Jacques Derrida wrote about boundaries. He wrote about the fragility of definitions such as citizenship and place definitions, about the need to protect and feel protected while realizing that there is no protection from the mob. He wrote about being othered and of othering as a way of belonging…but belonging to what exactly.
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The Castillo de San Marcos is also a monument to the penetrating fear of the other that human beings possess. Imposing artificial boundaries of stone and mortar are built to keep those inside safe from external harm, to fend off any attack from outside. But, are those inside safe? Are those outside the walls, those for whom the fort is impenetrable, unsafe? Does safety depend on where one stands? What if one leaves the fort to roam freely outside its walls? Does one sacrifice safety for freedom? What if those outside the walls are only a perceived threat to those inside, are they still a threat? The image suggests a solitude, perhaps desolation, that emerges from boundaries, both real and imagined. What is on the other side of the fence that seems to go on forever. Are the mountains fenced in? Who tends the land on either side of the fence? Where are they? Can I cross to the other side? May I cross to the other side? What lies beyond? These questions and more contribute to the sense of anticipation lying just beneath the solitude of the image. Looking down from the second floor, the open shaft of the elevator lobby (this is the rear) I found the converging horizontal and vertical lines irresistible. Once again, my vision coincided with Ansel Adams’ idea that “black and white is the color of photography.” This image also carries an ever so slight sepia tone adding warmth to an otherwise stark image of the post-industrial age. Located off of Hollywood Blvd., just West of Johnny Depp’s sidewalk star, this building just jumped out at me. I immediately thought of film noir, Sam Spade, Bogart and Sidney Greenstreet, Peter Lorie and even the Thin Man. When I looked up at the building I know I heard the soft strains of a soft piano and saxophone playing, beckoning the viewer to think about the solution to an unknown problem caught up in the bricks and mortar of the structure. The nostalgia evoked by this country barber shop complete with the barber pole almost makes me want to sing Down by the Old Mill Stream in 4 part harmony. No pretense here. Just plain, everyday value. The only thing missing from this image would be the old men in baggy pants just swapping tall tales sitting on the bench in front of the shop. Spring in the Rocky Mountains is a mix between returning vegitation and snowcapped peaks. This is an image of the eastern slope of Sierra Blanca in March. This 14,000 footer holds on tight to its snow not wanting to say goodbye to Winter. Surviving the Winter snows, this lone thistle waits for the Spring to be reborn. Shot in the mid-afternoon, between 3 and 4 PM, the shadows bisect the flower while light bounces off the thorns. Shooting wide open blurs the background letting the subject to pop forward. |
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