Jessica

I had so much fun with this portrait setting! Jessica (and Tori-those pics to come!) DeeJayed the entire session. I was pleased to learn that Morrissey is still on play lists (but we called those mixed tapes, right?) and pleasantly shocked to hear Neil Young.

Jess is such an amazing young woman; she sings and dances and is a talented artist. One of the great things about working with high school students is seeing the potential they have---I can't wait to see what the world holds for her.

High-Touch vs. High-Tech

High-touch vs. high-tech..I love this phrase! It's from a documentary on Keith Carter, he was talking about using the darkroom vs. digital technology. Carter said that he saw no reason not to use digital....he just liked the way the darkroom felt. And I totally get that....I just don't get enough time in the darkroom these days. Well, ok, I'm in the darkroom everyday, but usually accompanied by 16 teenagers and answering questions rather than actually printing.

But I've been able to spent some time lately processing film and printing. Nothing major. Just rummaging through old files and printing some things I shot a little while ago. And WOW! Do I feel great when I get the chance to print.

This is from a old set of negatives and is still one of my favorite photos of this little angel. Alyssa had just finished her first performance of the Nutcracker (she played Clara this year, if that tells you how old these negatives are) and we took a minute in the stairwell at Gardner Spring Auditorium to take this photo.

When Dave and I photographed the Morningbirds a few months ago my 5D was out for shutter repair. I was thinking about renting a body or just letting Dave shoot when I realized that my Hassleblad had been sitting in the hall closet for months (maybe longer) without use. Sam and Jen were totally excited to have me shoot film! They talked about the work that Annie Liebowitz had done in the seventies with bands and they loved the idea of shooting a little in that loose/candid style. (Sam was talking to Esteban, the drummer, in this shot.)  

So when I found this last week in my classroom I couldn't help but pick it up. 

I'm really glad someone else feels the way I do. 

Hamlet

Damian and I did some quick headshots for his BFA application to UC Fullerton. Of course he was accepted, anyone who has seen him perform knows how dynamic he is on stage. He is exceptionally talented, I loved watching his performance of Hamlet this year in the black box. 

Hamlet in the Black Box

Scarlet Slippers

Ruby slippers. Glass slippers-the stuff of fairy tales. I'll admit I'm fascinated by those stories; Hans Christian Anderson's dark story about vanity causing a girl to dance herself almost to death easily matches Grim's grimmest fairy tales. 

In the story, an orphaned girl makes herself a pair of red shoes from scraps she's found. (In some versions a cobblers wife makes them for her) But either way, she loves them and is pleased with what she's been able to craft for herself. She is later adopted by a rich woman who is tricked by the girl into buying her much fancier red dancing shoes-shoes that put the coarse, hand-made ones to shame. These shoes fuel the girls vanity; the girl begins to dance. And dance. And dance without ceasing. After days of dancing, the girl begs a man to chop her feet off (and yes, remember it's a children's story). He cuts off her feet and carves wooden feet and crutches for her. She is finally forgiven for her vanity, but she's paid a high price. The story gets darker, actually, but I don't want anyone to have nightmares. 

Anyway, I'd read several versions of this story, so I suppose it wasn't surprising that when I saw these dancers performing last weekend at Balboa park I was mostly fascinated with their shoes. I probably should've been photographing my sister and nephew that I only see a few times a year, but I was distracted by the the shiny red boots. Aren't they lovely?

So perhaps after my last post it goes without saying, but I do like the idea that vanity is born of things that are perceived as "perfect" and that we save ourselves with humble, handmade things. 

The Hand-Made Thing

Hand made. I adore this phrase. It speaks to love.

I can't help but believe if you made me something you must love me. You took your time, your energy, and your talents to CREATE something.

My friend Andrea Smith made these wonderful bowls for Dave and I. And this is what I love: Dave and Andrea, sitting in the backyard discussing the shape and size of these bowls and how the foot would be turned. When we unwrapped them I knew immediately that the texture on the outside was designed especially for me---the person most compelled to touch. Perfectly custom made. And perfect.

Andrea also designed these mugs for us. The texture on the bottom intended to mimic the underside of a mushroom and the size and shape to accommodate our morning lattes. Every time I pick them up it's like a little hug from Andr. 

Andrea has a show opening this Friday night at The Logan Arthouse & Cinema; the show's name is "Entwined" and her work is of vessels bound together-echoing what binds us together as humans, all those intricate relationships that become difficult to articulate.

I'm too many miles away to make it to the opening, but on Friday morning I'll pour my cereal and coffee and enjoy those beautiful little pieces of art that I get to use everyday.

And I Said Your Name

This is my mother, Jean. She died four years ago after a (second) battle with breast cancer. She was an amazing and strong spirit. At her funeral I spoke about how she had volunteered at the same elementary school from 1979 until the fall before she died. 32 years. Long after her own children left Bountiful Elementary she read to children who struggled to read; and listened while children tried on their own. She led scout troops and science expeditions. She taught us to love to read and to love to learn and above all to be curious.

So when she was dying (and it was something we knew was happening-no words were left unsaid) we talked about it. And it was hard. I lived 800 miles away (and god bless the administrators who looked the other way when I was "sick" every fourth week of school) and there was no way to be as present as I wanted to be.

And how do you deal with that? How can you even breathe when you are losing your mother? And this is what I did....I said your name.

I said, "Dave, Amy, Andria, Matt, Kami, Audra, Ryan, Dad, Neil, Shar, Bob, Russ, Madi, Joy" and then I said, " Sister Welch, Sister Turner, Judy, Margot" and then I said, "Siobhan, Jane, John, Nate, Jaci, Mike, Darren" and "Jen, Rob, Lil, Debbie, Mary, Lynne, Melanie, Lisa, Laura"  and then "Christina, Leanne, Nate, Velvet, Sarah, Trish, Eric...." and the list went on. And on. I said every name that gave me strength.

I mean that literally. I said your name. I said the name of the friends that I went to elementary school with, and Junior High, and High School, and College. I said the name of school teachers and primary teachers. I said the names of friends and students and collegues. Literally. Driving from here to Utah- I said your names. And I have so wanted to tell you. I have so wanted to say how much it meant just to be able to say your name.

Crystal

 Crystal is a colleague and friend of mine. She's also a talented musician-so we met to get some promotional photos. We wanted the bassoon to be a part of the image, but not to dominate the portrait (which it could easily do considering it is about the size of small human being.)

I love this one with the lip ring and the coy glance. Very Crystal. She told me that she was known in musical circles as "the bassoonist with the lip ring." Gotta' say, I like the idea of a classical musician with an edge.