Ft. Massac Encampment

The weather was beautiful this weekend in southern Illinois.  Those who planned the 45th annual Ft. Massac Encampment couldn't have picked a better time.

The Encampment is a weekend-long event in which reenactors become authentically uniformed troops, craftsmen, Native Americans, and others from the French, British and American colonial periods.  They proudly interpret history for the tens of thousands of visitors who come to Illinois' first state park to eat authentic colonial food, hear the music of the time, view a battle reenactment, and learn about our American history.  It also gave me the opportunity to photograph some of those who participated in the Encampment.

This gentleman appeared as if he might have stepped out of the 18th century. Reenactors take their parts seriously and do their best to become authentic representations of  those from another time.  (You can click on images in this blog for a closer view.  Hit the ESC key on a PC to return to a normal view.)

This reenactor wears a gorget under this neck.  Gorgets were originally worn with armor to protect the area around the neck.  However, by the 17th and 18th centuries, they had become largely a decorative accessory to show status.

This lady was part of a group of played music from the colonial period.  Multiple musical groups played authentic music.

 A trapper and a Native American in a deep discussion.

Throughout this country (and in other countries) reenactment offer interpretations of  different periods in history.  Whether participating or viewing, it's a great family activity and offers plenty of opportunities for photography.  Do a search for reenactments in your area, and you might be surprised at what you will find.

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You can view my fine art photography website at:  www.tombellart.com.

This blog has been named one of the top 75 fine art photography blogs on the planet.

More from the Ice Storm

Yesterday, I presented some images from the local ice storm.  Here are a couple of more:

My mailbox.  You can click on images for a larger view.

Limbs from a tree in my front yard.

Images of ice always seem to work well in B&W.

You can see my fine art photography website at:  www.tombellart.com.

The Old Nashville House in the Snow

If you've been following my blog, you know that I've found an old abandoned farmhouse near Nashville, Illinois that cries out to be photographed.  It appears in my blog every few months. Every time I'm in the area, I take a small detour to see how it has changed since the last visit.  Since I'd never photographed it in the snow, my visit this last weekend offered a totally different view.  The snowfall was very light, just a cover, and already melting.  But it was enough to give me a new perspective on a very old building.

This old house deserves to be seen in every season, including winter. You can click on the image for a larger view.  You can see my original post with photographs of this building from August of 2015 by clicking here.

You can see my fine art website at:  www.tombellart.com.

The Detour to Fine Art Photography Revisited

About 11 months ago, in this blog I presented some photographs I took of an old house near Nashville, Illinois.  I discovered the old house when I took a detour due to major delays on the Interstate.  Yesterday, after dropping  my wife at the airport in St. Louis, I revisited the site of the detour, as it was only about a mile out of my way.  It had been raining heavily for most of my trip back into Illinois until I got close to Nashville.  There were dramatic clouds back to the west, but the rain was holding off.  I was richly rewarded by views of the same old house, this time surrounded by golden cut straw or wheat rather then corn.

You can click on images for a larger view.

You can see the photographs of this old house from last year here.

You can view my photography website at:  www.tombellart.com.

My Photography Year in Review - 2015

Every year brings new opportunities for photography.

2015 was no exception.

This year I added both quality and quantity to my fine art photography portfolio.  I also totally redesigned my fine art photography website:  www.tombellart.com.

I totally redesigned my website late in 2015.  Take a look if you get a chance:  www.tombellart.com.

My other big announcement is that effective January 1, 2016, I'm retiring from my long-time position as a college administrator and educator to devote full time to photography.  I'll have more time for international travel and to take on the projects that really interest me.

_ _ _

A SHORT YEAR IN REVIEW

 In January of 2015, I traveled to Guatemala again with my family.  It was a great opportunity for street photography and capturing images of people being comfortable in their own environments.

Pepsi Man.  This Mayan Indian man was enjoying a soda in the busy market of Santiago Atitlan.  This may be my favorite image of the year.  You can click on images for a larger view.

Here's the same gentleman in color.

I believe that these men were father and son.  Again, from the market of Santiago Atitlan.

These shrimp in the marketplace looked appetizing.

Now, jumping to Illinois, I found these images of an old farmstead when I took a detour around a delay on the Interstate:

The old farmhouse is just west of Nashville, Illinois.

I also liked the wide shot with the barn in back.

An old out building also stood out among the rows of corn.

Take a look at older posts from my blog and you'll see these and many other photographs that helped inspire a creative 2015.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Continuation of the Detour

Last week, I posted a couple of fine art images I shot when taking a detour because of major traffic delays on the Interstate.  Below is another image from the same shoot.

Take a look at last week's blog entry for the other images from this shoot.

You can view by website at:  www.tombellart.com

Detour to Fine Art Photography

The other day, as I neared the intersection of Illinois Route 127 and Interstate 64 at Nashville, Illinois, a sign warned of major delays on the Interstate going toward St. Louis.  I decided to take the back-roads.

Only about a mile into the alternate route, I noticed a fine art photograph waiting to be made.  I did a mental note to return when the light was better and I had more time.  I'm glad I took the detour.
It was nothing more than an old farmhouse, a barn and outbuildings in the middle of a cornfield.

Click on the photograph for a larger image.

 

I'm glad a detour away from the Interstate allowed me to capture these images.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Searching for Silver with the iPhone

Many will say that you don't need an expensive SLR anymore since everyone now has an iPhone or some other smartphone with a high resolution camera.  I totally disagree, as will most very serious photographers.  However, the iPhone is a great backup for the serious photographer.

I was with my son on the campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign to get him registered for classes when I noticed a bed of hostas.  I realized I could get some beautiful silver tones in a black and white print.  I hadn't brought my primary camera since I wasn't on a photographic mission.  But the iPhone certainly served the purpose.  Here's the photo to prove that its always a good thing to carry a camera, even when its your your phone.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Black & White Spider Awards Results

The Black and White Spider Awards were held this last weekend.  They're the most important international awards honoring excellence in black and white photography. The live event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.  I was pleased to discover that my image Arch of Santa Catalina won one of six honorable mention awards in the non-professional category of Architecture.

The Arch of Santa Catalina is in Antigua, Guatemala

The live online ceremony webcast Saturday, October 19, 2013 was attended by photography fans in 75 countries who logged on to see the climax of the industry's most important event for black and white photography.

The awards international Jury included captains of the industry from the Tate in London, Heffel Fine Art, FoMu Fotomuseum, FTM Advisory, Camera Work, Art Stage Singapore, Aeroplastics Contemporary, Galerie Baudoin Lebon in Paris, to Fratelli Alinari in Florence who honored Spider Fellows with 246 coveted title awards and 938 nominees in 14 categories.

Congratulations to all the winners.  They can be found at www.thespiderawards.com/gala8th/

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

A Great Venue for an Art Exhibition

You can see an exhibition of my photographic paintings in the Luna Gallery of the Yellow Moon Cafe in Cobden, Illinois, through June 2.  The opening reception is Saturday, May 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Great Blue Herron (20X40) on exhibit at the Yellow Moon Cafe.

Some friends, my family, and I were at the restaurant this Friday to celebrate my wife becoming an American citizen.  We would have been there whether or not my art work was hanging on the walls, because the food is fantastic.

My wife, Maria (second from right) became a U.S. citizen on April 19.  I'm on the far right. My son and daughter (the younger ones around the table) and very good friends, Terry, Alejandro and Pam (left to right), helped us celebrate the occasion.  My artwork is in the background.  We're at the Yellow Moon Cafe in Cobden, Illinois. 

It's a gourmet resturant that doesn't try to be pretentious.  The nearby (two or three doors down) anthill gallery curates the exhibitions at the Yellow Moon Cafe.  If you're anywhere in the area (very rural southern Illinois, yet on the very touristic Wine Trail), you should make an effort to drop by.  You'll be impressed by the reasonably priced gourmet fare; you can enjoy a visit to the anthill gallery or nearby vineyards; you can also relax and have a good time.

Some reasons to visit and see my artwork at the gallery:  you love really fine food; you love great artwork (you can visit to see my artwork without being a customer of the cafe); you were a student at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and want to revisit the area; you're a bit bohemian; you love wine and vineyards; you have exceptionally good taste and can combine one or more of the reasons  above.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Luna Gallery Exhibition in April

I'm now represented by the anthill gallery in Cobden, Illinois.  It's a charming art gallery in the heart of Southern Illinois' wine trail, and the owners, Bob and Linda, also curate the Luna Gallery at the nearby Yellow Moon Cafe.

The Luna Gallery is the location of my next exhibition, beginning in April.  At the same time, an exhibition for another award-winning local artist, Paulette Aronson, will be held at the anthill gallery.  You're invited to the joint reception at the anthill gallery on Saturday, May 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Pomona General Store.  One of my paintings that will be exhibited in the Luna Gallery in April.
Pigmented ink on canvas.  18X24 inches.  Framed.

You'll see some of my newest photo paintings in the exhibition, most with a Southern Illinois theme.  Luna Gallery hours in the Yellow Moon Cafe are Wednesday through Friday 10 to 2p.m.; reopening Friday 6 to close; Saturday 10 to close.  The Yellow Moon Cafe is located at 110 N. Front Street, Cobden, Illinois.   Luna Gallery hours in the Yellow Moon Cafe are Wednesday through Friday 10 to 2p.m.; reopening Friday 6 to close; Saturday 10 to close.  The anthill gallery is just a few doors down at 102 North Front Street. Gallery hours are Sunday and Wednesday, noon to 4 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, noon to 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

The Fair is Good for Fine Art Photos

State and local fairs are going on around the country this time of year.  The local DuQuoin State Fair starts this weekend.

Fairs are a great place for a photographer.  If you like the fast and furious nature of the rides and roller coasters or the depth of people photography, there's bound to be something there at which you can point a lens.

Here are a couple of photos from my last trip to the fair.  They stayed on my hard drive unprocessed until I was looking through my files recently.

The little guy who takes your quarters is always an excellent subject for a portrait.

People and their fascination with the weird and wacky are great subjects.

If you get to the Fair, bring your camera and see if you can find a shot worthy of fine art.  I bet you can.

You can see my website at:  www.tombellart.com

WPGA Pollux Awards Announced

I was pleased to learn that my portfolio of Guatemala portraits won first place in the non-professional division of the Worldwide Photographic Gala Awards/Pollux Awards.

There were 18,912 entries from 65 countries.  Congratulations to all of the winners and honorable mentions.

The winners announcement can be seen at:  http://www.thegalaawards.net/announcements/2010-pollux-awards-awardees

You can view my website at:  http://www.tombellart.com/.

The Price of Gas: A New Conspiracy Theory (with Photographic Proof)!

An ordinary day, what appears to be the usual commute to the office:  Who would think I would uncover the greatest dastardly scheme to befall the innocent American consumer!

I leave home for work, then four minutes later as I’m going by the local convenience store, I have an irresistible urge to use the bathroom -- unusual to say the least.  I rush in only to find a line of people at the restroom doors  -- again, unusual at just after 7:00 in the morning.  Some of them are jumping up and down and muttering lines such as,  “Hurry up, I’ve really got to pee.” 

“Wow,” I say to myself, as the line grows behind me,  “who would think there’s such a line for the bathroom.”

Finally, I use the facilities, then like everyone else who had been in line, I leave with some snacks and a drink.  I’m already stopped, so I fill the car up with gas before getting back on the road.  At this particular place, unleaded is going for $3.39 a gallon, six cents cheaper than some of the stations only a couple of miles away.

I pull back onto the road, then, glancing through the rear view mirror, the answer to the bathroom queue is revealed to me on the electronic billboard announcing the price of gas.  It’s a conspiracy to make people pee!  I know, I know, you think I’m some kind of ranting loon like Mel Gibson in the Conspiracy Theory movie; actually, you think I make him look sane. But it’s true and the proof is reflected in my car’s rear view mirror.  I’m on to them and they can’t stop me from telling the truth.  As I’ve told you before in by blog, always carry a camera.  Who would think it could prove the greatest mad plot of the twenty-first century?



This is proof that you should always carry a camera. 
 A conspiracy is revealed in the photograph

“Oh, just a coincidence,” you say.  A mirror image of the word "pee" on the gas price sign -- just a coincidence?  I think not!  If the price had been $3.45 instead of the ever-so-clever $3.39, the hoards wouldn’t have been stopping to empty their bladders.  They also wouldn’t have been leaving the store with sodas, coffee, beef jerky, and pricey reflective stickers of Justin Bieber.

Now, we must ask just how widespread is this conspiracy.  Are there hundreds, even thousands of convenience stores with the secret to the billboard that will subliminally force us to pee, then buy all sorts of unneeded food and trinkets as we leave the store?

I demand an investigation.  Who is behind this sinister manipulation and what is next on their agenda?  Look in the rear view mirror at your convenience store and let me know if this insidious conspiracy has reached your neighborhood.  Warn your neighbors, friends, and family before it’s too late.  Contact your elected officials. And when you feel the urge to pull into a convenience store to use the bathroom --resist.  That’s when you know they’ve gained control of your mind.

Let’s stop this mad conspiracy.  If you pee, the bad guys win. Please don’t pee! 

You can view my website at:  http://www.tombellart.com/.

Boredom Can Save Images from Oblivion

It's 8 degrees Farenheit outdoors at my home in Illinois.  I'm off work because snow and ice have closed down the College where I work. 

It's really a perfect time to go through my archives of old photos that weren't good enough for me to take a second look at until I  got bored.  Sometimes, they're just not interesting in color, so I take the time to imagine them in black & white.  That's when I see the mistake I made in putting them aside in the first place.

Arch of Santa Catalina, Antigua, Guatemala

El Sitio, Antigua, Guatemala

Lily Pond, Antigua, Guatemala



The three images above sat on my hard drive for years before I took a serious look.  I'll be more careful before I put away images.

You can view my website at:  http://www.tombellart.com/.

Some of my more recent images are on my National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) portfolio:  http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/gallery/1263242.

Your Chance to Help Children -- Important Please Read

It is difficult not to take a good photograph when you are shooting children. Often they will ignore the camera and just be themselves. If not, they become the most cooperative posers on the planet. The subject for this particular entry, however, is not photography. Those of you who may occasion to read my blog know that the subject for most of my photography is Guatemala, and the photos are often of children.  Read below to learn how you can help children today.

A Guatemalan Child, fortunate not to be an orphan, Chichicastenango, Guatemala.

On Saturday, July 31, 2:00 – 5:00 PM, an event to help Guatemalan orphans will be held in my area (Southern Illinois). The Hope for Tomorrow Children’s Home in Guatemala will hold a fundraiser at the Orlandini Vineyard (one mile south of Blue Sky Vineyard, off Rocky Comfort Road) near Carbondale. Driving directions and a map are on the vineyard’s website. If you’re already in the area, it will be worth the trip. If you live several hundred miles away, it would be a great excuse to visit Southern Illinois’ famous wine trail and beautiful vineyards. Don’t forget your camera gear. If you can come, I will see you there.

If, however, you’re not able to attend, please consider a tax deductable donation to this very worthy cause. Also, consider sponsoring a child. Check out the Hope for Tomorrow Children’s Home website and you’ll understand the importance of the cause and also that this is a legitimate charity that will make a real difference in the lives of children. Information on helping can be found within the website.

You can view my website at: http://www.tombellart.com/.

A New Photo Exhibit

Creating a photo exhibition is as time consuming as anything you can do. Don’t plan on having a real life for a few months if you plan on doing it well.

For those of you in the Carbondale, Illinois area (or within driving distance), my exhibition Mayan Faces: Portraits from the Market opens this Friday, April 9, 7 - 9 PM at the Longbranch Coffeehouse, 100 East Jackson, Carbondale. I have more than forty prints, mostly from the past year. Also, there are a few photos and digital paintings from the past seven or eight years.

I hope you can attend. If not, take a look at my web site:  tombellart.com.