Books

Entry 2: Before photography there were books...

When I was a child we had a library. It was a relatively small room off the living room. I remember the shelves of old books, really old books. Most of the real treasures were probably tucked away in corners I would not find. There were always new discoveries to make. Some discoveries were not the ones my parents intended. Like the book that had been hollowed out to allow storage of a handgun. My curiosity of what the book was about was quickly replaced by my find of this secret stash. Hey, it was a different era. I was old enough to read so, obviously, I was old enough to know putting a gun in a book was probably not something a 10 year old was supposed to know anything about. I kept my mouth shut and my parents never knew that I knew their secret.

Now back to the books... Many of the books had pages that had never been read. I knew they had never been opened because the pages were folded after printing, then bound together, and then the folds were cut. Jefferson's Complete Works was one my family had when I was a kid and I still have today.

I loved the idea that there were books over a hundred years old with pages that had never been read. As if the words were the author's and mine and no one else's. Pages 6 and 7 in the picture below are hidden until the day I decide to cut the fold.

I did not actually read any of the old books cover to cover. I'd read some, look for references to topics I knew about or people I was learning about in history.

I think I loved our books because they were old. They represented a connection to a world before my grandfather was born, before cars and airplanes.

It might be months or years between the time I picked up one of these books. While it did not make be overly well read, I did learn to savor books. And now, this savoring is applied to photography books. That is one of the threads of this blog. Not sure if what I write about the books will actually be reviews in the formal sense. It will definitely include my reaction to the books and the photographs or methods presented. The starting point for my reactions to photography books will be some the following from my current shelves of books. It is not a grand collection but it enough to begin.

A new site, a new blog, and many old ideas - Why?

Entry 1: Why?

Photos For One? Definitely a counter intuitive name since I am posting for anyone to see. Here is the story...

Centro Botin Auditorium, Santander Spain ©J Peters 2017

My first public photography display was at a local coffee shop, Ojai Roasting. I had put real prices on my work since I did not want to part with any photos without someone deciding that my work was good enough to put on their walls. I love friends and family supporting and encouraging my photography obsession. But they did not need to support it by purchasing a piece that would not fit perfectly on one of their precious walls. The prices would make it clear they did not need to purchase one just because. Those real prices with absolutely no basis beyond my own subjective valuing of the pieces, my sense of what the threshold of pain that would prevent the "being supportive" sentiment, and perhaps a little comparison to prices I saw in galleries or coffee shops or art shows. 

Sunset Tepee, Ventura California ©J Peters 2017

Just before I was scheduled to take down the display, I received a call saying that one of the pieces had sold. It was one of my favorite pieces and I was quite happy. But it caused me to wonder at the critiques I'd received from some excellent photographers about some of the pieces I displayed. None of the negative critiques were out of line, in fact, they were almost all really good and would improve my work. But now there was one person for whom that piece was significant in some way. Was it purchased on a whim, was it love at first sight, was it a an interesting prop that would work for something? It did not really matter why they bought it, they bought it, it fit some need or desire. All I knew and all I was likely to know is that one person thought that one photograph was worth buying. It changed my focus from worrying about mass appeal and perfect technique to finding something in the pieces I show that connects with someone in a way that is deeper than just, "Nice photo." My goal is to find those elements that strike one other person in the way the scene struck me. 

Just to be very clear, I do think it is extremely important to strive to make photographs that are technically excellent.

So, welcome to Photos For One, a blog about photography, art, books, and my own process of becoming a photographer, artist and writer. I have been doing and learning in all three domains for a while, but my process of development, invention, and discovery is really only just beginning. This blog represents an attempt to draw from and integrate the many roles that have filled my career; teaching, software development, project management, analyst, technical editor, and business person. My approach to the technical aspects of photography and presenting what I find interesting here is drawn from my approach in learning any new discipline, technical. It is relatively random, and thorough - eventually thorough. My approach to the artistic, more subjective side, of photography comes more from the non-technical aspects of my life; faith, family, friends, and the search for meaning. Okay, this blog won't delve much into the search for meaning beyond the occasional photo essay project. It won't be overly personal in one sense but entirely personal in another.

My stated purpose is to document the process, the books, the experiments, and the projects I pursue as a part of my quest to improve as an creative person. I will include what strikes me as helpful or interesting. But the approach is not based on what is popular or what would sell, it is based on my own process of discovery, whether it is a new photography technique, the solution to a problem, inspiring books, exhibits I see. It will address photographic gear only in so far as it affects my art. 

And so, I begin...