"Dissolve" Chosen For The Art Of Photography Show

I rarely enter my photographs in photography contests or juried shows.  However, I pay attention to what comes into my life and what people say to me.  If someone suggests something to me, I figure I need to do it to see what happens.  That was the case here.  I took a portrait photography class a few months ago and the instructor suggested I enter something in the "Art of Photography" show.  I wasn't going to at first but then I decided to do it since it was suggested to me.

I was thrilled to hear the news that the one photo I entered was chosen for the show.

My image "dissolve" was selected by judge Anne Lyden (Associate Curator at the J.Paul Getty Museum) for inclusion in the 2011 Art of Photography Show at the Lyceum Theatre Gallery in San Diego.  My photograph was chosen from 15,444 entries from 72 countries.  In all, there will be 109 pieces shown.  To see a list of all participating photographers and the country they are from, click HERE.


The opening reception is August 13th and the show runs until October 16th, 2011.

Antsy McClain And The Trailer Park Troubadours

If you love trailers and the trailer life, there is a good chance that you've heard and seen Antsy McClain and the trailer park troubadours.  Ron (aka: Antsy) and I have been emailing back and forth for about a year to see if we would be in the same general area in our travels.  This time, it worked.  We happened to be at the birthplace of Airstream, Jackson Center, Ohio.  This was the perfect time for a photo shoot.  He brought along his son who I wanted to photograph as well as soon as I met him.  What a great father/son duo.

I was happy that Ron asked me to take portraits of him in  my "style."  He wrote me a note a long time ago commenting on my photographs so I was thrilled to finally meet him in person and do a shoot in the back lot of the Airstream Factory.  He noticed an Airstream that has seen better days and lucky for us, the door was open to do a shoot inside.

He's very entertaining on the stage and off including a very sharp wit and friendliness that is contagious. He travels all over the USA to perform so he may be in your city right now.   Check out his music and schedule HERE.

Thank you Ron for being such a wonderful subject to photograph.

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Alumapalooza 2011 Photograph Slideshow Video

There were so many favorite photographs from the event to list each on the blog so I put together a little video with some of the wonderful people I met in Jackson Center, Ohio a few weeks ago.

A big thank you to all who allowed me to photograph you with your family, including your dogs and cats. I look forward to next year!



All of these photos are available to purchase by clicking on my website here at www.AlisonTurnerPhoto.com

Alumapalooza 2011

It was that time of year again.  A time where all of the many dedicated Airstream owners come together at the birthplace of Airstream in Jackson Center, Ohio.
In the course of a week, the open field in the back of the plant transforms into a small community of people with their common love of Airstream trailers.

This was my second year of documenting the event for Airstream and Airstream Life.  I have been looking forward to it for months.  The airstream owners are like my second family.  Everyone is so down to earth and friendly.  Because of this event, I've met some people that will be lifelong friends.

Many of the people I met last year were here again but there were many new faces added to the mix.  For the entire 5 days I was there, I would circle the property several times, walking through rows and rows of Airstream trailers looking for people outside and the door open so I could photograph them.

Some came to me with their framed photos from last year and so many people told me what an inspiration I was to them.  One woman said that she was there, traveling with her dog because of me.  It was flattering but mostly I felt so happy that she was realizing a dream for herself.

I am truly grateful to have been able to be a part of such a fun event and be among a wonderful community of people.  I look forward to seeing your faces next year!  A big thank you to Rich and Brett (shown bottom right) who managed to coordinate each moment.

Here are a few photos from the festivities.  As you will see in the event album, I tend to gravitate towards animals and love to document the relationship between owners and their pet.

To see all images from the festivities with purchase options, click HERE.

Long Beach Transit Mall Photograph Installation

I am thrilled to be chosen as the photographer to showcase eight images of Long Beach for the new Transit Mall!  The mall is located on first street between Pine and Long Beach Blvd. in Long Beach, California.

I would like to thank Craig Watson with the Arts Council of Long Beach and the Transit authority for selecting my photographs to represent this beautiful city.  Each photograph matches a poem that is located on the other side of eight newly designed bus shelters.  You will now know exactly when your bus will arrive with the new technology installed at the mall and are able to relax in comfort with the state of the art sail cloth shaded shelters.

The grand opening celebration of the new Mall is scheduled for June 2nd at 5:30p.m at Promenade Park (off First St., between LB Blvd. and Pine).  I hope you are able to make the opening and if not, please be sure to take a stroll down first street if you find yourself in downtown Long Beach.

My images of Long Beach are for sale on my photography website so you are able to have these prints at home.  To see more, click HERE.

Photo Shoot In The Laundromat

I am not sure why I picture certain people in certain places for a photo shoot but for some reason, I thought my friend Carrie would be perfect at the laundromat.  Luckily, she agreed.

After deciding on a location, it was time to sneek in and start an impromptu photo shoot in the early evening at the laundromat while people were inside doing their laundry, as expected.

I used natural light since we were near a window and had plenty of daylight shining in.  I gave Carrie little to no direction on what to do except to kneel down, move her arms or move just to the left or right.  She decided to jump in a basket and lay on the bench as part of the fun that day.  I also wanted to get a shot of her outside on the pay phone since it seems to be a rare sight.

Carrie's red hair and spicy personality worked well in the situation at hand.  It's hard to believe but she was a bit nervous for the shoot but it didn't take long for her to warm up and actually enjoy it.  I think her bright personality is what shined though on her photographs.

In The Tub

I've had a vision for a long time of my friend (and artist) Jamie in my bath tub and I was thrilled when she agreed to help me realize my vision of her.  I enjoy taking photographs in places that can be the most intimate and vulnerable place to be such as a bedroom or the bathroom.  Lately, I have been obsessed with the bathroom.

I didn't want bubbles, but a bath that was still, while leaving something to the imagination.  The trick to accomplish this was to fill the tub with a mixture of vitamin D milk and warm water.  Jamie was a sport to do a photo shoot in the tub and was open to just about everything I suggested.

A week later I was able to photograph artist and friend, Traci in her bath.  This time, I took a photo of her reflection from the bathroom mirror while I was standing on the toilet angling the camera down towards the cabinet mirror.  I chose to have it empty with her in her white robe.

After this, my friend Carrie was also open for a shoot.  I wanted it to be a little different this time.  Once I asked her to submerge in her head in the water, I noticed that her makeup easily washed away in the water and smudged on her face.  To make it a more dramatic effect, I had her apply more eye liner and slowly submerge in the water with her mouth closed and then again with it open.

These photographs are the results from these shoots.

A big thank you to my friends for trusting me and being open to play around with this idea.