home is where the heart is….a rolling stone gathers no moss….it is hard to kill a moving target….whatever…..i am just content to sleep in one bed for two whole weeks….that has not happened lately….since the three week holiday with my family way way way back in december, i have not been in one place for more than a few days….so, to now have 15 days in Oaxaca is a luxury i am soaking up with every passing minute…
however, i will move on next week to Norway and then and then, well i just will not have a "home" for all of 2008….the shock of the loss of my New York loft at first left me dazed and confused, but quickly survival instincts kicked in….and then and then, true beauty….an IDEA!!!
forced evacuation has led me to voluntary exile…for my upcoming photographic project, i MUST not have a home…i do not WANT a home…i CANNOT have a home….that would ruin everything….telling you now about my IDEA would ruin everything too…it is time for me to "disappear" into my work…
it may surprise you that "travel", in and of itself, has never been a source of inspiration for me…discovery fascinates, but "discovery" is also right around the corner…travel has always been totally incidental to whatever creative ideas were rolling around inside my jetlagged brain…ironically, i never set out to "see the world" even though that is exactly what happened…and i did not "leave" until i was over 30…
my first 17 years in serious photography never took me out of my own country…i was perfectly happy photographing life around me and my own "backyard"…i had no sense of the "real world"…then fate forced me out the door to learn about other cultures and countries….looking through the international viewfinder became my whole "real education" …certainly this is one of my most priceless assets….but now, that same "fate" brings me to a creatively "logical" project which will at least keep me culturally and photographically "at home"….albeit without any place to stay!!!
i will now begin my daily Oaxaca "routine"….starting with a nice walk to the "zocalo", one of the best plazas in the world …i will find my perfectly positioned table and chair…get some coffee and pan tostado …mull things over…think david think…maybe i will take a picture or two…chat it up with my "old friend" and waiter Pablo who will be just now seeing his children off to school…the morning light is nice, so i must leave you….
so, i just have time to ask you quickly….would "sleeping around" stimulate you, or do you need an "anchor" to do your best work??
and there is nothing i can do!!!!
…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhSYbRiYwTY&NR=1
… can you hear me Major “junkie” Tom ????
Hello David.. soon i will have similar problem… I am going to move to London, I already have a one way ticket for 22nd March… i will have there only one small room, I will be able to take with me only 30 kg (20kg+ 10kg hand luggage) luggage… it will be hard to decide what is most important for me and what should i leave in Poland in my parents home…
I don’t know how long i will live like that, dont even know what kind of job i will find… sounds little bit crazy…
I don’t know if “sleeping around” stimulate me to do my best work but i discovered that when i am poor and i know in some place i am last time (or there is at least big possiblitity i will never go back there) i work harder…
ANNA BARRY-JESTER and ALL
i think you know i am in Oaxaca right now….a magic city where i have worked many times… my longest stay was for a piece in Natgeo ,”Song of Oaxaca”, but i have probably returned here as much as any “go back” city in my career…sometimes now i walk down a street or a market where i made an interesting photograph in the past…including some from Div Soul…the people are exactly the same as before and the situation is exactly the same as before, but i may see nothing….on the other hand, i am constantly discovering and seeing things i never saw “the first time around”…so, i think the combo is as you describe…some things hit us right in face as part of our initial sense of discovery and other things either come out as part of our “evolution” with a subject or perhaps are just new “discoveries” based on deeper knowledge or immersion…
i do not know how it is for other photographers, but for me good work totally depends on one thing: my MOOD at the time…good work for me is dependent on my state of mind when i have camera in hand…
no amount of experience or knowledge seems to help much…if i am ON or READY, then somehow the photographs come out of “nowhere”…conversely,i could be in the perfect “situation”, but if i am not 100% intuitive and fluid and “in the zone”, then mediocrity is the result…
when i am ON, i am also very very relaxed…serene..nirvana ….yet, “working” to my max…
this is giving me a thought for a new post, so i will save further writing for now, but the concept of “work/pleasure/creativity” can never be discussed too much…
JONI…
i think for sure that “traveling” within your own city, getting away from your normal “routes” will make you feel as if you have “gone somewhere”…give it a try…
JB…
my question back to you is, where are the actual best photographs coming from?? at home relaxed or out “on the road”???
HERVE…
yes, i will be in Paris in june for our annual Magnum meeting….time is usually tight, but if we do not meet before then, then surely we can meet in Paris….i will invite you to our party that precedes the meeting…
GARY…
downsizing is always a good idea…clears the mind….priorities, priorities….
ANA…
i do hope to see you soonest in Valencia…
JUSTIN…
i look forward to meeting you in Oslo…this should be an amazing gathering….i wish i was a student for this one!!!
DORI…
i have been to Zipolite and Mazunte (yes, THE spot!!) several times..it is as you describe…cannot make it on this trip much to my chagrin….if i did not have to be in Oslo by the weekend, then you would find me lying in my hammock after a little body surfing with a cold Sol etc etc….i do not know how long Mazunte could be “home”, but i would like to find out!!!
PANOS…
maybe because of the slow connection here, i cannot open your YouTube links..but, i will do so as soon as possible…
by the way, many Magnum photogs, and VII photogs, and Noor photogs and other agency photogs “lurk” here…as do many editors..they just do not write….some people are just more vociferous than others…i think this is fair enough…
John Vink is actually quite approachable…i am sure you read him on Lightstalkers…he does workshops in Cambodia….he cares very much about the state of documentary/humanitarian photographic work….
Frank Sinatra once said (i paraphrase)..”i only owe people my music, my performance on stage”….
i think many photographers feel the same…their work is what they DO and that is enough…that is all there is…and i think that is enough…
i have always “shared”…it is just my personality..but, i seek no “credit” for this…for me it is energizing, for others perhaps not….i promise you that John Vink will share and share some more….be patient and he will write to you….
perspective: even back in my college days, i always spent a lot of time helping my fellow students think about their stories, edit etc etc…i even really school days “cheated” once for one of my friends and shot a small story for which he took credit…he was “stuck”, so i “helped him out”…i would not go that far again!!!…but, i took my first workshop when i was 22 and started teaching them when i was 23…
this forum is an extension of all that i have believed and done all along…the “pay back/pay forward” concept just runs in my family…..
you should meet my mother!!!! and my mother, i assure you, would make the imagined “wild and crazy” Panos feel totally comfortable in her living room…she would see a “unique personality”, be fascinated by it, and want to know everything about you….so, i suppose i get this from her….she does not know the meaning of the word “elite”, nor do i…
so Panos, you now know there are some iconic “lurkers” out there….”lurkers” who would really like to see you take your “stream of consciousness” wild ride through L.A. and have it manifest itself in a set of powerful photographs….”powerful” as in being totally reflective of YOU…not of ME, but of YOU…to this end i will work with you….and with anyone else on this forum who seeks help…
again Panos, “stay tuned”….
GLENN….
did you ever get your bag and your book??? i remember the package we sent you came back with wrong address or something, but i do not remember what happened after…and then, i was kicked out of my loft, so maybe your package is in storage or something…please let me know soonest…
AGA…
what a surprise that you are moving to London…pretty easy city to get even more poor!!! my oh my, i cannot afford to be in London for long…in any case, i do not know your circumstances, but i only send “good vibes” in your direction…i can say that we miss you chatting here, but i also know that you are struggling and if you have to “disappear” to get your work done, then we will wait for the result…
i am in London from time to time, so i do hope we will meet again soon….please be of good cheer…..
ALL…
i am a bit behind in getting reviews to some of you…i have done quite a few, but i have quite a few to do…it will now be mid-march before i can do many reviews again…but, rest assured i will get it done…it does take me about an hour or so to do one review…i do not have many “spare hours”, but i offered this service, so i will do it….i will never be able to do this again….but, to all of you who have written me and requested a review i will be sure to give your work an honest look…
i have a pretty good “feel” for most of you who read this forum….i have looked at all of your websites at one time or another…..i pretty much know who you are…..this will manifest itself in some really dynamic things for the future…again, i am a full time “working photographer” and a part time “blogger”….this forum is a “hobby” and not a “job”…..i do not want a “job”, but i treat this forum like i treat everything…i see it as an “object in itself”….a whole….
i cannot post like the pro “bloggers”….but, i think most of you have developed a patience with me knowing that my only real offering for you is that i am “out there” trying to do what you are trying to do…
i will need your help in where we take all of this….i have some new ideas which will be put forward to you within the next two weeks….we have built something unique here…i think most of you feel this….the writing here and the photographic work coming from you will be combined in a unique way….it has all been “organic” so far, and i would like to keep it that way….we are a relatively small community, but strong….i would rather be strong and small than too big and not “personal”….
yes, now “running”….back to you soonest….
peace etc…david
Your question hits home for me (so to speak), as sometimes I feel like a dog on a short leash with my kids so close to being independent but…not…quite…there…yet. I want to enjoy the time left with them. So here I am, not much traveling to be had as I learn.
Instead, I am finding stories and subjects where I live, like a local Polish church which has had its Board and priest excommunicated by the Archbishop for not turning over its century-old legal right to the church property. Or an abandoned house I’ve passed by countless times over many years, and never somehow seen until two days ago.
It’s a period of “a inch wide but a mile deep” instead of the other way around — though I guess the trick is to be a “mile deep” no matter where you are, yes?
hi divid,
i was thinking earlier today of what i wanted to write for this posting, i finally got my thoughts in order and i see that you have beat me to it.
the basic point for me was that its all about state of mind. location is important in its own way of course, but, its what you feel and see at the time that matters most. i’m in the process of starting a new project at the moment. i had planned to go and take some photos today, but i know that my mood is not right. i know that i won’t do my subjects justice and i can’t face doing that; because these people, what they have done in the past means a great deal to me. i want to give them the best that i can give.
anyway you’ve said it all, so i don’t have to carry on.
take care, have fun, write soon.
jason
David,
Oslo is probably going to be amazing. I couldn’t afford the workshop. After all it’s expensive, but probably worth it. Then you have all other expenses like food and living in Oslo for a week.
Because I don’t live extremely far from Oslo I’m thinking of going there to maybe watch some exhibitions and listen to some seminiars if there are any? Do you know where I can find some sort of schedule or plan for the week in Oslo?
Cheers
Aga
You are going to move to London?
Damn… who will stay in this country if everybody value will move to islands?
Yes, I understand… of course… I wish you luck. I hope that you will work as a photographer soon.
I should do the same… but Captain leaves boat as last…
I had awful day today. Bloody laboratory lost my films! A half of my old but proper work about “hometown”… and what is more awful… my lasts works! Portraits and dark landscapes! shi……t!!!!
peace
Marcin
http://www.marcinluczkowski.com/news/
Thanks for the invite, David, sounds swell (June 11th is when I arrive in Paris).
You raised a point that is keeping me perplexed (read: clueless) for a long time as concerns photography. You mention mediocrity, and i am wondering if in your eyes, a shot that is mediocre is craftless then, for what matters in that craft?
Heck, taking your opinion aside, these editors you mention often, do they look for craftmanship (the ability to be on when ASKED for) or “moody” photographers (the ability to realize craft won’t help, go home, and have a beer)?
David… will be nice to meet you in London :-) Hope i will find there some job (i already found one – but in polish shop, so i am not very happy.. i want to practice my english, not polish ;-))
I know London is expensive, but still my friends are able to work there and keep half money to send to their families and are able to buy computers and cameras ect…
I was working whole month for polish agency and i earnt only 136 zl…it’s about 30-40 euro for whole month of work… almost same was with polish newspaper… so… there is NO WAY to live here.. it doesnt even make sense to use my own camera to shoot for such small money…. btw my camera is broken, in London i was shooting with compact camera :-)
I would love to live in Poland, i have so many ideas for projects here… i will see how things will go :-)
Marcin…I am not sure if i want to work as photographer… of course i want to make my projects and shoot but i see reality and i think it’s better to find some other job (to have insurance and be abble to pay a bills at least), to be able to travel
Before i thought Poles are very poor in England, and they are not happy, they miss Poland and work whole days… but during my visit (i spent there 5 days) i saw something different.. they smile more than my friends in Poland, because they can buy a dinner if they want, they can buy a ticket to poland whenever they want, they are able to help their families in Poland… those things are very important… in Poland you work one year to buy a laptop in London, few days :-) plus London is on of the biggest cities on the world.. same as NYC and Istanbul which i LOVE.. all important exhibitions are there!!!! and in London i can work legaly, i don’t even need passport which is great for me! and i will practice my english i hope…
Hello,
Each post ends with a tough question…..so every time I end up not writing……just makes me think…..
but yeah fantastic energy…..I just hope I have that energy and passion all this life….anyways for me ideas can come anywhere…..there are no boundaries for that….with respect to photography I feel my best should come from the place I know, in my case India, for I know it…but then its about discovering and having those experiences….so in that respect India surprises me all the time….
And also when I travel to a new country,I feel excited..the heart floats…thats a fanatstic feeling in itself….
Combining both the two :)
I remember reading somewhere….not the correct words of this quote but yeah it says like
The best thing about travelling outside is coming back to your own country….
thanks
Siddharth
hi david. i like it when you say you’re sometimes “on” and sometimes “off” with your photography. first time i heard you say this was over at the “family & friends” section when you showed a few “off” pics. it may sound mystical or something that involves the muses, or like you said it may be mood. i like the organicity, of it–being on, whenever. i tend to work this way too, following how i feel. but i also encounter a roadblock sometimes. when i’m “off” i tend to panic, seeing how “ugly” my pics are turning out, and feel a self-imposed pressure to “deliver.” which of course only serves to stifle me some more. you say you feel relaxed when you’re “on.” perhaps just as important, one must be relaxed when “off” too :-)
bj
Joan, “inch wide but a mile deep” I like that.
Aga, hope you enjoy London. I’m English and have visited the capital on only a handful of occasions – usually for photo exhibitions – so in a two or three days of being there you will know it better than I.
Best,
Mike.
Aga,
I wish you all the best in your move to London. It may be tough at times, but I think the opportunities are there.
My grandfather came to England during the second world war. Obviously his circumstances were totally different to yours but I think it was the best thing he ever did. Sadly he died young so I never got to even meet him.
My grandmother died a few months ago. When my father was going over her things he discovered photographs and letters belonging to my grandfather which nobody knew existed. My grandmother didn’t talk about him much and claimed to not know anything about his life in Poland and his family there.
As you may imagine, this has given me lots of ideas to churn over….
Justin
@Aga: luck with London. The UK is absolutely full of Poles, if I were you I would freak out. (I must know about twelve or fifteen in Cardiff? And I see some of them almost daily.) If I happen to be going in that direction (not uncommon) I’ll give you a shout.
Hey David,
You have interesting and probing questions as always. Much appreciated.
Hope you are enjoying your time in Oaxaca.
Your question, with regards to “sleeping around” versus “anchor”, I would personally say that “sleeping around” is the better way for myself. Changing your location of where you sleep, whether in one city, a state or country, I feel one are put in more various situations. But again your question, would also depend on what kind of work you would like to develop, whether it being more localised, or general, would also depend of your location for sleeping.
For myself, when traveling, I like to explore new places, and traveling from bed to bed, while I am on a journey, is very much part of my experience and documentation. However, when I travel to locations where I have friends, I tend to stay with them, and are then part of their localised experience.
Couchsurfing.com is a great experience, for “sleeping around”. I have not been able to sleep on any unfamiliar couches yet, but have hosted quite a few in my apartment here in Berlin, and this has overall been a very rewarding experience.
I wish you all best for the rest of your time in Oaxaca for this time, before you head to Oslo, for dok08. I will be heading to Norway on Saturday March 1, and will attend the dok08, and I hope to meet with you there.
Peace,
Jarle
David… i have to say that your blog is amazing… it gives so big impact on my life… so nice to have a chat with people :-) THX EVERYBODY!! :-)
@ David: “ANA… i do hope to see you soonest in Valencia…”
yes, veeeery soon! ;-) !!
@ Aga: I think you made a good decision. If it does not work, you can always come back, but if you don’t try and give it a chance, you’ll never know… Good luck!!
@Aga: luck with London.
Posted by: Joni Karanka | February 26, 2008 at 03:44 PM..
PANOS SAYS:
AGA
I DONT KNOW YOU OR EVEN CARE ABOUT YOU….
but…. you are moving to London!!!!
congratulations…. I love London or should i say…
everybody “should” like London…..
tons of shit to shoot there….
and by the way… i kidding above…
I do care about you, good luck….
and have no fear…. if a retarded greek like me survived 12 years in bloody L.A!!!?…
im totally convinced that a way smarter girl like you…
will have no problem adjusting!…
Hint… as an immigrant’s point of view…:
If you find yourself in times of troubles?????
(fuck Mother Mary & the Beatles.)… dont waste your time praying…
just remind yourself all the misery you leaving behind….
did you say you worked the whole month??? for 50 fucking euros????????????!!!!!!!… THE WHOLE MONTH????!!!! …. like $80 usd????
Whattttttt????????? Still there??????
Leave tonite… or should i say yesterday….
Work the whole year for a laptop???????
Damnnnn, it looks that im taking a lot of things for granted!!!!
THE MASTER ,LOU REED again
PANOS THINKS ( doesnt happen very often)
“…oh and p.s. a previous poster suggested zipolite as a beach spot.
it’s got some tourists, but it’s still idyllic – also, it’s one of the few (optionally) nude beaches – prepare yourself for Italians in speedos, or less. i, however, would suggest Mazunte, instead (next beach over).
they’re all beautiful, but Mazunte’s my spot (and if you go there, make sure you walk out to Punta Cometa – and take your camera). just an hour or so east of puerto escondido, right next to Zipolite.
Posted by: dori | February 25, 2008 at 09:35 PM…”
Hmmmm!
DORI SOUNDS VERY FRESH!!!!
AGA SAID:
“…) plus London is on of the biggest cities on the world.. same as NYC and Istanbul which i LOVE.. all important exhibitions are there!!!!…”
panos says:
AGA,
IF YOU EVER VISIT ATHENS , GREECE or even the bloody L.A !!!!
you might change your mind about, what’s the coolest city in the universe…or even Barcelona…. or London… or…. whatever!
Leave the “terror ” behind youuuuuu!
Leave the “City of the Zombies”, behind you….
Go ahead with your ideas…. Free yourself…. go live in London…
and when you get and feel strong enough…!?
immigrate for the south… that is GREECE, ITALY, SPAIN or PORTUGAL…
thats what its all about…
welcome to “real” Europe…
good luck!
“would “sleeping around” stimulate you, or do you need an “anchor” to do your best work??”
well … actually I do not know. It is a interesting question because it relates to working. And like many of the people who have posted, I do good work when I get into the necessary mood. When everything flows… and no matter where you turn, something meaningful happens. BUT, I do not think this has to do with my personal well being. It is more like I imagine a drug might be. A strong water current that drags me with it. It works even if I am not ok. Maybe even better then even. Well, not better, but different. Different angle.
For my personal well being I appreciate knowing that my things are there somewhere in a save mode. Sounds like a cliché, but I adore books…. And while other people have a difficult time passing a bakery without buying anything, I have a hard time passing the Walther König Bookshops here in Germany. They are specialized in Art&Architecture. Just to picture the importance it has for me: there was a time I had very little money and if I had to choose, I’d buy a book over food. I always said I had more and longer pleasure from the book ;-)
So books are important and the little things I gather in life, that have some meaningful story attached to them. All the rest … I do not care so much.
But these things, even though I love to have them around me, could well enough just be in a storage room. I just need to know that I do have access and that they are not lost to me.
I guess, eventually it is for me about having this anchor you all are taking about. Just knowing that I have it would be fine. Retreating once in a while would be enough. For me.
For my work? I do not think it has impact. My work is me. And I am always taking myself along with me anyway ;))
Have fun&intensity, David!
So long,
L
It’s lovely to ‘see’ everyone again through the chat, but now that my mind is on Zipolite/Mazunte, it’s all I can think about. When I ran out of money at Zipolite, I made pancakes on the grill in someone’s palapa in exchange for hammock and food, and I think it could have been home for quite awhile. There used to be a little woman who baked in her beehive oven down the road..she was the sweetest.
DAVID,
if there is anything smallish that you need for Oslo from NYC, let me know..I am shooting with one of your workshop participants the night before, and I could hand it off..I expect he wouldn’t mind if it fits in the luggage or whatever..
wish I could come
David:
got ur email. I’ve recent u 2 new emails today: the original email about Mercy Book Project i sent to aol address…this morning i sent to both aol and to the blog email…
just an update, here are others participating: Steve McCurry, Martin Parr, Paolo Pellegrin, Philip Jones-Griffiths Susan Meiselas and Chris Steele-Perkins”
gotta have u on board :))))
hugs
bob
I’ve just had a crazy, perhaps even a completely stupid, idea about having a big meetup / party online. I wonder if there’s a future to be had for forums like this in Second Life where we could arrange a time and place in the virtual realm and party some. Perhaps have a big slide show projection and kill some virtual beers.
The only problem, however, would be our needing to pay a fee for membership.
Just a thought. Entertaining an idea is all.
Next?
Paul, great idea… One thing though…
NO virtual beers coz I’m lacking a virtual liver!
Real Beers, please!!!
Panos, are you in NYC? If so, there’ll be some beers swirling on Thursday night if you’re interested.
Thanks Paul, i wish i could join the NYC thursday night gathering…
but im stuck in cali for a while….
thanks for the invitation… see you soon
peace
Bob, tell us more about the Mercy Book Project: you have named photographers who I admire. I recently sent a photograph to magnum U.K. for the attention of Chris Steele Perkins. In his Magnum portfolio he has a photograph taken in Blackpool, England and I sent him a photograph taken at the same seaside resort entitled “Chris Steele Perkins Eat Your Heart Out” (it’s the “Soaked by Waves” photograph on my website. All tongue-in-cheek – I really admire his work. No answer so-far so I hope that he didn’t receive it and is not pissed-off. Somehow I don’t think so.
I love to travel but I know that I have a home to return to. Don McCullin describes in his book Unreasonable Behavior the return to his family in England after witnessing the famine in Biafra. A table full of food.
Photojournalism can sometimes paint the world in the colour of shit (that’s color for our colonial cousins). A friend of mine describes BBCs “North West Tonight” as “Danger Down your Way”.
It’s dangerous out there – be careful!
While I admire and celebrate the many photojournalists who deal with the darker side of humanity, I do wonder if the balance is tipped in favour of bad news. The vast majority of people are GOOD: perhaps if we saw more of the beauty of existence we would be less likely to tolerate the crap.
Tomorrow I will sort out the Middle East – easy peasy.
Mike.
Best to all and CSP,
Mike.
MICHAEL RAWCLIFF…
i will see Chris Steele-Perkins in a few days…i will remind him of your request…
ERICA…
many thanks for your offer….i will be in New York for about 8 hours before i am off to Oslo, so i should be able to pick up whatever i need….sorry you will not be there, but i think we may do something similar in New York in the fall….that is, if Oslo works out right….hmmmm, you are a Zipolite girl!!! not a bad place to “hang” for awhile…i am dying because i am so close , yet so far….
JARLE….
please find me in Oslo…i am tall and shaved head(bald) and will have bloodshot eyes…i look forward to meeting you….
LASSAL….
i share your love of books…and a good book is only matched by a fine wine, your favorite tunes and candle light reflected in the eyes of your most significant other..as a matter of fact, the latter can stimulate you to go out and make a good book!!!
PAUL….
sorry i will miss you in New York…but, let’s get together when i return….i do not have a home to invite you to for the moment, but i am sure we can find the proper venue….
PANOS…
i tend to like the “real Europe” too…however, and do not kill me please, but i have never been to Greece…i keep waiting for an invitation…hmmmm, who do i have to know???
cheers, david
David,
Speaking of books…your Novella?
Oh, and I still have that bottle of scotch with your name on it.
Peace.
MICHAEL K…
the novella “You Made Me Leave” has been finished for almost two years….i would publish it now , but i must do my other book first…i do look forward to the scotch with my name on it!!! many thanks in advance…
cheers, david
Oh…OK fine. I’ll wait! I did at least get a taste of it (the novella, that is!) two years ago in Jackson…so to everyone else, I say…ha!
Just kidding. All of you will be floored when it finally comes to light! Very good stuff!
Ok… Let me pull over pretty quick!
Damn David you always ahead of me…
I do have some plans to take over Greece sooner or later!
I can see you teaching just like Socrates and Plato and…
on the open fields.. No classrooms, walking through the olive tree fields,
chatting and debating and fighting…
and then drinking wine blessed by Dionysus… and then…
ahh Greece…
my grandparents died recently and of course they couldn’t take their home with them… So, there you have it…
if you need a classroom or a bed!…
But as Leonard Cohen once said:
“first we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin”…!
then… Athens Greece panos suggests!!
But let me first finish my “unfinished”
business here in Hel(L.A)…
And maybe we can invite Nikos E. too,
unless he is busy with some kind of “Elite”
seminar… LOL
peace
and there you have it:
bukowski on love
… and speaking of “fine” literature and poetry:
The World’s Greatest Loser
For my best buddy… Panos.
http://www.michaelkircher.com/greece.htm
These are only “vacation” photos, no time to really get “in the zone”… so no nasty comments, I already know how you feel about my photography!
Anyway, it’s just a way of expressing my deep love of that country of your origin.
Peace,
MK
Aga.
Good luck in london, I`m moving back to the UK too and it is scarily expensive. So really good luck. I have known and liked the Polish community in London for many years. in those days most were working illegally in restaurants and as nannies and aupairs and most were being seriously taken advantage off, including two ex-girlfriends, though not by me I must add quickly. I haven`t been in london for years now and hear that Polish is almost the second language there now and it pleases me to see that the Poles, a people and a country I love, can feel welcome and comfortable in my country. Okay Daily Mail readers aside! I think the long termers, those that were there before, working illegally perhaps and who then came back legally and those that stayed through the change of border regulations (I remember my girlfriend always being pulled off the bus at Dover whenever we came back into Britain) is a story in itself. I`d love to do it myself but a. My wife knows Polisg girls are seriously beautiful and perhaps won`t want me spending too much time in that community :) plus b. My Polish language ability is now limited to ordering beer so you are uniquely qualified. I`ve sen your work and it is amazing I think you`ll get good stories there. And the day job could actually be the best way into it.
Przyjemnej podróży
Damon
MICHAEL KIRCHER,
i’m really impressed…. especially the olive tree….
really thank you…
and honestly apart from my occasional psychotic barking,
you dont know how i feel about your photography…. really…
plus i didnt see any canons… ( i have no hate for nikon yet, and the main reason is because is the small guy, also kept the original F mount and also accept ZEISS… so still fuck canon LSD….!
If canon is the cocaine and lsd or ecstasy, id rather stick with the pot…
manual non autofocus nikons or leicas…lol
Anyways… i’m impressed you made it to greece…
You are totally and more than welcomed to my “party” over there…
You will see. I do have a plan… i promise…
and you are definitely in my brother!
peace
I’m there. Thanks for the invite!
These are only “vacation” photos
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All cool, Michael. Thanks for the link. Much love and togetherness, shot as felt.
One should never apologize (or warn ahead) for any thing we shoot. maybe an interesting topic in itself, how so many of us easily fall in the “not my best”, or possibly “making excuses” fold. Not that it is what you did, Michael. Just ad libbing.
Herve,
right on, thats a topic itself….( warn ahead)
but, regardless,
i really enjoyed Michael K’s photos…
ACTUALLY I LOVED THEM… almost brought tears in my eyes!
I mean, really…
and Herve,
I love the way you “play” your “part” in this forum…. like an instrument…
like a guitar….
I think you are Herve Hendrix…!
hehe, Panos, maybe because my first camera (I was 15) was… a guitar. Many subsequent ones as well.
How about some Bach:
Damon… yes, there are thousends of Poles in UK… unfortunatelly many of them don’t make good opinion about Poland (when I was traveling in tube in London and i was walking on the streets I saw many of them drinkng vodka and talking ugly) but also I know many very inteligent Poles there…
Where do you live Damon? In London, too?
Panos.. i have never been in Athens! I am sure i will love that city, too!
Maybe next year! Live is full of many suprices :-)
David,
Have a safe trip to Oslo. I’m heading down to Somerset for a relaxing weekend at my girlfriend’s parents before heading to Oslo on Monday. Your schedule sounds a little more manic!
Looks like they’re having snow over there. Should make for some interesting pictures.
Oaxaca to Oslo is quite a contrast!
See you there,
Justin
Thanks Herve. Good points you make. Also think it would make for a good topic.
But for the record, I never make excuses or justifications for my photos. Whether they be work, art, or snapshots. In this case it was just a little concern given a few past exchanges with Panos that brought it out of me. But everything is cool. No more justifying in the future…promise!
Thanks again.
MK
I have a lovely family who I hate to leave but I also love to be away seeing and doing new things. As always the grass is always greener on the other side. I don’t take many pictures at home and worry when I have more stuff than will fit in rucksack. Saying that I wouldn’t want to be away for years at a time.