you never know

Took to the road today looking for a new car.  The search wasn't very fruitful but the trip definitely was.  Headed south on Station Hollow Road to Dillsboro, then Farmers Retreat, Elrod, Versailles and on to Madison.  A little Grateful Dead on the stereo to commemorate the two years spent at Hanover College (west of Madison) seemed appropriate.  Just yesterday we were here;  Rocky, Jim, Mark & I.  1973 - just yesterday.  I'd like to recount of all the tales from that time, but I guess some things are better left unspoken.  I do remember a conversation I had with a salesman who worked for my dad - he asked how I liked college life.  "It's great," was my response, to which he replied, "enjoy it, those are the best years of your life." Yea right, I thought.  Yea right.  After cruising through campus (not on the sidewalks, Jim) I headed downtown past Clifty Falls State Park (frisbee country), Hinkle's Hamburgers (the original greasy spoon), the Key West Shrimp House (on the Ohio River) and then up the hill towards home - up 62 & 129 through Canaan, Cross Plains and Olean.  The little trip reminded me that sometimes you've just got to go out looking, 'cause you never know what you'll come back with...  

lucky

Simply put, I'm not emotionally attached to most of the photographs I make.  But, in the last few years I've made an attempt to work on stories that have more meaning - for me, the viewers and mostly for the folks being photographed. When I decided to tell the story that eventually became "the Last Farmers of Southeast Indiana" I hoped the finished piece would be something we were all proud of.  Daryl Cutter said his father Marvin told everyone about the day he was photographed & interviewed.  Mark Kilborn was given copies of the magazine and asked to autograph them.  And I've heard that Earl Dawson was happy with the finished piece that appeared in Cincinnati Magazine.  Unfortunately, Earl died last spring and never got to see his print hanging on the gallery wall at Fotofocus Cincinnati.  I feel lucky to have met Earl, make photographs of him and hear his life story.  Lucky to have created work that has some meaning, for all involved.