July 9, 2005
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SATURDAY PHOTO
(See sidebar for others)Flowers and Fruit (1860)
Roger Fenton (1819-1869)
Albumen print from wet collodion negative, 350x430mm
Roger Fenton only worked as a photographer for 11-12 years, but during that time he became the most famous photographer in Britain. Photography had really only been invented just 10 years before that. He was the first official photographer to the British Museum and one of the founders of the Royal Photographic Society. He was the son of a rich Parliament member, who earned a Master of Arts degree and took up painting first, studying in France. When he was 23, he returned to England to study law but kept painting. He married happily and was really kind of dabbling in various interests in the way wealthy people do, when he discovered his major talent was photography. His first commission was to travel to Russia to photograph architecture, and then he was sent to cover the Crimean War in his early
30’s, becoming the first war photographer to cover a war from beginning to end. When he returned to London he did a series posing men and women in Orientalist costumes. He followed this with a series of still lifes that achieved technical perfection (like the one shown here). Photography had been considered a worthless hobby until then, and he began to attempt to elevate it to an art form. Finally, when he was 43 years old, saddened by the commercial turn photography was then taking, he suddenly retired from photography, auctioned off all his equipment and worked the rest of his life as a lawyer, never taking another photograph. He died at age 50. (Read more about him here.)
Deep Thought: “I wish scientists would come up with an ear of corn that was big and round, because then when you were eating it, it’d be fun to make chew marks in the shape of continents.”
Today I am grateful for: Seashells
Guess the Movie: “The humans have tried everything. Now it’s up to us dogs, and the twilight bark.” Answer: 101 Dalmations, 1961.
Winner: SupremeSpleen.
Biodiesel is Willie’s Surprise Drivetime Hit
When country singer Willie Nelson goes on the road, his tour bus is fueled not by petrol but by biodiesel. Now he has launched his own version, BioWillie, at a truck stop near Austin, and customers are queuing up to buy it.
Andrew Gumbel reports from Carl’s Corner, Texas (Rest of article here.)
End of Day: 9:02 pm
+ = Strategic yardwork accomplished.
- = Weird neighbors.
Comments (11)
Movie: 101 Dalmations?
Dang betcha!
Thanks for the info on Fenton.
BioDiesel is big, actually. I doubt people are lining up to get BioWillie because of the name.
I was going to say 101 Dalmations too. And I’d buy the BioWillie.
interesting background…
Cool pictures – how are things your way? It’s a bit muggy over here. And cloudy. Doesn’t seem much like July weather at all! I hear it’ll be in the 80s by the end of the week though.
How are the cats doing? Hope all is well!
Yes! 101 Dalmations…the animated (and best) version…
I was married to a woman who worked in antique photo processes, albumen, platinum, salt prints, autocolours, they were wonderful, wonderful things. Produced on hand coated, hand-made paper from 8×10 negatives. She was a brilliant artist. A lousy mother, certainly. But I brilliant artist.
BioWillie? That’s a little strange. It’s so nice ot know that he has enough money to pay for explorations such as this, but failed to pay all of his back taxes. Good grief.
I always get over here too late to try to guess the movie. Oh, well. At least I got through the Florida Panhandle a few days ahead of Dennis. I’m glad I was late for Dennis, even if I was also late for the movie, as usual.
interesting info