Hope my english is understandable.

Clarity rooted in Compassion, I like that.

But to be exact, making strange is a powerful thing. There can be an otherworldly feeling that results. I’ve had the experience of coming upon an intersection in town from a little-used angle and seeing it as if for the first time, with an associated impression that I have entered some kind of parallel universe. Night time for me is similarly evocative as the world becomes lit from within and without.

That’s largely outside-in. Inside – out is another matter as the ever-busy mind shuffles things around. For me it’s almost as though my conscious nature treats my subconsciousness as a source of amusement. It popped up recently that I should organize an image of a tic-tac-toe game where Muslim and Christian symbols should replace the customary exes and ohs. A prickly idea that creates a mild shift in contexts. Is my subconsciousness feeding me its joke of the day or is it a memory of something read? Either way I’m being pushed off the path of familiarity somewhat.

I might suggest that in many artist’s works, this process is done unconsciously. I myself have taken photos without realizing why or what attracted my attention in the first place. It’s as though the mind notices something, wants to define it more closely, snaps the shutter or paints the image, then derives pleasure from contemplation.

Whether the effect can be put into words is questionable. Yet, to be effective at all, of course, there has to be a corresponding sensation in the minds of viewers as well, and this may bring us back to artistic conventions or the escape therefrom. In other words, we need some experience to “see” or hear or experience this making strange.

We don’t all speak the same language. I don’t know Mike, but I don’t think he was trying to be obscure. His comment helps reinforce with a good example (Minor White) the idea that an apparent departure from reality (whatever that is for each of us) may help us better see reality.

It’s amazing how educationally limited people attempt to hide behind theoretical artifice.

The play of light was what I was mainly interested in that day, though I made relatively few photos and haven’t worked on most. I’ll be experimenting with de-emphasizing everything but the highlights a la stardrops.

Jay,

…resisting…