OK, I have concluded that
1) There ares some good photographs on Flick
2) Henry Schlacks' St. Boniface is one of his typical masterpieces
3) It may be a bit dangerous to crawl around in old Churches and theaters
4) Most anyone is a better photographer than I am
5) But I am willing to admit 4 and thus will hire guys like James Morris to do photo projects
UPDATED 6) Photos such as these are better when they do not have a story to tell. The story is usually melodramatic, but the visual information may stand alone better than the commentary.
7) Perhaps documentary information is better than commentary, name-date-lighting type-weather etc
8) The commentaries usually go something like this "What a tragic site...why? wHY? WHY?" It is not helpful
9) My commentaries are mostly speculative fiction and propoganda, but in general as good a piece of history as available anywhere else, and peppered with facts. Here is a short fact, SLR Cameras distort large format shots of buildings. Look at the upper right and left hand corners of this shot. They are bent. To the best of my knowledge, there is not a compact large format camera that can be packed away while sneaking into empty churches.
10) The whole campus settings of Churches such as St. Boniface are interesting artifacts in themselves. Anyone still building urban church campusses?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
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5 comments:
I use a software package called Panotools that will correct the lens distortion you mentioned in #9.
**I am cutting and pasting Primo's comments from the Uptown, as the are more directed to St. Boniface--JBP**
1 Comments:
Primo said...
1. There are amazing photographers on Flickr.
2. I was unaware of the Architect but after reviewing his Chicago Area churches, concluded, yes, this is a typical masterpiece. We can thank the 300 candlelight protestors in 1999 for preventing its demolition.
3. It is very dangerous to crawl around old abandoned buildings. The idea of trespassing, though, is usually the least of an explorer’s worries. Riding bikes on streets infested with 2 ton vehicles is probably more risky.
4. I would like to see a selection of images before I come to a conclusion.
5. I am unfamiliar with James Morris but this idea sparks interest for me. If there are any possible collaboration projects looming ahead, feel free to contact me. Any opportunity to record, document, and elaborate on the cultural problems in the United States are always welcomed.
6. I just recently succumbed to this argument when determining the allocation of space for a thesis show. Stupid is a matter of opinion and maybe unnecessary would be a better alternative.
7. Perhaps
8. My commentary is not intended to be a representation of the photographs. In fact, very rarely will I include my descriptive experiences in a more professional setting. As an unknown artist seeking to make a small mark in my community, I connect my photographs with my elaborate narratives to build a stronger base for myself. In other words, if the words lead to the images or vise-a-versa, than so be it. The ultimate goal is to leave an impression with either one. Leaving an impact with both is simply a bonus.
9. Technology is rampant. Industry is dead. My lenses and cameras will soon find a fate similar to the buildings I explore. Until the day when sensors or digital optics can act as bellows, I must deal with a little imperfection.
10. This answer is probably a big fat NO. This is precisely why we need to preserve buildings, complexes and campuses like St. Boniface. We were preached history with words, illustrations and photographs during school, but wouldn’t it be something if we could teach it with surviving artifacts.
As much as you may dislike my words, that’s ok. You must have at least a small appreciation for some of the images you have seen and I am honored to have them associated with your blog. I hope that James Morris and I can meet. Primo
Primo,
Thanks for your comments. If I may respond
4) Trust me, a monkey with a pinhole camera is more competent than I am.
5) One of the great things about Morris (and Robert McLintock) photographs, is that they are celebrating artistic splendour and exurberance. Showing where the architects and artists visions matches reality is an artistic end in itself, regardless of the current condition of the built environment. This also shows through in your photos and is quite commendable.
6) Updated. Written on 2 hours sleep, with a crying baby in arms. (Melo)Dramatic is more appropriate. It is a matter of personal taste in narration. Many people like the Richard Nickels style. I personally like his photos very much.
The photos you have shared on Flickr are fantastic and a very valuable contribution to documenting the splendor of Midwestern Art and Architecture.
Nothing lasts forever but your soul.
This place is drawing some attention these days. Here's a website dedicated to it. Some decent shots too.
www.saintbonifaceinfo.com
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