Author: ctfuqua

I see life as full of possibilities and the world full of beautiful people possessing unique and often untapped talents. I’m a learner and connector, seeking ways to leverage the abundance in this world through strong community.

12:03am – late night insight into how poorly we treat people coming out of jail…


Prisons for profit. 

We’ve heard stories about how our government has outsourced everything from parking meters to school lunches. 

But what we’re doing with homecomers (ex-offenders) is disgraceful. 

And the offenders (pun intended) are our own state and county governments. 

Did you know…we release people from county jails in large, medium and small towns in the middle of the night, “back on the streets…literally!”

Why?

The almighty dollar!  (NOT the health and well-being of our citizens…)

“One minute after midnight counts as a day so [county correctional facilities] get their money from the state. If they release in the middle of the night, they can possibly fill that bed again and get more money for another inmate. It’s all about cash flow my man.”

This is the second time friends have asked me to pick them on their release from an overnight stay in jail. 

But this is the same sad story, whether you’re in for a night or months at a time.  

When you’ve served your time, you’re booted out without any regard for safety, convenience, re-entry success, etc. 

Granted some may want to get out as soon as they can – so the option to leave at 12:03am should be an OPTION – but not a requirement. 

Individuals should have the option of staying in until “check-out time” of like 9:00am at he latest. 

These ARE citizens, so if it costs the government a couple extra dollars, isn’t that the role of government?!
Put yourself in the situation – if you got pulled over in some remote county in Indiana, and have to spend a night or two in county jail…would you want to be dumped on the street at midnight?  Or would you want another option?

Lifestyle Photographer here. Can I get your opinion on something please?


Do you have experience or information around IP (intellectual property) or rights ownership as it relates to artists, photographers, etc. and the work they create.

If so, I’m looking for input, thoughts, information. Rather than form my own opinion from a Google search alone, I want to hear how you might react on a personal level to being included in a “random” (public space) photograph!  Read on…

Lifestyle What?

Early in their dating phase my brother Jon and his wife Michelle sold all they had and travelled around the country, chasing the best powder they could find. They lived out of the back of a converted van or SUV of some sort. They took showers at the local campsites, YMCA or community shelters. They kept in touch via mail with a post office box at their former dwelling and public email at local libraries.

I used to call him a “ski bum.”

I now call him a “lifestyle skier.”

That shows a lot more respect to him for his life choices, passions and pursuits.

And, I am pretty confident none of his siblings (e.g. me or my sister) have had a two page newspaper article written about them (as well as a Guidepost magazine story based on a true story/near-death experience they were a part of on a wintery evening…)

Nomads Settle Down
Foundation for Luxury Living
Parking Lot Philosophies

Click on each thumbnail to read the article on two lifestyle skiers

Lifestyle Photographer

So this year, I’ve started my own sometimes nomadic journey from “photography bum” to “lifestyle photographer.”

This year, I’m launching one of two solo enterprises.  

CToddCreations (www.CToddCreations.com) focuses on my passion for photography and videography (visual story-telling).

Historically, I’ve developed an interest in unusual close-up or macro- composition, particularly of nature and architecture. As in my life intentions, I try to see the world through a different lens. I try to be open to what the universe is perhaps trying to teach me about nature – or man’s efforts to construct habitats and homes.

Looking forward, I want to shift my art in two directions.

First, I want to respect my love of untouched, natural photographs. But, I also want to experiment with other artistic and creation-oriented techniques (play more with the images)

Second, I want to experiment with several ideas for expanding my work to include people subjects and people portraits.

As I think about the people part, I see these falling into four categories:

1. Contracted service to shoot personal portrait(s) for one to several individuals, especially families. This could also include professional headshots, dudeoir, etc;

2. Contracted service to shoot candid photos for a private event, where my services are contracted by the host/organizer for publicity and marketing purposes;

3. Solo shoot with candid photos at a sponsored event (public or private), where photography / videography is not rightfully and lawfully prohibited;

4. Solo shoot with candid photos of others in public spaces, where photography / videography is not rightfully and lawfully prohibited (individuals could be known or unknown to the photographer)

Where I need your help / input…

Questions come to mind, for which I’d be grateful to hear your input / suggestions / experience.

  1. What (if any) copyright, intellectual property or other “rights of ownership” laws, ordinances, etc. exist at the local (Indianapolis), state (Indiana), or federal levels – related to the “artistic work” (photograph) which is being taken by a professional photographer for revenue-generating purposes?
    • Do any of these laws, etc. impact my four “categories,” but particularly the last two?
    • How is this different from a professional photojournalist working for the AP or a local newspaper?
  2. What professional norms might exist, regarding how to be considerate of the “public” who get captured in a photograph which is being taken by a professional photographer for revenue-generating purposes?
    • If only of people I don’t know…?
    • If includes people I know, are friends or acquaintances with?
    • A group is part of an informal social community – a group of people with similar interests who gather for recreation, play, sports, the arts etc.
    • How is this different from a person taking a picture and posting it on social media sites?

Please reply here with a COMMENT, or shoot me an email or find me on Facebook!

Thanks

Todd

 

We’ve come a LONG WAY baby! #MYINDYPRIDE


This is the headline for this month’s The Word, a mainstay newspaper for the Indianapolis LGBTQ for 25+ years. This is from my frame of reference. I moved to Indy for the first time in July 1990 to take an entry level position at Eli Lilly. It was the era of Brother’s (now Ollie’s), OP’s (now Greg’s), the Metro and Jimmy’s (now the home of the Indiana Arts Council). I was barely 22 years old – the world was my oyster (literally, with my business travel) – and I was out and proud…slowly…everywhere…but work.

As I reflect upon my own journey from those first sometimes terrifying years in my career, worried what would happen at this “conservative, midwestern-values based career-oriented Fortune 100 Company” if they ever found out one of their top recruits was a “known homosexual?” I shuttered to find out…the stress at times was unbearable, wearing a mask and hiding who I was.

In those early years of coming out, I experience the Garage Party, the Grand Masquerade, Bill McKinley and Terry Woods at Jimmy’s Nightclub, the move/expansion of IYG into their current location, the Damien Center, the Bag Ladies, the Horny Hole / Unicorn, the 501, various other clubs that came and went, early Pride (without Corporate tables and national sponsors) and more… (Well, in my version of the past, they were all there then…)

Let’s take a “TBT” walk down memory lane – from then to now.  We’ve come a LONG way baby!

 

ctftbt-1
Here’s me, dressed up as a Fairy Godmother for the Grand Masquerade (early 1990’s). This was taken with a dear friend, Ron Meyers – since departed, but an important early mentor of mine. To this day, they are finding fairy dust in the crevices of his downtown condo! 😉

 

Fast forward, and I’ll be back to Indy Pride tomorrow – riding with the Indiana Men’s Motorcycle Club – also known as bear-backs – I mean, the gay men’s motorcycle club. Here I am, 25+ years later, ready to be out and about again (ah, there’s another fond memory – Bruce Seybert and Out & About!)

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Here I am, 25+ years later – ready to head “Out and Proud” again in this month’s gay pride parade.  Look for me with the Gay Men on Bikes!