Janet Worne - Thoughtful Photography

The Very Large Array

Under the deep blue New Mexico sky, 50 miles west of Socorro, 27 radio antennas are pointed toward the heavens, listening and gathering information. Each antenna weighs 230 tons and in some strange way, seems at home in this moon-like desert terrain.

I am talking about a trip last weekend to Socorro with my husband and brother, during which we detoured over to the Very Large Array. This was where the movie "Contact" was filmed with Jodie Foster. It's a worthwhile trip if you're ever in the area.

Ansel Adams Quote

“Some photographers take reality... and impose the domination of their own thought and spirit. Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and revelation.”
                                --Ansel Adams

Happy Birthday to Ansel Adams, wherever you are...

Homeless and Mentally Ill, Part 3

I've been working on a new website--a long and tedious process--and I've been digging through more of my older photos, including my series on the homeless mentally ill. You can see my earlier examples in April 2008 (You can click on the dates at right).

For a year I followed up on police calls whenever I could...

The mentally ill often self-medicated with alcohol...

I visited jails...

And I spent time in soup kitchens and shelters...

I was always very careful not to upset anyone. If someone was adamant about not wanting to be photographed, I tried to respect that. Overall, the police were very helpful because they saw serious problems with existing laws and wanted them changed.

Happy Valentine's Day

Smile!

Although a bit reluctant, Tessa was a good sport for this photo. It took a lot of patience for both of us to pull it off and after four or five tries, she decided she had had enough and let me know decidedly that the photo shoot was over.

We'll work on it until maybe someday she'll enjoy being a model. Who knows? She could be the next Fay Ray.

Anyway, we both hope you have a great Valentine's Day tomorrow.

Photographic Vision

Take another look at the previous post. The László Moholy-Nagy quote. Those words were first uttered in 1947 and yet they still seem relevant today.

Photography has, indeed, had an unbelievable impact on our culture throughout its relatively brief history. But the best part of that quote for me is the prophetic part that says photography has not yet achieved its full potential. The optimist in me believes that is still true today. There may be great upheaval and concern for the future of our art and livelihood, but out of pain and uncertainty comes change and new direction.

We just need to be ready for it.

László Moholy-Nagy Quote

“Photography has not yet achieved anything like its full stature, has not articulated its own intrinsic structure. Yet this lack of “results” does not contradict the almost unbelievable impact which photographic vision has had upon our culture.”
            --László Moholy-Nagy