Nifty Durham

a photoblog of cool things in the Triangle NC area [ We've MOVED ] See the newest posts at NiftyDurham.com

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See the Latest:

I’m now posting my newest content on our main site, go check it out:

NiftyDurham.com

(Including this post, about a behind the scenes shoot for DPAC during the Grinch)

Always know when something new gets posted— Follow:

@NiftyDurham on the Twitters

@HuthPhoto Twitter  |  @HuthPhoto on Instagram

Thanks for sharing the Durham love with us!

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Nifty Buttons— Want One?

Have you gotten your NiftyDurham button yet?

We always have them on us (look for the brown photo man-purse satchel & black Fuji camera... and listen for the laughter).

Just ask... maybe you’ll even get one of the new limited-edition ones with the bull or the Lucky smokestack. 

Pro Tip: we often hide them on bulletin boards around town and on the large, metal ‘Bull-etin’ board at the ATC. Look closely.

NiftyDurham Photos On Display:

The bull and lots of our other NiftyDurham photos were just purchased, and are now up in every room and a lobby gallery as part of a $6 million hotel renovation near Duke Hospital.. more on that soon!

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Dr. Laughem

So, there’s this awesome spot you can sit and chill at the ATC. The book case has used books you can buy cheap and really comfy chairs. If you want to find this spot, walk to the water tower and turn toward the DPAC side of things. It’s right next to Cuban Revolution, and near stairs to American Underground.

But the part I love best is seeing what weird things people do with the letter blocks on display. This was one from over the winter that made me smile...

And the other part I like about this shot is the appropriate ‘live, laugh... ‘ below and the weird witch legs above.

photo by: HuthPhoto

at the American Tobacco Campus, in laugh-filled Durham, NC

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We’re Art Geniuses

Or at least our reflections are.

This was a truly wonderful show at NCMA. 

We’re always there for inspiration, and if you didn’t know, you can go to all ‘normal’ galleries for free at NCMA all the time.  (It’s only special shows you pay for. )

What a gem... and I should know, I’m a genius.

photo by: HuthPhoto

at the NC Museum of Art, Raleigh NC

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Fountain Cowboy

Seen at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

photo by: HuthPhoto

at the amazing Sarah P. Duke Gardens 

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All About Da Bull

They show up everywhere... here’s someone adorning their Bull City car at DPAC.

photo by: HuthPhoto

at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Downtown Durham NC

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#2

My second dog post of the day... yep, that’s why I called it that ;-)

photo by: HuthPhoto

at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham NC

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Do as I Say

Or not.

 I love snapping Durham’s love affair with doggies.

photo by: HuthPhoto

Taken at dog-friendly American Tobacco Campus in dog-crazy Durham NC

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Duke Twins

It’s Duke Chapel times two.

As I was doing a bit of a photo-tour around Duke with my visiting chum Sam Oliver, I loved all the ‘twin’ items in this scene (even if the young ladies disappointed by not really being actual twins ;-)

photo by: HuthPhoto

at Duke Chapel, Duke University

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First Responders Project

If you appreciate what our first responders do for Durham, you’ll enjoy our project documenting them for the Durham Chamber. 

It was a terrific week, meeting all of the men and women on the front lines keeping us safe. We photographed everything from our Emergency Communications Center (911), the Sheriff’s Department and EMS. 

The Chamber particularly wanted to give respect to departments of all sizes, so we were out in Lebanon and Bahama with their fire departments, and had the joy to photograph the Duke Police team in front of Duke Chapel.

We were particularly surprised how loose everyone was with us... goofing around, taking selfies, etc. When that bell rings, they are all business, but it was great seeing the regular day to day side of these folks as well.

Another great aspect of the project is that we then shared all the images with the departments, so they have access to some unique, professional shots to show off what they do each day.

See a gallery of our favorite images HERE.

photos by: HuthPhoto

in our hometown of Durham NC and through Durham County

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Let’s (almost) Dance

Getting ready for a choreography number at PlayMakers Rep, the Summer Youth Conservatory students relax for a second. 

I love the Chorus Line feel of this moment, and of course all different the kinds of shoes & gestures...

See my behind the scenes photo-story from the creation of Violet at PlayMakers SYC HERE.

photo by: HuthPhoto

taken at PlayMakers Repertory Company at UNC Chapel Hill NC

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No Cruising

Stopping big-time crime in little Benson, NC.

Disclaimer... I love Benson... such a cute town. This just happens to be a less-attractive area :-)  It is sort of endearing that they still have these signs up around town.

photo by: HuthPhoto

taken in cruise-safe Benson, NC

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Leaping Into Fall

Oliver is up for a jump just about anywhere...

As we’re leaping into the fall, I just wanted to say— remember to enjoy yourself. Just because we have work, and bills, and troubles... doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each day in our nifty hometown. 

And for personal reasons, can I say— tell folks around you that you love them, that they are appreciated, and please let’s be kind to everyone we meet. It could be our last opportunity, or be just what they needed to hear. And together, we can keep the tone of our hometown warm (and of course, funky and dirty).

photo by: HuthPhoto

in our furthest out Triangle city to date on NiftyDurham, Benson NC.

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Creative Durham

In what other town of our size can you just pop into a cool gallery like the Power Plant Gallery and there’s a photo artist brainstorming and chatting about her work— in the middle of some Friday afternoon?

We had the best time talking photo and photo education with artist and teacher MJ Sharp. You can see a peek at her work above, and she was sorting through what pieces she loved and what her final project would become.

Colin and I loved MJ’s work. I can’t say enough how easy it is to make cool things into cool photos... but how about a regular day with family, or bugs, or your backyard at night. MJ’s work shows the depth that comes from playing with ideas and just plain shooting things over and over to see what’s there.

You can learn more about MJ on her site, and see some work HERE.

photos by: HuthPhoto

at the American Tobacco Campus in the  Power Plant Gallery in creative Durham NC.

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Very Nifty story. Lots of real life & local connections here. Also check out the video interviews. So much background we don't realize.

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Where’s Durham-O ?

Wow, that didn’t work, but you get the idea.

This was our first Back Porch Music on the Lawn event at the ATC and we were amazed at the turnout (filling the lawn natch, but also filling both sides of the walkways to either side... and this was for Bluegrass music— which is awesome and all, but you just might not expect to fight the crowd to see it). 

Well, in Durham, we turn out for stuff. And boy, it was a lovely eve and just felt like a long, sweet summer is starting.

Thanks to the American Tobacco Campus for hosting these free events! See the full schedule of shows running through September 8th on the ATC site.

Wow, looking at the photo up big (please do, it’s really fun)... I love all the people, positions they are in, gestures, expressions, etc, etc. Crowds are so interesting to photograph. It reminds me of this beach photo by my hero, ‘Weegee the Famous’.

photo by: HuthPhoto

at the American Tobacco Campus in friendly downtown Durham NC

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Summer in Durham

Welcome to summer in Durham— hanging out at the ATC with family and friends, catching the free Back Porch Music series (which runs through September 8th y’all!)...and  just generally having more options for fun things to do than we have time to do them all. 

I love it.

photo by: HuthPhoto

at the American Tobacco Campus, in Downtown Durham NC