The modeling light kept pulsating off then on; off then on. I was standing on the balcony of the studio peering down at the glaring light just out of reach, and frustrated, wondering “Why does it keep doing that?”
I awoke from my dream confused as to my whereabouts. Yes, of course, Chicago, my friend Barbara’s place. As I lay in bed in the early morning, sheet pulled over my head, I could hear the sounds of cars and trucks hurrying to their early morning destinations. Although I couldn’t see them through the sheet, I knew the large industrial loft windows were 10 feet from the bed and just beyond that the freeway. Then through the sheet, painfully glaring light, then darkness.
I pulled the sheet down and could see semi-trucks rushing down the elevated freeway reflecting the early morning sunlight into my room piercing my eyes. Then I recalled my modeling light dream. The modeling light that went on and off, on and off. It seems so strange how one inhabits a dream.
Barbara's Hallway
In two days I was to lead a workshop in the “classic nude”, a studio class designed for practiced photographers, but with little or no experience with studio lighting or the human form. Barbara had approached me a few months earlier to prepare a program on figurative photography. Excited about the prospect of a class and to have an opportunity to visit Chicago, I eagerly agreed.
The class was to be held on Saturday at the Chicago Photography Center. The day before, we stopped by the center to check out the facility, their equipment, and to meet a few of the staff. The space was small but adequate, the equipment mostly working, and the staff exceptionally helpful. I felt ready.
My model, Daniela, from the Czech Republic, was in her 20’s and inexperienced. Just before the start, I gave her the outline as to how I saw the class going and answered her questions about modeling as best I could. She said she was ready and, as it turned out, she was absolutely superb. She was relaxed in front of the camera. Her calm demeanor allowed for the interactive process of creating beautiful images.
Nude80
I’m often intrigued to discover what the participants of my workshops find most interesting and useful. This group seemed indisputably interested in the very practical. I began by covering some history of the nude, how historical paintings inform photographs, and a discussion probing ‘why nudes?” However, they lit up when I turned on the studio strobes and I began to demonstrate.
I contemplated how to articulate the subtleties of light and shadow as they fall over the human form. Then a metaphor leapt into my mind. A friend, Bernard, is studying to be a sommelier. I have always been in awe of his “nose” and ability to articulate the qualities in a glass of wine. I tend to be more pedestrian. I seem to struggle to tell a Cabernet from anything. I can usually tell a red from white, that is, at least if I see the glasses.
One evening, just before my departure to Chicago, Bernard invited me to a tasting. Six wines: three red; three white. To my utter amazement I was able to identify 4 of the 6 wines! It turns out I had the ability all along. The trick was to allow my nose and palate to communicate with my brain. I have the sommelier’s ability when it comes to the visual. So in that moment, in the Chicago workshop, I recognized that most people are able to perceive the subtle changes of light and dark on a subject. What is needed is for them to allow their visual palate to develop.
Davis with Student
With experience they too could become visual sommeliers.
This experience resonated with my class, and several people for their first time really began to understand the nuance of light upon a subject. As a mentor, this was very gratifying.
For the next several hours they searched for these subtleties. It was a delightful morning.
The session ended with a spirited discussion and a grand party later that evening at Barbara’s.
I was tapped to cook up a gumbo for the participants and friends. The wine flowed and the crayfish simmered.
That night I moved to a much darker room away the freeway.
“It takes a specific amount of optimism to be on the road, and anything less means misery. A nominal Buddhist who knows that the ‘goal is the path’ is at an advantage.” ~~Jim Harrison
Wild Bill arrived from New Zealand and proposed a road trip. We had about a week and a vague destination: Glacier National Park.
A quick stop at AAA provided road maps and tour books to fill the back seat. Bill believes in being prepared. He also picked up maps for Nevada, Utah, the Western USA and I recall Alaska (he has a fishing camp there and, besides, one never knows on a road trip).
Our first stop was Tieton, WA a sleepy farm community with a strong artist influence. It’s website’s (it actually has one) description: Mighty Tieton is an entrepreneurial venture of urban and rural designers, architects, artists, and creative individuals, working in the Central Washington town of Tieton, fifteen miles west of Yakima.
It’s has a center square, a few stop signs, three restaurants (a café and two Mexican places) and a growing artist influence.
Tieton, rollers
We ran into Mike at the café and he gave us a tour of his and Ed Marquand’s vision. Added to our small band of travelers were Christine and David two friends visiting from Seattle.
David, Christine, Mike and Wild Bill
We were given the grand tour of Tieton, very impressive. Sharp condos converted from a warehouse, artist workspaces, art galleries, a full working book binding business and more. A bonus for me, upon my arrival back in Seattle I was given notice that my work had been accepted into the Tieton Art show, 10x10x10. So, I’ll be heading out soon to revisit Tieton and attend the opening.
Tieton Wall
From Tieton we headed toward Walla Walla and the center of the Washington wine country. We sniffed around, reconnected with a few old friends and hit the back roads toward Montana.
Highway 12 closely follows Lewis and Clarks return trip up to Missoula.
Highway 12
Beautiful mountainous roads, wind their way through the Nez Perce reservation along the Lolo River and finally Lolo pass on to the edge of Montana.
Missoula was a short stop to visit a war memorial park.
Hwy 12
Bill remembered the park from a previous visit and thought it was a stunning reminder of the sacrifices upon which this country is founded. We were told that for a state it’s size, Montana has more men and women in uniform than any other. The park and memorial were certainly beautiful. Bill’s been an expat now for many years. He loves his life downunder but I do believe I noticed a tear in his eye when he talked about the USA being the greatest country. From Missoula we zoomed up the highway to Flathead Lake and Bill’s close friends, Don and Marylou.
Flathead Lake, MT
Last year while visiting Bill in New Zealand, I met Don and Marylou who split their time between NZ and Flathead. They have built a lovely home just up from the lake where we sat during the evening watching the light dwindle and the activities on the lake slow to a quiet pace.
Kootenai Lodge
Among the many side trips was a visit to Kootenai Lodge. Built in the early part of the 20th century by Orvis Evans and Conelius Kelly, of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co., it was originally a summer retreat to hunt and fish. In it’s heyday of the 1920s and 30s the likes of Charles Lindbergh, Charlie Russell, John D. Rockefeller and Will Rogers regularly took the great Northern Pacific Northern train to relax and be enveloped by it’s quiet majestic beauty. Virtually abandoned over the decades it had crumbled into disrepair. A few years ago, Phil Milhous took it on as a labor of love. Milhous is meticulously restoring the original structures as a private community with the lodge acting as the central club for its residences.
Continuing on our road trip, we set our sites on Glacier National Park. Along the way, we ran into Rod Serling’s ghost..next time.
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