William Bragg

We definitely (desperately?) need more space to remain effective with our program. Everyone wants more space. There is much rationalization at any organization for more space, which is more often than not equating space with power/prestige/standing. But truly it’s getting to the point where we will not be able to properly serve our students.

Trying the ‘glass, half-full’ approach. Yesterday’s breakin and theft, allowed me to forget that the TSA screwed up my Koni-Omega camera (the film back) when traveling back East. I packed the camera in my check-in baggage. I know, stupid! But traveling with a 2 year-old causes you to sacrifice items like medium format cameras for Thomas the Train books. Trust me.

Well, the TSA agents must have been very suspicious of the camera, as they removed the back and ventured a look inside. Well you have to be careful when you attach the back onto the body, and they weren’t. I think I’ll be able to fix it. But frustrating nonetheless.

My truck was broken into last night. Some petty cash, my gps system, phone charger, clothing bought for a couple of my students (as talented, creative and intelligent as they are, many do not have clothes necessary for some of the events they must attend), and some other minor things stolen. But the worse part is that much of my lighting equipment was stolen - a couple of monolights & softboxes, a portable power pack, lightstands, and more. Bloody Hell!

I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ll have to check my insurance policies. I sure as hell can’t afford this right now. I don’t know where the culprit(s) think they’re going to offload some of the equipment. I guess I’ll keep my eye on craigslist, etc.

More photos from a new personal project of mine. Comments and/or criticisms are always welcome.

These photos are part of a new personal project that I’m beginning. I referred to this project while ruminating about using medium format.

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Abstract:

This paper contributes to very nascent geographies of sleep. The paper is situated in the context of academic, media and policy debates regarding the health and well-being of children in Anglophone cultures. Drawing upon an extensive survey of websites dedicated to children’s sleep, it explores the ways in which bedtime and sleeping practices are represented by experts. Expert advice is aimed at parents (especially mothers) who are deemed to be involved in intimate but non-reciprocal relationships of care with their children. The paper highlights how expert advice is characterised by guidance around three key themes: detailed routines; intimate, bodily practices; material-environmental strategies. Our analysis of these themes extends contemporary human geographical research regarding everydayness, embodiment and material spaces. In particular, we argue that the geographies of young children’s sleep might develop and even challenge geographers’ extant interest in diverse but related issues such as care, domesticity, childhood and inter-generational relations and responsibilities.

It gets better:

Introduction

Our intentions in this paper are threefold. First, we seek to frame sleep (particularly, in what follows, children’s sleep) as salient, significant and problematic for Social/Cultural Geographers. Second, we propound contemporary, discursive representations of sleep as themselves significant, affecting, efficacious and problematic.

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I posted some of the photos from my Koni yesterday, and alluded to the fact that I’d write up something about the process. I’m still experimenting with the camera, and shot as opportunity dictated and to get the film developed fairly quickly, so I could mull over how it fits with my photography goals. The pics posted therefore were not connected in any coherent way outside of the fact that they are types of portraits - my main reason to photograph.

I thought about experimenting with medium format out of some real interest, an idea for a project, and, honestly, some ego and inferiority complex. As I’ve mentioned previously on this blog, there seems to be a real hierarchy applied to different aspects of photography as implied by many in the non-commercial or fine art field of photography. It got to me a bit. I shot film years ago now (35mm), and have moved to 90+% digital now. I’m truly happy with that move, but my ego still needed the caressing from proving my ability to use an ‘old’ medium format film camera.

Anyone who knows me in meatspace, recognizes me as a pretty visceral guy. Granted I’m quite likely to spout some blather from some french cultural theorist too often at times, I like being out and about meeting and interacting with people. I will talk to anyone. Ask anyone remotely near me in a cafe or bar. My photography is an extension of that. I’m not trying to necessarily capture a secret moment, but I do try to capture moments as they happen.

I pride myself on the fact that, although I can’t make the camera disappear, I create a feeling of comfort that allows others to at least ignore the camera for the most part. 35mm film in the past, and now Digital SlRs afford me that opportunity to work quickly and seamlessly, while I’m still just hanging out, meeting and interacting with others. The kids in my program and my friends will attest that there are very few circumstances when there is not a coffee or camera in my hands.

Back to the Koni-Omega. It has the quality to attract attention itself, and does provide opportunities to engage in dialogue with others in of itself, but as I mentioned above, I don’t need that. I do like the images it produces quite a bit. But right now I have the film developed locally, then scan in the negatives. Hard as I try, I can’t keep the dust particles out. Do I try to set up a small darkroom? I don’t really have the time.

But I do like it. I will continue to use it, and my project idea will still benefit from its use. But given what really excites me about photography, the nikons will be continue to be my main tools. And that’s really what the camera is - a tool, and the nikon is the best tool for me at the moment. (Though if anyone made a decent digital in a Nikon F3 form, I’d be all over it.)

Picking up the negs and prints this afternoon. Looking forward to see if the new ‘old’ camera is working properly.

(posting from my phone)

Over the next few days, I have some interesting photo shoots lined up - pretty excited. I’ll have more up this weekend. Also this is the first Saturday session of the year for Willamette Academy. Hopefully, this weekend will be healthier than last.

My laptop’s desktop wallpaper.

It started with food poisoning early on Friday for me. I was basically curled up in the fetal position by the porcelain god for two straight days, and still didn’t feel that great yesterday. Then last night it seems that Jeani got hit with food poisoning of her own, and had to vacate time with friends to get back home in time to avoid getting sick at the restaurant. Then I can’t remember when - I think, around 2 am, Liam wakes up screaming and starts to vomit. Not much worse than not being able to comfort your child.

We all seem to be better this morning, though Liam wasn’t very happy when I dropped him off at daycare. That kills me. The other issue is that Jeani and I count on our weekends to accomplish so much, and now it feels like we are falling behind. I hate Mondays, but I definitely feel a bit healthier today. Hope your weekend was much more enjoyable.

A friend of mine made a great comment in my previous post. A little clarification - both of these posts represent the new promo cards, but the cards in reality are of higher resolution and larger physical size (approx 5×7). The two below are printed on one card on opposite sides, and are intended to be handed out. They try to represent a sense of my style.

The one represented here is considered more of a mailer with the goal of instigating a desire to check me out. As below, comments are much appreciated.

I’ve been crazy busy for the last couple of weeks. I wish I could say that it was for all new and exciting projects, but unfortunately that’s not the case. It’s been mostly maintenance and organizing. In fact I survived one real scary event of losing a number of files. Thankfully, I’ve been keeping regular backups.

But there has been some new and very positive developments in my photographic existence over this same time period. More on that later.

One element of housekeeping that I wanted to mention is that I have a new phone number. If I haven’t already notified you of the new number (all 3 of you who read this blog), leave a comment or send me an e-mail.

The very few readers who come by here regularly will notice that there’s been some changes. (There’s also a new home page and about page.)

I’ve been extremely busy, and don’t want to continue to just post links to other sites. Also I’ve received some pretty disturbing comments on posts about my son. As photography is a big part of my life, I’m changing this blog to more regularly focus on that topic. I’m sure that I’ll continue to post the occasional political content, and possible Red Sox blurb, but for the most part I’m removing the more personal family content. I will be moving that content to another blog that will require a user account and password. I will send out an e-mail notification with the info to many of you. But if you are interested in reading that blog, and don’t think I’ll be contacting you directly, please feel free to contact me.

You may notice that not all the comments transferred over, and I apologize about that. I’m going to see if there is anything that I can do. Also there may be a few other changes to come yet, as well. You don’t have to worry about changing any of your links, as I’ve taken care of that with a 301 redirect.

I hope that these changes don’t cause you not to return, and I’m hoping to attract some more people interested in photography as well. Thanks.

(click on photo to be brought to full set)

This is one of my favorite photos from my photoshoot with Natalie. (Interested in working together?)

The opening was a great success. I was truly overwhelmed by how many people came out to show their support. (According to some it wasn’t even due to the free food!). Unfortunately, Thursday was a bit of a trial. We received a phone call to pick up Liam from daycare because he had a 105 degree temperature. Needless to say we spent the night (over 5.5 hours) at the emergency room. Long story short, Liam had a nasty ear infection, is on antibiotics, and is doing much, much better.

Don’t forget, if you couldn’t make it to The Space for my opening, my photography will be on display throughout the rest of the month.

My gallery opening is tonight at The Space in Salem (1132 NE Broadway (on the corner of Broadway and Belmont)) from 5 pm - 8 pm. The opening is free, and I’ll have some nibbles and liquids available as well. I’m also very excited about the bands playing tonight. Those begin at 8 pm and have a $5 cover charge.

Imaad Wasif will be playing as will The Plants. Imaad Wasif (myspace profile) has played in Lowercase, Alaska! and The New Folk Implosion. His first, self-titled solo record was released in 2006. Wasif toured with Yeah Yeah Yeahs on their 2006 Show Your Bones tour as second guitarist.

Hope to see you there!

Not only are the cherry blossoms out at the capitol, but they even survived the snow and hail. Probably more importantly though my show is opening at The Space on Wednesday at 5pm. The Space is Salem’s newest live music and art venue. You really need to check it out (not just for my photography, but for all the brilliant bands booked). My photography will be up for the entire month, but I’d absolutely love it if you could make it for the opening night on Wednesday.

The Space is located at 1132 NE Broadway (on the corner of Broadway and Belmont).

I’m a little hesitant to write this post. As many of you who know me, one of my pursuits (when I have time) is photography. And those who don’t know me only need to look at the navigation links above to be brought to my photoblog. Now with the photoblog I don’t adhere to any one theme, although I’m sure it becomes apparent after viewing the photos that I definitely have tendencies. What I’m doing here is a bit different. Though I haven’t had any real time these last few months, I’ve been over time examining the idea of landscape photography.

Landscape is commonly defined as a genre of art dealing with the depiction of natural scenery. Most often, landscape photography is thought of as:

A landscape is a section or portion of scenery as seen from a single viewpoint. Scenery is the subject of a landscape image. Typically, people and animals are not shown in a landscape, unless they are relatively small in the image and have been included in the composition to show scale. Some photographers argue that the sea coast, the city and man-made structures in general should not be included in a landscape… (here)

I’ve always had a problem with elevating humans above nature, or outside of nature, and also the separation of what constitutes ‘natural’. Well I don’t want to get into alot of word play about this issue, and that’s why I photograph stuff anyways. I know that many people would just qualify photographs of this nature as urban landscapes or some such categorization. But while these photographs do obviously have ‘urban’ elements, Salem is not the most ‘urban’ of locales. And just as much ‘natural’ landscape photography shares common elements, trees, water, mountains, etc. so does these photographs with other places; and while each photograph may not individually identify ‘Salem’, the aggregate gets closer.

So that’s what this is, Salem Landscapes. My approach is the same as if I were trying to capture a waterfall scene, but it’s of the place where I now live for better or worse.

And that gets to the final point in this post. These photographs have been captured explicitly with this project in mind.(Quick aside: I’m not conceited enough to think that I’m being original here. Many, many others do similar projects, and are much more talented.) I’ve got more photos than are included here (6), but these share something that I cannot fully articulate (again why I take photos). And this project continues. But I’m possibly going to be showing these publicly, and I guess I’m trying to garner some comments (i.e. They suck, I don’t get it, You suck, etc.)

So there you go, if you are so inclined you can leave a comment.

Click on the photo to be brought to the photo project page.