Hanging around
London, ON, February 2009 [Click all images to enlarge]
We had the reception for my art show earlier tonight, and I have to admit it was as delightfully surreal an experience as I've ever had. People - most of whom I know well, and some of whom I had never met - came to see me and my work. That alone was kind of bizarre, as I more typically hide behind the delightfully large shadows of my camera, my pen and my online presence.
Instead, on this night, I got to chat with folks, in real-time, not abo
ut the latest handheld device or my thoughts on Canada's telecommunications industry, but about what I was thinking when I tripped the shutter. I felt more than a little self-conscious - but in a good way - and hoped that somehow my words would live up to the work on display. Or was it the photos living up to my words. Not sure...When all is said and done, I enjoyed holding court and sharing this energy, this passion I have for telling stories in images and words. I hope it's infectious, and I hope everyone who took the time out of their busy lives to join me and my family left the studio with thoughts of how they could tell their own stories, too. Not a day goes by that I'm not thankful that I have the ability to do this, and a wife who has never stopped encouraging me to take it further.
Your turn: Photography repairs the world. Agree/disagree? Why/why not?
Congratulations, Carmi! I wish I could have been there. But reading your thoughts about the event, just as looking at your true-life photos, shows the honesty of a man who is in the moment and loving life. Well done, my friend. Well done!
ReplyDeletePhotography and journalism are history's witnesses. The challenge for us in this age is to keep them honest and unbiased, otherwise they damage the world, rather than repair.
Carmi: Glad it went well. Aloha-
ReplyDeleteSounds like it went well...congrats!
ReplyDeletePhotography repairs the world? Hmmm...interesting...I think it reveals the world...I don't know if it repairs it. I think it might in some instances be healing but I also think it can be degrading, and exploitation, under some circumstances, so I am not going to agree on all counts. There needs to be a caveat.
Congratulations, Carmi. I would like to have been there.
ReplyDeletePhotography helps us to see things in new ways, and notice things we might never have without the help of your camera.
Congratulations! That's a huge accomplishment. I hope there are many more art shows to come.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Carmi! How wonderfully exciting for you. What a dream come true.
ReplyDeletePlease know that your photography does inspire me, and I will always thank Z for leading me to your blog. She knows my style, and she knew I'd enjoy your work...both written and photographic.
I think that a camera in the hands of a free-thinker is a powerful thing. Of course, "free-thinker" is somewhat like "fair and balanced" or "objective". Still, it's a goal to aspire to.
Healing? It's possible.
A personal story: after the death of my baby, I was tormented that I didn't have a photo of me holding her. A friend suggested I create a picture of me with my arms in a cradling position, then edit in my baby's photo.
Yes, it was quite healing. :-)
congratulations carmi!
ReplyDeletehope you have many more!!
Congrats on your art show!
ReplyDeleteThe frames look awesome! I decorated my walls in that kind of fashion.
Barb took the words right out from my mouth regarding photography.
I'm so happy for you, Carmi! Your beautiful work deserves to be seen and discussed, and you deserve your time in the spotlight.
ReplyDeleteI can conceive of photography repairing the world, in a sense. I'm not sure that is exactly the right word, but yes, it could point us in that direction.
It looks like a wonderful exhibit of your work. Congratulations!
Congratulations again, Carmi!!!! Wish I could have witnessed it in person :(((
ReplyDeleteNice. Its always nice to be the center of attention and even more so when you can share something that adds to people's lives... which photography does ... well done!
ReplyDeleteA thousand congrats! That is really neat!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Holly
This makes for a nice right brain left brain balance. Congratulations on the show! I would have loved it.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a bit of out of body experiences...surreal it such a good word. :) I'm so pleased you enjoyed yourself and saw for yourself how others appreciate your talents and gifts....! Wonderful. I thought about you all evening.
ReplyDeleteAs for your question? Photography most certainly expresses our shared feelings and passions. It definately repairs the world by providing visual representation of what we share as human beings....
that has got to be an amazing feeling! seeing your pictures in a gallery! so awesome!
ReplyDeletedo i think that photography repairs the world? I think it can be used to reveal the world but it's up to the viewers to repair the it.
Congratulations Carmi!! Well deserved and probably long overdue display of your work!! Had I lived close I would have attended myself!! Sounds like the evening went terrificly!!
ReplyDeletecongratulations!!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to brag now, about how I know you (:
If you take a photograph of your photography exhibit, does that open a time/space continuum vortex that would allow you to place the photograph in the exhibit ?
ReplyDeleteThen if you took a photograph of the photograph of the photography exhibit, would your own existence become merely theoretical ?
Jon Luc Picard
I don't know if photography always repairs the world but it definitely describes it.
ReplyDeleteI love photography and always wished to do more with it but it's nice to know there are others who have been able to make a living from their passion.
Good for you!
Congrats. If I had been anywhere close I would have gone!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Maybe some day I will get to see your work on display in person. I know some folks who live in your part of the country. I doubt I would have to twist their arm to pay a visit to a talented artist such as yourself.
ReplyDelete