Friendly Joe's photostream

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Comments are appreciated. Group/award icons will be nuked.

All photos are copyright ©2006-11 Joe Sterbenc. All rights reserved. <--- Really.
If you are interested in purchasing a print, licensing an image, or hiring me to shoot something fun and out of the ordinary, please send me an email at jsterbenc[at]gmail[dot]com.

My images are available for blogging provided you notify me and link back to the original image.

I've made pictures since my big brother passed me a camera, an Argus C3 rangefinder, with a few rudimentary notes relating f-stops and shutter speeds to depth of field. I was in my early teens. I shot a lot, had a black and white darkroom while in high school and college and sadly, saved almost none of it. I grew up (ok, got older), got a job as an animation camera operator, then a studio photographer, then a location photographer... And again- most of the stuff was on such tight deadlines that most of it too, got away. Media flew out the door with no time to archive what had just happened before the next job, next deadline. Literally thousands of product and people shots- some of which I do have, but wouldn't inflict on people because frankly, unless you're shopping, product shots aren't terribly interesting. I've shot a few celebs. Most recently I shot "The Donald" Trump in Manhattan for life-sized stand-ups that appeared coast-to-coast in thousands of retail stores. That's fun stuff. High pressure and little margin for error. I may post some of that if the client/licensing allows it.

These days I'm a video editor/animator/photographer by trade and shoot as often as I can.

Camera. Don't leave home without it.

---> Shooting Whimsical Crap is fun! :D <---

I've created created visual media for:

Starbucks, Sprint, McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Pepsi, SC Johnson, Ford Motor Company, Office Depot, Tupperware, Abbott Labs, Coca-Cola, Roche, Motorola, IBM, American Express, Field Museum of Natural History - Chicago, Growmark, YMCA, Million Dollar Round Table, Caterpillar, Amoco, Ansul, A&W, Sara Lee, CDW, Tyson, Subway, Century 21, Merle Norman, Ace Hardware, Domino’s, Superior Coffee, University of Chicago, MCI, Trans America Life, Northwest Mutual Life, DuPont, Baxter Critical Care, Baxter Renal, Keebler, Radiological Society of North America, International Truck, Navistar International, bioMerieux, Restaurants and Institutions Magazine, Freightliner, Jim Beam, 360 Communications, Kal Kan Pet Care, The New England, Nikken, Rotary International, Midas, State Farm, TGI Friday’s, Boston Markets, American Movie Classics, The Romance Channel, Allied Van Lines, Dade Behring, Bell and Howell, Diamond Cruise Lines, Blue Cross Blue Shield, American Chicle, Kimberly Clark, Mellaleuca, Children’s Miracle Network, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, March of Dimes, and a host of trade organizations

Photos of Friendly Joe (22)

Friendly Joe's favorite photos from other Flickr members (7,447)

Contacts (653)

dion_b Dion
djwgilroy No real name given
ChipButty Tom
Aadiflick Aadi Singh
will scobie Will Scobie
Ben Goff Ben Goff
Anna B Sexton Anna B Sexton
Antoine Debroye Antoine Debroye
sunshinessilhou... Camille
sfnyc No real name given
epupo.com No real name given
iroels No real name given

Groups (50 50)

Photo Talk Plus 85 photos, 312 members
Washington Week's Political Shots Across America 471 photos, 75 members
Flickr 11|11|11 2,332 photos, 3,706 members
Leica M8 48,930 photos, 2,314 members
HIPSTER 779 photos, 364 members
Old Town School of Folk Music 722 photos, 90 members
ChiFlickr Chicago Meetup Club 1,572 photos, 1,309 members
Abandoned 527,534 photos, 36,045 members
Facing the Lens: Portraits of Photographers 1,090 photos, 868 members
TtV52 386 photos, 20 members
A Very Flickr Christmas 85,927 photos, 10,950 members
Just Puppies! 33,398 photos, 4,684 members
Corvette - Creative 9,282 photos, 1,756 members
Triumph Cars 7,620 photos, 894 members
door whores 693 photos, 82 members
Chicago's Lincoln Square 115 photos, 22 members
American Cars of the Classic Era, 1925-1975 17,145 photos, 494 members
The Secret Life of Toys 247,448 photos, 18,758 members
'Roid Week 2010 5,805 photos, 1,738 members
Cake, have it and eat it too! 67,385 photos, 7,516 members
Cake Fun 89,107 photos, 8,054 members
PX / PZ - Silver Shade Film by The Impossible Project 14,124 photos, 2,195 members
Top Marques Monaco 2010 (TMM 2010) 667 photos, 1,466 members
NPR Picture Show 86,542 photos, 5,107 members
iPhoneography 227,346 photos, 8,538 members
Airport Terminals 740 photos, 152 members
Flickr Walkabout Group 4,931 photos, 1,822 members
Pauline's Breakfast 40 photos, 9 members
Auto-Anthropology 16,064 photos, 1,469 members
Hipstamatic 209,333 photos, 14,469 members
Photos taken with an Apple iPhone 512,168 photos, 28,362 members
National Wildlife Magazine Photo Group 65,685 photos, 5,153 members
Deer 30,770 photos, 4,870 members
Snow Porn 1,247 photos, 132 members
The Listening Project 144 photos, 74 members
KiddieLand/Melrose Park, IL 612 photos, 55 members
Carousels 5,867 photos, 1,684 members
Roller Coasters 1,701 photos, 261 members
TTV RIGS 42 photos, 48 members
Survivor: Flickr Island :: On Vacation 989 photos, 259 members
TTV Movies 74 photos, 45 members
sandal / boats 2,940 photos, 275 members
Pix for Peter 31 photos, 1 member
I've Got a Fancy Schmancy Camera But I Shot This With a Phone 9,739 photos, 310 members
Camera Porn Friday 3,491 photos, 1,305 members
Roadside Missouri 1,835 photos, 167 members
British Cars 1945 - 1975 20,547 photos, 837 members
Racing Stripes 6,839 photos, 262 members
Star Trek 7,052 photos, 1,740 members
Aermotor Windmills 441 photos, 99 members

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Testimonials (19)

SkyShaper says:

"seeing life thru a different lens, different glass.....a bit dirty a bit hazy....but oh so clear.......love your dust Joe.
- SS"

30th May, 2010
Ed Karjala says:

"I have been a fan of Joe's flickr stream for a few years now. His work is always fresh and compelling -- defying convention while still touching the core of human experience that compels one to stop and ponder for a moment instead of just hurrying past..."

21st November, 2009
suttonhoo says:

"Friendly Joe shoots with the rich working man soul of Studs Terkel in the joyful Kodachrome hue of that bouncy song by Paul Simon.

Mama don't take my Friendly Joe away.

Ever."

26th September, 2008
The Irish Samurai says:

"Not only is Joe a master of the TTV and a top notch photographer, but he's also a cool guy and a generous person. Not to mention he has brought a funny bone to Flickr that has made it all the more enjoyable. I very much look forward to more of his shots and his humor."

1st April, 2008
O Caritas says:

"Not only is he friendly, but he's Joe!

How can you beat that?"

21st March, 2008
rvrich says:

"Friendly Joe's talents for: camerawork, comments & comedy crack me up and crank up my curiosity. Never a dull moment around FJ's stream!"

15th February, 2008
J.Ruth says:

"Once you make Joe a contact, you will never log into Flickr without smiling. He makes rusty, crusty, and dusty look decidedly awesome through his Starflex. He catches quirks and Americana like nobody else. Friendly + Joe = Creativity + Laughs!"

12th January, 2008
sweet fanny adams says:

"Friendly Joe is the King of Whimsy,
The Emperor of Fun,
and The Whore of Grilled Cheese."

10th January, 2008
SmackNally says:

"I would be more than comfortable with Joe representing our species if/when the aliens come."

2nd January, 2008
stephiedee says:

"Friendly, funny and a bang-up photographer -- Joe's pretty much awesome."

14th November, 2007
P.tumbleweed says:

"Frankly, I have a hard time believing that Joe really exists. I mean, sure, the photos are good, hell, they're amazing, but the more I think about it, I think there's a robot somewhere behind the curtain. How else could everything turn out so perfect. jeez."

16th July, 2007
Alt.Frames says:

"What I love about Joe's photography is the bare-bones intimacy of the everyday goings-on of people all around us. He is a true archivist of the dragon slayers, people who toil - sometimes in sweat, sometimes with laughter. His viewfinder images are wonderful little snapshots of color, yet has an artful dinge to them which makes it the most unique TTV stuff I have seen around Flickr. Good going, Joe!"

12th July, 2007
Esther17 says:

"I like Joe

Yes, I do!

I like Joe

You should, too!"

26th June, 2007
DottieboBottie says:

"I love me some Friendly Joe.

He is a MASTER of TTV, a big ole' color whore, and his photos at the Manilow store is worthy of much praise.

He is also an awesome person...I am very glad we crossed paths.

If you don't have him in your contact list, you are missing out on some wonderfully fun and fabulous photography, and a wonderfully fun and fabulous person."

9th May, 2007
JKönig says:

"visiting joe's stream is like stepping into a candy store. you've got a dollar burning a hole in your hand, and as you stand there in the doorway, staring wide-eyed at the delicious treats stacked up on every available spot of counterspace, you honestly don't know what to gobble up first. his square-format work is timeless, evocative, whimsical and intense, and his view of the world -- not to mention his guileless blend of humor and poignance -- is nothing short of inspirational.

truly one of my favorite photographers.

he's also funny. really really funny. and life doesn't get much better than funny, does it."

5th May, 2007
GuhlMustafa says:

"Besides having the real deal photography skills, an incredible eye, and a dynamic sense of framing, Friendly Joe's photos do something for me that few others here have done- they make me genuinely and truly HAPPY. Like laughing out loud happy. The best examples to me are Pebbles Pez Posse in his TTV set, and Why You May Want To Behave Yourself in his Bowl-O-Rama set. I love the world you live in Joe, keep shooting and posting and inspiring!"

5th April, 2007
Bernat_83 says:

"He's a magician. An alchemist even. He takes banal everyday scenes and places and turns them into the object of desire of any colour- or any other whore. He also has a wicked sense of humour, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was indeed subjected to top secret and obscure CIA "lucy in the sky with diamonds" tests in the 70's. TTV shots are there as proof. Take exhibit Q for example. So there you have it, check out his stream yadayadablabla all that, but seriously: Friendly Joe ROCKS!"

26th February, 2007
Marie Kelleher says:

"Joe's laundromat and bowling alley shots have earned him the title of Poet Laureate of the Banal. And he can quote me on that."

25th February, 2007
TheSteffers says:

"Friendly Joe is not only very friendly - he also takes these amazing pics that tell such a great story. I love his stream. One of my faves from my contacts. Shine on Joe! Shine on!"

15th February, 2007