30-APR-2008
"engraved forever on our DNA"
I spent much of the day editing the photos I took at Bill and Jack's farm in Essex County, Ontario last Sunday, but am not yet ready to post the gallery. I have lots of photos from which to try to select the best of the best. That is going to be hard because so many of these images touch me deeply. I literally get chill bumps looking at them. Our own PBaser
Colin Clarke has helped me understand why. He wrote in a comment, "There is something deeply spiritual about life 'on the land'. And we are all drawn to it by some hidden primeval urge, engraved forever on our DNA." Colin would know. He was born on a farm in the Australian Outback and spent his early years working the land with his parents and siblings. When I looked at my own heritage in this way I realized my great grandparents on both sides of my family lived and worked close to the land. Yes, it obviously IS engraved on my DNA. Why else would this old Ontario farm hold such meaning to me? I hope it will do the same for you.
29-APR-2008
the old house
That's what Bill calls it. The old house. The house in Essex County, Ontario where he was born 77 years ago. The house that was moved from two properties west when his dad bought the farm after World War I. The house he now says he and his brother Jack are going to have to tear down because it would cost too much to fix it up. "Besides," he says, "I can't climb stairs anymore so it's no good to me."
When I agreed to join my women's singing group at the Canada South Land Trust Spring Walk on Sunday, how could I have known I'd be walking into such a unique photo opportunity? Imagine a 140 acre farm owned and operated by two bachelors (maybe widowers for all I know) aged 77 and 74. Yes, they now live in a ranch house, but right behind it is the old house. I asked Bill if he'd be OK with my scooting over to take pictures of it. He looked kind of surprised and said, "I guess there's no harm."
No harm indeed. Good thing he couldn't hear my heart pounding as I got close to this amazing structure and started clicking away. Every part of it caught my interest. Every plank, every window, every door. I get chill bumps thinking about it. And it wasn't just the house either. The barn was full of things this city girl has never seen close up before. Like three old tractors parked in a row. A pile of huge tractor tires outside the barn near an implement I couldn't name if I tried. And more, much more.
I'm still editing the photos so I won't be putting up the gallery today (Monday), but this image gives you an idea of what is to come. Hopefully I'll have it up and running by tomorrow (Tuesday).
27-APR-2008
photographing children
CLICK HERE to see my "The Children of Spring" gallery in which this image appears.
Do you remember Karoline whom I photographed last October when she was seven months pregnant? (
CLICK HERE to see her gallery). Well, here is her little boy, now five months old. We ran into each other on the street on Friday. Actually, I've been running into lots of people lately! The weather was so glorious that EVERYONE was out, including me. You just couldn't stay inside, not after such a long hard winter. And now, after ten days of temperatures close to 80 degrees F./26 C., everything is blooming at once--the crocus, forsythia, magnolia, daffodils, tulips, azaleas and the flowering fruit trees. No wonder everyone is outside!
I'm continuing to take photos to add to my "The Children of Spring" gallery.
CLICK HERE to see my recent additions. I've even expanded my definition of children to include high school students. When I asked if they'd mind being in a gallery with "children" in the title, they said their parents still see them as kids so it's no big deal.
You know, I've had to give myself permission to do this series on children. It seems--oh, what can I say?--rather unimaginative. I mean, EVERYONE takes photos of their kids. But the truth is I adore kids, always have. And they like me. Maybe it's because I've always been small, so I'm not intimidating. And now that I'm in a mobility scooter, I really am at a child's eye level. But it's more than that. I never have talked down to a child. To my way of thinking, they are as interesting as any adult. More so than some! I like the fact that they are real. What you see is what you get. And they can see through any pretense, so I always consider it an honor that they treat me as an equal.
Anyway, I plan to keep taking photos of children for as long as it excites me. So be prepared...
26-APR-2008
Homage to Isadora Duncan
Tonight (Friday) my friend Pat and I went to the Detroit Institute of Arts to see Happendance perform a tribute to Isadora Duncan, the pioneer of modern dance in America. It was one of many special events in conjunction with the exhibit, "Life's Pleasures: The Ashcan Artists' Brush with Leisure." The performance was in a part of the museum where I could photograph the dancers Matt, Amanda and Emma from the second floor. I love this perspective, but, as a short woman in a mobility scooter, it's rare that I get the opportunity to look down on much of anything! Well, maybe flowers and earthworms. After watching the performance we went to see the exhibit. For me it had great meaning.
Back when I was a painter, my creative bible was Robert Henri's book, "The Art Spirit." Even though it had been written in 1923, this book of Henri's notes, reflections and encouragement to artists spoke to me in a way that no other book about creativity ever did. So, seeing the paintings of these Ash Can artists whose "leader" was Robert Henri brought back so many memories. But, more than memories, their work resonated deeply with the photographer in me. After all, Henri always exhorted them to "paint what you know." "Keep it real!" And isn't that exactly what I'm trying to do with my photography? I don't know where my copy of "The Art Sprit" went to, but I do know I'm going to buy a new one. He still has much to teach me.
25-APR-2008
new eyes
During my time away my eyes opened to new ways of seeing. Nothing dramatic, simply a tilt to the right or left, a blur where things used to be sharp, an insistence on originality even when the subject is familiar. Especially when the subject is familiar. I'm not after the exotic. I don't want people looking at my pix and saying, "Oh, I could never do that!" I want them to smile and say, "Oh yes, this looks easy. I could do this!" I want my photos to celebrate the everydayness of life, the wonder of the sights, sounds, smells, taste, touch of all that we take for granted. A child at play. A springtime blossom. The caress of warm sunlight on your face after the long winter. The joy of not having to wear a coat or even a sweater. Simple, everyday things. The stuff of life.
CLICK HERE to see my new "The Children of Spring" gallery.
24-APR-2008
from "The Children of Spring" photo gallery
CLICK HERE to see my new "The Children of Spring" gallery.
Has it really only been eight days since I last posted here? It feels like a lifetime. And yes, I missed you, my dear worldwide friends. But I didn't miss the pressure I'd put on myself to keep this PaD going day after day. And I didn't miss all the time I used to spend checking in to see if there were any new comments. What I found during these eight days was that I spent less time on the computer and more time out taking pictures. I know, I know. I'd said I was going to lie fallow for awhile but that lasted two days. Then I came up with a new idea for a series and I was out every day on photo shoots. The series didn't develop as I'd hoped, but I learned a lot about myself in the process.
I learned that taking anonymous street shots is not my thing. I want to make connections with the people I photograph. I also want them to know I'll be posting their photos online. I found that if I ask, people are inclined to say yes. I learned that simply highlighting social and economic inequalities isn't specific enough a purpose for a photographic project. There needs to be a more positive benefit to the community, something that can move things forward rather than perpetuate stereotypes. Of course, all of these learnings are my own. Other photographers would likely have a different take on it. Each of us has our own way of seeing things. There is no arbitrary right or wrong. What is important, though, is to listen to your inner voice, the one that says, "This feels right, but that doesn't."
The gallery of photos I've just put up are of children who knew I was photographing them and whose permission--or their parent's permission--I'd asked for and received. The only exceptions are the photos of a Little League game and of the father and daughter walking on the wooded path, but since no one is identifiable, I feel fine about posting them. Some of these photos were taken with my original series in mind, but when I realized these were my favorite images of the whole lot, I dropped my original idea and decided to focus exclusively on children. I call the gallery, "The Children of Spring," and you can
CLICK HERE to see it.
I want to thank everyone who posted a comment or sent me a message wishing me well during my time away. I felt your good energy and believe you helped keep me on track. I will be doing things a bit differently from now on. I will be posting images and blog entries here on my PaD only when I have something to show and/or say. So don't get worried if I'm not a daily poster. Life's too short to set up unnecessary stresses. I want to continue spending more time taking pictures and less time on the computer. Isn't that what it's all about?
16-APR-2008
responding to your concerns/comments
Some of you dear folks have expressed concern about my state of mind/health in private messages. Others have posted very kind responses publicly to my announcement that I'll be taking some time away from PBase. I deeply appreciate all of your communications. Thank you for caring and for taking the time to let me know how you feel. I know I've never taken off like this before but this came on me rather suddenly...at least the awareness that I needed to take time out, did. I'd been aware for some time that I'd been struggling creatively.
I'm absolutely fine in mind/body/spirit, in fact I'm already exploring new--to me--ways of seeing and photographing the world. See the attached photo which is one of my first experiments. I just need some time of not "producing," ie., not posting photos, in order to refuel my creative zeal and hunger for originality. Don't worry--I'll be back! I'm so grateful to know I'll be missed ;=)
And now I really AM going to take some time off...
Patricia
15-APR-2008
Time out
Friends, I'm going to take some time away from PBase. I feel dry as a bone right now, creatively speaking. Seems to me I've been working steadily on one series after another since last August. And I've loved every minute of it. There is nothing I'd rather do. But. And this is a BIG but, one can't keep producing, producing, producing without taking some time out every so often. Like a field that needs to lie fallow before being planted again, I feel I need to stop creating in order to come up with new ideas. So, may you have a wonderful few weeks and I'll see you when I return.
14-APR-2008
my new "Spring in B&W" gallery is up
CLICK HERE to see my new "Spring in B&W" gallery of photos.
Well, they'd predicted snow for today (Sunday), and they were right! Hopefully this will be the last white stuff we see this season, but one never knows. April in Michigan can be rather fickle. But by 1 p.m. the sun was out and there was no snow to be seen. That was what gave me the idea to go out and find signs of spring to photograph. I knew I wanted to show them in B&W so the fact that there was bright sun was a plus. As you know, I love high contrast.
I intend to add to this gallery as spring continues to unfold...
13-APR-2008
celebrating the life of Donald Walden
This is Charlie Gabriel playing his sax to honor his old friend and fellow musician, Donald Walden, who passed last Sunday. Tonight (Saturday) Detroit gathered to celebrate the life of this jazz great, and did it in a way that would have pleased Donald very much. Starting at 5 p.m. musicians gathered to jam at Bert's Marketplace in Detroit's Eastern Market. The place was packed! Donald's students from the University of Michigan joined professional musicians on the stage and, believe me, they really got down! I was there for seven hours and when I left at 11:30 p.m. it was still going on.
Oh, this man will be missed. It was more than his music, more even than his teaching and mentoring of young musicians. Donald Walden was quite simply one of our world's gentle souls.
CLICK HERE to read about Donald's life.
12-APR-2008
one of 16 new images for "a scooter's eye view" gallery
CLICK HERE to see "a scooter's eye view" gallery in which this image appears. You will find the 16 new images on Page Two.
This is a strange project. I have little confidence in the artistry of these images, but feel certain of the importance of the idea behind my showing them. I'm sure that each of us has parts of our life that we never show in our photos. Maybe it's because we think they're ugly, or maybe we're so used to them that we no longer see them. Maybe we feel they're too personal. Maybe they embarrass us. Maybe it's simply that we think they'd distract from our "true work." Whatever the reason, I wonder how it would be if each of us took just one of these unseen subjects and focused on it for a series or even for just one photo. Would our attitudes towards it change? Would it speak to our viewers?
For me, this series is waking me up to something that has been in front of my eyes for eight years, but had hardly been noticed. Now I SEE it. I consciously see my mobility scooter's control panel and basket. Since 2000 it has appeared in the forefront or periphery of every sight I see. This machine is like legs to me: it gets me where I want to go. I'm glad I'm finally seeing it for what it is...and appreciating it for what it does. My no-longer-invisible partner.
11-APR-2008
my new "a scooter's eye view" gallery is up
CLICK HERE to see my new "a scooter's eye view" gallery in which this image appears.
Ever since I became serious about photography, I've done my best to keep my mobility scooter out of my frames. Whenever my basket or control panel happened to appear in an image, I would carefully crop it out. Oh no, now I remember--I did allow it to show in a series of self portraits I called,
"Able or not, here I come." But except for that, my scooter has been the invisible partner in my work as a photographer. To be honest, without it I'd be sitting at home.
Wednesday I spent some time reading David Alan Harvey's blog,
"Road Trips," in particular his April 6th entry and the dozens of comments posted in response. You may recall that I'll be taking Harvey's workshop, "The Photographic Essay," in Charlottesville, VA in June. There must have been something about the way he and his photographer friends discussed photography that got me thinking about my invisible partner.
Long and short is that, instead of continuing to ignore my scooter, I decided to do a series of shots in which it was the star. After all, I see this control panel every minute of every day; it's time I showed you what that looks like.
CLICK HERE to join me in the kitchen before we go on a scoot around the block...
