NYC Trip

I got back late last night from visiting NYC for a couple of days. The main purpose was to visit museums and galleries to see the latest exhibitions. I just missed the Richard Prince show which was very disappointing. I did get to see the Lawrence Weiner retrospective. http://whitney.org/weiner/artist.html
I was most impressed by Beth Campbell's Following Room.
On the trip I also had a chance to buy about a half dozen critical theory books which I've already started reading. The list will be included in my next update along with a few photographs that I took.

Am I suppose to start disliking photography?

I ask this in slight rhetorical fashion. But after reading:

Looking at Art Through Photographs
Photography and Representation
Time Exposure and Snapshot: The Photograph as Paradox
Touching Photographs: Roland Barthes's "Mistaken" Identification
Understanding Photographs

I find myself distraught by the fact that photography or particularly the photograph, according to the critics and intellectuals, is a mistaken and disingenuous representation of fact and more appropriately not the truth. I've been photographing for about 20 years. I'm not naive. I understand and appreciate the delicate nature of the photograph and it's somewhat fragile regard for the truth but why do so many hold photography disdainfully? I'n a lot of ways I agree with what has been written but what's with the negative tones? I believe that I will eventually be able to answer this question myself but as for know the answer eludes me.

I've been thinking about the concept of storage and it's connection with consumption in the American culture. Part of this has to do with the crap that fills my basement. Is there some connection between happiness and junk? Or more importantly "Why do I have some much sh..? Stay tune for more on this. I need to clarify and articulate my thoughts.

I have also posted two new shots from last night. Does black and white suit my subject better? I think only experimentation and trial and error will answer this.

Rethinking Photography

I recently read an interesting article SEMIOTICS FOR THE HISTORIAN:
PHOTOGRAPHERS AS CULTURAL MESSENGERS by Robert Levine. It deals with the early images in the context of their time. It's an interesting read and I'll try to post it. I also got a few shots yesterday which will be posted above.

Think outside the box?

I've tried to put myself in the position of a passive observer. But it's damn hard. I need to read more about Sally Mann and others.

I did find Society of the Spectacle online here:

http://www.bopsecrets.org/SI/debord/1.htm

My First Attempt

I feel as though I've just leaped off a cliff. How is photography a representational tool for cultural identity? 

Just Starting

This is the first post in my blog. Stay tuned.