Just Thinking 2: What would you most...

[Mark in SD]

The other thought, I put them in two threads for a reason.

If time and money were not an issue, what would you like to go photograph. Something you like and would to for the pure enjoyment of it. Sunsets on beaches? Macros of ants? Still Life of Napkin Rings? Nothing is too out there or silly for this topic.

For me, it is volcanos. All aspects of them. The serene majesty of Fuji or Shasta, the Power of St. Helens or Pinatubo (sp?), the surreal scenes of devastation in the aftermath of the eruptions, and the sublime beauty of lava flowing on the surface or of a lava fountain.

 

[Les McLean]

The frozen wastes of Antarctica. The abstract forms to be found in the ice would make exquisite high key black and white images. The open spaces, hopefully with good clouds, would provide the material for a more traditional winter landscape image. Finally if I could survive an arctic storm I can visualise some tremendously powerful moody but minimal images. We can all dream.

 

[Prime]

The Maldives. White, white beaches. Palm trees that grow from the beach, dip under the water, then return to the warm air. Cyan water. Reefs.

 

[Robert Kennedy]

I'd love to do a tour of sacred places across the world. Temples in India, Wats in Thailand, Cathedrals in Europe, etc.

 

[frank]

Nudes in deserted houses, anywhere warm.

 

[Donald Miller]

The Mayan, Aztec, and Incan ruins of Central and South America.

 

[David Hall]

Another great question.

Antarctica. But assuming that neither time nor safety werre obstacles, I would want to drive from The Siberian Pacific coast to Europe, across Russia, capturing the faces of those people who once were The Bad Guys when I was a little kid.

On the other hand, the thought of the nudes in a warm climate somewhere does beckon....

dgh

 

[Ed Sukach]

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (David Hall @ Feb 4 2003, 10:17 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>On the other hand, the thought of the nudes in a warm climate somewhere does beckon....

</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Iceland. Startling landscapes ... geothemal springs, waterfalls ...

Uh ... On the other hand .... maybe nudes in the warm springs of Iceland...!!!

 

[Aggie]

..

 

[Mark in SD]

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Robert Kennedy @ Feb 4 2003, 09:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I'd love to do a tour of sacred places across the world. Temples in India, Wats in Thailand, Cathedrals in Europe, etc. </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
This would be my second choice, but I'd expand it to include some of the ancient ruins. You left left out Tibet and Nepal from your list. I've always found those ancient centers of religion to be fascinating. Huge complexes in horribly remote locations. Incredible.

 

[Robert]

What I'd love would be to hike the mountain trails in Europe. Alps. The Spanish mountain range. All of them. Money no object? So does that mean a helicopter to carry the film would be okay?-))

 

[brYan]

I would photograph waterfalls of the world.

 

[Jim Chinn]

I think I would enjoy making portraits of the famous and powerful such as the work done by Arnold Newman.

 

[jd callow]

A week or more ineach of all the great cities of the world (great and large not being equal) followed by six months to a year cataloging and writing supportive prose.

 

[jd callow]

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (mrcallow @ Feb 11 2003, 12:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>A week or more in each of all the great cities of the world (great and large not being equal) followed by six months&nbsp; to&nbsp; a year cataloging and writing supportive prose.</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Haveing some writing skill would also be nice

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Interesting that everyone wants to go off to some distant and unknown place. In creative writing classes one often starts from the principle, "write what you know," and I think many of the best visual works are made on that principle as well. There was more to Weston's famous statement about not photographing anything more than 100 yards from the car than not wanting to lug the big camera around. His best photographs are of people he knew, stuff around the house, and landscapes that he visited repeatedly. I think I'd like more time to think about stuff around the house. One of my favorite photographs is of a paper grocery bag by Abelardo Morell.

On the other hand, I sometimes photograph things I don't know as a way of getting to know them. I started photographing birds in the city because I had long heard that New York was an interesting birding spot and felt I should learn a little more about the natural history of my immediate surroundings. I guess that is a combination of staying within 100 yards of the (subway) car and photographing something I don't quite feel that I know.

My wife grew up in Hawai'i, and I've been there twice, and I'd like to do more photography there. I felt I did some productive work on Moloka'i last summer (which can be seen in the Traveling Portfolio, by the way) and would like to develop that into a longer project.

 

[Aggie]

bump

 

[Cheryl Jacobs]

I've spent a lot of time photographing what I know. things and people around me. I've literally NEVER travelled for photography. Or travelled at all.

Money and time being no object, I would like to travel anywhere old or ancient and photograph what I see. Or rather, who I see in those places.

 

[Francesco]

I have been a nomad for the last 14 years. I find travelling makes you more aware, more open, more accomodating - especially in relation to what is closest to you, currently. You appreciate the things nearest you when you have been travelling. It opens my "internal" eyes.

 

[photomc]

Cheryl, this may sound strange, but you live within a days drive of some very old and ancient areas in the four corners region. I for one would like to see what you would come back with from the area, some of the Native Americans from the region would make great subjects for your work...Don't think that is what you meant, but sometimes, you just get to look in the backyard for the best subjects. Keep telling myself that, now just time to go find the images.

 

[Cheryl Jacobs]

Mike, yes, I'd like to do that. Trouble is, I've got no eye whatsoever for landscape, and only the faintest glimpse of hope for successful still life shots. I adore photographing people, which makes it a bit tougher to get anything satisfying in those places. The 'stuff' is old and authentic, but the people -- not so much....

(I should clarify that in terms of 'the people' I mean that so much of this area is overrun by tourists....)

 

[Donald Miller]

Cheryl,
Having visited the area around Canyon de Chelly, I was impressed by the destitution of the indian reservations, the homes, the barren landscape and most of all the people. I would think that you could do wonders in portraying the present day reality of the Native Americans. I have a friend who is Seminole and his ancestors were involved in the "Trail of Tears". The clothing and the faces of these people is not dissimilar to that portrayed in the work of Edward Curtis.

I would love to see what you could do with a project along these lines.

Donald Miller

 

[photomc]

Donald,

You are dead on, with your insite here. I can almost see the same portrayal of Cheryls work with the Native Americans. In fact the eyes of most of her work is what captivates me, and these folks have some of the most expressive eyes I have ever seen. Michael Kennedy has done some nice work, but I think Cheryl could really bring us some work that would make Mr. Curtis proud.

 

[removed account4]

i'd love to go to the villages my grandparents were uprooted from in "the olde country".

 

[doughowk]

Joe Lipka's recent article in LensWork touches on this subject. Your best photography is often of the area you know. Ansel Adams best work, for the most part, is what he knew. Many who admire Adams think they need to go to the same places in order to emulate his work; but you wind up producing tourist snapshots. Photograph where you live & you're liable to create far more insightful work. And, as Weston said, there is more thrill in finding beauty in the mundane.