Knowing the intense heat and humidity coming over the next 2-3 months, my thoughts turned to cooler times.
When I was at the University of Georgia (GO Dawgs!) Athens seldom got even a hint of snow, but there was one time when it covered the ground (mostly) and lasted through a good part of the day. Such an unusual event put an end to classes for that day while everyone played.
The rareness meant no one had a sled, but innovation was rampant–from large cardboard flats, to cafeteria trays, to tubs, to whatever inane thing the guy in the top left photo is trying to do.
Barbara and I recently finished another self-guided bicycle tour, this time through a portion of the Loire Valley. Our goal was to see some countryside, see (and stay at) some fabulous chateaux, eat well, and drink some wine. Mission accomplished, but with a secondary, unexpected, thread–a Tomb Tour of sorts.
Starting in Amboise, we found the Chateau du Clos Luce’, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life, working and running a school, under the patronage of King Francis I. He died there and is buried nearby in a chapel at the Amboise Chateau Royal. (Top two photos)
In Saint Patrice we stayed at the Chateau de Rochecotte (just..wow!) where the area just outside our suite’s patio door was next to this Chapel memorializing Prince Talleyrand. (Middle left photo)
At the last stop on our ride we stayed at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, discovering in the chapel there the tombs of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, and Richard I (the Lionheart).
Have you ever realized you know of something, but don’t really know anything about it? That was my take on Eleanor, so I looked her up. Pretty impressive lady. She inherited Aquitaine, the largest and richest section of France (bigger and richer than the territory controlled by the King), and became the Duchess at 15. She married Louis VII in 1137, and became Queen of France for 15 years.
Having no male heirs they got an annulment in 1152 and she hooked up with Henry, Duke of Normandy, marrying him later that year, and in 1154 he became King of England, and she, Queen. Two of their sons, Richard the Lionheart, and John, eventually became Kings of England.
Before that, when two of their sons, including Richard, revolted against their father the King, she supported them, and was imprisoned by her husband for 16 years.
But, she had the last word, living to the age of 80, outlasting them all. She had Henry II (husband, with her in bottom left photo) and Richard 1 (son, bottom right photo) buried at her place in Fontevraud Abbey.
One of the things I enjoy about travel is seeing/doing things I’ve been interested in, and planned as part the trip. Often, even more pleasure comes from the unexpected encounters with people, history, landscapes that teach me something I was not anticipating. Like Magellan, Columbus, or Lewis and Clark, I travel to see what I might discover, even though it may be something everyone else already knows.
I’ve mentioned in previous posts that Edward Weston was an important influence on me. The strong sunlight/shadow in this courtyard made me think of some of his work from the time he spent in Mexico.
His work was Black & White, but I think the simple shapes/patterns and color scheme might be the way he would have seen this today, about a hundred years, and a little technology, later.
I had an old friend/photographer who, when talking about making pictures, would say, “Look deep.” It was his way of saying watch backgrounds; they can distract from or support the main subject, and are seldom neutral.
In making portraits of people or animals there can be a tendency to frame tightly around the face, or head and shoulders, and those compositions can effectively show what the subject looks like. But do they tell you anything else? By opening the frame up a bit, some added detail can imply ‘background’ information about the subject, telling a story. How much ‘a bit’ is, is about balance. Too much/too busy and the subject is overwhelmed, instead of being the dominant figure.
I was photographing some docents in period costumes at the Green-Meldrim House, maybe best known as the Savannah headquarters for General William T. Sherman at the end of his March to the Sea. I noticed the painting behind my model, and including that offered a suggestion of an important ancestor, or maybe my actor as a younger man. By having each portrait looking into the center of the frame, and toward each other, I kept the design cohesive. Of course in this case any imagined stories are fantasy, but they offer a more layered, complex presentation.
In last week’s post I spoke of taking a photo group to Charleston for one morning. We spent the afternoon at Magnolia Gardens. I’ve been here several times and it’s always a challenge to find a new way to photograph this landmark.
My first memory of the white bridge is from Mr. Buchanan’s 7th grade class at Isle of Hope School. There was this girl named Kathy, who had decided I was her boyfriend, without consulting me, or me having expressed any interest in such a thing. A visit to Magnolia Gardens was part of a field trip to Charleston Mr. Buchanan had arranged for our class. I remember the bridge, and spending most of my time trying to hide from Kathy. I was a foolish boy, but then I was probably still concerned with the spreading of cooties.
The field trip had repercussions. I don’t remember why, but we were badly delayed leaving the Charleston area to head home. This was the late 50’s, so none of today’s communications’ tools to be able to let someone know what was happening. We were very late getting back to the school house, where concerned, and then angry, parents had been waiting for hours. And calling school board members. Field trips were prohibited for some time after that.
I recently assisted my old friend and teaching colleague Reed Hoffmann with a small group photo trip he did in Savannah, and part of the program was a day in Charleston. We drove up early and spent much of the morning walking around the peninsula. First coming out of the parking garage, on arrival, we saw the Riviera, a restored Art Deco theater, and most of the group made some sort of photograph of the building.
Me too. The light was nice and showed off the building details well. But that’s also the same photo every casual observer will make with their cell phone. My question to the group was, “Can you find a different way of seeing this?” Not instead of, necessarily, but also. You can always decide which you like best later, or even change your mind, if you have choices.
After taking the obvious shot of the building, I looked behind me, at the juxtaposition of the reflection of the theater with the merchandise in the shop window. By careful framing I was able to “hang” the clothes from the marquee. In processing the image I flopped the photo horizontally so the text reads correctly.
An appropriate response to the question, “What is the best camera?” is, “The one you have in your hands.” It’s the only one you can use in the moment. (These four images were made with a cell phone.)
Another oft-asked question is, “What is your favorite subject?” While some shoots are more fun than others, it’s kind of the same response for me, “The one I have at hand.” Ansel Adams supposedly said, “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” My goal is to find that spot.
I remember a Mechanical Drawing class at Myers Junior High School where I first learned about one (and two) point perspective, and vanishing points. I think that still influences the way I look at cityscapes.
Once more, our annual bacchanal, Saint Patrick’s Day. A kaleidoscope of color–lush blooming azaleas and marching bands; noise–bagpipes and DJs. 202 years, missing only 8 for world wars and Covid.
