Other than the occasional road trip as well as time spent getting out into a place to enjoy the solitude and environment, January and February are usually somewhat of a down time for me. I spend a lot of time processing images, preparing for the balance of the year and beyond (more on that later!) photographically. It’s always one of my favorite times to get caught up on a lot of music and some other things.
For me it’s also a time to evaluate my work and see where I may want to be as it relates to my creative process. I typically ask myself a few simple questions. Do I like what I am producing? What do I think I’d like to change if anything? Being your own critic is hard. Am I in any sort of rut? Now What?
As time goes on, my need to create pretty pictures has become significantly less. Maybe it’s my background in music, but I honestly think that artists, in any vocation, evolve over the years. If they don’t, the wrong answers to the questions above are a prescription for stagnation.
I’ve recently had some interesting conversations with some good friends in photography and in music about these questions. Most creative people morph into other areas as time passes. These new pathways, for the most part, produce more insightful work and more important more self-gratification.
Here are a few things that over the past few years I have realized.
- I still love teaching others about my passions. One is photography, the other being music. For this writing, I’ll stay with photography. and I enjoy taking people to see some of the incredible places that I have been so blessed to witness.
Having said that………….
- My need to photograph pretty sunrises and sunsets are not what they were in the past.
- I find myself looking far more into photography and seeing in different ways.
- I photograph for myself, not for the masses.
- Being in a place is more important than any photograph I attempt.
- Telling a story is my goal. Communicating feelings and thoughts with images has become predominant.
- Time is going past quickly these days. Through any image I make, I want to communicate what I’m feeling now.
- It’s not important at all that I take a photograph every time.
- Where do I think I’d like to be next year?
Do you see a trend?
“IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR”
HERE is an amazing video (its on YouTube—good sound will make it even better).
Take 6 or 7 minutes and watch it. It’s a video of Frank Sinatra in the recording studio as he recorded “It Was a Very Good Year” back in 1965. This was a very poignant song for Frank. You’ll see what a great musician he was.
This was an incredible recording session. Frank liked to record between 8pm and midnight with a live audience of invited guests in the studio. This was no exception.
What is amazing about this song is that he did this recording on just one take! Just one!!! We’ve heard this song so much we tend to forget what a master he was. The same goes for our photographic heroes.
Gordin Jenkins was the arranger and conductor (Not Frank’s usual Nelson Riddle or Don Costa) Thie record, issued in 1966 won a grammy for best male vocal.
At the 5:00 minute mark, listen to what Frank says about understanding what’s being said within the music these days (mid 1960’s). Most importantly, after the session was done, Frank was listening to the tape in the control room. At 6:45 minute mark watch Sinatra’s facial expressions as he hears the final part of this song. It’s incredible. He’s realizing at age 50, he is on the back 9, as they say. I think some of us can relate to this! I believe that Frank is looking inward at his life at this very evening after he recorded these lyrics.
About a month ago I pulled out 2 recordings of Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphonies. I looked at the covers and realized that I really liked his style and his artistic direction.
They are paintings by John Atkinson Grimshaw, a British painter from the 1800’s. His moonlit village paintings are his most popular works. He also painted landscapes, portraits, interiors and more.
Above: Painting / Liverpool from Wapping, by Grimshaw
I did some research, bought a book, and was captivated by his work. He is a unique painter and was ostracized by some of his fellow artists because he used photography as a blueprint for some of his paintings.
He achieved much acclaim. His life, though relatively short, is interesting.
Above: Painting / Moonlight After Rain, by Grimshaw
His work stimulated me to go back and look for some similar type images in my files.
Will this become a new pathway? I don’t know but I encourage you to delve deep into your own mind and think about what you want to be as an artist. There is no right or wrong. Just be true to yourself.
And when it’s time, I hope we can sit back and speak…….
“But now, the days are short, I’m in the autumn of my years
And I think of my life as vintage wine
From fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs
And it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year”
Images and Text © Jack Graham and Jack Graham Photography
All Rights Reserved
Good post, Jack!
I have been finding myself thinking about what I shoot and what makes me happiest. I’ve also been able to start teaching my granddaughter photography in the past year, and that’s an incredible joy to me.
And, there’s no one else like Frank! He is “The Voice” and that’s definitely one of my favorite songs!