Recently I purchased some lighting equipment to step my photography game up just a little bit. The items arrived last Thursday but I was very busy and could not play with anything this weekend because I was covering the opening of the opera season here in Detroit.
Yes, I went to the fucking opera for the 1st time in my life & it was fucking awesome! The opera I saw was Cyrano & the world premiere jumped off in Detroit this past Saturday.
Friday I attended the opera ball as a photographer representing the Detroit Fashion Pages & this event was fucking awesome (am I saying fucking awesome too much???). 1st of all, the tix were 600 bucks & luckily I was able to partake in all of the luxury & let me tell you, it was very luxurious.
Saturday, as I mentioned was the opera opening & I enjoyed every minute of it. The music was phenomenal, the costumes spectacular & everything else was just unreal. I guess the most unreal thing is the fact that I had a box seat in the inner circle. Seated next to me was local Detroit royalty. The current & former mayor & a whole bunch of mutha fuckas with all kinds of money.
After the opera, I attended the gala dinner, which was also 600 bucks per plate. This event was off the chain as well. The food, drink, & networking was plenty & yes I was working while having the time of my life.
At the risk of being ghetto as hell, I was able to sneak my BFF BFB in & he also sat in the box with me after intermission & attended the gala dinner. BFB had a ball & said one of his life dreams came true that night. The dream was to attend the opera at least once.
So between the two $600 a plate dinners, the Detroit Opera House was able to raise 3.5 million dollars. YES! You can see photos from both events here.
Anyway back to what this post was supposed to be about. Tonight when I got home from the plantation, I set up my lighting shit & went into the back yard for some photo fun.
Here is my favorite picture out of like 60. I got this chair from Ikea a few months ago in the “as is” area & have not used it since I got it home. Well I guess tonight I found the true reason why I was compelled to buy this somewhat useless red chair.
When I was going through my photos, I was thinking to myself, if I could have one person fill this chair for a once in a lifetime portrait, who would it be. After careful thought, I said, I would love for my grandmother who was known as mommie by all to be staring back at me through my ebony colored lens. I would give anything to see mommie for the slightest of a second. Even better would be to capture her in a photo that I could cherish forever the same way I cherish her memory now.
If you were the photographer & this was your empty red chair, who would be your dream to photograph & why come.
Erica C. / October 16, 2007
I would love to capture my mom! She passed away six years ago, she suffered from MS for sixteen years and if I could have her back for a split second I would. I would give anything to have one last glance of her.
Ro~ / October 16, 2007
I echo Erica’s sentiment. My mommy is who I would love to see in that pretty red chair. She passed away March of 2002 from pneumonia after a successful bought with Multiple Myeloma. Even at 33 I still have questions that only a mommy can answer.
Bygbaby / October 16, 2007
I think we are on the same page with special lost loved ones that we need in our lives!
Sophia / October 16, 2007
First I would just like to say hello, I am Sophia from CA and I have been reading your blog for about 6 months, found you through the sisterlock bloggers. Love the pictures and found myself pondering your questions. I have a great great aunt Chanie that has passed over that I would love to have a picture of today. Great lady from Texas filled with strenght and determination.
I am loving the picture postngs, I am also currently taking a photography class and loving it. This is a very addicting and costly habit. Happy snapping!
Bygbaby / October 16, 2007
Hi Sophia, Wow, I pulled you out of lurking, go me, go me. LOL
Happy that I continue to keep you amused! Your aunt sounds like she was a force to deal with.
Bygbaby
Sugar / October 17, 2007
The picture is awesome! Boy, you are outdoing yourself with these pictures!! 🙂 If I could have anyone sit in that chair for a photo, it would have to be Maya (Angelou). I think she’d look regal sitting there in her old age. Besides, my grandma and my mama wouldn’t sit in that hard ass chair. lol First thing I’d hear would be, “This the only chair you got!?”
Darius T. Williams / October 18, 2007
It would definitely be my grandmother. Why? Probably because I’d feel like she was closer and am able to see who I’ve grown up to be.
Natacha / October 18, 2007
Hi there, I’ve just stumbled upon your blog and I’m in love with your thoughts and photography! Count me in as a regular from now on (smile).
I absolutely love this photo. I think it’s poignant and speaks volumes even in its silence. Having said that, I would have to say that I would like to see the man who will be my life partner seated in this photo with a beguiling smile or stoic glance on his face. I don’t know who that man is yet, so maybe the photo would intrigue me and urge me to find out who he was.
Bygbaby / October 18, 2007
Sugar – The & you are right, photography is a very expensive hobby! Tell me about your class & what kind of camera do you have?? BTW, you mom & grandma sound fun!
DTW – Uh oh, make grandma proud now.
Natacha – Thx for stopping by, I talk a lot of shit, so sit back & be ready to be tripped out.
Sounds like love is waiting! You know what they say, you love is usually the person you least expect, so look around you & keep your eyes open.
Bygbaby
Lola Gets / October 27, 2007
Man, dont sleep on Ikeas “As Is” section!
L
Bygbaby / October 29, 2007
The As Is area usually has some great buys & I have many as is items inmy home.