Thanks for the link, Sarah (I love his yellow Crocs!). It won't surprise you to hear that I was thinking about Hockney's swimming pool paintings when I took those photos. I remember reading about how he made his Paper Pools works in 1978 by adding coloured dyes to wet paper pulp and pressing it into sheets of paper.
Great images, Mark. By the way, your opening description reminds me of what it's like to practice meditation. Everything diffuses ...that video of the concert pianist was unexpected!
That's a good point, Juliette. I noted that a woman who reacted to the performance of John Cage's silent piano performance talked about going into a meditative state. A lot of street photographers talk about entering a state of "flow", where acute environmental awareness results in an almost out-of-body experience that alters their perception of time.
I too saw something of Hockney in these images, which I like a lot (the images, but Hockney too). But they also remind me of a book I just finished that I think you would like a lot: “The Real Work: The Mystery of Mastery,” by Adam Gopnik. He writes about the process of mastery in a number of different areas: drawing, baking, writing, music. But the larger point is the process of pursuing mastery and it reminds me a lot of what you’re after.
Thanks for the recommendation, Tom. I read a few good reviews. I like the fact that he examines different areas of work to discover patterns and commonalities. I just searched the online catalog of my local public library and it's available there, which is very convenient.
Thanks for recommending Adam Gopnik's book, "The Real Work: The Mystery of Mastery", which I have just finished. He writes really well. My partner has read some of his fiction and read this book after I finished it. I need to review it again and revisit some of the points that struck me initially, like his discussion of how work speaks over time, and how the real trick is not the trick (or the photograph) but how the work connects people and enables them to share something magical.
I’m glad you liked it too. I think the part I liked the least was the stuff about magic … but it may have been the most subtle, which means I should go back again.
Mark, I followed viewing this, (loved your explanation,) with one from a somewhat offbeat English writer whose work I adore. He always puts a smile on my face. I think there was a serendipity between the two. How does Tom Cox view the world around him?! What story would he tell to go with your street photos? I think to myself. https://tomcox.substack.com/p/the-true-stories-behind-some-of-the-b26
I love these images, Mark.
They remind me so much of Hockey's work - specifically his swimming pool paintings and later digital work.
Hockney who one criticised photography! then experimented with Polaroid montage.
Perhaps it is the reduced colour pallet that makes this beautiful images of yours feel familiar?
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/art-design/2023/03/david-hockney-fascination-technology
Thanks for the link, Sarah (I love his yellow Crocs!). It won't surprise you to hear that I was thinking about Hockney's swimming pool paintings when I took those photos. I remember reading about how he made his Paper Pools works in 1978 by adding coloured dyes to wet paper pulp and pressing it into sheets of paper.
Great images, Mark. By the way, your opening description reminds me of what it's like to practice meditation. Everything diffuses ...that video of the concert pianist was unexpected!
That's a good point, Juliette. I noted that a woman who reacted to the performance of John Cage's silent piano performance talked about going into a meditative state. A lot of street photographers talk about entering a state of "flow", where acute environmental awareness results in an almost out-of-body experience that alters their perception of time.
I know it has happened for me more than a dozen times. I love the feeling!
I too saw something of Hockney in these images, which I like a lot (the images, but Hockney too). But they also remind me of a book I just finished that I think you would like a lot: “The Real Work: The Mystery of Mastery,” by Adam Gopnik. He writes about the process of mastery in a number of different areas: drawing, baking, writing, music. But the larger point is the process of pursuing mastery and it reminds me a lot of what you’re after.
Thanks for the recommendation, Tom. I read a few good reviews. I like the fact that he examines different areas of work to discover patterns and commonalities. I just searched the online catalog of my local public library and it's available there, which is very convenient.
Thanks for recommending Adam Gopnik's book, "The Real Work: The Mystery of Mastery", which I have just finished. He writes really well. My partner has read some of his fiction and read this book after I finished it. I need to review it again and revisit some of the points that struck me initially, like his discussion of how work speaks over time, and how the real trick is not the trick (or the photograph) but how the work connects people and enables them to share something magical.
I’m glad you liked it too. I think the part I liked the least was the stuff about magic … but it may have been the most subtle, which means I should go back again.
Mark, I followed viewing this, (loved your explanation,) with one from a somewhat offbeat English writer whose work I adore. He always puts a smile on my face. I think there was a serendipity between the two. How does Tom Cox view the world around him?! What story would he tell to go with your street photos? I think to myself. https://tomcox.substack.com/p/the-true-stories-behind-some-of-the-b26