I often struggle with boredom, as noted numerous times in this blog. When boredom sticks around too long, it’s dark sibling depression is not far behind. I could put it more poetically, and say that melancholia and ennui are frequent visitors to my life; part of an ever growing segment of humanity, I know, I know. In any event, the only thing that keeps the wolves at bay, it seems, is activity. Idle hands are the devil’s playground, no joke. I’m grateful to have my little art studio where I can keep my hands and my mind occupied when not much else is going on. No need for grand artistic statements; sometimes it’s just doing “the work” that is its own reward. It’s the process, not the product, after all. Case in point, I started making little, mini zines this week. One sheet of paper, folded a few times, then bound in some scrap test prints. Voila, instant art. Oh, yeah, these things are small. See battery photo above for scale. No matter, it’s a great little exercise in assembly, sequencing and focus. Not sure what I’m going to do with these. They accumulate quickly. Most likely I’ll distribute them freely, most likely anonymously. Small visual haikus for the universe. A small ray of light from the darkness.
2022: 19 Iduare
Most of my time, I toil on my work alone, isolated in my studio, headphones on, in my own little world. This is not unique to artists or photographers, of course. The pandemic has only exacerbated this isolation. On the plus side, it has proved very productive for me, but I do find the urge to reach out and connect (both literally and figuratively) with other people, other creatives, other photographers.
To that end, I reached out to my frequent collaborator Fábio Miguel Roque in Portugal, and asked him to connect me with one of his frequent collaborators, Peter Oey in the Netherlands. My hope was to work together on “something.” What that was I had no idea. Both of these artists are prolific and create unique photographic work, mostly in book form.
After numerous exchanges over WhatsApp, we devised a plan to collaborate on a set of self-published books. We combined a pool of photos from which we each would pull from, and then design a book in our own chosen manner. The images were loosely based on a common theme (explained in detail at the end of this post) but the final choice and layout was at the discretion of each artist. To further the uniqueness of each book, hand assembly and / or binding techniques were employed. We each produced 14 books in total, 11 to sell, and 3 artist’s proofs…one for each of us.
The entire process took a bit over one month to complete. Quick yes, but also liberating and at the same time, connecting me with two other creative friends, albeit thousands of miles apart. I am proud of this project, and hope you will consider purchasing one at my online shop. But even more important than sales is the satisfaction of forging connections as a panacea for the isolation of the past few years.
IDUARE (old Latin) or IDES refers to the middle day of each month in the Roman calendar. Every month has an Ides, with the Ides of March being the 15th.
The word I des comes from the old Latin verb, iduare, which means to divide. This day became well known as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar, which made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history. Julius Caesar heard and ignored the warnings about the Ides of March. That day has since become associated with doomsday.
Doomsday and ignoring warnings of visual signs is our theme for this trinity of books. Each is born out of brainstorming discussions between the three artists.
Each book takes on a unique format, decided upon by each artist; created from a pool of photographs each had submitted for this work, expressing diverse viewpoints on the theme. What unifies each book, beyond the recurrence of images, is a spirit of creative opposition in the face of the complicated, often dangerous world we live in.
Are we soothsayers? Ignore at your own peril.
2022: 18 Zine Exchange
If you know me, you know that I love to see my photos in print. That extends into photo books, photo zines and everything else related to self-publishing. I also try support other creative people in their pursuit of getting their work into print. To that end I decided to take a big step forward in the interest of community building and sharing each other’s vision. Inspired by conversations with fellow photographers and witnessing the proliferation of little free library‘s all over my hometown, I decided to create my own spin on this concept by creating a photo zine / book exchange.
Thanks to an inside scoop from a friend, I was able to get my hands on an old Albuquerque Journal newspaper distribution box. I cleaned it up and emblazoned it with custom graphics and now this box acts as a public, free, zine exchange. Special thanks to the good folks at Little Bear Coffee on Central Avenue in Nob Hill, Albuquerque for allowing me to place the scene box right out in front of their coffee shop.
I have stocked the box with zines from my personal collection that I have accumulated over the years, mostly from exchanges with other photographers and artists. I have also included some of my own zines just to get the ball rolling. Since it launched a couple of weeks ago it has been exciting to see people participate and even leave their own zines in the box. If you create your own photo zines or art zines or photo books, and would like to take part in this project, please send me a direct message and we can make arrangements for you to send your work. No strings attached, no money exchanged; just sharing the things that we create. Because, isn’t that what art is all about?
2021:40 Undertow: New zine available now
Excited to share the details of my newest publication with you. Undertow is a photographic meditation on the majesty, immensity and dark power of the ocean. I had the good fortune of shooting extensively on the Atlantic coast this past summer, and I was so pleased with the experience of shooting in the water, that this zine came together quite quickly and very much to my liking. I am happy to offer the zine to you now.
A sneak peek at the work.
The zine is 30 pages, spiral bound 8.5” x 11 “. The edition is limited to 50 copies, and all are signed and numbered. Cost is $20 plus shipping. I hope you order one today. I am proud of this body of work.
2019: 22 (The Next Thing Is...)
Very pleased to FINALLY announce the next project I am bringing into the world. This one is particularly exciting, as it is a collaboration with two fellow members of the Latent Image Collective. Along with my photo compatriots Fábio Miguel Roque (who hails from Portugal) and Hean Kuan Ong (living in Malaysia) we are unveiling our book and exhibition project titled “The River, The Ocean, The Sea.” We have been working on this collaboration for almost two years, and it is now almost ready for “prime time.”
The idea behind the project is that each of us lives near a body of water that is a defining feature of the place we call home, and the place where we create our art. Each of has explored this theme in our own personal way. the results of this exploration will be released as a self-published book, and will also be the focus of an exhibition at the Albuquerque Open Space Gallery later this summer.
My part of the project features photos from the bosque surrounding the Rio Grande here in New Mexico, with most of my photos coming from within the city limits of Albuquerque. The project has forced me to approach my work in a new way, and it really opened me up to an environment and an aesthetic that was unfamiliar to me. I am proud of this new work, and extra proud to have connected my city with two other far-flung locations. We are united through photography, and through our reliance upon the precious element of water.
Our ambitious project now needs YOUR help to get over the final hurdle and out into the world. The cost of printing 100 books, as well as printing and framing over 90 photographs for the gallery exhibition is quite steep. To that end, Fábio, Hean Kuan and I have created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help offset the costs of this project. We are offering some really great, limited edition incentives for those who can support our effort. I would be humbled by any help you can provided.
To support our GoFundMe, please click here.
Water is life, as is art.
New York, You're Bringing Me Down
Very excited to announce the release of my next zine. Those of you who know me, probably aren't surprised to hear that I have a love / hate relationship with New York City. This latest release takes a big bite of the Big Apple, "don't mind the maggots." The bright colors of photos are at odds with my attitude this time around. Nevertheless, I found the process of putting together this zine quite cathartic.
The zine is a 24 page, self-cover, perfect bound 5.5" x 8.5" booklet. Quantities are extremely limited, so don't delay, if you want one, grab a copy now. Available at my online shop.
Special shout out to Zé Manel Pinheiro at Photographic Mercadillo for first presenting this body of work. You can see the whole series on my website as well.
Buy Photo Books, Not Photo Gear
A camera is a tool. A lens is a tool. More cameras and more lenses may give you more options to explore and capture the world. However, more important than any piece of equipment are your eyes. And no fancy pants, ultra high megapixel device is going to make you a better photographer if your eyes (and your mind) aren't functioning photographically. With the relentless torrent of images bombarding us everyday off of computer monitors, smart phones or other screen-based platforms, it is even more important to devote time to the tangible and the tactile. Investing in photo books will bring more lasting value to your life as a photographer than any new shiny piece of glass and metal (and plastic.)
There really is no replacement for seeing photographs in print. Many of us don't have the time or the access to a museum or gallery on a regular basis to view photos hanging in a frame on a wall. And not to diminish those opportunities, but the photo book format is, in many ways, the ultimate way to consume photographic images. You can spend as much time with each image, studying and contemplating. You can delve deeply into the sequencing of the images, which is a key component to a true body of work, as opposed to a single image that pops up on your Instagram feed. Books have permanence, and they will most likely increase in value. Try saying that about the latest mirrorless camera you just dropped a grand on.
Click on the image to find a copy for purchase
I recently added a few titles to my photo book library. I was thrilled to hear that the earliest books by the black and white master Ralph Gibson had been reissued in a new compilation. "The Black Trilogy" highlights the surreal, dreamlike work that Gibson soon became highly recognized for. What I find most striking about this body of work is how prevalently the vertical format is featured. I remember hearing once that Gibson felt that shifting to a vertical format subconsciously unsettles the viewer by a small degree, moving them away from the expected and more familiar horizontal presentation of an image. Combined with the inherent qualities of black and white, this helps push the work further from reality and deeper into the viewers psyche.
Click on the image to find a copy for purchase
The second book I'm featuring is by the great Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama. "Record" is a hardbound, slipcased book that complies his work that was originally released in a series of self-published magazines. The work spans almost thirty years, and highlights Moriyama's are-bure-boke (“shaky-blurry”) style. It is a bit difficult to comprehend how revolutionary this style was when it first surfaced in the late 1960s, especially considering how many contemporary photographers now ape Daido's look. As the work progresses chronologically, it becomes perhaps sharper and clearer, but never any less provocative.
Click on the image to find a copy for purchase
The last book up for discussion is a fairly obscure title, called "Meta Photographs" by Richard Gordon. Now before you go thinking this is some "johnny come lately, post-modern hipster, internet age" cash in, please note that the book was originally published in 1978. I had never heard of it, nor the photographer Richard Gordon, before I happened upon a set of images from this book on view at SFMOMA. This book falls squarely in my wheelhouse, as it is strictly photography about photography. Or more accurately, photos of items or environments that include some photographic representation in them. Photos of celebrity portraits on a wall, photos of people using cameras, photos of people being photographed. What I love the most about this book is how a simple undercurrent unites the whole project; how a photographic image can be recontextualized; how something that at first glance seems mundane, can actually be infinitely thought provoking.
What are some of your personal favorite photo books? Feel free to share your thoughts.
Beloved: The Cabin Sessions; 12 inch square hardcover book, 8 inch square softcover book, and gatefold CD.
Creative Collaboration: The Cabin Sessions
I'm really excited to announce the imminent release of my next photo publishing project. The soon to be available book is titled "Beloved: The Cabin Sessions." My good friend David Garcia has assembled Beloved; a tight and talented circle of New Mexico musicians to help create his first musical release. I am honored that David has asked me to collaborate on all the visual components for the upcoming release. This includes CD and vinyl LP artwork, which is cool all by itself. The release will also include a book of my photographs, that are combined with the lyrics of David's amazing songs. We are awaiting the release of our deluxe edition 12" square, hardcover bound book. It contains 54 pages of images and words, and it is the result of a wonderful collaboration between myself and David. He has given me full creative freedom to not only choose the photos, but also to layout the book. My art is featured prominently throughout, and some of my "behind the scenes" photos of the band's recording sessions are featured as well. David will have a limited number of the hardcover book for sale, starting at the album release show on February 3rd here in Albuquerque. We are also producing a lower cost, 8" square, soft cover version of the book, which I will have copies available to purchase on my online shop after the launch gig.
I can't stress enough the value of print on demand platforms like Blurb and MagCloud. They have allowed me to create this amazing project, with David's help, in a very timely and cost effective manner. The quality of the printed pieces, especially the hardcover book, are truly impressive. We took inspiration from an "art" book Wilco released a few years back. The idea was to have my photographs match tangentially to David's lyrics. There is so much common ground between his words and my images. The American West, the long lonely highways, dreams of hope, and the realities of loss... all factor into the resulting book. The cover design is also a nod to U2's "Achtung Baby" album, which might go without saying if you are familiar with that iconic album.
The power of collaborating with like-minded creatives, regardless of their area of expression, cannot be stressed enough. Sometimes we need to crawl from our solitary creative cocoon to produce our art. The sum is indeed greater than the parts.
Print is (not) Dead. Long Live Print.
"Hi, my name is Nick, and I'm a printaholic..."
Yes, it's true, I am addicted to print. Specifically, printed photographs, whether it's in a frame on the wall, received as a postcard in the mail, in a book or in a zine... I love it all. And lately, as many of you know, I've been bitten by the self-publishing bug. With online, print on demand options like Magcloud or Blurb, a self-published book or zine is just a few clicks away. I find that the format is a perfect way to get my work out in the world, in a real, tangible way. Photographs were always meant to be seen in print. It's only recently, with our digital existence taking over every aspect of previously actual, physical content, that photos are mostly seen on a screen; be it desktop or mobile. Hey, I'm no Luddite. I often shoot with a DSLR or my iPhone, listen to Spotify all day long, stare at Instagram and Facebook far too much, and share work right here on my website on a regular basis. But something gets lost when we just see photos on a backlit screen. Photographs deserve more permanence. I realize that most folks can't afford dropping $50 to $150(or more) for a framed photograph, but a $10 - 15 zine or book is well within reach for a much larger audience. And of course the benefits of a printed publication allows the viewer to engage with your work many more times than a gallery show would ever provide. I am grateful for the support I've gotten from many friends and followers for my own self-published works, and (teaser alert, see above) there are more printed pieces to come in the near future. In the meantime, I'd also like to take a moment to recognize the work of some print obsessed self-publishers I've been following and collecting myself. Their work is well-worth the time and money to support.
Book Recommendation
“... the effort we all make...to affirm life without lying about it. And then to behave in accord with our vision.”
Spending a quiet afternoon with this classic. Highly recommended for any fellow photographers out there who want to think more deeply about our chosen medium.
“At our best and most fortunate, we make pictures because of what stands in front of the camera, to honor what is greater and more interesting than we are. We never accomplish this perfectly, though in return we are given something perfect— a sense of inclusion. Our subject thus redefines us, and is part of the biography by which we want to be known.”