Marking Time


Thats what pictures do so well. Marking time...bearing witness.


This past weekend I was editing some work for an upcoming lecture that I'm doing on the narrative qualities of photography. In the process I came across these 2 from the 1990's.

"Amanda & Kayla,43 Albany Ave. 1998" was made during a very special time for me , both as an artist and a father. My daughter Amanda was only six but already enjoying her first circle of friends. The house would be full of kids her age. They all had this amazing outlook towards life...everything was interesting, the day was to be seized !

Some of my colleagues wondered why I chose to make the pictures with the 8x10 ,but I think that the wood and brass look of a hundred year old camera disarmed them. They thought it was cool when they saw themselves in my contact prints.

This particular image struck me as different in the way the 2 girls posed so seriously- Amanda still strikes a pose similar to this...although she's a teenager now.

The second image is " The 4th at Jim & Judy's, NY 1998 ".

This was a great day. We were over at our friends for a pig roast to celebrate the 4th. I had the 8x10 set up and everyone eventually got in front of it....they all wanted to be "immortalized" was the catch phrase of the day.

What I like most about this picture is the light . I love how its embracing the guys, its so warm, I can almost smell the BBQ in this shot. I also accept how dark it is towards the bottom third of the frame. Its an emotional contrast.

I'm not working much with the 8x10 these days,but when I come across the work I did with it...I think perhaps I should pick it up again. Maybe ?