in my last post, i implied that perhaps not all was right with the world….yesterday afternoon at this exact time i was filled with apprehension as we drove across the mountain range that separates Oaxaca city from Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast of Mexico…twists and turns in the steep mountain road presented at least three near death misses, probably the "normal" stats for a 6 hour drive on this particular road….
my fear however was not the winding Mexican road nor the seemingly out of control cars narrowly missing our van head on nor the fast failing brake system on our Chevy van ….but i was scared to death that Barack Obama would not win…of course i knew he was ahead in all of the polls, but i could not let myself get too excited nor project victory in my own mind…i was prepared for disappointment….i had cast my vote before leaving New York, but i was so so afraid that some who were enthusiastic about Obama would just not go to the polls….
our Oaxaca workshop crew, taking vacation to the beach, and having survived the trip; Anton Kusters, Marie Arago, Mike Courvoisier, Maya Joseph-Goteiner, and Michael Young , could not believe the text messages coming to us within an hour of our arrival in Puerto Escondido….Obama was THE MAN!!! next President of the United States…we rushed around trying to find a television and saw Obama's acceptance speech and immediately ordered a round of celebratory tequilas…
Barack Obama cannot "save the world", and if any President must face a "twisting mountain road" it is Obama….but, at least some amount of pride must be shared by most Americans and hopefully by our international friends who have been so disappointed by many American foreign policy decisions in recent years…i have not felt proud of my country's leadership for some time now , and we have a lot to do to restore at least some confidence in America, but i feel so so proud today that my countryman have chosen Barack Obama….
what does any of this have to do with our photography??? maybe nothing, maybe someting…strong leadership inspires people to go to work…to fix things….sacrifice perhaps…possibly put a "brick in the wall" ….some of you will use your work to promote "understanding" , to show wrongdoing or injustice, or to send any kind of message of hope…we cannot "save the world" any more than can Barack Obama…
but, aren't things at least a little better than they were yesterday at this same time????
ALL…
many ideas are rolling around in my head about where we go as i walk rainy Londontown….as i think you know i will return sunday evening to New York…in the meantime, my iPhone does not work in the UK, i have no internet and am without my basic communications network…my girlfriend , of course, thinks this is just great!!
back soonest…
cheers, david
DAH, it is great..have an amazing time and refuel..the next chapter is looming, and I for one am about ready for some editing help :)
A little better than they the day before, but…
I think your country needs some kind of a new F. D. Roosevelt to deal with the current economic crisis. And I’m NOT sure Mr. Obama is up to the challenge facing him.
Besides, he will start off with little money to do anything. So I wouldn’t be so opmistic about the next years.
Will Mr. Obama prove me wrong?
Cheers
Angelo
… and the question is “where do YOU really want to go?” …
RAFAL
Two titles popped into my mind yesterday: “Bits and Pieces” and “Beloved Glimpses.” Don’t know if either resonates with you but will keep sharing whatever comes. I so love that project!
Patricia
Patricia,
I was thinking something like “Little Pieces of Us” which goes with the pieces theme of your first idea