Missed Opportunities, Robert Adams, and Amarillo, TX
Nine big and little things I've been caught up in.
I’m stealing from Austin Kleon’s playbook (as he encourages) and writing a list of recent happenings, thoughts, and interests that have caught my attention. Begin!
1. Lael Wilcox Riding Through Pennsylvania
For the past few weeks, I’ve been following Lael Wilcox’s journey as she bikes across the globe. Well, I noticed on the live tracker that she’d be passing through Pennsylvania — just 50 miles north of where I live. So I loaded up the 4x5 holders and set out to get one shot of her. After a few scrambles to find her (the live tracker wasn’t as live as I hoped), I located her riding just outside Portland, Pennsylvania on her way toward New Jersey.
I figured I’d only get one chance to capture her image, so I would need a fast shutter to avoid any blur (1/400th is the fastest shutter on my lens). No time for portraits.
So… the thing is… I’ve been following Lael’s career for a few years now and I guess I got WAY too excited when I spotted her riding up the road towards me…
…because riiiight as she rode through the exact spot I had scouted, I pressed the shutter release… and immediately realized I had forgotten to pull out the dark slide.
She waved, and then she was gone.
The ride home went something like this.
Photography is pain.
2. Hunter S. Thompson & Ralph Steadman
One of my go-to subscriptions is The Surfers Journal. Am I a surfer? No. Have I ever surfed? Also no. But this bi-monthly magazine/booklet is one of the best-designed and curated artistic and cultural offerings in media today. I stand by it.
The most recent issue has a feature on the artwork of Ralph Steadman and his relationship with Hunter S. Thompson. I had no idea about the extent of their collaboration and how intertwined they were as a brand and creative force. Steadman’s artwork has always been on full display in American culture, whether it’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas or a Travis Scott album, but his name has always been on the periphery. I never took the time to wonder who was responsible for these iconic images.
I highly recommend checking out The Surfers Journal, even if you’re not into surfing… or… journals.
3. Family Portraits
I didn’t take many photos this past week because we were busy welcoming the newest member of the family. However, I did manage to take a portrait of my sister- and brother-in-law a few days before the baby was born.
4. Photography Inspiration - Russell Lee
Anytime I set out to make new work, whether it’s taking a photo or making a video, I look to my unofficial Rolodex of projects and individual photos as my source of inspiration. These images all have that thing that makes me want to jump into action. One of the many photographers I always return to is Russell Lee (1903 - 1986). I found Lee’s work from an Instagram post by Bryan Schutmaat a few years back.
Lee’s ability to immerse himself in these people’s lives reminds me of something you’d see from Curran Hatleberg.
Lee and Hattleberg’s work has that mythical quality to it.
5. New Book - Hiroshi Hamaya, Landscapes
Snagged a used copy of this photo book I’ve been lusting after for years. More on this later…
6. This short film I found on YouTube.
I hope this means we’re entering a new era of quality short films on YouTube.
7. Pittsburgh Pirates
One of my favorite MLB team photographers to follow is Harrison Barden. I don’t remember how I found his work (because I’m not a Pirates fan) but I’m sure glad I did.
He posts semi-regularly on Medium, so if you’re into sports photography that feels different from sports photography, check it out.
8. Tunes for the Road
One of the absolute bangers I’ve been listening to this past spring, Hayden Pedigo’s “The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored.” My buddy Justin sent me his Bandcamp profile. Thanks, Justin.
Pedigo hails from Amarillo, Texas and has described his records as an attempt to capture the sound of that specific part of the state. I’ve only ever passed through Amarillo, with the occasional stop in Guthrie, but I’d say he nailed it.
Also, his Tiny Desk is fantastic.
9. A Quote from Robert Adams
Last week I mentioned the importance of putting ones self into their work, otherwise what’s the point? This week I was reading through Beauty in Photography by Robert Adams and discovered his much more eloquent take on the subject:
Making photographs has to be, then, a personal matter; when it is not, the results are not persuasive. Only the artist’s presence in the work can convince us that its affirmation resulted from and has been tested by human experience. Without the photographer in the photograph the view is no more compelling than the product of some anonymous record camera, a machine perhaps capable of happy accident but not of response to form.
Okay, that’s it for now. See you next week.
Logan
Didn't expect to bust out laughing at the soprano clip. What's the opposite of a jump scare? Laugh scare?
Love that short film lmao, brings me back to Vimeo's golden days. Really dig this newsletter.