Three Objectives for Central America

Art Model, Covenant ©2015 Terrell Neasley, A7MkII

"I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship."

~ Louisa May Alcott

Some of what I'll be doing for all this time that I'll be spending down in Central America will obviously focus on taking fine art photos, portraiture, and street work. This is what I usually end up coming back with the most. But I'll also be doing a few other things while I'm away, as well. I'll have a lot of down time to catch up on reading and also doing some writing. But here are some other goals and objectives (among several) that I'll share with you right now.

Art Model, Covenant ©2015 Terrell Neasley

You always know I always strive to be a better photographer and teacher, so lets start there. If you didn't already suspect or know me, I shoot nudes. That's not all I shoot, but its a definitely a passion of mine. I want to begin there. I want to do a better job of it. Yes. Believe it or not, I have more to learn in that genre. Many of you will probably believe the greater fact is that I ADMIT to needing to learn more. I do not know, as of yet HOW I will approach this objective. I can do my own study and research, but I think I will learn best by consulting with some mentors like Dave Rudin or Dave Levingston. Should I take a class of some sort? Maybe do a workshop that has a direct focus on photographing the nude? Something I have thought of doing for years has been to visit Prague. I find that many photographic artists from just east of Germany and on into Russia have been inspirations to me. I find them to be more in tune with my style or of a such that I aspire to.

In addition to that, I need to make a more concerted effort to actually do more of something with my art nude work. I have terabytes of work that no one has really seen. You've probably only seen maybe a tenth of all the work I've done with Panda. Some of my best work with Emma was never made available for about 8 months before anyone saw it. Kristi C has been a most prolific model for me over the last year. Again, most of it unseen. So big, big focus towards exhibition and a consistent venue to show my art nude work will be a major focus upon my return. I'll likely come out of hiatus on photo competitions and do some of those again, but that's an aside. Exhibition will be a more primary focus when I get back. My work needs to be on walls. This is why I do it...nudes or otherwise. I make my stuff to be viewed in person upon a physical medium.

Art Model, Covenant ©2015 Terrell Neasley

"You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over."

~ Richard Branson

Let's see...what else? Oh yeah...again, photographically speaking, I want to do better teaching. I'm limiting myself to 10 students a year, doing one-on-one, two-week courses. I used to conduct workshops when I first came to Vegas with my Las Vegas Art Models Group. A max attendance would be 12 photogs. Now I teach one-on-one and I want to do it better. The goal is to make it more fun, better information, and less taxing on myself. I just did two students back to back this month. I don't know how teachers do it every day like that...ALL friggin' year!! My friend, Howard suggested doing tours where I take people on some of my travel excursions. I can see that. I've already been asking family and friends to come visit me for a few days while I'm away. Meet me in El Salvador or Lake Atitlan in Guatemala for a few days. We can do some photowalks or just chill with me sippin' Cuba Libres. I need more and better teaching props. Some concepts I have in my head simply don't exist! I need to find somebody to fabricate some of this stuff for me. I don't want to rely on videos to make my point. Hands on physical props would serve a better purpose. So yes, I want to contemplate how I will do this.

Art Model, Covenant ©2015 Terrell Neasley

Video! That's another one. I want to get as good with vids and I am with photowork. I have the A7s, which is excellent for video work. I'll need to get the Atomos Shogun external output monitor/harddrive to do 4K work, since you can't shoot 4K straight to the SD card. But for the time being, 1080p should suffice just nicely. Editing video will also be a key factor, which means I'll also need to bump my subscription to Adobe CC 2014 back to the full version. I downgraded it last Nov to just the Photoshop/Lightroom version. I'll need Adobe Premier Pro back again, in particular. I should also dust off my audio gear. I'll take with me a shotgun mic and maybe my Zoom H4n external audio recorder. My goal is to just make short clips, starting with time-lapse, some slow motion work, and then just build from there. So we'll see. 

Eleanor Annetta Callahan (1916-2012)

 "Eleanor"

I write about a lot of things on this blog. Sometimes I write about current situations I find myself in, or bits of interesting information that might prove relevant to my readers. In a nutshell, this blog is representative of inspiring and informative aspects related to photography and modeling and how it all impacts or relates to me. Well, I just found out yesterday from a Facebook posting by friend and fellow mentor, Dave Levingston that one of the transcendent art models has recently passed away... Eleanor Callahan.

“I never complained, whatever I was doing. If he said: ‘Come quick, Eleanor — there’s a good light,’ I was right there."

It can be difficult to understand who Eleanor Callahan was without talking about her husband of 63 years, Harry Callahan. And if you don't know Harry Callahan, the photographer, you mind will probably go to Clint Eastwood's character of the same name. Don't do that. Harry Callahan is one of the consummate Masters of Photography pioneers mentioned in the same breath as Edward Weston or Alfred Stieglitz. Harry passed away in 1999, but for much of his career he photographed what was around him. He was the opposite of Weston who explored the western United States. Callahan is better known for walking the streets of his hometown, but the majority of his inspiration came from shooting his wife, Eleanor. She posed for him anywhere and everywhere. In fact, she is best known as the Model Who Never Said No and she'll tell you just that. If Harry called for her on the spot, she came running shedding her clothes as she went.

It might be just a simple way the light was falling on something outside. She'd sit for him and then go back to doing whatever it was that she was doing. She was photographed while she slept, when she was pregnant, outdoors, indoors...it simply did not make a difference. I do not believe Edward Weston would have amounted to as big of an innovative photographer as he was without Charis Wilson. In the same way, I do not think Harry Callahan would have amounted to the influential photographer he became without Eleanor. She was a willing subject in hundreds of his images.

“He just liked to take the pictures of me,” she told an interviewer in 2008. “In every pose. Rain or shine. And whatever I was doing. If I was doing the dishes or if I was half asleep. And he knew that I never, never said no. I was always there for him. Because I knew that Harry would only do the right thing.”

"Harry Callahan: Eleanor and Barbara",
DVD

I mean... think about it for a second. Can you imagine of Eleanor was a mean-spirited or stifling wife who balked at the notion of being photographed nude? Harry would have found another subject, possibly but it would not have been the same. He would not have been able to call on another model at a moment's notice and thus miss much of the fleeting inspirational moments that could so quickly captivate his imagination. There would have been no since of intimate connection from such a familiar perspective that we tend to take for granted in his images. One of my favorite images of his is a shot of Eleanor lying on her side with her back to us while 3-year old daughter Barbara is silhouetted standing on the bedroom windowsill. You couldn't have that shot with a model you pay to come by every now and again. If Eleanor was not the person she was, Harry would have walked by that room, saw the scene, and walked off to his refrigerator to get a beer and brood in front of the TV. But because she allowed him to fully explore his photography, his creativity, and to experiment with various concepts, he was able to achieve the greatness that we know of today. Harry would photography different landscapes and double-expose it with an image of Eleanor. Some say its because he saw her in everything he looked at.

So as is were, I've been a fan of liberating wife/models like this since I started doing nudes. Harry shot her both clothed and unclothed. Some of his most noteworthy work is of Eleanor and Barbara in the park. Interestingly enough, both Eleanor and Charis Wilson, survived their husbands and both died at age 95. So that proves a theory I've been working on. Women who model for their husbands live longer! It was also quite the coincidence that only 15 minutes before I saw DaveL's post, I was reading about Eleanor in the book, "The Model Wife", by Arthur Ollman, which I will get into in another post. I also just ordered (while in the middle of this post, no less) "Eleanor", by Jullian Cox.

DaveL, Brooke, and Kat... Part Deux

Photographer Extraordinaire, Dave Levingston

Okay. You got me on this one. I promise I won't go this long without a post. That's about 3 weeks since my last musings and I don't really want that. So what I have planned are more model/artist interviews. Upcoming will be Q&A time for Selena Bree, Brooke and Kat, and local artist Joseph Watson. You're going to really love Joe's work. In fact, let me just give you a preview of some of it with this link.

BUT, Back to the point of fact:

"The Road Warriors"

Very interesting evening! I say interesting because I got to finally meet some of my favorite people, but nothing quite worked out as planned. When does it ever, though? Dave Levingston, Brooke Lynn, and Kat finally arrived to Vegas after almost 3 weeks on the road!! What didn't quite work out is some of the events they had planned when they got here. Yeah, Dave hit a dear back in Nebraska. That slowed things up a bit. The muffler ended up coming off. That slowed things up a bit more. Fortunately, he was able to get it fixed because Vegas is not the end destination for these guys. They've still got a long way to go and THEN they gotta head back. A mode of transportation in good working order facilitates that objective rather well. So needless to say, we didn't get to spend much time together, much less shoot! By the time things calmed down for them, my schedule picked up to where the last two days they were here, I was pretty much unavailable.

Until, that is...the Party!

So we finally meet! It was cool to get to see them all and I got introduced to another top notch model whose actually a local model. Any of you ever work with Jolene Hexx? Well, get on that. Jolene was supposed to shoot with DaveL Wednesday morning, but since the new priority became fixing the muffler issue, that got held up. Jolene being the super-duper trooper that she is, was totally understandable and sympathetic to their plight. She stopped by to visit for the party and the girl was the baddest thing walking on two legs in the entire hotel. I loved her dress. I'm saying stunning, as if to not use the word too loosely. You're literally left stunned at that initial glance. Everybody else was way more casual, but I'm glad Jolene didn't get the word on that.

Terrell, Brooke Lynne, Jolene Hexx, Kat, Dave Levingston

And getting to meet two other famous art models was quite a grand treat in itself. Kat and Brooke are some of the nicest people you'll meet. I can tell you from my personal experience, that they don't let their celebrity status go to their heads. These are really down to earth girls when you meet them and not intimidating in even the slightest sense. Modeling is in their blood though. I didn't bring my serious gear, but I do have a handy-dandy S-95. So even with this point and shoot, the mere fact that a lens is pointed in her general direction cause Kat to immediately focus in on the barrel of my camera and instinctively morph into, not anything that was overly dramatic, but in fact it was the most subtlest of gestures...an elbow to the table; a hand under the chin.  And a gaze that reminded you of a cold drink with a twist of lemon in it. *SNAP* ...and the moment was gone.

DaveL and Art Model, Jolene Hexx

Brooke was no different. Though more known for poses sans any articles of clothing, she sat comfortably, albeit, I dare say swaddled in the sweater she was wearing. This wasn't like any Wal-Mart sweater. It had no bearings of anything you get for Christmas from your Aunt Thelma who incorrectly flaunts herself as a  fashionista. No this was style. And when I say style...I'm dragging out the "Y" for added effect. The sweater seemed to be tailored for her except for in the sleeves, as was able to easily tuck in her hands. As I said, she was swaddled in this sweater. It was adorable. I should not have passed up the opportunity to tell her so, myself. Every woman appreciates a compliment on her wear. [My mistake.] With Brooke, there was no pose to assume. She was just already there. You can photograph this woman from any angle at any time, with clothes on or off and its like something that was just supposed to happen. All you have to do is just get the shot. Is it in focus? Chances are its a good shot.

Art Model, Kat

And the grandest moment... Dave. Mr. Modest Levingston, himself. The man was the perfect host. He could have easily sent one of the girls down to retrieve me, but he came down himself to get me from the lobby. He served me beer and pizza. Which reminds me, I need to ask him where it came from. It was damn good. We got to swap stories all night and regale the ladies of military adventures, which I am certain they enjoyed! I can see why Dave Rudin appreciates Dave Levingston so much. DaveL is the man. Simple as that. I've joked that I want to be like him when I grow up, but even in jest, I am every quite serious. The dude is road-tripping a thousand miles with the company to two of the hottest and most respected mods in the business. So I ask you... Have you done this recently? Would you like to? I rest my case.

Art Model, Brooke Lynne

I know Dave might think I have a propensity to embellish a bit. Okay, maybe. But ask me about any specific element of my tale and inquire as to its validity. I will affirm every word of it. My thing is that I want to make sure I let those whom I appreciate know this very fact. I applaud their life's work in a field that's relatively not well-understood and sometimes not well-received. I admire the commitment and dedication to a form of art that has been in existence since charcoal drawings were first done on cave walls. They do it with class and distinction. And you should honor their efforts too. Ovations...

DaveL, Brooke, and Kat

Photographer Dave Levingston with Art Model Brooke Lynne
Copyright Dave Levingston

Sometimes you gotta think hard about finding something to write about. I don't want to keep my fans, followers, and subscribers waiting too long between posts, so I need to put something out. With the exception of this past week, I hadn't shot much of anything, but it hasn't been slow by any means. I've just had to concentrate on my photography in areas other than shooting. Some good things have transpired and I've been blessed beyond my deservings. New ideas and concepts have launched me in additional paths that have required more time researching, studying, and getting consultation help. The car's been rolling fairly well and seems to have recovered from the August Colorado episodes, (thanks to Art!). I just got my desktop back after two weeks to functioning correctly. There's also been the continued challenges with the VA, which seems ongoing and never ending. I just got to see an MRI of my knee and as you go down layer by layer, the end of my femur starts to resemble a spork! I knew I had to shut down the hiking and running for a while a few months back and now I know why.

Art Model, Brooke Lynne,  Copyright Sanders McNew 

Art Model, Brooke Lynne,  Copyright Risen Phoenix

Had my first chiropractic visit this past week. Freaky! I didn't know what I was in store for, but the guy has me in a very relaxed state with my head in his hands, standing behind me. I thought he was just feeling my neck for irregularities, and SNAP-CRACKLE-POP was the sound that emanated from my head and resounded in my ears. I became immediately alarmed and it took some time for him to calm me back down so he could do the same thing the other way. I liked the electric therapy treatment for my lower back, but the neck-popping thing scared the hell out of me. Normally when you hear someone's neck pop like that in the movies, its over.

Art Model Kat, Copyright Jonathan Kane

Art Model Kat, Copyright Katherine Villari

So anyway, I (need to) wanna get back to shooting some nudes. I hadn't done that since July, so its high time somebody got naked. Dave Levingston [ website & blog ] should be here early October. I can't wait for that long, but it'll be my first time getting to meet the acclaimed photog, though we've emailed back and forth, commented on each other's blog, and even talked on the phone. The guy's a master at what he does, which is shooting nudes, and that earns my highest respect. And he's on a friggin' road trip with two models!!! Art Nude Models, Brook Lynne and Kat will be traveling with him and Vegas will be but one stop and I'm stoked that they are coming out this way. Kat is new to me, but when you check out her port, you'll want her to be new to you as well, and in your portfolio. This girl is not just a model, but she also shoots AND she's a writer! I will personally hold it against you if you haven't already clicked over on her link. If you want to be on my good side, you'll also check out [ Kat's website,  as well as this one]. Just saying...My good side is not a bad place to be.

And who doesn't already know the highly prolific model, Brook Lynne and seen [ Brooke's website ]? I might actually hold it against you if you HAVEN'T already seen her website, but might forgive you if you check it out now. That girl is just plain gorgeous, a dedicated artist, and a credit to her trade.

So you might want to see if you can book these highly-recommended models while they are in town. You won't get a shot like this too often, so take advantage now. Its gonna be cool to get to work with Big Papi, Dave Levingston! THIS is who I wanna be when I grow up. Either him, or the Dos Equis Guy. Its kind of a toss up...

Between Labor Day and Halloween

Summer is starting to draw to a close and before you know it, you're going to be surprised that Christmas is just around the corner. September and October usually blur past for me. The time between Labor Day and Halloween is often fast-forwarded before I realize I'm staring down the throat of November and the year's end. Often times, its at this point that I'm looking back over the year trying to figure out what I've done and evaluating my life for the year. Did I do what I set out to do? Am I further along now than this time last year? What's around the corner for me in the upcoming year? And finally, what am I doing for New Year's?

Model Melissa

So am I alone here or what? I'm guessing I'm not that unique in this regard. So here is my challenge to myself and I'd like to extend that same out to you. Instead of letting September and October blow by, let's slow it down a bit. Let's ask of ourselves all those November questions NOW and then actually answer them AND address them. If we haven't met our goals, why not and what can be done in these two months to meet them? I'm willing to bet that a lot can be done in these two months if we stop with the distractions and just get to work for a bit. And another trick I'll throw at you, how about getting Christmas shopping out of the way early? Like, NOW! Make the holidays easier for yourself. Get to work for the next 60 days with some measurable progress along with some early holiday prep. This way you coast into the season feeling better about entering the new year AND you feel better about yourself having accomplished what it was you set out to do in 2011.

Model Melissa

I mean, its just an idea. For myself, I know I could use a diversion and some better focus for my stress. August was kind of a ball-buster. Between my car issues (which seem to be better, by the way) and now computer issues... I'm going nuts. Most times my computer is working well, but as soon as I get really deep into something, it starts freezing up and I get a "display driver has stopped responding but has recovered" error message and its kicking my ass. I've updated chipset and display drivers, ran registry cleaners and virus scans, a system restore, and installed a new graphics card. I've checked the web and see many people in forums having the same issue, but no one solution seems to solve it. I'm really hoping I don't have to do a complete system dump and re-install windows. If anybody's got some solutions, I'm running an Intel Core 2 Quad processor on a 64-bit Windows 7 operating system, 8GBs of RAM, with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX250 graphics card pushing a 25" monitor that I've had for almost 9 months now. So any help would be appreciated.

But back to my point.. I'm just telling you how I plan to spend the next two months. I have a few things in play that I hope will take me where I want to go and get me what I need, but its going to take a little hustle, some studying, some prayer, and a lot of reading/researching. All focused on answering those aforementioned questions. My goal is to learn, learn, learn...make connections and figure some things out. You might need to try to inspire yourself to spark some motivation to get going. Whatever you gotta do, make it happen. I'm on a mission. I hope you can be with me on this.

On another note, I'll be having breakfast with good friend Dave Rudin in a few days and this time my Vegas-bud and fellow photog, Dave Proctor will be joining us. Next month, I finally get to meet, your fave and mine,  Dave Levingston! Everybody knows DaveL, so I'm excited about that. The dude's a legend in nude photo art. Enjoy these shots of Model Melissa! And be sure to check out her Blog, CLOTHING OPTIONAL!

Three Years and Counting

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Because Unbearable Lightness said...

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

"...all photographs are self-portraits." - Minor White

"Go ahead. Post that baby!" - Unbearable Lightness

I'm almost willing to guess that I am probably the only nude art photog posting images of himself. At least as far as guys are concerned I guess. You don't see a Dave Rudin or a Dave Levingston doing this, but there are several people on deviantART who only post images of themselves. Why am I doing it... because Unbearable Lightness said so. I made a joking remark in the comment section of my latest post about Kolob Reservoir and the Narrows which has resulted in this post. But to be honest, its not all on UL. I've been wanting to do a project with myself as the model for some time. I had planned it since I was in school and just never did. I've been an art model since 1998 and was regular at it for at least 6 years. Then it became a not so regular thing. I'd pose for friends needing a subject and then while in Grad school from oh-5 til 0h-7, I'd volunteer for a weekly gig at the Murray Art Guild in KY on Wednesday mornings. Most people are under the perception that modeling like this is easy work. Most of the models who worked with me also had the same imagination. They don't think like that anymore. Figure modeling for an art drawing class will let you know real quick if you have what it takes to do it. You get a pretty good idea right after the first 5 minutes into your pose.

I've loved being an art model. I've always found the roll as highly under appreciated, yet it has been such a necessity in art since the beginning of time. This is the primary reason I started the Las Vegas Art Models Group, although I admit I am still trying to get more of a balanced focus on Art Modeling and not so heavy on photography. I read and reviewed Sarah R. Phillips' book, "Modeling Life" and reviewed it in 3 parts on my blog: Part I, Part II, Part III (In fact the book is in arm's reach of me now.) I know its impractical, but I'd like to see more photographers taking a chance doing this. Experience on both ends of the lens gives so much insight and appreciation to an art model's perspective. I am certain it has served well in my success in working with models. Granted, I know that not every photog should be nude in front of the camera. I'm going to go out on a limb and say its probably easier for a female photographer to do it than for males. When you think of fine art nudes, a dude is not the first impression that comes to mind. In many cases, photogs who shoot nudes, don't do guys. I think in all, I've done about 5, some of which were part of a couple shoot. But I think you'd be surprised at yourself if you tried it. Besides, many of the greats have done self portraiture. Oh, by the way, feel free to click on the hyperlinks. Lots of good info there.


I'm still going to work on a self-portrait project, but for now, these none-project nudes will have to work. The first one is one of the few times I've posed with my model. I did this without a release from the model so while I have the print, I chose to blur her facial features prior to placement on the web. The next one is my first attempt at doing a self-project, but I didn't really like the results and didn't follow up on it, but I will. The third image is from the recent trip to the Narrows. That's a knee brace I am wearing. This is the one I was ordered to post by UL.

Three Things

Now this is an omission on my part. Somehow, I've not added the accomplished photographer Dave Levingston to my list of photogs and blogists (is that a word?). You have heard me speak on the incomparable Dave Rudin before, several times I might add, so it would stand to reason that I would also add in someone whom he lauds, Dave Levingston. I mentioned in post sometime in September that I got to have breakfast with Dave R and how he frequently referenced his friend Dave L. I have Dave Levingston in my AOL favorites folder and I visit his blog, Exposed for the Shadows, quite often. I just didn't realize that it wasn't on my own blog til just yesterday while revisiting Univers d'Artistes blog, who properly recognized this photo icon, while I missed it. When I started this blog I was constantly referencing Dave R, Dave L, Michael Barnes and Iris Dassault. So with this paragraph, let me give the man, nay, THE LEGEND, his proper dues and advise you now that he has been included on my blog list.

ALSO, let me extend a special appreciation to Peter J. Crowley for giving me some contact information on how I might obtain the DVD I was seeking aid to obtain, "Eloquent Nude: The Love and Legacy of Edward Weston and Charis Wilson". I have already made it know about my reasons for wanting this DVD so if need be check out the post with the same title done just a few weeks ago at most. If you have not heard of Peter J. Crowley, then this is also a good opportunity to reference his blog and website. I invite you to stop by pay him a visit and and send him a comment to two about how much you enjoyed his art. His contact info is readily available. Please note, he is and already has been on my blog list. His was one of the sites I added originally when I started this only a few months ago.

ALSO 2, you have read some of my posts about select photo books, specifically Kodak Galley mini books. I have been checking out some others as well, and I am about to start doing more of these and offering them for purchase in addition to my prints. "Elizabeth in Series" is a black and white studio session I did a few months back before I came to Vegas, you have already seen some of the work posted on this blog and on my website. In fact I just added several of them to a new gallery on my site TLNeasley.com. I initially had about 20 primary images that I used to affect some darkroom manipulations which I made prints for. However, I shot approximately 15 rolls of this young woman and have spent the better part of a month editing about 100 of those images. This will be the first set I start making full size books of. I will subsequently begin work on a Trisha series. So stay tuned...

A Morning with Dave Rudin

This was indeed a good weekend. I need to give my sincerest thanks to Dave Rudin for making it so. I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from Dave last Sunday informing me he would be in town and asked me to breakfast on Saturday. All week was a build-up to that morning. Don't get me wrong...I am not the sort to idolize celebrities and swoon over any experience to be close to them. I don't think Dave sees himself as a celeb, but he has been one of the photogs who's work and blog postings, (Figures of Grace) I have tracked on nearly a daily basis. I began to identify with his photographs originally because of his dedication to the use of film in a world that is increasingly becoming digital. Also, I can see my work developing closest into what his already is moreso than any other creative work I know. In fact, you can see some of his best work in the premier issue of the NEW MAGAZINE Carrie Leigh's Nude: The Art of Women, that has just been released in the newsstands. So pick up a copy and check it out.

So, as you can imagine, it was a high point in my photographic endeavors to receive such an invitation from someone of his credentials. We spent about 4 hours having breakfast and discussing photo. I tend to have to guard against overwhelming someone with photo-speak. This was not the case with Dave. He gave just as well as he got. Four hours passed as if it was one. I had a goal of wanting to listen more than speaking but Dave didn't let this turn into a monologue where he lectured like a mentor schooling a pupil. He was charming in his mannerisms. He was polite and treated me like a peer. He called again this evening just to wish me well and to expect return visits in the near future.

What did I take away from this experience? First, it was a dramatic outlet which I seldom get. I am not amongst a pool of photog fanatics here in Vegas. There is a big difference between the photography resources and communities in New York and that of Las Vegas. I got to talk photo and get advice from someone who knows the deal. Second, I gained a friend. Thirdly, I got an experience that I won't forget. I can tell you he speaks highly of his friend Dave Levingston. Dave L.'s name was referenced often when it came to advice Dave R. wanted to pass on that did not include his own personal experience or when he wanted to lend more creditablity to his own. I can imagine I'll tend to do the same using Dave R. as my source. I can most respect the fact that Dave took the time to get to know an up and coming photog and admirer and offer some help and inspiration. Anyone can send an email with advice. Dave showed up.