Florida Bill on Photographing Farms

     While doing a search for photographs of farms, I found numerous sites up in arms about the bill proposed by Florida Senator, Bill Norman in March 2011 that would make photographing a farm or its animals without the permission of the farm owner a first degree felony.  I must say, this concerned me quite a bit... I do not want to go to jail over a picture of a cow.  Bill decided to revise the bill and make it a misdemeanor if a photo is taken on the property of the farm, but now, a roadside picture is fine.

      It still makes me a leary about taking roadside photos, and I must admit that I was already a little nervous taking photographs by the road anyway.  It feels very voyeuristic, and if it makes me uncomfortable, what about the people that may see me photographing their property?  My intentions are innocent, but they don't know that.  I guess if there was someone out there to ask, I would take that opportunity, but when I am just driving by, looking for a good photo op... the whole process is more a spur of the moment situation.
Here is a link to the story:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/agriculture/sen-jim-norman-scales-back-bill-that-inadvertently-criminalized-farm/1158811

New Found Sight

I found Debbie Hartley's photos at http://www.betterphoto.com/, then I found her own website at:
http://www.debbiehartleyphotography.com/.  Her pictures are very inspiring and very close!  I love the photos of flowers and bugs that give an abstract look to the composition.  There are also some beautiful shots of spiderwebs and dandelions with dew.

My Sunset Photographs in October

I was too late to take photos for my project, so I played around a bit with my camera and the available light.  I love the colors... cliche sunsets and all!

More Photos from Project 3

I have thoroughly enjoyed this project!  I had a great time running around finding these rusty relics in our area.  As I have said before, I have a great passion for old, rundown buildings and signs, as well as dead trees.  For me, finding William Christenberry's photographs gave me a sense of validation for the continuing theme of my artwork.  I tried to give each building and its surroundings center stage in my photos, as Christenberry did in his pictures.  I found that timing and lighting were very critical in creating these pictures.  I can see this project will most likely continue throughout my life!

Photos by Luther Smith

Check out these photographs at:
http://www.luthersmith.net/index.html

The landscape photos are what I like the best on this site.  The photographs of people were taken using infrared film which gives the eyes a very strange look!

Photographer Michael Eastman

Check out his photos at:
http://eastmanimages.com/vanishing-america

YouTube Link

Here is a link to a video with William Christenberry
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwmZZZoU_gs

My Photos

These are photos I am taking for my project emulating William Christenberry. Old signs, old houses, and dead trees have been subjects I like to include in my art work already. I am enthralled by the textures and unexpected beauty.

More Photos from William Christenberry

"Royal Crown Cola", near Aliceville, Alabama, 1973

"Corn Sign with Storm Cloud", near Greensboro, Alabama, 1977

Photographs by William Christenberry

Project 3

    Project 3 is to pick a photographer to emulate.  I have picked William Christenberry who was mainly a sculptor and painter in the Abstract Expressionism movement.  Christenberry began taking photographs in Alabama around Hale County where Walker Evans took documentary style photographs.  When Christenberry met Evans, Evans encouraged him to continue taking photos of the area around where he grew up in Alabama.  Christenberry's photographs consist of old signs and the progression of dilapidation of old buildings and homes over the span of multiple annual pictures. 

Source:  "Orders of Memory: Photography in the Art of William Christenberry", Andy Grundberg in the book, William Christenberry.