flowers, vase, portraits ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK (click to embiggen)
covers
intro spread
The next iteration - the most difficult part of the total project - is to write text for the book which reflect my views, re: the medium of photography and its apparatus, and a discourse, re: my eye sensibilities and how they drive my picture making - the referents I choose, how I picture them, and my intentions for doing so. For all intents and purpose, a story about my life in photography.
My objective in writing that text is to create a how-to (of sorts) which addresses the audience of picture makers who are looking to break out of the confines of making pictures which they have been told are good pictures by helping them find their own way of seeing. It is my belief that many "serious" picture makers have arrived "at a technical plateau where production of a technically good photograph is relatively easy" and "It is here that real photography starts and most photographers quit" ~ Brooks Jensen - Things I've learned about photography.
Those picture makers are well past the point of technique / "mastering" something or another how-to books. They are looking for some guidance regarding going beyond / "forgetting" about the techincal and gear stuff and moving on to a place in their picture making where they can discover and experieince the joy / pleasure/ satisfaction of making pictures that evidence their own personal manner of seeing.
My intent is to create a book which appeals to that audience of seekers and consequently to a publisher which might interested in publishing it.
selective focus # 4
smoked meats, steaks, cocktail lounge, and a Bloody Caesar ~ Ottawa, Ontario, CA (click to embiggen)
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. ~ Helen Keller
That quote got me to thinking ... one can see and touch a photographic print and, in some instances, that print can be a beautiful thing. In addition, the combination of those characteristics / qualities can lead directly to feelings "of the heart" instigated by the picture itself.
That written (and it should not be considered to a refutation of Keller's statement, but rather an addendum to it), I believe that the overwhelming number of pictures which are made, viewed and appreciated are those which depict something / someone that is precious to the picture maker / picture viewer, as opposed to their artistic merit(s).
Be that as it may, Keller, due to her blindness, was never able to experience the act of being "touched" by a photographic print. However, as evidenced by another Keller quote ...
So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.
... Keller most certainly understood and appreciated the power, pleasure and comfort provided by memories. And so it is with those who view pictures which have a talisman-like effect on the viewer due to their memory inducing characteristics - hence the propensity of those fleeing an impending disaster most often grab a family picture album or pictures as the thing they would most like to save.
That nearly instictive reaction leads me to wonder - if a collector of fine art pictures were to be fleeing a disaster, would he/she save the art or the memories?
January 5 / no snow ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK (click to embiggen)
FYI, my picture, night swim / green was selected into the COMPOSED exhibition at the PhotoPlace Gallery in Vermont. Over 2,200 pictures were submitted for consideration, 75 pictures made the cut.
See the selects HERE.
selective focus # 1
selective focus # 2
selective focus # 3
As previously mentioned, I am casting about, picture making wise, for a new picturing M.O. which, although still straight picture making, is nevertheless distinctly different from my previous picture making endeavors (which I will still continue). While I am not readt to declare selective focus as that M.O., I will continue to make such pictures in an effort to see where it goes.
Opinions and thoughts appreciated.
New Year's Eve snow storm ~ Gatineau, Quebec, CA (click to embiggen)
New Year's AM / Hotel V ~ Gatineau, Quebec, CA (click to embiggen)
Ice Arena bar (iPhone picture) ~ Ottawa, Ontario, CA (click to embiggen)
So, the wife found a pretty cool / hip / trendy hotel - Hotel V - in Gatineau, Quebec for us to wile (or if you prefer, while) away the hours 'til the New Year. On the way to the hotel we stopped at an LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Canada) store to pick up a bottle of bubbly and shortly after our arrival at the hotel we went out for a quick bite to eat. It was a very relaxing end to a successful hockey tournament.
FYI, one of the very good things about any hockey tournamant in Canada is the Canadian commitment to having very nice bars - with good bar food - in almost all ice arena / hockey rinks. The facilities are a warm comfortable place to hang out while waiting for a game to start - most teams must arrive at a rink 1 hour before game time.
