When I was in film school at UT, I finagled my way into a photography
class reserved for photog majors...Actually, my love for film was based
on and in my love for photography. It was a blessing and a privilege to
study and practice photography with UT's Dennis Darling. And one of my
favorite and most intense and fulfilling projects was our pinhole camera
assignment. Most of D2's students turned in 2 or 3 pictures for evaluation.
KO, on the other hand, had created (literally) more than a dozen pinhole
cameras and (therefore) had more than half a dozen pinhole gems to give
to D2 for appraisal. Well, so...I created this shot! I was riding my bike (my
only mode of transport whilst living in Austin) with various pinhole cameras
in my bag when I saw the freight train crossing the bridge. I sped up, beat the
train, and then stopped and set my smaller-than-a-shoebox-box against a
rock, waiting. To my surprise and surreal glee, the conductor actually saw me,
stopped his train and waved! It may be hard to see in this scan of the original,
but you can actually see the conductor, hat and waving hand and all! It's a true
testimony to my dedication~ and honestly, my obsession~ with photography.
I am so grateful for (and simultaneously overwhelmed by) the opportunities I
had. I was so passionate and prolific, but I definitely did not comprehend my skills
and so had a hard time capitalizing on my expertise and experiences. Truth be told,
I coulda shoulda woulda been a celebrated photographer were it not for my fear of
being judged. It's silly to admit now, of course, because I had support from so many
amazing people. I guess I just wasn't ready...or maybe I was just terrified of selling
my soul-producing images...Obviously now that I am older and more worldly, I can
see clearly how talented I was (and am) and I can appreciate how perfectly this photo
quite literally sums up all my ability, potential, access, optimism and vision. Perfection!Pinhole Perfection, Austin, TX, KO/00