Zipper's up, but nobody's home.

 

I didn't know what to write about this for days after I put in the photograph's HTML. I cleaned these seats off a couple of years ago. They were someone's trash and they were very disgusting. I think there were 24 of them - went along with the table of which I beleive there were 6.

This seating area is behind a bug-netting-device. This device is not closed, so there are bugs inside. There is a candle on the table.

Gauze.
 

Beyond the Curvature of the Trail.

I just uploaded this to Flickr today, though I took the photograph about 10 years ago. Had these developed this July - after such a long time that I can't exactly remember when or where they were taken. I think this might be a walking trail in the north end of Waterloo, Ontario. Not sure.

What I want to highlight with this are two points:

1) Isn't it exciting to develop a role of film that you can't remember shooting? I don't know if anyone else is/was ever like this, but when I was younger and didn't have much cash, I would prefer to buy film than to have film developed... I've always been a very "instant gratification" sort of person, and I would assume that there would always be time to develop film later. Ironically, it seems I was right. I have about 5 left from that era and every few months I take a couple to the photo shop to have them developed. I figure I will get to all of them by the end of the year. Next up, a nice old Illford and a 36 exposure roll of Ektachrome.

2) Even better than greenery that just stands around looking chlorolly... Greenery that goes some place. I love taking photos of trails and paths. Always have. It's just so nice to imagine myself walking around that bend, not knowing where it will end up. This reminds me of a short story by Japanese surealist Kobo Abe called "Beyond the Curve." Dude is walking home from work one night and when he gets to a bend in the road, he completely forgets everything "beyond the curve." Good story... worth a read.

That is all.

Once Upon a Time I Lived.

Once upon a time I lived in this landscape. I loved this landscape. I love grasses, overgrown and wild. Lawns displease me. This is why I have a dislike for the game of golf. The game itself is entertaining and rather interesting, but golf courses upset me more than I can put into words. I always feel a little guilty when I mow my lawn.

On Blocks. Off Balance.

There are things I like about this photograph and things I don't. What ends up bothering me (which incidentally is exactly what bothers me - kind of a vague thing to say, I know but I will explain) is that the so-called experts would surely tell me that I have effed up my composition. I can just hear some gd windbag with a beer gut covered by a polo shirt and poorly fitting khakis letting me know, in as condescending a manner as humanly possible, "Well, I would have cropped that a little bit here, and here, and here. Your composition is a little off balance."

You see, this is why it bothers me. Because it bothers that guy and the fact that that guy and is crew's opinions matter, whether I like the composition myself or not.

Point is, i like this composition. It's a little off balance. It's unsettling. It's intended to be - and yet it unsettles me. Because I know someone somewhere will look at it on the internet and think. "That's off balance - I would have done it better."