The Inner Path of Photography

Making Portraits – Choices

I’m inspired by the comparison portraits above from today’s NPR article, “For Modern Poets, a “Likeness” Could Evolve” (based on the current show at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.)

Same person, different perspectives.

Here’s Langston Hughes as a bellhop (with much soul), and as a professional, business-like writer. These images were both made in the same year.

Marianne Moore is young, romantically lighted. Almost 20 years later we have a different experience of her life in her clear, I-see-you gaze, posed in front of elephants.

A thought provoking reminder to those of us who take portraits –
How do you “see” (experience/feel/understand) the person?
What do you consciously include in the image?
Are you evoking your preferred expressions, or do you allow the subject’s natural expression to come through?

And if you’re the one looking –
“Who” are you being encouraged to see?
What qualities are there – and what may be left out?

Interesting in the article: insights re the dynamics of artists and their agents deciding what persona to be presented to the world, more examples of portraits that have changed dramatically as the person evolves (see Allen Ginsberg), featured poets reading their work…

(Camila Domonoske and Angela Evanciei, “For Modern Poets, a “Likeness” Could Evolve,” on the new exhibit, “Poetic Likeness: Modern American Poets“ (see wonderful website) in the National Portrait Gallery,Washington, D.C.)

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February 12, 2013

“Love”

This sky where we live
is no place to lose your wings

so love love love

– Hafiz

Image: “Love,” from birthday photo shoot “Turning Two!”
© Heidi Straube 2013

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January 15, 2013

Art Rock: Songs inspired by artists

Rene and Georgette Magritte with their dog after the war

I love to see the interplay of different art forms. It’s wonderful to see how we can all inspire each other, drawing from the same creative Source.

Here’s a fun and interesting article (with videos embedded) about songs that have been written about or are inspired by various painters. From Picasso to Warhol to Frida Kahlo – and reflecting all kinds of music and styles – the Muse arises, and uniquely, tribute is paid.

I was trying to pick a favorite, but as I return and visit the videos, it varies day-to-day. One day I like the repetitive words and music of The Modern Lovers with their unique perspective in “Pablo Picasso,” another day I’m into the sweetness and sentimentality of Paul Simon’s “René And Georgette Magritte with their Dog After the War,” and then a third time the simple caring and humor of Michael Marra in “Frida Kahlo’s Visit to the Tay Bridge Bar” makes me happy.

And what about John Cale? He keeps popping up on the radar these days. His “Magritte” is an update of his signature style, and works for me.

Fisun Guner’s comments about songwriter and song are informative and frame the theme beautifully. She has also included the “worst” of these types of songs – I had to laugh at some, and don’t really care about the others.

It’s enough to see and hear the masters that feed my hungry inspirational soul.

“Art Rock: The best and worst songs about artists,” by Fisun Guner
http://www.theartsdesk.com.

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January 7, 2013

“The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World”

The picture above is of a bookstore in Porto, Portugal – truly a book lover’s version of the “stairway to heaven.” I discovered it in the article “The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores of the World” by Emily Temple – a tantalizing appetizer of images and locations for the traveling reader.

What a wonderful photo tour this would be to plan around! I love the variety of spaces, feeling which would be most inspiring to me to read in, buy books, or just immerse myself in the inspired architecture and design.

I’ve been to one of these bookstores – Atlantis Books, in Santorini, Greece. In 2004, after a month of roaming the wilds of Crete and other less known islands, shooting constantly, speaking basic Greek, and living in many different realities, I treated myself to a stay in magical Oia, Santorini. Wandering at sunset, I found this tiny, eclectic bookstore perched on the edge of a cliff. How lovely and with a sense of coming home did it feel to discover on a shelf the familiar name of my friend Hans-Michael Koetzle and his wonderful book “Icons, I & II” (now republished as “50 Photo Icons: The Story Behind the Picture” ) and to have a warm and interesting conversation with the creative bookstore owners.

Immersing oneself in books, bookstores, the friendships that result – May we have the opportunity to experience them all!

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