Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Florence lives in Richmond repost for Patricia

Black and white photos never looked so good as when i used that Yashica D view camera in college in Richmond Virginia, 1967 to 1971. I sold it to Linsday Parks when i graduated - too much baggage i thought at the time. Years later, in 1985 or so - i saw Linsday at the bookstore where i was working. He said he kept, and continued to use the Yashica.


Hollywood Cemetery, in Richmond, [see Walking Tour, Virtual Tour, and History ala link] was a favorite stomping ground for most art students for making photos, drawings or rubbings. It's many hills and wooded acres look out upon the James River. The tombs and gates and even a massive stone pyramid are discovered by hiking from one area to another - along twisted little roads and pathways - all over hung by ancient trees. There is one statue in the cemetery i photographed in 1968.












This lady - sitting against a cross, sleeping or thinking or maybe dead - is so very peaceful. She is close to smiling but it's hard to say. She is life size so she can be mistaken for real.



I found her again, in 1998, and took her picture with my Pentax 35mm. She was really hard to find given to relandscaping - both real and in my mind. A "relandscaped memory" that is. Over the 30 years between these 2 photos, they had removed old hemlocks and given her a bath. I think her name was Florence, or that was who was buried there. Or maybe there are no names and i just made it up when i exhibited the photo long ago.












Now i have to find her again.

4 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, I feel blessed. Thank you for posting these images again for my benefit. why I did not find Florence this Saturday is a mystery. Perhaps I was just too distracted. I love the contrasting images!

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  2. Thanks for jumping in - and that Flo, she is elusive...

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  3. what kind of camera are you using these days?

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  4. my IPhone mostly - as seen a lot on my blog here. Or old Russian Lomo LC-A. See April 8; http://oplaplaza.blogspot.com/2009/04/night-meditation.html

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