It only took thirty five years, give or take. Yep, just figured something out, something that has made my life a whole lot better. Try to follow me here. You don’t have to work on long-term, people based projects. You don’t. I know, that’s what you thought you had to do but you don’t. And when you make this realization you realize the entire world opens up in a way you never knew existed. An EASY world of nonstop photographic opportunity. (When I say “you” I mean “me.”) Does this opportunity feel the same? No, but the burning goes away after a few weeks, like a creative rash that bothers no more. Is this new methodology a way of making myself feel better about the reality of my photographic life? You bet your ass it is.
So, I was out working on my ongoing project, the one that will most likely take a decade.
I was making progress on ONE theme but not making any ground on the rest. My plans for the next week included stops in three counties where I could continue to make progress on the one theme but lose ground on the others. “This is going to take the rest of my life,” I thought as I aimed the van back toward the casa. Later that day, while out running errands on the moto, I decided to turn south and explore a new area. I ended up on the frontage road of I25. Tooling along at 40mph, minding my own business, and watching as cars, trucks, buses, semi-trucks, RVs and UFOs flew by at 80mph+. “Glad I’m not riding on that thing,” I said to myself as I perused the trash along the road. (I’ve found some great stuff.)
I suddenly came face to face with a cell tower, or at least what I think is a cell tower. The sky was incredible. The Space Age “beauty” of the shiny beast was undeniable. I was both jarred by how out of place it felt, but also amazed at the tech on display. I thought back to an argument with my 6th grade math tutor. “I’m never gonna use any of this crap,” I fumed to the poor soul attempting to make math make sense. Well, somebody actually did put their math to good use, and thankfully so because there before me was my ticket out of photographic frustration.
Stuff, things, artifacts. So easy. So plentiful, but the most important part is…connected to my original story, at least in some way.
It does shift the overall visual identity of the project, but the story remains the same. People, culture, events, history, birds, etc. All still front and center but told in a very, very different way, a way that allows me to continue working and working anywhere at anytime. Again, am I kidding myself that this is a replacement? No, just a course correction driving by a stone cold reality that looks to be unchangeable.
And here we are. Phase two. Option B. The blue pill. It’s all good. The idea that I can use a camera and pen to tell stories is beyond cool, beyond thrilling. And just as a reminder, I’m doing this for me not you. My days of making work for the public, or an editor, or an audience are long gone, and happily so. I find it thrilling to get lost in one’s own thoughts while mentally meandering through the limits of “What if?”
Also note, these are not final spreads. Not by any means. Just play people, just play. Give myself five minutes and move on. My idea for the book will be very different from this, and in fact might be two books of similar size and material, something I’m doing with Japan/Germany that was me thinking differently. Nothing too serious here. Just what I do in my free time, but an interesting visual riddle nonetheless.
Comments 19
Brilliant! “what if…?” is my favorite question whether it is asked while I’m making art or living a life. Play = opportunities for spontaneous magic. I only disagree with one thing… this realization you’re experiencing. This noticing of one thing related to another… this is all very red pill stuff. I’m excited to see where this takes you. Have fun!
Author
I’ll take any pill you give me.
Thank you for this Dan. As you know, I’ve been “struggling” with the idea of validity concerning single images vs long term story based work. The true short answer is to get out of my own head and be out there advancing my craft. Sitting around stewing about stuff is too easy.
Often, the little voices in our heads need backup from an external source.
Author
Just go. That’s the best piece of advice I can give. Life is not @screens, it’s out….there.
I concur with your thoughts, Mike.
Sometimes you need to get on the wrong train to get to the right place.
Rick Rubin’s book on creativity talks about the importance of leaning into your creative self, and the notion that the audience comes last. In other words, create for the joy of it, and should others appreciate your work, great, but that’s not the goal. The goal is creative fulfillment.
Author
Audience is last, how pre-Internet. And I totally agree but good luck convincing the entire online world.
Dan … for some reason I think you’re headed toward surrealism …
Author
You are spot on. Already there. Haven’t shared the work yet but it’s coming.
Is surrealism the Holy grail?
Author
It might be. Few rules.
RE: “Again, am I kidding myself that this is a replacement? No, just a course correction …”
Replacement? No not that. This is just where the path is going. Even if its a big swerve, its still the path. That’s what paths do.
Author
I’m wandering like a sailor on shore leave.
RE: “I’m wandering like a sailor on shore leave.“
Maybe. But you’re probably less likely to need a shot of penicillin after.
Author
I’ll take that as a win/win.
What I like about these pairs of pictures is that the kind of relation to each other is totally open to interpretation. Sure, on a purely visual level, they are related in terms of form, shapes and colors, but beyond that, imagination kicks in. – Do you know the work of Luigi Ghirri (https://www.archivioluigighirri.com)? He was an Italian photographer who created several bodies of work starting from the 1960s until his early death in 1992. A lot of his work consists of playful juxtapositions of pictures-often in a vernacular style-which create a surreal feeling of glimpses into an artificial, imaginary world. He himself referred to his bodies of work as “maps” – as far as I know, he didn’t have a formal education in fine arts, but was a mapmaker by training.
Author
No, but he sounds magical. Thanks for the link! Who doesn’t love maps?
Just added Shifter to my
Class syllabus, as they say in gamelsnd, dan you have reached the next level
Author
I’ll take it. Viva Pittsburg.