Postcards from the Creative Journey

Breaking Eggs and Making Photographs

Cottage, Academy Street

(You can tell I'm happy because I'm waving to you)

You can’t make omelets without breaking eggs and you can’t make photographs without getting out your camera. You also have to be ready to photograph when the opportunity presents itself. On January 20 I took the opportunity to spend some time photographing an old house undergoing renovation. I went inside the construction fence and was photographing on the porch when the job superintendent walked up. I asked him if it was permissible to be photographing inside the construction fence. He said that was no problem. I decided to raise the bet and asked him if I could also photograph inside the house. His reply was, “Sure, I’ll go unlock the door.” The next hour and a half was one of the happiest times I have spent photographing, since, well, last September’s photo safari.

I had permission (no fear of being tossed out), access to a very desirable location (the ultimate photographic accessory) and very nice light. I was also alone, which is fairly important, because with the house in an advanced state of demolition, my footsteps shook the house when I walked. What started out as a short trip to make a few photographs evolved into a study of a very special place.

(Another version of this happy snap (minus the waving hand) will be part of this project when I get around to completing this project.)

Instant Visual Communication

Shoshone Building, Wallace, Idaho

Just about everyone has a camera/phone and knows how to use the camera function. We now use our camera phones to make photographs as the basis of our communication instead of words. The one picture that is worth a thousand words has taken the place of written communication. Our lack of verbal skills is being destroyed by chatspeak, twitter and text messages. If our written communication skills continue to deteriorate we may eventually return to hieroglyphics.

We used to say, “You should have seen it.” Now we just pull out our phone, share what we’ve seen and publish it to the world. Another time honored phrase rendered obsolete by technology.

Who Do You Want to Make Happy?

Broom, Lvzu Temple, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, PRC

When you make a photograph who do you want to please? Nothing used to leave my darkroom unless it was suitable for the most critical eye – mine. Some prints made it out of the darkroom only to be trashed when the image was evaluated later in the cold light of day. I guess the answer is the first person to make happy is you. If you are not happy with the work, there’s no reason to think that others will like it either. So, you please yourself first. I think that’s mandatory. If you wish to please critics, curators, gallery owners and fellow photographers that’s optional. Here’s why: their expectations for your art are far different than your own. They are looking for adherence to an artist school, something to fit into their collection or something they can sell at a profit. If they can do what they want to do with your photographs they will like your work.

In short, their reasons for liking your photography are far different than your own. To thine own self be true. Then worry about making others happy.

What Time Do I Have?

Shop, Lvzu Temple, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, PRC

We are full of excuses about why we don’t get done what we want to get done. One of my favorite excuses is “I don’t have the time.” Really now. Don’t we all have the same amount of time? It’s just a question of how we choose to spend the time we have. The excuse is more properly answered, “I chose not to make the time.” Priorities you say. I know, priorities decide what we choose to do in the available time. We all have lists of things we need to do and things we want to do and these lists very rarely intersect. Even those lists have their own priorities.

Life is filled with choices and consequences and we willingly (sometimes) make the choices and accept the consequences. What are your choices for the coming year? Have you thought about what projects you will be pursuing this year? You have three hundred and sixty days left. That's a lot of time to complete photographic projects.

Anniversary Blog post!

Near Factory Butte, Utah (From "Luck of the Draw")

January 3, 2010 was my first blog post. Four years later, I’m still launching weekly missives into the blogosphere for your edification and enjoyment. If you stop by every once in a while to see the latest picture and read the latest thoughts, thanks for stopping by. Communication doesn’t occur unless there’s someone out there to receive the message. Thanks for being that person.