A lot happening right now.  A few days ago I felt there to be almost nothing to post about, and now I’m overwhelmed by the possibilities.

I seem to be getting some blessing by my Grandpa’s 90th birthday.  90 years to the date, on Sunday, January 16th my grandpa was being born in the dark light of a California morning.

There are so many layers of that guy I’d like to discover.  Back in 2005 I kinda bargained myself into a crumbling apartment above my grandparent’s garage.  The deal was I’d fix it up before I could officially pay rent.  I remember being only 8 or 9 years old when I first saw it, and even then I fell in love with the feeling I got in that apartment.  It felt warm, homey, comfortable and welcoming.  I also remember feeling like I didn’t have any of my own memories with my grandparents before moving there in the autumn of 2005, and that was one thing I wanted to change.  If I lived this close to them, I reasoned, then I’d begin to get to know them in my own way.

It’s been such a radical journey since then, primarily deconstructing everything I thought I knew about my grandparents (the vague family memories, the opinions I had heard) and seeing them in a fresh new light.

Grandpa became somebody I really fell in love with, and he became a sort of beacon in regards to how I identify with myself as a Chernivsky.  This is a very good thing in my own personal sense, and I’d love if everyone had the opportunity to discover just what their name and identity means to them according to their own singular input.

I feel like this birthday has been the birthday of more than just a person, but to fresh new ideas as well.  I’ve put together my first video compilation with Final Cut Pro – video, audio, and photographs all in a 90 second exploration piece.  It’s something I’ve been thinking about for far too long, and something I have desperately been needing to learn.  My creative juices have been way too bagged up for much to long now.

I think this is also the beginnings of an outlet for the incredibly large amount of photos I’ve been taking of my grandparents throughout the years.  I’ve always wanted to put something together, and though I won’t spoil anything here, I have a great idea in regards to putting together a project about my grandpa.

As you can see, my grandparents have been great models when I've needed to practice some new photo technique throughout the years. Here? A wireless flash and umbrella setup. All hand-held, too!

Just as I was finishing up the storyboard for this video, I heard my grandpa arriving home and toiling with a snow shovel outside.  When I got to the front door I noticed him wearing a bit nicer clothes than he normally had.  I asked him if I could take a few photos of him.  He looked at the light outside, made a comment on how it was perfect and then stepped onto the frosty porch.  There he stood for me for the next few minutes as I created a few detail oriented images of his hands and his pale blue eyes.  It was the most patient I had ever seen the guy.  I felt the moment to be a gift, really.

Of course more time means me thinking more about what angle is going to work best, what view I’d like to utilize, which means I’m going to spend more time thinking about how this or that shot works better.  What do you think?

Grandpa, view 2 (gnome-ish gramps!) Porch shadow light.

or…

Grandpa, view 1 (blinded by the sun gramps, which makes him kinda look like a troll. Ekk! But it is my fav of the two) The only difference between these two shots is 3 steps out of the direct sunlight and into the more diffused shadow light of the front porch (see view 2 above); that, and my camera position. Sunlight.

Always…always…always a decision to make even after the creation process.

After grandpa made a few comments about how it was cold outside (“Burr, burr, don’t you think?” he said), I walked him in.  “You’re all dressed up, Grandpa.”

He’s never a person to affirm much, but he’ll always tell you what he’s thinking, which is something I’ve always appreciated about him.  “I just got back from a funeral,” he said as he closed the door and walked inside.

Certainly something to think about.