Respite

"But moving a ship over a mountain is not stupid. It’s a big, big, big metaphor …"

— Werner Herzog

During my last year as an undergraduate student, I became a big fan of Werner Herzog's films. I came across this interview with Herzog this morning. 

In the interview and in the context of the Corona virus and the indifference of nature, Herzog is asked about an artist's search for a deeper truth, beyond "the truth of accountants." He responds:

"I'll make it very simple. My witness is Michelangelo, who did the statue of the Pietà. When you look at Jesus taken down from the cross, it’s the tormented face of a 33-year-old man. You look at the face of his mother: His mother is 17. So let me ask: Did Michelangelo give us fake news? Defraud us? Lie to us? I’m doing exactly the same. You have to know the context in which you become inventive."

Interesting thoughts. Keep in mind that the stress we're all under can be a powerful source for creativity. Your artistic response doesn't have to be about disease and struggle. Simply making something beautiful might give some degree of respite from what's going on. 

But the five of us are creative people. And to not create is to let the virus take something away from us. Be strong. Make some pictures. Post one here.

This is a lightly edited version of a Canvas Announcement I wrote to my four second semester photography students this morning. 

I spent the day struggling to complete a little five-minute video about exposing for high-key images. These are a couple of images I came across as I produced the video.