Saturday, January 7, 2012

Where To From Here ?

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These past few weeks I've been going through nearly all my photographic archives. A first book of photos about the Causse Méjean in southern France is at the publisher. A second book project with even more photos in it, about cemeteries, is in the works. Selecting the photos and doing the page layout for each of the 98 pages in these books is a monumental task, but there is something highly satisfying about the work. The time spent in these efforts, not to mention the recent holidays, explains why I haven't been out and around the blogosphere as much as I would like. Hopefully when the second book is off to the publisher I'll be able to get some more sleep and get out to visit more.
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When I set out to start this blog over three years ago I had in mind that the Magic Lantern Show was in itself a sort of book project, a web book if you like, documenting a small part of my past photographic work, and continuing to present new photos as time goes by. I would be dishonest if I were to say that I didn't harbor some hopes that the blog would in some unknown way lead on to other opportunities to see some of the many photos herein published in one way or another, or perhaps give rise to ways to display them in public, and even sell some of them. That hasn't really happened yet ; perhaps a blog among all the millions of blogs out there, all clamoring for attention, is not the right vector for seeking further outlets for creativity, although it has led to meeting all of you wonderful people, which is priceless of course.
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The small showing still in progress in Paris is a first step in the direction of finding other outlets. The opening of a virtual gallery on the ImageKind.com site is a second step. Having two self-published books in hand is a third step. But I can see that if any further progress is to be made, I will have to put together a portable "show" of sorts, between large prints of photos, the books, and a collection on an iPad, and then go start pounding the streets of Paris, knocking on doors, wearing down shoe leather, talking to people, asking for direction, and hoping somewhere a door will open, a receptive eye and mind will resonate on the same wavelength as these photographs, such as they are. And then where ? Realistic ? Unrealistic ? I honestly don't know. But without trying I will certainly never know. Time will tell.
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In the meanwhile, here are a few photos for your pleasure. The first two will be in the cemetery book. The second is my entry for Weekend Reflections over at James' fine meme site. The yellow leaf in rainwater with trees reflected was on a memorial marker in a German cemetery near the Verdun battlefield. And the third is for those of you who enjoyed the previous post below of scrapbooked photos on a wall in Paris. . . another collection of images, under glass this time.
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47 comments:

TheChieftess said...

I like your photos...especially the top two!!! Congratulations on your determination! I'm curious about your self published books...how and where did you do this??? I've done an iBook...but wow was it expensive...good luck!!!

Catherine said...

Good luck with all the publishing projects - I hope more doors do indeed open - I love that reflection shot - it is quite beautiful...

Linda Gibbons said...

Owen, I love your photos--you have a wonderful, wonderful eye. Your photos move me in all kinds of ways. My favorites are the ones of rust, old boats and abandoned things. You make them objects of beauty and contemplation.

I fear, in this age of digital cameras,blogs and Facebook, that really good photography will be overcome by the sheer volume of what's out there.

I would like to hear about your books when they come out, and am off to view your Paris show--I don't expect to EVER actually get to Paris, but...who knows?

the fly in the web said...

I do hope for the success of your books...I wish I had the contacts to help you.

AVY said...

Beautiful picture of the grave.

/ Avy
http://mymotherfuckedmickjagger.blogspot.com

Lynne with an e said...

Am just listening to Manx and Lindley do "What is the Soul of a Man?" Somehow it seems so fitting with your thoughts and your photographs. Certainly your work points in this direction, that of letting your soul shine through into the world.
Determination, a Plan, perseverance, focus (you should be good at that), organization, belief in your work, and a good pair or two of shoes (as well as a thick hide) should get you where you want to go. Oh yes, turning on the charm and exploiting one's contacts, showing up at photographic gallery events won't hurt either.
If you don't try, if you don't go for it, you'll never get anywhere near your dream and you may regret that on your dying day.

Lorrene said...

Oh my goodness! Somebody lost their head. Oh well, maybe it's best that way. Our head is what gets us into trouble. On the serious side I wish you much luck with your project.

Owen said...

Hi Chieftess... there's a site in France called www.photographiesBook.com, which is less expensive than Blurb, for example, and seem to do good quality printing... I'm curious as heck to see what the first one is going to look like. Yes, it's a little expensive, but far far less than what it would cost to do a hundred pages of prints on photographic paper... will no doubt post about it when the first one is out of the print shop...

Owen said...

Catherine, many thanks, well, if no other doors open, at least the doors of perception are opening, most every time I go outside with a camera... one never knows what one will find...

Owen said...

Hi Linda, many many thanks, I hope that if you are dreaming of getting to Paris one day that it will happen for you, one way or another. I share your concern about the sheer volume of photos being done out there... but then again, I hope that it is still possible to believe that where there is a will, there is a way...

Owen said...

Hi Fly, muchas gracias... Hope all is good in Costa Rica, it's got to be warmer than in Paris in January. Sure could do with some sun...

Owen said...

Hi Avy, hey, it's been a while, thanks for stopping by... just clicked your follow button, with a few more you'll be over 1000... for whatever that may be worth. Take care...

Owen said...

Hey Sis, wow, that Manx & Lindley is sweet stuff... first heard that song live in Paris done by a certain BC, in a little tiny bar, was sitting right in front of Him, one of those transcendental moments. But Mr Lindley does it very fine here too, subtle stuff going on there. Strange frets on that instrument of his too.

Yep, gonna put on those walking shoes, with the Walking Blues, and go shine that burning light, see what's hiding in the shadows out there. Yep, you are right, nothing to lose, nothing at all, except the future regret of not having given it a shot...

Why is it you always speak to my heart of hearts ? Maybe we really do share some DNA or something ? Or at least some spaghetti strands...
:-)

Owen said...

Dear Lorrene, well, I don't know if it is always the head that gets us in trouble, but with or without a head on, this angel would be lovely, lovely, heavenly lovely... she radiates inner grace...

genie said...

Your publications sound so exciting. Kudos to you for persevering . I know they are going to be beautiful. Your photos today are lovely. The last one is the one that reayy touches my heart. A number of years back I flew over and went to Verdun and then to Ypres to look at WWI battlefields and soak in as much info as I could about the war in France and Belgium. My daddy was with the Corps of Engineers and they went into France on horseback to build the roadways for the troops and worked on trenches. That is all i know because he would NOT talk about the experience. I am going to add your blog to my list right now. I need to try to keep yo with you and what you are doing. genie

English Rider said...

I would like to reserve a copy of your graveyard photos, when it becomes available. (Signed copy, maybe?)

Steve said...

Keep pushing the envelope, Owen and keep pushing yourself out there. You have the eye of a genius... part of the responsibility of that is getting it out to the masses.

Small City Scenes said...

Excellent shots. I love rummaging around old cemetaries. The yellow leaf reflection shot is quite wonderful.

Cezar and Léia said...

Bonjour Owen,
So sensitive post.I'm enchanted by the last composition, so beautiful picture!
Have a great week ahead and thanks for your kind words.
hugs
Léia - Bonjour Luxembourg

Alistair said...

I understand completely about the blogosphere perhaps being to noisy to act as the conduit you seek, but I hope it gives you confidence that your work reaches and touches others and provokes thought in so many ways.

Just keep buggering on my friend. It will happen one day. Perhaps.

But if not, what a wonderful joutrney it is.....

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you decided to share your talents and personality with us by doing this blog. Best wishes with your plans for your photos.

French Girl in Seattle said...

Dear Owen. You know I enjoy following your blog. It seems "felicitations" are de rigueur also as you have been very busy -and persistent- getting your work (art?) out there. Persevere, mon ami. I wish you the best of luck and the greatest success in 2012 and beyond. You deserve it. Veronique (under grey skies at the moment also-- they inspired today's story chez French Girl.) French Girl in Seattle

Irene said...

Lovely shots ... and thanks for visiting!

Irene

Owen said...

Genie, thanks so much for stopping in and following, and am happy if some of this resonated with some family history. I'm rather fascinated with the history of WWI, which left traces still visible in northern France, even close to where we live. Just incomprehensible what happened during those years. If you look back through the archives here a bit there are quite a number of posts which touch on WWI history in one way or another.

Owen said...

Dear ER, it would be a great pleasure were you to become the first customer for one of the books, and signed of course... do drop me an email to owenmart333 at gmail dot com, I'll let you know a little more...
BTW is our mutual friend out your way these days by any chance ?

Hope your holidays were wonderful and all good things to you in 2012...

Owen said...

Ah Steve, the eternal optimist you are... thanks good sir... consider the envelope getting pushed and pulled... :-)

Owen said...

SCS, indeed, rummaging in cemeteries can bring all sorts of fascinating stories to light, a worthy way to get out and get some fresh air, stretch the legs, and learn...

Owen said...

Hi Léia, many thanks for dropping by here, and am thrilled if you enjoyed this. Hoping all is well in Luxembourg...

Owen said...

Dear Alistair,
Well spoken, indeed it is the journey that matters, and I shall continue to bugger on regardless of what results, for the blogosphere is a rich and vibrant place, where many wonderful connections have happened already, and hopefully will continue to happen... take care and thanks !

Owen said...

Hi LGS, it has been quite a voyage so far, connecting up with good people and a squirrel or two from around the world... let's see where it goes in 2012...

Owen said...

Salut Véro, et oui, plus qu'occupé ces jours-ci, mais je vais passer voir ce qui se passe chez toi dans un instant... merci énormément pour ta compagnie, et peut-être un jour en 2012 nos chemins se croiseront dans un bistro parisien ou ailleurs, qui sait... bonne année, et tous mes voeux... happy blogging !

Owen said...

Hi Irene, a pleasure...

James said...

I'm sure I've mentioned more than once that you should do a book. I hope you don't forget about us when you become famous, well more famous. Your cemetery photos are moving and very powerful.

Robert said...

j'aime bien.

Anonymous said...

Cemetery photos!?! You are speaking to my heart. I am in love!

PeterParis said...

It's obvious that with your gift, taste.. and wish to make good photos, you should publish ... in one way or the other.

I have made "books" of a selection of my photos the last couple of years, not because I believe to have the "best" photos, but more to keep some kind of albums. (I have used "monAlbum" with I feel satisfactory results.)

Another thing is a wish to have some trace of all that you have done on your blog, with the risk that it will get lost one day (which happened to my blog for a day or so). I have used "Blog2Print". In a few minutes it puts your whole blog in a book form, perhaps not quite with the perfect layout, but more than acceptable. You can get it in real book form (received some ten days later) or just as a digital, printable file, resceived after a few minutes for a cot of some 5€.

Le Journal de Chrys said...

La 1ère photo est.... "dramatique" et j'aime ça!!!! Il y a une tension qui s'en dégage.

Bravo

Anonymous said...

A while ago I was wondering whether there are kind of circles of time and events appearing roughly every 40-50 years ...

Please have a kind week you all.

Owen said...

Hey James, the books are in the pipeline, and no, won't forget the early days of blogging... was just going through the Père Lachaise photos from a year or so ago... one or two may make the cut into the book project...

Owen said...

Merci Robert !

Owen said...

Dear Nellie (anyone who is in love at first sight here is "dear" to me already)

If you go way down the right side of the page into the indexed labels list, and click on "Cemeteries", there are currently 133 previous posts that you could peruse, if you had a mind to, and see if your love is the wild head over heels howling at the full moon kind, or just sort of mild puppy love, or something in between...
:-)

Owen said...

Hi Peter... thanks for the tip about blog2print. Maybe when I finish the second book on photographiesbook.com I'll take a look. There is so much in my blog now if I wanted to print it all in books there would probably be several books to print. And then all the comment exchanges too... some priceless messages in there... Am keeping my fingers crossed that blog won't disappear just yet...

Owen said...

Bonjour Chrys... suis bien content si cette ange sans tête te plaît... j'adore cette image, merci bcp

Owen said...

Tag Robert... let's hope we are not going back in time fifty or sixty years... things are getting strange for sure...

Gwen Buchanan said...

This very thrilling Owen.. I feel happiness by osmosis... I wish you much success!

Nathalie said...

Owen that second photo is a gem! I love the first too. I wish you all the best with these two books. It's hard to get through in today's world but hey, it's worth trying. Good luck !

The Pliers said...

Is that headless littlest angel flipping me off? Just checking...

Congratulations on getting the books out of the camera and onto the shelves!

I have no idea how I'm getting this comment through...