a

thats my hand lying there in the shape of a sign language 'a' in the hand open to the ceiling that is white as the walls and the white rectangles.

a
Walker Art Center
April 18 2008

perfect

an oval, not quite perfect- one with a corner. an oval of sunlight falls on his blue eye.

perfect
Minneapolis
March 30 2008

at angle

smoke hovers in the pale streetlight's cast and the arm of a man i love rests at slight angle to the white column.

at angle
minneapolis
sometime late summer 2007

Unphotographable by Michael David Murphy

Today I stumbled upon another photographer chronicling photographs not taken. His project is called Unphotographable. His reasons for doing this project are essentially similar to mine.... only he has been at it alot longer than I have. His style is markedly different from mine though. His text images are not as isolated as I aim to make mine. They include more visual and situational information and imply time passing. I would say that the descriptive words he uses are less objective than I make mine (or try to). Also, he will often comment on how things seem. These are not critisisms of his style, I find his style interesting, just a comparison to mine. . . . . . I could write more, but I think that instead I will boil down the difference to comparing a short story to a haiku; where he dissects everything that is happening, I simply pick out the key elements..... (or try to)...... or perhaps it is the difference between a long and a shallow depth of field......

This is one I particularily like: Corner Smoke Post Rainstorm.

profile

out of focus scarlet pink at left. behind, the profile of my father: the wrinkle of a slightly furrowed brow, squinting eye, elbow resting on a step, yellow measuring tape pulling down his pocket, is framed in vague lines of dull teal.

profile
home, St. Cloud, Fl
december 26 2007

leaning in

Polly pink apron and leaning in for a kiss. camera flash.

Leaning
Varsity Theatre, Minneapolis, Mn
october 31 2007

mid-blink

a couple in front of a white truck in front of the square. her brown suede jacket and sucking a red lollipop. eyeliner black but eyeshadow pink shimmers in the light of the passing cars.

Mid-blink
San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
June 10 2007

rigid

neighborhood street. leaves in mid-gust-of-wind. on the grey pavement just off center sits a rigid plastic, bright blue, slightly bent child's pool.

Rigid
Minneapolis, MN
october 23 2007

hands

just beyond her shoulder, gold silk and embroidery, her hands peel mangoes. a black pot simmers and a boy, polyester Puma soccer shirt, leans his head into a wicker basket.

Hands
San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
june 10 2007

impossible

a long empty road crossing over the freeway. 3 rows of stoplights, all red. the sky scorched with clouds of an impossible pink. beyond the gas station, the skyline sits shining slate blue.

Impossible
Minneapolis, MN
july 18 2007

black wool

enveloped in purple a mother sits on the wooden pew breastfeeding her baby. at her side a little girl bends backwards, eyes wide showing white, to let the top of her head rest on the pew seat. past the pew, leaning her left shoulder against the white the tall archway a young woman stands draped in sky blue. her jaw dropped but mouth closed. they all wear big furry black wool skirts.

Black wool
San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
june 10 2007

simple

dark yellow tiles. three white walls. two women sit in white plastic chairs. wearing a simple maroon skirt the third stands off right, her hand on her hip, looking out. her mouth slightly open.

Simple
Palenque, Mexico
june 9 2007

planks

12 feet off the ground upon wooden planks, a young, dark man leans back against a crossbar and looks out. the canopy of jungle leaves traces shadows on his face.

Planks
Palenque, Mexico
june 9 2007

wide brimmed hat

Mom stands atop a flight of ancient stone steps. arms out, smile broad. her wide brimmed hat perches atop her head.

Wide Brimmed Hat
Mexico
june 8 2007

dusty

in front of a gate a dusty blue car sits, its hood open. two men lean over it. to the left, a short man stands facing the road. a turquoise blue shirt. he raises his left hand and smiles.

Dusty
between Bonampak and Palenque, Mexico
june 8 2007

fire

Rado, reflections of swinging fire on his face, raises his eyebrows and laughs.

Fire
Palenque, Mexico
june 6 2007

blue

two girls walk away. down a white gravel road. a lanky tree with drooping red flowers overhead. the girl on the right in a peach strappy top. On the left she wears jeans, a white top and carries a true* blue umbrella.

Blue
* not electric, more than bright, not ocean or sky, closer to royal
between Bonampak and Palenque, Mexico
june 8 2007

Bisecting

wooden house. fushia doors and windows. the horizontal bisecting line where the lavender and peach paint meet is fuzzy.

Bisecting
between Bonampak and Palenque, Mexico
june 8 2007

Branches

girl on yellow bicycle in long shirt. tanish with bright (pink?) flowers. under a tree she pulls on the low branches with both hands. still straddling the bicycle she pulls and pulls.

Branches
outside Bonampak, Mexico
june 8 2007

Gravel

a group of men sit in front of a shack. maybe 10. on the ground. on steps. a big truck. wood planks create the sides of the truck bed. gravel beneath it and a pile of garbage. a man lies face down near a tire.

Gravel
between Bonampak and Palenque, Mexico
june 8 2007