Black Mesa State Park

What is it about trees?
I just can't seem to stop making pinhole photos of them. Trees are good sitters...being still and all.

Pinhole camera made from Newman's own mint tin, the Ginger Dragon one if I recall correctly.
Paper negative sloshed around in caffenol.

sometimes it's the simple things....

that make me happy.

I've posted this before, but revisiting this paint can pinhole shot makes me smile.
It's from two years ago when we took a little vacation to Tucson in the winter time.

I really like this photo.  Especially now since there's not much water or a nice pool to look at where I live. 
I hope you like it too.

What a Difference a Week Makes...

If you know or not, New Mexico had a bad ass fire.
It started in the forest about 25 miles from my house and then escalated into a full blown crazy I might have to leave my house and belongings behind situation.
It was so bad, the National Guard had a road block set up 1/2 mile from my front door.
Scary, and stressful are words that don't really convey the true feelings of what people in the area felt.

I can tell you for certain though, last Wednesday was a rough day and we packed up our most precious things and prepared for the worst.

If you wonder about packing precious cargo, it goes like this....

First you make sure that your family is safe. No questions there.
Second, you pack up your important papers and documents.
Third, you pack all your photos and film negatives.
Fourth, and this wisdom is my husbands, you pack up the things that if you lost them, it would make you cry.

That fourth thing alone made me cry just hearing him say it out loud.

So I packed my Dad's slide-rule, my late mom's Polaroid and her Olympus XA (which still works).

The danger has passed now, and luckily we dodged a big bullet on this one.  We never were forced to evacuate, but we were VERY close to the line where a lot of people had to.  It's not fun.  But it does give you a certain clarity of what is truly important.

Have a great summer y"all.  It's going to be a hot one.

Here's a quick snap of the Moon from last week when the sky was filled with smoke.

back at the ranch.....

uber wide Holga pinhole shot made in Texas sometime last year....I've been going to this particular place near Fort Davis since 1990.

You should too!

no it's not pinhole...so

so here's a photo I made with a crappy Holga through the front window of my truck. It's true I drive and snap photos, but I never drive and text...

This photo I fancy a bit like a Robert Adams scene of the american west.  Look up Mr. Adams and you might see a very vague similarity....heavy stress on the very vague part!

anyway, I like this shot, and I hope you do too...more importantly I hope you check out Robert Adams work. He's pretty good at what he does. Actually he's one of the best.

the poo is just flying outta the goose....

In other words, I'm up to my boots in busy!

My solo show at Tammy Cromer Campbell Gallery in Longview, Texas opens July 7 and runs through September 16.

You can get a sneak peek here:

It's been a lot of fun prepping for the show, but a lot of work! I hope to see some of you there.  I was raised in East Texas, so going home is going to be nice.
I also did an interview with SXSE magazine about the show...it should be available to read in July.

Oh and I wrote a new artist statement and did a new bio for myself for the show.  Egad!  Fluffed myself up just a wee bit!  Silly, yes!

Also, I'm headed to Amarillo to the Cadillac Ranch soon to wheat paste some photos on those famous Cadillacs with my shootapalooza pals! It's going to be hot and windy, and a ton of fun. Nearby, Palo Duro Canyon is in my cross-hairs too, so hoping at least one of my cameras has some time with those striated rocks over that way. Oh and I must have one of Amarillo's famous Cherry Donuts...or two or three.....

A couple of my pinhole photos were shown at Revela T in Barcelona,Spain and also at the Patagonia Photo Festival in Argentina last month. Dios Mio!

Plus I'm planning a trip for the Total Solar Eclipse next year! It's a big thing and so far a lot of hotels are already booked, so if you plan to go watch the Moon hide the Sun, you better make your reservations now.

Other than that, it's just the usual putzing around with pinhole cameras and making a few prints in the darkroom.
Enjoy your summer vacations.



"Mile marker 26"

Taos, New Mexico   June 1, 2016

4 x 5 Santa Barbara pinhole with film sloshed in caffenol.

This will probably be my mode of operation for the summer.