Remembering Avedon

Richard Avedon - SFMoMA 2009

Dr. L wrote a great post about the nude in both fashion and art photography and how the lines have blurred.  She mentioned one of my favorite photographers, Richard Avedon.  I've written about him a bit, so I will spare you of my verbose ramblings on him, but below are a couple of great sites to visit.


The Fraenkel Gallery - This is a great sampling of Avedon's fashion photos, including  the famous Natasha Kinski/snake nude. 

Richard Avedon - Dark and Light - Here is the first of nine segments of the great documentary about Avedon. 

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Candace Nirvana - 112910

We must have reasons for speech but we need none for silence - Proverb

The recent rain and regional cold  snap make me silent and a listener of the quasi-rhythmic cadence of rain on the roof, windows, car, and my mind.  It is good to just listen.

I've also been writing when I should be silent and reading.   Some things should be left unsaid.

psst... not bragging... but my photos are in a book... and other stuff to chat about.

Hurray! - My New York stuff is finally in a book.  My fellow photographers from the local college and I produced a book of  our June trip to New York.  We submitted six photos each for the book.  You can see some of the great photos of people I've mentioned in this blog, including, Courtney, Mollee, Ron and Andrea.  I am proud of my photos and believe my fellow contributors put in their best stuff.  Valya and Moon didn't make it,  since those photos didn't fit the theme and feel of the book, although a couple were considered.   You can read my summary of the New York trip here.  You can also read about the tough photo selection process here. 

Sorry about yesterday's rant.  I am trying to stay away from politics in this blog, but some days are tiresome.

It rained hard yesterday in my area of California.  I love seeing how the world looks on a dark rainy day through a wet windshield.  It is how the world is.

We drove to Sacramento and went to the newly renovated Crocker Art Museum.  If you went to it before the grand re-opening, it was great regional art museum that drew some impressive shows.   With the remodel, they doubled exhibit space and have an amazing series of exhibits on African and Asian art, modern and postmodern art, European classics and one of the best western US and California landscapes paintings  and sculpture collections.  It is well worth the $10 adult admission.  The Wayne Thiebaud exhibit was may favorite.

Hogs and Heifers Bar- NYC 2010

Damn it. He is straying into politics again.

Joshua Tree National Park - 2009

I've been reading the news, blogs of friends, observing life and am getting a bit depressed by the culture wars, government intrusions, war, greed, environmental destruction, and other issue.  It feels like we are headed to a boiling point.

I've tried to keep politics out of this blog since I reinvented it unless the issues related to art and photography.  Today I make an exception... or not.  All this world drama will affect every aspect of life, including art.  I wonder where it is all leading to.

The fundamentalist Christians may think we are heading into the end times.  The liberals are worried that the Tea Party will set back the social institutions to an equivalent of Afghanistan under the Taliban, but with a corporate Christian domination.  The libertarians are up in arms about airport scans.  The  moderates are feeling left behind by all sides.

Last night I was talking about the last Star Trek movie with a friend and mentioned a few things about how San Francisco changes between now and the 23rd century.  My friend asked, "Will they be watching Star Trek at that time?"  My answer was, yes, but it will be called the news.  The earth in Star Trek is a pretty great place when Romulans or Klingons aren't causing problems.  All of the world is a happy globe.

I then thought about history.  I bet there is no time in history when drama was not happening and will probably be the same in the 23rd century as well.   It just feels more intense right now.

I also looked back at the history from 1930-1990.  I came to an interesting conclusion.  All of the stuff happening in the 1950s and early 1960s lead to the tumultuous late 1960s and through the era of malaise in the end of the 1970s.  The country had the New Deal Democrats in the 1930s and 1940s. We then had the McCarthy/Eisenhower era of the 1950s that lead to the Goldwater conservatives of the early 1960s.  We then had Camelot cut short and went to the moon and Vietnam.  The country went up in smoke as the baby boomers boomed.  They changed our world for better and for worse (more for the better, but not all was good).  The dark events of the McCarthy era, the Vietnam War, civil rights, gender equity, and many other issues were building to boiling points and that generation acted out.   The country needed a catalyst to get to that time where cultural rebellion sprung up from all areas.

I think we are in that time again, but it is going to be harder than the 1970s.  The traditional American culture was not ready for the youth rebellion during those years.  They were not able to defend the status quo and so the impact of those movements still live today.  The problem we face now is that the opposition learns from prior failures and evolves (or intelligently designs) into a different entity. 

Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Paul Rand, and many younger conservatives are succeeding at whipping up a fury of energy for their cause that the 1960s and 1970s status quo couldn't.  I think they are ahead of the progressives at this moment in creating a movement.  The conservatives are brilliant at building up their empire while the progressives are complacent.  Reagan and the GOP were brilliant at this and after coming into power in 1980, they were able to sweep aside so much of the liberal agenda.  Clinton tried to make a few changes, but the strong GOP made him a moderate president overall.  Bush 2 was headed toward a similar fate.  He was a mentally week president that could not muster up support for the GOP agenda... until September 11th.  On that date, the GOP gained enough political clout to ram their agenda though again.  They didn't use protests.  They used corporate power backed by government to do their bidding. 

Once President Obama* came into office, the GOP saw they needed to squelch the new "progressives".  The "progressives" that brought Obama into the Oval Office were only concerned with electing him, and not what he or the true progressives wanted to achieve**.  Once he got there, his star faded and celebrity washed away.  The "progressives" that elected him were content in getting him there and grew complacent and the Tea Party came into being.  They stirred up the fear and hate base with the simple message of "No Obama".  They have nothing on their agenda except that, but that is enough to keep their base fired up and to put Palin in contention for 2012.  They have all age groups and are slowly growing their ethnic bases.  I believe we may be seeing their equivalent of the liberal uprisings of the 1960s and 1970s.

I also believe the progressives are much better at stirring this type of energy faster and broader than the conservatives.   The next two to four years will be the tipping point for whether we will be free or corporate Christian America will be reigning over us.

We are building up for another culture war in our country.  It is going to be harder, dirtier, and worse than the 1930s, 1960s-1970s, and Reagans 1980s.  Both sides are media savvy, smart, idyllic, and unwilling to compromise.   We might think we are on the correct side of the war, but they think they are too. 

*I voted for Clinton in the 2008 primaries and I voted for Obama in the general election.  He is a brilliant man, cares for our country, and does not make rash decisions.  He was also hesitant to make the hard decisions and follow through on tough issues while he had control of the two houses and the White House, like Bush did.  I know the Tea Party would have risen up against Clinton if she had won, but I think she would be better at fighting back.  We need a smart, scrappy President, not a contemplative, thoughtful one.  That is a sad statement, but a true one in my opinion.

** It is obvious that many of Obama's supporters wanted him in office, but were not true progressives, at least in California.  How could we elect him and still pass Prop 8, banning gay marriage?  Many Americans supporting Obama didn't care about what he and the party wanted to accomplish.  The "supporters" wanted a handsome celebrity minority president and to finally pat itself on the back for being post-racial.  Sadly, this became evident in these midterm elections when his broad 2008 base ignored him by not voting and didn't support the important changes he, and the Democrats needed to make.  They may have doomed him to being a one term president by focusing on him rather than what he believes in and could do with true support.

Fremont District - Las Vegas, NV

Fremont District - Las Vegas - 2010

We went to Las Vegas last summer to celebrate our anniversary.  Even though we stayed in the faux New York New York, we spent much of the time on the old side of the Strip, especially on Fremont Street.  I really like the old side of Vegas and saddened a bit that they renovated a big chunk of it into a big outdoor mall.  I guess it helped save the area though and keeps tourists visiting that side compared to the mega casino side of the Strip, where our hotel was.

El Cortez Hotel - Las Vegas - 2010

The El Cortez Hotel is an old school casino...  or old school to me.  It has a Subway Sub in it.  That is healthiest thing in that place.

Beauty Bar - Las Vegas - 2010

The Beauty Bar (Salon of Beauty) is a great hot spot with a 60's style beauty shop theme inside.  They have cheap drinks and the best alternative music in Vegas (or at least the little bit of Vegas I saw.)  It is a great little hip place that had youngins and oldins' like me are welcomed.  The concerts in the back lot are hot as hell, even on a summer night.  Great music.

Lady on the ceiling - Las Vegas - 2010

The ceiling of the renovated covered walking mall is a long screen showing music, dancing and sexy ladies eating cherries.   I would guess she is 15 feel tall in that photo, just to give a bit of size perspective.  I am not a big fan of this part of the Fremont experience, but it gave me good light to take photos with.

Showgirls -  Las Vegas - 2010

God bless the showgirls.  There were a number of street performers out there that night, including a few Elvises, mimes, and two beautiful showgirls that put on short routines and posed with the tourists for tips. There is something about fishnets and hot pink boas that seems at home in Las Vegas.

Cowboy in lights - Las Vegas - 2010

I forgot the name of this cowboy and the cowgirl below.  They are Vegas landmarks and I am glad they are preserved.  The advertising under the cowgirl tells of the modern age of this sin city.

Cowgirl in lights - indeed - Las Vegas - 2010

Emergency Arts - Las Vegas - 2010

Emergency Arts was a bastion of sanity for me.  It is a former clinic that houses a number of art galleries and a great little coffee shop that plays old LPs and has delicious healthy sandwiches.  As a tourist, it is hard to eat healthy in Vegas.  There is a great little museum/display inside honoring the art of burlesque and its history in Nevada entertainment.  I will post photos from there at another time.

Dinner Company - Las Vegas - 2010

We were starving by the end of the night and found a great little taqueria open late.  It was as bright and colorful inside as the strip.  Elvis, the tall black lady dancer, and the little lady in the shot glass looked over our meal from the shelf by our table.

I love Las Vegas.  I don't really gamble or take in the big shows, but the little things there are precious gems.  This is another great city that I need to get back to.  Terrell over at Photo Anthems Blog lives in a great city.

What do you have to say for yourself?

NYC 112410

There's nothing to writing, all you have to do is sit down at the typewriter and open a vein. - Red Smith

A few recent events have made me write about or explain my photos.  I had to write an artist's statement on a series that are part of an exhibition.  A week later I had to explain some of my other photos to a few viewers.  This is one of my (and many other artists) greatest weaknesses.  We are either reluctant to devalue our work by writing about or are lousy at explaining our art.

I recently read an essay by the great photographer Robert Adams titled, Writing from his collection of essays, Why People Photograph.  In the essay he shares many of the challenges and reasons artists do not like describing their work.

Photographers seemed so strikingly unable to write at length about what they had made, in fact, that I came to wonder if there was any exception at all, a single case where an artist's writing did not end up making a picture smaller, less complex, less resonant, less worthy of comparison to life.

I have two views on why I don't like explaining my photos.  The first is that I don't want to give the viewer preconceived commentary before they view the work.  I enjoy hearing critiques where the viewer had a completely unique interpretation of the piece that I had never considered.  I may disagree with the interpretation, but I am glad to have heard it.

The second view is that by explaining my art, I didn't do a good enough job creating it.

The main reason that artists don't willingly describe or explain what they produce is, however, that the minute they do so they've admitted failure... ... Characterizing in words what they thought they'd shown is an acknowledgment that the photography is unclear - that it is not art.

If I have to explain that my California Delta series is a statement on the death of the old west and the soulless new world of agriculture/ranching, then why did I even take the photos?  I have failed if you can't get that by the titles and the images you see.  Wow, how condescending is this paragraph?  I basically called my viewers idiots for not "getting" my photos. 

Of course if you believe in the merit of your work you reject the accusation of failure that is implied by a request to explain it.  In this respect all artists are elitists.  They are convinced that some viewers lack patience to see what is clear.

If I showed you my portfolio of truck images without any introduction, you may miss my point.  You would maybe see nothing worth a second glance or may have your own unique observations.  In that area of confusion is one of the key points of art.  The mixture of the viewers individual tastes, experiences, and insights vs. the artist's intent.  We must recognize that not everyone will get, yet alone appreciate our art.  I've seen Diane Arbus's photos and I neither like, nor fully appreciate their importance.  It falls into that area of agreeing to disagree about something.

I had an important breakthrough in my art this weekend.  It seemed minor at the moment, but a long-time friend and fellow photographer, Michelle, looked at this photo of Courtney and said, "Karl, your photography has turned.  I never expected this from you.  It is a new world."    I thanked her for the compliment and went on looking at the photos.  As I reflect on this topic of explaining art vs. "getting" it, Michelle got it.  Most haven't and that is fine.

Photographers, like all artists, choose their medium because it allows them the most fully truthful expression of their vision.  Other ways are relatively imprecise and incomplete.  Why try the other ways?  As Charles Demuth said, "I have been urged... to write about my paintings...  Why?  Haven't I, in a way, painted them?"  Or as Robert Frost told a person who asked him what one of his poems meant, "You want me to say it worse?"

Is there a solution on how to write about my own photography?  I am learning a few lessons by looking at other artist's statements and reading key points from Adams' essay.

Experience has shown, however, that the best way to avoid talking about the pictures is to talk about their subjects... If you have to fill the quiet of a picture, the least destructive way seems to be to speak about what was in front of the camera rather than about what you made of it.

Adams' advice is simple and makes sense.  Writing about the subject briefly, and giving the viewer a gentle nudge into my art sounds like a gentle comprise.  After that, the critics can try discern any meaning, and importance out of the work.

Treatments

 In need of treatment here.  My cold lingers.  My job is threatened again.   Personal issues are boiling over.  One salvation is treatments.  They are a healing time to get to know what I love. 

Here are four treatments of the same photo of Leila. Seeing these makes me want to write her right now and set something up.  We will see.  As for these photos, I am digging the grain and edge that some have.  Click on each for a larger view. 

I wrote a book report on Fight Club over at brother blog Hear Me Roar.  The book is a great read.

Cul de sacs

Hana and Leila - 111610

The term cul de sac is French for "bottom of the bag."  That sounds about right.  I went for a walk this weekend in a new neighborhood full of them.  It kind of felt like living at the bottom of the bag, the end of a road.

I've been taking stock of my life a bit over the last few weeks.  One thing I've done is started identifying my personal cul de sacs.  These dead ends are things in my life I don't need to go down any further.  Some of them are hopes from my youth, desires that are no longer relevant, artistic pursuits and interests. 

DISCLAIMER - I support the LGBT community and want everyone to celebrate their sexuality.  I hope everyone has a rich, rewarding sex life. What I am about to say is not my judgment of these groups or their erotic love.  It is about my preferences.

When I look back at my images with Leila and Hana, I am now getting a feeling this is a cul de sac. 

I took those photos in 2004 and loved looking at them.  I appreciated the beauty, the lines, the moment from each image.  Hana and Leila shared the gift of their caring, passionate intimacy with me.  I was  aroused making them and working on them afterward.

Leila and Hana - 111610B

Since 2008, I've had other feelings about sapphic imagery.  These changes are due to many reasons.  One of the biggest is that I am finding them less and less arousing for my own personal desires.  Now when I see these photos, I see the deep attraction Leila and Hana felt for each other and shared off camera as well.

I wrote more about my evolving views on sapphic erotic imagery here (The appeal of sapphos and threesomes), where I go into much greater detail.  I fully support others taking these photos, but I think I am done.  I have reached the end of that cul de sac and it is time to find other things to photograph.

Photo note - I've used a black and white variation of this photo before.  I think the BW version is better, but I like the accent of Hana's red panties.  It adds a little pop to this image.  I would work with either of these models again... just not together.   The lightning struck once, and that was enough.  More photos of Hana and Leila.

Take a good look at yourself.

Andrea - NYC - 0610

You ever wonder how others see you?   What do they think of you?  How are you perceived?  Even those of us not suffering from narcissism must wonder about these questions.


BTW - I am not seeking affirmation, validation or anything particular.  I'm just going through a self-reflective period.  I am still on a self-imposed break from writing anything deep or profound.   Too much big swirl around me and I have to keep my head above water.

Photo note - Andrea on our trip to NYC.  You can find more of my photos of her here.  She is a great photographer herself and will be an artistic force to be watched.

On break - but a small rant.

I was sickened to learn TLC has a new show called Sarah Palin's Alaska.  My hope is that she will become overexposed and come across as the sexually repressed, elitist (but yet idiotic), fear and hate monger that she truly is.  

Here is an interesting Slate article on it.  It is a better read than I can write about Ms. Palin's new adventure.

I am not enjoying my break from blogging since it is for me to get caught up in some personal/professional issues.  I look forward to sharing images and a words again soon.

Photo note - I don't want to associate my photos with her... so no photos.

On break - condom commercial from France.

Isleton, CA - 111210

Still on break, but had to share this gem of a condom commercial from France.  WARNING-
NSFW

http://attitude.adforum.com/top5/2010/01/27/aides-graffiti-tbwaparis/

In the wind

Moon - 111010

A woman is a branchy tree and man a singing wind; and from her branches carelessly he takes what he can find.  - James Stephens

On break

Valya - 110810

Work and personal life is really crazy for me and I have to focus on them.  I plan to return in two weeks.   Please visit the most popular posts listed over on the right side under the heading, "You liked this????".  I will also post an occasional photo and quote just to keep something fresh.

Thanks to our veterans.  Your service is greatly appreciated.

The quiet reminder of what once was.

Isleton, CA  - 110710

It is not necessary to change.  Survival is not mandatory.  ~W. Edwards Deming

 The West was already near death when I was born out here.  It died a few years later.  No open lands.  No unmarked lands.  No signs of pre-settlement.  No way to go back and see it as the unspoiled virgin beauty it once was.  We defiled it.   We "owned" it.  We killed it.  I count myself as part of the "we".

We look back at the early pictures (of the west) and marvel that the sheer size and beauty of the space could have absorbed and hidden for so long the damage done by unrestrained self-interest.  Our destiny is to suffer the imprisonment of places like Los Angeles, with its twelve lane "freeways," though whether in this we have the courage to find self -knowledge remains unclear - Robert Adams

We catch ourselves thinking, in the bitterness that can accompany the unexpected sound of an aluminum can bending underfoot, that it would have been merciful if Columbus had been wrong and the world flat, with an edge from which to fall, rather than a circular cage that returns us to our mistakes. The geography seems hopeless. - Robert Adams

In Country

Delta - 110410

 Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment - Henry David Thoreau

 Took a field trip to the California Delta.  Here are some photos from that little excursion.

Consumnes River Preserve - 110410

 

 

 

 

Consumnes River Preserve - 110410

Happy Birthday WWST

She will understand - Happy Birthday WWST

What We Saw Today turns three today.  In bloggie world that is... 247 years old.  Congrats to UL for keeping the quality high, the beauty ever present, and the sensual sensibilities celebrated.  Thanks also for being a friend.  It means a lot.

You can learn more about Unbearable Lightness (also known as Dr. Lightness or Dr. L) here.  This is an interview with her.  She is brilliant. 

"Sex. In America an obsession. In other parts of the world a fact"

"Sex. In America an obsession. In other parts of the world a fact."

-- Marlene Dietrich

I am breaking one of my new rules for this blog.  I am straying away from art and photography and am going to write about freedom of speech and sexual health.  All of this came from hearing a story on first amendment issues on NPR and then reading a photo/video essay at Slate.com on the differences between the United States and Europe concerning teen condom education and advertisements.

PART 1

Video Game Ad at Ground Zero, NYC - 2010

Here is the story.   The Supreme Court is considering a California law that bans the sale of violent video games to those under 18.  The proponents use the argument that these games are dangerous and should follow the same restrictions as pornography.  The opponents (primarily video game makers) claim this is an infringement of free speech.  Many cite the court's decision earlier this year allowing the sale of crushing videos (where animals are tortured, fought, or crushed to death) as potential precedence.

What the fuck is wrong with this country?  In that last paragraph we basically equated pornography may equal violent video games but is more offensive and damaging than animal snuff films?  I understand two of the issues deal with selling adult content to minors and the third concerns free speech of creating a type of speech that is controversial (and unforgivable in my mind).  If the supreme court decides that violent video games can be sold to minors then they are giving the indirect message of sex is worse than virtual graphic killing and/or the sale of products depicting the ultimate animal cruelty.

I support the bans on selling pornography AND violent video games to minors.  Both bans are easy to get around with the internet and permissive/absent parenting, but at least there is some legal protection.  While the pornography laws have become draconian and suppresses free speech through the evolution of 2257, the original intent has validity.

Once again America has stated, violence is good, sex is bad.


PART 2

Please read and watch the essay on safe sex/condom promotions aimed toward European and American teens.  It is an eye opener.  Here is the link.

I find the European ads (especially the Netherlands) very interesting, humorous, effective, and refreshing in how they accept teen sexuality.  While not promoting it, they want to educate the teen lovers  of what to do when the moment arises.  The two most interesting bits are on slides 12 and 15.  On slide 12 they interview Dutch and American teens about the perception of carrying condoms for both young men and women.  On slide 15, you can see a video I watch regularly to inspire me to use condoms.  I know not all kids are like that and I know that boy needs love too, but I remember being that brat and never want to be responsible for that brat either.

Ok, back to regular programming. In my next post I will write about something photographic or artistic.  Ciao.


More of my writing on these issues.


Stuff about 2257.