The Floating Image

From now until I say stop anyone who asks will get a free contact print of any of my photographs on fiber based 5×7″ paper. This is for real. Tell me which one by title and where to send it. See a great deal of photographs at http://www.abnormalimage.com. My hope is that it will induce you to buy a larger print. Contact me at jswofford(at)abnormalimage(dot)com with any questions.

I just got a notice in the post today that my photograph “Beauty” has been accepted to be included in their “Photowork ‘10″ exhibition. If you happen to be in Poughkeepsie on April 17th, 2010 check out the opening.

I’ve been spun. I’ve been caught up in the tailspin of the economy and I’m just now getting my head around this new situation. The Portland Art Museum let me and a small group of others go as a cost cutting maneuver. It was a job I loved that taught me quite a bit about the business side of art and about some of the strengths I didn’t know I had. But now it’s time for me to get up and continue with practicing art.

Let’s consider this a new beginning.

As an initial post to this brand new blog, it is probably a good idea to say a few words about where I’m coming from in terms of what I hope this blog will be and the temperament from which I view the world.
As far as this blog, I’m content to let it go where it will. On it I intend to put some of my own photos, ramblings regarding art and photography (especially photography as art), reviews of shows, and other random, miscellaneous thoughts. I will be highly opinionated. I will not be apologetic, I hate apologies.
In the realm of art and photo I have somewhat conflicting points of view. Experience has taught me that there really is no “good” or “bad” art. Relative terms like this are rather counterproductive. I find much of performance art to be tedious and embarrasing but I’m glad it exists in the world. I can appreciate the thought process behind most of it but I can’t stand to sit through it. That being said I have very definite thoughts about the art of photography. I taught myself the technical aspects of photo before I went to school in the years just prior to the explosion of digital processes. I love photography passionately and I have thoughts about its evolution. I am using this space to educate myself while expressing my thoughts on what photo is, what photo was, and what photo will be. And since I’m looking at photography as a branch on the family tree of Art, I will also be writting my thoughts on art in general. I only hope that the discussion and debate will be vigorous and enlightening.

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