Degas

Dorothea Lange: "Altering Life"

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.

- Dorothea Lange

It's great to hear the photographer who made (what most people consider) the most famous "documentary" photo ever speak of photography "altering life." I love it. It makes me feel better for using Lange as a prime example in my MFA Thesis entitled "What's so Documentary About Photography?"

Photography Dream

No, no, no.... This isn't "my dream of what photography should be." I just had a dream that I was out making photos.

I was in my hometown near the swimming pool and golf course. I was making some great images of people working at the pool in the "front desk" area. Then I went outside where there were huge bleachers set up in the parking lot. There was some circus-like performance going on. I started making photos of the people watching the performance. Then I woke up.

It's still winter here in MN, and I make most of my photos during the summer. I think this is my mind's way of saying it's ready to go!

2 Ansel Adams Quotes

I like these 2 little thoughts from Adams:

A photograph is usually looked at, seldom looked into.

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.

- Ansel Adams

The Start of the Semester Means....

.... death to all trees!!

OK, not really, but I hate all the handouts I have to give over the first few days of the semester.

The semester started at the University of Minnesota and at the College of Visual Arts last week. We're well under way. I have a a digital photo class at the U (my 10th class there) and a 2D Design and Color Theory class at CVA (my 22nd and 23rd classes there). I also work as a Digital Tutor a few hours a week at CVA (see previous post).

I feel like I've been doing this forever! But not in a bad way...

CVA Digital Tutor

Well, it's back to teaching next week. I've been trying to organize / clean my studio over winter break from classes. I haven't made much for new work lately - spring and summer is usually my time to do so.

CVA just launched it's new website about a week ago. On Friday, when I was getting ready to teach a digital workshop to the incoming students, I stumbled across my image on the site. Marc Norberg and I were chatting when he was going around and making new photos for CVA about a year ago, and he asked for a photo of me in 301. Now that image is on a new "Digital Tutor" page on CVA's new site:

Alright, 2 syllabi complete, 1 to go. Back to work.....

CVA Art Sale

Friday, Dec 4th through Sunday, Dec 6th, CVA held it's annual Holiday Art Sale. Friday night was the "Preview Party" where you could pay to get in and get first dibs on reasonably priced artwork. Saturday and Sunday, the sale was free to attend. I was there part of all 3 days.

On Friday during the Preview Party, I snapped a few photos.

404 full of work just before the doors opened.


CVA students putting the final touches on the layout.


Work in the silent auction.


The sale filling up.


Silent auction.


People looking for a deal.

The weekend was a lot of fun, and hopefully a success for CVA. 50% of each sale goes to the student / faculty / alumnus who is selling the work, and the other 50% goes into the CVA Scholarship Fund. I sold a big piece in the silent auction and a few small ones in the sale, so I was able to help out and earn a few bucks of my own.

Happy winter everyone!

Good-Bye, Old Friend

It just didn’t pay to keep my old Epson 4000 printer. It’s been leaving black marks on my prints recently, so I’ve just been using it for test prints. Plus, I can print at the U of M on great 4800s (for a small fee).

So this weekend, I did this:

My printer waltzed out of my house this morning with Arturo, a nice young man. Treat it well, Arturo! You’ll be missed old buddy: