Newton isn’t really a kitten, but he is cute. Anyway, I got a new video camera and all I’ve done with it so far is shoot closeups of a cat. Is that why I got it? At least it’s not as bad as this.

Music is Jungle Struttin’, by The Lions.

I practically begged Will and Karen to get on a carnival ride with me so I could get portraits with the lights streaking behind them. Will warned me that he doesn’t do well on rides; I argued that no ride with so many kids under four feet tall could be too dangerous for us.

We boarded, it started. From the ground it looked gentle, much like the teacups. That was misleading. I started second-guessing my decision that my seat belt wasn’t necessary — it was designed for somebody fully one third my size and couldn’t be buckled. The carny didn’t seem to care during the seat check, but then I’d neither pointed it out nor hid the seat belt’s shortcomings. Will, on the other hand, was able to buckle up and he had all his notions of personal security pinned on that belt.

Then it came loose.

Still, there were photos to be had, and Karen seemed to be okay. Pressing my feet against the center post, I wedged myself into the seat and started snapping. Will held on, and Karen flopped about. It’ll be a while before I can coax them both onto a ride again, but I do sometime hope to repeat this with more natural light. Something more like this, but not so much as this.

Extra: anybody want to buy an extra carnival ride?

Will McElroy, Karen Ladd, carnival, ride, scary, photo, photoblog, portrait, blur

My Graphire Bluetooth tablet arrived last week as a bundled treat with some Adobe software I needed. Why do I need a tablet, especially as my days as a graphic designer are a distant memory?

I don’t…at least not now. But somewhere on the long tail my um, unique, style of portraiture (above) will come into vogue and I’ll score it big. Yup, there’s an unrecognized niche of people just waiting to be drawn with big cheeks, bulging eyes, and open mouths. Google, bring them to me.

Aside: MattyB is happily doing portraits of scared, bug-eyed bison on rockets. Good thing the long tail is long enough for both of us.

blutooth, drawing, graphire, input device, portrait, portraiture, table, wacom

The wind along Las Vegas Boulevard was blowing hard, so it hides the fact that I’m currently sporting one of the worst haircuts of all time.

I’ve been meaning to take a picture of this damn sign for years — and more so after seeing beatnickside’s collection of Vegas photos.

welcome sign, welcome, sign, neon, welcome to fabulous las vegas, fabulous, vegas, las vegas, nevada, las vegas nv, portrait, self portrait, headshot

An unconventional panorama in Rockport’s Pigeon Cove. From left to right stand Will and Corey. Of course, it looks better bigger.

Note: this was just a sideshow on our Weird Travel Tour.

tags: corey, cove, group portrait, massachusetts, ocean, pano, panorama, pigeon cove, portrait, rockport, rockport ma, seaside, will