Chop wood, carry water, make pictures.
#001
On what feels like the last day of the longest month I can remember, I’m no longer putting off what I’ve been determined to do for a long time - write a blog post or newsletter or whatever becomes of this.
If you’ve found your way here, you may already know me but for those who don’t, I’m a photographer and sometimes writer based in southern West Virginia. Primarily, I intend to use this space to talk about photography and photography-adjacent topics, but I have other interests too: the outdoors, farming, music, books, list of things. Those topics might pop up here, too.
If getting older has taught me anything, it’s that I’ve been wrong a lot. I haven’t always admitted or owned it but the folks who know me already know this (so feel free to skip ahead). I’ve been more quiet for the last few years not because I’ve lost interest in photography or politics or community but simply because what others have experienced and have had to say needed to be said and heard and centered more than anything I had to say. Mind you, that’s still true but I’ve missed writing and sharing my thoughts and perspectives on things, so that’s what I’ll use this container for.
The last five months have been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me as I was invited to apply for a fellowship that would’ve been significant to my career and personal photographic work as well as a substantial investment into my immediate and regional community. I started to gray in my late 30’s but the last several months boosted the shift from gray to white significantly. I found out a couple of days ago, although I was a finalist, I did not get the fellowship. Though disappointed, I’ve tried to take joy in being invited to the process. That’s still a big deal. But what I’m taking away from the process is this - I’m going to refocus and recalibrate my energy on doing the work that’s important to me, to fostering the relationships that are important to me, to tend my own garden. Quite simply, “chop wood, carry water.”
I’ve slowly begun working on the Looking at Appalachia project again. It’s been dormant for several years and it just feels like the time to get it moving once more. There were lots of factors that contributed to its pause: a global pandemic, a change in jobs, moving. Those aren’t excuses, but they do provide some context. Please stay tuned for more updates on that project.
So, thanks for checking and for reading along this far. Stay in touch and I will, too.
Roger
Hey, buddy! I'm glad you're writing here, and I look forward to reading more. I subscribed today. I hope you're well!
The photo of the painting on the stone is beautiful, thanks for sharing.