132/365 - a photo on Flickriver

132/365

Dan Peppler-Bartender

This evening I worked a shift that cut through the middle portion of my day, starting at 10 and ending at 6. This made for quite the interesting evening taking photos, as much of the southern portion of the state was under some sort of severe weather watch/warning. I made plans to meet up with Ben (a former coworker) for a beer, to catch up on our lives events over the last couple weeks. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go, but I knew that I was hungry. As we found ourselves floating from the top of State to the end, it started to lightly drizzle; personally I was afraid we might get caught in a downpour and my Canon would meet it's maker.

As we looked for a place to stop, I felt light rain beginning to fall on me as well as my camera. Quickly making a judgement call, I decided we would go to Hawk's Bar & Grill on State. This way, I could get my food just as well as a beer to go with. I've had great success with many edible delights at Hawk's, and given they serve food til late it was the clear choice. Dinner was simple and healthy in the option of a salmon burger and fries. While waiting for my food, Ben and I strolled over to the bar to order some drinks. He (Ben) was smart and ordered his two drinks outright as to not leave an open tab, while I on the other hand decided to just get a Spotted Cow (a Wisconsin local craft beer out of New Glarus).

We then found a seat outdoors as the rain had stopped and it was turning out to be a very nice evening. My buzzer went off, and it was my turn to go get my food. At this point I realized that I had already finished my first beer, so deservedly so I ordered another. A few years back I had a friend who was featured as a POD (picture of the day) who worked at Hawk's. So I decided to ask the bartender if he knew of him, and as fate may have it he did. So this was a perfect intro for me to include him into my 100 more strangers project.. I explained the concept behind 100 strangers and the 365 project and without hesitation the man I now learned to be named "Dan Peppler" was willing to be included in both projects.

As patrons of the bar shuffled in and out, I clicked a couple simple photos knowing that I didn't need anything to fancy for his inclusion in the project. But alas my simple comp with the taps in the background (at 12,800 ISO no less) worked for me. I asked him for a pen and paper as I'd left my notepad at home, and then proceeded to interview Dan. Turns out he has been a bartender at Hawk's since 2011, and he lucked out that he got hired a few days before the employee party. As Hawk's is a bar/restaurant establishment on State Street they only close twice a year; Christmas day and for the employee party. The employee party is generally held in the summer months, and lucky for Dan he got to go (even though he was truly new when the event was going on) and was able to attend a Madison Mallards game. Learning all the new faces that he would come to know as coworkers and friends in an environment outside of Hawk's definitely benefited him. As he got to know many of his coworkers on a deeper level then just work, which seems thoroughly appropriate in his line of work.

When I asked what the best part of his job, he quickly replied "the regulars." Which in terms of a bar in a big college town could mean many things, it's the positive faces that he sees frequently enough that keep him coming back. Alternately, the *worst* part of his job is the hours; as a bar tender you work long shifts and have little time for rest. Dan began to re attend school this spring, and many Sunday nights tied into Monday mornings which were the most rough. Working until 3 a.m. and then going to class took it's toll, but now that schools out for summer; Dan can focus on making money towards fun and education! Some of the craziest nights at Hawk's came earlier this spring when the UW-Badgers Men's Basketball team reached the final four.

I ordered a final drink, and thanked him for his time. Knowing that we had a mutual friend, even though I'd never met Dan before I felt we connected very well for the strangers project. If you ever find yourself at Hawk's, and Dan is your server you can now know that I am trying my best to turn him into a local celebrity. I gave Dan my card, with hopes that he will find this photo and share it with the world. A little selfish? I think so, but alas we are all but strangers in this strange world!
075/100

Taken on: May 12, 2014

Tags:

365 project

Canon 5D Mark II

50mm f/1.4 USM

EOS

lopaps

POD

2014

ISO12800

noise

grain

low-light

DOF

bokeh

f/1.4

USM

50mm

prime

bar

bartender

drinks

tap

beer

booze

isthmus

redskyrocketman

PSE7

local paparazzi

photoshop elements 7

beard

bald

balding

Isthmus Portrait

Hawk's

portrait

Madison,WI

Dane County, Wisconsin

portraiture

100 strangers

100 more strangers

Dan Peppler

State Street

Hawk's Bar & Grill

grill

liquor

sharpness

detail

clarity

raw

CR2

Canon raw

wide open

true

local beers

Ale Asylum

New Glarus

server

tray

wood

hopalicious

spotted cow

bedlam

Guinness

Miller

high life

mustache

natural

inside

serving

tip

waiter

barista « less

Sets appears in: • 365 project 2014 • Madison, WI more » • 100 More Strangers • Editorial • People/Portrait • Canon 5D Mark II « less

Groups appears in: • Madison, Wisconsin • Wisconsin more » • Isthmus • Full of colors • prime lenses (fixed focal length) • Low light photography • The Portrait Group • Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM. • Mad-town Alternative (Madison, Wisconsin) • 100 Strangers • Dane County, Wisconsin • The Photographer's Lounge & Gallery • 5D Mark 1, II, III, IV, S, SR • 365 Community • Close Ups, Bokeh and DOF shots « less

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, f/1.4, 1/100 sec, 50mm, ISO 12800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:	EF50mm f/1.4 USM
Aperture:	f/1.4
Exposure Time:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length:	50mm
ISO:	12800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0 Windows
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