Departure (Insomnia – Hotel Noir series), photography by Douglas Stockdale –
I have developed a number of iterations of this photograph, varying all sorts of aspects related to color and tonality. Sometimes I start to wonder which one is right, while that implies that I might not fully understand the concept I am working on. Which could also be true. I will keep making the changes until it just seems right for me. And I have the perogative to change my mind. Many times!
I am not very happy with the crude appearance of my earlier version of this image that I posted here, so I thought that rather than leaving eveyone with that dismal image, I needed to provide one of where I seem to be ending up at. Or at least it is a sight better than my earlier attempts. It is also more consistent with the feeling I have when I pack up and get ready to return home from an assignment.
I am implying that Hope is in the room and related to the suitcase, while it may be the act of packing that suitcase that creates Hope and the eventual unpacking will be at home. I think Hope comes from many things, many angles and probably an openness to it and wanting to sense its presence.
And so I continue…
Best regards,
Doug
Singular Images 
Attention to detail always pays off! The picture provokes many thoughts about what is usually a non event of checking out of a hotel, case packed, keys at the ready etc. I think that this will be a really interesting series Doug, as a sufferer, just the word “insomnia” gets me interested.
I think the changes work. Before, I was left with a little confusion (sometimes that’s good) about light sources. I prefer this second version with warmth contained in the room with the bed and suitcase. Now, I see that the light on the chair comes from a lamp on the table. For me, the change removes a bit of intriguing ambiguity, but strengthens the narrative.
I would be willing to go out on a limb and guess that this is a very haunting but familiar image to many people.