Sturgeon Moon August 26, 2018
A VISIT TO MECCA
A few years ago we had the good fortune of meeting Jeanne and Michael Adams, Ansel’s son and his bride. They had never been to the park and we drove them all around an overcast and rainy Big Bend. Not out of character for the time of year, and yet not disappointing. There’s really no bad time to be in the park. They said if you ever get to California look us up, and so we did. Jeanne and Micheal live in Ansel’s house. They are gracious, beautiful people. Jeanne took us to Point Lobo and everywhere you looked you could see Ansel’s tripod marks.
One the best parts of this time was a tour of Ansel’s darkroom that Michael gave us. Knowing what spending hours and days in a darkroom is like and thinking that when Ansel was working here, he was in his prime gave me a sense of reverence and delight. From this darkroom came his greatest work. Ansel has influenced generations of photographers. Anyone who has ever heard of the Zone system or has made a serious attempt at landscape photography with film is walking on the road that he paved. It was like church. I recorded the tour and I am going to try and make a podcast. I purchased an editing program (Hindenburg), but I am still novice. If anyone has advice or expertise, help me out. That would be a nice way to meet.
IT’S NOT DARK YET, BUT IT’S GETTIN THERE.
Thank you all for your thoughts and concerns about my little brother. He is doing better, but recovery is slow. I couldn’t even talk to him on the phone because he would start coughing. It was torture, but the other day we finally spoke and facetimed.
I think between my brother’s illness and this trip west that my priorities are realigning. Photography has always been my only passion. It didn’t let me share much. But as I age, and have lost some real good friends, I feel myself softening and wanting to spend more time with family and friends, and especially with Marci. I am a very fortunate man. Thank you for supporting my life in this desert. Happy Full Moon. Get Outside.
Hey, if these emails are getting too "Newslettery" let me know.
The Camera Never Sleeps