I WAS IN LOVE WITH THE PLACE
Briefly, I journeyed back home. A place I had been so desperate to leave all of those years ago. I had felt trapped and bored. There was nothing for me there. I felt like Alice when she ate that piece of cake. Too big for the place. A leg up the chimney and an arm out the door.
But when I returned it was pleasant and familiar. Everything seemed soft and warm. It seemed such a shame to leave.
ESSENTIAL SUMMER
To Run Away
Get up as early as you can. Travel as far away. See as much as you possibly can manage. Do not go to bed without trying to view the stars. See the world before it gets dark.
GONE BEFORE IT STARTED
Not what I usually do, but not mad at it either.
Walking Home Alone at three in the Morning While thinking about the Beach Boys.
Think about it.
YOU WILL NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN
Take photos of everyone in your life. Do it as often as you can. Every day even. Capture the funny way they close their eyes when they smile and how they shake their head when they make jokes. Take photos. Take videos too. Record happy little conversations about nothing. You will want to look at these memories later. No matter how many you take you will always kick yourself for not having enough. One day these easy moments will be gone and so will the people you shared them with.
Over time the details fade. You can only remember the feelings you shared with the old friends. The way their voice sounds gets muddled and lost. It hurts to lose this. Do everything you can so that you do not.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
L I G H T S
I do not usually photograph bright colors. Usually I tend more towards muted palates. For this post I wanted to compile three bright photos together. Each is taken months apart. But they are similar because each one seems to glow. None of them really fit into any specific series or vein of work I am doing, but I think the three together emote a very interesting energy. I thought I would share.
A CONCEPT
Sometimes you find yourself in a jam. Sometimes not everything pans out quite like it should. So here we have some 4x5 color film. I had several boxes of this film. This was the only exposure I really liked. That being said, I quite like it.
A PORTRAIT
Do you ever think months or years later how much someone meant to you? You look at old photos and think about old conversations and just run through the memories over and over until even the happy thoughts make you sad.
Conrad Valone
2017