• Home
  • MGM’s Photos
    • Fashion/Glamour
    • Nudes
    • Street
  • Shoutouts
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Commentary
  • About
  • Contact

Michael Grace-Martin

~ Photography, Art & Life

Michael Grace-Martin

Tag Archives: photography

Smithsonian Center for American Art, Washington DC (July 2016)

16 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by mgm in MGM's Photos, Street

≈ Comments Off on Smithsonian Center for American Art, Washington DC (July 2016)

Tags

color, museum, photography, street, washington dc

Share

click image to see it larger..

Washington DC (July 2016)

Washington DC (July 2016)



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

2016 Ithaca Festival Parade

13 Monday Jun 2016

Posted by mgm in MGM's Photos, Street

≈ Comments Off on 2016 Ithaca Festival Parade

Tags

candid, color, parade, photography

Share

I have been taking photos at the Ithaca Festival parade since I owned my first serious digital camera (in 2003). Some years I’ve taken lots of photos; other years, I’ve taken only a few (e.g., less than 30). This year, all my family members had other things they wanted to do during the parade. So for the first time ever, I went to the parade by myself.

Unlike my photographer pal who was an official festival photographer, I stood in one place on the parade route while he wandered around the whole time. It’s kind of ironic, because usually I like to wander around continuously at events while photographing. But I’ve photographed the parade from one location so often over the years (because I’m usually sitting in one spot with my family), I guess it just seemed the “natural” thing to do..:p.

Just after the parade, I walked around a bit and took some candid shots. I also took a few crowd candids the next day during a short walk through the festival. I’ll include some of the latter candids after the parade photos for the heck of it.

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival
2016 Ithaca Festival

 



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Parking in the City, Pittsburgh, PA (Nov 2015)

07 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by mgm in MGM's Photos, Street

≈ Comments Off on Parking in the City, Pittsburgh, PA (Nov 2015)

Tags

cars, color, photography, pittsburgh, sky, street

Share

click the image to see it larger..

Parking in the City, Pittsburgh, PA (Nov 2015)

Parking in the City, Pittsburgh, PA (Nov 2015)



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

My Weekend at a Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix Tournament in Pittsburgh (Nov 2015)

05 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by mgm in MGM's Photos, Uncategorized

≈ Comments Off on My Weekend at a Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix Tournament in Pittsburgh (Nov 2015)

Tags

candid, card, event, mtg, photography, tournament

Share

tournament room entrance

My son is an avid Magic: The Gathering (MTG) card player. MTG is a trading card game that was begun in 1993 and is now played by millions of players worldwide.

He usually satisfies his appetite for playing MTG each week at the local game store that hosts Friday Night Magic (FNM), a weekly MTG tournament with an entrance fee and store credit to the top finishers. FNM is apparently a weekly event in many cities across the US and internationally.

My son has been playing most weeks over the past couple of years. Players at these local tournaments typically range from about 12 or 13 years old to adults in their early 30s. My son is a freshman in high school and there are many players from his high school and the surrounding two colleges at the local event.

A couple of months ago, my son told me a MTG “Grand Prix” tournament was coming to Pittsburgh (a 5.5 hour drive from our home) and he was wondering if he could go. My typical parental response was: “Maybe”. As it got closer, we discovered our friend’s sons wanted to go too and didn’t have a ride. When my friend said she’d cover the hotel if I drove, I agreed to go.

players at one of the match assignment boards

players at one of the match assignment boards (note: you can click on any image to see a large slide show of all the photos)

While the tournaments at the local game store have something like 15-25 participants, this Grand Prix tournament in Pittsburgh advertised a limit of 2,500 players…which it reached (sold out) a couple of days before it began. I don’t know what the capacity of the convention center (where it took place) was, but it had to be at least twice that to host the total number of people in attendance–i.e., the players, the tournament officials and judges, the vendors, and the friends and parents of the players.

We weren’t able to attend the first day (which mostly consisted of “side events”), but got to the convention center before 8am the next morning so my son and his friends could fill out all the paperwork they needed to complete before the “player’s meeting” at 9am, which was followed shortly by the official beginning of the weekend tournament.

My son was very excited and nervous because it was his first big tournament outside of the local FNM tournaments he was accustomed to. This was also my first time attending a Grand Prix tournament. And even though I wasn’t expecting to do much photography at the tournament, I had to do something with the time I was forced to spend there..!

Observations

Big Production
This tournament is a huge production, especially the first day when there are 2,5000 players playing 9 matches over almost 12 hours!

So, not only is there an extensive staff coordinating all these matches and keeping track of the results of each match (and then coming up with the new matches based on the results of each round), but there are also several MTG-related and food vendors selling their wares and holding side events all around the perimeter of the room and outside the conference room doors, not to mention the live broadcasting and video being produced to both report on and augment the tournament activities. It’s quite a “happening”.

tournament coordination central

tournament coordination central

production involving game commentators & pros

production involving game commentators & pros

more production going on..

more production going on..

MTG vendor

MTG vendor

portion of extensive event staff

portion of extensive event staff

VIP lounge

VIP lounge

Gender & Age Breakdown
Based on my experience with the local game store tournaments, I was expecting a lot of teenage boys. Well, the observation of it being primarily male was certainly correct (had to be close to 95% male), but the median age seemed to be closer to something like 25 years old.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Mostly male players

mostly male players

mostly male players

Effects of a Sedentary Game
Like most card games, there’s a lot of sitting involved. With my son–who is thin as a rail, has a lot of nervous energy, and is still young–the results of all this sitting isn’t visible and hasn’t caught up to him weight-wise. One of the stereotypes of a MTG player is being pudgy or quite overweight with their quite sizable butt crack in view at the back of their less than full back chair. Other common stereotypes of a typical player are: wearing a cap (often a baseball cap), wearing a t-shirt and/or sweatshirt, having facial hair, and wearing eyeglasses.

The food provided at the event was what you might expect: hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, french fries, onion rings, etc…the type of mostly fried food you’d find at food truck or stand. Not a particularly good fit for sedentary game playing.

eating at the Grand Prix

eating at the Grand Prix

Grand Prix food court condiment station

Grand Prix food court condiment station

sedentary playing

sedentary playing

:p

:p

Back Packs Everywhere
Because the players have to keep their cards & playing mats with them and be ready to race to their next match, nearly every player is carrying a back pack…

row of back pack wearing players

row of back pack wearing players

more back packs

more back packs

any back pack will do

any back pack will do

Female Presence
Though the players are primarily male, there are a few female players (some sporting a sexy nerdy or goth look)…and they also make an appearance as glamorous and heroic characters in the game itself.

female game character

female game character

match assignment board

match assignment board

rare woman MTG player

rare woman MTG player

The Vendors Reflect the Players
The vendors seems to be a bunch that reflect or resemble their customers…:p

MTG vendor

MTG vendor

MTG vendor

MTG vendor

MTG vendor

MTG vendor

Concluding Remarks
I must admit that the number of people crowded into the conference center on that first day was pretty overwhelming…especially when everyone was up between matches trying to quickly find the one of 1,250 table locations for their next match! I had to get out of there, but my son was a trooper…and even though I know he doesn’t like crowds, he stayed and played all 9 of his matches that first day (with a winning record..:D) over the full 12 hours.

I’m not sure I ever need to attend another one of these tournaments; but at least I’ll know what to expect if my son comes to me again about another nearby Grand Prix MTG tournament that’s only 8 hours away by car..(!!!)

Here are more photos from the tournament..
(note: you can click on any image to see a large slide show of all the photos)

managing game results
between matches
2nd day match with onlookers

one of the game result keepers
rare woman MTG player
tournament staff

MTG vendor
vendor MTG table
rare player with a family in attendance

non-tournament play
female MTG character
on their way to a 2nd day side event

between matches
ongoing MTG production
side event staff

side event staff
crowded match table
male MTG character

headwear
ongoing match
studio production area

crowded match table
2nd day match



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Good Food (Country Cafe Series) by Michael Grace-Martin

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by mgm in Fashion/Glamour, MGM's Photos

≈ Comments Off on Good Food (Country Cafe Series) by Michael Grace-Martin

Tags

art, color, fashion, food, photography

Share

click the image to see it larger..

Good Food (Country Cafe Series)

Good Food (Country Cafe Series)



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Dye For (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

18 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by mgm in MGM's Photos, Nudes

≈ Comments Off on Dye For (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

Tags

art, blur, color, female, nude, photography, woman

Share

click image to see it larger..

Dye For (Oct 2015)

Dye For (Oct 2015)



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Crash (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

18 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by mgm in MGM's Photos, Nudes

≈ Comments Off on Crash (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

Tags

art, blur, color, nude, photography

Share

click the image to see it larger..

Crash (Oct 2015)

Crash (Oct 2015)



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Seen Reading (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

15 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by mgm in MGM's Photos, Nudes

≈ Comments Off on Seen Reading (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

Tags

bw, fine art, nudity, photography

Share

click the image to see it larger..

Seen Reading (Oct 2015)

Seen Reading (Oct 2015)



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Spent (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

15 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by mgm in MGM's Photos, Nudes

≈ Comments Off on Spent (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

Tags

art, nude, photography, sepia

Share

click the image to see it larger..

_MG_8146



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

Cottage Sun (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

14 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by mgm in Fine Art, MGM's Photos, Nudes

≈ Comments Off on Cottage Sun (Oct 2015) by Michael Grace-Martin

Tags

color, female, nude, photography

Share

click the image to see it larger..

Cottage Sun (Oct 2015)

Cottage Sun (Oct 2015)



Visit Michael's Art Photography Portfolio at SaatchiArt.com!

← Older posts

MGM’s Twitter Feed

Twitter
Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

@cbouzy I'm moving my Twitter account over to Spoutible. Already started an account at spoutible.com/mgracemar 😀

reply retweet favorite
8:32 pm · April 7, 2023
Twitter
Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

I think I'm just going to move over to Spoutible because I like how they're doing things over there. Check it out and maybe follow me there at spoutible.com/mgracemar

reply retweet favorite
10:26 pm · April 6, 2023
Twitter
Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

Saratoga Racetrack (Aug 2019) #streetphoto #streetphotography #colorphotography #eventphotography #candidphotography #saratogany #saratogaracetrack #photography pic.twitter.com/rNRYx2T23F

reply retweet favorite
6:20 pm · January 25, 2023
Twitter
Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

Seat at the Table (2011) #portraitphotography #portrait #portraiture #female #woman #throwbackthursday #throwback #bnwportrait #bnw #bnwphoto #photography pic.twitter.com/CIMurIxGGb

reply retweet favorite
9:56 pm · January 17, 2023
Twitter
Michael Grace-Martin
Michael Grace-Martin
@mgmsbrain

Grassroots Festival (July 2022) #street #streetphotography #photography #eventphotography #candidphotography #people #grassrootsfestival #trumansburg #streetshot #fashionstyle pic.twitter.com/xd2rsmO3bu

reply retweet favorite
9:55 pm · January 17, 2023
Follow @MGMSBRAIN

Subscribe to this blog!

 Subscribe via your own reader

Hosted by:

Recent Posts

  • My Latest Photos and Tweets
  • Fall Fashion (Oct 2019) by Michael Grace-Martin
  • Smithsonian Center for American Art, Washington DC (July 2016)
  • The Great New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY (Sept 2016)
  • 2016 Ithaca Festival Parade
Easy way to support this site: Buy Toilet Paper!

Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Chateau by Ignacio Ricci.