This is a good one, at least I think so. Lots to talk about. A missing hero, another tragic example of modern photography, my familiarity with antimalarial drugs, the city of Utrecht and their brilliant anti-car city as well as a mention of Per Anders Jorgensen and why he makes sense. But also, what happened when I found a copy of Life Magazine from 1996. Jesus, how far we have photographically fallen. Take notes, settle in and have a listen.
Create: For What It’s Worth Episode 027
Comments 12
Another exceptional session. Thanks for mentioning Taos Honey, and congratulations on having a photo published in Life magazine. Just ordered some amber honey.
Good luck with Apple. Apple ain’t what it was when Guy Kawasaki was their evangelist. Along with Symantec, eBay, and the rest of their ilk, Apple’s fallen from the true faith and cares about little except the next sale. No manners, either.
Coronavirus is a wakeup call from our Earth. For years I’ve said “Nature bats last.”
Thanks for bringing back memories of Utrecht.
Have you read David Douglas Duncan’s ‘Self-Portrait USA?” Beautiful black and white work. Thankful my parents wouldn’t let me ride the South Shore to the 68 DNC.
As for sinking so far, America’s still great. Along with so much good, there are the few bad and ugly who get more attention than they deserve thanks to Zuck and his cronies.
Thanks for showcasing the good and thinking for yourself. As for the bad, the ugly, and the greedy, keep giving ’em hell.
Author
Hey Bob,
I too think America is great but man we do we need a gut check. And to deradicalize. The honey is really solid. I need more. The day Apple provides me with a computer will be the day I learn to fly. And yes to Duncan. He was a real man. What a life.
First… you have a podcast too!? Jeebus, I’m impressed.
I really enjoyed this and I agree with you on all points. Thank you for speaking truth to power. The incompetence and flat out disregard for science makes me wanna… sshhhh… deep breath. I’ll save my political rants for another place.
Great stories, info and your sense of humor is right up my alley. That one story about Houston is insane! I checked out Per’s work on your recommendation here and wow, really great stuff.
There is a little sea-side antique shop here in Gloucester, MA and they have a TON of archived LIFE magazines for a price that makes me want to go buy them all if I had the room to keep them. Went there a few weeks ago looking for a copy from 1958 (?), November edition featuring Smith’s “Country Doctor” but alas, it was not there. As soon as things get back to normal, I’m going to go back and see if they have the issue featuring your work.
Hey, great podcast. I’m going to catch up on the others soon. Keep’em coming!
See you tomorrow on your live stream with AYP.
Author
Lucas,
Oh ya, turn in manana and tell me how it looks. Hard to tell when I’m on this end. There are four people involved to produce that thing. Tomorrow should be good. Humor might save us all, after science takes over from politics. We never seem to learn. And corruption is now perfectly acceptable. Gloucester! I know Gloucester. My wife is from the South Shore.
Thought you might like this.
Why are people hoarding toilet paper? | Hans Hacker | TEDxUAMonticello
In the midst of the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, many grocery shelves are empty because of mass hoarding and panic buying.
Author
Jim,
How did you know I was hoarding toilet paper? Does it show?
LOL I majored in Anthropology in College!
Author
Jim,
Minors in Spanish and Anthro for me. But the college of comms didn’t honor minors for some reason so it never went on my record. Not that anyone cares.
I grew up in the UK, lived in Australia for a year, spent nearly two years in Hong Kong, plus 19-years and counting in Japan. There’s good and bad everywhere. Every country has a unique perspective of how they stand in the world and I’m pretty sure every country gets it wrong. America is no different.
Keep the David Lynch stories coming. I have a DL man-crush and I’m not afraid to admit it.
I agree that we’ve lost a vital connection with nature. It’s scary and it’s one of the reasons I take students to Australia every year. Not only for English practice but to go hiking, surfing, camping, cycling and more. I’m conscientious about flying all that way but I’m hoping that they connect with nature in a unique way and that it makes a difference. They all live in cities so they need to get outdoors.
Author
Sean,
We have multiple generations with no connection to the land other than via the screen. It’s alarming because they think they know. But they have never been. You know about ranching? “oh sure, I saw it on discovery.” Seeing a doc and watching TV or YT is far from actually being there. The balance is the key. The days of everyone flying around all the time should, hopefully, be over. We have to rethink society, and no, I don’t have any hope we will.
Hi Dan,
I’m a bit schizoid when it comes to the question of travel. I agree with you about the damage of air travel and the advantages of something like a collective of local photographers rather than the ubiquitous ‘travel photographer’. That said, I believe travel is extremely valuable in gaining understanding and tolerance of other cultures.
My son is married to a Chinese girl, from Wuhan in fact, and I have gained enormous knowledge about that country and its people by staying with her family. A month in Iran a year ago gave me an insight into that place and its people that no photograph, book or film, no matter how good, could possibly provide. In the reverse direction we have had overseas students live with us, for up to three years in one case – we gained a second son and an extended family in Thailand.
One general criticism I have of Americans is that they are too insular and self satisfied. I was stunned to realise that when Bush II was elected he didn’t even have a passport. He had never travelled outside the country. How could he claim to be a world leader.
You can see my dilemma. While I am content to accept that I might have had my last overseas trip, and am happy to explore my home state as I haven’t to date, and would happily ban those YouTube travel photographers who fly to a different country for each week’s episode, I don’t want to deprive the next generation of a life changing experience. In fact I want to encourage it.
Moderation in all things? That’s good enough to become a cliche..
Paul
Author
Paul,
Moderation and severly question the purpose of the travel. The days of competitive travel for likes should be over. Will it? No. It will only get worse. Most of the competitive travels I encounter know almost nothing about where they actually live. Nor do they really know anything about where they travel. Forty percent of Americans don’t have a passport. But again, we are poorly educated and radicalized as a nation. How many people told me I would die when I went to Albania last year? A few years ago I ran into someone who lives in two places. A very smart individual. Within about a day I began to realize how much he knew about both locations. Extensive knowledge of history. It was so impressive. I know a fair amount but he was well beyond me and it made me realize, again, I don’t need to get on a plane nearly as much as I used to.