Saturday, April 25

By Request

(Click above)
A participant in last Wednesday's event at Musser Park emailed me. "Ted, I've seen those gatherings portrayed on TV and in print, yet none seem as sensitive as the handful of pictures you've posted here over the last week. I wonder if you could put some together for me... perhaps in square formats... that I might get framed to hang? I'm thinking that this is a quiet footnote to history and I'd like to keep it in my home office."

How flattering. And of course I have done that... and here are the results. He went on to tell me that he might want as many as three, each to measure about twenty inches on a side. So here's what I prepared for him.

Have any of you comments? They do look handsome... and somehow quietly seem to glimmer at that size. It will be interesting to see them matted and framed, huh?

6 comments:

Petra Paignton said...

The second collection is my favourite, Ted. I like the first one, too - especially the man with his eyes closed - but it's the second one that, for me, really tells a story. There's so much going on there, and your post processing is ...well, insightful. Though don't ask me to explain, as I'd have to write an lengthy and convoluted essay on visual communication and it's nuanced subtexts, etc!

You make such wonderful images; images that speak so very elegantly and artfully.

Your work is inspiring. Thank you. :)

Petra Paignton said...

Hmmmm. Just looking at the first one again, and I can see everyone looking to the right - one blindly - and the only one facing left is being crushed....


You see! You're thought-provoking!

Your images linger and challenge. They're masterful!

Ted said...

You're very generous Petra, thank you. Yes, I think the second series is more abstract in its relation to an issue, while the first is more focused upon the nature of human feeling. And yes... there does seem to be an ideological message implied re. the direction these people are looking for 'hope'. Hope is a big issue these days Petra. What penetrating observations, you are quite prescient.

Here I feel like a photojournalist reporting not so much the facts of the event, but rather trying to communicate the feelings that wafted about it. Its rarely something you see done in a series of related images. I wonder why?

Petra Paignton said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Petra Paignton said...

Perhaps it's because no one lingers anymore? We are all so rushed toward the next energy-drink, micro-sensory stimulus-package rage-fun-fear thang: the next sensational soundbite; the next cute and fun advert; etc. We need "new" every moment of our moments, and the irony in this is that we can never really linger or ponder in our seemingly frantic, multitasking lives - and this is reflected in our current simplistic flash card journalism. Just the facts, ma'am. And make 'em quick. With indignancy! Or something....


Anyway, again it is lovely to return to these and think about them and *feel* them.

Cheers, Ted. :-)

mcmurma said...

Really Ted, it's not like you needed another set of tools in your image bending arsenal... I always thought you were doing pretty good with all the usual tools. And now this?

Seriously, this is some fine work you have been doing lately. Very nice indeed.