Now, I know this is a still life and I know that you are anxiously awaiting the announcement of my new book, Drive which doesn’t actually have anything to do with sunflowers or, for that matter, still life photography either, but I thought I would lay it on you.
This image was taken with my SX-70 camera a long time ago-it’s actually one of the earliest Polaroid prints that I did when I first started doing Polaroids. My how times have changed. Even if time and film (or lack of film) has changed, the sentiment has not-it’s a happy day photo and today, I have declared, is a happy day.
Why is it happy? Well, for starters, I have gotten my book finished or, at least, “done enough” for you to take a look see. Today is cloudy and cool, with a strong wind and tomorrow hopefully brings a bit warmer temps along with a location shoot of sorts. I’m happy whenever I get to go out shooting and, lately anyway, it seems that’s not a lot. Between doing the book, gallery shows, marketing “who-ha” and all of that goodness and light, it’s sometimes hard to find the time to go out and do some new work. I really hate that because, well, I actually like to go out and take pictures. But, sadness no more! Tomorrow, we go out and see the world. (The best thing about photography is that you have an excuse to go out and see the world. Not only do you get to see the world, but if you’re lucky a few hours later, when you upload the compact flash, you get to visit it all over again. Now, that’s what I call sunny goodness.)
Finally, it more happy news, one of my favorite local photographers, Dennis Darling, is going to give a photojournalism discussion at AMOA Downtown on Thursday, February 5th at 7 pm. I leave you with a favorite, sunny happy quote from him:
“I am seldom on familiar terms with the people I photograph. Most inhabit the vastness beyond the horizon line. This is what I prefer, for photography satisfies me the most when used in the pursuit of the unfamiliar. I have often been categorized as a travel photographer—an understandable, but somewhat inaccurate label. I prefer to think of myself as a portraitist who simply makes house calls.”
–Dennis Darling “Desperate Pleasures”
Until next time…
Author
Congratulations on your book! As someone who has been on the road a lot, the pictures seems strangely familiar, even though I most likely have not driven those particular roads you have depicted…but the road itself is so addictive…I have often found myself unable to stop driving! “Its a life of ease, on the open road…doing what you please, on the open road…” from Kenneth Graham’s, “The Wind In The Willows”. Nice work…and thanks for the sunflower. : ) d
Author
Thanks, Mythos!
Since I’ve started working with those images, they have taken upon a whole new meaning to me. So many times, we shoot stuff then put it away in a drawer never to be seen again. I’m very fortunate to be able to work with these a bit, really get to look at them in new ways, see things I never saw before, that sort of a thing.
I really wish that on all artists…that feeling you get when the work sort of starts to take on a life of its own.
Even Polaroid itself is in the process of being re-born-spring will be here soon, time for a renewal of sorts all around, I guess.