Nightscape – Fiuggi Terme

Untitled (Fiuggi Terme Nightscape) 2010 copyright Douglas Stockdale

Where as the majority of the photographs that I post will probably be linked to a project at some point in time, I suspect that this photograph may not. Hopefully not a secret as one of the reasons for posting my work is self-promotion, eh?

For me, this composition, probably appearing very banal, is about stories of those who are not seen, as well as I enjoy this patchwork of shapes, masses, muted colors and the complex maze of lines. Most of the windows are shuttered for the night with the interior lights leaking around the edges, indicating the presence of humanity, thus personal stories that are in the process of occurring. I also accentuated this composition by flattening with a telephoto lens, which also enable me to extract the patterns that interested me the most.

I have photographed this section of Fiuggi Terme on a number of occasions while working on my project Ciociaria, as this place is located along my walk down from one of my favorite family restaurants (El Tower) in Fiuggi Citta, at the top of the hill and the place of the old city. They even have a table for me where I have a corner to store my camera and tripod where it does not (usually) get in the way. The five kilometer walk back to the hotel is refreshing and interesting at night. Thus this photograph is my talisman, as it does preserve my memory of those meals, local Pigilio wine, walks and nights.

Cheers!

Mon Bistrot – Boulogne, France

Mon Bistrot, Boulogne, France copyright Douglas Stockdale 2010

I have been still thinking about Eugene Atget and what he might be seeing if he was walking Paris and it’s outskirts. Perhaps he would see the structures and places that were about to change, perhaps seeing the evidence of the changes that are ongoing. I have started the investigation of both of these conditions and it will be interesting to see what I return to in the Fall and how this might continue.

Best regards, Douglas

Fiuggi snowstorm

Fiuggi, snowstorm copyright Douglas Stockdale 2010

Last December I recevied the Chamber of Commerce line about snow in Fiuggi: “oh, it does not every snow in Fiuggi” – Ha! I know what that white crap looks like, and this is it. So now you know my friends, it does snow in Fiuggi ;- )

Douglas

Holiday Self portraits

Self portrait, Rome copyright Douglas Stockdale

Rome archeology

Pantheon, detail by Douglas Stockdale

There are a lot of old archeology digs in Rome to see, but this was one of the few compositions that drew me in. For all of the rest, they were just interesting to causally look at.

Two trees – South Lake

As I keep developing my series I’m Just Looking, I keep coming across images that challenge me with regard to the purpose (head) of the series. Trying to keep that balance, and not get too head-strong. Sigh.

Best regards, Doug

A River runs through it – Jiashan

This is a scene that could be cliche and is in great danger of maybe being seen as one.  The Chinese boatman working his way down the river in the light snow with his umbrella trying to keep him dry from the elements while he works his way.

Yountville, CA

Yountville, CA 2007, copyright by Douglas Stockdale

Last year while I was on assignment in Napa, CA I had the opportunity to walk around the back streets of Yountville. This is a little town off the main road heading north out of Napa while you are still in this famous wine area. I was waiting for my dinner reservation, so this was a late afternoon stroll.

Spotting prints

Odd, I can have no quams about spending an hour or two spotting a print, but I look for every excuse in the book to avoid manualing loading data in a spreadsheet. Both are vary repitious tasks, one I find very boring and the other almost a zen like delight.

I know that it is probably a lot to do with my own attitude & perception. Spotting for me is enjoyable, Out dust spot, Out! And the results are a nice, clean photograph, which I will enjoy even more with the spots be-gone applied.

The other is work, even when I chart the data into some interestng graphs and create some interesting technical “stories”. I suppose that I would rather being spotting images and I now have to enter data, not spot photographs. Sigh.

Back to entering data again.

Best regards, Doug

Workshop on making photo POD books

While making my way around some galleries over the weekend, I was showing my new Blurb books as works in progress. And although I would have perferred a request to hang my work, I did get a serious inquiry as to teaching a one day workshop on how to create a photographic Print on Demand (POD) book. hmmmm.

I just may do that, so stay tuned, I have a feeling that there will be more about this later. If it occurs, it will be here in Southern California. But that does open the door for other opportunities, eh?

Best regards, Doug