I have been spending a lot of time in the 19th century, searching through CDs full of images of old newspapers, piling up books with post-its fluttering from their pages, wandering around in cemeteries. I seem to get what I need when I need it, even when I’m looking for something else. Thus I went looking for a photo of Daniel Webster Sage and ended up with Lois Dawson’s potato salad. Came out way ahead on that deal, and will probably end up with Daniel, too, but that’s another post.
My trip to Lakeview Cemetery with Louan persuaded me to look into Samuel Curren. Let’s just say his stone caught my attention.
That Finger of Fate effect was purely accidental, on my part anyway, so it’s probably wrong to use the image for my response to Scott Thomas’s assignment to experiment with exposure. I’m doing it anyway. For a couple of weeks I experimented with exposure within the limitations of my camera. I made some photos that pleased me. But the odd one here helps me tell a story.
Part of working at photography, just like working at writing, comes down to making choices. This suits my purpose, that does not. The sentence over there is pretty but it tells a lie. The one here is embarrassing but true. Sometimes creation is a process of piling up materials and then, as Daugherty Johnson says, removing whatever ain’t no wolf.
I started this post last Friday, before the little camera went Phfft! I saved it because I thought I might use a piece of it somewhere. I save a lot of bits and pieces in my mulch pile. The sheer weight of the heap of paragraphs and pixels threatens to send the whole house sliding down the sandy slope into Michigan Trail.
It’s time to get the garden in. Spread the mulch around. Grow a pile of something or other. Prune away whatever ain’t no wolf. See how it turns out.
Sunday will be my last day at the Eastport Market on the business side of the counter. After that I fully intend to become one of the Regulars who wanders in practically every evening to buy milk or batteries or bananas and ends up in a philosophical conversation with another Regular about whether it does any good to complain about the weather anyway. (The consensus is no, it does not.)
Then I will go home and walk the dogs and sit down at the keyboard and write. And then I will get up in the morning and go do research and come home and write. And then I will go for a walk on the beach and write in my head. And then, for recreation, I will write a little post about this and that. So tomorrow I’m going to go buy a new camera, the better to blog you with. And I’m going to write. And I’m definitely looking into Samuel Curren, because if I have learned nothing else in the last eight months of obsessing, it is to follow up on the presents that fall in my lap all wrapped up in a bow.
Here is what I learned doing Scott’s assignment:
- The experiments demonstrated the value of learning how to manipulate exposure.
- I think I might prefer to learn to make manual adjustments rather than hassling with layers of menus.
- Thinking about my choices made me examine the air more closely.
- The assignment reinforced my conviction that I am hardwired to interpret the world through language, but
- I love collaborating with people who interpret the world through shape and color and sound.
- It is possible to make cloudy day photos that look the way I want them to.
- It is possible to make sunny day photos on the beach that contain both water and bright blue sky without blasting either one into nuclear oblivion.
giiid
May 27, 2010
This is a very good, and very special beach photo, it looks almost like a painting. At first sight, it is easy to get an idea about what it is, but at a closer look, it shows that there are many things to study and wonder about. Your dogs poses perfectly, very trained dogs!
It sounds like you are changing your working life, with the busy life you have described comming? This is a good time of year to make such changes, with nice weather for collecting all kind of informations, to work with when the winter comes. I imagine you have to write some books when the time comes, having all these words in stock.
Gerry
May 27, 2010
Thomas Lynch once said to me, Write or else. I tried the or else, and we see how that worked for me. Now I’m going to try the Write.
I am very pleased that you like the beach photo. And the dogs!
Kathy
May 27, 2010
Nothing is accidental! Glowing gravestones are NEVER accidental. Glad to hear you’re writing and inspired.
Like you, I’m learning about manual adjustments. Making lots more “mistakes” these days. However, I’m still not clear what professionals consider a good photo and what’s not. I can tell when it’s overexposed and white. Or underexposed and dark. But, besides that, I like the shades of differences which come up although some folks might say a certain photo isn’t as good. Hmmm…. lots to learn. Glad you’re on the learning curve at the same time!
Gerry
May 27, 2010
I have spent my whole life on one learning curve or another and have come to think of it as Situation Normal. I’m pretty sure that a “good” photo or a “good” paragraph is one that accomplishes what I set out to do. If I’m trying to explain to someone how the whatsis should be installed in the thingamajig, a nice clear photo that shows all the parts in their proper relationship will be just the ticket, never mind whether the proportions are pleasing or the framing interesting. On the other hand, knowing a little bit more about how photography “works” for the viewer makes it possible to make that nice clear photo in a way that minimizes distraction and focuses the eye on the whatsis rather than the rannafrannus, if you know what I mean.
(Oh dear, Birgitte, I hope you’re not reading this mishmash. Your word book will fail you for sure!)
giiid
May 27, 2010
I´m reading it, but contrary my wordbook, I keep learning the Gerry language, and so far I´m with. I like the “thingamajig” word, it´s funny to say. In Danish we have words like “Tingeling” og “Plingeling”, with no exact meaning, can be used for many things, plingeling can be used for “very good” or “everything is all right”. I have had many friendly conversations having only about 10 words in common, the rest was gestikulates, and imagination. Gestikulates are not possible here, but the imagination are ready if necessary.
So – everything is – plingeling.
Gerry
May 27, 2010
Goodness I enjoy these little lessons in Danish. “Plingeling” is a very useful word. I like “Gestikulates” too, and have decided that they are a part of speech (Noun, Verb, Adjective, Gestikulate).
flandrumhill
May 27, 2010
Good for you for doing Scott’s assignment. Whoever invented the auto setting gets full marks in my books.
I agree with giid that your photo does indeed look like a painting. One done by a Dutch or Flemish master I might add.
Gerry
May 27, 2010
Oooh, thank you. My narcissistic little soul longs for such affirmations. And boy oh boy do I agree that the auto settings are a wonderful thing. But I think they’re also like Microsoft Office products. Wonderful at doing a task in an attractive manner if you happen to do a task that Microsoft has decided is worthy. Impossibly frustrating if you want to do a task Microsoft–or the auto setting–hasn’t taken into account. And need I add that I am expert at coming up with tasks that take me off leash and into the underbrush?
P.j. grath
May 27, 2010
Selection, yes. That’s the key. Great thing about digital is being able to click away and not waste film, knowing you can delete what you don’t want to save. Happy accidents? Gifts from life! Have a beautiful day, Gerry.
Gerry
May 27, 2010
Thanks, PJ–it looks like we’re both in for a beautiful day out there. I love my little digital camera. It is utterly practical yet capable of the most astonishing creative surprises.
Anna Surface
May 27, 2010
I really, really like the soft beach photo. I used to be a writer and spent all my moments, breath and thoughts on writing. Then I went into photography full time and seriously, stashing my writer’s pen away; however, the writer’s muse is still with me in questioning what I see and photograph and wondering what the photographic stories tell.
Anyhoo…. that beach, my, would be such a great place to stoke the writer’s muse and photographer’s imagination. Interesting Finger of Fate, the glowing bright light on the tombstone…. Your research sounds intriguing and it is always a neat to find a recipe. May you get a camera that is fun!
Gerry
May 27, 2010
Thank you Anna. I, um, do not have a muse. What I have is 45 Civil War veterans and their families, nagging me to tell stories. Some of them can be quite rude about it. On the other hand, those are often the most entertaining stories.
Digital Camera Batteries
May 27, 2010
Water the soil thoroughly with a slow stream of water. Digital Camera Batteries.
Gerry
May 27, 2010
This was in my spam catcher, largely because it is a commercial communication, but I let it through because I have to admire either the cleverness of its own algorithm or the enterprise of an individual who would likely not have come up with that particular comment had s/he not actually read the post. I am a sucker for people who actually read my posts.
karma
May 27, 2010
Gerry, I really love your writing style! Your use of metaphor is outstanding! (As someone who works with 6th grade students, I wish I could get this idea across to them!) The “lucky catch” you got on the gravestone shot is very cool. Thanks for sharing what you learned and that great picture of the dogs at the beach – it truly speaks a thousand words.
By the way, the cowboy got a mention in my take on Scott’s assignment, if you want to show it to him!
Gerry
May 27, 2010
I think you should suggest that 6th graders everywhere read Torch Lake Views. I’ve been negotiating with young Tommy down the road to do a few guest posts. I think we need more kids around here.
I did see your post and your kind link and the Cowboy is thrilled. I sat there last night very late and wrote a comment praising the swirling collie fur. I am not sure what happened to it, but I awoke with my face on the keyboard and saw that it was gone and that my dialup had hung up. This is not an uncommon occurrence around here, and I have a lot of making up to do later on. I gotta get broadband.
Nye
May 28, 2010
I love the second photo, especially the reflection of the sun. The beach photo is so calm and peaceful, Ah, that’s the life. 🙂
Gerry
May 28, 2010
Thank you, Nye. It is calm and peaceful, right up until the time we have to go back to the house and get ready for work! Ah well. When I lived and worked in the city, the time I spent up here was truly an escape from all the things that tax a person’s peace in the course of daily life. Now that my daily life is here, I’m wondering if I should have a little weekend in the city to escape . . . I’m thinking July 4 would be good. Everyone from the city comes up here.
kanniduba
May 28, 2010
Gerry, you are a gem.
Beautiful photo of that beach…makes me wish I could jump right through my screen to get there.
I have more to write, but must run for now. Off to Little Girl’s field trip! XO
Gerry
May 28, 2010
Thank you. I’m glad you like the beach photo. There are miles and miles and miles of beaches all around Michigan. That’s one of my favorite things about the Mittens. You are welcome to come play on them anytime.
JenniferA
May 30, 2010
I feel I may be late to the party here and I have an unoriginal comment – the last one also looks like a painting to me! The only notion I have to add to that is my impression was particularly of a watercolor. Lovely!
Gerry
May 30, 2010
Jennifer, welcome to the party. Sit over here, watch the waves quiet down as evening falls. Skritch the Cowboy’s ears if you’d like. Let me pour you a glass of wine or a nice cool drink of water. Anyone who likes our beach, and especially our pictures of our beach, is entirely welcome to visit the Writing Studio and Bait Shop anytime. A person who also takes the trouble to leave a comment is treasured!
Molly
June 1, 2010
Gerry, Gerry, you know Thomas Lynch!? I love his writing, and his command: Write, or else. Enjoy your new routine, and find yourself a Resting Drawer asap.
Gerry
June 1, 2010
I would not say that I know him. I had the joy of taking a workshop with him at the first Bear River Writers Conference some years ago. I love his writing, too, and think he’s a fine coach.
I’m thinking of burning all my old tax returns and making that drawer into a Resting Drawer.
Scott Thomas Photography
June 2, 2010
What a beautiful photo where the water meets land. Edges in nature, like life, is where things happen even if it looks serene.
Very nice landscape photo, Gerry. Even Babs should be impressed.
Gerry
June 2, 2010
Scott, you made my day. I would say that you made my week, but it has been an extraordinarily good week and you have some tough competition. This is a time of great opportunity for me, definitely an “edge” moment, and I take every affirmation as encouragement to move forward. Thank you.