Remembering the early 20s

It's been two months since Terry Toedtemeier's sudden death. I may be late reporting this but Craig Hickman has put a wonderful series of Toedtemeier portraits online here dating from roughly 1965 to 1972. Hickman and Toedtemeier grew up together in Portland, and some of these shots reach far back into boyhood. Even though I didn't know him well I found some of the photos pretty moving. Definitely worth a look for anyone involved in Portland's photo community.

St. Patrick's Day 2 by Craig Hickman

What To Do? #16

46. Jerusalem, 2000

47. Portland, 2003

48. Portland, 2003

(What To Do? is a weekly installment of previously unpublished b/w photos from my archives)

Blue in the face

Check out this checkout shot:

Mirror #24 by Siegfried Hansen
I don't know the circumstances of the photo. I suppose it could be part of a project photographing supermarkets. But my guess is that it's plucked from daily life. Hansen was probably buying something at the market, saw this scene develop, and captured it perfectly.

To me this image is a reminder that potential photographs surround us constantly. Photography isn't something that can be stopped and started at different times throughout the day or the week like some assignment. Photography, at least the way I've come to practice it, is with me 100% of the time. For the past ten years I have never been without a camera. I'm guessing Hansen is the same.

There are admittedly some problems with this method. There are probably certain elements of life that are better approached without a camera, at least initially. When photography bleeds into every corner of one's world, nothing is sacred. Something is given up. I realize that. But that's just the way it has to be. I am no more able to turn on and off my photography than I am my breathing.

Relatives revealed

For those of you keeping score at home, here are the answers to Quiz #10:

1. Diane Arbus
2. Tina Barney
3. Philip-Lorca diCorcia
4. Doug Dubois
5. Elliott Erwitt
6. David Hockney
7. Annie Leibovitz
8. Nicholas Nixon
9. Sylvia Plachy
10. Lee Friedlander
11. Stephen Shore
12. Larry Sultan

Although Robert Ashby didn't solve every clue he came closer than anyone. Robert, I'm willing to declare you the winner and send you a print if you email me your address.

Four shameless plugs

1. I've recently added this new section to my website.

2. I have a photo in the current issue of this magazine.

3. This site has recently been revamped, adding several hundred new photos to what was already a huge collection.

4.