Over the holidays, I went on a road trip with Mom, her husband, Rick, and Grandmommy from Atlanta down to — get this — Treasure Island, Florida! Yup. Such a place exists. And no. it’s not an amusement park. ha! Can you imagine Grandmommy at an amusement park? hahaha! …we did get her on a Segway, though. But that’s for a later post.

The photos on this post are a bit quieter. Aside from Treasure Island, we went to DeSoto, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, St. Petersburg, and a few other places.

Finally! Grandmommy agreed to a portrait session Saturday, August 13, 2011. She’s 83 — I know! can’ you believe it? She looks great for her age.

For the occasion she made us some grilled cheese sandwiches and served ice cream cones for desert. The shoot was also during the Brave’s game. They lost. But it was fun to capture her reactions, like the one above.

She used to pose for Grandaddy all the time. He was a technical service rep for Kodak and part of his job was to test out the product. Grandmommy gave me one of the many prints Grandaddy made of her holding a gray card. Ha! The way she would pose for Granddaddy was a lot more traditional — y’know, smiley, posey — than what i want from my subjects.

I like to set up the lights and see what kind of life happens in front of me. In general, I like the interaction I get with my subjects while I’m shooting. But I also like it when they get distracted by, say… a Brave’s game.

I’m into the imperfect.

I think the unposed portrait situations yield the most interesting results. That’s usually when the subject’s personality comes out. …wether they like it or not. hehehe.

Bottom line, I’m uninterested in people’s “camera faces.” Not that I don’t like it when people smile for photos, but I like the smile to be genuine, spontaneous. …ideally the apex of a laugh. Those are the kinds of smiles viewers can feel.

On the flip side, we can all spot a fake smile, right?

Admittedly, I need to figure out a better way to explain this to my subjects. In general, I don’t want them to look like fools. Sometimes they looking a little silly is a good thing. But I think they should be, for lack of a better phrase, “in on the joke.”

Of course what I think makes a great photo is highly subjective. Subjects tend to focus on what they like least about themselves & hone in on that feature in photos. I’m certainly guilty of this. I tend to dismiss otherwise great photos of me because my belly is a bit too pronounced. But, y’know? I’m a burley guy. It’s part of who I am. And of course, some photos frame my gut in a more flattering or interesting (funny?) way than others.

Even beautiful people make ugly photos sometimes.

I’m sure Grandmommy — who I think is gorgeous — won’t like parts of the final edit, but hopefully she knows I love her unconditionally. And I love her look! …even her nose. I might like her nose more because she dislikes it so much. But Somebody’s gotta love it, right? …besides, I have her nose. And I think it looks pretty good on me.

Granddaddy. …love that guy!

 Grandmommy kinda looks like a sad Betty White in this one, doncha’ think?

…and we’ll end on a funny one. This is Grandmommy doing a little Cheesecake pose! ha! isn’t she adorable?

Since I’ve been in Atlanta I’ve been wanting to make a portrait of Rick and Mom for her Birthday — which is TODAY!!! August 17th!!! Happy Birthday, Mom!

They got married last summer, and I really like Rick. He’s a great guy, wonderful to my mom, and they make each other happy. They get each other. …but sometimes they’re a little gross with the cutesy baby talk. yick!

But there’s always a catch, isn’t there?

For the last month or so, Rick has been putting this prescription cream on his face. It’s not the kind that makes your face pretty. no no no. It’s quite the opposite. He jokes around saying stuff like: he looks like the Phantom of the Opera without the mask on. It’s not that bad, but truthfully it looked like his face was ringed with psoriasis.

Understandably he doesn’t like the idea of being photographed looking like he does.

The good news is, he’s on a new ointment now! …and he’s a good sport! I guess he’s in stage two of this treatment? This one works to reverse the damage of the other one. So, at the time of me writing this, his face is looking waaaay better. …but it’s still red — more like a giant birthmark than a chemical burn.

The other day, after eating lunch, I was talking with them about getting their portrait made on Mom’s birthday. And then I noticed he wears those glasses that turn into sunglasses when he goes outside. I asked if he had any other glasses for the shoot. He has some old glasses that don’t look very good. Just joking around, he suggested we just take the photo with a bag over his head. …so I thought, well, why not? That’s a cute photo idea.

Admittedly, I don’t think this was a very good execution of the idea. The lighting could be better. I’m still trying to figure out the potential of my 86″ PLM and how versatile it is. But all n’ all, it was a fun, short shoot.

For the last four years I’ve spent Christmas Day with my girlfriend Jess and her family. And it’s soooo weird to me.

You see, I’m an only child. And I was raised by a single mom. …and, to an extent, my grandparents.

For a while, my mom and I actually lived with grandparents and my two great grandmothers. So, as a wee pup, I was the only kid at our family’s holiday celebrations. If I can be cynical, Christmas was like a big tease to me. There was always this HUGE buildup. Most of the presents under the tree were toys for me. — and we were one of those families who opened all the presents on Christmas Eve. After I the manic high of shredded all the wrapping paper, and I surveyed my generous bounty, a sobering reality set in.

… it was over.

Over a month of pent-up anticipation was deflated in 20 minutes. And it wasn’t even Christmas yet.

I think we can all agree that the Holiday season is totally different for kids than for adults. Sure, adults get cool stuff, but kids… kids get toys! — and toys are meant to be played with. And I don’t care how well intentioned an adult is, there’s nothing like playing with other kids.

But I was surrounded by adults — my mom being the second youngest person in the house.

Don’t get me wrong, for the most part, I love being an only child. But Christmas Time for me was a bit… unsatisfying. boring.

…and lonely.

Well, let me tell you, there’s nothing boring about Christmas with my girlfriend Jess’s family.

*Jess in her Christmas robe.*

She’s a part of a big, tight-knit, Baltimore family. –well, two, really. her dad’s (above) and her mom’s (below). The whole day is festive. The kids are playing! the adults are talking (and drinking) and everyone’s eating too many cookies.

ha! My goal this year was to not slip into a food coma.

I’m not saying I didn’t, but it wasn’t as bad as years past.

–thanks to the cheese plate!

Don’t get me wrong. I had a pretty good childhood and I wouldn’t change my Christmases for anything. Our pasts shape who we are. And I really like who I’ve become. My mom did a great job. I miss being around her on the Holidays.

Christmas with my Mom and Grandmommy (Grandaddy and my two great grandmothers have since passed) are familiar, simple, and low-key. My grandparents anniversary is Christmas Eve, so after he passed, my grandmother wanted to shake things up. One year we went to Hawaii! But most years we eat at one of the few open restaurants and watch movies. Christmas night ends quietly…

In contrast, I’m exhausted by the end of Christmas with Jess. — in part from too many cookies and cake.

*Decker, playing with his cousin Casey under a piano.*

This big family life is a world I’m fascinated by and I love exploring in pictures.

Even after four years, I still feel like an outsider who’s been let in. It’s wonderful!

– and super interesting.

Last April, I went to NYC with my girlfriend Jess, her Aunt Janet, and Janet’s son Jack. More photos after the jump…

Monica Lopossay, in early morning fog, while arriving at the Eddie Adams Workshop Barn in Jeffersonville, NY, for the Black Team pre-workshop clean up.

For all you newcomers to the professional photo biz, The Eddie Adams Workshop is now accepting applications. May 28th is the application deadline.

Stay posted for more images from my time as a student and as a Black Team member.

(October 24, 2007) After we finished eating brunch at J. Christopher’s, I left for Baltimore. Grandmommy learned the virtue of not snapping into “pose mode” when I tried making a picture of her. Mom, cried. I knew she would. The day fit the mood. Georgia was going through a horrible drought, so the drizzle was necessary, but it made for an even sadder day. Despite all my car drama, it was a great visit. I’m, writing this caption six months later and I’m wondering when I’m gonna get back home. I should call more. And even though those two women drive me crazy, they raised me. They made me me. I miss ‘em.

Jess. eating a snowball. making her cold. Monday, August 24, 2009.

Jess by a sunset in the kitchen at the Remington House.

Here are some shots from the day.

Jess bought party hats.

Did I mention it was a pool party?

Everyone loves John, but poor fella, whenever he comes to a gathering without Milo, he’s met with disappointment.

Doesn’t Lauren know the more she fights it, the more I’m gonna take pictures of her?

Mom’s sad I’m leaving.

Grandmommy bought lotto cards for us to scratch off before I left Atlanta Friday, December 11, 2009.

Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta Friday, December 11, 2009.

Grandmommy’s getting out of the van to give me a hug before getting on my flight.

Mom and Me. Grandmommy shot this.

More tears from Mom.

It was great seeing them.