WEEK ONE: Assignment
ASSIGNMENT: On this week’s first walk were there any things you noticed as repeating or re-occuring? Make a short photographic series of these elements (10-20 photos)
RESPONSE: I choose a favorite spot for my creative walk. Before I got there I had already decided to walk beyond the main drag and into where people live. I have always been drawn to architectural photos, and Balboa is known for its doors. I decided that is what I wanted to focus on. Metaphorically the idea of closed doors was interesting to me as a starting point to opening the door to creativity. I went in with a plan to keep me focused in my observances. I feel it worked for me as I am a purpose driven person. But I wondered if it cut me off to noticing other things as well.
I love the outcome here. A gem.
ReplyDeleteA very tight grouping of photos - they all work so well together. With the exception of the one horizontal they are all shot so similarly (square and symmetrically) they remind me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher. Really gives you a sense of the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteThank you for inttoducing me to Bernd and Hill Becher. Also, thank you for noting the one that was not like the others, it was not intentional. Perhaps it should have been excluded as it threw off the rhythm. I will keep that in mind moving forward.
DeleteI love the idea of doors. It's so striking especially in this time of the pandemic- it seems like doors hold a lot more value. They are a threshold into personal spaces- that some people are unable to now cross into due to social distancing.
ReplyDeleteThey also have so much personality! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, I felt the doors were an important message as well.
DeleteI appreciate the consistency and notice that it pushes me to compare and contrast more vigorously as I move from doorway to doorway. I also extrapolate and begin to hypothesize (and even to make judgments) about the people who live behind these doors -- they become portraits of a sort. I wonder if it could be an exciting extension of the project to ask the owners to step outside to be photographed next to their doorways.
ReplyDeletethat is a very interesting extension. thank you
DeleteHello Trudy! I loved being able to “see” this place through your descriptive writing and learning that you are from California. I live in Rhode Island and we share a very similar vernacular of place. I enjoyed how you wrote about going off the “main drag” and being able to experience the people of Balboa whereby taking you beyond the everyday surface of commercialism, inconveniences and irritation. Your images displayed beautiful and perfectly manicured homes but seemed to lack the experience you enjoyed, the people. It leaves me wondering what is underneath this perfection? What are some artifacts that express a deeper sense of this community? I love that you ended with questioning your process. {ps: I tried to post this on Sunday, but had technical issues!}
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insight between the contrast of my words and visuals. I went with the intention to use the doors as a metaphor for the beginning of this course journey, and stayed on that course even though I had already glimpsed behind the doors on my walk. Very interesting for me to ponder. This course is creating little cracks within regarding the balance of expectations/intentions and being open to what presents......stay tuned!
DeleteI enjoyed moving through these images. Although the focus you provide is highly specific, I found myself marveling at the diversity each image brought to my attention: plant material, paint color, stone surfaces, wood surfaces, flat surfaces, reflective surfaces. I wondered about who walked through those doors.
ReplyDelete