all anybody ever talks about down here in the Outer Banks of North Carolina is the weather… wind and the direction thereof is on everyone's mind and it is cause and effect of the changing patterns affecting fishermen and surfers who make up most of the population..and, oh yes, there are a few photographers …and all they talk about is the weather too…
yesterday afternoon was summer warm and i had a good swim (with a stranger's dog above) right at the perfect hour for shark shore feeding.. well, there has been only one fatal shark attack here in the last 6 years, so i enjoyed the hour….anyway, today is colder and gray….but, i will swim again right after i do this post….we all know a swim in the surf seems to heal the body and soul….a natural "massage" for our bodies and the salt water, from whence we came, seems to balance us both mentally and physically….
in my experience and friendship with so many photographers, "balance" does always seem to be the number one problem for most….either too much work or not enough work or too much of one kind of picture and not enough of an other kind of picture seem to plague many…we have talked before about the personal life/professional life conundrum, but i am writing now about the delicate balance within the world of actual picture taking itself…i am assuming in this conversation that everyone's personal life is just fine!!!
Gayle Tiller (below) is a local photographer , who happens to be a single mom, and has raised her three daughters alone now for the last 9 years…she mostly photographs families right here on this beach where i have photographed her as part of my family project (weekly postings now under "work in progress")….
Gayle spends lots of time with her daughters and the locals say they rarely see one without the other during the summer months..she says "i love just hanging out with the girls…they are my favorite people to be with and we are all really good friends"…so, Gayle has her personal life worked out and she totally enjoys doing her beach portraits….she does not want for more…
i am curious about most of you and your "balance sheet"…do you photograph mostly the things you love or do you have obligatory shooting to do??? which way does the wind blow?
ok, i am off for a swim…camera along with me of course….i never know what i will run into along these shark infested shores…
David
And what about your “women” book? Do you still work on??
you are good writer, I suppose, because I am not good in enlish, You know…
MARCIN….
you may know that i have written a novella which is the fictional text for my “woman book” titled You Made Me Leave….this will be my first attempt at fiction writing and the photographs (portraits) will be intended as “mystery”…this book is on “hold” until i finish my family work, although i do work on it all the time…but, i decided for many reasons to do Off For A Family Drive first…and the family book could take me two years to do..i am not sure and i will not know for several months….
there is some possibility that i could publish the portrait book simultaneous, but there just may not be enough “time in the day” to do that…again, part of the “balance equation” for me personally…
thanks for asking Marcin…..
cheers, david
I photograph what’s around me, which has its good and bad points, as almost everything does. I dont get a lot of people shots; unlike photogs in the city, I dont have an always convenient crowd to disappear into when I fire the camera, but on the whole, it’s not such a bad place, as places go.
“…everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it…” attributed to Mark Twain.
DAH
I love that the sneak peeks are starting to come to the surface. The Colorado snaps are great. I needed a creative boost today!
Are you mostly/only shooting film for Off For A Family Drive?
I think the key aspect missing from your balance question is whether these photos “pay the bills”. If not… I take snaps from a camera that only leaves my shoulder to be place bedside, till morn. There aren’t too many rules, from the “street”… sans the airport… of course.
Happy swimmin’!
David
Yes I remember, text is finished. I just thought you always shooting pretty women and may be when you are shooting now you are still thinking about this book, or working on.
This story never end.. is’nt it?.. ha ha…
I will buy all of your books I can get soon. I have only ‘divided soul’ now.
but “You Made Me Leave” I want as a gift. When you publish it, I would like signed one from you. Special book from special guy.
And I will send my book to you, if i will have one :)
what you think? First one for your mother like you always do (I hope She is very good health), and second for me… or 100th…
:)
peace
I posted this on the other thread here it is again:
I took these a few hours ago, I just felt like sharing:
http://tinyurl.com/55m73b
Karim
Fasion photography it is not my strong point. I am not expert at all, but I think your pictures are good.
Ok. Morpheus is calling me.
I want get up early tomorrow.
Kepp going my friends, keep going…
peace
KARIM…
nice….by the way, do you prefer Ryan or Karim??
MATT…
100% medium format film…both color and b&w for the “family drive” work
cheers, david
Firstly… Cheers guys! (Ana, Patricia, David, Ari, Anton Good to be back)
yes ANA! Perhpas by Perps next year SOMETHING may have sunk in! (I really hope so!)
DAVID. Yes, will be in touch… Loved family analogy btw. Oh, and Matt “always being out there”, you mean like that weired feeling when you are being watched? Is that Matt…!? ;)
(Hope your´re doing well Mat “The Butcher”)
Hey ANTON, Jess is fine thanks! And far better at Spanish than me!!! (grrrr)
ARI. Yes you are right about some music, it was sort of always a plan, but never got around to it, these recent projects have been produced on the fly so time and resorces have been a little limited. I´m also unsure as to how to deal with copyright issues for music. I guess some royality free music is the obvious choice.
BOB I realized i missed the premier of Bones!! I have been looking forward to seeing it for a long time. Do you have a link? Or can wait until the DDR links go up I guess…
Katharina. Couldn´t belive it when I read it has almost been a year since BKK!! My god things have gone fast. Scarey!!
As for the post question… A little difficult to answer really as this year has been rather unique. But the reason for doing this extended travel and multiple projects was to get in touch with stories and work that I am passionate about and push in these areas.
Before leaving in April most of my work was “obligatory shooting” It was rare that I would get a shoot that I REALLY enjoyed or was passionate about, mostly day-to-day stuff you know. Please know i´m not knocking that, it is absolutely necessary and i´m grateful to be able to do this at all, but i felt I was getting bogged down and that if I was ever going to work in areas that interest me more, now was the time to break away and do it! So made the jump…
Good idea, bad idea I dunno, There have been sacrifices with shooting multiple short projects, but it has been a great experience and I am glad to have extended my portfolio. I just hope that this proves useful in the next year.
So I guess in a nutshell it would be wonderful to work professionaly only shooting the things I love, but this is a real privilage. A happy balance is the key to life. So i´m more than happy for that!
Cheers!
James
MARCIN…
stop only appreciating ugly, dark, tormented, fucked up people ( just like me ),
look at Karim’s fucking photos as Real people…
take the “fashion” restriction out of your dark clouded fucking head…
…. ohhh ,
you know i love you… Marcin
………………………………….”balance sheet”…do you photograph mostly the things you love or do you have obligatory shooting to do???…………………….
David
wtf…. “obligatory” means…?
not in my dictionary… sorry…
allright now….!!!!!… to tell the truth, i guess all of us in this fucking life we have compromised
at least once or twice…
but then again, that might only happened to me…
peace
… love you marcin.. playing with you..
David
Online I prefer Karim… I think¿
On topic… I shoot for a portrait studio everyday with the total opposite creative flavor that I love… I think it helps to show what I don’t want to be in a few years. I’ll post examples… When I was hired I thought I could bring my style too. BIG MISTAKE l!! I’ve given up on them and try to move in a seperate direction more each day.
Marcin
Witaj… Please judge me on any basis you see fit. Thank you for looking.
Sorry guys totally off-topic but have you tried slydial? Call anyones cell voicemail directly!!
marvin what do you think about recording your voice as you caption your photos?
James
One year since BKK (hard to believe!) , and three Matt’s to contend with in that group, it’s easy to get us mixed up. There is only one “Butcher” and he’s kickin around Tasmania. Always good for a laugh and a beer he was.
Good to see how busy you’ve been this past year. Best to you!
reposted from “Polls” thread…
DAVID & ALL
So glad my response to the workshop slideshow spoke to you. It certainly touched me deeply. I am not the same person or photographer from having seen/experienced it…and the wonderful folks who created it, Mike Courvoisier included!
NOW FRIENDS, please help me out with honest feedback about the text I’ve added to my self portrait/daily life project! Be brutal. If it doesn’t work, tell me. But please say something!
I’ve just added more to the introductory text so, even if you’ve already read it, please go back and read it again.
BTW there will be more text to come,but I need to know if I’m on the right track here or if another approach would be better. Writing comes easily to me so the whole thing can be scrapped and begun again if need be. But I need your feedback.
Thanks so much in advance!!!
http://www.pbase.com/windchimewalker/daily_life
Patricia
Ah shit! my bad Matt (Holloway) I was confused as “The Butcher” posted just one or two before davids responce… nice to hear from you though! What you working on these days?
james
Patricia,
The text is very enlightening; I think you are on the right track. I understand more now.
Love, light, color and mood,
Lee
To answer David’s question, I feel very fortunate to be in a position to take whatever photos I want. I do the occasional commission, but generally speaking they are what I’d want to be photographing anyway.
The only job I almost died doing was last March. I took 3 days of location shots here in Detroit for an Oscar award-winning Los Angeles documentary film producer. The pay was low, the pressure EXTREMELY stressful, and the work uncreative as hell. But I learned a lot, mainly not to accept such a job again! The assistant producer I dealt with was very nice, but she was caught between naive, perfectionistic me and her deadline-obsessed boss. They’d predicted the job would take about 5 hours, and it probably would have for a photographer experienced in taking location shots, but for me? 30 hours in the field & on the computer! But, hey, my name will be in the credits for what they’re expecting to be a blockbuster documentary. Check out
http://www.nme.com/news/the-white-stripes/39041
Patricia
DAVID,
I don’t love everything I photograph but I love to photograph everything that surrounds me.
I don’t have the duties of a professional photographer (yet!), but I believe that even if I am obliged to photograph certain subjects I don’t like I can challenge myself to make it well and enjoy the results later.
Enjoy your swimming! Hope to find a way to be in one of your next workshops. The problem is the schedule on my regular work…
JAMES,
Yes, I believe the royalty free is the option.
Have a look at the netlabel named Birdsong, from Israel (www.birdsong.co.il). They have some interesting artists and songs on their catalog and they are under the Creative Commons license. I’m sure you will find lots of material to work with.
PANOS,
I got it, and I agree with you. Your eyes are the most important weapons to be used and photography is the best and healthiest “drug” to be addicted to and we want always to go heavier on it… :-))
Cheers,
Ari
Speaking of Shark shore feedings..when I was in college I was dating a windsurfer, and we left NYC very very early one morning to be on the beach in Montauk before the sunrise. As he was setting up his stuff, I went for a walk to the other end of the beach..as the sun was rising, I ran into the ocean with abandon and swam out as far as I could. The water tasted very odd, but the moment was too good to care, and then suddenly I was caught in a whirlpool and the more I tried to get out, the more I was pulled down..I really thought I was going to die, getting weaker and feeling helpless, gulping this disgusting water. I prayed, I surrendered, went limp and it was exactly the right move, the whirlpool rejected me and swirled me out.
As I was swimming back to shore, I saw an old man frantically waving to me..finally I could hear his shouts, and when I was on shore he told me that I was in ‘dead man’s pit’…no kidding..after awhile I asked why the water tasted as it did, he said he was shocked I didn’t notice the color, it was blood, the water was heavily bated for a shark hunt that morning..so it seems that my number could have been up on a couple of counts that day..but thankfully, that wasn’t in the cards.
DAH, be safe out there, and have a swim for us..
more on topic later..
PATRICIA
IT WORKS! IT WORKS! IT WORKS!
I found your text truly captivating and extremely thought provoking, powerful in it’s ‘plain talking honesty’. The way you kept your text as personal as your images are, makes the whole project all the more touching.
You have inspired me Patricia, thank you.
Sam
Still struggling to find the time to make pictures of “meaningful things”. I spend most of my weeks shooting real estate to pay the bills and occasional weekends shooting for local papers. But at some point I have to spend time with my fiancé, no?
So I pick and choose, and there are moments where I drop it all in the office and sit and read or watch tv and stop trying to figure how to fit it all in.
Any meaningful pictures are done on my own dime and during my time off. Sustained effort on this part can yield exhaustion and/or neglect of my better half.
I think I just need to get better at finding work that pays more, so I have more time to shoot for myself. Working too hard for not enough scratch is tiring and frustrating.
LEE & SAM
Thank you both for taking the time to check out my gallery. Your feedback is most helpful.
ALL
Again, I’m asking for feedback on the text I’ve added to my self portrait/daily life project. The link is
http://www.pbase.com/windchimewalker/daily_life
Patricia
DAVID,
i just got home tonight to many changes i see … i really do hope you will look me up if you are up this way and of course if there is anything i can do to help with logistics, etc., i would be honored. You have friends in Seattle and surrounds … i’d love to meet Katia too, i think i may have already met some of her kids :))
“my take,” yes well, i did get a chuckle out of that.
tom
BOB,
I do understand, although it comes slowly at times, thanks for response … :))
tom
It took well over an hour for the Loft Workshop 2 movie to download on my piggy-backed sureptitious wireless connection, but yes, when I finally got to see the slide show (using Firefox), it was worth the wait. Quite stunning work, as others have mentioned before me, but I was particularly bowled over by the incredibly layered and textured dream images of Kyunghee Lee’s, which capture for me the essence of the New York experience as few others have.
&LayoutToUDavid and All…..
I am hoping to throw myself out here for some critique, advice, input…all of the above! I am posting links here to the two perhaps most significant or otherwise “complete” projects I have produced in the last few months.
The Powwow project was something I had high hopes for..and perhaps fell short. I am not sure it is personal enough.
Further more I was a bit loose in my approach and might have missed the “story” of the ceremonial all together during those two days and nights. I felt a bit “lost” and unable to truly connect with many of my subjects. Perhaps a product of the nature of this Ceremony/Event/Culture, or just my approach??
These two selections are broken up into Night and Day…
http://fedoraphoto.com/DisplayFedoraPhoto.cfm?MyGID=21&MyAction=DisPics&LayoutToUse=Rollover
Here is the second portfolio…
http://www.FedoraPhoto.com/DisplayFedoraPhoto.cfm?MyGID=23&MyAction=DisPicsse=Rollover
The next project was shot in DC over the course of a week as I zipped around between appointments. I feel this essay, even though it was less premeditated and easier to shoot, seems more complete. I was awed by the architecture, lighting, motion and sense of purpose that surrounded the “Metro”…and thus I was compelled to shoot as i also “experinced” it.
Again..Maybe this is only intriguing to me b/c I live amongst ranch lands and pickup trucks, or is this the beginning of a potentially strong visual story of interest??
http://www.FedoraPhoto.com/DisplayFedoraPhoto.cfm?MyGID=20&MyAction=DisPics&LayoutToUse=Rollover
I would greatly appreciate any feedback…The good, the bad and the Ugly! Thank you….Cheers, Jeremy
Karim
Yes, show some examples you are talking about.
You work for portrait studio, so you know that your portraits are good. I was thinking you learn in some photo school.
Panos is right. I like unexpected little dark pictures. But I don’t do unexpected pictures myself, so I can’t be any judge. I like many kind of photography and I don’t think if pictures are not dark it’s mean i dont like it. I think you hide some other photography.
But for me pictures you show are just good.
what you mean “recording your voice as you caption your photos?” ??
Patricia
I really mean if you will be ready print some little book I wish to buy one. So keep working and don’t forget print one for me.
peace
hmmmmm…. was Koudelka shoot on my street??? And did not step by????
http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=Mod_ViewBox.ViewBoxZoom_VPage&VBID=2K1HZOB3RPSYK&IT=ImageZoom01&PN=22&STM=T&DTTM=Image&SP=Search&IID=2S5RYD1P3FP7&SAKL=T&SGBT=T&DT=Image
Photographers do always seem to attract beautiful women and David is no exception. Has anyone else been to Perpignan?! There are all these famous photojournalists around with women in tow and one wonders if these are their assistants or are they photographers themselves. . . where did they all come from?!
JEREMY
Its interesting you felt so disconnected from the people of the First Nations… Them being Indigenous to America and you living ‘amongst ranch lands and pickup trucks’ gives me a few clues as to why you would feel that way…
It does show in the images as well, sorry but its often the way with people in Australia with Aboriginal people too. In fact I know how closely connected the First Nations are to Aboriginal people and I know what people just don’t get is that Ceremony is Culture and Religion and Family and Land and Life all wrapped into one.
David Suzuki said
“Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature”
In lots of instances with loads of different cultures and situations I think you can get away with being a casual observer and just take nicely composed images, but with Indigenous people it HAS to be much more than that….
If you have ever seen a ‘corroboree’ its not just like a religious or ceremonial event, its an experience that doesn’t really have a whole lot of logic attached to it, it really takes you places that you can’t see, you just have to feel and if you don’t feel then you haven’t learnt and if you haven’t learnt- well in some parts of Australia you could easily get eaten by a big old crocodile.
Now this possibly sounds totally scrambled but I know that Aboriginal people just KNOW….Its very difficult to photograph Indigenous people because the response you get is totally a reflection of what is going on inside yourself, you can’t have any lingering fears that you may end up with a spear in the leg.
In Australia there is this big lie that has been circulated ever since white invasion that if you take photographs of Aborigines that they will think that you are stealing their soul. What a load of crap.
What that is about over here is the fact that if you don’t have evidence then you can say no wrong has been done, Australia was declared ‘Terra Nullis’ when Cook originally declared it a new part of the English Empire. This effectively put in place a series of events that have relegated Aboriginal people to non-citizenry of their own land.
Now as you can imagine these kinds of things and thoughts just do not disappear over night and even though Australia might seem like this great bland untroubled country there has been a war going on here ever since the first English colonialists arrived.
What I am trying to say that is that it is a similiar situation to the First Nations. I mean the Pilgrim Fathers just rocked up and took over, they thought that ownership of the land was everything. Indigenous people know that the land owns them.
So there is a huge gulf between the First Peoples and the rest of us really and to be able to photograph people effectively (any people) I think you have to be able to have some sort comprehension of the kinds of feelings people have. Imagine if you had a lovely little life going, enough food and water and shelter and some beautiful First Nation girls to hang out with and discuss the meaning of life and then suddenly along came- in America’s case a whole bunch of uptight, strung out religious nuts and in Australia’s case a whole bunch of dirty, ignorant criminals and tried to tell you what to do and then proceeded to murder your family, rape your women and destroy the land you cherished. And then in Australia just to make the genocide almost complete they took the children away (often from Aboriginal mothers who were raped by white men)
I think that all of the guilt of this is pretty easy to see on the faces of many white Australians and I am sure there is a bit of that in Americans as well. Perhaps not so evident because well you guys had slavery as well…
But you can see what I am getting at?
Its loads about trust and that kind of works with everything really…
That said I think you really nailed it with one photo, the one in the night where you have a blurred figure in the foreground (in pinkish outfit) and you can see one of the elders in the background through the movement of the younger fulla…
Anyway lecture over but I hope that helps….
Cheers
hmm..
when i started photography it was because i wanted to photograph all the time..
i was lucky in the respect that thats what i did really.. the lecturing work i have now is the first ‘job’ i have had, apart from waiting tables and that stuff when alot younger / university.
the balance was never easy – i never had any money.. i would ALWAYS shoot something which i wanted to shoot for myself.. music.. whatever.. i would suppliment this with food photos, and commercial work which cropped up.. once or twice a year a very good job would crop up..
i do not know if it is easy to start in this kind of business now.. when i began there was only the expectation of digital arriving.. we still used film, even though this was only the late 90′s.. now days graphic designers, marketing people.. they all take their own shots.. sometimes moonlighting with the photo work passing over their desks because today there is no need to spend time at the lab.. no need to have a fine knowledge of film types.. and no need for the post office..
the balance for me has always been fine.. although an ex girlfriend or two would disagree..
i have never needed lots of money.. i’ve been happy to eat rubbish in small amounts.. live a little rougher for the pleasure of the work i wanted to get.
when i began i thought to be a photographer mean’t being able to photograph ANYTHING you were asked to do.. glass products.. fashion.. reportage.. and i’m really glad, since with ever job my technical and theoretical knowledge was pushed.. sayi9ng YES to work even though i would have to learn a new technique did me wonders..
teaching right now is a blessing.. it’s not full time.. it’s well paid though.. and so i have replaced the food shoots and occassional commercial work in this way.. leaving me to shoot what i want to shoot.. again.. i seem to have always been a little lucky, although friends have told me luck has nothing to do with it – and hard work does.
there is still a little part of me that feels a ‘photographer’ needs to be able to light and photograph everything.. needs to know darkroom practice as well as digital.. and so the next goal, which i am well underway in challangeing, is to challange this biggoted part in myself and open up fully to the flickr generation and the world of type specific photographers who may not know what a contact sheet is.
because whatever their balance between money work and shooting what they like, it is the end product which counts.. and there are a great number of so-called photographers who have seen their business sunk by higher quality amateur work.. quite right too.
and so these days i see a photographer more as somebody who does their own work, for themselves.. and less as someone who pays their rent purely from photography.
in fact – i hope i can pay my rent off of teaching photography from now on.. useing that income to persue personal projects to their completion..
i’m really excited about the grant which hillary linked in the last post.. one humble dream is that grants like this will enable me to keep the balance acceptable for my son.. now the balance is not just about me living rough anymore i want to ensure that my photography does not suffer.. because i do not love it any less.
by the way..
i was sure the title of this post would be concerning CHRIS BICKFORD and his excellent surf pictures.. latest post in his in-progress room.. he’s on the EPF page on DAH’s mainsite.
http://www.chrisbickford.com/wp/
badass stuff..
JUST STUNNING CHRIS…
http://www.chrisbickford.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/img_0015.JPG
Hi David
This is first time that I post a comment even if I’ve been reading this journal since 2007. Incredible topics lasts months, cheers.
Good swimming,
Where do I begin?
My wife and I were talking last night after she had had a meal with some girlfriends to help one of them deal with a separation. There are two children involved. Same ages as our youngsters. Both people in question are behaving rather badly. It’s all to do with money. Uck!
Anyway, it made me feel quite good about myself and about my marriage. Claire and I have had our difficulties. Still do. But we have adapted our lives to deal with children and their care, career and relationships. Mostly this has meant my not having much of a career for the last 5 1/2 years. This has been very difficult for me from time to time. But we refused to take on a nanny in New York as we would not be able to provide health insurance or paid vacation and so I decided to take on the role of stay at home dad.
Being a freelance is precarious at the best of times. Claire worked for the feds and had good benefits and so the answer was obvious to me.
After some tough months of long, long days in which there are no breaks, no time for dad to pause and just be in my own head for a few minutes between nappies (diapers), food, mess, fights, listening to mums in the playground compare c-section horror stories and wondering when I might next enjoy the company of men, I realised that I could adapt my photographic life to this new role. It was an extraordinary opportunity to develop as a photographer, husband and father.
But that time has now passed. It’s time for me to get back to work. I want and need my photographic career again. But it’s so hard! I’m a fine assignment photographer. I have copious experience on so many fronts but I’m up against young hot shots with few responsibilities and huge talent. They also come a lot cheaper than I do. And often times they have better gear. What’s an ex stay at home dad to do?
My biggest problem is digging up the courage to cold call people. I hate it. Substantially.
But I’ll find a way.
The other issue is finding time to spend with friends and colleagues on and offline, to read good fiction, to cuddle with her good self, to learn new techniques for multimedia, to answer the call to play cars or lego, fix bikes, the list goes on.
I’m a dad, husband and photographer in equal measure but dividing time equally between those roles is oh so difficult.
Thanks for causing me a few moments to ponder on this subject today.
Chris, that’s a most sumptuous surfing shot. It beckons.
Here’s one from the other day, my youngest, Connor, now four and fast.
http://paultreacy.com/shot-of-the-day/connor01.htm
Perhaps I should be shooting for parenting and family magazines. Can anyone suggest a few for me?
See ya.
WOW!!!!! Chris is obviously NOT up there on the beach with all the other photogs & their 4-foot lenses hooked up to tripods…he is OUT THERE among ‘em! Magnificent captures, especially the one David B highlighted. I am in total AWE!
Patricia
“i am curious about most of you and your “balance sheet”…do you photograph mostly the things you love or do you have obligatory shooting to do??? which way does the wind blow? ”
The constant in my life is that wind blows in different directions too often. When I think I am on the right wave, then the wind changes and I end up soaked in the water. But one thing is for sure: I love photography and I will never give up trying to be what I need to be. I want to be a photographer with all it means. To this point, I have to confess that in the last months (too much time already!) I did not take the pictures I really love to do. Besides, I had to accept some works that don’t ‘move me inside’ but, of course, needed to get them as I needed the money. That does not mean that I did not enjoy doing it. I love photography so much than even taking those pictures I feel good, but I didn’t feel free. When I really feel free is when I get my camera and get immersed in one of those projects that move me inside.
“Obligatory shooting” feels good too. It means that I have a place in this photo world and people want my work. “Freedom shooting” is just heaven in earth :-)
JAMES,
I’m sure of it ;-) and it will be a pleasure to have a nice talk!
PATRICIA,
It’s been a wonderful pleasure to have a look at your “daily life” project. It gave me a beautiful feeling, which is that through your photos, the composition and the tenderness, you are given us a little piece of your life. I felt like sharing your “walks”, your moments, your life…. And that is absolutely fantastic!!! And I felt that wamth without reading the text. So the photos speak for themselves. Congratulations and thank you!! I love it! And now…. I’m going to take some minutes to read your text. Will tell you my opinion after reading.
Big kiss
Ana
PAUL
Your photos of your boys have stayed with me. They truly show life through the eyes of a child. I’d encourage you to submit your work not only to parenting & family mags but to children’s mags as well. Googling such mags should get you started…..
Best wishes!!
Patricia
ERICA,
Wow, I’m glad what could have happened that day wasn’t in the cards, really!
First off to Patricia,
I just read your letter, and I have to agree with Sam. Waw! Yes, it really works for me : strong and personnal, yet very very touching. You feel it all. It could’ve been very dark or desperate, but I feel your strenght and your desire to LIVE LIFE ! To the fullest…
I knew, reading this blog off&on for a year now, that you were quite a wonderfull giving strong and dedicated person, but I didn’t really understand it as I do now…
Patricia, I just finished a very exhausting 3weeks work and am feeling exhausted (need a swim, like David…). Woke up feeling the blues, and your letter did the trick. Truely inspirationnal, thank you.
I’m only sorry that I didn’t barge in on your swarming friends at Davids Workshop/fiesta but your smile was enough that time. Next time…
David,
I started taking pictures because of travels and bad memory and used to shoot for fun and play. Nowadays, those “shooting times” seem to disappear more and more. I’m in this new crazy city but cannot seem to find a way/reason to just “go out & play”… And the work takes too much time as it is: “obligatory work”. So hard to balance, as is life I guess.
Does it get any better with time, this “balancing act”, or do you just hold on and manage the different winds ?
Erica,
Those whirlpools or under currents are well-known, especially along stretches of beaches, but I’m surprised that one has a name ?!
Glad your brain “stopped fighting” to let your body react – I know strong under-currents swimming (not whirlpools). It’s scary, yes, but the only way out is to stop fighting then swim parrallel to the shore until you get out of the currents…
But when you also have shark feeding frenzy at the same spot, you call yourself lucky! Glad you got out of the “dead man’s pit” to talk about it…
Davin,
All good for that pint next time.
But is that why you got into photography?
I guess the Maramures aren’t a paradise for girls?
“Take me down to… where the grass is green & the girls are pretty”
(this one for Panos ;)
Bob,
I too briefly chatted with you and Marina but I was glad I did. Too many people around you as well but you seemed as interesting and bright as you are on paper. true, you live in Canada ;)
And I understand your need to get away more from the computer and this blog, LS and teaching, etc… I don’t know how you kept such a pace the past months! Damn, you seemed to be living here at one point, always writing long interesting dedicated positive posts that I enjoyed reading. But you’ll need to pop out once in a while… your point of views are important (as is the wit of Akaky) ot this blog/family.
Lance,
Great to meet you last in NYC at DAHs! Sure are a cowboy chick magnet bro! If I ever manage to haul my ass down to Austin, Texas, let’s have a few brews! And you’ll show me a rodeo (dreamed of being one as a kid in africa :)
Kyunghee Lee,
Thank you very much for our little talk at DAHs workshop. I know Davin and I were impressed an
…NY ocean is too cold now. Wish I could get on a plane and just go surf then swim in warmer waters (sharks or no sharks)… I even love the name: “Outer Banks”… So yeah, as Erica said: have a swim for us all!
ps1: After a few trips CAN-US, I finally got my visa to stay in the US for up to 3 years! Yeeee!
ps2: for those drunks who forgot, amidst the many people “just saying Hi”, half of me is on left: http://www.pbase.com/windchimewalker/image/104198127 (hope Patricia& Preston don’t mind)
All the best to everyone,
and “GO Vote, it’ll make you feel good”
T.
PATRICIA…
the essence is there in your text…but, just like pictures, i might suggest just tweaking a bit, moving a couple of sentences around, and mostly just coming up with a lead paragraph that is totally esoteric in nature that will lead us all into your most touching and poignant life story…
i have your book as one of my top priorities…your book as “greatness” written all over it….
as we get closer to publication time, you have a lot of friends here who can help with the text etc etc…please now come up with a strong title, if you have not done so already….also the layout will determine a lot in terms of how you want to do your text..there are many ways to go with this….
just keep shooting now…with fervor…you are not finished yet…you are close…..when you think you just cannot take another picture, take another picture….
JEREMY….
i am photographing today and tomorrow almost all the time …perhaps i will have some time on monday or tuesday to have a look….i do not want to rush it….i am sure the others will have their say, but i do want to see what you are doing as well…
DAVIN…
i cannot speak for everyone who was in Perpignan, but the “beautiful women” (your description) who were in my little group are beautiful in EVERY WAY, that is: very TALENTED photographers…our Lassal and Laura El Tantawy and Audrey and Ana and Andrea and Aga and Simona and Ulla and also photo editors like Anna Savini and Daria Bonera..i probably forgot someone, heaven forbid!!….in any case, all of the men and women in Perpignan are photographers or editors…surely a pretty attractive bunch and a pretty dedicated bunch as well…
cheers, david
last year i shot 4 weddings to make some sorely needed $ – god, it drained me. that’s really the difference for me – paid work nearly always drains and shooting what i love always ALWAYS energizes. so no more weddings for me. i do volunteer as a photographer for the ‘Real Change’ newspaper here in Seattle. They (we) advocate for the homeless and other social justice issues. i might not be crazy about a particular assignment (say, a posed portrait) but just knowing that i’m contributing to a publication that helps people who really need help is worth it to me. and i only shoot maybe one photo a week for them.
tom hyde–
are you in seattle now? yes! let’s meet! :))
and you’ve met some of my kids? who? when? tell me more!! :))
smiling Big..
Oh, PATRICIA… just read your text twice. I’m alone at home surronded by an incredible peace while I hear the heavy rain through the window and loud thunders that seem to break the sky. I love storms. And then… your text. After reading it I’m speechless. Just have the feeling that your words contain the truth of all our weaknesses and that it is an example of courage and will.
Never, never give up. And keep on doing your project. It is fantastic.
Love,
Ana
CHRIS
I like your monochrome material but it’s your colour work that moves me. It’s sumptuous plus plus. So deep and syrupy that I just want to climb in and feast on those hues. Visually voluptuous.
PATRICIA
Thank you. I’ll keep you posted.
Hi Patricia,
After reading the text that accompanies your photos, I have a few impressions. I think you should eliminate the first paragraph and open with, “It all started with a fall…” I didn’t feel the first paragraph connected with the rest of the text. The second has powerful imagery that the reader can feel. Within the second graf, though, you mention five people: yourself, a friend, your internist, a neurologist and Kubler-Ross. You might consider cutting the friend and the internist and get straight to the neurologist because it gets a bit confusing with all the different characters without adding much to the overall message. The Kubler-Ross reference adds also a degree of tragic foreshadowing that adds to a sense of triumph when the reader finishes the text. And I enjoy how you’ve provided examples of each of the stages.
In the third paragraph, your first two sentences are great, but I think you could give the third more power. The phrase, “I mean how could…” weakens the details you list. Instead of listing all the sports you once enjoyed, maybe you could give one or two examples of the feeling of athletic accomplishment that you had realized you wouldn’t be able to experience again. The sweat and glorious pain of running, the way swimming makes your lungs conquer an element they’re not meant for..
In #4, I love the intimate detail of “The fact that he seemed unable to get past denial irritated the hell out of me.” That verbal peek into your life parallels the visuals of your photography.
The crow looking for a place to land is a great metaphor. Do you have a photo of one? It might be interesting to echo some of the details you’ve written in your pictures. Within the same graf, “I did my best to scare it off by staying super busy, but every so often it would catch me unawares,” I think you should cut did my best, super busy, every so often, and catch me unawares. Those are all cliches that dilute your meaning. There’s another way to phrase it, I’m sure.
The acceptance graf could perhaps use the original opening lines, “Photographing my life, the ordinary everydayness of it, has become my spiritual practice. As I write this I hear my southern mom’s voice in my head saying, ”Don’t be so hifalutin, Miss Smarty Pants!” But it’s true.” Try it, might work…
The next two grafs read as if you’re rushing to finish writing. Not bad, but I know you can do much better. And your final metaphor (this might be nitpicking, but a thought nonetheless), rainbows don’t ALWAYS appear after harsh downpours, they need sunshine! ;) And you’ve certainly provided many people with that brightness and light. I cherish our brief meeting at David’s and I look forward to seeing you again.
Warm regards,
Andrew Sullivan
Hello All:
Andrew Sullivan’s Harlem Jazz and Rafal’s Family Ties are featured on The 37 Frame. http://www.the37thframe.org
Thanks for participating!