[GALLERY] Reaper Man's Photography

[Reaper Man]

Yet another photo of james, probably not going to be using it in my final photo essay, as I aim to do the whole thing on film (it's for my black and white technique class at SCAD) but I hope to use a similar shot I have yet to scan in. I took this as a proof shot before using my 35mm SLR. (Plus, the focusing in this shot isn't all that great)

James practices learns a new song every day and reviews his music in the mornings, during his lunch break (when I took this) and in the evening. Sometimes when it's late at night, he'll not actually play, but simply practice the finger motions for the piece he's learning.

[Reaper Man]

My First Photo Essay

After many weeks of shooting and over 30 hours in the darkroom (in one week!) I have completed my black & white technique final project at SCAD. I decided to make a photo essay about a saxophonist I met during my usual wanderings about Savannah.

James Rinalducci

Saxophonist James Rinalducci wails his tunes down on River Street and in the squares of Savannah, Georgia.

After visiting Savannah for the annual Jazz Festival, James fell in love with the city and quit the restaurant business in which he worked for 25 years to make it as a musician. James promptly moved to Savannah, where he moved in with his sister, her husband, kids and their pit-bull, Castle. Interestingly, James lives in a tent in his sister’s backyard, rather than indoors. This works for James, as he says his sister’s children can be quite rowdy early in the morning, and would wake him up if he were to stay inside.

James began playing the saxophone at age 12 and stopped at age 14, when he got switched over to the tuba by his high school band director. He didn't pick up the instrument again until age 35 and hopes to never stop playing again. James plays a Conn 1928 Gold Lacquered Portrait Lady that he has fondly christened “Gilda,” after the 1946 movie starring Rita Hayworth.

James is exponentially expanding his musical repertoire, learning new tunes every week. Alongside playing tunes and improvising, he composes music based on conversations he hears and transfers their tonality into music. His conversational compositions possess a unique, flowing sound that can have short, abrupt notes alongside drawn out tones, like phrases and exclamations in conversation.

Every day, after playing in the morning, James frequents various cafés around the city to refuel and update his journal. In this journal James records his day, his earnings, people he meets and tunes he has learned or wants to learn. It is also a to-do list, the success of which varies.

After coffee, James plays until the evening then returns home and practices, composes and relaxes after a long day of playing on the street.

If ever you find yourself on River Street, in Chippewa or Reynold’s Square, keep an eye and an ear out for James and Gilda. He tells me he plays in Reynold’s Square because he can see his ultimate performing destination – the Lucas Theatre, so keep an eye out for him there too.





















Technical Stuff
All of these are silver gelatin prints, taken with Ilford HP5+ on Pentax Spotmatic II (with a 50mm f/1.4) or my new baby, a Nikon F3 (with a 50mm f/2 or 28mm f/3.5)

[InnerGoat]

bump for more photo essays

[Reaper Man]

I'm actually working on one right now.

Here's a preview:

He goes by the name River. Living nowhere and sleeping in bushes, River has been on the streets since he was 13. After 15 years of wandering from his home state of Rhode Island, River made his way to Savannah, Georgia –for now. I met River in Forsyth Park when he tried to sell me weed. As usual, I was wandering the city with a camera, when I heard a “hey, that kid looks like he smokes pot.” For those that don’t know me, I have scruffy long black hair, so I suppose I fit the demographic. I just laughed and was about to carry on my way when River motioned for me to come join him.

[Con]

[InnerGoat]

Wow, rude

[flibitijibibo]

lol'd at Con's post. The story does sound really interesting though.

I have no idea how I missed the saxophonist story, but I just read/saw it. Listing things as I read it again:
- Oh dears, I was one of those directors that had students switch instruments... but in fairness, they were always better on the new one.
- That Portrait Lady is probably worth half of Savannah! Where in God's name did he get it??
- I think my brief career in jazz was a million times slower. I probably learned like, 1 new song per gig, maybe. That ability to learn so much (chord changes, ahhhhhhhhhh) in a brief period of time is admirable.
- Those compositions alone could put him on the map. Has he ever considered publishing them?
- lol'd at the "Didn't do any of these." My Outlook calendar would have that on entire months at a time.
- Lot of sus. 4's in there...

I'm definitely looking for him if I ever stop around there. Great essay!

[Reaper Man]

Haven't taken a photo I've liked in a long time. I have a bunch of darkroom prints that I love that I need to scan, but here's a digital shot that I actually like, so.

[Syuusuke]

Wow that's pretty fucking cool.

I mean I kinda hate how confused I got at first glance, but if a photo requires a second glance it's a good shot.

When you ask to take portrait shots of people, do you usually tell them to do something specific ("turn/tilt/twist your head", "look past my ear", "blow smoke in my face", "show your tits")?

[Reaper Man]

Nope, in fact they usually ask me what they should do. I just tell them to relax, and just talk to them about whatever, taking photos so they get used to it, until they let their guard down. That's when the real portraiture begins.

I'm all about depicting people as they are; though I appreciate fashion photography/glamor portraiture, it's too commercial and fake for my liking.

Tl; dr, I'm a photojournalistic photographer.