-
Concerning My Belated Visit to the Hermitage
Continue ReadingWhile serving at a remote Air Force station in Alaska, I discovered Art History. We lived in dense forest inhabited by wolves among other wild beasts. Our base was in effect an isolated town with three paved streets. One two-story dormitory sat in the middle of everything, housing one hundred-fifty enlisted men; a day […]
-
More On the Human Tendency to Memorialize
Continue ReadingThis wall-shrine I photographed at a pizza place owned by Indian immigrants in the Mormon hamlet of Bicknell. It is the only place open here at night excepting the Qwik-Stop, which also closes at 10pm. The restaurant serves many varieties of pizza-pie with curried toppings, has Southeast Asian television shows playing continuously; nevertheless it has […]
-
Homage For Robert Johnson
Continue Reading“I got ramblin’ I got ramblin’ on my mind I got ramblin’ I got ramblin’ all on my mind Hate to leave you baby But you treats me so unkind” Lyric by Robert Johnson Ask a painter, musician, writer — anyone practicing a difficult art to confide their heroes; they usually will not hesitate. Their […]
-
An American Refugee
Continue ReadingIn the 19th Century some historical roles were reversed. For instance: the United States — and not a Middle Eastern country — had an industrial Civil War in progress, killing soldiers and uprooting civilians. A million-and-a-half military casualties occurred in less than five years in the USA, including men dead in battle and those suffering […]
-
Homage to Edward Hopper
Continue ReadingI had driven a thousand miles west stopping just once to sleep. On the high plains of Kansas I ran into sleet and bitter winds. For reasons unknown, I am without luck in these situations; again and again forced into remote towns under heavy weather, where travelers confront poor choices among accommodations. That night — […]
-
Encountering Complex Symbolism
Continue ReadingDiscovering an exciting new English phrase in the wild. An advertising professional produced this wordplay: IN BRUNCH WE TRUST I found this intransitive declaration on placards appearing on every residential floor of a Las Vegas hotel, opposite elevator doors. Each of seven landings had an urban backdrop showing through floor-to-ceiling picture windows: views of rooftops, […]
-
Considering An Unusual Aesthetic
Continue ReadingOccasionally a homeowner sets a new standard in front-yard decoration. You have before you such a case. This home in the American desert maintains the status quo with only one element of design: gravel raked over plastic underlayment to cover the ground — a ubiquitous practice, as common as dirt in this vicinity. With the […]
Latest Entries
Kindred SpiritsIn Aesthetics, Autobiographical, ReportageThe three people in my photograph are strangers […]
Not Even An Honorable MentionIn Aesthetics, Art Historical, Autobiographical, TechnicalI once submitted this picture to a […]
A Most Challenging LookIn Cultural Anthropology, Environmental Portraiture, Street PhotographyIn their frankness her eyes disconcert me. She […]
Why I Came Home EarlyIn Autobiographical, Cultural Anthropology, Egypt, Middle EastAssume you are a middle-aged man born and raised in […]
A Scene From YesteryearIn Americana, Cultural Anthropology, Street PhotographyIn this slice of American history, relaxation — […]