I read an article, an interview, with photographer Eliot Dudik, in which he said, “…I’m often using the land for an attempt at meaning. I’m often photographing nothing and asking it to mean something.”
I take comfort in knowing I’m not the only one.
Unafraid
I’ve spent far too long avoiding taking photos in the middle of the day simply because the light isn’t perfect. Not just avoiding, afraid of actually, if I’m being honest. But doing this photo a day project has forced me to consider photos that aren’t taken in the golden light of sunset, or the perfect glow of early morning; they’re taken often in the harsh midday sun with overwhelming colors and pitch toned shadows. And you know what? I’m ok with that. Because life doesn’t happen only when the light is perfect.
It may also help that I found this wonderful book, Photographs Not Taken by Will Steacy. The book is a collection of essays written by photographers about the moments they didn’t capture. I think that’s something that most photographers wrestle with; the ones that, for lost nerve or wrong light to lack of film, got away.
So no more missed moments. From this point on I will be unafraid.
A Photo a Day
I’ve always wanted to do a photo a day project, and now seems like the perfect time. Rather than take all the photos and do one post at the end, I thought it would be fun to let this project be a living a body of work, updated daily in real time. So I’ve created this separate little gallery page just for it. I’ll keep a link at the top of my blog page for easy access, or feel free to bookmark it and check in as often as you like. And as always, thanks for following along!
Summer's End
“Summer’s end’s around the bend just flying
The swimming suits are on the line just drying
I’ll meet you there per our conversation
I hope I didn’t ruin your whole vacation
Well you never know how far from home you’re feeling
Until you watch the shadows cross the ceiling
Well I don’t know but I can see it snowing
In your car the windows are wide open...
The moon and stars hang out in bars just talking
I still love that picture of us walking
Just like that ol’ house we thought was haunted
Summer’s end came faster than we wanted”
- John Prine