Al's mind chucks

Three Little Letters….

Al Lang — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:52:52 +0000

In our crazy world today three little letters can relay many emotions. OMG. LOL. WTF. Yesterday I got one of those messages. An older three letters than many of it’s contemporaries, but far more powerful. ICU. To some this instills fear, others hope. To me it meant comfort. My brother in law Earl was moved to the ICU to comfort his exit from this world. Years of smoking left his lungs almost nonfunctional, and what little that was working was compromised by infection. His son, Dr. Tony met me and said although he is heavily medicated, and in and out of consciousness, he did get to have a final conversation with his wife and three kids at his bed side. I was relieved. Now the waiting game was on. During this I received a gift. I witnessed something that touched my soul. In-between pain meds, Earl woke up and tried to sit up. My sister, and his children helped and propped him up with pillows. His voice was soft, but not shaken. His eyes were intense, but not fearful. My sister, a deeply religious person was telling him not to worry. They were going to be OK. He would celebrate his upcoming birthday with God. There would be no more pain. No more tubes or tanks. More importantly that they, his family was going to be OK. Earl struggled to move his arm. Pale, bruised from IV ports my niece and nephew freed his arm from the restless patient gown and blanket. Slowly his hand came to rest on my sisters back in a hug. At that point I felt the purest form of love we as humans can experience. His wife of 42 years telling him they would be OK and he believing.

I was witness to pure and raw love and it left me wondering if MY soul was capable of something so pure. I would like to think so. I don’t know. One thing is for sure. I was given a glimpse at something pure and that gift will forever inspire to always try harder while I inhabit this planet.

About 7:30 this morning Earl left us. Gibson family thank you for this gift.

Rest in peace Earl. Happy Birthday!

A Golden Perspective

Al Lang — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:49:38 +0000

My work has won several awards over the years. Local & National. I provide the visual. The concept or idea was in place long before I was called in. My work was just one piece in a bigger plan. I am proud and thankful to be asked by great creatives to work on great concepts. But I have always felt the award goes to the concept creators. The idea is the winner and I was part of a support staff to the idea.

I still feel that way, but now I have a different perspective. When my Baby Book won a Gold ADDY in the Cincinnati show I felt the joy of my idea winning. Gold- Industry Self Promotion – Print. My concept.

The idea was simple. In this world of promotional e-mails, that fly by the billions into every creative’s in box, I wanted my promotion to return to the physical world. A hand assembled book so beautiful and impressive that just picking it up would make a statement about me. I challenged Mike with this, and once again he delivered a design that was more than I could have ever dreamed of! I remember telling him that even if I don’t get a single job out of this, thats OK. If somewhere a chief creative officer gets one of these 50 books and takes it into a meeting with their creative staff and says “ …we will never use this guy, but why are we not putting out work like this?”, I will consider this a total & complete success. Thank you Mike for listening to me spout wild ideas and molding those rants into this amazing book!

My perspective has also changes on what its like to be the support staff to a great concept. Without great support staff one will never reach their full potential. My baby team is beyond words! They find a way into a child’s soul and make them shine on set. It inspires me to watch you two in action. Sharon & Di you are simply the best. A client once emailed me after a shoot telling me that my baby wrangles are the best in the midwest. I responded “ midwest???… try planet earth!”

So, I think I have come full circle. From thinking its all the concept and seeing my role as a support supplier, to having my concept win and realizing I could have never won without my suppliers! Winning a Gold Addy from either side is still a win! Now the Lang Photo Baby Book is off to the regional 5th district ADDY show. No matter what happens from here on out, winning this Gold has changed my perspective forever and for the better!

After 17 Months its over!

Al Lang — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:44:47 +0000

It’s been a long time, but its over now. Funny how a bunch of rocks and the property they rest on can, overwhelm you. When you are self employed everything is on the line. Emotionally, Creatively, and of course financially. 17 Months ago I was contacted by the city and informed that my studio was targeted for relocation to make way for a new viaduct construction. I would be contacted in several months with a plan, but not to worry I will be treated fairly. As I lie awake that night, I thought to myself; define “fairly”. I realized I was facing the full weight of a city legal department coming after me. This fight has taken it toll on me. I would tell myself that this is no big deal. It’s not a bad spot on an MRI. It’s only a building. Most of you know that part of me is in the brick and timbers. I still tried to laugh, but this kind of thing can wear one down. Last week we closed on a piece of property behind the studio for access. A painful and costly ordeal that reached new lows in corporate greed. About seven and a half cents per square inch for an old EPA Super Fund site (all clean now) in lower Price Hill.

Thank the Good Lord we only had to buy a quarter acre!! This should have put me at ease but there was so much mud slinging by attorneys in three states and dealing with corporate ownership out of the UK that the finality of this ordeal it is just starting to sink in. I want to thank my family for helping me smile and laugh. That handful of clients and supplers that had to deal with me after my attorney would call and tell me to sit down. My corporate and real estate legal team ARE amazing. My litigation team was always on board, although they we not needed I’m sure their reputation had a good deal with bringing all parties to the table. Also huge thanks to all the other River Imaging brands that were committed to the Ri business model, no matter what, where ever that building would end up. Last but not least, a big thank you to the Pinot brothers Grigio & Noir who always gave me good advise. The bottom line is Ri stays put in this great building. All I have to do now is to start designing new signage and parking. In closing Michel Kiedel is one of my great creatives that I love to work for and even a greater friend. I told him the other day that I needed to take a 30 day emotional shower. This has been equal to living in a portolet for 17 months. Sometimes you are in the blue water running for cover! Sometimes you are adding to the blue water. But at the end of the day you have been in a portolet for a very long time. You look like Poo. you smell like Poo, and you feel like Poo. So I’m going to take that 30 day emotional shower. I’m pretty sure I won’t look any better. I’m sure I will smell better. The goal is to feel better. I can hear the water now! Amen.

Meltdown!

Al Lang — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:50:48 +0000

Wow! Who would have thought this economic crunch would be so deep. In hind sight we all should have seen this one coming, but hind sight is 20-20.

I have seen a fair share of clients given their walking papers. It is sad to see friends/clients worrying about when their cobra will run out. Many of my other clients that are still on the employed grid are continuing looking over their shoulder. When the big guy comes in “busy looking busy” continually seems to be the safe route.

Slowdowns, recessions and meltdowns are all part of the real economic process. Just as the good years of bonuses and good nights sleep. In a way I did see this coming. Not that I am a visionary, but I have clients that cross all levels of budgets and needs. I listened to them and reacted to what they said. Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency. We love your quality and your service, but we all need to find ways to become more efficient. These conversations planted the seed of Ri. River Imaging is the product of this foresight.
A co-op of photo guys and retouching sharing one great studio. All the brands at Ri have
have benefited from this co-op of efficiencies. Not to mention the cross over work, the creative input and the new friendships these professionals have brought into my life.
Ri has been a key to weathering this storm on all levels.

All storms pass in time. The clean up will be messy, but will put everyone back on the path to fulfilling nights of sleep. Creatives will be working ( really working) again. Clients that have lost market share will come sprinting back their agency crying for help. This will all happen. Its part of this crazy cycle we call advertising! We chose this business for all the wild rides. I think that has been my draw over the years!

So I am taking a page of from one of my clients. I am calling all my clients and telling them that I am in the same boat as you. I have been around for 20 years, and have at least that many more, especially since my 401k is now a 201k! When the pooh hits the fan, we will be here to help you through and we will all make a living again. Efficiency, Efficiency, Efficiency, is here to stay. No doubt in my mind. When the pooh starts flying this will still be the number one rule. Ri is Efficiency.

I am the eternal optimist! The glass is always half full, even on its side. So clean off those sunglasses! We will need them in a few months!

PS- There is one open spot at River Imaging. If you know of a photo guy or gal looking to join for Efficiency, drop me a line. www.riverimaging.com

Later!

Thanks little Noah!

Al Lang — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:27:07 +0000

Todays Chuck is titled “Noah”

This is Noah. His mom Gina has been a client for several years and a few different creative business units.

At one of those units we photographed babies for private label diaper packaging. Then my oldest son I-Man was

a spunky toddler, perfect for a test Pull-Up package for the world largest retailer. Perfect cause well, dad was shooting and he was cheap. Anyway, one of the props for the shoot was an classic wood rocking horse. Ian fell in love with the horse. He logged many a groves in the hardwood floors at home. Couple years later his brother the H-Bomb fell in love with that same horse. Hayden won the Belmont on him, twice! As GameBoys and baseball began to rule, the horse got dusty & lonely. So when Gina called last spring to shoot some food and showed up in maternity drag, I knew our friend would ride again.

Gina could not make last falls Family Photo Day event at the studio, cause, well she just had Noah. I called a few weeks back to ask if she was willing to adopt loyal & somewhat lonely rocking horse that was looking to train yet another young boy! I was delighted to know that Noah will be the next to ride!

Since they missed Family Photo Day, Gina & Rob brought little Noah down to the studio last Sunday. It was such a joy creating some simple fun images. No layouts. No Brand Photography principals. Not even my baby team! Just the three of us capturing whatever emotion this future pretend jockey wanted to show us. It reminded why I got into this profession after all. In this current economic climate all of us in advertising are struggling in this was a pure shot in the arm for my creativity!

Thanks Little Noah!

Al-Chucks

Hey Everyone!

Al Lang — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:15:08 +0000

Hello and welcome to my blog.

My blog (mind chucks) will not be like the the average blog. For those of you who know me you understand and are laughing. I am a visual boy and a creature of passion. My family, my work, my friends and the Charity I support are what I live for. If you are expecting perfect grammar and spelling I am afraid you will be dissssssappointed! In many cases I simply make up words to communicate a thought. Those are called “Al- isms” and I’m sure you will learn a few.

My first chuck is titled “Sam”.

I departed photography school in 1981, YES, I’m showing my age! After a couple of jobs, a small studio and a corporate in-house gig I landed at the door of Sheppard & Asso. Sam Sheppard hired me to run his in house photo studio. There I met some of the most creative people I have ever met in my life. Many of which are creative directors in the present. It was amazing working with all these people in the start of my photo life. Being young and stupid I thought this was the normal in the advertising world. Looking back I can see this was a once in a lifetime collection of creatives. And Sam was at the helm. He was the bomb of all hand lettering artist in Cincinnati. There I go dating myself again! Dam! Anyway, Sam was talented big time. He taught me and my guess most of us what true quality was. To this day the concept of “good enough” makes me shiver in disscust. I even find myself at home doing some mindless yard work, tired after baseball practice noticing the few weeds I missed and I can’t help myself from pulling everything back out to complete the job. I carry that with me today at the studio on a $150.00 product shot or a $50K product launch. Even helping my sons field a ground ball my core rules me. This concept of true quality has embedded itself into my core, and Sam played a part in that. Thank you, Sam.

I left Sheppard & Asso in 1990 on very bad terms. You see we all have our demons. Some of us can control them and others the demons win. The demons won in Sam’s case and ulitimatly he lost everything. I was the one of the first to depart and start my own studio. The end was painful and I owe my wife for keeping me sane. I never spoke with Sam again, but through the grape vine heard tidbits from time to time.

The grape vine gave me one tough one last week. I heard Sam was in a serious motorcycle crash in Flordia. A drunk driver in a SUV delivered a nasty blow. The last I heard was Sam had lost a leg, was put on a ventaloter , and was in the start of renal failure. I remember that conversation when my father past. I hope Sam recovers and lives a full and complete life. If not I can only think of the words in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer”s Stone…..” to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”

In all my heart I wish you the best Sam, on whatever path lie before you!

Al-Chucks.

Hello world!

Al Lang — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:01:25 +0000

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