The Art of Walls and Doorways and Landscapes

Originally Posted Tuesday, June 11, 2013

People-less photography.  Just naked buildings, nude doorways, erotic landscapes indecently splayed.  These will be all I have to work with at the workshop.  I didn't bring the hard drive with my Lonesomeville images.  But in the camera bag, I realized this morning, I have some cards that have not been deleted that have raw images from a couple of shoots.  In a bit I will look there and see if there is anything I can do.  The group I am workshopping with, though, seems a tame "arts" crowd.  I haven't seen their images yet, but I don't expect as much content as technique.  O.K.  They will have content, but they will be more like the images I have posted since coming to New Mexico--landscapes and flowers and abstracts.  That is the vibe I am getting, anyway. 

Don't get me wrong.  I am the least of the crew.  One of the members of the workshop is Bonny Lhotka, a digital pioneer.  The rest of the group is almost as strong.  There are printmakers whose work is widely shown, a longtime digital animator for Pixar (I think--I don't pay as much attention as I should), and others equally accomplished.  One fellow came all the way from Australia for this.  They all know more than I.  It is a small group of seven, so I should stand out like a sore thumb. 

Should I be provocative? 

I will go to the car and get the cards and see if there is anything I can work up for class.  But I don't have any of the tools I use to make them look like Lonesomeville with me, so they will be much different--and in black and white.  Perhaps I'll stick with buildings. 

New Mexico ranks 48th in wealth or poverty (however they measure these things) I was told yesterday. 

"It is the Mississippi of the west," I asked? 

That wasn't received too well.  But when I asked about the educational system here, it was said to be pitiful.  You can see that in the faces of the people you meet when you drive away from the areas I like to be.  You are often greeted by that confused look that is infused with anger or pain as the greeter is imposed upon to think.  There seems to be an attitude that comes with thinking out here.  They like to stick with the basics.  The Albertsons in Taos had aisles that were labeled just as in any big grocery store.  There was the snacks aisle, the pet food aisle, etc.  But I shit you not--there was an aisle labeled. . . "Spam."  I should have taken a picture with my cell phone for proof. 

O.K.  I need to prepare for today's workshop.  I'm just a little lonely and thought I'd like to talk.  That's why I have a cafe.