Greg Molyneux Photography

New Jersey landscape and nature photography

Public Health Hazard

by

Ceramicist and potter, a hooded Jeff Ruemeli smokes the last of his cigarette as he stokes the soda kiln fires in this low key black and white portrait.

Public Health Hazard — 50mm | f/1.4 | ISO 8000 | EXP 1/40

Obligatory Disclaimer Alert: Kids, don’t be like this hobo hipster wizard. Smoking is bad for your health.

This past Thursday longtime pal, ceramicist, glass blower and acoustic romanticist, Jeff Ruemeli, invited us over to the LBI Foundation of the Arts & Sciences to check out this here soda kiln firing he’s been waxing poetic about for weeks. The outdoor oven apparatus—roughly 5 feet by 5 feet by 7 feet (not including the chimney) of what I’m guessing is some kind of volcanic brick—was quite cool; and glowed something fierce in the dark of night as he and his colleague worked diligently to get the temperature up to a balmy 2,300°F.

While I was unable to get a serviceable image of the natural gas kiln itself, I did manage to make this here modest portrait; highlighting the perils of gnarly beards and nasty cigarettes. Both insidious threats to civil society. Hide your children; hide your wife.

Without question I have a fear of portraiture; personal space and comfort issues, damn you to hell. In the future, if I find some subjects I’m comfortable enough with, it’s an area of photography I’d like to explore. As such a speedlite and portrait lens may be in my future. Hooray for cash eating hobbies!

Trackbacks

Search by Keyword

14mm 35mm 40mm 100mm barnegat bay black and white blue hour bokeh cedar run dock road cross processing echinacea flowers frozen golden hour great bay boulevard hdr high key insects landscape long beach island long exposure low key lyrically inspired macro marina monochrome motion blur new jersey peony pinelands power lines purple coneflower reflection salt marsh selected works ship bottom snow soft focus square format stafford forge wildlife management area sunset sunset park sunset point surf city weather

You can find me here

Copyright © Greg Molyneux 2014–2022

Photos from the archives

100mm macro photograph of a pastel pink hyacinth flower blossom with smooth bokeh.
Shallow depth of field landscape sunset photo of small bay waves lapping on shore
Sunset photo of layered pastel clouds, wood pilings, and a smooth water reflection
14mm wide angle sunset photograph of colorful pastel clouds overtop green salt marsh and reflected in the tide pool.
A low key, fine art, black and white macro photograph of echinacea (purple coneflower) before it progresses to bloom. This center focus floral study creates a gravitational web as the numerous stamen spiral inward.