All I Can Do Is Hope, II 2008

A film that’s shot entirely to look like a good photographic print? Do you need more than this reason to watch a film? I do not.

“François Truffaut’s first feature, The 400 Blows (Les quatre cents coups), is also his most personal. Told through the eyes of Truffaut’s life-long cinematic counterpart, Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud), The 400 Blows sensitively re-creates the trials of Truffaut’s own difficult childhood, unsentimentally portraying aloof parents, oppressive teachers, petty crime, and a friendship that would last a lifetime. The film marks Truffaut’s passage from leading critic of the French New Wave to his emergence as one of Europe’s most brilliant auteurs.” — Criterion Collection Review

Watch The Trailer

Watch My Favorite Scene

Under his moniker, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Will Oldham’s Strange Form Of Life was first brought to my attention after hearing 2006’s The Letting Go. Particularly interesting to me, is the way Oldham renders this live version of the song. Unrefined in production, the stage allows him to shed a certain restrained quality (which so often accompanies refinement if you ask me). The song’s disdain and haunting quality is more clearly presented when accompanied by a new wild, fierce aspect of his performance. I had a very similar listening experience comparing Thom Yorke’s studio take of Idioteque from it’s recorded, Kid A, form to a live version which appears on the I Might be Wrong Live Recordings.

Click Image To View Video

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Bonnie ‘Price’ Billy – Strange Form Of Life (The Letting Go /Studio Version)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Radiohead – Idioteque (Kid A / Studio Version)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Radiohead – Idioteque (Live Version)

Both versions are good in their own ways, I just find it interesting how live renditions emphasizes and minimizes certain aspects of a song.

All I Can Do Is Hope, 2008

Gross Box, 2008

Saxondale is a very funny BBC show Starring Steve Coogan. Each episode begins with Tommy (Steve) attending his anger management meetings. Below are some highlights.

The Chick I Tied The Knot With

Crack Squirrel

Just A Hunch

Saxondale

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Billy Bragg & Wilco – Walt Whitman’s Niece

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Camera Obscura – Let Me Go Home

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Mr. Airplane Man – Jesus On The Mainline (Ry Cooter)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Bill Callahan – Diamond Dancer

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Deerhunter – Agoraphobia

1/3

2/3

3/3

Above are excerpts from That Mitchell and Webb Look, a BBC television sketch show starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. This is one of my favorite of their reoccurring sketches.

BBC Official Site

Whenever the term ‘nature photography’ comes up in conversation, my mind immediately goes to the work of Richard Rothman. I then inhale to prevent outbursts of why the term is unacceptably confining and limiting.

Richard was a teacher, mentor, and friend of mine while I attended School of Visual Arts. By way of my own faults, I lost touch with him. That being said, the tenacity and clarity of mind he has stays with me to this day.

His latest project, Redwood Saw, begins by uniquely portraying the Redwood Forests of California, and expands into observing the architecture of a near-by town, ultimately arriving at an intimate look into the lives of it’s people.

I had the pleasure of seeing Richard’s work in person and hold great respect for his craft. His prints are spectacular, magnifying the honesty that his photos portray. I hope he will update his site soon with more of his portraiture. For now, I leave you with the first step of a lovely journey: the Redwoods.

image copyright 2009 Richard Rothman.

image copyright 2009 Richard Rothman.

For more of Redwood Saw, and the rest of Richard’s photos: www.richardrothman.com

It feels good to get back into things.