civilized ku # 840 ~ ex post facto, pt IV - some thoughts from Matt
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 05:03PM 
Eaves & decorative brackets ~ Plattsburgh, NY • click to embiggenI really enjoy and appreciate it when a someone leaves a comment, in this case Matt Dallos (who is the only one responding to this topic of place), that is essentially a complete entry post. Not only does it make life easier but it is also a very worthy contribution to the topic at hand.
So, without further ado, here is Matt's thoughts on the idea of place ...
With my place as a topic vs. a place as a subject comment, I was leaning toward a discussion of photographers who have chosen to complete a project in a place, say Old Forge, NY or Moab, UT or the Colorado Plateau, vs. photographers who have chosen to work with the idea of being connected to place or how we related to landscape through photographing a wide variety of geographic areas. Is place a bound-to-the-land truth? Or is it an academic category exploited to analyze ourselves? This aligns, somewhat, with your thoughts on Romantic and Realist though. I believe Romantics are interested in the concept of place, the idea that there is something we should be searching for that would root us, that would bind us with the land in some state of sublime perfection. And I believe Realists are more inclined toward the gritty reality and truth of the places we live.
You are right about the referent in pictures of place vs. empty pictures of a place: there is a very thin line between. However, I think the distinction grows exponentially when you refer to an entire body of work.
“But rootedness, especially in a place, is a vital ingredient in the making of pictures of place.”
Have you ever noticed that people who are rooted in their “home” place are often able to capture/understand/interpret other places? It’s almost like connection with a place is some sort of language that we develop; once you understand or are able to interpret that language in one place, you understand it everywhere. I don’t mean to imply that you learn one place and then apply that cookie cutter idea to other places. Rather, once you understand the language of place, you are more willing to open yourself to other place and you are willing to accept the truth of wherever you are.
When you mentioned people who pursue photographs of place are pricked by something, even if that something is operating in their subconscious at a level unknown or unattended, it made me realize something that I have never before considered. Place is intertwined with our being. Until not too long ago, evolutionarily speaking, we were completely dependent upon the place where we lived to provide sustenance. You had to know and understand it—again, possibly at a subconscious level—if you wished to survive. There was no other option. So, of course lots of people photograph place, even if they don’t know why. They are digging at something much deeper than an aesthetic appreciation of beauty. They are digging at the foundations of our species. Of course, it’s hilarious to think that the entire Camera Club beauty shot paradigm—and perhaps all of Romantic thought—might be some sort of callow, reactive salve to our separation from place and reality, aided by an entire plank of industrial technology that has, so far, been punctuated by the automobile.
My thanks to Matt - his comment / entry let's me get out of the house a bit earlier and on the road to NYC for the Preserving Prints workshop. FYI, now that I have an iPad I will be posting entries while I'm out of town.
Reader Comments (5)
Mark,
This photo seems strangely "rectangular" for a square view, don't you think so ?
Always a pleasure to watch and try to share your thoughts, images and theories about the world around us. I like finally your attempt to explore what our five senses transmit to our brain who delivers delight (which is "something" which is in relation with inner and personnal harmony) or confusion coming from an inner undecidable choice.
Thank you for your indulgence for my french-american english
Kind regards
Nicolas
Nicolas - I do see your point about the rectilinear impression created by this square picture. Nice observation.
And, no indulgence required, re: your french-american english. My american-french french is 100x worse.
Interesting perspective ... are you standing on the roof of an adjoining building?!
Sven - I'm just looking out of the window in the wife''s office.
Anytime, Mark. However, it would have been nice to receive a bit of feedback from any other readers. I'm really curious on other's thoughts on the idea of place as related to photography (and in general).