Photo Business 101

travels near and far, but not far enough

old film / fresh scan - I drove down this road every day for a week last year

"Place for me is the locus of desire. Places have influenced my life as much as, perhaps more than, people. I fall for (or into) places faster and less conditionally than I do for people. I can drive through a landscape and vividly picture myself in that disintegrating mining cabin, that saltwater farm, that little porched house in the barrio."
- Lucy Lippard, from Lure of the Local

I don't know if we all travel through the world in the way that Lippard describes, but I certainly do. Whether that landscape is two blocks away or across the world, I can't help but imagine myself in that scene, usually sitting, maybe with a book, maybe with a cup of coffee, never with a laptop. Inherent in the concept of landscape, there's always that element of possession & interaction.

Beth Dow, Lawn, Hall Place

Yesterday, Beth Dow gave a talk at Blue Sky where her "In the Gardens" work is currently on view. This work's fascinating in part because of what's not there- the hard edges and sharp details of reality. Dow's work resonates because of its removal from reality and an overall smoothness of texture and value. This is due in part to a great combination of large platinum palladium prints, England's all too beautiful light, pollution and mist, and a healthy dose of old-school compositional balance. Ultimately, the result is backdrop for fantasy- dozens of wonderful little places to let your mind wander.

Michael David Murphy, from the series Jim Crow Road

On the flipside of the equation, Michael David Murphy has just scared the hell out of me with reality. Murphy's subtle photographs made along the path of Georgia's Jim Crow Road only gain momentum when viewed along with his other series/Youtube slideshow on the Jena 6. For those who don't know about this case (and I didn't), the "Jena 6" refers to a recent case in Louisiana that began when a black student asked permission from a school administrator to sit under what had traditionally been a "whites only" tree. Later, three white students hung nooses from the branches of the tree. That led to a high school fight, and once the dust cleared, six black students were charged with beating a white student. The first to be tried, Mychal Bell, faced charges of attempted murder and had an all white jury. Fortunately, those charges were reduced, but Bell was still ultimately sentenced to 18 months, with charges still pending on the other five.

I guess I'm not the only one who fantasizes about just checking out and relaxing under a tree. Much as I'd like to hide inside Beth Dow's work, Murphy's reminds me how important it is to check back in with reality.

why stop with recipes?

Seeing as how I'm deep in the midst of gathering materials and prepping for classes I'll begin teaching next week, I'm once again confronted with the major obstacles I face with each new group of students: talking about pictures & making sense of art.

Anne Geddes, Armen in Lotus Flower

Each time I start a new class, I hand out a questionnaire on the first day that includes the question "Are there any photographers whose work you particularly enjoy?" My unofficial tally leads to 10% noting Ansel Adams, 25% Anne Geddes, 63% remain blank, and 2% enjoy Cindy Sherman, Joel Peter-Witkin, and Steve McCurry.

The difficulty of teaching isn't in getting students to learn how their cameras work, but in being clear enough, accessible enough, and thorough enough that we can bridge the gap between beauty and bullshit. That is, the beauty that they recognize and aspire to find in icons such as flowers, barns, bumblebees, etc. and the bullshit they call when they hear of someone like Richard Prince selling someone else's great cowboy picture for millions. There's no quick fix to the problem either. The Anne Geddes fans aren't necessarily quick to convert to Sally Mann. And just because of the black & white and shallow depth of field, she's a lot easier for them than Loretta Lux. Still though, kids are a great place to start.

One way that I deal with both the question of technical decision-making and this problem of art is "naked pictures of kids day" (though really, only about 1/3 of the kids we look at are naked). We start with family snapshots & studio portraits and the idealization of kids/family that we're all familiar with. Anyhow, from there we move into Tamara Lischka, Sally Mann, Todd Deutsch, Helen Levitt, Tierney Gearon, Simen Johan, Loretta Lux, and whatever else we find time for. This particular day has turned out to be academic comfort food for me, working pretty well in filling a day, giving them a good chance to discover, and chime in about approaches they hadn’t given much thought to before, but with a subject they're all familiar with.

Todd Deutsch, from the series "Family Days"

As I gear up for the next go-round, I'm interested in shaking things up and maybe trying some new stuff out. Therefore, I'm calling on you to please chime in with any assignments you may have given, or received, that you found particularly insightful or inspiring. What made it all click in your mind? Keep in mind, I'm teaching photography at the intro level in suburban community colleges. You can go ahead and hold onto Sherrie Levine and your Zone system handouts. For now anyway.

a real question from a reader!

I've been meaning to ask.
It's a silly question, but I bugs me every time I go to your blog.

40 Watt: A low but steady hum.

If it's a hum, shouldn't it be 40 Hertz: A low but steady hum ?

I've never heard a 40W bulb hum. But, at 40Hz, that's a low steady hum.

Sorry, I had to ask.

Hi Anonymous Reader,
Don't be sorry, I'm glad to explain. Years ago, back when I was young and even more naive, I fantasized about starting a small press and calling it "Humming Bulb," the idea being that it's a slow steady surge of creativity and work that's necessary to get things done. Back in October, when I first entertained the notion of starting this blog as a way to deal with the constant photo-related questions and conversations that take place in my head, that was the first phrase that came to mind when I was faced with the empty title box. However, after typing it in, I couldn't help but think that the phrase could possibly be misinterpreted for some sort of creative sexual innuendo. I didn't want to soil my blog in the same way that I've soiled so many awkward dinner parties, thus the change to 40 watt.

Now, as to the question of whether or not a 40 watt bulb hums, trust me, if you're in a room that's quiet enough, it does.

more new years feel-goodery

two favorites from the Google image search results for "fried chicken"

My dearest reader, please believe me, I don't want to bore you with the mundane details about my personal life. I really want this blog to stay on task and keep moving forward with an ongoing discussion about pictures and ideas, but this holiday break has reinforced the fact that the mundane details of my daily life are integrally tied to my photographic pursuits & interests. So, please indulge me while I take this opportunity to tell you that I made the most amazing fried chicken over the break!

Amy Stein recently posted about her love of tacos and the importance of getting away from photography for the holiday. I couldn't agree more. One of the great pleasures I took in the holidays this year was leaving my camera in the bag (for the most part) and indulging other fancies. Of course, what this really translates to is eating & drinking. My personal holiday highlights include:

• Frying my own chicken (and some tofu, for the veg crowd).
• The soup my mom made out of Velveeta and hamburger. Really. It was an amazing fantastic creation, like nachos with reversed proportions.
• Finally figuring out how to make a decent omelet (it really does take the right pan- and high heat).
• Using those new pans to make blueberry crepes with Max (note, he was so inspired that he's now making pancakes as I type this).
• Cracking open the whiskey my dad gave me and staying up late to watch Prime Suspect 7. Then repeating with the Bad News Bears and the kids. And then repeating yet again with the Karate Kid. And I've still got half the bottle.

• Spending four hours in Carver, Oregon while waiting for the tow-truck driver to show up. By the way, apparently the driver's grandfather is the man who trained noted painter Bob Ross.

So, I promise to get back to the task at hand soon, but really needed to sing of my enthusiasm for the new year. Consider me recharged, invigorated, and raring to go. Well, and maybe a little pudgier than I was two weeks ago.

And please, in addition to your comments and photographs, send recipes. In exchange for each recipe I receive, I'll send you a copy of Michael Bishop's Views of the NYS Barge Canal. Oh shit, Ed, did I ever send yours? I can't remember.

some guidance (or perhaps, on embracing the lack of)

In a September, 2001 New Yorker interview, the writer W.G. Sebald describes the process of discovery as "random" and "haphazard," but asserts that "one can find something only in that way." Likening his process to that of a dog running through a field in a "completely unplottable manner," Sebald notes that the dog, following his nose and instinct "invariably finds what he is looking for." Sebald compares this to his own process in the sense that "... you accumulate things, and it grows, and one thing takes you to another, and you make something out of these haphazardly assembled materials. And, as they have been assembled in this random fashion, you have to strain your imagination in order to create a connection between the two things."

the photo i want to use for my first post in the new year

is not mine.

and the only resolution i'm writing down: start keywording