Comments on: My Mother Writes on Gray Days http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/ Sat, 31 Jul 2010 07:13:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Ian Aleksander Adams http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-16996 Ian Aleksander Adams Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:00:09 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-16996 haha you did send it to me asking about posting it. We can do an edit of it together if it ever goes anywhere else. haha you did send it to me asking about posting it. We can do an edit of it together if it ever goes anywhere else.

]]> By: Alison http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-16911 Alison Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:32:31 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-16911 Wow, Ian I finally reread my words and the responses of some readers and admirers. Many are right on. The thoughtful dialogue is fascinating. Of course, you and others should be reminded that my response was one of a particular moment and of course personal. Indeed I did not know you were going to post this or I would have edited it better for spelling and grammar! Maybe you can. I do find the juxtaposition of text and images interesting and provocative. Each has an effect on the other. In books and displays, I often like to read about photos or the photographer, or learn about the life or the period of time around certain images. Maybe your story along with mine and the images would make a richer 'series' for others to appreciate and respond to, a fuller book. It seems so. I'd like one day to see images and story of Rin. I think there could be something very powerful and worth publishing. Wow, Ian I finally reread my words and the responses of some readers and admirers. Many are right on. The thoughtful dialogue is fascinating. Of course, you and others should be reminded that my response was one of a particular moment and of course personal. Indeed I did not know you were going to post this or I would have edited it better for spelling and grammar! Maybe you can. I do find the juxtaposition of text and images interesting and provocative. Each has an effect on the other. In books and displays, I often like to read about photos or the photographer, or learn about the life or the period of time around certain images. Maybe your story along with mine and the images would make a richer ‘series’ for others to appreciate and respond to, a fuller book. It seems so.
I’d like one day to see images and story of Rin. I think there could be something very powerful and worth publishing.

]]> By: objective viewer http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-16133 objective viewer Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:28:27 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-16133 Art is a subjective form which becomes the foundation of perception, expectations, beliefs, introspection and expression. As all artists know. Every viewer will have an intimate organic sense of personal connection or disconnect when viewing images with an objective manner, let alone the interconnected musings of a mother, who in some right could possibly be trying to understand herself, her life, her son, her son's impressions of the world around him, in hopes to perhaps understand him more intimately, or not. Or perhaps, moreless understand herself, her life, or her son's image of her. The process is known as "the looking glass" self, in which one tries to make sense of their own self worth, or worth of self based on how others percieve them. I think that not only, is Ian's work incredibly sensitive, intimate and beautiful in ways unexplainable, in no way depressed, in fact the body of "Gray" is incredibly colorful, dramatic in the sense of atmosphere and emotion, composition is unparalleled. The emotional attachment of the viewer is only owned by the viewer. I also think that his mother's response is beautiful thought provoking introspection. Look at both works with an objectivity that understands, Ian's work would not be what it is without his own perceptions of the world, only some of which influenced by his mother, and the rest influenced by his own personal experiences, thoughts, feelings and expressions of a world that he explores outside of the childhood his mother attaches to his work. There is natural balance to this entire post. A thoughtful awareness that all should take from it. Ian, beautiful post through and through. Perhaps one of the most organically truthful works I've seen. A sobering awakening to many things. Art is a subjective form which becomes the foundation of perception, expectations, beliefs, introspection and expression. As all artists know. Every viewer will have an intimate organic sense of personal connection or disconnect when viewing images with an objective manner, let alone the interconnected musings of a mother, who in some right could possibly be trying to understand herself, her life, her son, her son’s impressions of the world around him, in hopes to perhaps understand him more intimately, or not. Or perhaps, moreless understand herself, her life, or her son’s image of her. The process is known as “the looking glass” self, in which one tries to make sense of their own self worth, or worth of self based on how others percieve them. I think that not only, is Ian’s work incredibly sensitive, intimate and beautiful in ways unexplainable, in no way depressed, in fact the body of “Gray” is incredibly colorful, dramatic in the sense of atmosphere and emotion, composition is unparalleled. The emotional attachment of the viewer is only owned by the viewer.

I also think that his mother’s response is beautiful thought provoking introspection. Look at both works with an objectivity that understands, Ian’s work would not be what it is without his own perceptions of the world, only some of which influenced by his mother, and the rest influenced by his own personal experiences, thoughts, feelings and expressions of a world that he explores outside of the childhood his mother attaches to his work. There is natural balance to this entire post. A thoughtful awareness that all should take from it.

Ian, beautiful post through and through. Perhaps one of the most organically truthful works I’ve seen. A sobering awakening to many things.

]]> By: Ian Aleksander Adams http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-16083 Ian Aleksander Adams Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:21:16 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-16083 It's been really great to hear how so many people think of their own families when reading this. All else aside, just that alone makes me glad I decided to post it. It’s been really great to hear how so many people think of their own families when reading this. All else aside, just that alone makes me glad I decided to post it.

]]> By: Ian Aleksander Adams’s mother & lessons on fear « marcia chandra http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-16081 Ian Aleksander Adams’s mother & lessons on fear « marcia chandra Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:07:16 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-16081 [...] published this blog post of his mother’s letter to him about his photography. I absolutely love my mother, but its [...] [...] published this blog post of his mother’s letter to him about his photography. I absolutely love my mother, but its [...]

]]> By: Jessica Pierotti http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-16065 Jessica Pierotti Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:15:32 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-16065 I have been realizing lately how fascinated I am with the personal narrative behind photography. Does this mean that I find work more meaningful when placed with text? Is this because my imagination is too weak to form this narrative without encouragement? I don't know. Hearing (reading, though I can for some reason sense her presence more so) your Mother speak candidly while viewing your images made this something completely different. I am impressed by her honesty and her interest to dissect your imagery and your motivations. This makes me want to open a dialogue with my Mother about our past and how photography is connected. Thank you for sharing. Jessica I have been realizing lately how fascinated I am with the personal narrative behind photography. Does this mean that I find work more meaningful when placed with text? Is this because my imagination is too weak to form this narrative without encouragement? I don’t know. Hearing (reading, though I can for some reason sense her presence more so) your Mother speak candidly while viewing your images made this something completely different. I am impressed by her honesty and her interest to dissect your imagery and your motivations. This makes me want to open a dialogue with my Mother about our past and how photography is connected. Thank you for sharing.

Jessica

]]> By: Audience Feedback « Creative Camerawork http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-15973 Audience Feedback « Creative Camerawork Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:30:04 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-15973 [...] http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/ [...] [...] http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/ [...]

]]> By: Ian Aleksander Adams http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-15958 Ian Aleksander Adams Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:49:24 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-15958 Thanks Colin. I'm not sure if I'm going to create anything directly in response to it, but it would be impossible for it to not influence me (as it already has... much of this essay is just down in pixels what we discuss often over the phone or in person.) Family seems very important to me right now, as my grandmother is in the hospital and I'm too far away to visit. Recently she let me take her slide collection home to scan (at least 12000 slides starting in 1968 and going all over the world). It's a huge project and I've hardly put a dent in it. I have seen so much amazing stuff in her slide shows over the year, but she never thought of showing it to anyone outside immediate friends and family. There is an awesome book in there and I'm so honored that she'd let me find it... I hope that I can bring it forward sooner rather than later.. That's the only real project I have on the burner right now, at least the only one I'd publicly talk about at this stage. Everything else needs a while to gestate. Always working on something though, of course. Thanks Colin.

I’m not sure if I’m going to create anything directly in response to it, but it would be impossible for it to not influence me (as it already has… much of this essay is just down in pixels what we discuss often over the phone or in person.)

Family seems very important to me right now, as my grandmother is in the hospital and I’m too far away to visit. Recently she let me take her slide collection home to scan (at least 12000 slides starting in 1968 and going all over the world). It’s a huge project and I’ve hardly put a dent in it. I have seen so much amazing stuff in her slide shows over the year, but she never thought of showing it to anyone outside immediate friends and family. There is an awesome book in there and I’m so honored that she’d let me find it… I hope that I can bring it forward sooner rather than later..

That’s the only real project I have on the burner right now, at least the only one I’d publicly talk about at this stage. Everything else needs a while to gestate. Always working on something though, of course.

]]> By: Ian Aleksander Adams http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-15955 Ian Aleksander Adams Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:45:15 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-15955 It is! Heartbreaking! But building maybe, also... I'm just now at the point in my life (and love) where I'm thinking about what I'll be like as a parent, and connecting to the past generation is very important. A burden, yeah, but the best one. It is! Heartbreaking! But building maybe, also… I’m just now at the point in my life (and love) where I’m thinking about what I’ll be like as a parent, and connecting to the past generation is very important. A burden, yeah, but the best one.

]]> By: Ian Aleksander Adams http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/my-mother-writes-on-gray-days/comment-page-1/#comment-15954 Ian Aleksander Adams Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:44:05 +0000 http://www.ianaleksanderadams.com/blog/?p=2960#comment-15954 I'm certainly distracted by flurries of information at times, haha, but I've tried to use my blog as a tool for considering things. It helps me to think about what I want to share with others, what I feel I need to comment on, and I'm often surprised by what sparks large amounts of writing from me and what I'm content to pass on with little commentary. Barking Irons is a lot closer to my early commercial work. Maybe it's a bit of a middle grounds between the more recent work. It was paid and I'm not heavily emotionally invested in it, but it marks where I started insisting on shooting in a more organic matter - and stopped feeling like everything needed to be "perfect" to be beautiful. Of course, I know now that those feelings existed all along, now I can just embrace the work I did before I was so "educated." I’m certainly distracted by flurries of information at times, haha, but I’ve tried to use my blog as a tool for considering things. It helps me to think about what I want to share with others, what I feel I need to comment on, and I’m often surprised by what sparks large amounts of writing from me and what I’m content to pass on with little commentary.

Barking Irons is a lot closer to my early commercial work. Maybe it’s a bit of a middle grounds between the more recent work. It was paid and I’m not heavily emotionally invested in it, but it marks where I started insisting on shooting in a more organic matter – and stopped feeling like everything needed to be “perfect” to be beautiful. Of course, I know now that those feelings existed all along, now I can just embrace the work I did before I was so “educated.”

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