spanky

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<p>Even though it's already been done to death, I still would like to go to Detroit and photograph the ruins there. Here's another boarded up business and a ice cream vendor. He and I were the only ones on this block at the time, like a ghost town in the middle of downtown LA.</p><div></div>

<p>Here in Los Angeles there are many many businesses that have gone under. Downtown LA is littered with small stores that have "for lease" signs in front. Head west until you hit Beverly Hills and it's much the same thing.</p><div></div>

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<p>Fixed are all I shoot with. In this case a 35mm.</p><div></div>

<p>I have an all-risk floater policy from State Farm. It's not bundled with any other policy, it's simply an personal articles policy that covers theft, damage, etc. I cannot recall how much I pay but it's very reasonable. </p>

<p>It probably is after awhile. Whenever I don't have a camera and I'm going about my day to day routine, I'm still in that state of mind of looking, watching, seeing. In my mind I've "taken" many many pictures of what I would have had I had a camera with me.</p>

<p>Thanks E.Short. Likewise your airport shot is unique, unlike the typical shots I see (and have taken myself at airports, one of my favorite places to shoot.)</p>

<p>I find myself drifting away from street shots with people to street shots without people and I'm having great fun in doing so. I've always taken such shots but I normally didn't print them and these days when I process my film I'm seeing more frames w/o people then with people so I'm starting to print them and re-evaluate my approach. I'm going to ride it out and see where it takes me. Will my pictures be considered "art" in the future? I certainly don't know and quite honestly I don't care. </p><div></div>

<p>A birds eye view.</p><div></div>

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<p>My work isn't good enough to sell in limited edition or otherwise. However I once read that in some circles it's considered poor taste to sign a photograph on the front, it even suggested that only amateurs do that. When I review the auctions it usually states "signed on verso" which I presume is pretentious art-speak for signed on the back.</p>

<p>An oldie..</p><div></div>

<p>In the fantastic book "Art and Fear" the authors mention that most artists spend their life creating work that nobody cares about expect for their family and friends and that's often because the art making process is such a large part of who they are as a person.The cold hard truth is that very few artists are able to make a name for themselves while they are still alive and even then some enjoy some recognition only to later fall out of favor and end up in obscurity. The kind of meaningful art the narrator speaks about is of the kind that remains relevant through history and gets re-evaluated each generation. I think he suggests that we aim for this in our own work. We may never reach that point but what's to be lost otherwise? Why settle for mediocrity when we can choose to have high standards?</p>

<p>I too ran into sticker shock at the cost of mounting and framing photographs for an exhibition. I had 30 images that I was going to print 16X20 size but the cost of just astronomical. So I decided to print 11X14 and while cheaper still beyond my means. I had to go with slipping the prints in archival sleeves and attaching those to 16X20 window mats and then tacking them to the walls. I knew it wasn't the best way to present my work, but now when I think about it I just cringe. I'm glad I decided not to send out a bunch of invites to the art crowd here in LA. Even at $20 a print I would be spending $600. So these days unless someone else is footing the bill, I won't do a solo exhibit. I eventually turned down a 2nd offer after the abysmal one I described above. Too expensive and for what? It's not like my pictures are sure sellers or anything like that. I'm glad it worked out for you Arthur, it looks like a nice exhibit. </p>

<p>Of course they don't see the same things Lannie. How could they? Or, if they do, it affects them differently. When the Winogrand exhibit was at SFMOMA my sister accompanied me to see it. As we were leaving she said to me "Your pictures are better." The exact same words were said to me after I lent "The Americans" to a friend. What was I to make of this? Nothing. As far as I'm concerned, people will interpret creative works based on numerous factors that I doubt even they themselves are aware of. Lastly Lannie, while I like these philosophical discussions you often start, a part of me can't help but wonder if you are just a tad too preoccupied with all of this. My advice: Forget the mental gymnastics and go out and shoot. Then go out and shoot some more. And then again and again and again. The answers you seek will be found in the doing.</p>

<p>I think he's spot on.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the comments on my photo Lannie. I'm surprised anyone still looks at these photos, they have been there for eons and I've just been too lazy to update it. This picture was taken in Union Station in LA. I used to do as lot of shooting in there up until recently when they roped off the waiting area for people with train tickets only. Little by little thought I'm starting to shoot there again and so far no problems. I do like your use of the term intimacy. It's nothing that I set out to do, I don't have any rhyme or reason when I'm out shooting, I just shoot on instinct. I do like for my street photos to describe some sort of thought or emotion on the people in them however vague and impossible to predict. </p>

<p>Don't despair Landrum, there is always hope. I'm 46 with graying hair and some pudginess setting into my face and I still get some cute girls half my age approaching me to talk about my camera. Who knows, maybe I remind them of their father! One youngster even wanted to go shooting with me so one weekend we did. She's now back in Brazil but wants to come back soon. Lucky me!</p>

<p>A few months ago I gave a lecture and slideshow of a handful of pictures from this series. Afterwards a lady came to me and said she found them to be "sinister." I wish she would have elaborated on this but she did not. </p><div></div>

<p>A couple of things I've noticed too is that using a film camera seems to be looked upon more favorable by other photographers. Like others who have described their experience I have had dozens of people tell me I'm a "real" photographer for shooting film. This is silly of course but it just shows how many people can endow certain attributes to an object. I've also become aware of just how much time I actually spend shooting. I've been getting recognized by quite a few people, strangers come into work and say they saw me taking pictures somewhere or I'll be at some event and another photographer will come up to me to introduce themselves and they always say "I see you around a lot." </p>

<p>Happens to me on a regular basis since I also shoot medium format and some older nikons. For the most part I don't mind and I'll chit-chat for a bit but there are times where things are happening around me that I really want to concentrate on and photograph but I cannot because someone comes up to me to relive their youthful film shooting days. I try to be nice while somehow trying to figure out how I can politely in the best way move on but it's damn near impossible. Recently I was photographing a Memorial Day service at a local veterans cemetery and I stopped to load another roll into my Nikon F3 when some guy came up to me to ask about my camera and such. There was a small group of people behind me that I wanted to grab a quick candid shot of as soon as I finished loading. This guy however kept on going and then he started a sales pitch since a recently deceased relative left behind a bunch of film and paper and would I be interested and here's what he's asking for it all etc. and I'm nodding my head trying to figure out how to get away to take what I knew in my gut would be my best picture of the day. Finally he lets up and leaves after I tell him I'm not interested in buying anything but of course the people I wanted to photograph had already gotten up and left. </p>

<p>I really would love another medium format camera. My RZ67 is just getting to heavy for me to be carrying around all day. I've tried the Pentax 67 but didn't warm up to it. I tried the Mamiya 7II and I just don't like rangefinders. Maybe if the double image one focuses with was larger I might like it. I recently acquired a couple of Rolleicords and am using one quite a bit these days. It's light and simple to use. However, I with it was a wide angle. So I'm looking at some of the Mamiya C330's on craigslist and in some of the camera stores. Might pick one up if it's in good enough shape. </p>