old trivia
Clare Yow is an independent visual artist working in a library in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
She is a fan of nightbirding and shutter depression,
heartthrobs, blueprints, and changes of scenery.
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Last Monday night after we all drove back from Mountainview, Damien and Christian went to see Sparta at The Independent while I roamed the city myself. The fog had already rolled in and this was taken near the top of Alamo Square before I set off - multiple maps in tow - on my trek, which included an unsuccessful hunt for postage stamps to send a postcard back to Canada. Sparta was one of the bands spawned by the break-up of At the Drive -In and the other was The Mars Volta. Our roadtrip playlist included our collective favourite album of theirs, De-loused in the Comatorium. Other albums we spun: The Reminder (Feist), Metals (Feist), Ivory Tower (Chilly Gonzales), Turn on the Bright Lights (Interpol), Some Nights (Fun). I wanted so badly to make a mix disc for the road especially since I hadn’t made a mix since before I moved to Vancouver. Fun fact: I made my first mix disc in 2003 during my last year of high school.
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I was introduced to Rineke Dijkstra during my undergrad by my three-time prof, Iain. It was lovely seeing her huge prints in person. The full-length ones of mothers cradling their newborns right after childbirth were so striking. As were the ones of bloodied matadors following the end of bullfights.
Colour correcting for dual light sources is très difficile.
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![It’s neat to return to my [digital] archive of San Francisco photos from 2006 and compare them to the kinds of photos I took a week ago (not counting my film exposures as they have yet to be processed).
The first time round* I took more street photography shots, was more liberal — or, random — with what I took pictures of, had close to no ‘social’ pictures (read: pictures of the people I was with), and often flip-flopped between colour and black-and-white. This time, I definitely feel like I showed more restraint in my snap-happiness. I was also using a different camera which would account for the lack of street photography and increase in images of people I spent time with. I also took multiple short videos of various things. Six years ago, I carried a small digital camera (on top of my main camera and something like three other film cameras) that shot video but without sound — an early version of a favourite make of a camera my family often used versions of up until not too long ago. It was nice having the option to shoot video but I continuously lament at not having a [light/non-aluminum] tripod to tote around.
Undoubtedly, I’ve grown a lot in my practice over the last number of years. I’m more calculated in the photographs I take but at the same time, would say that I occasionally can lapse into ‘sloppiness’ with the convenience and portability of a small, quick and dirty digital camera.
*I visited San Francisco for the first time as a child but with no recollection of it, I refer to my 2006 visit as my first real visit.
At the top is from August 2006, during the sunset at Twin Peaks(?). Below (from May) is of the Pacific Ocean along the Great Highway, our third last stop before leaving the city last Tuesday night (I’m truly in disbelief that was almost a week ago).](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4rhliZ0HN1qzoz7oo1_1280.jpg)
It’s neat to return to my [digital] archive of San Francisco photos from 2006 and compare them to the kinds of photos I took a week ago (not counting my film exposures as they have yet to be processed).
The first time round* I took more street photography shots, was more liberal — or, random — with what I took pictures of, had close to no ‘social’ pictures (read: pictures of the people I was with), and often flip-flopped between colour and black-and-white. This time, I definitely feel like I showed more restraint in my snap-happiness. I was also using a different camera which would account for the lack of street photography and increase in images of people I spent time with. I also took multiple short videos of various things. Six years ago, I carried a small digital camera (on top of my main camera and something like three other film cameras) that shot video but without sound — an early version of a favourite make of a camera my family often used versions of up until not too long ago. It was nice having the option to shoot video but I continuously lament at not having a [light/non-aluminum] tripod to tote around.
Undoubtedly, I’ve grown a lot in my practice over the last number of years. I’m more calculated in the photographs I take but at the same time, would say that I occasionally can lapse into ‘sloppiness’ with the convenience and portability of a small, quick and dirty digital camera.
*I visited San Francisco for the first time as a child but with no recollection of it, I refer to my 2006 visit as my first real visit.
At the top is from August 2006, during the sunset at Twin Peaks(?). Below (from May) is of the Pacific Ocean along the Great Highway, our third last stop before leaving the city last Tuesday night (I’m truly in disbelief that was almost a week ago).
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The
BigLittle Dipper as seen at the Palace of Fine Arts (the happiest accident!)*It took about four tries to get the exposure and framing right.
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At Cabin Creek rest stop in Oregon (our hotel for the night)
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I find myself constantly having the same reflection each Sunday night… can it be Monday already again tomorrow? My days bleed into each other. There are meetings and chats, in and outside of the workplace, short and long, emails, phone calls, and letters, long and short. There are never enough hours in a weekend. Good company and being immersed in activity makes time pass quickly and tasks that need to be completed fall to the wayside - for now - (procrastination, you may always be my middle name). Another week, here I come.
Ebb and flow, ebb and flow.
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Roadtripped to Skagit Valley for their annual tulip festival on Saturday. What an amazing sight. My favourite ones were the deep purple, almost-black flowers. I gained excitement about visiting after seeing aerial views of the fields on Thursday.
My footwear wasn’t exactly appropriate but it’s nothing a little soapy water can’t get off. I gave up worrying about dirtying my shoes very early on, especially when I wanted to go into the field.
The kites afloat in the air made me want one. For at least two summers now, I’ve been saying I want to go fly a kite. Maybe this summer will be the one I actually do so. There’s a spot in Steveston near the water (where my cousin lives and where ‘Once Upon A Time’ films!) where people are often flying kites…
As an aside, four liters of milk at the grocery store in Washington was $1.99. Unbelievable. Roadtrip again in three weeks. Across the border! Where it’ll hopefully be way warmer and sunnier! Exciting stuff.
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Before reaching Yellowstone - somewhere in Montana, quite possibly - where the moon was either still out or making an early appearance (the former, I believe)
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Went to a craft fair today at the Roundhouse (second one this weekend!) and was regaled by an older gentleman’s harrowing tale of a close encounter with a buffalo and a car in Manitoba. It was because we were standing next to a booth selling handmade leather goods and the stall owner was talking about the difference between the materials. “Thanks for sharing,” I answered to his “thanks for listening.”
These are from Yellowstone National Park way back in August 2008, passing through on our way to Vancity. The animals seemed to pay no attention to us and the cars ahead all crawled along.
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