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Once my grandfather passed away, nothing was the same. The old tractor he had parked in the low pasture has stayed exactly where he left it. The barn, stables and paddocks became chipped, warped and began to tumble down over time. The old round pen that we spent countless summer hours training colts in, all but stumps and fallen posts now. But, the cats are still there, and the hay. The young colts in the spring and old mares still find their way out to the pasture. Some family still there keeps a few things moving. But, I’m reminded on my visit, that I drove those highways countless times growing up with my parents – holidays, special events…the common visit. I remember his old doctor bag, the well tended fruit trees…the home made ice cream that he ‘approved’ of because it was made with honey, not sugar. As an adult, sometimes nostalgia tugs at me to go back….to revisit. He is my icon – he was a doctor (healer), man of intense faith, calm and had persistent devotion to God, family and country that seems to have all but died out in the people of my generation.
These represent two in a set of 20, all Polaroid. They are from a collection I titled “Letting go.” These pictures represent, for me, a sort of rebirth – seeing the past sort of trail on behind me, and the future, though dim, before. This place in my heart, the one carved out for this time in history, as a child…..though retained to memory now, is still sweet…..it’s hard to let go of how things ’should be’ and take them for what they are now. That was my attempt here. To catalog in pictures, what holds so fast to my memory.
Today I found a few things that brought to life the reality that beauty can be found everywhere.
Stella from Israel. This shot was my favorite. (She uses such simple light and beauty and a gorgeous little collection of Polaroids. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone from Israel who wasn’t simply amazing.)
Shades of Mediocrity. I love this…..and my favorite here.
Tea Shafie. Mysterious and light all around.
For years, I have followed the work of photojournalist Robin Bowman. I love how the stories presented are ‘as is’ – no agenda, no opinion – just the reality of what is going on through film. Her most recent project, which follows, is inspiring in and of itself. Take a peek!
(and a great place for photo documentaries)
Photographer Trains a Complicated Lens on Teens
Patrick Roberts was 19 when he posed for this photograph, which appears on the cover of Robin Bowman’s book, It’s Complicated.
From: All Things Considered, March 26, 2008 · Over the course of her career, photojournalist Robin Bowman has worked for People magazine, traveled to dozens of countries and negotiated countless difficult situations, including the conflicts in Darfur and Bosnia.
Recently, Bowman spent four years driving across the United States, covering more than 20,000 miles, and photographing and interviewing more than 400 American teens. Some of those pictures — and the teens’ words — are included in her new book, It’s Complicated: The American Teenager.
The project was, at times, very different from Bowman’s previous work as a photojournalist. For one thing, although she always obtained a signed release form from her subjects’ parents, she resisted extensive prep work before shooting the teens.
“In my profession, I always knew a lot of information in the past before walking into a shoot,” Bowman says, “but with this, I felt very concerned that I was going to manipulate the image or control these teenagers if I knew too much about them.”
Though she found some of her subjects through friends, other times, it was much more happenstance.
“Often I’d be driving down the street, and I’d see a group of four teens, and I would pull over and have to convince them that I was not going to hurt them, that I meant no harm, but that I was working on this project,” Bowman recalls.
Bowman shot with an older Polaroid camera that gave her both a positive image — that the kids could see — and a negative, for printing later. She says having that immediate feedback helped gain the teens’ trust. She’d often ask the teens to suggest a location for the shoot, and later to show her which photos they preferred. The final decisions about the book were hers.
Bowman asked each teen a set list of questions about family, school, drugs, money, aspirations and fears. The project forced her to be quiet and to not interrupt. For some of her subjects, having an adult listen was a new experience.
“I felt that adults heard what I said, but they did not listen,” says Ebony Wilson. Wilson was 15 when Bowman photographed her standing on a street corner in the Bronx.
Now 20 and the mother of a young son, Wilson feels that people will pay more attention to her words reading them in a book:
“When you read, you have no choice but to listen because you can’t interrupt,” she says.
Bowman shot Patrick Roberts in his favorite alley in Lawrence, Kan. In the photo, Roberts is 19, with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. Now, he’s ready to graduate from college and that picture is on the cover of Bowman’s book.
Roberts says he likes the picture but feels vulnerable now, reading the words he said then:
“The easiest thing about being a teenager is still having a sort of romantic perspective or outlook on the world: not being jaded or disillusioned; and knowing — hoping — that you have time to do what you want and to achieve what you want.”
Roberts says he still believes what he told Bowman when he posed for the photo, with one correction:
“Maybe I was wrong that that’s specific to being a teenager. I think you have to work hard, though, not to let yourself forget that feeling of having dreams and aspirations and knowing that there’s nothing that can stop you.”
I have had the pleasure to be a part of a wonderful photo swap started by a sweet friend – …has grown so big, it has it’s own site now – if you love taking pictures and gifting them to friends, join!
A favorite place to let the light filter in…..and more to dream about here.
I’m in camera heaven. I just got an amazing deal on the following (and in working condition!!!): ANSCO Panda, Baby Brownie Special, Kewpie No3 box camera, Polariod Land model 95A
After a little hourly camera excursion, I finally powered up my old Nikon and have made the sweet transition to film. Using a much appreciated, but very out of date digital was just getting to me. Thanks to a sweet friend, I now own a beautiful polaroid which I will be playing with non-stop until production (sniff) of polaroid film ends. As well, the 8 old cameras found at thrift stores over the course of a year and the vintage movie camera from my grandparents……they will just have to remain….well….in the box, until I can figure out batteries, film and…..Eh-hem…how to use them. Excitement! Excitement! And, overwhelmed at the same time!
Some more random happenings – found her website today and am completely astounded. And, this makes me smile! I am also inspired to scour even more fashion and travel magazines after finding amazing editorials done by Nathaniel Goldberg and William Abranowicz.
Inspiration rocks!
You know those moments where something is either SO inspirational or SO incredible, that you just have to pause and catch your breath? Well, today held one of those moments for me. I came upon photographer Graeme Mitchell’s blog and in perusing through entries, found some of his own photos. (the ‘letter’ blurb, in all it’s raw honesty, was a great set up for the photos, as well) What can I say, I’m in love with a new photographer all over again! Given that I haven’t quite found ‘me’ in photography yet, it sort of rears it’s head when I feel this deeply about another photographer’s work….maybe I’m out there, too. At any rate – enjoy!
