American Geography- Matt Black

 

 

American Geography is one handsome, well thought out, well put together book. The images are striking, the reproductions superb and the content, American poverty as it exists today, as topical as it gets. The inside covers graphically list a long and seemingly endless list of the towns and places visited. The photographs are a combination of somber, digital, square format photos that focus on the landscape of the dispossessed and those attempting its navigation, interspersed with the occasional X-Pan panoramic scenic. Extra visuals include two page typologies of: crushed cigarette boxes, plastic spoons and forks, wire hangers and "Anything Helps" signs. And to guide ya through the sights, you get a constant thread of anecdotes, that read like verbal snapshots, more observational than definitive. Taken together, the book holds up and then some, considerably more intact than the territory it reveals.

The White Sky

 

Photo: Mimi Plumb

Had a great experience the other day, not only went to an actual in person photo exhibit like in ye olden days- but saw a great exhibit at that! It was Mimi Plumb's The White Sky at The Robert Koch Gallery in San Francisco, and it's the kind of exhibit that makes you fall in love with B&W (film) photography all over again- if not for the very first time in this digital era. And I say the latter since digital B&W is more often than not- one fugly fellow, at least as utilized by most practitioners today; suffice to say, it's complicated. Analog film is where B&W imagery truly shines- and these prints bare testament to that fact... gorgeous, full bodied, dynamic.* A celebration of what B&W film does best by a student of none other than B&W master Henry Wessel. And that technical prowess is only magnified by the aesthetics of Mimi Plumb's contemplative eye.

*And interesting to note- the prints are actually... inkjets!

Say What?

What every kid and would be grown up is chiming for- that's what! And just in time to make the perfect stocking stuffer... That's right, SAY WHAT? the penultimate Photozine of the year this decade! Fresh off the press and into the warm constabularies of your heart's delight- yeah, I made that part up. 

Get 'em while they're hot! Stan's long awaited, much anticipated and inexorably acclaimed, graffiti zine; complete with 55 life altering literary passages that will forever redefine your current journey- at your local Blurb emporium today...

Remember NO Matter What Happens... That You Actually Suck :)

PS:  If anything, I've always dissuaded anyone from actually buying any of my publications, and this ain't no different- but... FWIW, this is the first time that I can honestly say that the cost of this particular Blurb product is actually worth the going price! I mean, I wouldn't pay $50 for a small hard cover with mediocre reproductions, but... $8.40 for a zine w/55 images- this ain't a bad deal at all! Yeah, just sayin'...

Holiday Cheer!

"He slipped and fell," on a World War II anti-tank shell, that uhhh... went straight up his rectum. Damn, this is the kind of thing that makes me wanna take out my Texas Instruments calculator from the seventies and just try and work out the math on just what-were-the-odds...

BOO!

No, not Halloween Boo- Dirt Boo! Miracle Dirt Boo!!! Good for all that ails ya- including Covid 19-20-21!!! And it's 100% Organic- except for the landfill infused lead and arsenic. From the country that gave you Pet Rocks- well err.. actually from its friendly northern neighbor... Canada, where scams are friendly and civil. 

Goes well with your Borax Bath- drives the vaccine nanos right outta your hair! And once you're well again, you can get right back to the important things in life, like--- Stopping The Steal!

Irish Dancers

The foot movement on both of these = Poetry x Lightning. It's my understanding that the female dancer is not doing traditional Irish dance for the simple fact that... she's moving her arms! Clearly verboten back in the day when arm movement would sway innocent, Catholic lads into demonic, primal urges on the Emerald Isle. I suppose the foot movement evolved to such a wonderfully (and insanely) manic level to compensate for the lack of said upper body movement- view true, traditional Irish dance and the female dancer's arms are rod straight, leaden, vestigial appendages. 

PS- I was in awe of Riverdance at first... until it got so over the top Disney/Hollywood.

 

"I Was Shocked"

Captain Robert Salas was a missile launch officer (ya know- your usual UFO WHACKO) who lost control of ten of his land based nuclear ICBM's after a UFO hovering over the missile silo shut them down. Interesting stuff...

 

A Most Efficient Blob!

As I've mentioned before, I really like a 'good' camera bag (every bit as subjective as a 'good' camera)- whether it's the latest thing, or something you've cleverly cobbled together from vintage army surplus and modern inserts.

The Wotancraft Pilot 7L is one of the most efficient and practical bags ever! It really is ingeniously designed- and has absolute zero in the looks department. That's not to say it's ugly, Peak Design with its angular moderne aesthetic is ugly. The Pilot is just a neutral, nearly amorphous blob of pragmatic practicality. Easy to access, enlarge, divide and configure. It offers enough room, protection and durability (Cordura) to serve and last for many a photographer's evolving needs. 

Am I putting my money where my mouth is? Nope, already got a bag that is almost as efficient and at a much lower price point (it even looks slightly better), not to mention- my very favorite camera bag.

Happy Thanksgiving Holidays....

Photo: © Stan Banos

  

Hoping everyone has a great one with those that matter most...

What The!?!!

Thank you for your recent submission concerning...

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of submissions...

This is not to suggest that your work...

We look forward to seeing more... 

 

You know, the usual rejection rap- which is completely what I expected... I entered P-A-N-D-E-M-A-N-I-A! in this photobook competition expecting the proverbial snowball's chance in hell. Now, I had no idea what kind of submissions would be made here- particularly concerning the quality of... presentation. I've seen the quality of design, materials and craftsmanship that go into some of these indie publications: Corinthian leather covers (I prefer velour), hand bound papyrus pages sewn together with frozen Mastodon sinew and a needle made of Narwhal tusk, fold out pages, inserts, secret compartments- versus a generic Blurb production with barely satisfactory reproductions. Yeah, good luck with dat!

And yet, and yet... Somehow it snuck through the cracks! Musta been the added uhhh... narration (ie- captions)- yeah, that's the ticket! Like I've said, Blurb is the dummy for the book that ya really wanna make; and somehow, that aspiration must have got through, since my usual book announcements are uniformly greeted with a resounding crescendo of... crickets!

Well, it's the Big Time from now on- nothing but Pink Champale and the very best of men's wear from Members Only!

P-A-N-D-E-M-A-N-I-A! will now be exhibited with several other photobooks in not one, but two galleries- at the Davis/Orton Gallery from 11/20-12/19 and The Griffin Museum of Photography from 1/06-2/27...

Photo: ©  Stan Banos

ADDENDUM: In the About the Book section at the Davis/Orton Gallery site, it should read: "Although San Francisco evaded a high number of deaths, it manifested most of the other problems prevalent elsewhere– skyrocketing unemployment and an already endemic homeless population that swelled unto streets and sidewalks well beyond downtown."

Armalite Rifles- "I Disapprove Of Them"

 Particularly when carried by teenagers and applauded by adults- for NO GOOD REASON!

This is open license to carry and kill in so called "self defense;" more, much more to come...

Anyone remember when people were applauded for... saving lives? Heady times, indeed.

Masters Of The Street

Street photography is all the rage these days, has been for quite some years now, which is pretty damn amazing in and of itself! It's exploded in the digital era, and has never been abandoned by its analog champions. And despite the changes and improvements in technology, despite the plethora of current practitioners (some of whom are quite good indeed)- there doesn't seem to be any patently new ways of seeing or approaching the genre, no new masters so to speak. Its major grammar was written decades ago, and sure, several players have tweaked, modified and refined the vocabulary to incredible degrees- as does follow any other art form. Guess you could say there's no new way of making bread either... and to this day, most of it just passes too, while a scant few loaves are just so-damn-good!

It's not for naught that The Masters are forever remembered and acclaimed for first establishing the very grammar that so many acolytes would hone and practice for decades to come: Frank, for his sense of spontaneity, immediacy and snapshot aesthetic- all roads here lead to him; Friedlander, for creating meaningful compositions from balancing seemingly chaotic and competing elements within the viewfinder (and to a lesser extent, Klein who also did the latter, if only with people); Winogrand, who danced so deftly, stealing the indecisive moments that so fleetingly revealed so much of everyday, human interaction; and Meyerowitz, who dared the element and reality of... color!

I suppose one could also throw down Cohen, for excluding as much as he included, adding that sense of mystery; Erwitt for his continued attention to humor, and Gilden for making it all so up close, in your face and personal. 

I haven't added links- most of you are familiar with the names... and those who ain't- I'll allow you the pleasure and delight of searching and discovering them for yourselves!

2 Books On Xmas Wishlist...

 

 

One is The People's Pictures by Lee Friedlander, the other is American Geography by Matt Black- both look very, very appealing; Friedlander's- the usual well corralled compositions of semi random chaos; Black's- both informative and visually complelling. Though take note- I don't know if once ordered, either or both will have to sit on a boat at sea for a couple of months, only to once again sit in its shipping container in your local port once off loaded... Easter, maybe?

Celebration Of Ignorance

I have my problems with ol' Carl when it comes to aliens (rumor is that that the government had him tow their line for not exposing his overstatement of ed cred), but that ain't in any way decrying his true accomplishments. Anyway, The good stuff starts at 2:34- from 25 years ago...

Yup!

Burn!

"Presidents are not kings, and plaintiff is not President."

 

You Adapt...

 

Sometimes you can't for the life of ya understand why people don't change, why they knowingly elect to keep repeating self destructive habits and tendencies. You simply write them off as true low life fuck ups and losers- it's what they are. When the truth is often far different- it's what you were spared from...   

This man/child just lays it on the line- BOOM! This is who why I am... And considering the circumstances, who would be arrogant enough to proclaim that they could do better (though for sure- there are those ignorant enough to do just that)

This series is a human treasure; I've posted on it before, had my questions, my doubts (as one should) and am now back to watching again. They ain't easy, each one an emotional gut wrench- just a question of how big the blow. Some will leave you temporarily shattered, all real life lessons in this thing called... life.

Yeah, I Coulda Told Ya That...

 As a matter of fact-  I did (see Preface). Anyone relatively sane could...

How Insane R Republicans?

 Oh... about this insane- really, really insane. Or... Lonely?

Truth To Power

Trump dry humps the American flag to display his patriotism. This guy actually proves it somewhat differently...

Zine Time!

 

Photos: ©  Stan Banos

Was wondering if I could do anything with the small essay I did on The Commitment March of 8/28/2020- if only for presentation's sake. Not enough for a book, so... how about- a zine!? Hhmmm... If only Blurb provided such a service (if only for convenience's sake), since I was already familiar with their software. Why, yes- yes, they do!

And like their books, we're not talking premium reproductions here, as I've always said, Blurb is like the dummy for the book/publication you'd really like to have. But for... six bucks (20p incl 14 photos; pdf- $5)- can't complain all that much.

Oh, and FWIW- also got the notion to send a copy to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC. They've got quite an efficient online procedure for "Object Donations;" be honored if accepted, will just have to wait and see...

 

 

PS- Yes, I know- I really do need to clean the base on my monitor. What was it that Quentin Crisp used to say? Ah yes, "There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse."

PPS-  That International Orange colored mushroom type object is the type of rivet used on The Golden Gate Bridge.