Michael S. Troop

What do we miss?

2009-10-21T04:39:00.003+02:00

..Something to think about...

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
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After 3 minutes: a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule
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4 minutes later: the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
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6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
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10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
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45 minutes: The musician played continuously.
- Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.
- About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.
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1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. The man collected a total of $32.
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No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.
He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
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This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
The questions raised : in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour:
1. Do we perceive beauty ?
2. Do we stop to appreciate it ?
3. Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context ?
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One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

Jack Wegener's website is up

2009-10-10T20:20:00.001+02:00

Jack Wegener

"In American society it is difficult to find venues that display any imagery, particularly a photograph, that depicts nudity. The establishment of the Internet has allowed serious artists like myself to continually exhibit creations without the need for approval from timid, conservative-minded owners of retail space in the real world. Additionally, I am able to interact directly with people who are interested in my photography. And clients wishing to commission me can obtain a sense of my photographic style and career experiencewithout having to first meet me at my studio as was the case in earlier years.

Nudity in the United States is frequently attached with a stigma of immorality or suspicion. I have been a first person witness to this since I began photographing professionally in 1975. Very little, regrettably, in attitude from the general populace has changed over those years. I think it is a sad reflection of a culture. I know from experience that people, both female and male, wish to sometimes acquire creative, quality imagery of themselves which contain elements of partial or complete exposure of the body. I have always viewed this as a reasonable and healthy desire while acknowledging that it can be difficult to locate qualified photographers who can produce such images. While I am disheartened by the often immature attitude of people in regard to the human nude I accept that many people have views that vary from mine". Jack Wegener

Savannah's Cookie Cutter Art Scene

2009-10-03T01:52:00.015+02:00

I was excited about moving to Savannah Georgia. The city is so rich in history, known for its art, artists and open-art scene. I heard of its art galleries, photographers and the prominent art school SCAD where the teachers themselves were not just professors but rather professionals of the trades.

Even though Savannah is located deep within the conservative south, it is said that artists in all genres have complete freedom of expression in a town tolerant of “Artistic Expression”. After all, the city sells itself to the world as an "Artist Haven". Even the other day I read in the local version of Creative Loafing that Artists from all over the world are relocating to Savannah because of its art scene.

For the first several months of my life in here, I spent time exploring and growing accustomed to a life far different to the European lifestyle which I was accustomed to. After all, for 14 years I lived in Germany where I had full artistic reign, a full range of Russian and Czech models, and artistic freedoms any artist would die for. I would make a day trips to other countries to shoot with ease, enjoying the rich cultures which spanned centuries, from the age of the Romans to the days of Bauhaus into today's contemporary grunge culture. It was a dream.

I did not expect to have that full experience back home.

After all America does not have a culture of its own. We are a youthful melting pot just a few hundred years old but we are the land of the free. A country for which I served as a soldier and fought for the artistic freedoms I came home to enjoy. Savannah seemed well suited for me and my family. It was not New York but it was safe for the family and hailed itself as a community open to artists of all types, open to artistic freedom, expression and tolerance.

So now I am back in my homeland for the next stage in my life, to share my artistic style with American based agencies and galleries but what I found in Savannah was an artist’s community of cookie cutter art work, copy cat galleries and an art school influenced by conservative religious groups, which in turn allowed for little true artistic expression of its students or faculty.

And when one travels down Bay or River Streets, all one sees is cookie cutter art. The same work from shop to shop. There is little to no variation, all meant for the quick sale to naïve tourist. There is nothing showing the rich artist lives or the art culture of this beautiful town. Little work expressing the talent produced from the school and nothing of true merit worth the $$ being asked in the galleries lining the streets.

What shocked me the most is the devaluation of art from gallery to gallery. Why do I say that? I entered one gallery and found one beautiful photograph on the wall priced for $85. It was an 11x14 black and white. I then went to the gallery right next door and found the exact same print, same size on the wall but priced $190. Now the value of this photograph is lost and so is the sale. I continued to go to 4 other galleries in close proximity to one another and found other works in similar situations which ruin the reputation of Savannah's art scene.

But to my surprise, I was contacted by Jack Wegener, Savannah's 1st professional nude photographer who started to shoot the nude professionally in the early 70’s. He told me of his successes and his struggles in this community over the years and the negative responses that finally drove him into seclusion in late 2002. But his work remains a testament to the vibrant artists that once walked freely throughout Savannah until the galleries shut their doors to the contemporary artists and classic nudes. This speaks of truth of the artistic freedom allowed in a city who dreams of an image of being a artist haven. Still Jack gave me hope for my time here. I know there are others like me, waiting to come out once again.

Currently Savannah is a city of cookie cutter artists and desperate galleries controlled by conservative churches and an artist council promoting a false image of a city. Maybe I am too global for this small town or it takes an outsider with an honest voice to express his dismay but I fought for freedoms of expression I have yet to find in this city. It would serve Free Expression best for Savannah and its Art Scene not be led by conservatism but instead, to encourage true Artistic Freedom. It is what our country stands for after all, freedom.

Dana Ellyn

2009-09-30T05:53:00.002+02:00

A Book About Death

2009-09-14T05:27:00.001+02:00

A Book About Death from Grace Graupe Pillard on Vimeo.

Diane von Fursterberg (re-posted)

2009-08-27T22:00:00.000+02:00

I wanted to repost this as it means more to me now than it did back in Juky of last year while I was in Germany. I am at a more pivotal point in my life as an artist as is my wife as we finalize our transition away from the lives we have known and focus only upon our art. We are here to create.

Now please check out this project by Diane von Fursterberg and enjoy. It is focused around the super model Natalia Vodinaova and artist Fracois-Marie Banier.

A BOOK ABOUT DEATH EXHIBIT, NY

2009-08-26T04:33:00.006+02:00

10 - 22 SEPTEMBER 2009

The Emily Harvey Foundation Gallery
537 Broadway #2
New York City, New York 10012
212.925.7651

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I am a contributor in the exhibit to be held in NY City, 10-22 Sep 09

Above is my post card submission

A Book About Death

"A BOOK ABOUT DEATH takes its inspiration from the late, underground American artist Ray Johnson (1927 - 1995). Ray Johnson’s unbound “book” of the same title was mailed to his New York Correspondence School “students” and included pages in his idiosyncratic style that were funny, sad and ironic “one-page essays” on death. With the A BOOK ABOUT DEATH project, artists are invited to plunge into subject in creating their own pages that score the dramatic final dance of death." Matthew Rose

Savannah's Rich Imagery

2009-08-20T04:28:00.002+02:00

Savannah offers a rich backdrop for photographers making this the ideal location for my work.

My schedule is open and I am accepting fashion, editorial and commercial bookings through December. Take advantage of the weather while it lasts.

Tub at the Art Hotel

2009-08-18T04:53:00.003+02:00

JPEG MAG, Gender Rolls

2009-08-01T01:17:00.004+02:00

I have submitted this image to JPGMAG.com for their theme Gender Rolls contest. Please check it out and let me know what you think by voting.

Test Image Collection

2009-07-30T05:21:00.003+02:00

Tatiana von Tauber

is selling off her test images. These prints include the photographers notes on the back. Check out her site for more information.

These prints are one of a kind

New Site Is Up!

2009-07-20T00:28:00.003+02:00

My New Site is up

I will be adding some content over the next few weeks so keep coming back.

additionally,

the new site for my wife

Tatiana von Tauber

launched this morning

New Site Almost Ready

2009-07-13T04:51:00.003+02:00

My new site is almost ready so in the next week, a major change will occur. The site will focus upon my current works.

The image below is of Kathern, one of

Tatiana von Tauber's hired models

I took this image while trying to fix a broken lens

This new location (Savannah) brings a changes in insperation, models and over all focus of our work. Though it will be a major change for Tatiana and I, we know you will enjoy the work we will continue to bring you as we convert the market here to our style of photographic branding.

In Memory of Neda Agha Soltan

2009-06-24T01:36:00.002+02:00

To the symbol of Iran's pro-democracy protests, god speed!

May her life's end have meaning

New Website, Operations Restarting

2009-06-03T02:57:00.004+02:00

Over the next few weeks

Look for my new webpage

This design will detail available services, prices, areas served while providing a gallery of prints available for online purchase along with my portfolio detailing my years of shooting throughout the world

Full Freelance Operations Begin: July 5th

Savannah, Atlanta and Miami

Wir sind unter euch

2009-04-07T04:35:00.002+02:00

For those who see as I....

SunShine Live

23 Miles

2009-04-04T04:49:00.005+02:00

Every day, I travel to and fro

through the green tunnel

How hypnotic the color, the feel of the old and new inter-twinned

Peach and The Marilyn Pose

2009-04-03T03:49:00.005+02:00

My really good friend Renitta, AKA Peach

The Marilyn Pose

For the next year I will focus upon Fine Art and Fine Art Nudes

Where Are...

2009-04-02T03:07:00.000+02:00

Where are the people

who

see the same a I do?

Step into the Erotic

2009-03-27T01:23:00.003+01:00

A friend shared this with me!

I find it erotic, just damn sexy!

Reminds me of Lenord Cohen

Here is a beautiful link to my favorate song of his.

Tybee Insel

2009-03-18T20:35:00.002+01:00

The thrill of

stepping back

taking another chance

and fulfilling a dream

Before I departed

2009-03-10T01:46:00.004+01:00

Before I left Germany

I had the pleasure of photographing

a good friend of mine

And she reminds me of Flynn

She makes me want to pull out my old tapes of Twin Peaks

MODEL CALL

2009-03-08T06:11:00.000+01:00

MODEL CALL

Female models, between the age of 18 and 27, sought for swimsuit, lingerie, and nude work on the beach in South Georgia and Florida areas. ID required, selected model will recieve pay in US dollars. Contact me for more information/

Sorry for the wait

2009-03-06T05:58:00.005+01:00

Sorry for the wait.

My photography has take a shift and I am refocusing upon my new directions. I am still bringing to you, the European style work you have come to expect from me, but I have expanded my reach to Include Atlanta and Miami.

To answer the primary question of many, I have moved, leaving Germany behind for the next 4 years, while I focus upon my fine art photography, and my time at SCAD.

During the month of March, you will see a complete rebuild of my homepage. If you have comments about how you would prefer the design or if there is content you wish to see expanded, please let me know.

Into Temptation though will be removed for the time being in order to make way for new work.

Settling In

2009-01-30T05:11:00.002+01:00

I am back to work and focusing upon fine art photographs, and get this, shot on film!

I dusted off the Bronica and pulled out the Agfa and am focusing upon the beauty of Savannah. The moss and homes are providing a beautiful backdrop for my current work.

Coming soon will be a new series ready for publication. There will also be major revisions to my homepage including the removal of some of the erotic work. The Hot Babes calendar will also be removed on the 1st of March, so download yours now.