Kate Captures The Moment — Image by kenne
— Susan Sontag
Peppers — Image by kenne
— Susan Sontag
Gas Pumps — Will The Nozzle Reach? — Image by kenne
“The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people’s reality, and eventually in one’s own.” — Susan Sontag
We all know the story of the guy behind the camera — he/she is never in the picture. If you have visited this blog, you know that most of the last posts have included photos taken of our trip to the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, specifically to experience and photo The Wave. There are still some I will be sharing of our return hike to the trailhead.
As we were hiking back from The Wave, there was a couple that were in The Wave while we were there, setting out to return about the same time as we. As we hiked together on the return hike, we were asked if we would like a group photo — so I abided by giving her my camera, with a few basic instructions, of course. With my camera in hand, this woman suddenly became Susan Sontag. All I can say is that I’m glad my camera is digital, not film. Here’s a short video of her photos.
— kenne
Images by kenne
Winter Morning — by kenne
I didn’t get up this Christmas Eve morning thinking about Susan Sontag, that is, not until receiving an email from brother tom.
The book about Eugene Smith reminded me of Susan Sontag and her book: ON PHOTOGRAPHY. Robert Hughes did a splendid review of her book in 1977. You will enjoy how beautifully Hughes captures it. t.
Of course, he knew I would enjoy Hughes’ review of one of my favorite books! Even more so when the title of the review is “Books: A Tourist in Other People’s Reality,” a phase I have used for years to describe my existence. Here’s my reply to tom:
t,
I love this book — it is one that grows with you.
“Recently, photography has become almost as widely practiced an amusement as sex and dancing — which means that, like every mass art form, photography is not practiced by most people as an art,” wrote Sontag — sad but true. For me, it has always been a tool for expressing my vision of existence. The realism of a photograph is superficial since, in truth, it is inherently surreal. As Sontag points out, “Surrealism lies at the heart of the photographic enterprise.”
I don’t know if I should thank you for sending this or not. I already have so much I want to read — now I feel a need to go back and reread this great book on photography.
ken
On Photography is a must-read for any photographer. Thank you, tom, for the distraction!
— kenne
