Wishing for Cape Cod

Cape Cod 1999

I usually miss the Cape by about this time. Summer is over, and the new season has me yearning for Truro or Eastham.

Perhaps one last trip to the dunes is in the cards.

This 5x7 inch cyanotype is from Orleans if I remember correctly, or maybe Eastham on the bay side. I forget. I know is was around 1999 when I made it.

Ghent, 1996

I'm baking apple pie today.

My orchard is ready for picking , so pie and cider is on the agenda.

This is an 8x10 contact print that I feel is appropriate for today. Its a vintage print made on Grade 1 Azo.

September

Backyard,Venice,California 1991

I was born on this month back in 1963.

For the past few days I've been looking at the relationship of space as it relates to environment and light.

Light defines space.

In the image of the backyard I feel there's a whole universe of things to look at. Funny thing is when I made this negative, I was more concerned with sense of place.

Almost 18 years later, I discover its more about the sense of light and how the light is what defines and creates the tapestry of place. Without that amazing Western ,strong California light....there is no place.

I made one finished Palladium print of this in 1991. Printed on vintage Cranes paper washed in Venice tap water that had the most amazing properties. The platinum and palladium prints I made during my years there ( 1989-1992 ) have a glow that is so unique I can almost always tell when I am looking at a print made in our Rose Ave. apartment.

There is 1 artist work print/studio proof of this image available at this time. The image is from an 8x10 negative which is signed and dated by me. The proof is printed on Japanese Vellum. If you are interested in this please email me and I can provide you with a payment link.

So I've been doing a lot of editing and printing.

The new work from Summer and Fall shows promise, mostly pictures of life around here.

I'll post more in the next day or so......

Something Old Something New

Walking the streets and alleys of Florence,Venice,and Paris never gets old. The job of a flaneur is timeless.

I made these images with a 60 year old Contax camera . This old magical box was my guide as if it was "back" home again.

The old regime is not old. I feel that the Medici's , Michelangelo, Bruneleschi were all modernists .

Here in New York we are in the midst of a cold winter, harsh light and short days . My only sense of warmth are these paper memories .

I don't mind .......... yearning is good.

Restoration, Florence 2006

The Traveller, Florence 2006

Santa Margherita Station, Italy 2006

Florence 2006

Venice 2006

Leonard Vernon 1918-2007

I learned today that my dear friend and patron Leonard Vernon passed away Friday.

The last time I spoke to Leonard was back in the Spring and his voice was full of happiness and excitement. His remark that he was busier than ever led me to believe that he was going to be very busy for quite some time.

So needless to say I was shocked when I got the email from my friend Jim Stern that he saw it in the LA Times obit section. Why Jim reads that is beyond me, but thank goodness he does.

Leonard and his late wife Marjorie have one of the most recognized collections of photography. They've loaned their collection to most every important museum in America and overseas. Heavy in the modernist side,especially Western landscapes, the collection has some of the pristine examples of works by Weston,Adams,Strand,Cunningham and Watkins.

Along with the Pages, the Vernons were the first of my "big" time collectors-patrons. I think there are close to 40 photographs of mine in their collection.

I will miss you my dear friend.

Rest in Peace and give Marjorie a big hug for me.

Attempting Summer

Paris, 7th District, 2006

View of Venice rooftops, Ca' Pisani Hotel, Italy 2006

Do you ever wonder why it is that summer flies by so fast ?

Here we are into the second week of July and I have yet to make a serious effort into printing my work from September's foray in Europe.

All the negs are done with the exception of half a dozen or so rolls . From what I've seen , the group has potential.

But what sticks to me most, at least so far, are the Polaroids I made.

These are Type 667 material, so they are archival and stable.

I love working with my old folder. Its now part of the Tuscan landfill as it died while I was shooting in San Geminiano. I will always regret not being able to use the vintage packs of Polacolor that I had taken along. Then again we will be back sometime in the Fall......so maybe this time my new camera will last a bit longer.