Have You Ever Been Mistreated?

So, like the eclectic girl I am, I love blues, I love the railroad, and all that stuff that comes along with photography at some point in time. I also love many other things. But that will have to come later. I always feel I have been misunderstood as a photographer. One of my friends has taken to calling me a "hipster" photographer (just to tease me, I know) but it really can get to me sometimes. John Cohen's There Is No Eye: John Cohen Photographs   http://www.johncohenworks.com/photo/upcoming.html  portrays the simplicity and beauty of people "sangin' and a praisin'" in their own ways. Some sit out on the porch and pick it and grin it, while others come under the hand of religion and sing their little hearts out. John Cohen has done something incredible here. He has combined two arts, photography and music, and made it possible to multitask with pleasure. His book also comes with a CD of recordings that include Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Cotten, and many other lovely artists who may be unknown to this day, but they still sing for themselves. Just as we photograph for ourselves.

This photo is not included in John Cohen's book. But it is taken by him. This image is of Roscoe Holcomb, a musician...obviously.

And now I sit, at 4 a.m., unable to sleep from too much cardemom tea, handkerchief tied around my head in an effort to keep my wild, dark hair back in its rightful place, and wonder: why don't I try starting smaller? Why must I constantly achieve more than I can handle? I have made a pact this year as I go into my Junior year of high school, to be constantly happy. It's a very hard task, but it can be done, and I believe so. Remember that sometimes you are not out there to please others and you can never please everyone who walks along the trail with you, but kindness over cleverness can create intelligence which then leads to happiness all around you. Try something new with your photos. I am not just saying like any other human being "think outside of the box", but think, what really touches your heart when you see a photo? What makes you melt into a warm pile of firewood on an Autumn evening? What sings to your soul when you sip hot cocoa, kiss your lover, fly airplanes? What? What is it that you really want? Do it. Take the leap and take the picture. Take the picture of life and its incredible beauty. I have recently had trouble with loneliness, but I am overcoming that obstacle by surrounding myself with things and people who I love. John Cohen is truly genius in this way. He has taken something that he really appreciates and touched his own as well as many other peoples' hearts just by sharing their power as human beings through his own power as a celebrity and artist. I personally have done this with photography with my own Father's beautiful passion for the banjo which he is currently teaching moi. Here we are. I have many other good shots of him, but this one is the one that has grasped me the most. Taken with a Nikon D40, my current tool of trade, I present to you my handsome Father. All rights reserved:

I would also like to share with you a picture of a busker in the streets. I am afraid I cannot share the location. But this image is taken by me. He was a sweet guy who played Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on the sidewalk. Gave him a few dollars for his picture and talent. All rights reserved.:

"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment. To such an extent indeed that one day, finding myself at the deathbed of a woman who had been and still was very dear to me, I caught myself in the act of focusing on her temples and automatically analyzing the succession of appropriately graded colors which death was imposing on her motionless face."

-Monsieur Claude Monet

One of the greatest artists to ever have walked this earth...

P.S. The title is actually a famous folk song included in Cohen's fantastic book. 

This has been Camille Craig, signing off and wishing you a lovely day.

Fare thee well.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE READERS! Just to let you all know.  So comment all you want so long as it's fitting and appropriate. 

Adios, muchachos y muchachas. Adios.