Stud Services

I saw this while in Western Pa last weekend. It was in one of those Penny Saver type newspapers. I'm not sure if anyone else finds it funny, but I've been laughing about it every day since.

Thanks Harry

To say that Harry Kalas was the most beloved sports figure in Philadelphia isn't a stretch. I'm not sure how well recognized Harry is on a national level, but in this city he's huge and for all the right reasons. Even if you don't listen to Phillies games, you've heard him in commercials or NFL films. Ballplayers come and go but the best broadcasters are there forever. Every once in a while you get one like Vin Scully, Harry Caray and Harry Kalas. Every time you watch a game or listen to it on the radio, it's the same guy and there's a comfort in that. You get to know them after 38 years...at least you think you do and Harry got that. I saw Harry a couple times while working and he greeted everyone like someone he knew. That's why I've always liked this picture of Harry smiling for my camera. The guy was very comfortable knowing that this city loved him so much.

I was pretty set on seeing the Phils get their World Series Rings last week.
The ceremony/game was long sold out but I managed to get a ticket and went and took pictures from the stands. Harry threw out the first pitch to a standing ovation. It was the final game of the opening homestand and the last time the home fans would see and honor Harry.

Josh Ritter at The Sellersville Theater

My wife and I go to a lot of shows. We always have. Part of it is that we don't have any kids, part of it is that we live in a big city and we have access and part of it is just a love of music and being around people that feel the same way. The enthusiasm from the crowd is almost always there. When we see the old heads like Neil Young or Tom Petty, the fan enthusiasm is there. When we see the Fratellis or The Hold Steady, it's there. And while you could always count on the crowd, sometimes the artist lacks a certain spark,,, like they're on night 300 of a 300 night tour. And then there are nights when you see someone like Josh Ritter. This is the second time we've seen him and his band live and both times we've walked away with a warmer heart and an extra kick in our step. He brings a joy and energy to his performance that I really can't compare to any artist we've seen. Maybe I've seen the the joy with B.B. King and I've certainly seen the energy with the Boss, but there is a approachability and freshness to Josh and his music that is so contagious.

We've been looking for the right show to see at The Sellersville Theater for a while now. It's a bit of a drive from Philly, but worth the effort. I'm not familiar with the history of the Theater, but it's well preserved and with 21 rows of 14, it's very intimate. I called about the Josh Ritter tickets a couple weeks after they went on sale. The woman on the phone told me that the 'Member Tickets' that were still available would be released to the public at the end of the week. When I called back at the end of the week, we ended up with seats in the front row. We were happy to have them even though we felt almost uncomfortably close to the stage. The stage lights spilled onto us for most of the show and we had no table in front of us so we set our beers on the edge of the stage.

I am a photographer by trade and as I've mentioned in previous posts, I do my best with the point and shoot camera when I don't want to take the bulky good gear to a concert. Here is a link to the shots from the evening. While several are a little soft in focus, I think they capture the mood and spirit of the performance and the venue. I also took two video clips. The first highlights that energy and joy that I'm talking about. The second shows more the intimacy of the performer in a venue like this. At the end of the show, the band exited and Josh brought out his opener, Mark Ereli and they shuffled to the edge of the stage to perform unamplified. Kristen and I were quick to move our empty beer cups as they stood directly above us. Trying not to be too inappropriate, I took a video clip of them next to us. I've done a lot of these, but I'm particularly proud of this one since I just turned the camera on, set it on my lap and pointed it upward toward Josh and Mark. It's an unconventional perspective, but my aim was pretty good.

If you don't know the music, check it out if you can. We're big fans. Especially my wife, who would probably run off to Idaho and raise potatoes with Josh if he asked her. She just told me last night that she'd just become friends with Josh on Facebook, so who knows.

Birthday Push-Ups

Birthday Push-Ups from Jim Harris Images on Vimeo.

Just wanted to wish my Dad a Happy 62nd Birthday. I've been meaning to post a couple things here and this is a good opportunity. Every year on his birthday my Dad does 100 push-ups to mark the occasion. I don't know when the last time any of you have tried to 100 push-ups, but I remember the last time I tried to see how many I could do. It was a bet between a buddy and me about 15 years ago and I don't think either of us got to 100.

Last year when we were on vacation in Florida I took a movie clip of my Dad doing 100. He makes it look pretty easy. So check out the clip, I figure if we're not going to do the push-ups, you could at least take two minutes and watch someone else do 'em.

I'm also posting two pictures taken in the last year while with my Dad. I don't shoot as much fun stuff as I used to, but when I do I'm always grateful to have taken the time and effort. You'll usually see me with the point and shoot, but the really great shots happen when I take out the good stuff. The serious gear. Which usually means more weight and responsibility to keep an eye on it. But as mentioned, it always means better pictures.

The shot of the dogs in the doorway happened when my Dad and I were pulling out of the driveway. He rushed back into the house for his camera. I did the same and got some great results.

The shot of the coal miner statue is from our hometown. My Dad and I went to an area coal festival this past summer and drove around a while trying to find this statue which is a tribute to the Anthracite Coal Miners of Northeastern PA. It's always good to remember where you come from!

Roxborough Inauguration Ball 2009

We gathered last Tuesday at Rob and Joanie's place for our own Inauguration Ball...Roxborough Style. Kristen squeezed into an old bridesmaids dress and I got to dress up for something other than a working wedding. Ann Marie stole the show with her 3 dollar Good Will gown. We had Obama chili and sweet potato pie with champagne. Anne Marie and Joanie did a lot of work for this election canvassing neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia so it was time to celebrate. Now I guess its time to fix what is broke..and there's a whole lot of broke out there.

Eagles on Ice

Thanks for your text messages of condolence. I was indeed crying myself a river while most of you were enjoying another trip to the Super Bowl. After several years of the same program I have the experience to know that the sun does indeed rise again in Philadelphia. A lot of talk this past week about team legacy and Mcnabb and Reid. It's unfortunate that this team will be remembered for their epic losses when it really mattered. This was actually a pretty cool season that had surprising longevity. Last nights game was the whole eagles season in one game. Bad start, comeback, lead and coming up short and giving it away. Incosistency. In some ways I don't see why this same team can't come back and jockey themselves into position to contend again next year. Truth is a young Defense let this one slip away and that D should only get better. That's about all the optimisim I have in me right now. I'm not calling for Reid or Mcnabb's head on a platter, though if the team decided to go in a new direction, I wouldn't be surprised or terribly dissapointed. File it under, been there- done that. They will have a hard off-season. The microscope just got bigger. I'm tired of reading the same story and watching the same big game. It's a different football tradition in this town when compared to Pittsburgh. Even if Pittsburgh loses yesterday or in two weeks, it's another successful season and you have the tradition that allows the fans continued hope and joy for next season regardless. Not the same here, not when you've lost 5 huge games in 8 years. It is what it is. The phillies took the curse off the cities shoulders, so it's gotta be the team itself that needs some maintenance.

Anyway, I'll stop feeling sorry for myself by the Super Bowl. I'll be here watching the Boss at halftime and serving up platters of sour grapes for friends and family. It's gonna be a cold cold week in Philadelphia. Good luck good people of Pittsburgh and enjoy your two week party, I wish we could have made it a state-wide bash. I'm going to go watch my Phillies DVDs now. Pitchers and catchers report in 25 days and 21 hours.

New Years with Seneca and Ryder

We spent New Years in State College with Kristen's Cousin and his wife, Jeff and Lisa. I shot their wedding this past summer and we've been to the Happy Valley a number of times over the past couple years to visit. We like hanging out with these guys, but I think it's also good for our soul to get out of Philly and lose the attitude for a couple of days. It's just a different pace that reminds me of all those years I lived in Indiana, PA.

Also visiting were Jeff and Lisa's friends, Rich and Lynn. They have 5 year old twins known as Ryder and Seneca. Jeff and Lisa have been big fans of these kids since the day they were born. We'd heard plenty of stories, but it was pretty cool to hang out with these two for a couple days.

I like kids, I like photographing kids. Kids generally like me, and kids always like getting their picture taken.
(except wedding portraits) The joke of the weekend was something that Seneca said to her parents the first night. She said, "Jim is crazy, he likes to do what we do, except he's not a kid". Funny stuff. These two were seriously fun though. I kept waiting for their perfect disposition to flutter, but it never did. They are just really good kids who seem to like being really good kids. Ryder is the ladies man. He used to be best buds with Jeff, but now he's moved onto Lisa. Seneca just rolls her eyes as Ryder talks about the beautiful ladies.

It was a pretty simple New Years, Happy-Valley-Style. We went down to College Ave to check out the ice sculptures, reindeer and ice ramp. It was seriously about 5 degrees so our tour was brisk. The rest of the time was games, hot chocolate, football and cards.

New years day the guys took a hike with the dogs. I love these shots of Ryder running through the woods. I grew up in the country before moving to the mean streets of Wilkes-Barre. I used to spend entire days out in the woods with my dog. The light, long shadows, leading lines and a little mystery... My favorite shots of the weekend and exactly the kinds of images I like to make from time to time.