Blog Archives
scene/not seen 1
One thing about my mind is that it comes up with projects at a steady pace. And rarely those ideas turn into Things That I Have Done but that does not slow it down, even a little bit.
The idea for this project came to me in 2004 or 2005, before I even thought of myself as a “real” photographer. Or any other kind of photographer, as far as that goes. When the idea arrived, it came with a title, which was a nice thing for it to have done. I dabbled with it back then, but ran into some problems. I lacked Photoshop, for one thing, and the cheap alternative was unwieldy. I got bored trying to figure it out and gave up.
Or so I thought.
My brain had other ideas, as it does, and anyway, here I go again with this thing that wants to be called “scene/not seen”. We’ll see where it goes this time…
Lorenzo, Texas
photographed 4.18.2025
bottled/water
One of my friends told me about this place because she was pretty sure I’d like to photograph it. That’s Interesting Detail 1.
Interesting Detail 2 is that I made this on the very first day I didn’t need the knee scooter I’d been using since mid-May. (I’ve moved on to a gorgeous primer-gray walking boot.)
Other than those things, this is just a pile of empty 5 gallon water bottles in a side yard of the Sierra Springs water store.
Hang on! I just discovered Interesting Detail 3: Google street view of this place was in 2023 and at that time, this area contained one roll-off dumpster, one white pickup with a camper shell, and not a single bottle.
As the Talking Heads said, “I got some wild, wild life.”
Lubbock, Texas
photographed 6.21.2025
sacrament
A member of this church drove up while we were outside taking photos and asked if we would like to see the inside. She unlocked the door and then left us alone for a while, a great kindness that I didn’t pay enough attention to at the time.
I like it that she was proud and wanted to show her meaningful place to three strangers. And her letting us experience the church for ourselves, without staying to see what we were doing, was the very best example of natural grace that I can even imagine. I am sure our thanks weren’t nearly enough.
San Isidore Catholic Church
Coyanosa, Texas
photographed 2.22.2025
campfire coffee
The photographer I used to be seems like a distant memory. That photographer who would never intentionally photograph people, and instead stuck to ragged buildings and empty landscapes – the photographer I thought I’d be forever – has left. And now I actively seek out places where I can photograph people doing what they do – even if they’re doing it on a very cold morning in Alpine, Texas, to cite just one example.
Alpine, Texas
photographed 2.22.2025
you who are the stranger
This place is special in ways that I can’t explain. I hope that all of you have a place or two just like it.
near Toyahvale, Texas
photographed 2.18.2025
One Day | One Image 