Monday, January 24, 2011

Need a few more Nocturnists . . .
                Image by former CofM student Roberto Renzetti

Looking for a few more people to round out the Night Photography Course I'm teaching over at College of Marin, Kentfield Campus. You'll need to hurry, tho' - deadline to register is THIS THURSDAY, January 27, 2011. Visit the College of Marin Web site for registration and more information. Class runs Fridays from February 4 - March 18. Locations include some of the most scenic spots in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Presidio and the Marin Headlands.

From The [not so] Daily Nocturne

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The Resurrection of Piglight Piglet

Well it's not the Ruins of Sutro Baths, below the Cliff House, but it's always a treat to return to the bay-side area of San Francisco's Presidio National Park - this time for a private instruction session, under the full moon on Jan 21, with a Nocturnist from central Florida. Later this week, I take my SF Photo Center "Introduction to Night Photography" class to the same hallowed ground.

In case you don't recognize it, the above image comes from another San Francisco NPy Workshop, where we introduced the newest member of "Team Nocturne" - Lighting Specialist, Level One, Piglight Piglet! Not only does he come with his own internal light system, but he has a lot to say.

From The [not so] Daily Nocturne
(And yeah, there's a reference above to the Butterfield Blues Band . . .)

Friday, January 14, 2011

Top-Secret Night Photography
These images - part of a top-secret group project. But, don't worry - all will be revealed after February 1, 2011 - part of the year-long 20th Anniversary celebration --  "TheNocturnes@20"
(From the desk of The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man)

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Begin the Beguine . . .

In the past year, as I developed "The History of Night Photography" - a standalone course (formerly part of The Nocturnes 3-night Workshops), I found my attention repeatedly drawn to the significance of those who came before us. I believe that we learn from the study of those early pioneers of NPy and the hurdles they had to overcome - we gain perspective, as well as technical, practical insight. As Michael Kenna has commented: "I think many creative people are compilations of influences, wedded to some aspect of their own uniqueness. Few work in a vacuum, as Isaac Newton alluded: 'If I have achieved anything, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants' - or words to that effect."
Here then, we begin to present some of the highlights of the presentation, split into four parts, covering 1850 to the present. We will be revealing more of these tidbits in the weeks to come. 
Daguerrotype by John Adams Whipple, 1852
From The [not so] Daily Nocturne

("When they begin the beguine / it brings back the sound / of music so tender")