December 03, 2018

Tumblr and the All Mighty Evil...

Music | Exchange by Massive Attack

I’m getting more perturbed about the news that Tumblr will now be censoring all content to their website. It seems that the internet more and more is crumbling from the idea of what it once was. Sharing ideas, the ability to express yourself and most importantly, learn from others. I guess it should be no surprise as the powers that be always get their way and anything that could possibly go against their hypocritical ideals, gets stifled.

Regarding Tumblr, I’ve got images that are important to me back to September, 2012. Lots of the content all ready has, “Your post was flagged as explicit” in red over the image. And on the 17th of this month, 2 weeks from today, our grace period, most of my images will be gone.

In this relatively short period of time, 25 years since I started to dabble on the internet, it has taken over the world. We depend so heavily on it and give up so much of ourselves to it. Our privacy has been handed over, voluntarily. You think at this point the cloud is safe only for you?

I make photos and frankly, I am not too concerned about the safety of my images. If I were, nothing would be on the internet, nothing on facebook, nothing on tumblr, my blogs and websites...

I yearn to remove myself from the internet, but I can’t. It feeds me just enough to connect with you all and allow me the ability to share what I do. I’m realizing however that all these digital files will eventually be held hostage and taken from us. Though the idea once on the internet, always on the internet only goes so far as the powers that be will allow. I’m really getting disillusioned and frustrated.

Yes, the images I have on Tumblr I still have, so long as my hard drives will spin. But I know in my heart of hearts, they too will disappear as nothing lasts forever. But the thought that technology is the reason they will be removed from existing especially irritates the hell out of me. I am part of the giving of power to the very thing I also despise.

Make prints everybody. More than likely, they will last longer than what is on your phone, the cloud or frankly, hard drive.

October 09, 2018

Memories May Fade but the Feeling Never Does

Music | Lush Life by Donna Summer

I buy records often, many are for nostalgic reasons... What I played in the living room on my Dad’s system when I was a kid, what I listened to in my High School years or jamming to in the studio during a photo shoot when I assisted other photographers... I know my memory is fading and with only one recount I have of this album, specifically the song, Are You Going with Me, by Pat Metheny on the album, Offramp, which I used as a sound track for a class assignment for a 2 dimensional design class in college. I have this really odd, very surreal feeling of contentment. As I put the first song on and as it plays thru towards the end, I all ready know what the next song is going to be. I imagine this was a really great time in my life and I listened to this album often...
Music | Freddie Freeloader by Miles Davis

Film is hit or miss, probably because as a safety net, I shoot digital along side. I'm working my way to do a shoot entirely on film, no back up. It is a matter of letting go, free falling. When analogue goes right, the images speak volumes more to me on an emotional level.



Serah

September 17, 2018

My Lament is My Fuel

Music | School Boy Crush by Average White Band

This shit is hard... I guess it has always been that way, but when looking to the past, when all there was was film, there was nothing to compare it to. Maybe it is because I am getting older... Old Dogs not being able to learn new tricks... but there is the constant struggle. Even when you think you have things ironed out, something changes, subtle to more obvious, but those curve balls keep rolling in and one must constantly adjust. But hell, I've been doing this well over 30 years...

Exposures, focus, developing of the film, things that are second nature to me, but I think technology has made me lazy. I remember when the home computer first came on the scene, how it touted that it will make things easier and faster, make us more efficient and enable us to do much more. This was even before the internet. Indeed, the iPhone has its advantages of being able to do all the things that it does and, very well. However, I no longer know my daughters phone number, I rely on GPS to get to places I am not familiar with and wouldn't be able to make it back home without it... I use it to remind me how many steps I have done through out the day instead of just going out and taking a walk. My nose is in front of its screen, or my ipad or my computer instead of having conversations with people...

Off topic, my mind wanders... I wonder why...

So even now, I am still having to make adjustments with my images. One may think it is fine if you can get a decent looking image on screen, but the true measurement is will the film (or file) be capable of making a decent print. My lament is also my fuel. I think I enjoy the struggle.


Adriana


Adriana in Kimonos and Rope

July 01, 2018

Graflex...

Music | Ricky Don't Lose that Number by Steely Dan


Myranda


Raven at the Abandoned Silo


Domatila


Adriana at the Wall

2018 brought on not one, but 2 Graflex cameras. Either, unlike any camera I have used in the past. I have to say it has been a challenge, but I'm feeling it.


1942 Graflex RB Series D


1964 Graflex Speed Graphic with Buhl Projection Lens



June 01, 2018

A Generated Artist’s Statement...

Ted Mishima (º1953, Tokyo, Japan) is an artist who mainly works with photography. With a subtle minimalistic approach, Mishima seduces the viewer into a world of ongoing equilibrium and the interval that articulates the stream of daily events. Moments are depicted that only exist to punctuate the human drama in order to clarify our existence and to find the poetic meaning in everyday life.

His practice provides a useful set of allegorical tools for manoeuvring with a pseudo-minimalist approach in the world of photography: these meticulously planned works resound and resonate with images culled from the fantastical realm of imagination. By emphasizing aesthetics, he creates work through labour-intensive processes which can be seen explicitly as personal exorcism ritual. They are inspired by a nineteenth-century tradition of works, in which an ideal of ‘Fulfilled Absence’ was seen as the pinnacle.

His works are often classified as part of the new romantic movement because of the desire for the local in the unfolding globalized world.. However, this reference is not intentional, as this kind of art is part of the collective memory. By referencing romanticism, grand-guignolesque black humour and symbolism, he creates work in which a fascination with the clarity of content and an uncompromising attitude towards conceptual and minimal art can be found. The work is aloof and systematic and a cool and neutral imagery is used.

His works sometimes radiate a cold and latent violence. At times, disconcerting beauty emerges. The inherent visual seductiveness, along with the conciseness of the exhibitions, further complicates the reception of their manifold layers of meaning.

Ted Mishima currently lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

April 17, 2018

A Bio for an Upcoming Workshop

Music | Red Eye by The Album Leaf

I am in my 34th year with photography being by my side. It has been my emotional obsession to which even in the midst of being at my worst, can take me to a place of solace. I have been a lifelong student of hers and know I will always have lessons waiting for me.

Photography has been a passion since the moment I created my first print in the darkroom. No longer was I just snapping away taking photos for the sake of it, but having the idea what the print would look like became paramount.

2 years in college studying photography, then 2 more studying art, I knew this was the path I was to follow. I furthered my education learning from commercial photographers where I honed my own ideas and skills. I ran my own business shooting commercially for over a decade.

During a turning point in the business, my commercial aspirations lessoned and creating images from my soul became more important. I never called myself an artist as I never thought I was ready. The transition was steady, but always moving towards that direction. In time, I was much more comfortable with the term, Artist and finally became one.
 
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