Thursday, June 30, 2011

Friday Hometown Photo Shoot -- Simplicity

I surprised Bagman and Butler this week by dismissing them.  

BAGMAN: "What!!  You can't fire us!!"

I try to explain as simply as possible.   "I'm not firing you.  Just giving you a few days off.  Go on to Myrtle Beach.  We'll be taking a week vacation there next week -- all of us, including my daughter who is coming down from Massachusetts.  Why don't you and Butler get an early start?"

BUTLER:  "Why?   Don't you want us for the photoshoot?"

"Simplicity," I say.  "Let's face it.  When you guys are talking in my head, it is not ever simple."

Bagman and Butler left, carrying only a few simple possessions, leaving me alone to contemplate this week's post.  

Since my life is not simple, I've been completely overhauling our irrigation system and building a partial wall on the second floor this week -- hence, the camera has been untouched -- so the simplity shoot has to be archival. 

And going through old pictures, I quickly discover two things:

  1. I don't really know what simplicity is. 
  2. Whatever it is, I'm not it.
My vision tends to be a hungry vacuum cleaner trying to suck every color and shape into one huge ball of...of...well, colors and shapes.  I further confuse myself by wondering if simplicity and minimalism are the same or just distant cousins.   In A.A. we have a saying: "K.I.S.S. -- Keep it Simple Stupid."  Actually I don't think A.A. has a copyright on that saying.  

Then I realize that I'm babbling in a totally non-simple fashion even without Bagman and Butler.  I force myself to empty my mind.  

When that fails, I just pull some pictures out of the archive and hope for the best. 


This was simply a completely over-exposed botched shot
which I neglected to delete for some reason.


I took this 26 or so years ago on the day I met my wife
although aside from timing, the subject has no significance.


Simple shape?  Too much color?





Okay -- I am looking forward to learning about simplicity from the rest of the Friday Shooters.  And soon we will pack up for a week in Myrtle Beach so I may be out of touch somewhat...









19 comments:

  1. The picture with the wooden blocks is the best - SIMPLE and clear lines and not too many colours.
    Enjoy the week on Myrtle Beach! I expect you will find Bagman with a massive sunburn, and Butler being his usual pale elegant composed self :-)

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  2. That last one is like a flower petal, but I think it is the draped folds of a white dress, very pretty!
    Enjoy your weekend!

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  3. Take pictures from the top of the huge Ferris Wheel. You can probably see 2570 Wings stores from up there.

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  4. I'm with the librarian--the wooden blocks are the best. I think all you need is a melting clock by it and you'd have a salute to Salvadore Dali there. Enjoy your break (all 3 of you!).

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  5. well now you have it 50 / 50 - I like the draped cloth too. When in museums looking at old paintings I like to get up close and look at the folds in the cloth.... well I do!. to me anyone that can paint cloth can really paint... does that go for photos as well?
    have a great vacation, and don't forget the camera AND charger.

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  6. my vote goes to the board shot. that is simple and i like it. have fun

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  7. I like the view with the flying swan best - that's simply beautiful. The others set my brain spinning trying to understand what I'm looking at!

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  8. My husband is just back from a week in Myrtle Beach - he left a sandal behind, don't do the same. Your botched shot is really cool!

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  9. The totally WHITE hall. It is very interesting. What comes to my mind and I don't know why? Being locked up in a white room for 24 hours. Seeing nothing but white. I enjoyed your photographs. Hope you relax some at Mertle Beach. The blotched shot is cool, I agree with Scattering...

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  10. I always check out your header shot first. very good Mark! I was wondering what you would do for simplicity.

    you are not alone. I am not sure if I got this theme correctly either. but did my best as it is.

    I like the white hall shot, the egret? shot and the last one. all show simplicity to me. love the egret the most though. fantastic image.

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  11. oh yes, have fun and enjoy your vacation.

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  12. I like the picture of the flying swan best, the best describing simplicity to me!

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  13. I had a thing about tunnels, hope you don't have to walk alone in one esp if it is very long.

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  14. I think you were smart to shoo Bagman and Butler away. You did a great job finding photos for this one!

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  15. I tried to guess what you would do with your header this week - got it wrong, of course. Love it, anyway. And the wooden blocks - whatever they are!

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  16. You have chosen some special angles in a lot of your photos, well, still go around to find something may surprise me.

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