The Last Supper

We lost one on the trip.
Almost lost another.

Harley is gone.  He's not coming back.
Lucy almost did but she's coming back for a bit more.

This time it was all according to the plan.  The oldest and frailest of us go first.
And when the oldest and frailest go, the ratchet clicks and tightens another notch up.
Waiting for the next generation.

For the past while, I've been going in solo.  Solo in Death Valley, solo in the Sierra.
Solo is good.  There's soul in solo.

A year ago Taylor says Dad, let's backpack together.

There's a place in the Sierra, it's out of most peoples eyesight, a tiny glacier scraped U shaped valley right next to a much larger glacier scraped U shaped valley.
Want a part of my ashes floated over the tiny valley.  So I took Taylor there so she knows where it is.

This particular hike starts out with a hot long hump up an old mining jeep road, and just to do something different we got a ride up on some horses.  Only til we got to top of that first shoulder. Then we put on the packs.

The big valley.  The next valley to the left will be dusted with me.....sometime if the plan plays out correctly.

Shadows moves like a trout moves through a pool.

Taylor waiting for me just below Royce Lakes.

Looking on both sides of Italy Pass.

That tiny dark spot in the middle of the top photo is where I want to show Taylor.

I stumbled a couple times on the trip.  Taylor saw both, picked me up both times.

At the top of the small valley where the water comes from that feeds all below.

We're heading home now.  Hopefully I'll get there first.

I think Sierra snags may be the most beautiful things of all.  The only way to know this is to see them.
Big snags can't be photographed, at least I haven't been able to yet.  Get in close to show the infinite amount of small beauty and the majestic strength can't be felt.  Move far enough back to feel the strength, makes it feel weak.  You have to be in the presence of a snag to get it.
The color alone is enough to make the hike worth it.

Harley stopped eating, stopped drinking. I'm guessing he said to himself, let's make this happen on our own.  Tired of this life.

Lucy was different.  She wanted to stay some more.

And The Last Supper.  Sitting here making dinner, eating, drinking, talking....lots of talking.
I love you Taylor.

Who I Am is How I Work

Don't get me wrong.  I'm OK with making me some money but money is not a motivator for me.
In the least.

Not that it was official, in fact I actively made it not official but I often engaged in long conversations with a young photographer friend of mine who was just getting into the business.  He was looking for a mentor.
I can't be a mentor.

He was always talking about crafting contracts and money and feeling abused because of the contracts and pushing back because he had a contract and how to change that contract so he wouldn't be in that loop of aggressor vs victim.

I tried to explain my philosophy over the years we've hung out.

Ten days ago? I get an email from a wine client.
They did a redesign of a label and would I want to shoot some stuff for them?
No direction
I said sure, send me the bottles and after Golden State Overnight dropped them off I emailed back and said I had gotten them what do you want.

This is what came back.

Yes, the following shots: 

- bottle shot for production outline (all) 

-beauty with different angles, lay downs 

- feel is upscale without being unapproachable

And that was it.  There has been and there will be no talk of money until the end. You want me to photograph your stuff and I want to photograph your stuff.  Let's figure out the money afterwards.  I will be ok with the figure.  And I'm figuring if I'm not ok with the figure then karma is going to catch up with those types next time around the wheel and they'll be wishing they paid me what I was worth.

A contract? That's repulsive.  Well, alright that was a bit harsh.  Maybe it's more of a rankle albeit a big rankle.  I always deliver more than a contract would stipulate.  And the amount is never an issue so what's the point?

I have, with new clients, say I'll come and shoot for free.  If you don't like it, we shake hands and no hard feelings.  If you like the stuff, then we'll work something out and you give me some random amount of money.

Yesterday the big French Winery/Company I shoot for sometimes emailed about a job.  She wants to talk money right away.  Gave very little information about the shoot but wants to talk money.  I get it, there's budgets and constraints and meetings...lots of meeting and that's what big business is all about. Money is big on the list.

I'll give them a number that I pull out of my ass.  They want a number, they get a number.

Some what recently I started to know somebody, it was soon into the relationship, and he asked if my liquor cabinet was for sale and if it wasn't could I make him one.
Thank you Jon.

I was coming off a commission of a piece of furniture that warped me up pretty good.  I came to some conclusions about that process of building something so intimate for someone else and after a bit of time I told Jon I would do it but we needed to talk some.   I went up to his place in Napa... for some Mezcal and talk...sitting outside under the California Valley Oaks.
I took some photographs of his home
I looked at his books.
Getting to know Jon.

I had him come down to my place the next time and laid it out for him.

"I don't want to build something for somebody, it really fucks up the process.  Always thinking about that the piece is not for me but somebody else who has different values and thoughts and aesthetics.  Always filtering what I do through that idea that it's not for me but for somebody else who I really, in the final analysis, don't know.
I'm not going to do it if I'm building it for you.
I have to build it for me.  How I want.  My taste, what I like, how I think it should look or with what wood or which hinges to use.

I'll spend six months pouring myself into it....for me.  And if you don't like it, then that's cool.
I'll build another one for myself. "

Jon said he wouldn't want any other way.  You have free reign.
He did say the words....."You can put the liquor cabinet up in one of the Oaks if you want."  That blew my mind.
A treehouse liquor cabinet...now that would be cool.

I continued.
"And there can be not mention of money.  It can not be part of this in any manner.  No invoice at the end,  no back and forth discussion, no nothing.  Not one word."

How can we talk about money when I'm building something for me?


Jon said he understood.
Thank you again Jon.
and I would be fine with however the amount came out to be.
To be.

That's my philosophy.  Who I am is How I Work.

I'm slowly bending my not student.  He's abandoned his quest for writing the perfect contract before lifting camera to eye.

Friday I was over at Tony's to talk about an upcoming job.
The right hand page is the entire job discussed.

Elevation/Change
Rugged

Edit.
Thought I'd throw some more images in here. Some are source material used during the first mentioned wine shoot.

Pulled out the 8x10 and thought I would use that a prop.

Didn't though this time.  Maybe next time in a more suitable job.


The new labels were for their "Vineyard" series.  Thought a stylized background of Random Orbit Polishes on copper suggested rolling vineyards.  That was a nice exercise in learning to work a new medium.

And of course Garden Buddha and Screaming Wine Aerator were used as source.

Approaching To or Moving Away From

The last two hexagrams in the I Ching are about perfection.  Not to get too much into the whys and howfors but perfection (in the I Ching) is a transitory state.  Each of the two hexagrams talk about conditions that either lead to that brief state or are leaving from it.  Perfection is just a moment between the two other movements.


The two multiplied to become six and divided to become three.

So, even though everything is in alignment to become perfection, it's a precarious balance for the slightest shift starts the movement away the harmony of elements.

The WoodRat cut out this portion.  Everything really needs to be just right for the WoodRat to be used at this scale.  Blocked up perfectly.  Left to right must be spot on.  Securely clamped in place.  The router bit must be honed to scapelness for shavings like this.

The thinnest of knife cuts out to define the negative and positive shapes.  Each movement of the saw up and down is either approaching or moving away from perfection.  Still you try and become one with the movement of the saw.  The universe comes down to thin steel, a line and the wood.

Scared of failure, the decision is to cut shy of the line and sneak up it, one shaving at a time.

Trying to make that transition from up to across an easy trip for the eye so the ends are mitered.
We humans love right angles, I guess there's an economy of efficiency in that ratio.  A 45 degree sled is made to support the saw blade for the uneven surface of the live edge.

First look at what side of perfection I'm on. Am I approaching it or have I've already moved away from it to repair the damage?

A case of tequila is to prop open the gate at Chris and Ella's place.  Chris is an alcohol importer.
How perfect is that!!!

A couple coats of shellac have been applied back at the shop.

Clamped and left overnight.

So so easy think this is the perfect method/movement for trimming the tiny overhang.  So so easy to move away from perfection to repair with this method/movement.

Another coat of shellac applied at Chris and Ella's.  Still wet.

Everything in it's correct and proper place.  The six lines of each hexagram are either precariously perfect or at a state of ripeness to move back to perfect.  They are mirrors of each other.

The miter on the corner was a perfect idea.

CAPO

Sheet music in shellac dissolving

The shellac dissolving photo should go with a post coming in a few days.  But it seems that life really just comes down to a few patterns that are drawn and colored in an infinite number of ways.

The flakes of the shellac as they fall downward through the denatured alcohol reads like a silent piece of music.
 

Saturday we opened up the doors and the heart of 3003 to tightened strings and rosined horsehair and varnished wood.

Dusted and arranged the place.  Just so.

CAPO.  Composers. Arrangers. Performers. Orchestra.  Each of the nine piece play one of their own. 

I'll take you up until the doors open and the line out the door is allowed in.  And the camera is put down to let the patterns of life and music once again caress and hold the center.

An hour of practice and correction.  Video and sound production being finessed.

 Re-noting.

Listening.

The sun as it goes away to allow the darkness back.

Crystal and Justin intent. 

They'll be more of these.  It was too precious, too beautiful, too special for there not to be.

Whether the next one lasts until 3:30 in the morning like this one will be seen.