Something Old, Something New

This is an image I dug up from a trip across Mexico in 2005, called Ring Around the Rosie. I've never shown it before, or printed it for that matter. But I've always liked it. It's just that, back then, I might not have known why... I like the black-on-white, the white-on-black. I like that the horizon splits the frame, that the spikes mirror the children. I like the movement of their bodies against the stillness of their surroundings. For me, now, this image represents an eerie juxtaposition between the unsuspecting innocence of childhood, and the looming darkness of our experiences which will one day take it all away. (Wow. I just said that - and meant it). In one breath, I remember the joy of twirling in circles, not thinking of anything outside of that very moment. But, having lived a slice of life, I can't look at this photograph without being acutely aware of the world that surrounds me, and the struggles I face. I'm about to exhibit this piece in a group show for CONTACT Photography Festival 2011 at The Alison Milne Gallery. Yesterday I found myself looking through snaps from CONTACT exhibitions past: Me with big, excited smiles, and fancy party dresses. It's been a short 6 years since I started showing my work. In all the pictures, I look younger, fresher, more carefree... I'm not saying I won't be wearing a fabulous dress next week, or that I've discontinued my signature smile, but I do feel like I'm experiencing joy from a different angle. I wasn't sure how I was going to redeem myself after sooo much time had passed without a single post on this blog... It almost became a reason not to post anything at all - 'I haven't written anything since 2009, why start again now?'. Instead, the time that has passed has become my focus. Since my last post, a lot has happened in my life, a lot hasn't happened, and there's been a lot of stuff in between. I've gained a lot since then, and lost more than I knew I had, but still - two years later - here I am making mild contemplations and thinking about art. I have to smile at the girl who shot Ring Around the Rosie in Mexico, hanging out of a window because she wanted to make something that looked good. And I nod to the girl who now has the confidence and conviction to hang the image in a room with her peers. All this prompts me to consider where I am, and where I've been... and I suppose it also means that I'm going somewhere, too. ;)

The Way It Is

I was talking to a friend about the photo in my last post- the one of the boys playing soccer behind the Taj- and whether it was improved or flawed by the line in the sand. It made him uncomfortable how it neatly connected the two boys, and thought the shot would be better without it. He suggested i photoshop it out. So, for fun, i did.

Call me a purist, but as a general rule, i refuse to alter my photographs in any significant way. I don't mind cleaning something up, or tweaking a few details, but to represent something in a way that drastically differs from the way it actually was, goes against why i love photography. I love that spontaneous moment that makes a photograph what it is, when all the details just come together and it clicks! I think that, if it didn't happen, if something is out of place, if something isn't perfect, well then it just wasn't that moment, and isn't that photograph. And in the case of the Taj, well, that's the way i shot it. It would somehow alter my memory of the moment to edit the image. To me, that line in the sand was the whole reason those boys were there that morning, playing in the rising sun, and i'm grateful for it.

First Morning in Pushkar, India

I arrived in Pushkar around midnight, not knowing exactly where I had landed, and unable to see in the dark. What I awoke to the next morning took my breath away: a small pastel town built around a lake, surrounded by hills, and 15-20 furry monkeys enjoying the rising sun. They were scattered across my rooftop entrance, and were not the least bit disturbed by my presence. In fact, I played it safe, and took this photograph from my door in case they felt I was invading their space! They can often be quite aggressive and will run off with your shoes, or worse, your camera bag, if you're not paying attention. A few days later, I was charged by a big mama wanting the food in my hand! I love how, by contrast, the monkeys in this photo look so peaceful and cuddly... (Insert here age-old debate on photographic truth)! The morning was hot and hazy, and the monkeys were just backlit enough to catch each individual hair on their heads. I also love how the background across the lake has such a painterly quality. I was delightfully surprised when I printed this- it looks like a watercolour!

Back of the Taj

Always seeking a unique experience, and avoiding all tourist traps, I was hesitant to visit the Taj Mahal, but also knew that I couldn't miss it... I wasn't keen to stand in line with the tourists and miss the rising light, so my dear, sweet host Bharat, took me around the back of the Taj at sunrise, through a little neighbourhood with nothing more than dirt roads and modest structures. The Taj is backed onto a river, which was nearly dried up at the time, and we found the neighbourhood kids playing soccer there. The juxtaposition of this little village in the face of such a majestic structure, and the hefty rates it costs to see it (not to mention to buy water or park!) was obvious to me, and I felt lucky to be welcomed into the morning ritual of the locals. I did eventually see the Taj Mahal through the tourists' gates, and I was right not to miss it, but my preferred experience was here, where this photo was taken.

An Introduction

Okay, so I've decided to start a blog: nothing too high-maintenance, just a place to post some photos and jot some notes. I suppose it's something I've wanted to do because there are so many stories behind photographs that I'd love to share, and I think that knowing its background changes the way an image is received. But in what way does it change our perceptions? Do you think it matters to the importance of a photograph who the subject is, or where it was taken? Maybe it's just 'good', and you like to look at it. Perhaps you would prefer not to know... Certainly there is some mysterious allure to a photograph when you can't quite place where it was taken. And in some cases, I might just keep that information to myself. But generally, I believe it enriches a photograph's meaning to know more about the subject, what they were doing that day, or how I, the photographer, came to know them. I think a good photograph provokes thought beyond its colour or composition. I often find myself honing in on a small detail or object in the frame, and contemplating its importance. I also enjoy thinking about what is not in the frame, and why. This is specifically true of my shots from India. That trip was so meaningful to me, and as a result, so are the photographs. Each image evokes a flood of memories. But I haven't quite had the chance to share the finer details with some of you. So I thought I would use this forum for a little story-telling and, sometimes, the odd speculation about art.