Broughton Quarterly - Winter 2007 - (Page 29)

I hate to sound cornball about it, but my subject, whatever it is, tells me what to photograph with. A lot of photographers will shoot both black-and-white and color, and then make a decision later. Whatever it is I’m photographing tells me right up front how to photograph—and I never doubt, you know, whether I’m using color or black-and-white. I just know it at that time. It’s the right film to use and it’s what I’m being called to do. It’s kind of a cornball answer, but that’s the way it happens for me. I wouldn’t say it’s corny; it sounds like an artist’s answer. Yeah, well, fortunately with the four-by-fiveinch view camera, it’s not roll film; they’re individual sheets. An ‘old fashioned’ camera is what a lot of people would call it, like Ansel Adams used. One of the advantages is that, since I’m shooting one sheet of film at a time, I can decide on the fly whether a photograph should be in color or black-and-white. If an image speaks to me in color I use the color film; if it speaks to me in black-and-white I use black and white. I’m not constrained by what’s in the camera. Some people consider the desert a depressing place. How do you avoid portraying that in your photographs? Well, I don’t find the desert to be a depressing place at all; I find it to be very rich, a very spiritual place. A lot of photographers get stuck in convention, and perhaps novels and films have reinforced this idea that the desert is all blowing tumbleweeds, animal carcasses, and broken down cars…There’s so much beauty out there for anybody who’s open to Q it and willing to see it. Contact Michael Gordon: Michael E. Gordon Photography 725 Rose Ave, Long Beach CA 90813 52.201.085, www.Michael-Gordon.com Gordon-Tal Photographic Workshops www.GTWorkshops.com Experience SoCal Deserts: Anza-Borrego State Park With over 50,000 acres, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest contiguous state park in the nation. For details, visit the website of the Anza-Borrego Foundation and Institute: www.TheABF.org. Joshua Tree National Park Two deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together at Joshua Tree National Park, vividly illustrating the contrast between the “high” and “low” desert. For more information, visit www.JoshuaTree.org. Where To Stay: The Springs Hotel & Spa, with its classic 1930s Spanish Revival style, offers a prime location, fullservice spa, and secluded courtyard with shaded decks, outdoor fireplaces, swimming pool, and Jacuzzi. The property was recently reconstructed and refurbished, and combines Old World charm with modern amenities. www.TheSpringsOfPS.com Hotel Mojave A luxury boutique hotel in the Palm Springs area, Hotel Mojave offers all the special touches you’d expect from a desert classic. Just steps from the region’s best restaurants and shops, it’s an ideal place to return to after a day of exploring the local deserts. www.HotelMojave.com www.BroughtonQuarterly.com 29 http://www.TheABF.org http://www.JoshuaTree.org http://www.TheSpringsOfPS.com http://www.Michael-Gordon.com http://www.GTWorkshops.com http://www.HotelMojave.com http://www.BroughtonQuarterly.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Broughton Quarterly - Winter 2007

Broughton Quarterly - Winter 2007 Contents Contributors Plugged In Notes Calendar 1000Words Destination Wine & Cuisine Introducing Doctor Robot In the Desert Stillness Richard Branson Marketplace Spotlight

Broughton Quarterly - Winter 2007

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