BUBBLE BURST

Okay, so the bubble’s burst. What else is new? You blow a bubble and how long
does it last? Not long. That’s its nature.

Lets see; since 2000 we’ve had the hi-tek bubble burst, the housing bubble burst
and the banking/stock market bubble burst. You’d think we’d be used to it by now.

Here’s what I think……I think that all these recent burst bubbles have taken our
attention away from the big picture, the long view. I think that since about 1950
we’ve been in a big bubble, one so big we couldn’t even see it. A bubble of (first
world) “peace and prosperity”. We think that that’s normal. Well, it’s not.

For the thousands of years that came before 1950 the world was always full of
trouble and strife. The default position for being alive on planet Earth has always
been struggle. Those fat, easy years between 1950 and now were the anomaly.
Only we couldn’t see it.

But, hey, enough of that. I’ll just keep carrying on like normal. Human, don’t
you know.

Here goes…….

TESTING TESTING ONE TWO THREE

I AGREE

Below is a 2 1/2 minute video where photographer Alec Soth describes his
approach, process and feelings about what he does.

What he says totally describes my approach, process and feelings. It’s kind of
unbelievable when you bump into something like this, something that seems so
true to you, so well expressed, that you wish you’d said it yourself.

Please check it out.

WORKING WITH MY HANDS

Been putting a couple of portfolios together. Lots of edit and post production
choices made. Then I printed the suckers.

I must say, it’s swell to work with my hands every now and then. I know, I know,
when I shoot I’m holding the camera in my hands. But that’s somehow different.

I’ve always been a fan of actually printing my photos. There’s something about
committing the time and resources that makes the process seem complete. Only
looking at my photos on a monitor reminds me too much of just entering data.
Making a print seems like, well, it seems like I’m actually making something
with my hands, it seems, somehow, more real.

Then I trim the prints and bind them. When I’m done I have something to have and
to hold. Let me tell you: that feels good. You should try it sometime.

portfolio prints

cover page and images from this years Jersey shoot

cover page and images from USER

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YOU CAN STOP READING HERE UNLESS YOU’RE INTERESTED IN (MORE) HYPE

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(MORE) HYPE

Photolucida Critical Mass: I’m please to say I’ve become a finalist in the Photolucida
Critical Mass competition thingy. It’s an international portfolio review. I guess a whole
bunch of industry movers and shakers are gonna be assessing my work over the next
month or so.

If you read drool regularly you’ll know that I always take “winning” and “losing” these
competition thingys with a grain of salt. I’ve had work win national awards and the
same work has been totally rejected for local awards. Last year I had work chosen
by American Photography 24.The exact same images were rejected by other juries.

Go figger. The way of the world.

Having said that I’ll also say that it’s nice to get chosen every so often.

Lounge Life: Seems that some blogs and web sites in Australia linked to my web site
and blog. Before you can say: “Dry as a dead dingo’s donger“, Loungelife magazine in
Melbourne decided to print some of my work. If you’re in Australia look for it next issue.