I use photography as a method of inquiry; it is a tool for understanding the world. It is a record of how I see and experience my environment. For me, the beauty of photography is in the translation of the world onto film. However, that decisive moment, as we all know, can be a long journey to find. Sometimes it just hits you smack in the face when you least expect it, other times you wait for it, and allow instinct and reaction to take over. On my last trip I found myself lingering in specific places. I did a majority of my work in the outskirts of each city I was in, the rough part of town, the places people pass through, the places people live because they have to not because they want to. There was something that drew me to these parts of town, there seemed to be the most life there. So I would explore, driving around, up and down the same streets, over and over again, waiting, anticipating, I knew I was close. When compelled I would then stop my car and get out. There was something about this corner or intersection. It drew me there. So I would hang out with my camera. Exploring, allowing this thing inside me to take over, I would take photographs, I would wait, I would watch, I would look and I would feel. This new series of Outtakes is about location. Each series of images was made within a radius no larger than a 25 feet, each photograph is just foot steps from the last.
East 6th Street & Robert T. Martinez, Austin, Texas
North Comal & Fredricksburg, San Antonio, Texas
East 7th Street & North Western Ave, Austin, Texas
4/12/08
Outtakes...Photography As Inquiry
1/28/08
11/12/07
11/5/07
Failures, Mistakes & Outtakes....Part 2
I am training/preparing for an upcoming trip to photograph in the New Haven and Boston areas. Besides the usual research and etc, this means walking a lot, leaving the bike chained up for now, and preparing my legs for many days on my feet lugging my view camera around on my shoulder and an even heavier bag of film holders. I also hit the gym every day and build up my strength by training back, shoulders and arms. Before I go on a trip I also like to look through contact sheets from recent trips and shoots. I focus on the bad pictures. I like to study my mistakes, my failures. To re-see what I was seeing at that moment and look at the decisions I made, how I reacted and why. To look at what I was drawn to, what was it that got my attention and drew me in. Many times it is the typical "Will shot," things I find myself unable to walk away from, things I will always be curious about. Being removed from the situation and looking back at the image I made, the failure, the edited out images that sit in a box on a shelf, can be so revealing. And then there are the other failures, the idea or shot that is almost there, but just doesn't work, can be some of the more inspiring images as they develop and branch out into new ideas and new compositions. I value my failures at the highest level.
