Confession of a squid

[Alden]

I suppose I should introduce myself properly, but be warned I don’t have the capacity for a mature easy going hi ya’all.

I did the high school yearbook thing, went to Brooks, and disintegrated.
I split into a hybrid art/journalist/documentary type and went against the grain of the school and in many ways did not learn my craft. Then with a headful of myself I went straight to New York and fell into a frozen bay. Three different New Yorks, one LA, and one Seattle apt./portfolio/assist screw up later and I GreyHounded myself home again with nothing to show
for it but mental health?

I then decided to become an alcoholic painter, and basically
dropped out. By the time I woke up and thought I’d better get back in there,
studio’s were computerized and expensive beyond my means. I was too old
to fit into the scene of upstarts, and too broke to compete with the big guys.
I know, excuses, excuses.

And so on, and so on. I shoot tons of stuff, but it lacks originality. The
best thing I ever did was in Calcutta. But most of my things in the states
are ho hum landscapes, somewhat improved by shifting away from Ansel
and more toward Robert. I did pyro for two years, and went back to D76
for the whites. I prefer 5x7 over 8x10, so I can enlarge and actually see
the reason I carried the thing. No shows have ever panned out, thousands went into thin air shooting stock, and the only reason I think I keep doing
this darn thing, truck is loaded with 4x5, 5x7, 6x9 for tomorrows cross country skiing foray into yet another stupid snow and rock picture, is that
it’s all I’ve got. The bottom line for me, is that I simply don’t try
smart enough. Hard work is foolish without channeling good ideas into
works that stand out, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll actually apply myself
one of these days.

There. Now you know what a 51 year old teenager sounds like. Oh, and
another thing. That avatar is Hans Arp. I’m looking like that a little more
everyday.

[blaze-on]

Nice intro...and welcome

I'm looking a bit like Hans as well..

[pesphoto]

welcome, start up a gallery here so we can see your work.

[snallan]

Hi Alden, welcome from a 49 yo teenager!

[Dave Miller]

A belated welcome to a late intro; too much of what you say cuts quite close to home here, but never mind I started a new career (about the fourth I think) at 55, so you have plenty of time yet.

[jnanian]

welcome

i thought you looked like hans arp, but i wasn't sure

don't forget to have a little fun !

john

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Welcome Alden. I can say that being a member of APUG has helped motivate me a lot, has taught me a lot (especially about vision), and I'm finally becoming focused in my craft. I hope and believe it can have the same effect on you, if you want it.
I'm only 36 and wasted two careers so far. Nothing like starting (over) late, but it can be done.

- Thomas

[noblebeast]

Sounds like you're gonna fit in just fine. Welcome!

Joe

[jd callow]

welcome and thank you for such an excellent introduction.

[ajmiller]

Hi Alden, I too see a lot of myself in your intro. I went back to University last year at 46 y/o, I'm the oldest in the class but hey....
Look forward to seeing your photographs.

best wishes
Tony