Casting, as it relates to photography, means a few of things. At least
it does to me…..

I guess the first and most obvious meaning of casting is choosing the
right person for a role. And in photography the role is as subject.
There are thousands (millions, billions) to choose from but only
certain people grab you.

Casting also means throwing your fishing line into the water and
hoping you catch something. Which can also be a description of
photography…..I’ve often thought that what I do is a lot like fishing.
It’s like trying to find and catch something hidden underneath. When
you find and catch that thing (or person, or feeling, or whatever) the
photo is like a trophy you can hang on your wall, show to folks.

Casting, too, can mean giving form to something, usually by pouring a
liquid material into a mold. And, in a way that’s a kind of description of
photography as well. The world is a fluid place and the job of the photo-
grapher is to give that fluidity shape.

To put these 3 definitions together as they relate to photography:

I was poking around Mississippi, ran into a town called Stateline. Pulled
in to a gas station where a bunch of folks were hanging around. Got out
of the car and studied the people and dynamic there. No one or thing
grabbed my attention, make me want to take the risk of approaching them
with the aim to take their picture. I was just about to leave when this bright
green car pulls up, dude leaves it running, gets out and starts pumping gas
while smoking a cigarette.

Now this is a guy I want to shoot. He had the look and the gestures and
the energy that compelled me to make the effort, take the risk, find the
form.

His name is LaReese Walker. Here’s the shot.

Now, the reason I bring this up is because lately I’ve been casting about,
shooting test shots of different folks for a little side project I’ve been
wanting to do for a while. Namely, shooting people getting their freak on.

After a few wrong turns, wrong faces and wrong dynamics I found Eric and
April. They were just what I was looking for and are ready, willing and able,
so I cast them.

Now comes the difficult, scary, exciting part……trying to figure out how to
shoot this. I’ve never done this type of thing before, which is why I want to
try. (Have I mentioned that I like getting out of my comfort zone from time
to time. I have a theory that most middle class, first world people, like me,
are chronically comfortable.)

How I (we) end up giving form to this situation remains to be seen. In the
meantime let me inroduce you to Eric and April. Hopefully you’ll be seeing
more of them in the coming months.

GETTING READY

I’m in 2 group shows and a two person show which all open in September.
I’m in full production mode, getting ready…..

The studio wall is starting to fill up with tests and sequences and so on
and so forth. Big fun mixed with the drudgery of production.

AN OPENING

Friday nite, August 1st, the place to be in Ottawa was Gallery La Petite Mort for the
RIDE ME opening. The place was packed inside, the overflow making the scene
on the sidewalk outside.

PIETER HUGO

won the big prize at Arles this year. Everyone seems to be talking about
his series: THE HYENA & OTHER MEN

Pieter Hugo: Mallam Galacima Ahmadu with Jamis, Nigeria, 2005

There has been some discussion in the blogosphere about whether his
approach reflects Africa or not.

If you ask me that’s totally bogus, I believe that people are smart enough
to figure out this type imagery. Photographers should and must be free to
shoot whatever interests them. Leave it to the intellectuals, custodians,
bureaucrats and theorists to have their wank. Photographers take photographs.
Period.

Having said that, I’d like to point you Jeorg Colberg’s way for more on this.
He featured African photography all last week over at Conscientious.
The thing about Joerg, he has his opinions and predilections but, in this
case: kudos for fleshing out the issue. (You may need to scroll down a
bit to get to the African posts.)