
In a future post we'll talk about archival issues and how to maximize the chances that you will not lose the images and articles that are precious to you.
I recently had the privilege of spending some time with one of my favorite people. This person, in my eyes, has everything. The mind, education, experience, capability and capacity to do anything. They also have, with God's Grace, over 40 years to get all this done.
This is just the kind of person into whose life I want to place the tools, skills and experiences in calligraphy, photography, design and writing disciplines that I have developed.
The fact is, right now I know 5 people with just about the same potential – and I am eager for one or any or all of them to step forward and say, “I am the one.”
Or maybe YOU are that person. Tim © www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Harald is also interested in what consumers want to do with images. He recently created a poll to find out what people are using to edit videos. Just under 200 responders gave him these results:
1. Adobe Premiere Pro 23%
2. Other 16%
3. Adobe Premiere Elements 14%
4. Pinnacle Studio Plus/Ultimate 9%
5. Sony Vegas Pro 6% Pinnacle Studio 6% Ulead VideoStudio 6%
6. Apple Final Cut Pro 4% Ulead MediaStudio 4%
7. Adobe After Effects 3%
8. Sony Vegas Movie Studio 3%
9. Apple Final Cut Express 2% Magix Video Pro 2%
10. Avid/Pinnacle Liquid 1%
So, we creatives are a mixed lot of consumers. We use a lot of Adobe products.
“Other” is an interesting answer that I would like to know more about. Maybe we could ask another friend, “Anonymous”, to do a sub-poll with that group and see just what the other programs are.
Whatever you use, I hope you are using your resources to rescue and document your past, record the present and get ready to capture the things that are unfolding in your present and future.
In a future post we'll talk about archival issues and how to maximize the chances that you will not lose the images and articles that are precious to you.
I recently had the privilege of spending some time with one of my favorite people. This person, in my eyes, has everything. The mind, education, experience, capability and capacity to do anything. They also have, with God's Grace, over 40 years to get all this done.
This is just the kind of person into whose life I want to place the tools, skills and experiences in calligraphy, photography, design and writing disciplines that I have developed.
The fact is, right now I know 5 people with just about the same potential – and I am eager for one or any or all of them to step forward and say, “I am the one.”
Or maybe YOU are that person. Tim © www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Alrighty Then ... and Other Ways To End A Conversation
Right!
Hmmmm ... if you say so.
Let me know how that works out for you.
Love you (pitch ascending).
Love you (pitch descending).
Any withdrawal of any body part, especially with an accompanying sigh
The LOOK
THE look
No look
Aggressive silence
Don't let the door ...
Huh?
The non-touch
Oh, really!?! (pitch ascending) [and where is the interrobang?]
Oh really!?! (pitch descending) [some fonts have it, others don't]
Oh yes, there are many ways to end conversations and that assumes that there were actually connected conversations in the first place. Information abounds but interpersonal connections are rare. There are lots of electronic and sound waves in the air and we pick up on only a few. Words fly around us - but we really have to listen to hear the ones that are important to us. When our lives wither to "whats" and "hows" and very few "who's" our lives become bleak.
The truth is that people are aching to say something to someone who will listen. People want a connection. Hallmark, American Greeting and Gibson are still in business - despite the global presence of cell phones, the web, EM, IM and twittering. We hate being passed around a corporate playing field of help desks that aren't helpful. We despise being ignored. Life is coming full speed ahead and people's ears and minds are full of earbuds and their own egocentric thoughts.
Let us, as artists, writers, photographers, calligraphers and just decent people, lead the way in being the sensitive souls and listen to people. Let us open our eyes to their lives. Let us feel their pains and joys. Let our art help express what they sometimes cannot express without our help.
Our sentences and observations and letters and photographs may BEGIN conversations and dialog and launch people on their journey of self-discovery and healing.
The connection may extend our lives further than we can imagine.
Say it with flowers, say it with mink, but when you really, really mean it, say it in ink!
Alright. Oh, really! CATCH my drift. (c) Tim Johnson http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Hmmmm ... if you say so.
Let me know how that works out for you.
Love you (pitch ascending).
Love you (pitch descending).
Any withdrawal of any body part, especially with an accompanying sigh
The LOOK
THE look
No look
Aggressive silence
Don't let the door ...
Huh?
The non-touch
Oh, really!?! (pitch ascending) [and where is the interrobang?]
Oh really!?! (pitch descending) [some fonts have it, others don't]
Oh yes, there are many ways to end conversations and that assumes that there were actually connected conversations in the first place. Information abounds but interpersonal connections are rare. There are lots of electronic and sound waves in the air and we pick up on only a few. Words fly around us - but we really have to listen to hear the ones that are important to us. When our lives wither to "whats" and "hows" and very few "who's" our lives become bleak.
The truth is that people are aching to say something to someone who will listen. People want a connection. Hallmark, American Greeting and Gibson are still in business - despite the global presence of cell phones, the web, EM, IM and twittering. We hate being passed around a corporate playing field of help desks that aren't helpful. We despise being ignored. Life is coming full speed ahead and people's ears and minds are full of earbuds and their own egocentric thoughts.
Let us, as artists, writers, photographers, calligraphers and just decent people, lead the way in being the sensitive souls and listen to people. Let us open our eyes to their lives. Let us feel their pains and joys. Let our art help express what they sometimes cannot express without our help.
Our sentences and observations and letters and photographs may BEGIN conversations and dialog and launch people on their journey of self-discovery and healing.
The connection may extend our lives further than we can imagine.
Say it with flowers, say it with mink, but when you really, really mean it, say it in ink!
Alright. Oh, really! CATCH my drift. (c) Tim Johnson http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Dyeing For Great Ink
Though not thorough, this provides some interesting jumping off points for further research. Modern developments for writing instruments, in this case, markers, are being made as new fibers are being developed. Sakura, Pentel and Hunt are all working on ink delivery systems. For about 20 years I worked with the chief production engineer at Hunt. Our interest was in seeing a pigmented, non-waterproof line of black and colors developed (premixed gouache) in just the primaries. Marketing kept pushing what we developed into the awful Superblack India which is waterproof and is guaranteed to murder any metal pen (especially your favorite fountain pen) in which it is used. They just never understood that waterproof and permanent don't have to be the same. They COULD have had an ink much superior to Higgins Eternal since their carbon black was much more refined. I have some of the really good stuff made just for me - along with the formulary.
Just now I am working with a totally new approach to imaging with electronics. The video will be done in about 6 months. If you want to send out a questionaire about new developments about inks, pens and markers, send some notes to all the folks from Brown's and Fahrney's catalogs. We'd all like to see what they have to say.
I've still got some of the great French dye inks based on formaldehyde. Brilliant color, but only for use on pretty days outdoors. Those sneaky French, getting back at us with toxic inks. Tsk. Tim Johnson (c) Hit ongly effects mi brian sumwit aftur lonk xposur. www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Just now I am working with a totally new approach to imaging with electronics. The video will be done in about 6 months. If you want to send out a questionaire about new developments about inks, pens and markers, send some notes to all the folks from Brown's and Fahrney's catalogs. We'd all like to see what they have to say.
I've still got some of the great French dye inks based on formaldehyde. Brilliant color, but only for use on pretty days outdoors. Those sneaky French, getting back at us with toxic inks. Tsk. Tim Johnson (c) Hit ongly effects mi brian sumwit aftur lonk xposur. www.timjohnsonphoto.com
The Point About Pens
Brown's, Farhney's and Lanier are the BIG NIBS of fountain pen sellers. They sell many products to people who love writing or just like to own a nice fountain pen - and they sell some really expensive pens to collectors. Once, Farhney's offered a diamond/platinum pen for $250K. Only 5 were available. They also sell safes and collectors' boxes. One of the things that I POINT out to my students is that no matter the cost of the penholder and no matter how fancy the nib, most nibs are pointed with iridium, so that it will not wear out. A $5 nib has iridium, so does the $1,000 version. I rarely use a fountain pen, but do have some Lamys and a couple of Pelikans. I do prefer the piston fillers to the bladders. The Lamy uses a stainless steel broad and blip point. The Pelikan has 6 broad nibs and a couple of blips. I do have some Rotrings, a lot of ancient Osmiroids (65 & 75) [the newer incarnations are trash]. A few people have given me some old celluloid fountain pens from the 20's and 30's, pretty, but still iridium-tipped. I guess that writing instruments will always be in favor, out, be discovered and lost and found. To try and know everything would be POINTless.
By the way, I do have the Pentalic/Victoria and Albert Museum Poster, The Story Of Handwriting.
Fahrney's does have a guide for selecting the appropriate pen size for your hand. Big hand, big pen; smaller hand, smaller pen.
That's why using a Cross, made me cross till I bought the larger model of their mechanical pencil.
My students do get a chance to write with a variety of pens, reeds, instruments made from oddities and quills and reeds.
In a future post we'll look at holding your writing instrument correctly. Give your hand, shoulders, neck and body a break so that you can write on. Tim (c)
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
By the way, I do have the Pentalic/Victoria and Albert Museum Poster, The Story Of Handwriting.
Fahrney's does have a guide for selecting the appropriate pen size for your hand. Big hand, big pen; smaller hand, smaller pen.
That's why using a Cross, made me cross till I bought the larger model of their mechanical pencil.
My students do get a chance to write with a variety of pens, reeds, instruments made from oddities and quills and reeds.
In a future post we'll look at holding your writing instrument correctly. Give your hand, shoulders, neck and body a break so that you can write on. Tim (c)
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Comic Sans Is Not Too Silly For The Lettering Artist
I recently engaged in answering a question about the use and abuse of the font, Comic Sans. It is based on letters formed by using a Speedball "B" nib.
My first lettering instruction came from a sign painter - he used BRUSHES to get marvelous letters. He made showcards out of Bristol boards and tempra and it is from him that I learned how to mix all my colors from the primaries. For round "Comic" letters he would use Speedball nibs in the 00 and 0 sizes.
A very energetic and successful contemporary lettering artist, Michael Clark, a fellow Virginian, taught me how to manipulate the "B" and "D" metal points to look like brush strokes. My first reaction was, "Why not use brushes?" The answer, "Most people do not have the light touch required to use brushes". They also do not have the budget to buy really good lettering brushes. Back to Comic Sans. Look at the lettering from the 20s - 50s. You will see that many films and book titles used monoline tools in an age preceding electronic typography.
The "B" point is the only tool that can give you a perfect DOT (if done correctly) over the "i". When done properly by hand and eye control, they are a lot of fun.
The Comic Sans works best if the letters can be kerned and leaded. This is possible in Quark, Pagemaker and Publisher - also in later Word, WordPerfect and in Open Office Write.
I use the "B" nibs in my intermediate calligraphy classes to teach even pressure, letter spacing and learning how to keep the pen fed.
General calligraphic information: I am not a dipper. I practice and teach brush-feeding of the nibs. For most writing this means a nice #6 pointed watercolor brush and a pot of ground stick ink.
My broad-edge metal pen choices are the Brause and Speedball 4 & 5. Pressure & release favorites are the Brause Blue Pumpkin and Rose. For those two nibs the ink choice is a juicy Winsor-Newton Lamp Black or a heavy Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White or something I have mixed from the primaries. Please pay a visit to my website to see samples. The photos are there to enjoy and there are videos of my writing are in the calligraphy gallery. I also enjoy cutting quills and reeds.
For a kick you could simply substitute a Speedball B nib for your favorite italic nib. Do your letters and see what they look like without thicks and thins - I does help the brain to giggle a bit.
For a hoot, find where Michael Clark is teaching a workshop and plead with him to show his tricks and tips with the "B" nibs.
Tim (c) http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
My first lettering instruction came from a sign painter - he used BRUSHES to get marvelous letters. He made showcards out of Bristol boards and tempra and it is from him that I learned how to mix all my colors from the primaries. For round "Comic" letters he would use Speedball nibs in the 00 and 0 sizes.
A very energetic and successful contemporary lettering artist, Michael Clark, a fellow Virginian, taught me how to manipulate the "B" and "D" metal points to look like brush strokes. My first reaction was, "Why not use brushes?" The answer, "Most people do not have the light touch required to use brushes". They also do not have the budget to buy really good lettering brushes. Back to Comic Sans. Look at the lettering from the 20s - 50s. You will see that many films and book titles used monoline tools in an age preceding electronic typography.
The "B" point is the only tool that can give you a perfect DOT (if done correctly) over the "i". When done properly by hand and eye control, they are a lot of fun.
The Comic Sans works best if the letters can be kerned and leaded. This is possible in Quark, Pagemaker and Publisher - also in later Word, WordPerfect and in Open Office Write.
I use the "B" nibs in my intermediate calligraphy classes to teach even pressure, letter spacing and learning how to keep the pen fed.
General calligraphic information: I am not a dipper. I practice and teach brush-feeding of the nibs. For most writing this means a nice #6 pointed watercolor brush and a pot of ground stick ink.
My broad-edge metal pen choices are the Brause and Speedball 4 & 5. Pressure & release favorites are the Brause Blue Pumpkin and Rose. For those two nibs the ink choice is a juicy Winsor-Newton Lamp Black or a heavy Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White or something I have mixed from the primaries. Please pay a visit to my website to see samples. The photos are there to enjoy and there are videos of my writing are in the calligraphy gallery. I also enjoy cutting quills and reeds.
For a kick you could simply substitute a Speedball B nib for your favorite italic nib. Do your letters and see what they look like without thicks and thins - I does help the brain to giggle a bit.
For a hoot, find where Michael Clark is teaching a workshop and plead with him to show his tricks and tips with the "B" nibs.
Tim (c) http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Monday, May 11, 2009
Better Photographs
Provided To My Photo Students and Colleagues
1. UNDERSTAND what you are saying with your images. Most people know the Asian wisdom that says, One picture is worth a thousand words. However, most people do not realize that there is an equally profound proverb that says, One word is worth a thousand pictures. The photographer works to simplify, remove and reduce the image to its essence so that the observer sees and understands what the photographer is seeing and feeling.
2. KNOW your equipment. Read and understand the functions, potentials and limitations of the hardware, firmware, lenses and ISO. This applies to film and digital cameras. Light is all you have as your essential working element. The rest is worked out with technology, time and talent. A professional photographer can create great images with simple equipment. Make a pinhole camera and make a masterpiece photo. These cameras are simple boxes created from items as simple as Pop-Tart boxes, oatmeal boxes or simple wooden boxes. Digital equipment can be inexpensive or very costly. The real deal is not the equipment, but the heart, dedication and expertise you bring to your work. Find a master photographer who uses large and medium format film equipment. Analyse their art and prints.
3. PLAN your work. Even when you are hitting the street to photograph what catches your eye, be prepared. Lenses, filters, any toys are fine. The real thing to have that will greatly improve your success in taking good pictures is a sturdy tripod. We'll have a post on that and it will change things for you, but have a great tripod available. In fact, I would spend more on a tripod than on the camera. Camera movement ruins more images than any other factor. Even image stabilization can't do what a good tripod can do. A decent camera and a good tripod will also draw a crowd.
4. BRACKET. Digital and film cameras usually have settings to automatically bracket images. To bracket means to underexpose, average-expose, and overexpose in order to create multiple choices when looking at prints. Bracket every exposure you make. By doing this you will learn a lot about your eye and your camera. When using film and taking it in for printing, tell the technicians that you bracketed so that they will not make adjustments.
5. LEARN photo manipulation software. Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paintshop Pro or The Gimp. It is important that your monitor is calibrated to the place where your images are going to be printed or viewed. The destination of your photograph determines how you will treat it. The human eye can see at about 312 dpi. Higher resolutions are for large, professional installations. Most photo printers like 5"x 7.5"x 300 dpi. For larger prints you can use 8"x 12"x 600 dpi. You should ask the lab technicians what they prefer and what their machines are capable of doing. Occasionally take them cookies. They can be coerced into making better prints for you.
6. MAT AND MOUNT. Present your photograph, not the frame and matboard. Presentation mounting should be SIMPLE. Archival papers, matboard and adhesives will protect your images. Matting and mounting should be about 10% above the center of the board. Protect your art from UV light. Live with your images and learn how to improve them improve them. Keep working and growing. Dig within for inspiration and keep your eyes open and a camera nearby.
Growing tips: Attend classes and workshops. Look at other art and define what you enjoy.. Test your limits and that of your equipment. Carefully and deliberately add equipment to your bag or studio. Study commercial work in magazines and books. Ask for a restaurant wall to have a public showing. Check for my classes starting soon at Wake Tech. (c)Tim Johnson Photography
Tim Johnson
919-345-4615
www.timjohnsonphoto.com
tim@timjohnsonphoto.com
1. UNDERSTAND what you are saying with your images. Most people know the Asian wisdom that says, One picture is worth a thousand words. However, most people do not realize that there is an equally profound proverb that says, One word is worth a thousand pictures. The photographer works to simplify, remove and reduce the image to its essence so that the observer sees and understands what the photographer is seeing and feeling.
2. KNOW your equipment. Read and understand the functions, potentials and limitations of the hardware, firmware, lenses and ISO. This applies to film and digital cameras. Light is all you have as your essential working element. The rest is worked out with technology, time and talent. A professional photographer can create great images with simple equipment. Make a pinhole camera and make a masterpiece photo. These cameras are simple boxes created from items as simple as Pop-Tart boxes, oatmeal boxes or simple wooden boxes. Digital equipment can be inexpensive or very costly. The real deal is not the equipment, but the heart, dedication and expertise you bring to your work. Find a master photographer who uses large and medium format film equipment. Analyse their art and prints.
3. PLAN your work. Even when you are hitting the street to photograph what catches your eye, be prepared. Lenses, filters, any toys are fine. The real thing to have that will greatly improve your success in taking good pictures is a sturdy tripod. We'll have a post on that and it will change things for you, but have a great tripod available. In fact, I would spend more on a tripod than on the camera. Camera movement ruins more images than any other factor. Even image stabilization can't do what a good tripod can do. A decent camera and a good tripod will also draw a crowd.
4. BRACKET. Digital and film cameras usually have settings to automatically bracket images. To bracket means to underexpose, average-expose, and overexpose in order to create multiple choices when looking at prints. Bracket every exposure you make. By doing this you will learn a lot about your eye and your camera. When using film and taking it in for printing, tell the technicians that you bracketed so that they will not make adjustments.
5. LEARN photo manipulation software. Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paintshop Pro or The Gimp. It is important that your monitor is calibrated to the place where your images are going to be printed or viewed. The destination of your photograph determines how you will treat it. The human eye can see at about 312 dpi. Higher resolutions are for large, professional installations. Most photo printers like 5"x 7.5"x 300 dpi. For larger prints you can use 8"x 12"x 600 dpi. You should ask the lab technicians what they prefer and what their machines are capable of doing. Occasionally take them cookies. They can be coerced into making better prints for you.
6. MAT AND MOUNT. Present your photograph, not the frame and matboard. Presentation mounting should be SIMPLE. Archival papers, matboard and adhesives will protect your images. Matting and mounting should be about 10% above the center of the board. Protect your art from UV light. Live with your images and learn how to improve them improve them. Keep working and growing. Dig within for inspiration and keep your eyes open and a camera nearby.
Growing tips: Attend classes and workshops. Look at other art and define what you enjoy.. Test your limits and that of your equipment. Carefully and deliberately add equipment to your bag or studio. Study commercial work in magazines and books. Ask for a restaurant wall to have a public showing. Check for my classes starting soon at Wake Tech. (c)Tim Johnson Photography
Tim Johnson
919-345-4615
www.timjohnsonphoto.com
tim@timjohnsonphoto.com
Perspective In Photography and Calligraphy
Where you are physically and emotionally when you see something may determine if you notice it or not.
Think about color. I send my photography and design students to colormatters.com and colorsystems.com. These sites look into the way we see. They give us the science, physics and even the emotional side of our reaction to color or the lack of color.
Saturation, transparency, opacity and stark black and white cause a reaction within us. Calligraphy is art that places a word squarely in another's brain. It is the dance of the pen. It can be much more.
Photography is an ongoing experience of light. Whether light is striking photochemistry or a photoelectric sensor, it is creating an image. We then manipulate that image to make a connection to a fraction of a moment.
Romantic, yes. Hard work, yes. FUN!
A photographer/calligrapher/communicator is caught between the stress of the conflicting Chinese proverbs:
A picture is worth a thousand words.
A word is worth a thousand pictures.
Silence, the negative space in any image, is the golden portion.
What can we leave out? How can we reduce the clutter? How can we bring it down to the essential thought?
When we do, our writing reveals our inner mind and our photography exposes our true identity.
As I read you, I hear you, and when I see your pictures, I understand. Tim (c)
www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Think about color. I send my photography and design students to colormatters.com and colorsystems.com. These sites look into the way we see. They give us the science, physics and even the emotional side of our reaction to color or the lack of color.
Saturation, transparency, opacity and stark black and white cause a reaction within us. Calligraphy is art that places a word squarely in another's brain. It is the dance of the pen. It can be much more.
Photography is an ongoing experience of light. Whether light is striking photochemistry or a photoelectric sensor, it is creating an image. We then manipulate that image to make a connection to a fraction of a moment.
Romantic, yes. Hard work, yes. FUN!
A photographer/calligrapher/communicator is caught between the stress of the conflicting Chinese proverbs:
A picture is worth a thousand words.
A word is worth a thousand pictures.
Silence, the negative space in any image, is the golden portion.
What can we leave out? How can we reduce the clutter? How can we bring it down to the essential thought?
When we do, our writing reveals our inner mind and our photography exposes our true identity.
As I read you, I hear you, and when I see your pictures, I understand. Tim (c)
www.timjohnsonphoto.com
When You Say It With Ink
Dear readers, writers and fellow noticers,
Putting things IN WRITING is so very rare. Putting things down in Higgins Eternal ink with a gram or two of Winsor Newton Lamp Black added onto 100% rag paper is extreme.
The act of writing with pigmented ink on archival paper is becoming so very rare. Working in the darkroom with paper and silver halides leaves a lasting image. Engraving into plates of copper or steel and making engravings leaves something of permanence.
But it all takes YOU to SEE the image, the mark and the WORD to make the CONNECTION.
You find the coin. You read the found letter. You are the photographer and the journal keeper. You are never bored or lack for something to do because your mind races past your body's ability to DO.
I am blessed to be able to make a 180 degree swing and physically move from the 21st century land of Photoshop and Quark and the internet to my writing board, quills, stick ink, gouaches and favorite writing tools. I am glad I learned about photography from a demanding master and learned languages before I learned lettering.
I am glad I have 60% of my eyesight and have survived cancer.
I am celebrating these precious years finding students who will receive the heritage of what I understand. They will also be given the calfskin, gold, tools, and chances to inherit the things I know. They can watch my hands and get in touch with my heart about art, photography, calligraphy, design, history and many other important things.
Come along. We'll see how the path leads and the things we discover along the way. There will be information, as much or as little as you want. Maybe you will find inspiration of inspire me. Perspiration may be a part of it as you work out the tasks to get what you are after. TAKE THE PICTURE! WRITE YOUR HEART OUT ON PAPER! SAY IT IN INK!
Let's do it. I promise some fun. It's here - IN WRITING. Tim (c) Tim Johnson
www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Putting things IN WRITING is so very rare. Putting things down in Higgins Eternal ink with a gram or two of Winsor Newton Lamp Black added onto 100% rag paper is extreme.
The act of writing with pigmented ink on archival paper is becoming so very rare. Working in the darkroom with paper and silver halides leaves a lasting image. Engraving into plates of copper or steel and making engravings leaves something of permanence.
But it all takes YOU to SEE the image, the mark and the WORD to make the CONNECTION.
You find the coin. You read the found letter. You are the photographer and the journal keeper. You are never bored or lack for something to do because your mind races past your body's ability to DO.
I am blessed to be able to make a 180 degree swing and physically move from the 21st century land of Photoshop and Quark and the internet to my writing board, quills, stick ink, gouaches and favorite writing tools. I am glad I learned about photography from a demanding master and learned languages before I learned lettering.
I am glad I have 60% of my eyesight and have survived cancer.
I am celebrating these precious years finding students who will receive the heritage of what I understand. They will also be given the calfskin, gold, tools, and chances to inherit the things I know. They can watch my hands and get in touch with my heart about art, photography, calligraphy, design, history and many other important things.
Come along. We'll see how the path leads and the things we discover along the way. There will be information, as much or as little as you want. Maybe you will find inspiration of inspire me. Perspiration may be a part of it as you work out the tasks to get what you are after. TAKE THE PICTURE! WRITE YOUR HEART OUT ON PAPER! SAY IT IN INK!
Let's do it. I promise some fun. It's here - IN WRITING. Tim (c) Tim Johnson
www.timjohnsonphoto.com
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