Bodie in his Lion-O costume for Halloween

ostume time is here and Bodie went all out this year as his favorite Thundercat; Lion-o.  He has been watching the show since the early summer and has excitedly been collecting the original action figures as well.  His red hair is actually colored -it’s not a wig- and he was a good sport about holding still as it was teased out and styled. And yes, while most of the color has since washed out (turning the tub a distinctive and vibrant shade of pink of course) and his hair has returned to it’s natural color, his pillow sadly,  has not been so fortunate.

Sunrise over grazing horses in Texas

acuous is the landscape that rises to meet me in the morning, yet surprisingly, most people I meet are often astounded to hear how far away from town we live. Coming from Los Angeles I relish the ability to traverse 15 miles in less than 30 minutes; a heretofore unknown vehicular pleasure that I could not have imagined over five years ago before we moved. Pictured above is the scene that frequently greets us five minutes after we leave our house on our commute to town. And by us I mean Bodie and I who roll along mist drenched hillsides under dramatic fiery cloudscapes that scorch the sky as we drive to town. I can’t imagine a more inspiring start to our day.

Ian Ingram up close

ortraits were the subject of both the session and conversation of my recent shoot with Mr. Ingram. We spent a remarkable time together outside making some very dramatic images of him and getting in to lengthy exchanges about the history and lineage of this particular form of expression we both find ourselves in. Above is another scan from the sumptuous Fuji FP100c45 that is always such a surprise to work with. I was shooting 8×10 black and white and exposed this one to confirm the bellows factor in addition to a new set-up for checking focus. After all was said and done my depth of field moved into the neighborhood of 4 to 6 millimeters so I wanted to be sure that things were all lined up. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Ingram’s work I highly recommend seeking out some originals to experience. I have been exceptionally fortunate in seeing much of his new series as he completes it. There is nothing like it and certainly nothing like seeing it up close and in person; his self portraits are staggering in their complexity, intimacy and size.

My Bell and Howell Super 8 Film projector

outh By South West is taking over Austin.  Here’s one in honor of the film portion of the festival. My good friend – the very talented photographer and printer- David Johndrow will be speaking at the Alamo  Drafthouse  on a panel before a screening of the new documentary about the prophetic Bill Hicks whom he knew since childhood. David also has a show of his magnificent photographs through April, 10 at the L. Nowlin gallery. His masterful silver, platinum palladium and gum-oil prints are not to be missed.

Taking a break

odie and I spent a few particularly patient hours together making some pictures with the 4×5 Sinar. Here he is taking a break between set-ups. I also came want to share this wonderful quote I found in a book of Eduard Steichen’s prints from the French sculptor Paul-Albert Batholmé, “I am irritated by most of the photographs in which the authors have intervened to create works that are no longer photographs and are not drawings. They suggest to me only imperfect imitations of etchings or of reproductions of paintings . . . . I do not mean to say that one cannot produce fine works with photography, but one should stick to composition, to selections, to the variety of lightings, to his own preferences in arrangement, and I assure you, that if he lets it go at that, then gradually the machine and the light will give him results entirely personal. Think, compose, prepare your subject in all possible ways, use feeling, then open the objective [lens] and put your hands in your pockets, or else have someone put handcuffs on you.” October, 1908

Bodie tips his hat.