Update 5/27 - More photos of the trip here.
So I took a lovely trip down the Toe River this weekend with the folks from Riverlink. The whole trip was really enjoyable. Here is photo of my canoe packed with all our gear as we portage across a rapid. The river was a bit low, so many of the rapids were difficult for the canoes to pass.
Like I said the whole trip was really fun. My canoe sprung a few leaks about halfway through the two day journey, but that was manageable with a little bailing every 10 minutes or so.
About 4 hours into the 2nd day my Chief 16′ canoe decided that it wanted to go out with a bang.
I’ll leave the full story for another spot, but needless to say, my canoe sank.
Or more accurately, it got stuck on a rock, filled with water, snapped in half, and then sunk. I was still sitting in it when all of this happened, and I probably could have stayed there, but the dog that was with me seemed to want to go elsewhere. So I dragged the dog across the 4 or 5 feet of water that separated me from the shore. I then returned to the canoe to fetch all of my camera equipment and camping gear which was securely strapped to the submerged vessel.
Here’s a animation of the insane dog “Sweetpea” who I helped out of the rapids…going down a set of rapids (the second time.)
From the BBC comes this story about Owls and Kestrels being used as Pest control. Aside from really liking this photo, I like the idea of using these birds as an alternative to pesticide.
Here’s a link to The World Owl Trust, the organization that works with farmers to put up the nest boxes.
The Criterion Collection now has a box set available from Aki Kaurismäki, one of my favorite directors. It’s called The Proletariat Trilogy and to call these films bleak would be an understandment. However the films are filled with the very subtle deadpan humor that makes all of Kaurismäki’s work unique.
Jason Reblando’s 17 stories is both visually and conceptually striking.
Ok, so this isn’t a music blog. One of the obvious reasons I’ll freely admit to this is that the only two posts on this site about music, are about Bill Callahan. Who sings about two of my favorite subjects…
His new album is out and it’s one of his best, as Bill Callahan or Smog.
My favorite line “I used to be darker/ Then I got lighter/ Then I got dark again.” A reviewer from Pitchfork actually talks about this line in his review of the album.
Nate Abramowski’s work on the modern american male is interesting. His use of the panoramic format shows an cinematic influence. The style and subject matter of his work reminds me of a Norwegian film I watched recently, The Bothersome Man by Jens Lien, which is one of the best films I’ve seen this year.
While looking for images by Benoit Aquin I found the Shortlist for the 2008 Prix Pictet, which is an award for sustainablity in photography.
The New Wilderness series by Jeff Whetstone is really worth a close look. I’m usually a Color snob, but his use of black and white has a very contemporary aesthetic.
Judging from his website, Marco Bohr seems to be relatively prolific.
I really like Scott Conarroe’s work. Most of it has the same Andreas Gursky perspective of 50 feet off the ground that is so familiar, yet slightly unsettling. His video works are also amazing.
I like all of the work on Alexi Hobbs site, although my favorites are the ones with atmosphere…
My work is now part of the Appalachian Photographers Project. I am really excited to be part of this group, there are some really great photographers who are participating. There is a great story featuring the project on the NPR blog.
Epson is pleased to offer our customers an environmentally responsible way to recycle their used Epson branded inkjet cartridges. Simply follow the steps below:
- Package your used inkjet cartridges in an appropriate shipping envelope or box. Ensure there is no leakage from the cartridges.
- Mail your package to:
Epson America, Inc.
Attn: Recycling Center
18300 Central Avenue
Carson, CA 90746
Greta Pratt’s Nineteen Lincolns is really interesting.
I first saw Masao Yamamoto’s work as an installation at Jackson Fine Art in Atlanta. His work does not really translate well on the web, because of the unique way that he installs it. His website shows some of the installation shots.
These self portraits by Michael Lewis are pretty great. They are sort of a self portrait as tourist. On the site they are under Art. If you start with page 7 and then go backwards you can actually see him age!
If you’d like a fresh breath of irony, go look at Darin Mickey’s work here.
I’ve always liked Richards Misrach’s work. Edelman Gallery has a good sample of his work here. His Desert Cantos (pages 1-10 on artnet) is my favorite series.
In my readings over the past several years, I’ve noticed a definite split in photography. National Geographic always seems to get a bad rap from “Fine Art Photographers” (I hate that term, but what else can I use?) I’ve always disliked this over-simplification. I think that the stories they present are extremely varied and the photos are often very challenging. I think that many of their recent stories cross the boundaries that separate the Photojournalism and Fine Art world.
Two stories from the most recent issue come to mind.
Inside the Presidency
Countdown to Extinction
Both of these stories challenge our perception of typical Photojournalism.The first in the odd look at behind the scene moments of a secretive presidency. The second in the set up studio shots of animals completely out of their element. A comment on their condition as protected animals.
