Work #5650

Work #5650 copyright 2012 Douglas Stockdale

So what is “work”?

MACRO acquires Ciociaria Limited Edition Photographs

Photographs copyright Douglas Stockdale 2012

I am now able, as well as extremely happy, to share some wonderful news. Over the past month, I have been in discussions with Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma (MACRO), the largest contemporary art museums in Rome Italy, regarding the acquisition of three Limited Edition photographs from my photobook project Ciociaria. This week I received the really grat news that the acquisition has been completed. The three photographs that they acquired are provided in this post. The photographs will become part of the museums permanent collection of contemporary photography.

What I am finding out is that with many museum acquisitions, the process can become very complicated. In this case there was a need to balance what the museum wanted in the number and size of the photographs with their acquisition budget, which initially did not add up very well. Thus I brought into the process a small group of my collectors who provide underwriting (financial gifts or now museum patrons) assistance with the museum’s acquisition. And the deal slowly came together.

This is my first museum acquisition as well as my first inclusion into a permanent photography collection. To now be a part of the MACRO’s contemporary photography collection is an honor, as the MACRO is becoming a very well-known contemporary art museum in Italy as well as in Europe.

Memories – changing over time

Cheshire England, January 2012 copyright Douglas Stockdale

I continue to be intrigued by the various facets of memory and one that seems the most futile and vexing is the preservation of a memory. Sometimes no matter how hard I attempt to hold on to it, a memory can be elusive and like a fog, slips too easily through my fingers.

Ciociaria – Karen Jenkins review – photo-eye

Ciociaria copyright 2011 Douglas Stockdale

photo-eye just published Karen Jenkins review of my book Ciociaria. Jenkins goes into considerable depth, and grapples with an undercurrent of memory that weaves through most of my photographic projects, where she states; the theme of the memorial also emerges, wherein nature is shown as an inextricable part of how we commemorate loss and reckon with the passing of time, seen here in wilted bouquets, neglected fountains and shrines embedded in the rolling hillsides.

She states: A dichotomy is suggested between this variation on street photography and unpopulated landscape or topographical views. In this guise, Stockdale rejects both narrative reportage and the purely picturesque. He instead delves in between – seeking places where the strange becomes familiar and the familiar strange – creating touchstones of personal symbolism that transcend the particulars of Ciociaria. Within this realm, Stockdale takes a deadpan look at the human-altered landscape, finding in the banal a cross-cultural link to broader metaphorical meaning. Yet the book is also studded with heavily lyrical images (not least of which is the final view of a misty, open road).

I appreciate her observation: What I liked best about these photographs is how simply they capture the relentless and sometimes beautiful, sometimes bewildering encroachment of the natural world on man-made environments. I find Stockdale to be a keen observer of how people attempt to compartmentalize and contain nature for both practical use and domestic enjoyment.

I invite you to read the review in its entirety, then perhaps be moved to purchase the book!

Ciociaria – now on YouTube

Fiuggi copyright 2010 from Ciociaria published by Edizioni Punctum

One aspect of publishing my book Ciociaria that was entirely unexpected was the upload on YouTube by Tomas de Teresa, who publishes the Spanish photobook review blog Libros de Fotografia. Tomas has made a nice choice of photographs from my photobook in conjunction with an interesting Spanish guitar background. The video does not run long, so take a quick couple of minutes and check it out!

Thanks Tomas!

Libros de Fotografia – Ciociaria review

More web ink for Ciociaria, with a photobook review by Tomás de Teresa on his blog Libros de Fotografia.

The text for Tomás’s review is in Spanish, but in my humble option, I think the efforts to translaste into English are worth it, e.g. “Douglas has traveled the area as a flaneur, wandering in the rural and urban areas with the aim of deciphering the landscape through photography. His images capture the essence of Ciociaria, a place that is perceived at the same time familiar strange.”

While at Libos de Fotographria, check out some of Tomas’s other photobook reviews, such as Nan Goldin’s  “The Beautiful Smile“, published in conjunction with her 2007 Hasselblad Award.

best regards, Doug

Ciociaria – published! & other updates

me & Marco Delogu, Ciociaria copyright 2011 Douglas Stockdale published by Edizioni Punctum

Last weekend in Rome during Fotografia Festival Internazionale di Roma, I finally was able to hold my book, to see it actually in print. Really a bunch of mixed feelings, ranging from really elated to an almost anti-clamtic let down. The best part, the interior plates in the book were a match to my photographs from the project, they looked awesome!

In Rome, I had a nice meet up with Alec Soth, who was also published this month by Edizioni Punctum, at the Punctum studios where we had an interesting discussion while swaping copies of our freshly minted books. Clement Kauter left Rome for Paris with three signed copies to sell at his bookshop (Plac’ArtPhoto) and I brought a few copies back to Southern California, while I work with Marco to ship the reminder of the books, which I hope will arrive by November.

Meantime, the book is available now for pre-order off my web-site as well as photo-eye. This weekend, photo-eye featured Ciociaria in their “New Arrivals” email news-blast, and I like what they had to say about the book:  (Stockdale) displays the photographer’s natural ability to create a series of images that reflects his own interpretation of an unfamiliar land. The photographs in this book navigate between urban and natural landscapes and depict an honest dialogue between an outsider and a seemingly close-knit world. Beautifully printed, the photographs here are an inspiring investigation into a personal journey that has manifested itself as a series of engaging images.

Also this weekend Susan Burnstine published our interview on her blog underexposure and provided me the opportunity to talk about my photography, book reviews and what led up to publishing Ciociaria with Edizioni Punctum, as well as what the future holds. very nic.

It’s been a very busy week. I was able to re-photograph one of the In-Passing memorials as I continue to re-develop this Aftermath project.

Best regards, Doug

Susan Burnstine’s underexposure – interview – Ciociaria

Ciociaria; back, spine & front covers

I was featured today on Susan Burnstine’s wonderful blog underexposure.  Susan has recently started providing her interviews that she has previously published in a monthly column for Black & White Photography Magazine (UK) entitled American Connection on her new blog.

The interview by Susan is focusing on the events leading up to my publication of  Ciociaria. As you read her other interviews, you will probably note that she has a structure to her interviewing process; from the photographers early beginnings, influences and then the particulars around the project that subsequently evolved into a published book or exhibition. Thus it was a little easier to prepare for our discussion, unlike my live interview with Brooks Jensen, editor of LensWork, in 2008 with the publication of my project In Passing (LensWork #74 Jan/Feb 2008). Susan afforded me the opportunity to provide an edit of the interview before she published it, which was very nice. Actually, it gave me the opportunity to perhaps appear a little more polished than perhaps I am.

I will also have to say that Susan is also a very accomplished photographer, having recently published her own book Within Shadows.

So a very big Thank You Susan!

best regards, Doug

Ciociaria – Final design complete & on press

Ciociaria copyright 2011 Douglas Stockdale, published by Edizioni Punctum

The short story: my book design is complete (thank you Leonardo & Marco!) and the book is on press.

I guess you could say that I am on the bubble for becoming a published author, eh? Ciociaria now has an ISBN and soon the book will truly be in print. Amazing, but true.

I just received the book’s final cover image, above (draft version here), which is really the cover image on the dust jacket. I had attempted to nudge the publisher to incorporate a casebound book cover, but in the end, it is a hardcover with dust jacket. I had worked with Leonardo to size the title text and noodle the text location such that both the title and my name did not overlap a relatively light area in the Madonna photograph (the photograph was named by Marco upon first seeing it during the book design meeting in July).

We also finalized the interior layout, with a slight tweaking of the image sequencing. In a couple of the two-page spreads I requested that we switch locations of the facing photographs. The reason is that I had requested the change was when there was a two-photograph spread, the photograph on the right page would be printed full bleed, while the facing photograph would have the traditional white margins. Because of the book’s trim size, a couple of the photographs when cropped a little tighter for the full bleed lost something in translation, where as the facing photograph appeared more interesting cropped and full bleed. nice.

The other design element that we had experimented with was selecting a few of the photographs that were a single photograph on a spread and incorporating a full-page bleed. Some of these full-bleed photograhs had some potential but then the pace of the book felt too irregular. Although this design element might introduce a subtle tension to the reading of the book, it was just a little too unsettling for me. So we then we opted for the classic small white margins for all of the single photograph spreads, while for the two photograph spreads, the photograph on the right would be a full bleed. At least viewing the final design PDF, the book design reads really well for me. Now I am impatiently waiting to see the book in print.

Next stop: Rome for FotoGrafia Festival Internazionale di Roma and to see the actual book object. Wahoo!

Best regards, Doug

Harvey Benge – photography+art+ideas – Ciociaria

 

Ciociaria copyright 2011 Douglas Stockdale

Perhaps good things do come in three’s! So far this weekend, I have had three marvelous photographers, all of whom I really respect, post great pre-publication articles about my photobook Ciociaria. First Aline Smithson featured me on Lenscratch, very quickly followed by Andrew Phelps featuring me on Buffet and today Harvey Benge featured me on his wonderful blog photography+art+ideas.

I think I need to go buy a lottery ticket!

Best regards, Doug