Saturday, July 26, 2008

Dispatches


Dispatches is a new quarterly magazine which combines written essays with photo essays. It is essentially the brainchild of VII photographer Gary Knight and Mort Rosenblum. The inaugural issue focuses on “In America” and contains essays by Paul Theroux, Samantha Power and John Kifner, as well as a very haunting photo essay by Antonin Kratochvil on the current state of America (“In God’s Country”). I am a proud subscriber to the magazine and hope that the magazine will get many more subscribers. We need more of such magazines that combine intelligent and sound writing with good and thorough photo essays.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

“Darkness is light’s silence…”


“Photography goes beyond the limits of reality and illusion… It brushes up against another life, another dimension, revealing not only what is there but what was not there…”

[Paolo Roversi]

Monday, July 21, 2008

My own clouded mind…


The view towards the Black Forest on Saturday night… in reference to my friend Thomas’ blog entry about the state of his mind… which really echoes where my confused mind is as well…

Happy Birthday Grandma/Mama!




Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Selbstdisziplin


There was a very interesting and well-written article in the latest Zeit Magazin Leben about self discipline or often the lack thereof… I am paraphrasing but one of the central arguments was that many people make themselves comfortable in a life where their daily routine is determined by the ruthless clock of a corporation or family life… the flipside would be a life of complete self determination of a free lancer which, however, would bring with it the responsibility to create something, to use the freedom to make the best of someone’s life, of someone’s potential and abilities…

…and this is the irony of today’s world: never has there been more freedom for individuals (of course, I am talking mainly of Western societies), who are less and less bound to social, ethical or geographical restrictions… but often are those more depressed and anxious or feel angst (“Lebensangst”) who have the luxury of freedom than those who are slaving away in a pre-determined rhythm …the fear to bear the responsibilities for their own lives and in particular for what one does not achieve seems to weigh heavy on individuals…

Wednesday, July 2, 2008