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Sunday Collection: Photography
My father (left) was a professional photographer before and during WWII, and taught me to appreciate photography as art, so that’s what this Sunday’s collection is about.
I’ll digress for a moment and tell you a funny story about him. He used to photograph society balls - you know, back when debutantes were presented at court and all that kind of thing. In order to be allowed in, he had to dress formally, like the guests. He also needed a portable way of getting a vantage point from which he could snap the whole party.
So there he was one evening outside the Dorchester Hotel in London, dressed in white tie and tails, carrying a large wooden stepladder.
A little old lady in a mink coat tottered up to him, clutched his arm and said “Young man, I have been observing you, and I simply must know: what is it that you do for a living?” “Madam”, he replied, “I am a gentleman window cleaner”.
Apparently satisfied with this answer, she tottered on into the hotel. I always loved this story. It’s the sort of response most of us would dream up after the event and wish we’d thought of quickly enough.
There are many blogs I read regularly, and have featured here before, that include fantastic photographs. For example, Christine at Abbey of the Arts, Kerrdelune at Beyond the Fields we Know and Melissa at Those Northern Skies. Each has some stunning images up this week as always.
I want to focus (excuse the pun) on two blogs this week.
The first is Maced with Grace. Jules has been telling us the story of her yearning for a new camera to take her creativity to the levels she feels called to. Her prayers have been answered and she is now the proud owner of a really serious piece of hardware.
Jules is a hugely talented photographer, and you can see some of her work in her New Year collection and on her Flickr pages. Personally, I think her close focus stuff is especially stunning. Looking forward to lots more this year Jules!
The second is a brand new blog, H3images by Bill Hughlett, whose superb photographs have graced the pages of Lucy’s blog for a long time.
You can see Bill’s portfolio of images here. To my eye, his wide landscape work is especially evocative, as is his way of homing in on unusual angles and details. There’s an interview with him here at Abbey of the Arts.
Photography is a precious art, a wonderful way of looking and seeing. Yesterday when grocery shopping, I parked at the top of the local multi-story car park, which is open to the sky. When I returned, a teenage boy was up there, photographing the skyline with an old Canon, a good bit of kit he’d borrowed from a friend. We talked, and I delighted in his enthusiasm for his art.
Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.
Have a blessed week, everyone.
Discussion
9 comments for “Sunday Collection: Photography”
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Another great roundup as usual, honored to be a part of this post too with such good company. And I am thrilled to get to see photos of you and your mom yesterday and now your dad today. Whata handsome window cleaner he was!
Yes, what a dapper and dashing gentleman. I loved this story Tess.
I was already familiar with the photographic talents of Christine, kerrdelune and Bill but Melissa and HeyJules are new to me. Thank you for highlighting their beautiful work. More inspiration and more blogs for the blogroll!
Love the quote. It sums up why I take my amateur photos with my humble but reliable Canon point-and-shoot. A way of seeking and preserving truth and beauty, isn’t it.
Have you checked out the new Shutter Sisters website yet? I think you’d like it.
Thanks Christine, yeah, he was a good-looking guy, my Dad!
Elaine, glad to be able to introduce you to these new blogs. Melissa is one of the best photographers of children I’ve found. And is incredibly creative in other ways as well. Thank you so much for the pointer to Shutter Sisters, you’re absolutely right, I love it.
“It’s the sort of response most of us would dream up after the event and wish we’d thought of quickly enough.”
Your father had a quit wit. There’s a name for that sort of delayed response wit most of us have, at least in French and German. In French it is called l’esprit d’escalier and in German Treppenhauswitze and both translate the same — staircase humour, i.e. what we think of saying on our way out. I don’t know of a similar expression in English.
Barbara, “staircase humour”, I love that, how apt. And yes it does sound better in French or German.
it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.
I love the Siskind quote. It’s the reason that we take digital photos but still practice the discipline of printing out favorites and putting them in old fashion scrapbooks; there’s something so comforting and fun about viewing those photos “in a book” whenever the mood takes you there……I’m probably not as concerned about acid free paper and all of that stuff, but….
And I mentioned to someone this a.m. that H3 Images are like walking a labryinth when they are in the slide show mode - beautiful!
i love the story of your father!! it is not hard to see where your delightful sense of humor comes from. thank you for this wonderful snapshot of these talented photographers (pun intended
i humbly carry my little point and shoot around to encase some of those moments…in our house, i am the writer and bill the photographer, however, we both have a tendency to play in the other’s realm occasionally!
That story about your dad cracked me up! My father was a photographer, also, and no doubt shares in your dad’s brand of humor.
Thank you so much for the head nod on my little corner of the photography world. I do so appreciate it! I can’t wait to check out the others that are new to me as well.
Sunrise, Lucy and Jules, thank you. And Jules I look forward to more from the new camera.