A Turn To Magritte

not a photograph

Why not? It was made with a camera, It could certainly pass for one. Is it not a photograph because it’s digital? Because it’s zeros and ones? No. Isn’t it a moment? Well yes, but only by default. It’s not because of the words written on it either. And it has nothing to do with reality versus representation. The simple reason is that it relies on nothing that is exclusively photographic. The same effect could be achieved with scissors, glue and three pieces of colored paper.

“Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see.” — Rene Magritte

Published on 27 May 2008 7:28.
Filed under: Single Photo Tags: ,

Eschatology

black in russia

They that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

[Job 4:8-9]

Published on 13 May 2008 16:45.
Filed under: Black in Russia, Single Photo Tags: ,

In Search of Lost Time

old man

I find myself wanting to give the picture this name despite having never read the book and not knowing what it is about. Perhaps the man in the picture has read it? Perhaps the title of the book has come to have its own meaning in itself? It has separated itself from its contents. Somewhat like Catch-22. This is neither a nostalgic nor a historical photo. Nor is it a memory, nor a face from the past. It is a memory yet to come.

Published on 5 May 2008 8:44.
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On Photography

fashion model

This photograph could have been taken by anyone. So could any other photo. There is nothing special in the fact that you or I or Phil took the picture. Photographs like ideas simply exist around us, floating in the aether, waiting to be appropriated. This is why Newton and Leibniz simultaneously invented calculus. And for this reason pictures taken by me are not mine. Nor are the ones you take yours. My responsibility for their creation is secondary. They’re still out there for someone else if I don’t take them — for anyone else.

Published on 25 April 2008 20:28.
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Welcome!

giaconda

Things change rapidly they do. Believe it. Here’s the latest incarnation of my site currently being revamped. Hope the photo holds you over for now. Mike.

Published on 17 April 2008 19:05.
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