Texas - PhotoTrice

Silence

The anniversary of the siege and fall of the Alamo is a couple of months away. There are several presentations in Alamo Plaza each year to commemorate the events which contributed to Texas independence. For many years colorful and noisy reenactments of the events were staged on the plaza, often with a hundred or more participants. They are probably now a thing of the past.

The State of Texas and City of San Antonio are working together to restore the historical integrity of Alamo plaza and surrounding streets. The Alamo and the other original missions in San Antonio have been designated as UNESCO world heritage sites which must be preserved. Good thing really, the garish entertainment surrounding the plaza resembles a Florida theme park.

The reenactments of the fall of the Alamo always ended with the participants honoring those who gave their lives on both side of the battle. This man is bowing in silent tribute.

Folk Dancer

I have long been fascinated with Mexican photographers, muralist and filmmakers. They seem to share a certain perspective on the world that is unique to their country. Maybe it is an expression of deep cultural roots or possibly a reaction to traumas suffered over the last few hundred years. There is nothing like the destruction of multiple civilizations to change the way you perceive the world. Whatever it is I am drawn to the imagery of Mexico.

At various times I have obsessed about what sort of photographic ‘style’ I should adopt. What constitutes proper technique and the constraints of craft? The answer for me is to stop thinking in terms of limits. Everyone has unique vision. That is literally true because our visual perception is based in DNA and life experience. I can learn from others but I can only express what I see and feel. The same is true for the image makers of Mexico. Still there is something shared in their work.

For many years I have lived in multi-cultural Texas and New Mexico. There are rich experiences to be found in places where people of different backgrounds choose to live together. My roots are shallow in the new world unlike my wife’s family. They have lived in the place now known as Texas for hundreds of years while the flags changed over them. I am influenced by the cultures around me.

I can never see photographically in the way anyone else sees. Let alone the photographers of Mexico. My work may be informed by the work of others but it is unique to me. There is no other way.

Fallow Season

Winter in the Central Texas Hill Country is mild when compared with more northerly latitudes. Typically we have a light freeze overnight followed by fifty or sixty degree days. Not a hardship by any means. The pace of rural life does slow down in the cool months. The fields are mostly fallow and some of the oak trees shed their leaves. It feels like winter even without the cold.

The cold season, such as it is, presents excellent opportunities for landscape photography. The color palette is more subtle and the bones of the natural world are revealed when foliage withers. It seems the starkness of the winter landscape pushes my photography to a more introspective place. The highly graphic scenes reveal something about the photographer as well as the landscape.