Sometime we just can’t help it.  We’re inspired by the kids we meet.  This guy was ok with being kinda furry; so was the little friend we found for him.

This shot is just one of a series we’ve been doing based on Quirky Kids.

Or maybe we should reconsider just who is quirky in these scenarios…we are, after all, cooking up the ideas all on our own!

We’ve just received the excellent news that our fabled “Meatball Boy” photo, which already garnered a Gold Addy for Photography in our local competition, has also earned a Silver in the Regional Addys. And in mighty fine company…check out the other locals that have gone on to do our city proud here.

We’re sending The Boy on to the National Addy award competition. Wish us luck for another installment of “Meatball Boy Brings Home the Bacon!”

Sometimes we do things for ourselves, and follow our bliss without a pretense of purpose. As any photographer who just loves to take pictures knows, there are times when you are filling hard drives with pixels, with no final purpose in mind. Please read on; this is a story about such photos, born out of a love of the medium, that are finally out in the world and on view at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio.

The Olentangy River at Henderson Road Bridge

The Olentangy River is at the end of the street  where I live in Columbus, Ohio.  After work and sometimes on weekends, I go canoeing and photograph the river. The 6 lane highway that runs alongside the river most of its in-city length makes it an “urban” paddle. Mostly, I document the river, its changes and how we as humans effect it. Sometimes I record and interpret its special beauty (I ignore the road sounds), but mostly I am drawn to its urbanity and am amazed how wildlife lives and gets along inside the green corridor it provides. Because it’s close to home, this has become an easy and pleasant pastime for me.

Things I find in the Olentangy River

Deer between State Route 315 and the Olentangy River

I use the river as a place to reflect and recompose. I often approach photographing the river with a totally different mind set than other work I do. Generally, I have no preconceived ideas or plans. I may hope to see some specific wildlife at certain times of the year, but mostly I try to “be here now.”

A beautiful fall evening on the Olentangy River

I have been filling binders with film and hard drives with pixels of the Olentangy River for 15+ years now.  Then, a call came for those photos to see the light of day…

COSI recently opened the exhibit “Water.”  It explores “where water occurs on Earth, how it’s used, and how we can become better stewards of our water planet.”  I am proud to play a small part in this wonderfully educational exhibit.

Graphic at COSI at the start of the Water Exhibit

Organizers and Sponsors of the Exhibit

This traveling exhibit was put together by the American Heritage Museum and space was intentionaly left for local artists to participate. When it arrived at it’s Columbus stop, the hosting museum,COSI, chose fellow photographer Mark Romesser’s and my river work to illustrate  the sidebar show “A Tale of Two Rivers.”

A Tale of Two Rivers Exhibit Description

Mark photographs the Darby Creek, a pristine nationally protected stream west of Columbus, Ohio. His beautiful, emotional images are of a river as if no human had ever set foot nearby. I wish all watersheds looked that good. Check out his blog

My photos are of the Olentangy River as it runs through urban Columbus. It’s not always pretty. The “Tale of Two Rivers” is a contrast of watersheds; both are very real, and compelling.

So while I’ve been following my bliss and photographing the river, I’ve accumulated quite a body of work. I do have a presentation I give to community groups, “10 Miles and 10 Years: A Brief Photographic History of a Short Section of the Olentangy River,” but the COSI exhibit is a first for these photos. They now have a job to do, and I hope it does it well.

Some of my photos at the Tale of Two Rivers, part of the Water Exhibit at COSI Columbus, Ohio

It’s good to get those pictures off the hard drives, out of the binders and onto a wall for the public to see. And I’m going to continue following my photographic bliss, regardless of any final intended purpose. As the noted theologian Joseph Campbell said, “Follow your bliss, and doors will open where you thought there were none.”

Meatball Boy brings home the bacon!

We were elated to be honored at the recent American Advertising Federation Addy awards in Columbus, Ohio. Only 27 Golds were awarded in 22 categories. Our Addy stood alone in the “Elements of Advertising/Photography” category.

Happy Valentine's Day

As we dip our toes into images that move, one big, bold thing remains the same…we seek the uniqueness in each of our subjects.

This gal impressed us during an audition we held in our studio.  Her energy, enthusiasm and clear desire for “Fashion Diva-ness” inspired us to design this shoot around her.

Our own transition from seeing in still images toward seeing in motion is beginning to take shape.  And we are thrilled by the opportunities.

Hope you enjoy our take on a bit of holiday cheer!

Here’s what our first ever video client had to say about working with us:

What a way to ring in the New Year…a new project…in new media…it’s motion alright!  Shot in a part day in our studio, edited on another day. See the description below for more info.

Carol Engler/ Originator, Empathic Education from George C. Anderson on Vimeo.

George C. Anderson and Julie Schirmer take their years of enthusiasm and experience creating memorable still photography and step into video production with their first client-sponsored project, shot in George’s studio with sound captured by Jay Alton. Helping Carol convey her passion for Empathic Education, George and Julie consulted on script-writing, studio set, lighting, wardrobe/hair/makeup and of course, on-camera direction, to portray Carol as the authentic person she is: professional, informed and approachable. In support of Carol’s message, George and Julie licensed music from stockmusic.net and also selected and sequenced stock images from Shutterstock. They offered creative direction working with freelance video editor Eric Ringquist to finalize their collective vision.

- by Jules

You never know when lightening will strike. Or opportunity. Thankfully, opportunity has struck me more than lightening.

So it really came as no surprise when, in February 2011, I was hi-jacked by my friend Ruth Milligan in the parking lot of our kids’ daycare center…

“Hey, Jules- got 30 seconds?” she called from her car window.

And the rest is…art and opportunity, collaboration and community all combined into what turned out to be an exciting little package.

You see, Ruth had just attended the TED conference in California and had witnessed an idea there. The artist JR, who received the 2011 TED prize, was looking to involve other communities in his concept. Ruth wanted to roll it out locally, and as co-chair of TEDx Columbus, she had a vision of how we could interpret this idea in our own town.

But she needed help. Through the car window I heard…”Would you be able to help me coordinate some photographers to put this thing together?”

“Yes!” I said, agreeing immediately. I knew Geo would join in wholeheartedly and that between the two of us, we’d be able to round up other willing photographers.

Geo and I made some phone calls to our friends in the Columbus ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers). Each person we contacted, who could fit us into their schedule, said “Yes.” They all participated with incredibly generous heart and spirit.

(L-R) asst. Jon Iddings, Stephen Webster, Julie Schirmer, Tom Dubanowich (front row), Ray LaVoie, George C. Anderson, Larry Hamill, asst. Stephen Newport (front row) and Mike Foley not pictured: assts. David Allison, Brian Cole

That’s how we found ourselves, 6 months after my parking lot conversation, on Saturday, September 17th at COSI shooting side by side with Tom Dubanowich, Mike Foley, Larry Hamill,Ray LaVoie and Steven Webster. Working within the guidelines of JR’s Inside Out project, each photographer provided their own white background, lighting and cameras. We photographed volunteers from the general public and also from the Harmony Project. All in all, almost 100 faces were captured that day in about 2 hours. The photographers edited their work after the shoot on site and selected their favorite images for inclusion in our group project.

Samples from Columbus Inside Out photo project

Later, Geo uploaded the photos to JR’s site and 3′x5′ prints were returned. The prints were then hung by Adam Brouillette of Wonderland in various sites within Franklinton, on the near west side of Columbus, an area of town which is being gentrified with a particular focus on the arts.  Other prints were installed for public viewing outside COSI.

© 2011 Adam Brouillette

© 2011 Adam Brouillette

© 2011 Adam Brouillette

© 2011 Adam Brouillette

Then, in culmination, our Inside Out effort was highlighted at TEDx Columbus on 11/11/11. Ruth’s wish had come to fruition and Geo was privileged to be invited on stage to help explain the project to the live audience.

On stage at TEDx Columbus

George explains Columbus' Inside Out project

It was very satisfying to organize and work alongside other photographers- as colleagues more than competitors.  You could just feel the synergy on the shoot. Both Geo and I were very proud to be part of this group. We had a wonderful, invigorating day with our fellow photographers and were thrilled to meet so many great Columbus citizens who, as subjects said “yes” and were willing to be part of this global art initiative.

We really are part of the greater whole, not just globally but also locally, within our own industry.

But you have to say “yes” first.

Thanks, Ruth, for asking!

Time to Say Good-Bye

Today turns over a new leaf. Much of the gear that fueled our business for many of the past years has been sold. It’s perfectly fine equipment and very serviceable. But it’s no longer of use to us, made obsolete by faster, sharper, cheaper and less fussy equipment.

Gone are the days when placing a Hasselblad on your tripod meant instant status. The images produced by the Zeiss glass and larger format did the trick back in the film era and early days of the digital revolution.  And while those cameras and lenses were beastly expensive to buy, they were workhorses that functioned perfectly with very rare exception. And when things would occasionally break, they were imminently repairable. And they didn’t need software upgrades every year or so.

Tens of thousands of dollars were poured into acquiring the pile of gear you see in the photo. We could count on the longevity and quality of the investment to come back to us without fail. Much of what you see here has been useful and been put to work for 15 years or more, in some cases. The gear held its value for years after its purchase.

It is, however, time to say good-bye. For my whole professional life, up to this point, I shot with Hasselblad gear. I had used Horseman 4×5 and Nikon, but my first choice tended to be the Hasselblad.  Now the only thing left in our studio emblazoned with that fabulous Hasselblad logo is a cinch-top lens bag…perfect, for carrying something other than a ‘Blad lens.

Today, there are many new pieces of gear we own. And what they are capable of doing is almost magical.

But when you put them on the tripod, they just don’t have that Ooh-Aah-Hasselblad wow factor!  No worries, it’s really always been about the image-wow-factor anyhow.  And the new tools we have just make that easier to create.