Outraging the Normal Scene

"In the meantime I could even sell two photographs you sent me last time and I will transfer your part in due course.

The photographs I could sell were acquired by two professionals so I still believe that your work is something special, outraging the normal scene."
Erich Ryf

If I am outraging the normal scene, I must be doing something right.

Pretty crazy 24 hours.

First, Rachel comes home to this :



And we eat a bit of this :

I walk to work, work a bit on the budget, feel like I need some air, take a walking break, and see this :

I get home and get 2 amazing emails.

The first is from Ben Bedford.

3 or 4 years ago I was sitting in the Embassy Tavern with Rachel, drinking and talking, when this guy starts singing and playing his guitar.

From the first note I knew he was something special. I listened with great interest until his final song. Rachel had left hours ago, but I stayed, sitting on a bar stool, getting swept into the ether of this man's voice.

I introduced myself during one of his breaks, and told him one day I would be reading about him in the New York Times. Well, the New York Times may not have heard of him yet, but a lot of people have, and his new album is getting a lot of attention.

He is playing at the Embassy this Friday, and Rachel and I will be there, cheering him on. In a couple of more years he will be too big to be playing for free at the Embassy, so I better see him while I can.

The second email was from Erich Ryf, owner of a gallery in Switzerland. 2 or 3 years ago he contacted me about exhibiting in his gallery. I accepted (who wouldn't?), and sent him a box of photographs. I was able to sell 2 small 5 x7's during the first month. Unfortunately, at that time, everything turned south for me. I lost my energy just after completing the gallery darkroom sessions. I couldn't get myself to work anymore. Just at a time when my work was selling in galleries in New York, Switzerland, Colorado, and Chicago, I had to leave it all because my vision vanished.

Van Gogh predicted that if he ever experienced success with his pictures, it would be the end of his career. In 1889 -1890 he was finally getting some recognition, but he ended his life in mid 1890, never to experience the influence he would have on future artists.

After getting a bit of exposure, I did not have the desire to take my life, but I could no longer work and see. My spirit had withered.

I finally started to gain some life in October, 2008. I started tentatively, and slowly built some momentum. I started a blog. Learned digital photography. I had lost contact with the gallery world, but maybe this was a good thing. It was back to basics, making pictures to make pictures.

Erich's email included this :

I was surprised that he included my name in his gallery pamphlet. I wrote Erich today telling him how stunned I was to see this, and offered to send him some new work. I am feeling the fire again, so I want to get into the darkroom and make 10-15 new prints for his gallery.

A few hours ago he wrote back and told me to send the work. Not only that, but the opening quote to this blog entry was in the email. So I may have sold some more work, and will be getting some cash soon, which will pay for the supplies I will be ordering in the next few days.

And the best, an epitaph for my gravestone :

Outraging the Normal Scene

~ ~ ~

I had a triple workout today. Ran to the arboretum and did 3 sets of strength exercises. Ran a little more, then walked home.

Feeling energetic, I rode my bike to Brookens and did 6 sets of strength exercises and 6 sets of jump rope.

Riding my bike home, I still had a lot of unspent energy, so I rode to the cemetery and rode around the empty roads as fast as I could, and rode up the steep hill 5 or 6 times. I rode home as hard as I could.

My knee would not allow running more than 3 miles, but, riding a bike does not bother it, so I have found a way to get a good cardio and leg workout.

I'm doing what I can....

Recently discovered this band :