Hi, and welcome to my little Substack corner. I write about photography, art, design, and the craft of living creatively. I am glad you are here. Consider subscribing to keep up with what I am doing. I promise not to bore you. If you would like to support my efforts, that would be amazing and so appreciated. Either way, I am super happy you are here.
I want to share images from the many photographers I have had the pleasure of meeting, working with, or simply hanging out on occasion. I hope to make this a weekly gallery.
I have given this assignment over the last ten years of teaching. It is always one of my favorite assignments.
The assignment as given:
This is a concept assignment and I only got two words for you…
Red.
Balloon.
Well, three words actually: One Red Balloon.
Yep… that is your assignment… a Red Balloon. One solitary balloon.
Red.
Shoot the balloon YOUR way, any way you want. I do not care what you do with them… but impress me and impress yourself.
Anything can be in the frame, but it must include one red balloon, and only one.
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Clockwise from top left:
Catherine Smith
Michael Woods
Judit Banfalvi
Mildred Moore
David Toman
Amy Roth
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Clockwise from top left:
Bernard Harewood
Terisha Theisen
Brady Wolf
Derrick Rose
Carmen Blike
Craig Ferguson
How would you shoot one red balloon?
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I always love the red balloon assignment. It is one of my favorites. It allows you to wonder and think deeper on a simple item that evokes childhood memories. In my portfolio, the red balloon image is one of my favorites.
I would do a portrait of a child walking with a puppy or a smallish dog, on a path that transitions out to a field at golden hour, with the balloon tied to the dog’s tail. The photo would be taken from the back of them, so the body language and companionship tells the story. (Complete and total opposite of when I actually did this project).