Monday, January 28, 2008

James Nchtwey

James is an amazing artist who uses his lens and film to capture the extremes of reality which are commonplace all around the world. James doesn't make pictures to collect a check but rather to bring awareness and prompt action against the atrocities that are our reality. His belief that photos can change social action is what fuels him. The way he shoots he is literal saying the story is more important than my life. His photos capture the heart of the viewer and they inspire me.

A season of rust

While reviewing blurb.com I was immediately entranced by the plethora of books to view. After countless minutes I realized it was time to pick a book to write about. Though 50 Ways to Shoot Your Lover was near the top of the best sellers I decided to veer away from that one, fearing perhaps it was a wicked play on words.

A Season of Rust, is the book I finally decided to view and comment on. I chose this book because of its feel. The book didn't have extremely well shot photos or even a great layout, what it did have was poetry and to accompany the poetry was photography to give a visual scene to one aspect of the feel or meaning of the poem. I rather enjoyed the poems and images I was able to read in the fifteen page preview.

what?

The first blog is always the hardest, wondering what to write and if anyone is really going to read it. If someone posts a blog and no one reads it was it really written? ha ha

Ok. Well, after viewing the music video of the artist it is plain to see that she is very passionate about her heritage and bringing awareness to the plight of her ancestors. All of her images and moving components struck strong cord within me. I think the strongest is the plight of the bison being herded and taken advantage of. I see a direct correlation between the bison and Native American peoples.