Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Shudder Bug

I have never fancied myself a photographer. A writer, sure, but a mediocre one at best.

And my approach to photography has long been one that would make the professionals shudder:

I believe in quantity in the hopes of a mere sliver of quality.

That is to say: I take a camera with me just about wherever I go, and take pictures (sometimes several) of things that strike me as... odd. Or beautiful. Or even better yet: anything that qualifies as both.

From neon signs


(Some with bulbs out, leaving an unintended message in its wake)



And ironic church marquees


To shots full of empty things...



(The meaning derived from what's missing.)


...and city streets in medias res.


But this is all out of habit — and perhaps a hobby — but I've never intended for it to go anywhere.

Even as I searched for my name on the scroll — that list of photographers selected for an exhibit at a local gallery — I had no expectation of finding my name among the rest.

And yet, still,

There it was.

Dangling at the bottom (an alphabetical consequence) as though the faintest breathe might forever shake it from the page.

14 comments:

Meh said...

Congrats! Please let us know so we can attend and have something to add to your list of "exhibitions," other than our rendezvous to the store a couple weeks ago!

david said...

C'mon, details! And if you read the comments, you know that many of us consider you a Photographer with a capital P.

ds said...

yeah. you deserve a spot there. hanging around at the bottom. there was something here that you missed last year. I saw a whole winnebago sitting in a trash hopper. I'm not sure what was wrong with it exactly that the whole thing had to go. Needless to say, I thought of you instantly. just don't start talking like one of those art bastards.

later, dude. well done.

XOXO said...

that's pretty stinking cool. I want to know more about it!

Woodrow said...

Congrats!

I hope you share them all with us.

M@ said...

You're the real deal, Yawp. I've worked w/ many photographers, including my boss, who does shows, too.

You're the real deal.

Anonymous said...

I knew you could do it.

Anonymous said...

great job -- the only thing that can hold you back is yourself.

and i love the z frank chevrolet photo. on western ave., no? bringing back memories.

Jonas said...

What a treat!

"Dangling at the bottom (an alphabetical consequence) as though the faintest breathe might forever shake it from the page."

Shall I take it that your last name actually is Yawp?

loofrin said...

you are the most talented of my friends. and yes, i'm serious when i say that. more often than not you leave me utter awe.

Pamela said...

of course! I'm not surprised in the least.

Mel O said...

It was so funny to read the first sentence of your post... I had to read it again (is she serious?!).

Every time I look at your pics, I think to myself that you have such a gift. You truly see the world in a way many of us cannot. Finding beauty in such simple pleasures and bringing them to us "novices" to be able to appreciate. You do all the hard work; yet we get to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

I feel lucky to have found your blog and be able to see the world through your "eyes."

Eli said...

Cool! Good for you! Will you be going to the opening then?

Pamela said...

where did "snippets" go?