Cornered
Cornered #1
This week as been shit.
I hate the term doomscrolling but it’s been hard to avoid it
On Wednesday, I went to a protest in Princeton pulled together after Felon 47’s actions in Venezuela. I’m not a photojournalist but I wanted to get the vibe, see what I could see.
Then, late that afternoon, the news out of Minnesota about Renee Good crossed, and an newer, fresher, more more somber mood pervaded the peaceful protest.
I wasn’t even going to post these. As I said, I’m not a photojournalist.
But I did want to record, document this time in American life.
The video, the news, and this government’s response to the Renee Good shooting has been truly horrifying, despicable, and sad.
Not one person in our government can step back and say “Ok, that was wrong. We need to deal with this.”
Instead they want to sanctimoniously stand behind their people, wrong, right or indifferent. And are telling those of who do agree, basically, “Shut up, get in line, don’t protest, or you’ll get this too.”
Imagine of our forefathers listened to this 250 years ago.
Anyway, I also saw something yesterday about staying/being creative in this time. And it was just after I had snapped that photo that leads off this post.
I was in the gym, and saw the color light and shadow.
Then – and after reading the piece about being creative – I looked for it. I looked into the corners.
Cornered 2
And then, while getting my oil changed…not as strong as the first two but still…
Cornered 3
Also while getting the oil changed, I pulled a stack of the magazine to look at the covers, find out who shot them, and get inspired
Four photographers, three I had never heard of. Clockwise: Cass Bird for Bazaar (I knew her work); Juan Veloz for Entrepreneur; Frank Frances for Architectural Design and Michael Muller for Red Bull.
I became immediately inspired. If you are stuck…sad…depressed…doomscrolling…need inspiration…go to your local newsstand or library. Go to the magazine rack. Take a step back and just LOOK at all the covers. So many great images and photographers.
It definitely picked me. It may help you, too.
Finally… Renee Nicole Good was a mother, a wife a “shitty guitar strummer” and an award-winning poet. You can read her poem here.
Jonathan Ross was the ICE agent that murdered her.
It seems there should have been a better way than taking that lethal step.
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