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Thanks photography

Michael Fontana

pro member
I like to be a photographer; the other day, I liked it especially:

getting "automatically" involved with °the world° - other cultures, other people, or things that you rarely would encounter without beeing a photographer.

Some of you know, that I'm taking photos of the new extension of the national ethnographic museum, called museum of cultures. When moving all the stuff out of the exhibition rooms, they wanted to give some pieces away, and carried it into one room, preparing for sale.

I took photos on place that day, and went through that room as well; one object captured my attention:


Dogon_B14s.jpg



Having a bit of understanding of the the african culture by knowing its music, reading some of the culture related books, that african ladder instantly hit me.

After finishing the photos, I went for a coffee and thought about it, its potential place in my appartement - it has about 250 cm - 100 inches of height - and decided finally to buy it prior to the official sale a few days later - as I wouldn't be in town that day.

Off course I did some researches about it, it' s a ladder from the Mali Dogon tribe, used to get on the roof of their adobe houses.

My ladder has a face/mask - which is not very common - cut into the upper fork. It has sculptural qualities, a simpleness in the good sense, and a elegance in the same time.....

Dogon_17s.jpg



It fits well into my small art collection with a bark painting from a australien aboriginal artist as well as works from contemporary artists, becoming parth of my life.

In the evenings I'm reading my books about african sculptur again, and the chaptre of Michel Leiris beeing at that Dogon place in the 30th of last century (Phantom Africa)

I even could find a copy of the book "architecture of the dogon" - which is out of print.... therefore 2nd hand - to know more about that Dogon architecture with these beautifull adobe mosques.

The circle is getting round: from a architecture assignement to a object to a book about a other culture's architecture.

Thanks Photography!
 

nicolas claris

OPF Co-founder/Administrator
Bonsoir Michael

I wonder (as I come back from 10 days abroad) how such a thread may stay without any comments!
Another undesired orphan thread certainly!

Anyway, an interesting aspect of photography, wether amateurly or professionnaly practicised, it circles or creates or maintain links from an acitivity/love/interest/part of our life/passions.
It is certainly more interactive that one can think.

Thank you to point us to this highly emotional aspect of photography.

On my side it let's me keep in the sea and boats world that I know from nearly my all life.
However, I won't buy a boat!

Yes, I fully agree with you, thanks photography!

PS I'm pretty sure that Rachel would have a lot to tell us about this…
 

Michael Fontana

pro member
Bonsoir Nicolas

sometimes, while running arround getting our jobs done, we forget about that enriching aspect of photography, which - besides earning money or buying that ladder - I like very much:

when taking photos of architecture, each building is unique, so one has to react in the situation; when working with artists, they want to feel too, that you confront youself to the artwork:

this all makes you open to today's or the past world, kinda beeing in time, beeing alive.

Nicolas, I bet that the boat shootings are different all the time as well; beside the boats wheater and sea change all the time, too.

You' ve been a sailor, prior to take photos of boats and yachts?
And how comes, you moved then to the photography side?

So you' re not even having a small dinghy anymore?


Sorry, I don't understand the connection of Rachel and boats....
 

nicolas claris

OPF Co-founder/Administrator
LoL!
no dinghy anymore!

To avoid being OT too long, I'll make it short: I started my working life as assistant of a fashion photogs in Paris in the mid seventies, then came back to my previous passion : sailing. For many years. Then I did build boats for almost 5 years - Came the time to work in a communication agency in Paris (as logistician). Got fed-up with life in Paris and rejoined the yachting industry while setting up "Claris" our advertising agency specialised in yachting in 19993. My love for photography could reborn…

Yes each boat is unique, as buildings. And as buildings (or whatever is manufactured) reflects the man intelligence and creativity.
Photography let me express and show how I percieve this.
Hoepfully, in my case, it helps a little bit the yacht builders to sell…
Maybe because with photography I am able to communcate that passion and love for boats…

So, once again, thanks photography!
 
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