Our pink Thanksgiving cactus is finally blooming, and as you can see from the buds there are lots of flowers still on the way. We have no open blooms yet on the plants that produce white or salmon-colored flowers, but it's only a matter of days.
I had a funny conversation with a student yesterday. One of the middle school boys is very into photography, and he knows I take pictures too, so he often comes to me with questions or observations about cameras. He's one of these kids who's intrigued by using film, which as I've said is a complete mystery to me -- I think being unburdened by the restrictions and hassles of film is one of the best developments in my life, and I mean it. But anyway, at some point I showed him one of my photography books, which I'd donated to the library years ago. He and I talked about street photography and he made some observations about a few of the pictures.
Yesterday he brought a friend to the library and showed him my book, and he came to me about 20 minutes later and said, "You know, Mr. Reed, when I first saw your photography I thought it was only so-so. But now I've looked deeper into the book and I've decided it's really good!"
Now, this boy is likely to say anything, and with a directness that can be downright painful. But I thought that was pretty funny. I'm glad he has decided I'm not merely mediocre.
It's hard to believe I put together my last book ten years ago. (Not counting one I did a few years back of my dad's photos from his Europe trip in 1957.) Maybe once I retire I'll compile another book. An Olga retrospective? I don't do as much street photography as I used to before I had a full-time job, but I could see picking it up again when I have more spare time. I remember that was one of my hesitations about starting work in the library in the first place -- that it would cut into my photography. But it's not like photography was making me any money!
Well, I got to thinking about a copy of Arthur C. Clarke's novel "Childhood's End" that I owned when I was a teenager in the early '80s. I don't think I ever actually read the book, but I remember buying it based on the slick, futuristic cover art. I wondered if I could find an image of it online, and the answer, of course, is yes!
I'm pretty sure that's the cover at left, though there's a very similar, slightly earlier version with a less stylized typeface, and I might have owned that one. In any case, the illustration was the same. It's nice to see it again, and I was amused to find this cover made enough of an impression on another blogger that he also wrote a short ode to it. (In fact that's his image of the cover, at left, which hopefully he won't mind me reposting here.)
Once again, it's funny how some things make such a deep impression on our memories when we're young.
The lad is right....you do have an eye for street photography.
ReplyDeleteThe boy was learning to be critical not a bad thing. He saw in your photographs the essence of street life which you capture so well. Memories "I'm sorry Dave I can't do that". Hal the first AI computer condemning a human to death ;)
ReplyDeleteTaken from of course 2001 - A Space Odyssey. The film came out in 1968.
DeleteThat may be the most sincere judgment you'll get. Too funny.
ReplyDeleteWhat Boud said.
ReplyDeleteThere was a conversation I heard today about someone in the their sixties driving down the same road where he made his way to school. He was always late for school by a few minutes. In order to save time, he took his breakfast cereal bowl and some milk with him and stopped off at a park on the road to eat his cereal. No time was saved, but he remembers what he did to save time every time he drives along the same road, some fifty plus years later.
Faint praise is better than no praise. Isn't it? 🤔
ReplyDeleteWhat a relief you have that seal of approval from the student. Now that you’re no longer so-so, you can feel free to work the streets.
ReplyDeleteI like the directness of kids, even if it catches you off-guard!
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to your photography afventures when you retire!
ReplyDeleteYou are ready with possible hobbies for when you retire: photography, reading, gardening, blogging...
ReplyDeleteYou will be surprised at how busy you will be! ;)
I'm curious ... how many copies were made of your books and how many were sold?
ReplyDeleteI love the candor of youth. Well, usually! At least he waited till he thought you were good to tell you! I love the idea of an Olga retrospective.
ReplyDeleteThe younger the child, the more direct the observation.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool when you get a kid who has a keen interest in a very different topic. They usually leave it later on.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you had published photography books. No wonder your photos are so good. Sigh. I'm slow, I know:)
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that boy is on the spectrum and is very much to the point when it's something he's interested in. I get him.
I read Childhood's End many, many years ago and really liked it. It started me on a reading quest with Science Fiction that continued for at least 10 years. Very nice to hear that you published photography books. You are so very talented and I have enjoyed your street scenes.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to that kid. A then friend of mine was commissioned to paint some pillars to look like marble and I dropped by to visit her on the job site. Does it look like marble, she asked. Before my brain clicked in I answered 'no' (it looked like paint to me) and then tried to cover my tracks telling her it was very attractive though. She didn't take it well.
ReplyDeleteI read Childhood's End and many more by Clark. Sci-fi was basically all I read for about a decade or more back in the late 60s and 70s. Couldn't tell you what it's about now though.