John Berger was a beautiful writer, and I can't stop loving fields.

"A young Rumanian peasant and his wife lean against a wooden fence. Above and behind them, diffused in the light, is a field and, above that, a small modern house, totally insignificant as architecture, and the grey silhouette of a nondescript tree beside it. Here it is not the substantiality of surfaces which fills every square inch but a Slav sense of distance, a sense of plains or hills that continue indefinitely. And, once more, it is impossible to separate this quality from the presence of the two figures; it is there in the angle of his hat, the long extended movement of his arms, the flowers embroidered on her waistcoat, the way her hair is tied up; it is there across the width of their wide faces and mouths. What informs the whole photograph - space - is part of the skin of their lives."

-John Berger, describing a Paul Strand photograph, from About Looking

Google Street View, Fauxtographer

"Please learn the pragmatics of expressing fear: sometimes words that seem to express really invoke."

-David Foster Wallace, from Infinite Jest


The other day I was talking to a good friend about impending feelings of depression, loneliness, and fear. She was saying that when she feels depressed, showering helps for some reason. We then began to talk about the things that help ease bad emotions in the immediate present, even though they're usually just physical distractions. It was then decided that instead of trying stave off such uncomfortable and upsetting emotions, one should maybe just embrace them, work through them, and generally just let them out. Maybe the relentless struggle to distract oneself and "get over" these feelings really just amplifies them in an unconstructive way.

Glengarry Glen Ross

Watched this great movie tonight. This is one of the many good speeches. Also check out the scene with Alec Baldwin.

"Tell them there was a cow. It was in a field, near where you held the fence. Tell them the cow stood there all day, chewing at something it had swallowed long ago, and looking at you. Tell them how the cow's face had no expression on it. How it stood there all day, looking at you with a big face that had no expression."

David Foster Wallace, from Girl With Curious Hair

Philadelphia Photo Arts Center

The Philadelphia Photo Arts Center opens its doors on Tuesday, August 11. This place is a much-needed establishment for Philadelphia photographers, artists, and appreciators. Check out the space in person (it's beautiful!) or peruse the website. You should also read this article in the Philadelphia Weekly about PPAC. And most of all, give Sarah Stolfa a big hand for creating such a great organization!

Berger on Zadkine on Rotterdam

"Unlike most memorials, it is neither gruesome nor patronizing. It does not try to turn defeat into victory, nor does it hide the truth by invoking Honour. It shows that different people can use the words defeat and victory to describe the same thing, whilst the reality which is actually suffered is something continuously developing and changing out of that apparent contradiction. And it shows this in terms of pain and effort. It stands on the edge of land. and it is as if this figure has crossed the world and come through history to stand on the most advanced point to meet those who will soon arrive."

-John Berger, 1959, on Ossip Zadkine's Rotterdam war monument.
(Find the essay in Berger's book Permanent Red.)

One with nature, you could say

Love this photograph, and all the photographs, from Ahndraya Parlato's series, Inscape. Actually, check out all of her bodies of work. Her statement is thought-provoking as well.

Photography.Book.Now

I have entered my photography book in a competition, and the People's Choice voting has begun! You can vote only once, and you must vote before August 20th. It would be a marvelous honor if you would vote for my book.

Thanks!

News on 'expanse'

Here are some updates regarding my project expanse:

You can see my photograph Anterior Future featured on Flak Photo here.

I was featured in the July 2009 issue of webzine, The Papermachine. Read that article here.

Come mid-August, you can see my photographs Anterior Future and Fall in the inaugural show at the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center. The show, "NEXT: Emerging Philadelphia Photographers," will be exhibited from August 8th through November 29th, 2009.

Throughout August and September, you can check out smaller versions of my photographs on view at the Green Line Cafe here in West Philadelphia. The Green Line is located at 45th and Locust Streets.

My photograph The Road was featured on the wan.der.lust.ag.ra.phy blog on July 30th. It's an incredibly interesting and beautiful photography blog, which you can check out here.


Stay tuned for more updates regarding shows and publications featuring yours truly!

Field

"The field you are standing before appears to have the same proportions as your own life."

-John Berger