“The Met’s latest poster campaign urges Londoners who spot “unusual” activity to ring the police and let them know. Examples include someone taking pictures of CCTV cameras or acting out of the ordinary. After all, these are dangerous times, and we all must be vigilant.”

“Contrast this for a moment with an earlier dangerous time: the Blitz. Bombs rained down upon London on a near-daily basis, killing, maiming and laying waste to whole neighbourhoods (one American friend recently described a trip around east London where his hosts pointed to every car park and said, “Of course, that was bombed in the Blitz” – and came away with the impression that Hitler had dropped car parks on Hackney).”

I have never been particularly interested in pictures. Pictures are perishable things, one-off transactions, most of which end up at the bottom of a shoe box.

I am however interested in cameras, mechanical things, and the recording of time, if there is such a thing. I am interested in film and the chemical process, how the lessening of one element can intensify another.

I am fascinated by light, its subtleties, and its ability to create an entire scene through presence alone. The subject intrigues me, and the potential of the camera to reveal things about the subject that could never be seen with the naked eye. I am quite partial to prints, and the sense finality that they give to an image.

I am most particularly interested in photographs, the process by which they were created, the stories behind them, and the manner in which they become objects of obsession that hang on the wall. The sum of the parts that make a finished photograph are far more interesting to me than any picture.

Each month the Artist Xchange gallery in San Francisco holds an opening to hang new work from local artists. Six of my own prints will be featured at this months opening, begining February 1st.

For those in San Francisco, I encourage you to attend. The Artist Xchange hangs a wonderful variety of work, ensuring there is always something for everyone.

Friday, February 1st
Artist-Xchange Gallery
3169 16th Street, San Francisco
(415)-864-1490

Top Posts For December

• Accessible Art, Free Photographs…
• Photographs: Fighters #1
• Thank You To Those Who Donated
• Photographs: Fighters #2
• links for 2007-12-12
• Fine Art Print Gallery Update
• Pen & Ink: Houses #4
• Photographs: Yuli, Legs, & Umbrella
• Photographs: Fighters #3
• links for 2007-12-10

Top Posts For 2007

• c.w.d. Clark And The Disappearance Of Group M35
• Top Five Friday: Five Photographs
• Randomness: 893 Top 5 Lists…
• Accessible Art, Free Photographs…
• Quotes: Robert Mapplethorpe
• Photo Blog Project: Submit Your Sites
• There Are No Good Photographs Of Britney Spears
• Photo Blog Project: Last Day To Submit
• Top Five Tips For Better Photographs
• On Photographs Of Mundane Things

Thanks to all those who commented and participated,
and of course to all those who donated.

Happy New Year…

Small update this week to the fine art print gallery. Two new images, one from the Central Valley of California, the other from the big round of wildfires in Southern California in 2003. Both are available in 11×14, 16×20, and 20×24 inches.

Of course, these are also available for free as 8×10 inch prints as part of the Accessible Art experiment. So if you haven’t taken advantage of this, please consider doing so.

Fourteen donations have come in so far. A great deal more than I had expected. Thanks again to all those who have participated. Your generosity will allow me to continue this project into the foreseeable future.

I will be back in the darkroom on Tuesday and Wednesday, so watch for more additions to the fine art print gallery late next week.

View The Print Gallery   ||   Make Your Donation

The Concept
Art should be accessible to everyone. I have always felt that if I had the means to do so I would give my work away, as the intent has never been solely to profit, but to create and share with those around me. I make no claim that my motives are pure. However, no amount of money in the world could convince me to stop doing what I do.

The Experiment
In order to increase the accessibility of my own work, I have decided to offer a free 8×10 fiberbase print to anyone and everyone who would like one. The only catch is that you must make a minimum donation of $2.00 to cover the cost of postage.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t donate more than $2.00. By all means, please feel free to donate whatever you believe the print is worth. Do not hesitate to give as much as your budget will allow, or just donate two dollars and get a nice print dirt cheap to hang on your wall. The choice is up to you.

When you make a donation, you will receive an 8×10 inch fiberbase silver-gelatin print of your choice. This is not a digital inkjet, a lightjet or a giclee. This is a 100% archival chemical print, hand printed by me, not a lab.

To Receive A Print

Step One: Choose the print that you would like from those available in the print gallery. Note the reference number of the image, you will be asked for it when you make a donation. Once you have made your selection, fill out the PayPal donation form.

Step Two: Make a donation of as much or as little as you like through PayPal. The minimum amount is two dollars to cover the cost postage. You do not need a PayPal account to make a donation.

Step Three: Wait eagerly at the mailbox while your print is mailed to you.

Please Spread The Word

I urge all of you who read this to Stumble, Digg, Delicious and Technorati this post. If you are not interested in a free print, please consider sharing this page with someone who is. The success of this experiment depends on your participation.