Jason Wilder

I can’t tell if these are crocodiles or alligators but I do recognize an idiot walking among them. I also see a baby on the railing.

I’ve started writing liner notes for albums I own that came with no liner notes. I have a bunch of 4×5 and 5×7 photos that were test prints or prints that didn’t sell. I just flip them over and write while listening to an album. I know I get excited when I see someone’s name written in the liner notes or cover of a record. Surely other people like this too right? Anyways, my records will end up somewhere after I am gone. Hope whoever finds it likes it.

I have made photos for a couple local band’s record covers. After the idea and the shot, it was left to the band and whoever made the decisions about the cover. The above cover was shot at the Bug Jar on a very cold close to Christmas morning back sometime in 2010. I love how there’s life going on behind Casey. I also love how she’s holding her glass. A stylistic decision she naturally chose instead of gripping it or holding it like a cup of coffee. Well after the fact, I do wonder if she had her purse and some stuff on the bar that would have made the photo better.

Adding liner notes to my vinyl collection made me think of the idea of creating a cheap service doing cover art for indie bands. Give me $50, let me listen to your music and I’ll make something for your cover. Could be a photograph, a collage, found photos, a drawing, a painting, etc. I’m tired of AI covers, sad font decisions and lack of originality in album covers. I’m not saying I could do it better or maybe I am. If you are doing a physical release, fork over an extra $50 and I will make photos for your liner notes. Or if you ask nicely, I’d do it for free.

Been rewatching Twin Peaks with Beth, who hasn’t seen it. That’s been dominating my tv habit lately. I did see Winter in Sokcho. Here’s a review I sent my cousin:

It was very subtly shot.  Lots of blues.  Themes and tropes were done in a way that both humanizes and makes the characters more interesting.

I gave it 4/5 on Mubi. Anyways, it’s the type of movie I love. Full of impactful nuances by both the cameras and actors. In all of these types of movies, you want a sequel. In the movie an artist moves into town at a local boarding hotel to draw/write his next book. He doesn’t know how long it will be. He just knows he likes to poker around for inspiration. That reminded me of one of my favorite recent-ish photobooks:

Dogbreathe by Matthew Genttempo.

Blake Andrews introduced the book in his review:

Matthew Genitempo’s method has always relied on intuition. He approaches photo projects with no clear finish line in mind. Instead he settles in somewhere and pokes around, secure in the faith that his gut will lead him to photographs. Gradually he learns the lay of the land and meets a few locals. One thing leads to another. Acquaintances string together, rhythms flex, and passing moments deepen into portrait sessions. After a while he’s got a book.

Tonight I listened to Kath Bloom and Velvet Underground while writing this post and looking at Dogbreathe.

I also had weird ideas. One was to record a roaming tv show on VHS and ask random people questions. The whole episode will be talking to people about that question.

For instance, a sample question would be: “What do you do with all your Christmas cards?”

I’d roam anywhere and ask anyone and everyone that question and keep trying to talk to them until they walk away. If I see kids or a young couple about to get married, I’d rephrase the question. “What do you think you will do with all your Christmas cards?

Another idea I had was to recreate found photos. Try to recreate as close as possible the photo but in real life. Models would have to be hired to stand, or in this case, lay in pose. I found his online obituary. Someone wrote:

With our deepest sympathy. You all are in our prayers. Find comfort he is in a better place now.