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Tag : Frenchtown

13 Nov 2017
JOHNNY HARITOS AT FREEDOM ART AND MUSIC

LOCAL ART

Johnny Haritos is a Frenchtown based artist, best know for his drawings of rock stars that are signed by the rockers.  Johnny with an eye for light, color and shape also produces pleasing and interesting photographs.

I photographed him on B&W film at his recent show at Freedom Art & Music.  I really enjoyed seeing his work.

Freedom Art & Music is like a lot of local galleries, offering a venue for local artists and serving as a draw for visitors looking for original art at affordable prices.  I try and make it to as many openings as I can.  I like supporting local galleries.  Just being there matters.  Our local galleries are our culture.…

29 Oct 2017
THE SCARECROW WRANGLER

FRENCHTOWN SCARECROWS 2017

Each year creatively created scarecrows suddenly appear in Frenchtown.

Every night they wander the streets and change places before dawn.

Hundreds of people have investigated this strange manifestation but no one yet has been able to explain it.  We all …. we all know there is no explanation

With the help of my trusty Scarecrow Wrangler we captured them briefly for a quick portrait before they animated and began wandering.

THE INEFFECTIVE SCARECROW
THE DOUBLE-SIDED WOMAN

THE DEMOGORGON

THE HALLOWEEN DANCER

THE TREE OF LIFE

CHARLIE PACE

A.D.

GRIMLOCK

THE SLOTH

THE WAITER

27 Oct 2017
TREES WATER STONE

TREES WATER STONE

Trees Water Stone is a collaborative art event celebrating Solstice in Frenchtown. The intent is to bring artists and photographers together to display and sell their work and enjoy themselves.

Brokaw Photography Studio, Freedom Art and Music Gallery and Joe Ressarts Strasser Art are hosting works by artists and photographers that have a Solstice theme.  The event will happen Saturday and Sunday, December 2nd and 3rd with an artists/photographers reception Saturday evening.  All three sites are within short walking distance of each other in Frenchtown.   Brokaw Photography will host black and white photos depicting the Trees Water Stone theme.  Freedom Art and Music Gallery and Joe Ressarts Strasser art will host artwork.  There will also be a

Solstice bonfire  roaring at Joe’s!

TREES WATER STONE LOCATIONSAerial View of Frenchtown
(click here for interactive Google Map)

Photographers are invited to submit their work to Brokaw Photography for consideration as part of the event.  There are no fees or commissions and all work can be available for sale by the photographers.

Here are the criteria for photography:

All photographs must be in black and white
The photos should celebrate the Earth
Photos of Trees, Water and Stone are encouraged
Unframed, matted or flush mounted photos are preferred over framed pieces
Photographers will hang their work during the week before the show using 3M Command strips
(No hooks or nails)
Photos should be submitted for consideration via email before November 20th
Bill@BrokawPhoto.com
Photos will be juried for inclusion in the show

This is all for love of photography, the Earth and the fun of being part of a collective art event.

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13 Oct 2017
FRENCHTOWN 150

WE’RE ALL SPATIAL

Everybody is somewhere. (Whether we know where we are is another question.)  For many businesses, it is all about location, location, location.  Where you are matters.

When it comes to commercial photography, the images produce often are created to show the feel and character of a business’s location.  This also is true for business communities, like Frenchtown, NJ, that rely on visitors.

Digital photography allows us to tag our files with latitude/longitude coordinates and on-line tools, such as Google Earth can read these coordinates and position the images in their exact location on a map.

So as an experiment (and to push the spatial envelope) I launched my latest project called Frenchtown 150.  I am coordinating a group of photographers to create a comprehensive visual and on-line spatial representation of Frenchtown to celebrate its 150th year anniversary and show just what it is like, now, in October 2017.

The first step was to generate a properly scaled map of all the proposed photo locations using GIS software (ArcView) as shown above.  150 locations were plotted ranging from forest trails to downtown businesses.

Step two will be to corral the photographers, instruct them on the project parameters, and then have them shoot the photos and tag them with coordinates.

The final step will be to compiled all the geotagged images on Google Earth which will enable users to fly in and view the photos on a three dimensional map of the Earth.  The photo below is an actual screen shot of Google Earth showing one of the embedded business photos floating above it’s actual location.

CITGO ON GOOGLE EARTH

I can see this being applicable for many businesses, whether a single location or multi locations.  We’ve got the tools out there.  Let’s use them.

www.BrokawPhotography.com

04 Sep 2017
ECOLOGY FLAG

Envision-Plan-Implement

Frenchtown enjoyed two simultaneous events Labor Day Weekend that perfectly exemplified the envision-plan-implement process.

A local art and performance venue, Art Yard, provided a street parade of colorfully dressed bird people, while the Frenchtown Business and Professional Association held its Riverfest event, celebrating the town, the arts and the river.  Both were a vision of the organizers who planned and implemented their events flawlessly and with joy exhibiting the perfect model for any business.   Think it, plan it, do it!

It was delightful and inspiring to see the ecology flags lining the street and waving in the breeze.  It inspired a vision for me.  I wanted to emulate the glorious, flag-waving scene from Les Mis, palnned out what I wanted to do and struck out to find my photo.  I wrangled Mike Tyksinski, the coordinator of Riverfest into being my subject, and we took over the street to create the image. Mike was the perfect subject and waved the flag with gusto.

It is always so satisfying to see a vision implemented, whether it’s a photo, an event or an entire business.  It keeps us going with enthusiasm.  A couple more photos photos below.

 

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03 Aug 2017
Riverfest Vikings

BRANDING

Branding an event is as important as branding your business.  What’s it all about?  How do you get people to attend?  By having fun.

Every year, Frenchtown NJ, a Delaware River town and my home base, has an end of summer event call Riverfest.  It is fun but was never especially distinctive.  Two years ago some guys started dressing up like Vikings and created an event within the event called the Paper Boat Races.  Kids make paper boats, drift them down the river and see which one wins.  Simple and fun.  The Vikings moderate it and all the spectators can see the race from the bridge.

Just by being fun, goofy and original, the Riverfest Vikings became a favorite part of the day for everyone.  I am a big supporter of Frenchtown and thought it would be great to use the love of the Riverfest Vikings to brand the festival, so I got them together for a photoshoot.  First some high school-style headshots in the studio then a group shot by the river.  We used a green screen so we can clip and insert backgrounds later.

Once we got the shot down by the river it seemed like a great time to up the ante and spontaneously do a video.  So I sent them into the river, gave them their lines and let them work their magic. It’s a short clip and the guys are hilarious.  I think we’ve successfully branded the spirit of Riverfest.

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