“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”
~ Oscar Wilde
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
~ George Santayana, Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1
Today was Christmas, and my pick for We're Here was a family portrait, for the group Not your Ordinary Family Portrait." It seemed easy enough, unless you have a family like mine, where the members are scattered to the winds on a day like Christmas. So this evening, I found myself here, at the home of friends who had found their own family in each other.
Larry and Terry live in a historical Victorian home built in 1895. It is a two story Queen Anne Revival style home with extensive Eastlake decoration on both its exterior and interior surfaces. Larry and Terry are the third owners, and the old house is their passion. Each year, Terry, a florist by trade, lavishly decorates and gives tours for Christmas.
This year I was fortunate enough to get to photograph Larry and Terry inside their home, among the oppulence and splendor of a Victorian Christmas. Those images will be placed in my photostream tomorrow. Inside this old home, ablaze with twinkling lights, is part of my family, and Larry and Terry. We celebrated Christmas here, as families had done for over 100 years. The old house was the heart and soul of three families over the last century.
Tonight however, I had to do a 365 shot. Preferrably with family. So I left the strobes inside and took the camera with an 8mm lens and the tripod into the front yard. I set the aperture at f/11 (ISO 100) and used the timer to get myself onto the front steps for the 10 second exposure.
I am not a history buff, but Larry and Terry are two of my favorite people. Although they live in a home that is historical, and they take on the mantle of that history themselves through research and re-enactments, they are two of the most undeniably original people I know. I met Larry through the 100 Strangers project. He was my 19th stranger. It's delightful how that project brings people together. As I sat in the cold night breeze on the steps of three families' history, I thought of the quotes that I cited above, and how they are each so true, and within the truth lies a wonderful paradox, like Larry and Terry themselves.
And there's another truth.
"No man is a failure who has friends."
~ Clarence, "It's a Wonderful Life"
We're Here! : Not Your Ordinary Family Portrait
Pro-Optic 8mm f/11, 10 seconds
View Large and on Black
Tags: We're Here! Not your usual Family Portrait History Victorian House 1895 Eastlake Queen Anne Revival Larry and Terry Christmas Long Exposure Night Nocturnal 365 365 Days 365:2011 December 25, 2011 359/365 Pro-Optic 8mm ƒ3.5 Fisheye Wide Angle
© All Rights Reserved
View Large and on Black (sharper than flickr's lightbox)
Strobist: LP160 and LP120 inside a Softlighter II stationed in room to right. Triggered by Cybersync.
Pro-Optic 8mm, ƒ8, 1.3 seconds.
Tags: Larry and Terry Christmas Filhiol House Victorian House 1895 Eastlake Queen Anne Revival Portrait Strobist Pro-Optic 8mm ƒ3.5 Fisheye Wide Angle
© All Rights Reserved
View Large and on Black (sharper than flickr's lightbox)
Strobist: LP160 and LP120 inside Softlighter II camera left. Triggered by Cybersync.
Pro-Optic 8mm, ƒ5.6, 2.2 seconds.
Tags: Larry and Terry Christmas Filhiol House Victorian House 1895 Eastlake Queen Anne Revival Portrait Strobist Pro-Optic 8mm Pro-Optic 8mm ƒ3.5 Fisheye Wide Angle
© All Rights Reserved
View Large and on Black (sharper than flickr's lightbox)
Strobist: LP160 and LP120 inside Softlighter II camera left. Triggered by Cybersync.
Pro-Optic 8mm, ƒ8, 3 seconds.
Tags: Larry and Terry Christmas Filhiol House Victorian House 1895 Eastlake Queen Anne Revival Portrait Strobist Pro-Optic 8mm Pro-Optic 8mm ƒ3.5 Fisheye Wide Angle
© All Rights Reserved
View Large and on Black
Strobist: LP160 and LP120 inside Softlighter II camera left. Triggered by Cybersync.
Pro-Optic 8mm, ƒ8, 2 seconds.
Tags: Larry and Terry Christmas Filhiol House Victorian House 1895 Eastlake Queen Anne Revival Portrait Strobist Pro-Optic 8mm Pro-Optic 8mm ƒ3.5 Fisheye Wide Angle
© All Rights Reserved