Overcoming Inertia

In 1991 I was walking through a park in Mexico City where a group of artists were showing and selling their work. I saw a piece that I absolutely fell in love with, but walked on, thinking that I should see what else was available before deciding to buy. Of course, by the time I returned the piece had already been sold. Then and there I made myself a promise: when there is opportunity, act; do not wait, because it only leads to disappointment.

It is a promise I have broken hundreds and hundreds of time.

Chalk it up to inertia, that is, my own resistance to changing my state and acting. These days it usually happens when I see someone I want to photograph. I make dozens of excuses to myself because inertia freezes me up. You know, excuses like, "She's probably in a hurry," "The lighting isn't very good," "There's too many people in the way," "The sidewalk is too narrow." You get the idea.

Yesterday, I had one of those moments. Passing a barber shop, I spotted an incredible-looking young woman through the window: attractive, slender, in a buttoned up white shirt and loud bow tie, and, best of all, without hair. I immediately manufactured excuses: I'll have to set up the 8x10, she's working and won't have time, we're walking over to another part of town and we're losing the light, and on and on... Stupidly I ignored my rule, allowed inertia to carry me on, and figured I had lost the picture.

Apparently, the photo gods decided to give me a break. Because when the other side of town didn't pan out, I retraced my steps, and, when passing the barber shop once more, there she was, seated outside and talking on her cell.

The rest of the details are not important. The fact that she reappeared was a sign to make her photo no matter what. It is viewable below; the bonus was the back story that she wrote to go along with the image. Perhaps after this, I will follow my Mexico City rule without ever hesitating.

Eva

Interview with My Daughter, Jordanna

My daughter, Jordanna, is a superb photographer. She's just been interviewed by Sophie Greenidge over at Ghost.

I invite all of you to check it out.

Mary Ellen Mark

Many tributes will be forthcoming for Mary Ellen Mark, the quintessential photojournalist, who passed away last Sunday.

My own Mary Ellen Mark story links back to the early 1990's when I took a weekend workshop with her at the Center for Photography in Woodstock, NY. She was generous with her knowledge and wisdom, and was quite kind to me, a relatively young, emerging photojournalist.

I was dazzled by Mary Ellen, and wanted to give her something of my own, as a way to thank her for a remarkable workshop experience. So, rather naively, I made a print of an image fresh from my first journey to Nicaragua. It was this:

Reyna

I was proud as hell of this picture, and Mary Ellen was most gracious in accepting it. Looking back, however, I have no idea what she might have done with it except either relegate it to some file, or, more expeditiously, to the trash.

In any event, any one who has experienced Mary Ellen's remarkable work is all the richer for it. I know that is the case for me.

Memorial Day - 2015

Looking For This "Look"

Judy

The portrait I made of Danielle Santos Bernal created a great deal of interest. So much so that I'm now working on a project making portraits of lesbians for a prominent museum in Florida. While Danielle was quite adamant in being characterized as "butch," not all women who favor a masculine look favor that word. (When I asked one woman if she thought of herself as butch, she told me, "That's a very strong word. Let's just say that I identify with members of the lesbian community.")

Erin

So, in deference to the lesbian community, let me say that I am interested in making portraits of women who identify in that way and have a particular look.

If you live in the Tri-state area, and happen to fit that description, or be acquainted with someone who does, I'd be pleased to have you contact me: larreynaga13@gmail.com so that we may include you in this project.

Suri

Go Figure, Part 2

As I've stated in a previous blog post, posting work on Flickr helps me gauge the popularity of an image particularly when viewers "fave" the picture.

When an image starts to unexpectedly take off, however, I usually forget that the image probably made it to the "Explore" section of the Flickr site. Such is the case with the portrait of "Ariel," which I posted yesterday. Usually the viewership rises slowly over the first several days and levels off into about a thousand views in about three weeks. Ariel shot up to over 3,000 in a matter of hours, and, when I checked out "Explore," there she was.

Now, perhaps someone can explain to me how a photo is selected for "Explore" on Flickr, because I had first posted a cropped version of Ariel in mid-April and it never made it to Explore. Once again, "go figure."

As of this blog post: 4032 views 105 faves in 17 hours on Flickr

As of this blog post: 1200 views, 34 faves in 22 days on Flickr

Humbling

I find myself both humbled and flattered whenever someone takes the time to let me know they have looked at and admired my work.

Annalisa Ceolin publishes an online magazine, Visions, which draws out a theme using the work of well-known, master photographers, strong practitioners, and relatively unknowns. I'm a member of that third category. That's why when Annalisa contacted me and asked me to contribute to the latest issue, "Backstage," I was deeply honored.

So, please take a moment to look through the many, many fine images in this issue. (And to think I'm in the same publication with the likes of Stanley Kubrick, Ingmar Bergman and Orson Welles.)