Blog Archives
the darkness got there first, 1
The next four days of posts are from a fledgling project which came about as a result of taking an online class, taught by my good friend Don Toothaker. The theme was Sense of Time.
In working on the assignment, I started to think about time passing, rites of passage, and personal transitions. In my current state of mind, going through rites of passage happens alone and in the dark. Darkness has long felt more profound to me than daylight: it hides some things while it amplifies others. It is alone-ness in a way that daylight is not. It is when changes happened and settle in, to be viewed later, perhaps in the night.
All of the images in this short series were shot along one street in Lubbock, 34th Street, which has itself gone through many transformations over the decades. The images are intended to represent human rites of passage projected against the landscape of my own life. They are linked by the overarching theme – and project title – “the darkness got there first.”
Image 1: Welcome to the dream
On those nights when life seems like a dream, everything seems likely to happen. Especially the good parts: they always seem a little more possible.
But maybe those dreams you hold so dear, don’t work. Maybe they are too big. Or not big enough . And maybe you have to let go of them, to free your dream-fragments to fuel something, or someone, else.
Lubbock, Texas
photographed 8.29.2025
boat/tilt
Even if you don’t necessarily think of yourself as a landscape photographer, but you get the chance to go to the Scottish Highlands with Don Toothaker and Karl Griffin, you should do everything in your power to make it happen.
It’s hard to find two better photographers/teachers than Don and Karl. Then there’s the added benefit that the two of them together are just hilarious. And don’t overlook the fact that the Highlands are full of fabulous things to see and photograph. Like this beached ship, to give but one example. (More examples coming though, so don’t even worry about that.)
Corpach, Scotland
photographed 11.6.2023
behold: the goat
In late August of 2021, I was in Boston and had lunch with my friend Don Toothaker; he was very excited to tell me about a photo adventure to Sicily that he was planning. The thing that stuck with me (other than his unbridled enthusiasm) was when he said, “We’ll see goat cheese in the markets AND then GO SEE THE GOATS.” I was intrigued, even though it took me nearly a half a year to talk myself into taking the trip.
Don’s enthusiasm for the trip was not misplaced or exaggerated. Going on the trip was definitely one of the smarter decisions I’ve ever made.*
And look! Here’s the goat I’d been promised. The breed is Girgenti; they are indigenous to the Sicilian province of Agrigento. And they will be your best friend if you scratch their heads just behind their horns.
near San Biagio Platini, Sicily
photographed 6.6.2022
*Not that there is necessarily a lot of competition.
A Grand Space
If you are in Boston and you are hanging out with your photographer friend and he says you “have” to go see (and photograph) the Boston Public Library, you’d be an idiot to disregard those words.
About a million thank-yous to my friend Don Toothaker for his very sound advice. I never would have given the library a second thought; Don’s other advice was to slow down and look at the details. I did that, too, but it’s the feeling of this spectacular space that has stayed with me. It’s so classic, so classical, so hushed. Kind of like church, only with books and reading tables. And fewer hymns.
Bates Hall
Boston Public Library
Boston
photographed 9.3.2021
snacking
If you know anything at all about my photographic eye, you probably know that it’s drawn to the things that are worn out, broken, used up, less than beautiful, easily overlooked.
And that’s why, when I was in the beautiful Beacon Hill neighborhood, I photographed what was left of these leaves after something had snacked on them.
Beacon Hill
Boston
photographed 8.28.2021
One Day | One Image 