Welcome to McLaughlin Creative
Enjoy the pictures, poems and musings of Al McLaughlin
New Project: Poems and Pictures
(October 22, 2014)
I have been working with my poems and my pictures, to meld them together. The desired end is a self-published book in the spring of 2015. The pictures are not a "see apple, say apple" visual explanations of the poems, but rather a piece of connective tissue that complements the poem.
The project is a work in progress with most pictures shot at a time unrelated to the poems. As it progresses, pictures will change, poems will be revised, some photos will be taken distinctly for certain poems, until the end result is desired.
On my poetry page, the poems with photos will be marked with an asterisk. One advantage to the website is the diplay of picassa albumsdown the side of the page in addition to the main photo, where appropriate.
I am in the process of using an asterisk behind the poems with photos on my poetry page. (Click on arts, then on poems, or go to the top of this page and click on poems.) One example of the poetry /picture combo is Knits.
Native American Flute and Dancing Gathering 10/2012
I had the pleasure and the honor of documenting a Native American Flute and Dance Gathering on a beautiful fall week-end in October. All the flute playing was very meditative, and the dancing was spectacular. My only hope is that you enjoy the pictures 1/2 as much as I enjoyed taking photos.
See more photos in the Flute Photo gallery by clicking here:
Foggy River Breakdown goes South
I love what fog does to the eyes and the mind. 
This series of shots is from the North side of the Ohio into Kentucky.
Y'all click here to see the shots, y'hear?
Foggy River Breakdown
Pre Dawn Fog
Changing with the wind
Challenging sense of place
Sense of time
TOUCHES
165 SHOTS OF ARCHITECHTURAL "TOUCHES". HERE'S THE QUESTION. IF YOU WALK THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD, AND DON'T NOTICE THE TOUCHES THAT ARCHITECHTS HAVE USED, DO THEY HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOU ANYWAY?
ALL OF THESE SHOTS WERE TAKEN WITHIN A THREE BLOCK RADIUS OF OUR NEW CONDO IN COVINGTON KY. TAKE A LOOK
YARDART
It's so prevalent in so many neighborhoods, that it deserves its own word. Some people prefer the accent on the 'YAR" as YARdart. Others prefer the more agressive yarDART.
Either way, it's just plain fun.
Newport Walkabout
Did a walkabout with my dawg Charlie. Held Charlie's leash in my left hand, shot pictures with my right.
(Apologies to my bleeding heart left leaning compatriots). Charlie would frequently ask, "What the hell did you shoot that for?" Ah well, he's a dog.
Our new neighborhood
Linda and I recently moved to Covington. Here are some initial photos.
More to follow, I'm sure. Take a look.
Occupy Cincinnati:People and Signs of the Times
On October eighth, 2011, several hundred people from Cincinnati and its environs joined the New York Wall Street Protestors in a show of solidarity. Several hundred people, with several different views of problems in this country came together in the hopes of making the movers and shakers in our city, our state, and our country listen.
I caught them in pictures. Take a look.
Lily Redux Two: 2011
Flowers, food and fun were the bywords as Laura and Frank Kovacs provided a setting for a pastoral picnic fundraiser for Cincinnati Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship(CTRH). Generations enjoyed the sunny Saturday, purchased lilies, paddleboated, flew kites, and sat on their (ahem) laurels. This is the third year that CTRH and the Kovacs have connected, and everyone at CTRH is grateful for the flowers, the day, and for the love Frank and Laura show to all who were there. Go to my gallery page and take a look at the glorious day.
Big Bugs (see Big Bugs Gallery
Artist David Roger's beatiful creations made from wood and other natural materials in Glenwood Gardens, a county park in Cincinnati OH.
Catawba Nation Pow Wow
I had the honor recently of photographing a Pow Wow held by the Catawba Tribe of the Carolinas.
The Pow Wow was held at Winthrop College in Rock Hill NC.
The modern Pow Wow is a gathering of tribes that allows Native Americans from many tribes to gather together, renew old friendships and join in friendly dance and drum competition.
The chanting and the drumming is soul stirring, 
and the dance competition is breathtaking.
Out of respect of the wishes of the Catawba Nation and Pow Wow Participants, the photos are not for sale.
But they can be enjoyed. You can find out more about the Catawba Tribe at http://www.catawbaindian.net/
To see photos, click here
BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS
Took the fowl fotos from my trip and put them in the "Birds" Gallery. Florida fowl start at the thirteenth shot. Some good and some very good shots. Some birds in captivity, some in the "wild" if any where in Fla. can be wild these days. Parrots, Herons, Egrets, Gulls, Storks, a bunch. No foul here. Take a look.
February 19th 2011
VACATION, VACATION, VACATION
Taking some time to visit relatives and friends in Fla; pictures to follow.
here are some initial shots of friends and family, with accent shots. Check them out.
Week two shots can be found here.
See Week Three, including bike week in Daytona.
Febuary 5 2011
October 23, 2010
'Tis Autumn
"Now the days grow short, I'm in the Autumn of my years. And I think of my life like fine old wine from a vintage keg. From the brim to the dregs, it poured sweet and clear. It was a very........... ......good..........year"
Bearded Green Moss on the Lily Pond, leaves the color of crunch on the floor of the forest, brown and gold dominate the green in Woodland Mound Park on one of my "Walking Days".
On this day however, a pleasant surprise! I meant Vanessa the Queen, Yoko the Crazy, Tony the youth (Named for Tony diNozzo on NCIS), Upton and A-Rod while walking in the Park. Standard Poodles all, with their owner/ handlers, Nancy and Donna.
In fact it was a day that went to the dogs all over the park.
Somehow the human and animal life outshone the muted colors surrouding the park.
A beautiful sunshining day all in all.
I promised Nancy and Donna I would put the pics up for a while. So here they be.
October 18, 2010
The Dawning of the Age of Aquarium
A neighbor, Dan, who lives a few doors down, recently installed a 500 gallon salt water aquarium in his basement. He had Linda and I and another couple we have in common , Walt and Janet Luthy, over to see this tremendous accomplishment. We listened to a great Christmas CD That Dan had made with six different synthesizers, (It was like listening to a complete orchestra) we talked a while, noshed a while, Dan convinced us that we really didn't want to go swimming in the aquarium, and then we went home. It was a great evening, so look at some photos that round out this fish story.
September 28, 2010
Repetitive Images/Paint Bucket
Went for a walk downtown after a dual birthday lunch with my friend Dan Randolph.
At first I was jounalizing, shooting for lease, for rent, and for sale signs, along with all the empty store fronts and offices downtown. Signs of the times, I thought. But then I got caught up in thte repetitive nature of many of the downtown buildings and accents. I photographed a few, and then went to work with the paint bucket icon in photoshop. I like the "paint bucket technique" as I call it, because it allows for the appearance of randomness in the computerized world of ones and zeroes. Some of the colors are done tongue in cheek (pink and green on motorcycles) and some are meant to represent my take on reality, such as the gold on the archdiocese building, since gold is all the church administators really seem to care about. Take a look. There was also a perfect shot to represent a line in Leonard Cohen's seminal work, Suzanne.
August 27,2010
Cars are Cars
I was walking through Newport, KY last Sunday, shooting photos for a Northern KY contest, when I stumbled upon a true photographer's treasure trove, a classic car show. Muscle cars, Model A vintage autos, old Crosleys, Vettes, T-birds, even an old Pinto that hadn't exploded. My favorite was a '57 Chev Bel Air, candy apple red. Trucks, cars busses, they are all right here.
May 20
ZOO DAZE
The Cincicnnati Zoo is within healthy walking distance from my home. It provides a rich,diverse environment for photographers. Between people and animals,one's head might be on a swivel.
All those life forms. Had a particularly good day shooting. See what you think...
April 22, 2010
SPRINGBURST
A collection of favorites from Spring 2010 at the Cincinnati Flower Show, The Cincinnati Zoo,The Krohn Conservatory and varied Cincinnati Neighborhoods.Take a look
February 1, 2010 - Dale Chihuly Gallery (not for sale)
Linda and I bundled up and braved the cold last Sunday, put Charlie in the car and drove up to Columbus. We wanted to stir our senses with two exhibits of Art Glass by Dale Chihuly. I'm sharing my visual impressions of Chahuli's mind-bending work.
home/images/parms/1/album/ChihulyNotForSale.html
January 25, 2010 - New Mah Jongg Gallery
/home/images/parms/1/album/MahJong.html
Peviously Featured
December 3,2009
A Poem: Arlington Cemetary
September 21,2009
August 17,2009
A poem:Dalai Lama
A poem:The Sixties
August 4, 2009
A Poem: Baying at 3AM
A Poem: Surf Fishing
July 25,2009:
Findlay Market and Baby Steps
July 19.2009: