I've become fully absorbed in a new project. I am nearing the end of the process of clearing out my parents estate. There are only 2 items left - the family home they lived in for over 40 years, and their lifetime collection of photographs. These are really the hardest of items to deal with.

The flash came when looking at some of the photos taken in the house - showing many of the things that went on through the years. I have started re-taking many of these from the same vantage point, but with a wider field of view. I've done dozens so far, and plan to pull together a book of 50 or so for the family. The theme is all the things that make a house a home. Here are a few of my recent favorites:

Bath time, circa 1988

Friends Birthday ~ 1997

First bike - 2001

This image, by Robert Adams is part of a black & white series titled "Summer Nights". The image shows a spinning ride in an amusement park, tilted and whirling around. The lighting is provided only by the on-board lights of the ride, the nearby attractions and the moon. Given the lighting constraints and the motion, it is a remarkably clear image.

The series was taken in the mid-70's of various sites near his home in Longmont, Colorado. All the images appear casual, as if just views from an evening stroll. There is no obvious underlying message, but the images are of high quality. I liked this one because of the pattern of a large circular form made up of smaller circles.

I have chosen to recreate an excerpt from the central panel from Michelangelo’s vault of the Sistine Chapel. The entire panel is titled “the Creation of Adam”. The excerpt is of the hand of God about to give the gift of life and knowledge to the still-malleable Adam. 

The essence of the painting is the transfer of the spark of life, of that human ability to think and understand the world around. In my world, this is well represented in the raising of my son (Moses; not Adam …) and specifically the daily routine of algebra homework. As an engineer and all-around science fanatic, I know algebra is clearly the key to a deep understanding of the world around us. My ability to explain math is the gift I can provide my son. 

This photo by Stephen Shore is of the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. It sits right off the old Route 66, and is a classic landmark on a classic route. It shows four of the kitchy rooms clearly located in an agricultural/light commercial zoned area. They are out of place, but a fundamental part of the overall road trip experience. This was from a series on the 'new' American west, and clearly moved color photography into the world of art photography.

This is typical of many of his images - crisp, clear photos documenting mid-century America, in all it's banality and simplicity. Colors are muted, little is staged, and the images are just captivating in their simplicity. They document a time and place that is fading into franchises and strip malls, never to be seen again.

Of his many images, this one jumped out at me for one particular reason. My parents married in Kansas, and immediately moved to California. One of the stops on their honeymoon road trip was this very motel. Way cool to find it here!

The image "Oasis" by Gregory Crewsden, taken in 2004, is equal parts crystal clear and absolutely generic. It matches his many intensely precise images, shot with a cinematographers eye for lighting and control. It depicts a small town business district in twilight, after a rain. It is rich with subtle details, reflections and light coming in from outside the frame. It could be any of thousands of small towns, with it's liquor store and laundromat. There is no obvious story; it is just another evening street scene.

Most of his images have a similar dark feel, appearing like a painting at first glance. His complex staging and lighting, with teams of people assisting are legendary in the world of photography. Many of his images have an other-worldly feel from spot lighting or people in unusual situations. This one stands out to me for it's total normalacy, it's perfect plain-ness.

Here's a little still life from the classic days of magic - none of the recent fascination with wizards and spells and such, just good old-fashioned abracadabra alakazam!

This image by Andreas Gursky, titled Kamiokande, is a stunning actual image taken far below the surface of the Earth. It shows thousands of golden photomultiplier tubes in an underground physics lab in Japan. The grand scale of the photo is only recognized when the small human figures are noticed. They are floating on small boats in the large pool of water. The overall uniformity of the image appears artificial, but is clearly a true image.

Andreas Gursky has photographed many large urban and man-made environments, highlighting patterns in the overall scene. They tend to be anonymous but captivating views of ordinary scenes. This one is truly unique, but the repetitive pattern echoes many of his other works.