Request for Broken Glass

[Mike Buckley]

I am reaching out to my fellow Cambridge in Color participants and lurkers with the request that you please send me an article of broken glass so I can photograph it. In return for the favor, I will provide you one free print of up to 12" x 18". More details are provided at the bottom of this post.

The photos shown below are examples of what I have done to date but I look forward to expanding into other styles.




















I would be very grateful if you would please help me out. If the idea seems appealing to you, please ship the broken glass safely and at no cost to me. I will provide you an address by PM once you reach out to me.

In return for the favor, I will send you a small electronic file of all my keepers. You can then select one of them to be printed. I will ship to you free of charge one print that is up to 12" x 18" so long as the aspect ratio is one of the standard aspect ratios offered by MPIX.com, which is the company that I will use to print and send the photograph.

These details apply to anyone with a shipping address in the United States. Considering that my shipping address is in the U.S., it is probably not practical to ship glass from elsewhere.

The concept of this post was approved by Donald in advance.

Thank you for considering my request!

[Dusty]

Stunning images Mike. If I sent you glass from where I live by the time it got to you it would be in a thousands pieces.
Dave.

[GrahamS]

For the same cost of shipping / postage you could ask for donations toward the purchase of some glasses or vases from your local Wallmart. Then you could break them "your way".

[Mike Buckley]

I realize that I can always intentionally break some inexpensive glass, Graham. The last photo shown above is an example and I paid only $1 for the glass.

There are several reasons I would enjoy photographing glass not broken intentionally. The specimen might be made of better quality glass with fewer imperfections, perhaps resulting in a photo with a different overall look. It might have been treasured by the owner when it was whole and a nice photograph of it when it is broken might be treasured as well. Last, there is the pleasure for me that would come from receiving a broken piece almost randomly and wondering if it can be the subject of a beautiful image before enduring its final days in the recycle bin. The first photo shown above is an example of all three of those situations.

I have considered contacting stores that sell glass with the idea that perhaps they have more breakage than we might think and that a store manager here and there might keep me in mind when something breaks.

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

It is truly a pleasure to view these stunning images once more... 2 and 3 my being my all time favourites, followed closely by 6. If I ever break a glass or know of someone who does I will send you a PM for your address. Alas it doesn't happen but once every very long years... Perhaps restaurants would also be a good source for broken glass.

[Mito]

Mike,
Superb photos. I'm just a little worried that this desire to collect broken glasses is a sub-conscious manifestation of withdrawal symptoms due to lack of Spanish vino tinto

[Brownbear]

Idea... Ask everyone in your neighbourhood to drop off their glass meant for the recycle bin... or perhaps just one or two neighbours.

[Mike Buckley]

Brian: There is no lack of Spanish vino tinto in my household, so there are no withdrawal symptoms. In fact, I still have most of a case left of Mencia from Bierzo.

Great idea, Christina! I hadn't thought of soliciting glass headed for the recycle bin, though I do have a lot of my own glass set aside that I haven't yet photographed...um, or broken.

[pnodrog]

I could post you an intact glass item very well wrapped plastered with fragile labels and I am pretty certain it would meet you requirements on arrival.

Still no bottles? But I think your images are smashing.

[Mike Buckley]

your images are smashing.

You really should be very embarrassed about that and I would be willing to bet one heck of a lot of wine that you're not.

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

Nice to hear... You might also be surprised at the interesting glassware to be found at garage sales, and thrift stores, especially thrift stores in Seniors homes (some very eclectic pieces)

Also if you like wine, Chateuaneuf du Pape comes in some very beautiful and unique bottles. Hate to see them broken but in the interest of your art...

http://popandpour.ca/2011/03/23/wine...uf-de-pape-nv/

Brian: There is no lack of Spanish vino tinto in my household, so there are no withdrawal symptoms. In fact, I still have most of a case left of Mencia from Bierzo.

Great idea, Christina! I hadn't thought of soliciting glass headed for the recycle bin, though I do have a lot of my own glass set aside that I haven't yet photographed...um, or broken.

[pnodrog]

You really should be very embarrassed about that and I would be willing to bet one heck of a lot of wine that you're not.

A fairly safe bet. Someone had to say it and it may as well be me, anyway I fully expected it to go completely unnoticed. Do you want to bet on that as well?

[FootLoose]

Dear Mrs Buckley,
if you are wondering what to buy Mike for Christmas, I can give you a hint.

[Mike Buckley]

You folks are really too funny.

Christina, did you really think that I'm not aware of the embossed glass used in all bottles of Chateauneuf-du-Pape? If so, I apparently have done a horrible job of promoting that "other" hobby of mine.

[Brownbear]

I know you enjoy wine but that is all I know... And if you are aware of this wine and the special beautiful glass bottles, why no photos?

You folks are really too funny.

Christina, did you really think that I'm not aware of the embossed glass used in all bottles of Chateauneuf-du-Pape? If so, I apparently have done a horrible job of promoting that "other" hobby of mine.

[Mike Buckley]

Christina,

Ironically, I built my makeshift studio for the purpose of photographing anything and everything about wine. That required learning how to photograph glass, which is the most difficult aspect. I have been pleasantly sidetracked by photographing glass without wine and have a plan to soon get back onto a track of photographing wine. So, hang in there!

[rpcrowe]

Mike, have you thought of contacting any local companies who sell glass items? They might have some broken items to give or sell at a cheap price.

How about artists who work in glass?

I have a lens from my reading glasses that one of my rscue dogs broke but, I realized that it was plastic, not glass.

Additionally, have you thought of thrift stores to see if they have any broken glassware? I am sure that a place like Goodwill would let you have theirs for a small contribution...

[Loose Canon]

Before I even shot the highball glasses I thought I would take a hammer to the Skyy bottle and attempt a “Mike Buckley”!

But now I can get one without all the hassle and bleeding fingers!

This is without a doubt the happiest thread I have seen!

Mike, Brother, you asked for it man!

I’m going into my kitchen with a hammer now!

Do you do China, Crystal, Bell Jars, bent flatware, couple of pots and pans, some prescription bottles, and I have several (many) bags of leaves I have been raking off the property?

Dang! I gotta get a bigger shipping box!

I’ll toss in a nice vintage (intact, full, and unbroken) to help with the creative process!

Fed Ex? Here I come!

[Mike Buckley]

Great suggestions, Richard! I would be happy to give your plastic glasses lens a shot (pun intended) if you're up to it.

As for Terry, all of us would appreciate it if someone would please either get him back on his meds or off his meds, whatever seems to be appropriate.

[Loose Canon]

So, just to make sure I have this straight?

You are asking us to ship you broken glass and I need my meds checked?

If I sent you the Skyy Bottle could you use it?