urban ku # 108 ~ consider this

Elk with rack in repose on a foggy morning • click to embiggenStephen Shore, in an interview on Conscientious, talks about how the expense of shooting with an 8×10 camera - currently about $22.00 per exposure for film, processing and a contact sheet - made him "... decide what I really wanted to photograph and how I wanted to structure the picture ... This was a powerful learning experience. I began to learn what I really wanted."

When asked about digital picturing, he said, "I see digital as a two-sided phenomenon. The fact that pictures are free can lead to greater spontaneity. As I watch people photograph (with film), I often see a hesitation, an inhibition, in their process. I don't see this as much with digital. There seems to be a greater freedom and lack of restraint ... The other side of this lack of restraint is greater indiscriminancy. Here's a tautology: as one considers one's pictures less, one produces fewer truly considered pictures."

So, I have a question for you (all of you - come on, chime in. Don't be shy). How 'considered' are your pictures? Do you shoot lots and then edit? or, Do you tend to 'get it right' with a minimum of fuss and fidget?

If you are a consider-er (and I assume everybody considers something), what you do you consider most? What to picture? How to picture?

I am curious about this because, I have always been one who 'considers'.

urban ku # 107 ~ the Luigi syndrone

The Luigi Syndrome strikes again • click to embiggenThe dictionary defines 'syndrome' as a predictable, characteristic pattern of behavior, action, etc., that tends to occur under certain circumstances.

On road trips of late (the last year or so), I seem to be repeatedly encountering a very specific 'certain circumstance' - used Fiats on used car lots - that trigger an instantaneous Pavlovian 'predictable, characteristic pattern of behavior, which, for me, is to fall under the spell of the dreaded Luigi Syndrome. For me that is characterized by a lust for old Fiats. A lust akin to failing for a woman whom you know will break your heart, leave you high and dry and drain your bank account along the way. As Bob Dylan sings, "... some lazy slut has charmed away my brains ..." (Rollin' and Tumblin' ~ from the Modern Times CD).

So far, I have been able to resist the urge (with a great deal of 'help' from the long-suffering wife). But if this keeps up ...

FYI, we're back home, Maggie's going to classes and no one has a clue about what went wrong.

urban ku # 106 ~ update on reality, truth in pictures and Maggie.

Dashing through the night • click to embiggenMaggie's resting and recuperating nicely in her hospital room. No tubes. No antibiotics. No sedation. Weak as hell, but she's eating like a horse. And, no, despite ongoing tests, the answer is - we still don't know.

Me, after a dash through the night (to avoid any daylight/commuter traffic on the Jersey Turnpike/Parkway), I'm back home tending to some business. Maggie's surrounded by extended family and we've purchased train tickets for her boyfriend and best friend so they can be there as well. They are on the train as I write. Things are looking good.

Yesterday, Aaron wrote - "Not being able to get down there and share some good vibes for her in person, I am overwhelmed by these photos in a way I don't like .... (I have) conflicting emotions on whether I should have looked at these or not ..." - interesting emotions/reaction coming from the guy who is giving the world his emotion/reaction-inducing Cinemascapes.

I knew when I was making these pictures that they would pack a wallop, especially for those who know and are close to Maggie - many of whom are not able to be by her side. In part, that was my intent - to make it 'real'. If one has not experienced anything like this personally, then it all tends to be rather 'abstract'. As I wrote yesterday, the wife and I, the extended family and friends knew all of the words involved with this event. Now, those words have added meaning and a sense of 'real-ness' attached to them.

Yesterday's pictures are why I get a little bent out of shape when photography discussions about truth and the real in pictures wander a little too much into the 'abstract'.

urban ku # 105 ~ inspiration

Indigenous inspiration • click to embiggenThe Adirondack rustic architecture/furniture tradition goes back to the early days of human habitation within the Adirondacks. Arguably, the birth/pinnacle of the rustic architecture/furniture tradition was found at the Vanderbilt's Sagamore, an Adirondack Great Camp, located near Raquette Lake in the Central Adirondacks.

The Vanderbilts had a large year-round full-time staff at Sagamore (1.526 acres and 27 buildings) - many (with their families) lived on the grounds in a worker's complex, complete with schoolhouse. The Vanderbilts, especially Margaret Vanserbilt, were great patrons of the craftspeople at Sagamore and amongst the workers were a group of artisans. The craftsmen and women lived in a closed community on the site and worked daily with each other in an apprentice to master relationship. One worker, a gardener by the name of George Wilson, created twig mosaic furniture - the most intricate of the rustic style. Others artistically adopted the natural materials available to them and the rustic style was born.

I bring this up because of it's relevance to yesterday's topic of 'teaching'. One of the things that schooling in the arts is not so good at is teaching how to find/foster 'inspiration'. In the case of these Adirondack rustic artisans, their inspiration was all around them. They just and to open their eyes and 'see'.

(mixed) ku # 484 ~ autumn is creeping in

Autumn is creeping in • click to embiggenThis AM, James responded to my response (on ku # 483) to one of his prior comments. He wrote, "... What is different for me about your more "natural" picturing is the feeling I get that you are exploring aspects of the forest ... that are not easily captured...and explore this region in ways that others tend to overlook. Or maybe what I am trying to say is, these are in no way "typical" of what I have come to expect from "nature photography" in this region ... not "grand scenic" or "marcos" ... but rather intimate and real the way you would experience them stumbling through the Adirondack forest ..."

James is an Adirondacker and is therefore familiar with more than just the 'roadside attractions'/picture postcard impressions that many visitors have of the area. I appreciate his insight into my pictures very much becasue I am trying to "explore this region in ways that others tend to overlook'. As I have stated many times, the 'details' of the Adirondacks, in all their natural "grit", are what I believe are the defining 'natural' characteristic of the park.

That said, I believe the old adage which states that the genius is in the details and I find it both amazing and depressing how many of my fellow humans are so wrapped up in the 'shock and awe' of life - I call it the SuperBowlHalftimeShow mentality - that they never see the genius. In fact, I believe it is the reigning American consumer culture of wretched excess, with its\ driving principle of fanning the flames of 'shock and awe' simply for economic gain, that is killing the 'thinking' genius and propagating an unthinking pavlovian response to the bell of unrestrained 'desire'.

In is my hope that my pictures are clogging at least a small part of the breach of brain drain that is so prevalent in our American culture.

urban ku # 104 ~ golf in the kingdom

Like playing golf in Scotland without the airfare • click to embiggenIf I had to choose one golf course to play for the rest of my life, without a moment's hesitation it would be the Cedar River GC.

The course is an outstanding example of golf the way it used to be - a course built long before earth moving equipment shaped a course. The course simply follows the lay of the land and, in this case, the Cedar River (or the Cedar Burn, as the Scots would say). The river, a wild scenic gem, winds its way throughout the layout coming into play one way or another on nearly every hole - sometimes you see it, sometimes you don't.

And, just like Scottish links courses, there are plenty of blind shots, firm undulating fairways (with lots of brown grass - only the greens are watered) which can cause a beautifully placed shot to roll and roll and roll to a place you really don't want to be, elevated tees and greens, and, speaking of greens, beautifully maintained small-ish greens with lots of contours and devilishly placed pins - it was very entertaining to see the wife chip onto a green and then watch the ball roll off the other side and then, chip on again, only to have the ball roll right back to her feet (not once, but twice). Great fun (for me).

All of this delightful quirky character is wonderful but the icing on the cake is the course placement in an Adirondack-wild location. Because the layout is so follow-the-land natural, it feels (and is) like all-of-a-piece with its surroundings. It is a joy to behold and is simply what many a modern constructed course wishes it could be.

Re: back to photography - the current issues of View Camera features 2 interesting triptych panorama photographers - Bruce Myren and Ann Mitchell. Neither are making revolutionary pictures, but both are making very engaging ones.

urban ku # 103 ~ spider, and 1874 - 1940

Walking around a cemetery near Indian Lake • click to embiggenThe number of cemeteries in the Adirondacks is amazing. Every village and hamlet has at least one but there is also an increbible number of small cemeteries in the middle of no where - along roadsides and even sprinkled out in the wilderness. They are just plain interesting to explore.

urban ku # 102 ~ a tourism 'nightmare'

A trip into the past • click to embiggenAt the last moment, our canoe trip devolved into a car getaway to the late 50s/ early '60s. Chalk it up to lingering un-wellness and Friday night dinner guests (we should have been packing).

In any event, Saturday AM we found ourselves cruising the web looking for lodging in the central Adirondacks. Labor Day weekend and all, our expectations weren't too high - all of the 'high-end' lodging that we tend to frequent was probably booked months ago.

And then I remembered the Cedar River Golf Course and Motel (and restaurant) - definitely not a 'high-end' lodging property. We've never stayed there but we have played golf there on what must be considered the most natural golf courses (9 holes) in all the Adirondacks, maybe in all the northeast. The history of the course, once owned by Dewey Brown - the first black member of the PGA, is interesting.

As luck would have it, lodging was available so we booked it - a 2 room 'suite' - and off we went.

Now, you have to understand that most of the people we know, especially those in the tourism marketing biz, would probably rather sleep in their cars (after poking their eyes out with a sharp stick) than stay at the CRGC&M. Most golfers I know would probably rather have a Cobra Speed LD/F driver (toaster on a stick) parked where the sun don't shine than go out of their way to play this golf course. The restaurant? Locals know it as a great place for an excellent diner-style breakfast(served 7am - noon) but I don't think too many tourists give it a second look.

What a shame, for despite the fact that there was no spa, feather beds, designer furnishing, haute cuisine or other amenities that the modern tourist has come to expect/demand - hence a 'nightmare' for tourism marketing types in the Adirondacks - we had an absolutely great time.

In all honestly, you really can't build a marketing campaign around the look of a place like the CRGC&M. In fact, amongst all of the 5 letter words one might use in tourism marketing, 'motel' is very very low on the list - way below words like 'resort', 'condo', or even 'hotel'.

But, much to the consternation of the marketing crowd, the Adirondack lodging experience is chock full of motels, most of which were built in the 50s or 60s. Most have been lovingly maintained - clean, comfy beds and linens, a little landscaping with a pool, and with rates that harken back to those of a couple decades ago.

Nothing 'fancy', just a decent place to park your car and rest your weary head for the next day's outdoor Adirondack experience - amongst other things, we went canoeing, golfing, swimming, cemetery exploring (Dewey Brown is buried in the cemetery right next door to the CRGC&M) and visiting the Adirondack Museum.

Somehow, the word (and the place) 'motel' served us very well.

Update on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 09:04AM by gravitas et nugalis

Featured Comment: Eric Fredine wrote; "I love these kinds of little motels - usually family run. Every little town in the Canadian prairies has one."

My response: Show me/us.