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This blog is about recording visual memory.
My first photography-induced memory was when I was 4. We lived in Buckhorn, Kentucky, a very small town where feuds where settled the old fashioned way, with shotguns. One muggy morning, my mom announced that we were going to have our photos taken that afternoon. She made it sound important. When we got to the “studio” my sister was up first. The photographer put on a big show—lots of jerky movements, copious waving of the arms and strange faces. It all annoyed me. My sister was thrilled. She smiled, laughed and clapped her hands. A photographer's dream. Sandy's photo shoot went exceptionally well. Then it was my turn. I sat down in the chair. My hair was cut in a short pixie style and I am sure that the photographer would have mistaken me for a boy, except that I was wearing a pinkish jumper dress. I had already made up my mind that I was not going to smile, I didn't like this overzealous man. The photographer asked me to smile. (I was older, so he assumed he didn't have to put as much energy into his performance.) I sat and looked him right in the eye, my expression somber. My mom asked me to smile—no luck. This exchange went on for some time, probably exhausting the photographer. I am sure it was my mom who instructed the photographer to just take the photo. She could see that I had it in for the poor fellow. A few weeks later my mom called me into the kitchen. She showed me the photos and put one on the refrigerator. I studied them very closely. It was the first time I {really} looked at a photo of myself. I didn't like the photo. Or, perhaps, I didn't like the experience. I was recently mailed this photo. A flood of memories came back. Today, that is one of my favorite photos of myself. It is a visual record that takes me right back into that kitchen in Buckhorn, Kentucky.
I am a graphic designer interested in working with color, form, and shape. I teach Digital Media courses full time at a college in Santa Cruz, California. I began taking photos less than year ago on a trip to Peru in January, 2005. While this is new to me, I have always loved photography as a creative medium. This blog is my creative motivator and a way to capture the fleeting concept of time and memory.
This site was technologically mastered by Kevin Plaskett. A big thanks for his help.