Poetry Reading

 

No Longer Paradise

A poetry reading is when the poet has the opportunity to engage an audience and put flesh on the bones of their work, to breath life into the written word and to provide a specific rhythm and feeling to the work.

Until recently, the thought of discussing what I am trying to do with my series Bad Trip – Sad Trip was very intimidating. Yes, I am writting a blog, but I feel that this is very different. Anyhow, having put together the first draft of my “artistic statement” has been kinda uplifting, having a basic ability to articulate what I am trying to do. Thus I took a big step in participating in a photographic “poety reading”, actually showing and discussing four my Bad Trip – Sad Trip prints to a small group of photograpers in a group we have in Southern California called the Photograhers Exchange.

I think it is safe to say that showing the four prints from this series created a strong response, more than any other images shared during the evening. Overall I would say that it was a very encouraging experience for me as the dialog was very interesting. The print with what I thought had the greatest impact was very well received. The couple of prints that have a softer “voice” may have created the most discussion. It is my opinion if you were to attend a poetry reading and it was completed in single monotone, it would get very boring. Thus the need for modulation in tone and candance, for soft transitions to a stronger impact The same for listening to any band or song. The same also with this series. Not all of my images are going to be high impact; some are going to need a longer visit, to be thought about and consider the way the image is talking to you.

Honestly, I am not going to change any of my images as a result of this discussion, I think that the images are still right on, but I did felt the encouragement to “stay the course”. and that was great….

Best regards, Doug