May 2003
hi folks,
Spring in Europe has arrived and in the space of one month we´ve gone from grey skies and snow flurries to brilliant green foliage and flowers and temperatures of up to 30°C, not to mention lots of nice, distracting, scenery parading past the Irish bar in the centre of town where I´m attempting to write something deep and meaningful. And it´s late ("it´s later than you think" as they say!), and my deadline is only a few hours away, and I´ve yet to get to the darkroom to print something for you and I have to teach a class tomorrow morning, and so on. Been really busy mostly with the teaching, but the pressure will be off in a couple of weeks, and I´m looking forward to finishing some projects.
Which leads me to...the PUNCTUM photo agency. Four and a half years ago, when I first arrived here in Leipzig, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to this small group of the most interesting and eclectic "commercial" photographers I´ve ever run across. Five guys who graduated from the local art university around the end of the GDR times (when it was still a very good school!) got together, pooled their diverse talents, equipment and archives, and created something quite unique. Their services are called upon by publishers, magazines/newspapers, and advertising agencies all over Germany even international requests often come in.
And these multi talented, flexible, and all round nice people have helped me out with really everything from darkroom access to advice and many a rewarding evening has been well spent talking about...you name it, we´ve talked about it, in the bar downstairs (the one with the only good coffee I´ve found in Germany!). As individual artists, several of them have developed international reputations too...you may remember I´ve mentioned a couple of them in previous articles so, check them out (if you can read German cos the English version isn´t ready yet) at www.punctum.net click onto "fotografen" which means "photographers" for a sample since the archives require registration.
Well, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank them all for everything and to wish them continued success...
Here´s a worrying little quote from painter and photographer David Hockney for those of you who like to lie awake at night pondering the meaning of life..., i.e. the point of a photo... especially in these times of poor reportage (or is it the editing?), media spin, manipulation and deserved criticism: "I've finally figured out what's wrong with photography. It's a one-eyed man looking through a little 'ole. Now, how much reality can there be in that?"
Ok, now I´ve really got to get back to my own particular reality, which, for now, is classrooms (plus the odd nappy change...!)
...und tschüß!
Dean
PS There´s yet another big J S Bach festival here in Leipzig at the end of May. This pic was taken in his back garden.