• Home
  • About
  • Photography
  • Calendar
  • Etsy
  • Journal
  • Contact

Good Fortune Studios

The Intersection of Art, Design & Life

You are here: Home / Life / Photo Exhibit: John Shearer

Photo Exhibit: John Shearer

March 23, 2024 by Rayna Diane Hennen

when did i go? March 22nd, 2024. This was the Friday of the 3 days off I scheduled for my birthday.

I very rarely schedule time off for myself. I work for myself and I often just keep going. I have unproductive days, sometimes a few in a row and I’m sure that stems from not resting enough or having much play time. The big guy works for a company and so at the beginning of the year, I always mark his days off on my calendar so at least I know that I’ll have those days off.

But days just for myself? Not really. This year though, in January, I marked three days off in March that would be just for me. March is not totally random – it is my birthday month so it seemed as good as time as any!

One of the things I did was go to a photo exhibit at The Capa Space, a small little exhibition center in Westchester County.

John Shearer Flyer from the Capa Space

The Photographer

Photographer John Shearer on assignment outside Attica prison during a prisoner riot and uprising. From Life Magazine. (Photo by Bill Ray/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)

The photographic process was one that he took to readily, even instinctively: “Human gesture and expression are the essence of photography. It’s not about lights or fast lenses and fast film. It’s the ability to capture a moment in time. To capture the spirit of someone in that magic box is wonderful. It’s what I fell in love with as a kid. – from Life.com

Attica Prison Riots

The Riots happened at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York on Thursday, Sept. 9, 1971 because of Physical brutality, lack of access to medical treatment and poor sanitation.

By the time they arrived, more than 1,000 inmates had taken control of the facility, with 42 officers and employees held hostage. Facing the media mob, the inmates turned away every photographer except for one: Shearer, his film in tow. – Eliza Berman, Time Magazine

State trooper holding burnt cap of a guard taken hostage during riot at Attica State prison. From Life Magazine. (Photo by John Shearer/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
Caption from LIFE. The agony of his decision reflected in his face. New York’s Commissioner of Correction Russell Oswald reluctantly ordered a full-scale assault on rebellious inmates at Attica prison after the negotiations had reached a deadlock.John Shearer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

It was a really great exhibit – there was so much emotion in such a small space.

You can read more about the photos and riots on Time Magazine.

Nursery Trip
What does it mean to make marks?

Join the Community

Newsletters are sent out around once a month and could include recent blog posts, photos listed for sale and other musings about art, books, photography, nature and life.

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer

goodfortunestudios

Experiments in creativity and cringe. Join me!

I was digging around in my closet for something an I was digging around in my closet for something and came across an older sketchbook, which of course derailed the search because I HAD to flip through it 😊

My Mom had this box for a long time, just sitting in a cabinet. It was just plain wood, the lid wasn't attached but it did come with the hinges. One summer I stole it, painted it and surprised her for Christmas. 

On slides 2 & 3 you can see the first sketches I made for the box. And slides 5 & 6 show where the next round of sketches ended up. Completely different direction as it turns out! Went for the Arts & Craft period style she loves.
This floral cone actually turned out all right! I This floral cone actually turned out all right! I haven't quite gotten the ribbon exactly right so sometimes this style hangs a little awkwardly. I have wall versions, that can hang on a hook but I'll be damned if I can find any photos of it on my phone 🧐 

Or the silvery one I made last year. You'll just have to trust me, ok? 😁
O-pin-ion: if you purchased these, would you expec O-pin-ion: if you purchased these, would you expect a hanger on the back (second pic)? 

In my head, because they have the wooden lip on the back, they hang flat against the wall. 

T'anks! 

Almost done - varnish coating left to go! Happy Friday 💃
New hearts ready to go. New hearts ready to go.
After a few weeks away from the hearts because of After a few weeks away from the hearts because of vacation and other things, I ran into something that is both frustrating and good. 

Frustrating because I had to "break my heart" 😭😅 - I  noticed a lot of rhe edges kept coming up (last pic).

I was unhappy with how one of the hearts looked anyway so I pulled it off the canvas. (first pic)

The new way of attaching the hearts seems to be working better (second pic) so now I am going to do the same to the other 3 canvases. 

So, frustrating to undo the work but good because they'll look better! And also this is how we get better.

Have you ever had to undo some work to make it better? 🫀
Currently making some smaller ones of the heart co Currently making some smaller ones of the heart collage image in the last slide!!
Instagram post 17929146135052778 Instagram post 17929146135052778
Instagram post 17905036221150135 Instagram post 17905036221150135
Follow on Instagram

© 2025 · Good Fortune Studios