Peter J. Crowley

Fine Art Photographer

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The Willimantic Years 1999 Part One

09.23.2021 by Peter J. Crowley // Leave a Comment

Willi arriving in 1994 but I was active in the art scene from a few years prior.

Spare change? Chip in on my paypal link.  Posting these stories is very time consuming. Or by mail address is on the contact page.

All the moneys gone no where to go… I will still deliver that magic feeling.

Thank you peace

A letter from home years ago a defining stage of my live/work/art.

Mills turned into Art Apartments and a Textile Museum.

A small city of immigrants arriving when it was time for the last group to get a raise.

Children always seeking everything need a closer look. 

On the porch at my place on Bellevue a dancer relaxes. I don’t relax, “hold that pose.”

Where everyone knew my name. Late afternoon light in November shines on the ambiance of the Willimantic Brewing Company.

My refrigerator or Maybe Paradise Cafés  the image is on a roll surrounded by a folk performance at the Café. This was also a place for me to plan, eat and sit in the sun and see.

I met The Muse there at lunch and the next morning she came to my studio to begin two years of sessions. The wealth of images made and learning to see was a highlight in my work. So many unseen images remain. I also interviewed and hired Roxanne as my asst. in Paradise. Two important strong women changed me.

The previously mentioned folk concert at Paradise Café with Jim Mercik  and Hugh Blumenfeld. 

The porch on Bellevue a series of puddle reflections this from early March rain and snow melt. A loose series never show as a group. The dancer above is also a porch series as well. The are themes, portfolios that intersect from different times.

There were eyes always eyes. Many of the images here have not been printed or scanned. Looking at sessions from twenty two years ago, I see photos that I missed after first look and printing for my subjects. There are also many that in my strict seeing of the past didn’t fit the way I saw. I am not so ridged in todays approach.

From a test for my Woodnymph series. A good model but never a woodnymph. Image made on Wormwood Hill at the Thorkelson’s home. 

You could rent a movie to watch while your clothes dry. I think I waited for the cars to clear the spaces in front of the door. I saw what I wanted to compose and cars were not included.

There were doors in Willi old Victorian works of art. I had always seen doors I like imagined history. In Willimantic doors became a series of love. All these doors became a book in 2017 “Another Door Entered” my second book.  My first was a love letter to Willimantic “All the Usual Subjects” portraits of people from my home. There are a few left.

A tree out side a window was part of a D-11 developer test High contrast with grain. I didn’t like the results with people so it was a short test 72 images. But I like this tree.

Clam Fritters, fries was my go to order. Cute girls were always on my menu. Starring into the sun the girls in deep shadow. I gave them a business card and I said call me and I will give you a print. They never called. Flash forward 22 years, email me and I will send a scan few ever email. This is a horrible neg. and I gained very little in post process. It is however a moment in my world.

I will close the door on this story with a door. 

peace

Categories // B+W Silver Gelatin, Between Here and There, Eyes, Faces, Film, Film 35mm, Fine Art Photographs, Muse, Old Roads, Peter Tork, Street Photography, Uncategorized, Willimantic Tags // Ambiance, Black +White Fine Art Photography, Great Food, Portraits, Silver Gelatin, Simplicity, Street Photography

Momentary Faces 2007 to last Saturday

02.16.2021 by Peter J. Crowley // 2 Comments

 

People who have paused in my viewfinder over the years. Some for 1/250 of a second. Many for longer deeper seeing inspiring moving me forward. All leave a mark on me all the moments last forever. peace

A day at New England Ballet 

Snow angels and a flake on the tongue out my kitchen window a few days ago. 

More then just an assistant. She was a constant presence for years who acquiesced to share her eyes with my vision. But was much more comfortable loading Nikons at dress rehearsal and worrying I’d fall from the arm rests. An outstanding artist in photography and many other mediums. 

Bruce, coffee and sarcasm in the kitchen.  Table covered by the Sunday NYT an ash tray on good days a bag of weed.  Bruce always there.

Arnold so much inspiration so much laughter.

Brat Red a internet model from Brattleboro Vt. August 2007. Brattleboro where once I dreamed of retiring. 

 

Organized not in a business mode. Moments that I have seen lately. peace

 

Categories // B+W Fine Art, Brattleboro Vt. Summer, Childhood, Color Fine Art, Coventry Ct., Dancers, Eyes, Film, Muse, Nikon, Norwich Ct, Olympia Wa., Passionate Observer, Photographic Art, Vermont, Washington Tags // Ambiance, B+W Fine Art Photography, Blending the past and the present, Color Fine Art, Dance, Olympia, Portraits

Sunday July 26, 2020 Morning Light

07.27.2020 by Peter J. Crowley // 4 Comments

Yesterday I was out for a stroll at 8 am people time. But 7 am sun time. There is a magic in this light crisp cool even in the heat of summer. I am up most days to see the light but the science project that is my body coupled with morning haze restricts my strolls.  

Delicate light on a neighbors Poppy. Joe came out of his house coffee in hand to tell me I can walk into the yard to get the best angle of the light. The flower bed is his wife’s project he told me not wanting to take credit for her work that he loves. I love when folks greet me. I am more at home here now since the days of being the “creepy old guy with a camera.” LOL nearly six years now in Olympia. 

There are mornings I stroll where the light, birds singing a cool breeze are enough. A few shots but just the light and the walk feed my soul.This was not one of those days. The grass at another friends house drenched in stark back light provided wonder to shoot. 

Not over saturated in PS no in fact saturation and contrast was dialed down for these four images. Just my seeing, the perfect light provided for these exposures.

A gentle breeze the colors danced seeking a solo of focus with each shutter release. 

But this short depth of field highlights the importance of negative space. Here as important as the focused subject.

In the center a white spec? A dust spot? No part of a spider web so strong holding between the shafts of color. A deep breath another image seen I stroll along.

peace pjc

 

Categories // Abstract, Color Fine Art, Dancers, Flowers, July, Midsummer, Morning Light, Muse, Olympia Wa., Summer, Washington Tags // Abstraction, Color Fine Art, Flowers, Olympia, Street Photography

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