DATELINE: NEW YORK CITY I am here to lead a photo walk and meetup for Blurb and to attend AIPAD. This is an excerpt from my morning journal.
5:44AM. The pointy part of the peninsula/island is slow to rise and face the day. Blue collar workers in orange and yellow, fresh off the ferry from price friendly distance, walking two up to the subway at Bowling Green where they trudge into the Earth, snaking up and out into the far reaches of Manhattan and beyond where age and decay and the rot from nature and weak building codes work to make it all go away, to fade from the concrete of man to the coastal forrest of our past. From the tailored, side zip, Italian boot to the soft passage of the moccasin. Remove the people and the return to nature would be harsh and immediate. We are here, they are here, to fight the good fight, for as long as we can. Keep the molecules at bay, there is money to be made.
To come here is to enter a frenetic world where pace is revered.
The rat race, literally. There is an excitement to it, even when the texture of the pace feels abrasive against the skin and ears. Cheap GPC smoke drifts in the blue light between buildings, where the cold has yet to be pierced by the color and warmth and promise of a new day. Covered tables, pressure wash and flashing lights. Another chance to strike it rich. Another chance to survive.
We come here to come together in shared practice and passion. The small rectangle and square that works to heighten the experience of visual perception. The power in the elimination of distraction. The power in reduction to single, minute fractals of time and place. The right to left spray of archival droplets, adhere on and to the surface of one-dimensional cut sheets or rolls of what was once ancient forrest. Reduced now to preserve our history, our present and our past. A silly endeavor but one that continues to remain relevant. If not for us, for our collective memory.
Comments 8
Michelle and I had a great time. Many thanks to you, Susan, and the Blurb team for putting it all together.
Author
You are very welcome. Next time, we dine.
+1
Author
Stupid talk alert…
Hi Dan, long time fan. Quick question (hopefully) photo’s that you take that are not part of a project or a printed book, do you ever just print some out individually – like the olden days? I have back ups and back ups of files but feel if something went amiss, I have more photos from my grandparents holidays and get togethers, than I have printed in the last 15 -20 years. Am really enjoying the blog, loving the life commentary, the book suggestions and general life reflections, it’s my breakfast reading. Have just ordered Remo’s Remorandom. Have a great week,
Author
Oh ya. I love the Hanhnemule postcard paper. Use it all the time. Let me know how the Remo book is. I love that guy and his strategy and approach.
I am actually impressed 🙂 that is an awesome vignette, also I get to use one of my favorite words so thank you for that!
Author
Vignette? It is a beauty, and thank you John.