Today’s today in tabs had as its kicker a link to a list of “things that don’t work.” I won’t link to it because it has a certain smell about it, a smell of mixing things that are obviously true with things that are just one guy’s opinion and some that are just plain wrong. I read a few of the other things on the site and there’s a nasty undercurrent to the dude’s writing. That kind of smell. Anyway.
One of the obviously true things on his list of things that don’t work was “quality over quantity” (again that smell, generalities when talking about something specific). But the specific thing is this: you don’t make good art by just making one thing, you make it by making a bunch of stuff. Austin Kleon has it as “Quantity leads to quality” (my emphasis) which is a much better way to formulate it. Anyway.
All that to say, I’m gonna try to blog more? I certainly have the pictures. While there may be some stinkers in there, the practice is good for me. I definitely feel my writing get better and words come more easily as I do it more. Daily would be great but I’m not going to make that, there’s too much going on.
These are all from a couple days last november, before thanksgiving. I don’t know why I grouped them, but there they were in my edits. Just walking around the neighborhood.
Sidenote: when I see stuff that’s obviously just someone’s opinion stated as fact, I fall back on the line from The Big Lebowski: “Yeah, well, ya know, that’s just like, uh, your opinion, man.” I didn’t really mark it until I read Jeff Bridges’ book The Dude and the Zen Master, where there’s a whole chapter with that as the title, about non-attachment. The conceit of the book is a little hokey, but there’s some good stuff in there.
Posted by matt on 2024-03-22T07:08:33Z GMT
I had to cut about 20 images that were basically variatons on the big group picture from this edit. I know, it’s a christmas party and I’m only now, in March, getting around to publishing the photos. What can I say. I either transmit them on the spot via my phone, or I do it months and months later, after agonizing over the edit for far too long.
Actually this weekend we were back at this apartment, this time for Jeff’s birthday, and I might post those soon, because I want to show off my new lens. I got a Noctilux!
Fun party though, good group of folks. I should really have a word with them about indirect lighting; top down is so unflattering most of the time. Couple lamps on dimmers, some art on the walls, maybe. Anyway. Onward!
Posted by matt on 2024-03-19T07:34:00Z GMT
So, I was getting ready to leave to go to chicago, texted Kawan to see if he was going to drink and draw, and he said, no, I’m going to miss it tonight, it’s Day of The Dead in the city. I was instantly like, I should go and photograph that, even though I hadn’t packed and leave for chicago the next day. Yeah, these photos happened before the ones it the last post.
So I got to the mission about 7, 7:30, and start walking south on Valencia. I don’t really see much until I get to close to the 24th street BART station. I came to the tail end of a parade, there was a group of dancers (next photo).
Then I followed the crowds down 24th st, towards the park where there were other things still happening; art and live music and ofrendas (altars with pictures and other things that remind us of the dead, usually specific people). Food and flowers and pictures, candles and other lights.
Then I ran around a bunch and took the rest of the pictures here.
Posted by matt on 2024-03-08T02:44:03Z GMT
These are in vibes order, again. Lot of verticality in this edit. Had a really nice time the weekend these were taken, stayed at Hunter and Jason’s place. Great view out of their windows, pity there wasn’t a decent photographer there to get a shot of it.
Anyway. Had a real nice portfolio review earlier this week, looking at the san pablo work, working on mashing it into a shape to start shopping it around as a book and maybe an exhibition. Sets that work together, colors, leitmotifs. I’ll have to make some prints, too, if there’s a show. Gallery show? Me? Maybe. Have to find a gallery.
Farmed out the work prints earlier today, anyway. Going to be an interesting exercise to see if I can make it work.
Posted by matt on 2024-02-29T09:06:29Z GMT
