Thursday, September 27, 2007
GONE
One of the ongoing photo series I'm shooting is buildings/businesses that are here today, gone tomorrow in Los Angeles, and more specifically, the San Fernando Valley where I grew up. Prototypical suburban "Ranch Houses" are getting bulldozed at an alarming rate to make way for McMansions that barely leave a strip of land or grass to call one's own. Whenever I see a longtime business put up their closed sign, I'm racing to get a photo of the facade or signage before it's obliterated. Yes I'm more than a little nostalgic about my L.A. past and if all I can do is take a photo of a place that has held memories for me (even if that memory is just driving by), then I'm doing my best to get out an take a picture before the construction crews show up.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
ABOUT MINIMALISM
I just read this article in the current issue of JPG Magazine and WOW I really related!
ABOUT MINIMALISM (an excerpt from JPG Magazine Issue 12) by Grant Hamilton
Part I:
A nice lady with a dog: Why are you taking a picture of the side of a bus?
Me: Well, umm, I take these pictures of stripes and things...
Nice lady: Why?
Me: I scan them and put them on a website. Lots of people seem to like them.
Nice lady: They do?"
Part II:
A famous photographer mentoring a workshop in Tuscany:
Does anyone have some photos they'd like to discuss?
Me: I have a few.
Famous photographer: I see. What is it?
Me: It's the side of a van I spotted in Orvieto.
Famous photographer: It's...interesting. Do you have anything else?
Me: Well, I like this one a lot too. It is a sign on the side of the road that was near the abandoned building everyone else was photographing. I was pretty pleased that I got the tip of the arrow to exactly touch the edge of the frame.
Famous photographer: Yes, it is quite symmetric. Did you shoot any of the abandoned building?
Me: No. But I got a good one of the side of our bus! Hold on, let me find it..."
I'm a huge fan of Grant's Polaroids - check out his work at:
flickr and jpg and on his own site sxseventy.com
here are my photos that fall in line with ABOUT MINIMALISM:
ABOUT MINIMALISM (an excerpt from JPG Magazine Issue 12) by Grant Hamilton
Part I:
A nice lady with a dog: Why are you taking a picture of the side of a bus?
Me: Well, umm, I take these pictures of stripes and things...
Nice lady: Why?
Me: I scan them and put them on a website. Lots of people seem to like them.
Nice lady: They do?"
Part II:
A famous photographer mentoring a workshop in Tuscany:
Does anyone have some photos they'd like to discuss?
Me: I have a few.
Famous photographer: I see. What is it?
Me: It's the side of a van I spotted in Orvieto.
Famous photographer: It's...interesting. Do you have anything else?
Me: Well, I like this one a lot too. It is a sign on the side of the road that was near the abandoned building everyone else was photographing. I was pretty pleased that I got the tip of the arrow to exactly touch the edge of the frame.
Famous photographer: Yes, it is quite symmetric. Did you shoot any of the abandoned building?
Me: No. But I got a good one of the side of our bus! Hold on, let me find it..."
I'm a huge fan of Grant's Polaroids - check out his work at:
flickr and jpg and on his own site sxseventy.com
here are my photos that fall in line with ABOUT MINIMALISM:
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