Running and Passing.

I have self-published a photo book for my Open Books Project. The project reflected on the digitization of printed media and this book serves as a meta layer to that abstraction of container, order, and accessibility. When contrasted with the online project page and resources, the limitations and experiential qualities of the physical book become more apparent.

The book is limited to an edition of 15 with one copy donated to the Indie Photobook Library. Copies are available through my AdoramaPix account or by contacting me at matt@mattkowal.net.

BodyVox Dancer/Instructor Elizabeth Burden is currently leading a dance workshop with a group of 4th graders at Lincoln Street Elementary in Hillsboro, Oregon. This arts ed program is part of the Portland’s Regional Arts & Cultural Council’s Right Brain Initiative. Photos by your truly.

I first began to make pictures seriously in 1960. At that time, photography appeared to me as a new art. Prior to around the middle of the 19th century, photography did not exist. In 1960, in historical terms, the 19th century seemed just around the corner. My own grandfather, who I lived with, had been born in 1871. I knew enough about Art to know that great, perhaps unsurpassed achievements in sculpture went back to the Ancient Greeks. Great paintings has been made since the Renaissance. (In fact the Romans and Greeks also left great works in painting, though I think I was ignorant of it at the time.) But photography? Photography was new. (via The End of the Age of Photography by Danny Lyon)

Ah, the golden age. More than ever, people are experimenting with photography. A camera can be found in just about every contemporary mobile communication device. We’re printing fewer photos, but continually sharing billions of digital images online.

In the Late 1980′s, William Eggelston used the term ‘democratic forest’ to describe his photographs of commonplace or ordinary objects and scenes. With the proliferation of capture capable devices, it’s become increasingly difficult to not employ the photographic medium to chronicle our daily routine, supplement our memory, and provide an expressive outlet.

But if it’s everywhere and all the time, and so easy to make, then what’s of value? which pictures matter? Is it the hard won photograph, knowing, controlled, previsualised? Yes. Or are those contrived, dry and belabored? Sometimes. Is it the offhand snapshot made on a whim. For sure. Or is that just a lucky observation, some random moment caught by chance? Maybe. Is it an intuitive expression of liquid intelligence? Exactly. Or the distillation of years of looking seeing thinking photography. Definitely. (via Photography is Easy, Photography is Difficult by Paul Graham)