“[Robert] Frank once said to me that black and white are the true colors of photography, because they symbolize the alternate aspects of despair and hope to which mankind is forever subjected. I could not agree more.”

–Keith Carter

“Practicing photography for more than 40 years, I have become aware of how seldom a photograph — a truly successful photograph — is made. How easy it is to click the shutter, and how nearly impossible to seize something significant through that act.” — Abe Frajndlich

NYT piece here.

I photographed the Supportland team this week for their January newsletter. Good people.

My musicians have been busy being famous this holiday season!


Vocalist and Resonance Ensemble Managing Director Stephanie Kramer was featured in this nice piece in Oregon Music News: Life as a Professional Choral Singer.

“Singing, and all of the experiences that come along with it, is one of the greatest joys of my life.”

 

 One of my luminous portraits of Kathy FitzGibbon is used on the Lewis & Clark news piece here. It looks great in context.

Are you into classical music?

• Here’s a GREAT article in the Wall Street Journal about Portland’s classical music scene
• Here’s a a piece about 10 quirky performance groups in Portland

I’m not a big shopper, but I LOVE beautiful designed clothing and jewelry and art. I had the opportunity to visit Tilde shop in Sellwood when Jill Bliss did a tiny show there a few months ago – and fell in love with Debbe Hamada’s curation of lovely home and personal objects. It’s the only store I have ever told my husband “you can buy anything in here as a gift for me, and I am sure to love it.”

Recently, I was charmed to find Debbe had stocked some SkLO jewelry, handmade in Sonoma, California. These necklaces feature glass (!) bulbs and lightweight nautically color knotted string work; the one I picked up is basically the most interesting, yet wearable necklace I have ever seen.

Here’s what Debbe has to say in her newsletter about this work:

Here’s some more information from Karen Gilbert and SkLO about their current jewelry collection: LINK.

[ July 2011, Ventura California = FILM ]

“The truth is no portrait of substance has people smiling. Look at the history of painting, Rembrandt, Titian, Goya, Velasquez, Sargent, Vermeer, DaVinci, etc., the subjects gaze to the viewer is neutral at best, neither inviting nor forbidding. It is there for the viewer to see and feel. Smiling is like much of American popular culture, superficial and misleading. It is part of our vernacular, but it should be expunged in photographs.”

– Rodney Smith

[ October 2010 - University Club - Palo Alto, California - FILM ]

Ali and I attended a cousin’s wedding in October 2010 in Palo Alto, California. I used an uncle’s film camera and shot just one roll. I like the way these uncorrected images turned out. I don’t remember what kind of film I used; the color is definitely off but the photos convey the exact mood of the elaborate spread and the boisterous family celebration. Persian weddings are my favorite!

The Sofreye Aghd Wedding Spread (sohfreh/sofreh) is a collection of symbolic and beautiful elements spread before the couple. I love the ancient traditions brought forward in today’s Iranian wedding ceremonies; you can tell from these photos that I spent most of my roll of film on the photogenic table spread!

[ July 2011, Malibu California ]

[film: ilford hp5plus]

[film: CVS brand]

One of Ali’s aunties in Iran sent us a sweet email upon hearing that we are expecting a boy:

“I appreciate your feeling. it shows you’re satisfied and running a joyful life. How is our lovely sweetie? I’ve heard that it is a baby boy. Congratulations. Boys are more serious than girls so dealing with them are easier and also they are more naughty so you can not have a chance to rest. prepare yourself.”