Tag Archives: chicago photographer

Photo of the Day- “The Lineup”

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"The Lineup" - Tracey Capone Photography

Second only to my love of capturing old doors and windows is my love of photographing all that is vintage, whether it’s an old neon sign or a set of fun vintage cameras like those in today’s Photo of the Day, “The Lineup.”

I love the sense of nostalgia that these cameras evoke. I can’t tell you how many times, during the One of a Kind Show & Sale Chicago, where I had my Camera Love Series blocks hung, I heard, “I used to have a camera like that!” or, “my grandfather taught me how to take photos on that camera!” I know I myself seriously get my geek on when I see one of these old Vivtar cameras from the 80s:

“The Lineup” is a retro-inspired photograph of an old Kodak Duaflex, a Sawyer Nomad and an Ansco that my mother found in my grandmother’s basement. (I would love to know if my dad, the photography hobbyist, ever used that one as a kid)

I have about nine new vintage cameras that I’m slowly but surely making my way through photographing and posting, adding to the ever growing, “Camera Love Series.”

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

*tracey*

Photo of the Day- “The Wait”

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"The Wait" - Tracey Capone Photography

There has been so much death and destruction in the media that I’ve actually taken to avoiding it lately. (The media that is, I realize avoiding Death is about as easy as avoiding taxes) I know it’s a fact of life, and, having lost my father and three of my grandparents, I know that no one is immune to it. That aside, there are so many happy things to celebrate, both in the world, and in my own little microcosm, and the impending birth of the first born child for two of my very good friends is one of them. (After watching the Grammy’s the other night, Adele being back and more awesome than ever is another ;) )

Today’s Photo of the Day, “The Wait” is one of several from a recent maternity shoot I did for them. I loved how the sleeve of tattoos, with the fiercely protective dragon, made it more of a beautiful abstract than a simple photograph. I’m so honored that these photographs will be hanging up in their home as a remembrance of this wonderful time.

There were several others from the day which can be seen here on my Facebook page.

Enjoy!

*tracey*

Photo of the Day- “Just Jack”

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Long time followers may remember the new addition, Jack. He was but a wee little kitten the last time I posted a photo of him but he’s quickly growing out of that “kittenness” and in to the adult phase (at some point I’m hoping his behavior will catch up to his maturing physical features :) ) I don’t have kids of my own but Jack and Charlie make for some great practice… You think shooting a screaming, running, jumping, squirmy 2 year old is difficult? Try a rambunctious cat :)   I have a portrait session today and I am very much looking forward to a cooperative subject!

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Photo(s) of the Day- Have Your Camera at the Ready

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Tracey Capone Photography 2012

I get asked all the time whether I carry a camera with me everywhere and, for the most part, the answer to that question is yes. To take that one step further, when I have my camera with me, it’s always accessible and ready to go at a moments notice because I’ve found that some of the best shots are those which are not planned for and therefore least expected.

At the risk of having a “tourist” sign taped to my back, if I am on a trip, the camera rarely gets put away because you just never know what you’re going to happen upon. Whether it be street performers in Montemartre (above) or this squirrel deciding to hang upside down in St. James Park in London while eating his lunch, the possibilities are endless while traveling.

Are you new to the world of photography? In past posts I’ve talked about taking your camera out and practicing as much as possible (remember, it’s playing with light, you can’t break anything) and the same holds here. Practice grabbing your camera and shooting a “spontaneous scene.” So it might end up being a picture of your dog yawning, and sure it might look a bit odd whipping your camera out at a moments notice when your neighbor goes out to get the paper…no big deal. The point is getting the practice in with the camera for those times when you don’t want to miss the shot simply because you don’t understand your camera as much as you should.

You never know where you’re going to find a perfect subject, this leaf, with a single ray of sunlight peeking through the trees and hitting it perfectly, was only about a mile from my apartment. Some of my regular readers might also remember my post with the lounging chipmunk. How often do you come across a chipmunk sleeping in a tree?  It’s about keeping your eyes peeled and your camera at the ready.

Enjoy!

*tracey*

Photo of the Day- “Waiting”…. Taking the Camera, and Life, Off Automatic and Throwing it in Manual

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"Waiting" - Tracey Capone Photography

When asked what my one piece of advice for new SLR photographers is, I always say the same thing. Take the camera off it’s automatic settings, put it in Manual and play around. You’re only playing with light… you can’t break anything. To me, it’s the best way to learn the camera, learn how to manipulate the light, basically learn photography overall.

I have the same piece of advice when asked how to get the best photographs when traveling. Sure, I pull together an agenda of places I know I want to see ahead of time. I do it because, typically, I’m seeing multiple cities or countries in one trip and want to make certain I can get key places in. That said though, my best piece of advice when traveling is, take at least one day where you put away the map, put away the agenda and just take a walk.

I have come across some of my favorite pictures simply by getting out and walking without a plan, without an agenda, without a map. (or, have a map and don’t be afraid to get a little lost ;) ) A former photo of the day, “Bicyclette” would be one of them. Another, today’s Photo of the Day, “Waiting,” is this photograph I shot of a beautiful Cocker Spaniel outside of a dry cleaners in Paris, just down the road from the Orsay.

I loved how he was just sitting at the door, patiently waiting for his mom or dad to come out of the shop. He didn’t bark, he didn’t whine, he just watched people walk by and, thankfully, took a few minutes to pose for the paparazzi.

Had I not been walking without a purpose, had I been sticking to my agenda, I never would have come across him and ended up with another one of my favorite shots from my last trip to Paris. In April, I head off to take a road trip from Northern England through Scotland and Ireland. Sure, I’ll have a basic plan, knowing I need to be in Shannon by a certain day to make my flight back to Chicago but I cannot wait to take a few trips off the beaten path just to see what I come across.

Sometimes, you just have to take life off automatic, throw it in manual and just see what happens.

Enjoy!

*tracey*

Photo of the Day- An Exercise in Minimalism- “Spruced Up”

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"Spruced Up" - Tracey Capone Photography

I’ve been spending the last few days working on reorganizing my studio/office. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for quite some time and, now that I no longer have to share space with stuff from the old job, I have the opportunity to really make the space in to something both functional and inspiring.

That said, while I wouldn’t call myself a pack rat, I am notorious for saving things here and there; bits and pieces, if you will, that I think I am going to need at some point. A broken lens that I swear I am going to have fixed; a multitude of books that I am certain I am going to re-read even though, in many cases, I wasn’t even that thrilled with the book the first time and, nevermind I have the Kindle; multiple blank notebooks because I never seem to have gotten over my love of school supplies and I’m constantly buying blank notebooks whenever I’m at Target.

You know what’s a fantastic cure for that? Watching Hoarders. Seriously, five minutes of that show and I’m in the studio, black garbage bags at the ready, sorting through what gets donated, what gets pitched and what stays. I’m not one for “knick knacks” (although the Al Capone bobblehead will forever be a part of my space), and, ultimately, the space isn’t at all messy, it’s actually rather tidy. It’s just not as organized as it could be and, in the end, I want my space to be as efficient and effective as possible while still inspiring me to create.

I thought I would make today’s Photo of the Day one that truly represents the minimalist spirit. “Spruced Up” was taken during the tour along Route 66. I don’t know what struck me the most when I took this: the fun, retro colors of the sign or the fact that this very simple, rectangular sign was surrounded by an expanse of afternoon sky. It’s not an ornate photograph; it didn’t take much of anything in the way of technique, but I think that simplicity is what I love most about it. It’s beauty is in it’s lack of complexity.

Once the Great Organization Project of 2012 is complete, I will be sure to do a post about the studio space and provide some great resources for getting organized no matter how big or small the space is. If you have a project of your own going, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor and please feel free to share some of your own organization tips and resources in comments!

Enjoy!

*tracey*

Ramen Noodles and PB&J

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I admit, I am not totally certain where that quote is from and who said it but, the second I read it, I identified with it. That is especially true after the last four days at the One of a Kind Show and Sale Chicago. To say I had the most amazing, most cathartic, experience is putting it mildly. Sure, some might think that’s a wee bit dramatic but I promise you, it isn’t an exaggeration.

As most of you know, this was my first show ever. One might say that picking the OOAK Show as your very first show is mildly insane and one might be right. To say I was stressed beyond belief in the weeks leading up to it and just about all four days… not an exaggeration. Sales aside, which were wonderful, phenomenal, outstanding… what I walked away from the show with is a renewed sense of what I want to do, who I want to be and what I need to do.

I got to hear, first hand, people’s responses to my work. I got to see their faces when they looked at the pieces on the wall and see just how it affected them. This isn’t something I can see selling online or even at my Galleria space. I had a woman come up to me and tell me that my work makes her happy, it makes her smile and I can’t begin to explain the impact that had on me.

I have worked for the same company since I was 23. Fifteen years, in various roles, a steady and very good income, health benefits, you name it. The trade off? The kind of stress that knocks you for a loop and makes you want to curl up under the covers and shut out the world. What sort of life is it if everything you enjoy: family, friends, the holidays and, in my case, my craft, is negatively affected? No amount of money or security makes up for that. So, today I gave my notice and December 30th will be my last day with the security blanket that I have carried around for 15 years. Sure, there may be times when I have to eat Ramen noodles and PB&J for breakfast, lunch and dinner (ok that was an exaggeration… thankfully I was given the ability to cook and cook well so I think I can forgo the Ramen noodles… I will never forgo the PB&J though… yum)

The OOAK Show was the air I needed to realize that the job may have been providing income but, ultimately, it was holding me back. I never pushed myself 100% because I knew I had the steady paycheck to fall back on. Over the last four days, I stepped away, stepped outside, breathed deeply and realized, this is who I want to be, this is what I want to do. January 1st will not just be the beginning of the new year, it will be the beginning of a new life for me. One where I am on my own and don’t have the safety net to fall back on.

I’m scared, I’m nervous, I’m excited, I’m happy, I’m relieved, I’m hopeful, I’m energized. I am 38. It took me about 35 years to finally figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up and it took me four days at the OOAK Show to finally decide to pursue it full force.

My point in sharing all this is, sometimes you have to find that one thing that forces you to get up from your desk, step outside, take in a breath of air and decide who you are and what you want to be. If it means taking a new path, it’s never too late to go for it.

*tracey*