new hanging

New hanging ! Northside Social 3211 Wilson Blvd in Arlington.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arlington-VA/Northside-Social/193365216012?ref=mf

Alternative transportation is the theme, i.e. NO CARS. Thought I would throw some work again this year as I have been quite slack in the hanging department and I really need to get back into gear. Shows the month of June. Go see it, dammit ! Buy something ! All proceeds go to the artist. What a welcome change !

I have been a big endorser of "Do it your damn self." Time to start again. I can't wrap my brain around the "pay to play" philosophy of "galleries" anymore. I won't do it. If I have to create the art, frame it, hang it, MARKET it, SELL it in someone else's place, AND PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE, I must be off my rocker. I get paid for what I do. I'll be happy with NOT PAYING. I've had it with paying for ineptitude and incompetence. It simply is not right. My time and talent is as valuable as the next person's (all right, sometimes more, sometimes less but you get the overall point being made !) and I will no longer be taken advantage of by people in the art world around here. I don't want to "join" another group that takes money to belong and STILL charges to show. It's bullshit. I am a photographer. I like the lone gunman feeling of going on a shoot. Sometimes it is fun to talk and shoot with others, but by and large, it is my time and eye that I want to develop. I shouldn't have to PAY to do that.

And I won't do it anymore.

Duh

Still inspired by the same thing. It feels good to have a focus on a particular subject. Even better that it contains such a wide variety of opportunities. Special thanks to Patrick (again!) ohbewood.com Truly a fascinating experience for the senses to watch him create. Building 10 @ the Lorton Workhouse Art Center.

I am so very frustrated right now I could kick a kitten. ART is crushing my will to create. STUPIDITY is killing my will to cooperate. Everyone apparently HEARS, but no one LISTENS. I feel as if a fog has been lifted from my brain and I can see for the first time what is going on around me. However, a NEW FOG has enveloped me and is preventing me from correcting the chaos around me. I liken it to a dream where you see someone about to have something horrible happen to them and you try to scream and nothing comes out, no matter how hard you try.

I made the mistake of remembering Art School Confidential, a weird little indie flick from a couple of years back. I just want to paint circles right now. Or squares. After doing this for a couple of years, I will be ready for triangles. Every time I go see a current collection, there are about 10 % of the artists that are worth examining. I have seen the rest time and again, the same abstract, the same techniques, the same subject matter. I guess I need to go back to NYC for a kick in the ass and to find something fresh. I want to be OVERWHELMED with innovative art. I want to see things like what BK does in Building 9 that when I LOOK at his art, it RESONATES in my chest and ears as well as my eyes and mind. I want to see things that Chris Appleton does in Building 4 that when I look at a large piece, I am thoroughly enthralled by ANY SECTION I LOOK AT. Any part, unto itself, would be brilliant, and when you put them all together on one piece it is as captivating a work as anyone can imagine. I AM selfish in that I want this ALL OF THE TIME........EVERYWHERE. Don't give me that ying-yang crap, BRILLIANCE needs to be the new baseline.

I want to be rendered speechless by art. I want to physically feel the rage, pain, frustration, and demons that are expressed to canvas in some of my wife's work. I want to understand it without explanation. I want the inner serenity offered by the works of Andy Ilachinski to permeate my very existence.

I want to feel art again for the first time. Always.

Selah

Energized

Glad to see that my photo accepted into the Strathmore Member's Exhibition was not placed in the bathroom. I am actually pleased that it was placed in the sun room with lots of natural lighting. Looks good on the wall. Good positioning and an overall excellent exhibition !

Really looking for some innovative photography. I keep coming across photos that I have seen elsewhere. Same composition. This is my big fear. I would only do this consciously as a method of study, not for a show. I HAVE taken photos that I realized after that I knew who had taken something similar before. I do not believe that I have ever hung them, however. My leaf picture may be the one exception as this one does channel a famous Weston image of a head of cabbage. I can go on and on about how mine was taken outside in the elements and his was in a studio and it is different subject matter, etc.,etc., but I KNOW the truth. I thought of this when I was looking at the image on the screen when I made it black and white. I truly believe that it was simply influential and not copping another man's photo. The majority of the photos that I am seeing probably fall under the same category. I sincerely doubt that someone would cop a photo like that. I'd like to think that, anyway.

On to the photos ! My token color soft focus rose was fun ! Not like we haven't seen this a thousand times, but still beautiful in it's geometry. The moss and ice provide a nice texture contrast that I REALLY wanted to get. The reason I went stomping around the woods with my wife in tow was to get some shots of the trees and shadows. Not exactly what I was looking for, but not bad. Then I came across an Ethan Allen ad from about ten years ago. This dresser and end table were simply there. Just bizarre. Kept thinking that the trees were welcoming its kin back to the herd, protecting it from the evil that previously perverted it for selfish purposes. Offering solace for the tribulations that they had endured being transformed. Listening to their story and thinking, "There, but for the grace of God, go I." Just bizarre....

These were all taken within a five minute walk from my house. The world holds so much beauty that it is both far and near to us at any given moment. I'll wait on my passport for right now. I have too much local exploring to do.

Selah,

Roy

all work and no play

make Roy do something something something......... All in all, I think my sister-in law is right when she says that Winter should be about a month. Just long enough to get some snow, hot chocolate, and snuggling in and then be done. When I was a bit younger, I felt that when the cold weather arrived, I could always put on more clothes. Being from Southern Va., the heat and humidity was simply oppressive at times (re:July and August). Tom Robbins likened Richmond to, "Living inside a napalmed watermelon." and he is right. However, when you combine the snow amounts that we have achieved this Winter with the type A++ personality of the Mid-Atlantic/Beltway, you have a nice medium sized disaster. It is painfully obvious that we are simply unprepared to deal with this type of weather. PERIOD. Lived in Rochester, NY for 2 years. Had way more snow than this. Everyday life went on uninterrupted. I guess what I am getting at is that, as long as the locals can deal and the sun is out, I can probably live there happily. This area in general is becoming a living hell of our own making.

Happier thoughts ! I was accepted into the 19th Annual Strathmore Artists Members Exhibition (Nov 22nd posting, edited version of the uppermost picture). Dates are Feb. 27th-April 10th. See www.strathmore.org under fine arts and exhibitions for more info. Glad I was accepted as I was giving some insane thought to chucking it all onto craigslist and being done. I know better than to ACTUALLY do that, but the thought did enter my mind and would not leave until the results were posted. Being slightly crazy has its downside.

Getting a travelling jones that I will need to succumb to soon. Might have to explore the West again. Someplace warm, I assure you.

Go make some ART !

Next !

So, it appears my email got hacked. Sorry to all of those that received spam from my email. It wasn't me. I long for the days when a little steam and a glue stick was used to invade people's mail. It seemed harder then than it does now. I am embarrassed and more than a little pissed off by this event, but this serves to remind me that this can be an ugly place to be and one must be ready at all times. Last year, I fought off the Vundo virus for a week. It was as if I was targeted for termination by that bastard. I don't look at much more than news and photography websites, so I didn't understand why this thing would rear it's UGLY head for four out of five days that week. That experience made me switch to Linux on the fifth day and things are better.

Anyway, I think I have fallen in love with Alexandria. Just so many places that are interesting and challenge you to capture them. These are taken at the Amtrak station. Had no idea it was there. Only found out about it from my wife booking my son's ticket back to NY. Lots of neat light and fixtures both inside and out. Overall, I am liking Old Town for the simple fact that it IS old and has lots of interesting and charming things to photograph. I am still happy with my recent purchase as a walking around camera. But serious stuff needs to be done with the Canon.

Until next time,

R

More of "the tools" and just more

Very special thanks to Patrick O'Brien in Building 10 at the Lorton Workhouse for allowing me to take some quick photos of his workspace. The purity of his work is mesmerizing. His pieces are simply beautiful and are definitely worth checking out. www.ohbewood.com

Obviously still working on my series as well as other things. Trying to see more in black and white. Trying to simplify my imaging. Working on process steps and trying new things. Really need to work on patience. It is crazy that I can look at a particular piece of art for half-hour or more, but can hardly wait to be finished with my own work. This creates the problem of choosing pieces that I initially think are worthy and discovering that there is a flaw that prevents me from going forward with my existing plan. THIS leads to depression and over-thinking and I am two steps away from selling everything and then my wife steps in and institutes the corrective action plan and eventually I get back on the horse. Fortunately, the down time is getting less and less. Better for both of us 'cause I can be a pain in the ass when it comes to my work.

Lots of opportunity for showings, people. I can't wait to see what is next !

R

The Icy Grip

I consistently torture myself with decisions. Especially decisions that involve spending money on myself. As a child, I was always called a "selfish ass" by family and others, so I guess that might have something to do with it. I have no problem dropping $$$ on my wife and son, but the mental torture that I use on myself is CIA worthy. I must be able to reconcile any purchase for myself over $20 (no shit !) with the demons in my head and that makes it a little difficult to purchase ANYTHING photographic related. Saw a really nice photo rag today that cost $4 a sheet in a pack of 25 @ 13x19. Wanted it really bad, but was thwarted by the CHANCE that it was cheaper somewhere else and I have a couple of weeks before having to have anything framed and I could maybe find it on the internet for less and what kind of frames will I want and what kind of budget will I have for this and what kind of glass will I get for it and what will I be framing and do I need to go shoot and do I have enough time to do it and where would I go for what subject and when will I have time to mat the decisions and how wide a mat and when can I get to the frame store and HOLY CRAP JUST STOP......

I had the opportunity to share my psychosis with a salesman at Penn Camera this weekend past. He asked me what he could help me with and this is what I told him.

"I am in the market for either a pocket camera or a new lens. I have a Canon 20d that is perfectly serviceable with a 70-200 f4 is and a 50 mm f 1.8. My problem is this. I can get a 17-40 f4 L that will suit my needs. HOWEVER, I KNOW that I will be upgrading to a full size sensor within the next year or so and I don't feel that the 17-40 will suit my needs as much as a 16-35 f2.8 will. I am comfortable with using the other lenses on a full frame camera but not so much with the 17-40 f4. I am not ready to shell out the bucks for the 16-35 before I get a full frame body and I don't want to waste $$$ on something that I will be unhappy with when I make the switch. The pocket camera will have to be able to shoot in RAW and have a very fast lens, like 2. something, as well as ease of use, and the TRUE ability to fit in my pocket. It will be used mostly for snapshots, street shots, indoor things. AND it must be almost silent in operation. What do you have and what do you suggest ?"

I think I took a breath during that but I can't be sure. "Poor bastard," I thought,"store just opened and my crazy ass is his first customer." He hung in there, didn't leave or cry, and did an excellent job in answering the 50 or so questions I had about just about everything without flinching. Although I am a Canon guy (ed. note: The only reason Roy is a "Canon Guy" is because they sponsored some Formula 1 team in the 70's and 80's and sponsored the Brawn F1 team for one race this year.) I ended up comparing a Panasonic Lumix with a Leica lens and a Leica digital. What sealed it for me was when I exclamed,"They are the same freakin' camera!" and he said, "They ARE the same freakin' camera, only one is $150 more." Lumix it is. F2 lens, RAW, option for 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9 formats, video, settings for various film appearances and B&W, hot shoe flash option, small, and considerably less than a new 17-40 that I would have probably sold within a year.

I hate having the fear, but I love ass kicking new toys. It is a rare occasion indeed that I can kill one and get the other. These are the first shots from the new gun. Now if the icy grip of winter and fear will release itself from my body and mind, I can go out and shoot something ! Unless it involves a decision.....

Be Warm,

R