Jacob's Falls, Michigan U.P | The MacGuffin, Spring-Summer 2011, Cover photograph by Mark Graf
I recently had an image of mine selected for the Spring-Summer 2011 cover of a local college’s art journal, called the MacGuffin. It is a journal that features short stories, poems and a few photographs from 32 other contributors. It is quite an old image, the original exposure was made in July 1997 in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula of Jacob’s Creek. That seems like so long ago, so many photographs ago, now in thinking about it.
Because of the age of this image, it had me thinking about the intersections a photograph can have with various people over time. It may be just a use for business purposes, or it can be something displayed on a wall that many people see every day. In this case, it became part of 32 artists’ lives in this edition of having their work published, perhaps many for the first time. Perhaps some readers of this journal will make a connection with it, or it may be just another picture sitting on someone’s table with other reading materials. I find those various connections and intersections interesting to think about, whether they are positive ones, or benign.
For me as the photographer, my connection and memory about it is when and how the photo was made because it was so long ago, early on in my pursuit of photography. I remember climbing out in the middle of this rocky stream so I could face straight on to the waterfall, precariously perching my tripod on whatever solid surface I could find. I was just enamored with how lush and rich the environment seemed to be. Michigan’s Western U.P is much like this, with hundreds of waterfalls and small streams worth exploring.
Technology-wise, this was certainly early on when I started getting “more serious” about photography. It was made with my second SLR camera, a Nikon N70, Sigma 18-35 f3.5/4.5 lens, on Agfa RSX 100 35 mm film. All of the tools are extinct now, camera, lens, and film, but the photograph lives on.
I didn’t use that Agfa film for long, and it was probably not the wisest choice for photographing a waterfall in a dark forest. The film was quite contrasty, had a bit of graininess to it for landscape use. Nonetheless, it adequately captured the lush surroundings I was attracted to, despite some of the drawbacks in my current expectations of technical quality. Over time, my learning in processing has helped address some of the shortcomings, but the character of the medium remains.
The image has sold a few times as prints over the years, making a connection with various people. It is in a corporate office and private homes. As an older image, it has over 2300 views in my gallery. Whether the reactions have been good, bad, or indifferent, I suppose I will never know. I know one customer didn’t like it so much a few years back, it actually became one of my only returned prints, which I remember feeling awful about at the time. He didn’t like the graininess of the film. However, for a different use, different situation like this journal, the editor found it to be a good fit, and picked it from thousands of other possibilities.
I am not trying to promote this particular image in any way. This recent publication just became a springboard of a series of thoughts about its history, or really any photograph. Over our own lifetimes, I suppose we are fortunate to have any particular image intersect with people other than ourselves. Especially in this day of constant connectivity when we are flooded with imagery every day, I suppose one could consider themselves lucky if any image becomes memorable to anyone.
God, is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s like a fall of lace, and look at how the yellow flowers been taken.
thank you!
Congratulations on having your image selected Mark 🙂
Thanks Suzy.
Know that your work affects all of us! And, in terms of work I include your writing as well as your images. One of the aspects of images whether on a blog, a website, a book or magazine, I am always interested in the stories behind them. It adds a personal touch that can help me enjoy the image even more. Congratulations!
I have a couple of prints hanging in an insurance office. The agent, who is a personal friend and one of the reasons they are there, informed me of a comment from his cleaning lady. While working late one evening, this new cleaning lady inquired about the images, saying she really liked them. He let her know they were from a local photographer and told her my name. They both had a good laugh after discovering she was my ex-wife. I’ve also donated framed prints as auctioned pieces, wondering where those images are now.
Oh, and I owned one of those N70s. It was a camera that did not fit me well, felt awkward. So, I gave it to my son and fell in love with the N80.
What a great and funny story Monte! Hope she still liked them after learning more. 🙂
Now that you mention it, I do remember the interface of the N70 was a bit clunky and different. I eventually graduated to a F5, what a difference that was!
Thanks much Monte!
Congratulations on the success of your image. It is a joy to celebrate the event with you. It would be interesting to learn how the photograph has been woven into the lives of any group; but, it is particularly fitting that it has become part of a publication honoring other storytellers.
Thinking about how our work may connect with others during the various intersections of its life is heady stuff. I am grateful that I don’t have to depend on my limited skills to make a living with my photography. (Wow! Would I be hungry.) Still, your essay has me turning over in my mind the pieces that have sold, wondering who has seen them over the years, and hoping to send a few more out there in the world to test possible connections.
Well, you know when you stop by here, you may be in for some heady stuff. 🙂 I can’t claim it always makes sense, but if I made someone think a bit more about something, well, then I consider it a worthwhile visit. Thanks as always Anita. I hope you get some of the stories you seek.
It’s great news to be selected for any publication, especially when it’s associated with an art journal. It’s an image that will forever endure and will never be dated. I have never used Agfa film but the printing papers they produced in the past have been some of the finest available and continue to hold up well. And the N70 is still a beautiful camera.
Thanks a lot Ken. I never explored Agfa papers, but the company is still around in some form, so they must be doing something right.
You put your work out there and it takes on a life of its own. Your magazine image may end up in the hands of child or school where it gets put into a collage, or journal, or used as the foundation of someone else creativity…..and a piece of you carries on along with your image. When you get to hear stories of that life it’s pretty darn cool!
I agree Roberta. Unfortunately, I think the majority of the influence of images is largely silent to the image makers. I would think that even with a photo credit in a magazine, it is rare that someone would go to the trouble to look up the photographer and contact them about it. That makes the stories you do hear, like you say, all the more special.
That’s a lovely image, Mark, I really like the composition!
– Jack
Thanks Jack.
Mark, first, congratulation on having this image selected — it’s a lovely image.
Such connections as you mention are indeed interesting to consider. Who knows what off-spring those 2300 views may have produced. Some may have been inspired to try similar shots — others may have thought to revisit a image in their gallery they had long ago forgot about. We seldom know what influence our actions or our captured images may have, the best we can do is be true to ourselves in the moment, taking what we’ve learned forward and build upon it.
Have a good Memorial Day.
Thanks, and very true Earl. Hope you have a great holiday as well.