New Orleans

In Asia, mountains have called pilgrims to them for thousands of years.  In the summer of 1987, I hitchhiked across Tibet in order to walk around such a mountain.  This mountain you could not climb, and not because of physical obstacles; rather there are sacred laws that have kept its crown free from trespass.  For many, many years, pilgrims have made their way to this holy place.  They have come from the south, from the dry and wet heat of India.  They have come from the east, from the high plains, barley fields, and villages of Tibet.  They have come from the grasslands of the north and the deserts of the west as well.  They have walked with and against the sun around this mountain.  They have been brought as babies to be carried around this mountain, and as elders, they have made their way to this place to die.  Some circle this great body in a day.  Others seem to take a lifetime .....  Joan Halifax, The Fruitful Darkness.

Mike and his friends traveling in an old bus from Colorado to the east coast.   Taking the kitty out for a early morning walk.

It was a joy to talk with this nice young french couple traveling across the U.S.

Worker at Cafe Du Monde

Braidan, originally from Oregon but now living in New Orleans.   Stories of Opal Creek and favorite books.

I created a lot of candid street photography in late 2013 and early 2014 (NYC, Guanajuato, Guadalajara, SF, Seattle, etc).   I enjoyed this type of work very much, wanted to dig as deep as I could, while being respectful I wanted to catch a personal slice of time, a moment of life, etc.   I think that this work was very good and felt strong about my June show at Gallery 360.   These current photos are not quite the same.   In these I have wanted to establish more of a relationship albeit a very brief one.   I've wanted to create photographs that get at the journey (perhaps pilgrimage) that the subject is undertaking.  Not in a documentary way but rather in a more insightful way.  This is something I want to think more about as we prepare for our spring 2015 Italy trip.  I have some question as to whether to be thinking in color or black and white for this.   The artful abstraction of black and white is very appealing but, for me, so is retaining the connection to the subject afforded by color.    We'll see...