My Backyard Illusionist fantasy

I've always been a fan of magic. Not the dark, witches & sorcerer stuff that is all too popular now, but good old stage magic. Abracadabra, nothing-up-my-sleeves magic. That voluntary suspension of disbelief that allows us to enjoy what we know can't be real.

I chose to recreate three major stage illusions, as performed by a backyard amateur. First was not a single, but a rarely performed double levitation of twin sisters. The crowd was awed.

 

 

 

Next was the famous Hindu Rope mystery - a rope lifts itself out of a basket, and becomes rigid enough for a young boy to climb up. This was performed even without the traditional flute. The crowd was shocked.

 

 

Finally, rather than just sawing my lovely assistant in half, I proceeded to quarter her as well, just to prove I could. There was no hypnotic trance required - she remained awake and smiling throughout. The crowd went wild.

 

 

Then, after the crowd left, I was able to just relax and plan my next event ...

 

 

 

This is a marvelous black & white photo by Edward Weston. It depicts a single cabbage leaf with such detail and shading that it becomes much more than a leaf. This is part of a series of photographs taken in the 1930's of peppers, artichokes and other vegetables which highlighted their organic, sculpted contours. He was able to capture fine details normally overlooked by a casual observer, truly forcing a new level of observation and appreciation of nature itself.

Weston was also known for striking photos of gnarled trees, seashells and sand dunes in the wilds of California, again highlighting the marvelous textures and shades created by nature. For someone with my interest in textures and pattern, stumbling across this portfolio was worth all the effort.

.gif fun at the bulletin board.

     The visit to the UNM art museum was enlightening. Thr current exhibit covers technologies and works spanning the full history of photography. The premise behind the selection was that the definition of a masterpiece needs to be redefined periodically. Classic works were displayed amongst similar but unknown photographs. The result is striking.

     As an example, Ansel Adams' classic work "Moonrise over Hernandez, New Mexico" is no less striking than ever. When placed between two other crisp, striking outdoor images of similar size, new questions arise. Why is it so widely recognized as being a masterpiece? Is it twice as good as the others? Ten times as good? or perhaps just a little better? Or is there something about the image that strikes a chord inside that the others lack?

  All in all the exhibit is worthwhile. Just seeing the range of techniques used over the years, and understanding the differences between them would justify a visit. The range and quality of the works is a huge added justification.

I'm a big fan of fun. I'll always choose a comedy over a drama. I like happy endings and good stories. So much of the current content in the world is just too dark and serious for my tastes. This weeks assignment presented 3 different photographers who I found to be too depressing to spend much time pondering. Dwarfs, circus sideshows, human exceptions, alcoholics and overly tattooed people just don't inspire me to comment. I nearly opted to skip the assignment to avoid the experience.


I searched a bit deeper, however, and found this image. It is described by it's photographer, Richard Billingham, as his favorite shot ever. This is good, coming from an artist who has pondered the darker side of his own families issues for years. It depicts his son and his dog in a fleeting moment of recognition and curiosity. The black & white image shows a marvelous symmetry in the main subjects and in the background. The bay window compliments the two subjects, and the two potted plants reinforce the pairing. There is a slight blur from the rapid, spontaneous decision to shoot, but it doesn't detract from the idea captured in this image. 


I'm glad I kept searching, despite my natural bias. This one really is fun. 

This is a great photo by Alec Soth (rhymes with 'both'), titled "Desire to Run Away". I depicts a school bus and a horse out in the middle of a large, relatively barren field. The terrain is much like flat parts of New Mexico and West Texas, but it is not clear where it was taken. The sky, half of the image, is grey and overcast with only patches of light. This image is one of a series he produced over a 5 year period documenting American hermits. These isolated loners have created homes in many rugged, remote settings across the country. This particular one struck me because an old school bus is the classic vehicle for nomadic adventure. A furnished cave just doesn't meet the same need.

To me this represents the splendid isolation of the Western plains. I have criss-crossed the West since the 70's, and just love to be in the wide open spaces between cities. It provides the comforting illusion of freedom in the world. It would be hard to live like this, but the dream of getting away from it all flares up often. Just knowing it is possible helps keep the urges at bay.

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