December 2011
1 post
How do we make Art more important?
It’s a big question. Not really answerable, in the big picture. But Jörg Colberg, of the photo blog Conscientious, and I tried to give it a go. Here’s a link.
November 2011
1 post
Only in New Mexico...
I just got a $5 fine from the State Taxation Board for being late with my payment of $0. You can’t make this stuff up.
October 2011
2 posts
Batman turns 4...
WatchFor those of you who’ve followed this blog with any regularity, you’re aware that I often take a few months off, then apologize for being lazy. It makes me wonder if I’ve yet to find my groove here on Tumblr. So today, I’m kicking off a video diary feature to see if it’s the way to get me engaged. Hopefully, it will be entertaining. If I come off like a boring a-hole,...
June 2011
4 posts
Gangster movies...
Without intending to, I had a bit of a gangster film festival the last few days. (A few films worked their way up the Netflix queue when I got lazy.) Anyway, “The Sicilian Girl” is a chilling Mafia film out of Italy, “Shanghai Triad” is a classic by Zhang Yimou, and “Dirty Pretty Things” does it London style. Now just let your ass hit the sofa and it’s all...
Homemade Green Chile Mac & Cheese...
Yes. You’ll thank me. Here we go: Cook penne in boiling salted water until your preferred degree of done-ness. (1/4lb per person…I like it al dente myself.) In a separate saucepan, melt butter on low heat (2 pats per person), then stir in a bit of flour. Stir until smooth, then add milk once it’s all mixed together. 1/4 cup of milk per person, more or less. Stir until...
Facebook vs Twitter...
Here’s the quick answer: it’s not one or the other, it’s both. Have you noticed that most people prefer one or the other, and take that decision personally? I sided with FB for a while, but then realized it was a silly stance. Last week, I read that David Plouffe, Obama’s guru, watches Twitter during Obama’s big speeches. Not TV. Then I read that Mixed Martial...
Thanks...
I saw a couple of new people starting following this Tumblr. I admit I often get a little (a lot) lazy with it, but will bust out some fresh new posts in the coming weeks. You can also connect on FB if you like, and read some of my articles on A Photo Editor. Thanks for the luv. I think I’ll join Twittermania pretty soon as well. Everywhere, all the time is the motto of the 21C, right?
April 2011
1 post
Rest in Peace, Mr. Hetherington
Yesterday, I saw on a Facebook post that Tim Hetherington had been killed in Libya. Apparently, the wires picked it up from Andre Liohn’s Facebook post. No surprise, as we all know that social networking sites are breaking news each day, and breaking regimes in the Middle East as well. It’s a major tragedy for us all. Two weeks ago, I watched “Restrepo,” for the first...
March 2011
4 posts
An exhibition in Colorado...
Hola. I’m having a solo exhibition for “The Value of a Dollar” at the Center for Fine Art Photography in Ft. Collins, Colorado. The exhibition opens Friday April 1, from 6-9pm. I’ll also be giving a lecture about the series on Saturday April 2 at 2pm. If you or any of your peeps are in the area, I hope you’ll stop by. C4FAP is a terrific space. For more...
A print to benefit Japan...
I’m offering a limited edition print from “The Value of a Dollar,” to benefit the relief effort in Japan through Wall Space Gallery in Seattle. The image, “one dollar’s worth of Panko breadcrumbs from Japan,” is one of my favorites. It’s only $50, all of which goes to charity. If you’re reading this, I hope you’ll consider picking one up. ...
So freaking good...
Yellow Curry Rice Noodles. Yeah, it’s that good.
Boil some water and then cook .75 lb of superthin rice noodles, or vermicelli. Remove when just a bit al dente. In a wok, pan fry some thinly sliced onion with a touch of salt. When cooked, add sliced celery and carrots. Cook for a minute or so, then add 1/2 can coconut milk, 1/2 box good chicken stock, 2 teaspoons of fish sauce, 2...
What not to do...
I think I’m going to start a new feature on the blog called “What not to do.” As a professor, it’s my job to teach my students how things are done. And I certainly purport to be an expert on many aspects of photography. But of course, if people knew what my studio looked like, or were privy to some of my poorer work habits, they might be dubious about my advice. So as I...
February 2011
1 post
Affleck on the brain? Take a walk
So I’d been thinking all morning about writing about the fact that Ben Affleck had managed to worm his way into my consciousness. Surprises me too.
I watched “Gone, Baby, Gone” the other night, his directorial debut. And despite the fact that it was a fairly boilerplate thriller, if well made, a few images managed to stick in my head and interrupt my dreams last night. I...
January 2011
4 posts
Becoming a better blogger...
So anyone who reads this blog even casually will know that I’m often apologizing for my lack of blogging diligence. For some reason, it’s easier for me to write the occasional 2000 word piece for Rob than it is to rip off a couple of paragraphs a few times a week. Call it blogformance anxiety.
I think that’s why I’ve gone months without posting to my very own blog. So...
Fearless...
Today, Theo asked me to take him on a adventure. (He’s 3.) So I took him to the Gorge Bridge for the first time. This is a kid who tried valiantly to charge headfirst into the raging Pacific in San Francisco, so I shouldn’t have been surprised at what transpired…
He couldn’t get enough of the bridge rattling and shaking when the semi-trucks came whizzing by. Most...
The CENTER Awards and Review Santa Fe
We all make work in a vacuum, to some degree. There’s no one else there when we click the shutter; at least no one behind the camera. We make the photographs for ourselves, of course. But those of us who have the courage (or lack of common sense) to share our work with others ultimately need an audience. And in the 21st Century, in which we are all drowning in images, it’s hard to...
A new photograph from "The Value of a Dollar"
Those of you reading this blog on a regular basis are aware that I’ve been a bit conflicted of late with respect to this forum. I’ve been writing a lot elsewhere, and most people look at my work on my website. But I do value the opportunity to say what I want to say, or show what I want to show, click publish, and cast it out into the ether.
So today, I decided to share a new image...
December 2010
1 post
What to do?
So I started this blog a little over a year ago. I wanted to give myself a reason to shoot photos every day, and for a while this forum motivated me that way. And then it didn’t. Obviously, it’s easy to see that I’ve been lazy or uninspired or both. Yet I’ve received a few compliments about the blog lately, so What To Do?
At different points, I’ve posted photos...
November 2010
2 posts
tumblrbot asked: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INANIMATE OBJECT?
OK. I'll start posting again...
I just noticed that a few people have found this blog, and want to hear from me
more than once every two months…(yes, I mean you David Bram.)
I’m considering taking this over to wordpress, but we’ll see. Does anyone mind that you can’t comment on tumblr?
Regardless, I was interviewed by NPR today for the first time in my career. Big fun. Big honor. You can access...
September 2010
1 post
Shame on me...
It has obviously been forever since my last blog post. I’m certain that any small audience I might have had decided to flee weeks ago. But it’s been a busy summer, blah blah blah. So to reclaim this space for silliness and the daily urge to take pictures, I give you a cell phone photo, taken two nights ago in a dark house with a flash one foot from my face. Interesting? Doubtful. ...
August 2010
1 post
A cottonwood tree after sunset...
July 2010
4 posts
Sesame Peanut Noodles...
Here’s another cheap, quick, tasty healthy dish, perfect for Summer.
Cook .5 lb spaghetti for 2 people
Mix together the sauce in a bowl..use some raw garlic, 2 T of chunky peanut butter, some soy sauce, orange juice, sesame oil, roasted unsalted peanuts, and vinegar. (I used rice wine vinegar and sweet black rice vinegar.)
When the sauce tastes right to you, toss in with the...
collect.give
So I admit it’s hard to ask anyone for money these days. Times are tough and cash is tight. That said, I’m offering a very inexpensive print through collect.give, Kevin Miyazaki’s wonderful program that enables emerging photographers to give back. 100% of the profits from the edition will go to the UN World Food Programme to fight hunger. So if you’re a fan of my work,...
Kurt Tong...
As a photographer, it’s never been easier to get one’s work out into the world. Get a blog, use Flickr, click publish. As such, the world is drowning in imagery. So to make work that is distinctive, to separate oneself from the tens of thousands… is extremely difficult.
As such, I’m thrilled report that while you’re about to see a few images from Hong Kong- based...
Cheaper than Wendys...
$6 for a pound of ground bison. $1.30 for organic red potatoes. A handful of local greens, and a few pickle chips. A few tablespoons of green chile. A few crumbles of local feta cheese. All together, it costs less than some fast food for a healthy, delicious meal. And the burgers were 1/2 lb each.
Recipe:
For the burgers, mix two teaspoons of powdered red chile, a good pinch of...
June 2010
7 posts
Ann Pallesen
I had the pleasure of chatting with Ann Pallesen at Review Santa Fe earlier this month. She’s the gallery director at PCNW in Seattle, and a native of the Rockies. I didn’t know at the time, but she is a super-talented photographer as well. Ann makes “Lush” BW images that appear to be 150 years old. Very lovely photos. Here are three…
Scott B. Davis
Scott is an old friend. We studied photography together at UNM a decade ago, and I’ve been a fan of his work ever since. He had an amazing show at Hous Projects in NYC a couple of years ago, and has been out in the field working on some new stuff. He sent me some samples a few months ago, and has agreed to show one new image here. Just a tease, if you will.
Alejandro Cartajena
Those of you following the world of photography have undoubtedly seen Alejandro’s work over the last year or two. He’s made a long term project around Monterrey, Mexico that has been supported by almost every major photography organization in the US.
I had the pleasure of meeting Alejandro and seeing his entire 60 print portfolio at Review Santa Fe earlier this month. I must say,...
Bolognese w/o Onion or Garlic...That's crazy talk.
Jessie requested my special “Pappardelle w/Bison Bolognese” for her birthday yesterday. I was a few minutes into my prep when I saw that the onion and garlic were both worthelss. D’oh. But sometimes in cooking, like in Art, limitations stimulate creativity. So I solved the problem by combining Red Wine Vinegar, Spicy Paprika, Piquillo Peppers, Wine, & Kalamata Olives to...
Going back to High School...They'd never let me...
So among the many absurd adventures on my big walkabout, I actually got to go back to my old High School, albeit briefly. In my current incarnation as a scruffy artist, and in the security conscious present, they’d never let me in the door. However, as I was accompanied by my Uncle who was there to pick up my cousin, Bingo. Of course, the mere sight of my camera freaked people out, so I...
One crazy summer...
It’s been a ridiculous couple of weeks. Review Santa Fe, NYC, LOOKbetween…Planes, Trains, & Automobiles (& Buses too.)
I’m going to use the blog over the summer to showcase photographers that I met and liked, and also to perhaps make some observations about trends and ideas that I observed. For the moment, I can barely spell my name, so I’ll leave you w/ a photo...
Review Santa Fe...
I’m in Santa Fe for the big Portfolio Review. I’ll be sparse in my comments here b/c I’m writing a big review that will be posted on Rob Haggart’s aphotoeditor.com this Monday.
Suffice it say, I’m having a great time. Except for the quiet moments, life really is about other people. And RSF is an incredible collection of smart photographers from around the...
May 2010
10 posts
Production...
Printing for days on end. Not glamorous in the least.
A new feature...photos by Ken Rosenthal
So I’ve decided to try something different with the blog. Henceforth and occasionally, I’d like to show a few images from other photographers that I know and/or admire. I met Ken in Tucson this past February. He’s one of the nicest and most gracious people I’ve come across, and a talented artist as well. The three photos below are new, and part of an ongoing project...
On a serious note...
Yesterday, a friend of mine wrote me of a tragedy that affected his community. A child passed away. I wrote back the proper condolences, and felt for him and his family, and then moved on. I threw my back out an hour later or so. No sudden moves. Wasn’t lifting anything heavy. And I’m in pretty good shape. Of course it was a coincidence. I’m not that much of a Taos New Age...
Unmanipulated and Accurate...
Of all the crazy colors you see in the sky in Northern New Mex, this is my favorite. Jessie verified the color as accurate, so you know I didn’t cheat…
Why I'm posting recipes on my blog...
It’s a good question. As an artist, I’ve become accustomed to the idea that I can express whatever idea I’d like in whatever forum I choose. That freedom is one of the perks of a difficult profession.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably familiar with the fact that I’ve utilized food as a subject matter in several of my recent art projects. The choice was...
Are you reading this today?
If the answer is yes…continue.
Do you live in Northern New Mexico? If the answer is yes…continue.
Tonight, you are cordially invited to the opening of two new photography exhibitions at Zane Bennett Gallery in Santa Fe. ZB will be showing work from it’s gallery photographers, yours truly included. CENTER, the internationally recognized non-profit, will also be showing work...
Early evening light on the berm...
Putting away the coffee mugs...
Two great Italian soups in one...
Well I know that the Roman’s are pretty particular about their recipes…and pretty serious about not changing them…That said, last night, I couldn’t resist. The soup in the pan above is a combination of stracciatella (egg drop and spinach in broth) and tortellini in brodo (tortellini in broth.) So basically, I added tortellini to stracciatella, which didn’t seem...
WatchI went camping last Thursday night in Southern New Mexico with Michael Berman. He’s a super-smart photographer and eco-activist who lives down in the Gila. The weather turned, and I ended up sleeping in the Beav on a freezing, 30 degree, snowy night. I shot this video on the way into town, while it was still nice out, and before my spirits were crushed by the cold.
April 2010
8 posts
Goat Cheese, Vegetable & Bacon Fritatta...
If you’ve got a cast iron skillet, fritattas are a great way to make a cheap, healthy and impressive meal without too much work. For the one above, I included potatoes, zucchini, turkey bacon, cherry tomatoes, garlic and goat cheese. Any combination of things you like will work. Mine was a bit more labor intensive b/c of all those ingredients, but I made life a little easier by...
Is photography over? Is breakfast over?
click here to read more about SFMOMA’s symposium
I’m not sure it’s really worth it to take the time to write what I’m about to write. In essence, these very words sanction the absurdity of the question, “Is photography over.” But here it goes…
Is music over? Is the Internet over? Is art over? Is nihilism over? Is breakfast over? What is over? ...
Clouds at night...
Fettucini w/ tomatoes, broccoli & fresh mozzarella
I busted this one out last night for Jessie. It was perfect for a cool, but not cold night.
Boil a pan of water and add a handful of salt. Add .5 lb of fettucini or another long pasta, for two people.
In a good wok or saucepan, heat a couple of glugs of extra virgin olive oil, and then drop in 6 chopped cloves of garlic and a pinch of salt. Once the garlic begins to carmelize, add 1 can...
Pork Tenderloin, South-of-France Style...
Bust this dish out to impress your friends or in-laws. Or b/c, like me, you can’t make it over to Aix-en-Provence this summer. (There’s always next year.)
Coat both sides of a Pork Tenderloin with salt and cracked black pepper- Then roll the pork in a mixture of dried basil, oregano and thyme. (or another combination of herbs de provence.)
Sear pork on all sides in a good skillet...
Why I don't wear a watch...
While digging the ditch on Saturday, and trying assiduously not to know what time it was, someone wondered why anyone would wear a watch anymore? We all have the time on our cellphones or iphones or what have you. Why wear a watch? I pointed out that many businessmen, like my brother, wear a watch b/c they tend to judge another businessmen by how expensive his watch is. Or his shoes.
I was...