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Thursday, July 07, 2005
Hanging with the Peltons
For the past week, I have been living in Charlottesville, VA in the basement of the Pelton's house. Tom has been living here for the past 3 weeks with 2 1/2 more weeks to go. Every summer for the past 5 summers, this is where Tom has lived when he comes to teach at UVA. Every summer for the past 4 I have come for at a least a week or so. It's funny how well you come to know someone when you live in their house for an extended period. And it's really interesting how quickly you develop your own "family dynamics". The Pelton's are a great family and I personally am so grateful for their incredible hospitality and for the opportunity to get such an up close and personal look at their lives. Gary and Rebecca (the parents) have 3 kids ranging in age from recent high school graduate to one on the verge of entering high school. Two girls and a boy. Hannah, Emma and Jake. In my family growing up, there were two girls and a boy just like that. Same birth order with me being the oldest. So it's hard for me to not have occasional flashbacks to my own childhood when looking at the Pelton clan. Tom and I recently decided that we needed to put a rush on getting my new CD out so that we could have it available at the Kerrville Wine and Music Festival where I'm going to play in the round with several other past New Folk finalists. One of the big hold ups in getting it done is that I have no new photos I like with my new short hairdo. Come to find out, Emma Pelton, is a very passionate budding photographer. And budding in NO WAY refers to the quality of her pictures, only to the fact that she hasn't been doing it very long. She went on a trip with her school this past year to Egypt and took some of the most brilliant photographs I've ever seen. So yesterday, Emma took a shot at shooting her first CD cover. She also just turned 16 and only two days ago got her driver's license. So not only did she take my picture, she drove me around town on her first day to drive with her license. Might I add, that her driving skills are equal to her skills in photography (outside of a few directional mishaps, but I told her I wouldn't talk about that). We decided to shoot on location at the University of Virginia. Lots of old brick buildings, trees etc...Beautiful scenery. Just the place to camoflauge someone who hates to get their picture taken. Let me just say, that I'm a horrible subject for photos. I mean, I've had some really nice pictures taken of me, but they're usually candid with me caught unawares. If I have to pose, or DO something to have my picture taken, I feel incredibly awkward and self concious...its as if everything I know about moving and smiling and being confident just goes right out the window. Modeling was never in my future. All that being said, after a few location changes and a few harrowing clothing changes (try getting naked outside on a college campus with your giggling photographer holding up a sarong for you to change behind) Emma came through with some amazing pictures. Not only was it a good shoot, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting to hang out with Emma. Bright, articulate, funny, passionate...She gives me hope for the next generation. Watch out for Emma Pelton. She's going places! (Below are a few of the shots we WON'T be using for the CD, but still really great shots...) posted by Cary Cooper @ 6:54 AM 1 Comments:
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