line and form

[Donald Miller]

John,

I think that you have indeed wandered into the hinterlands so far as most photographers are concerned.

I think that a lot of us get seduced by photography....seduced by the apparent ease with which it can be done. (you take pictures of "things", right?)...to which, today I say no...because "things" are what everyone else is accustomed to seeing, photographer and non-photographer alike. Thus photography of "known objects" becomes rather mundane and boring after awhile. That is where the seduction of photography either ends or we move beyond what seemed to be easy.

So welcome to the new language of photography...the land where questions that are posed are of more interest then tales told ad nauseum.

[MattKing]

John:

I am always glad to see that you have posted a new image, because they always interest me.

What occurs to me now is, however, that as I read your posts here, your style of posting fits very well with your photography. I don't know whether I have the right words to express it, but it is no surprise to me that the photographer you seem to be writes the words you post here.

Somehow, the "line and form" of your visual work, fits well with the "line and form" of what you write.

How do you do that???

Matt

[Shmoo]

John - we should all be so lucky as to find the same abyss that you have found.

[JBrunner]

It leads to madness and halucinating that there was once something called GAF Universal Developer.

I know - I've had this madness.
juan

I have the recipe for that developer. No kidding.

[Struan Gray]

where does it lead?

To yourself.

"Knowing where to stop" is the classic abstractionist problem. For me, the answer is to trust my gut so that at the very least my photographs retain a personal connection. Otherwise you end up at a place where there is no discernment, only acceptance.

A creed:

Empathy over sympathy
Truth before sincerity
Perception, not sensation.

[jimgalli]

John, I really love your work. thingamabob and flower in your gallery are 2 of the finest in the series. Where's it leading?? We're all just tagging along to find out.

[juan]

I have the recipe for that developer. No kidding.

jnanian and I have been looking for the formula for GAF Universal for years. If you have it, we'd love to know what it is.
juan

[arigram]

Magic mushrooms are wonderful John, aren't they?

[Whiteymorange]

Does it have to lead somewhere, John? The journey is the real thing.

[arigram]

Ok, for a more serious answer, inspired by Mr.Whitey, here is the greek poet Constantine Cavafy's poem Ithaca:


When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.