Documenting the World, Wk 39

Plugging IN

hey everyone~ it's been sometime since we explored the net together, but now i have a number of things i recommend you read. why? b/c they offer a different perspective on the world than i could give. so sit back, get ready to click and enjoy.

**blogs
--amos lanka recently wrote a "book review" on a book called the history of love. the experpt he chose to focus on was called "the death of isaac babel," and the read was powerful in of itself. it focused on the silence of one man vs. the silence of God.

--harry rud, an aide worker in afghanistan, gave his collective thoughts on the recent and complicated election process there. his observations are intriguing, to say the least.

--rob stennett wants to know what's on your "list of shame?" what movies have you not watched or classic books have you not read that well...you missed? it's amazing that a number of us, among the same generation, responded...that we hadn't seen the goonies

--joseph thompson recently talked about what he thinks are the essential elements to a good story, esp. one that surrounds faith.

**bout the web
--relevant magazine had a fine article on why God allows pain. faith hopeler, the author of the article, ends it w/ a beautiful description at His response when we experience such pain.

--jaws in 60 seconds, you'll laugh your arse off.

--cracked.com recently did a synopsis on what it means to be "indie" in today's generation.

--we've all wondered about the guy who gets to name the hurricanes and tropical storms. wired magazine recently discussed what goes in to naming these powerful & sometimes destructive forces of nature.

**recommended reads
--i just finished a book called on photography by susan sontag (1977). sontag was an activist and literary theorist in the 1960s. her thoughts on the philosophy of photography, i can imagine were influenced by her visit some years earlier to hanoi. my reviews on her ideas are HERE and THERE.

hope you enjoyed. have a great weekend everyone!

Movie Reviews: Imagination of a Hippie vs. a Kid

This week, I had the opportunity to see two different films this weekend, one @ the theater and one in the comfort of my home: Taking Woodstock and Son of Rambow. Here are my thoughts on how each played out from my perspective.

Taking Woodstock~ Based on the infamous concert that defined a culture in 1969, this film takes a look at one family in the center of it all. While I imagine the movie takes it's own liberties; the sex, drugs, hippies and the music are all there. The movie opens showing a very stagnant life of Elliot Teichberg, who works & takes care of his parents' motel. With status on the commerce committee in the local town, he convinces the bank to give him more time to pay off the mortgage of the motel. Seemingly at a loss for ideas, he finds out that a near-by town has rejected Woodstock Adventures request for land for their coming festival. Hoping to host a music festival of his own to raise money, he calls on Woodstock Adventures, and offers his property. They end up not only fixing up & using up the motel facilities for the managers of the festival, but they also take over a neighbor's land (Eugene Levy) for the concert & stage itself. The struggle for Elliot is his mother's over-bearing obsession with making money on everything she feels is being "ruined"- Elliot's father, however, comes alive and relishes in the number of people enjoying "peace, love & music" for three days...all under the care of new friend & trans-sexual body-gaurd, Vilma. Elliot, in his own right, takes a ride to find himself and become brave enough to realize where he truly belongs. The movie was well-thought out and I enjoyed the fact that it focused on one specific family, behind the scenes & at the center of it all. As for the music? The film did not focus on the concert itself, but as for the soundtrack- if you're looking for Jimi Hendrix or The Who, they aren't there, but tunes from Janis Joplin, the Doors (who turned down playing at the concert) and Crosby Stills & Nash did play themselves out. The documentary is more likely to focus on the music- but Taking Woodstock draws the audience closer to what may have been happening. The comedy is more ironic than laugh out loud, nevertheless, it makes it's point and brings out recognizable characters that we've all seen before in the newest generation of movie-making. I'd say, it's worth your ten-bucks to the theater.

Son of Rambow~ For anyone that ever had (or still has) a large imagination; this vibrant indie film is definitely one that explores the imagination of a boy who needed an out. Will Proudfoot comes from a family that belongs to the Church of the Brethren, a conservative denomination that keeps itself from anything it perceives at worldly, including television. Through a series of mishaps & run-in's w/ the school bully, Lee Carter, Will finds himself exposed to Rambo (1982), which Carter had pirated by taking a video camera to the theater. The movie inspires the boys to make their own film and Will's wild imagination gives him motivation to recap scenes from the movie. One of the unique effects show-cased in the movie was Will's imagination which often takes a cartoon form, just like his drawings. It adds a flair and makes the movie visually entertaining. Son of Rambow also enacts the growing friendship b/t two boys who's families, though, different, keep them from feeling like they really belong, except when they're together. It was definitely one of the most interesting and touching films I had seen in awhile. It comes close to Little Miss Sunshine, but certainly has it's own unique flavor. If you're looking for a night-in, this is a movie worth watching.

Documenting the World, wk 38, Hovering Over the City

On our way to take some urban shots off Ponce and into Decatur, we saw some tremendous clouds in the sky the day. It looked like it could rain, but that afternoon, not a drop. Nevertheless, seeing such magnificant clouds above the Atlanta traffic was pretty cool.

Sontag Book Review Part 2: Changing Views

"...the seemingly insatiable appetite for photography in the 1970s expresses more than the pleasure of discovering and exploring a relatively neglected art form; it derives much of its fervor from the desire to reaffirm the dismissal of abstract art which was one of the messages of the pop taste of the 1960s"(Susan Sontag, 1977)

I've finished reading Susan Sontag's book, On Photography. The book itself is more a philosophy on the art than an observation of it. Sontag was an activist in the 60s & 70s. And I have to say that her take on taking pictures can be very dark. Nevertheless, through the reading, she discusses why people take pictures in the first place, whether it be amateur photos for a family vacation to the depths of a professional photographer's mind.

As stated above the 60s ushered in photography in the way of displaying culture, "pop" culture and entertainment in way that had never before been seen. Sontag discusses earlier in the read that for decades photography had been more simply for "state record," in essence without raw emotion or pretentiousness...it had been a way of classifying and not considered art- few dared to call it that. But with every other "revolutionary" theme of 1960s; photography followed suit. This is not to say that pictures were unartistic, but they were not reveled in-prior to the time.

Andy Warhol made a masterful entrance into the pop culture world with his iconic images. Contemporary artist Billy Apple was also known for his conceptual artistic talents. Sontag mentions another intriguing photographer and artist that began ahead of her time- Diane Arbus. She had a taste for the "freaks" of society, she craved the strange artistic forms that such people offered.

But Sontag saw a swift attitude change in the 1970s. It seemed that everyone wanted a share in the artistic demand...and people began to explore the idea of capturing a once in a life-time a moment they might never get back.

Today, everyone has an opportunity to be a photographer, though not everyone may not have the ability. Classrooms teach it at colleges, digital makes pictures more accessible and photo-shop gives "artistic" a new catch. The cravings of the artist and the common man seem to merge at times, and at others, their eyes are drastically different in purpose or intent.

But no matter the time or reason, people are desperate to have a record, proof of their life, something to show more than what they think they seem- and pictures show just that. And still there are those behind the button of the camera that are searching for something, a diamond in the rough so to speak- something that will give what they're about to record meaning and a voice- a face- a name.

A Time for Everything

As fall approaches I am aware of the season's change. About a week and a half ago, walking along the water's edge; I spent a few moments reflecting what's been on my mind as well as the things coming. My toes sunk underneath the sand and the ocean waves seemed reassuring. I couldn't help but smile. What I thought about, what I prayed about was peaceful, exciting, thrilling and perfect.

I have spent some time reviewing the places on my heart to visit by way of humanitarian aid this year. While there are places all over the world I want to visit, to see, to study or to photograph, there are some that I just want to go with the intention of bring a sense of life and social justice.

There is definitely a change in the air coming, and I welcome it. The rest of the week was peaceful and I was grateful for the rest and comfort of the waves day and night for a week.

Sontag Book Review: A Violent Eye

"...there is something predatory in the act of taking a picture. To photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them, they can never have; it turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed. Just as the camera is a sublimination of the gun, to photograph someone is a subliminated murder." (Susan Sontag, 1977)

Sontag was known as a literary theorist, a writer and activist who visited Hanoi during the Viet Nam war. Some years later, she wrote on her philosophy of photography and I can imagine her time in Hanoi was of influence on her ideas. I've spent the last few weeks diving into her book, On Photography. To the say the least, her outlook on the mind of a photographer or perhaps humanity in general seems rather dark.

To further discuss the quote above, Sontag was one who introduced this concept of violent picture taking. But interestingly enough I would have to agree to the extent the photographing a human being is to see something, artistically, that they may not see. Each photographer has an eye for something different...and their view on the world is typically from the outside-in. By snapping a picture it's as if they are seeking a way in, searching for a perspective in the shot that no one else may have, and certainly not their subject. It is perhaps their way of searching for an understanding of the world around them.

From reading the same passage, a blogger and Afghanistan aid worker, Harry Rud, once wrote- "To get someone in range and shoot them could be said of using a gun or a camera. There is a violence about taking a photo."

Murder, shooting a gun destroys the person's life. On the other hand, shooting a camera, leaves them to live. Yet, does it not, capture their life, even just for a moment? When I take the picture, am I not, as I explained above, looking to see something they cannot, and will essentially catch them off gaurd only to be seen in the photo? It is a battle of wondering how intrusive the act of photographing really becomes. Even for those subjects who pose, are they not hoping that they will be seen better than how they see themselves? Is it not a hope that the photographer will take from them the very thing they desire, a side of life, in themeselves they do not see but hope for? Perhaps the photographer can take it and make it so.

There is a second idea that may follow Sontag's thoughts. Being a photo-journalist or something of the sort- requires a mind-set of strict observation. In a dangerous situation, in one of distress, the photographer must choose between capturing the hanus action or helping the victim of it. In most cases, in almost all, the photographer will choose to take the picture and the victim is left helpless. To show the world the reality of what is...means, at times, that one must forget for just a moment...justice. Or so it seems.

Can the two go together? Sontag doesn't seem to think so. Bringing awareness is simply that. On one hand, justice is telling the story through the pictures, on the other, it is an observation and the photographer must be outside of it, not feel the emotions as deeply so that they can capture the distress & leave others to fill that void...to aid.

While it is a rather confusing catch-22, I believe, simply put, I don't think it's black and white, somehow, there must be room for both. I believe that the photographer can be the aid worker. It is my personal goal to give others voice, a face, that they may not have otherwise. But it is also my goal to feed their need, to push them forward to a better life. How to do so will depend on the circumstance, nevertheless, I don't know that it has to be a choice b/t one or the other.

Project Homeless: Worn

The other day, while walking toward Abba Dabbas (a shoe store in Little 5 Points, Atlanta); I met Linda. She was sitting several feet away from the Vortex restaurant panhandling. Most people simply ignored her and walked on by. But she looked sad and worn out, so I stopped and asked her if she was alright.

With her wispy white hair and her hand on her on a wrinkled forehead, she sighed and told me she came to the area, typically, 6 days a week. She took a bus from the west end and tried to earn a little extra cash on the streets. Linda stated that she did receive a check from the government, but after paying for a room and a bus ticket, it really left her w/ very little, if nothing for food or other survival supplies. She told me that due to a number of physical ailments, including her feet, her brain and bouts of illness, she could no longer work. Linda didn't want to stay in Little 5 too long, she admitted she didn't feel safe and would be on her way to the bus stop soon. Her boyfriend apparently had lost his job- and she claimed due to racial discrepancies against him (apparently he was a black man). She hoped that a man she had met earlier in the day would be able to help her boyfriend find a job. And she was very sad that she had not raised enough money to give him the kind of birthday she'd hoped. Nevertheless; she told me, she was trying to remember that she was blessed and that she was grateful I'd stopped to chat with her.

I tried to encourage her-I told Linda that He sees her struggles and to keep her head up. I offered her a sandwich (it's all I had on me), for which she gladly accepted.

I did not get her picture that day. Perhaps I forgot. Perhaps, on that particular day, I just didn't feel the desire to ask. But I won't forget her, that's for sure. I pray she won't feel so restless and that she'll find some peace of mind.

Documenting the World, Wk 35-37

It's been a bit since I've been here. Then end of the summer has proven to be busy and thoughtful. Now that we approach fall and all it's warm goodness~ I'll be back in the game. Here are a few pictures in lieu of the last few weeks...documenting the world. Enjoy.

Shoot & Dance

August has proven to be the start of a very busy season. As I have been slightly absent from the blog- here is a quick update:

This past weekend, I spent four days shooting (along w/ a few other photographers) for Incarnation, from Dance 101, a production that included dance, video and an underlining story. The entire event was produced by Charles "Bubba" Carr who serves as the Artistic Director for the studio. The local Atlanta paper, Creative Loafing even mentioned the performances. And I have to say, they were beautiful. The costuming, the music, the choreography, and the video were profoundly intertwined. The dancers themselves, also did very well.

I continue to efforts into a short-film documentary series. The editing for the first webisode is going well, and I look forward to a finished product before the end of the month. Of course, I will finish, only to start another.

While my coming website is severely under construction, it is coming.

For now, dear readers, here are a few more pix from Incarnation: