Seufert's Scenes

Cape Cod Photo of the Week: Oyster River Aerial

Link: http://www.CapeCodWeddingPhoto.com

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Photos from the Cape Cod National Seashore Exhibit

Link: http://www.CapeCodWeddingPhoto.com

Latest News from Christopher Seufert Photography

Where:
Cape Cod Community Media Center Gallery
307 Whites Path
Yarmouth, MA  02664

When:
January 5 to February 5, 2010

Photographer Christopher Seufert spent three weeks at two different shacks in the Provincelands wilderness of the Cape Cod National Seashore in the summer of 2008.  Here, he explored the primal, beating heart of Cape Cod with his still camera,
video camera, and Neumann KU-100 binaural microphone.  This one-time exhibit of large framed photos marks the release of his hard cover photography book, companion audio CD, and short film.

The exhibit will be open January 5, 2010 and run to February 5, 2010.  Cape Cod’s channel 17 will be airing his companion 15-minute film throughout, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, and Chatham during this period as well.

The book can be ordered online at http://www.CapeCodPhoto.net and the audio soundtrack is now available at iTunes as Cape Cod Soundscapes Vol. 11.

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Dune Shack Life Photo Exhibit Opens

Link: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/966497

The Craine Gallery in Orleans, MA (in Snow Library, 67 Main Street) will host a reception for photographer Christopher Seufert on Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 1pm to 3pm. His exhibit of framed prints, "Dune Shack Life: Photos from the Cape Cod National Seashore", will include companion multimedia content: a short film screening. the release his hard cover companion book, as well as a CD of natural soundscapes recorded with the Neumann KU-100 head microphone.

The photo exhibit of framed prints will be up and for sale for the month of December. The series is a photographer's journal of his 3-week stay in the primal heart of Cape Cod in the dune shacks of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

http://www.CapeCodPhoto.net

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Cape Cod Photography Book Signing Today

Link: http://www.CapeCodWeddingPhoto.com

Hi Everyone, 

Just a quick note: I have a signing for my four Chatham and Cape Cod photography books today at the Signature Shop at Chatham Bars Inn from 2 to 4pm.  I'll also be releasing my new book (pictured above) entitled "Photos from the Cape Cod National Seashore."  This book comes with a free CD of natural sounds from the Provincelands recorded in binaural audio with the Neuman KU-100 head microphone.

You can see more about the event here

http://www.chathaminfo.com/

If you or your family are looing for a unique local Cape Cod gift come on down and start the Christmas season,

Christopher Seufert

http://www.ChathamPhoto.com

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Cape Cod Photo of the Week: Illustrator Edward Gorey

Link: http://www.EdwardGorey.net

Edward Gorey at the old Cotuit Center for the Arts in October, 1996, which has since burned down.

I shot a documentary with the active and uncharacteristically eager illustrator Edward Gorey, who died at his home in Yarmouth in April of 2000 for the last five years of his life.  Though the documentary is still winding its way through the channels of red tape at his estate the video clips and photos I shot of his house continue to make "news."

Most recently mentions of the documentary project and the photos of his house as he left it spread onto a dozen sites, why, I'm not exactly sure.  Here's a sampling.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/afterword/archive/2009/09/24/bookmarks-inside-edward-gorey-s-house-diy-dan-brown-a-book-trailer-hit.aspx

http://blog.magersandquinn.com/2009/09/at-home-with-edward-gorey.html

http://blog.gesteves.com/post/195102794/edward-goreys-workspace-desk-by-christopher

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/09/23/

http://community.livejournal.com/edwardgorey

You can see the photos, snaps really, of the way he left his house, which has since been dismantled, sold, and then partially reassembled here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mychatham/sets/72157604189279962/

It goes to show you how dynamic the internet can be if you put yourself out there and these types of cycles of ongoing interest in my film project keep me determined to make it happen.... eventually, despite the work and cost of realizing the release of an independent documentary in the world today.  It's also interesting for me to find that there's just as much interest out there in the photo images of his house, as in the film images of the man himself.

More Soon,

Christopher Seufert

http://www.MooncusserFilms.com

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Cape Cod Photo of the Week- Dawn at Chatham's Stage Harbor

Link: http://www.AuthorZoom.com

Now that Labor Day is passed we Cape Codders can go out and begin our own summer!

I shot this week's featured photograph at the end of October one dawn in 2006.  It was selected this year as the cover of the official 2009/2010 Chatham Chamber of Commerce Guide. They are also selling a poster of it for $10 in downtown Chatham and at their visitor's center and it's been wildly popular, now it's it's 2nd printing of 500.  Great exposure....

If you're interested, I'll be signing copies of this poster at Chatham T's (583 Main Street) in downtown Chatham on Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 2 to 4pm. 

See more info at Facebook

©Christopher Seufert Photography

http://www.ChathamPhoto.com

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Remembering the Real Walter Cronkite

Link: http://www.MooncusserFilms.com

Before I did photography.... and audio... and author marketing.... and multimedia in general, my company was just a video production company, with half of my projects coming from here on the Cape and the others over the bridge.

Now that I'm married and here full time I don't do as much film as before due to the travel requirements.  So, I had a great time this week remembering one of them however, a documentary narrated by veteran journalist Walter Cronkite.  I directed the film for the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center about Guglielmo Marconi's wireless station here in Chatham.  I was in 6th grade when he retired so I never considered it a possibility that I'd one day get to work with him, let alone direct his narration one on one over headphones. 

When he died last weekend I received an interview request late at night from CNN and early the next morning found myself in the telephone calling in a live interview to their anchors all over the world.  It was horrifying but I was honored to be able to talk about my experience over the winter of 2004 working with him and finding out that he was just as sincere and down to earth as his reputation. Here's a clip from it.

Though I was sad to hear about Mr. Cronkite, who led an amazing life,  I remembered how much attention he and his staff gave our script that winter, his generosity in donating his time (and that of his staff), and also how he hung around and talked to us for 20 minutes after the narration was cut.  

Here's the CNN transcript...

---------

WHITFIELD: Walter Cronkite's voice gave credence and authority to more than just news. He also used his famous pipes in a documentary about Italian inventory Guglielmo Marconi. 

Chris Seufert, producer and founder of Mooncusser Films, worked with Cronkite on the project. He joins us now by phone from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. So glad you could be with us, sorry under such circumstances. Tell me about your memories of Walter Cronkite.

CHRIS SEUFERT (via telephone), PRODUCER, FOUNDER, MOONCUSSER FILMS: Hi, how are you? 

Actually, I am not as old as some of the people who have much more direct experience with the reality and the myth of Walter Cronkite. But, you know, I was in sixth grade when he retired. 

But I am old enough to remember being in -- in my pajamas in the early 70s playing with trucks on the floor and seeing those helicopters swirling over the jungle canopy and hearing that voice, you know, that was sort of the nightly narration. 

So, yes, when I began this project with Walter and worked on the script over many months, and then we finally walked into his office, it was certainly with some nervousness as I walked down the hallway toward that --

WHITFIELD: Give me an idea of what was the first encounter was like. Yes, you knew him as the myth, this bigger than life man. But then when you saw him and you are now face to face, were your knees knocking? Give me an idea what kind of butterflies you had in you.

SEUFERT: I was certainly shaking in my boots. 

We had had some contact with him over the months before that I started to feel pretty comfortable with who he was. He was really behind the script and worked with us in a very detailed way to shape it into something he'd be proud of. 

So I really admired that, because a lot of people that would -- you know, a lot of people as famous as he who donate their narration to a project like this is --

WHITFIELD: Do you know how it even came about, by the way, how you were able to convince him to depart from news and be the voice in this documentary?

SEUFERT: Well, there was a producer on staff who had friend of a friend who knew that Walter was crazy about wireless radio. And so we knew someone that knew him, and basically got the word out to him that we were doing a documentary about wireless radio, and it sort of -- this untold story. 

And he accepted right away, to my complete and utter shock. But we, I went into New York with several of the crew members, and we were ushered up to his floor at CBS. And it hardly look like the office of a retired man, I must say. It was just like any working professional.

WHITFIELD: Really, meaning it just seemed very down to earth, very ordinary even?

SEUFERT: No. It was pretty intimidating. And, uou know, it's right in the center of Manhattan. And he has the whole floor. 

And his staff was extraordinarily professional and dedicated to him. And, you know, they worked round-the-clock. This was not a man that was -- you know, moth-balled yet. 

So when we walked down the hallway and you hear that voice, your first reaction is someone left the TV on.

WHITFIELD: That booming voice.

SEUFERT: And then we walked in, it was quite the opposite. He was not intimidating at all.

WHITFIELD: That's lovely. 

Well, thanks so much for sharing your experiences and having this brush with greatness, the greatness of Walter Cronkite. Thanks so much. 

And, of course, we have been hearing from you as well. So many people have been sharing their memories of Walter Cronkite.

----------

The photos we took of Walter that day were syndicated to a network of 120 tv stations across the country from Hawaii to Maine so our little Chatham project has gotten quite a boost from Walter's project.  Thanks to him this short documentary is now on the map for much more than just Guglielmo Marconi, but for being one of the last professional projects completed by this veteran journalist, who may have been a part of more historical moments in the 20th century than any other single person. And we had a blast with him too.

Here's an article that Tim Wood wrote at the Cape Cod Chronicle wrote highlighting the more local component of the Mr. Cronkite's involvement.

Need a film or video shot?  Come by my studio here at 2469 Main Street in Chatham or contact me here

Christopher Seufert

Cape Cod Video Production

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Family Beach Portrait Mania

Link: http://www.ChathamPhoto.com

Well, it's mid-July and the season is in full swing for everyone doing any kind of business here on the Cape.  After a sluggish winter (which ones aren't here commercially) this is the time for photographers to book up on their weddings, family portrait sessions, and events.  Work like a lunatic now and enjoy what's left of the summer come October, that's the plan here.

At this time of year I'll sometimes have two family portraits scheduled at the end of the day, when the light is most flattering for portraits.  When you have an hour to shoot 15 to 30 people in full group and individual set ups now's not the time to agonize for 15 minutes over flash settings.  So, journalistic style shooting is the order of the day.

It's actually very difficult shooting when it comes to lighting and, flash or not, you've got to have a grasp of your camera in manual settings, and not just full auto.  Why?  Because the camera meter gets fooled all the time.  Typically I shoot at several frame rates, with and without flash, for each setup and go for as much variation as possible within 30 seconds or so with just about as many images to choose from when I master them out later.  Shooting this many also avoids awkward hair moments, blinking, mouth distortions due to talking, and odd kid moments in the back row.

You might see this type of photography as pretty basic but it really can be a trial by fire for even the most experienced photographers, especially the subject wrangling part.  I really do love it and have grown by leaps and bounds shooting as many as I do.  The location changes, the sun and weather is always different, the clothing and exposure problems are limitless, and still, every customer deserves 100 to 200 final images that are crisp and color balanced, no exceptions.

This is why you'll see me leaving my camera at home when I'm out with the wife and kids on summer nights.  I've just filled both cameras and the batteries are all on charges.  Let's hope the weather has fully recovered and those of us who depend on it for a living can get enough work down now to have our own summer come September, when the go carts, ice cream shops, and bumper boats are still open.  Oh, and the water is still warm enough for swimming.

Need a family portrait or know someone who does, just let me know.

Christopher Seufert

http://www.CapeCodPhoto.net

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Cape Cod Photo of the Week- Back to the Beach

Link: http://www.CapeCodPhoto.net

 The back screen door at the Fowler Shack, just steps from Peaked Hill Beach and the best blueberries you've ever tasted.

Spring really is here and it's time to throw open the windows and doors again.  And by next month the summer and the beach make the welcome backdrop to our daily lives...  Everyone knows that summer on Cape Cod really begins Memorial Day Weekend, right?

 To celebrate I'm having a cocktail reception/opening of my new framed photos at the Munson Gallery on Sunday, May 24th from roughly 4:00pm to 7:30pm (time to be announced). The event is sponsored by Bohman Thayer Real Estate and will feature the prospective images for my very beachy coffee table book entitled "Dune Shack Life: Photos from the Cape Cod National Seashore", inspired by my three weeks' residency out at the shacks last summer.

I'll also be having an opening of the final images in December at the Crane Gallery in Orleans (Snow Library), which will also feature multimedia components, such as audio soundscapes and a screening of the companion short film I'm also producing.

Monitor the ongoing progress here

http://www.CapeCodPhoto.net

thanks!

Christopher Seufert Photography

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Cape Cod Photo of the Week- Gillnetting Boat Allegedly Used for Whale Harrassment

Link: http://www.ChathamPhoto.com

"Unicorn", the boat owned by Chatham gillnetter Robert Eldridge Jr, that was allegedly (very allegedly) used to harrass a humpback whale last summer. 

©Christopher Seufert Photography
ChathamPhoto.com

And an alternate wide shot

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