Saturday, June 7, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Spotlight: Timothy Briner
One of the most interesting artists that I have found on the internet is a photographer named Timothy Briner. In the past several months I have followed his blog and web site, as he has chronicled his journey across America.
Why is Briner traveling across America? He is traveling from Boonville to Boonville; he is working his way from Boonville, New York to Boonville, California and to four other Boonville’s along the way. At each town he has stopped in he has photographed the people and places there, and he has photographed his journey along the way. I am not exactly sure if that answers the why, but maybe Timothy can answer why in his own words:
“There's been population booms and a rise of corporate development over the last 25 years. Some towns are benefiting from this, others are slowly dying. Some call it progress. I think the heart and soul of America is undergoing a significant evolution.”
I actually discovered Briner not by surfer the internet blogs, but on the front page of my town’s newspaper. He had traveled to the Brazos Valley in order to photograph the extinct town of Boonville, Texas. There is not much left of Boonville, except for the Boonville Cemtery.
He has taken up a journey with courage and a purpose that I have only aspired to take. The trip was entirely founded by donations from friends, family, and other artist. If I could afford it myself I probably would have donated a few dollars.
What has made Briner’s blog exceptional is that along with the chronicle of his journey he has continued to share related links in photograph and the arts. From sharing a blog dedicated to women in photography to musicians such as the band The Hold Steady.
Much of the blog is about Briner’s journey, but as you take his writings and photographs into context you realize that this is not just about him. We people take journeys like this; it has an interesting affect on them and their outlook on life. We are all moving through this world without any idea who we might come in contact with, and some of us embrace this idea and take solace in the fact that most of us are looking for the same thing.
I look at Briner’s journey as a window into the soul of America, an almost Kerouacesque journey through photographs of what has become of Boonville, USA.
“Buy the ticket, take the ride.”
–Hunter S. Thompson
Why is Briner traveling across America? He is traveling from Boonville to Boonville; he is working his way from Boonville, New York to Boonville, California and to four other Boonville’s along the way. At each town he has stopped in he has photographed the people and places there, and he has photographed his journey along the way. I am not exactly sure if that answers the why, but maybe Timothy can answer why in his own words:
“There's been population booms and a rise of corporate development over the last 25 years. Some towns are benefiting from this, others are slowly dying. Some call it progress. I think the heart and soul of America is undergoing a significant evolution.”
I actually discovered Briner not by surfer the internet blogs, but on the front page of my town’s newspaper. He had traveled to the Brazos Valley in order to photograph the extinct town of Boonville, Texas. There is not much left of Boonville, except for the Boonville Cemtery.
He has taken up a journey with courage and a purpose that I have only aspired to take. The trip was entirely founded by donations from friends, family, and other artist. If I could afford it myself I probably would have donated a few dollars.
What has made Briner’s blog exceptional is that along with the chronicle of his journey he has continued to share related links in photograph and the arts. From sharing a blog dedicated to women in photography to musicians such as the band The Hold Steady.
Much of the blog is about Briner’s journey, but as you take his writings and photographs into context you realize that this is not just about him. We people take journeys like this; it has an interesting affect on them and their outlook on life. We are all moving through this world without any idea who we might come in contact with, and some of us embrace this idea and take solace in the fact that most of us are looking for the same thing.
I look at Briner’s journey as a window into the soul of America, an almost Kerouacesque journey through photographs of what has become of Boonville, USA.
“Buy the ticket, take the ride.”
–Hunter S. Thompson
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunsets...
Texas Sunset
Brazos Sunset
Pond Sunset
These photographs were taken in and around Grimes County and Robertson County, Texas. (Technical: Canon AE-1, FujiFilm 400 Speed Film)
Copyright Teddy Wilson 2008
Copyright Teddy Wilson 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
