Packing

The past few days have flown by in GR. I have moved into my new apartment downtown, but feel no progress because I packed half the stuff away...again! 2 more days and I will begin my traveling out west.

One thing I would like to point out is this photography trip is not going to be "touristy" per se. Granted I have never traveled to any of these states, but the class goals are different. Tomorrow we have to hand in a statement of intent to our professors in order for us to stay focused on this trip. I would like to develop some idea to use for my Senior Thesis that will begin in the Fall, my last semester at GVSU. In photo history this past semester I have really started to think about work related to Richard Misrach and Joel Sternfeld. Their social commentary through images are compelling and cause the viewer to question how western culture views landscapes. This idea of the "new topographies". The new topographies are the "human altered landscapes where nature and culture collide through banal-less dramatic subject matter" (Hirsch 414 Seizing the Light). There will be lots of snapshot type photos but that will not be the intent of my trip out west. It goes beyond something further than pretty sunset pictures or modernist pictures such as Ansel Adams.

I'll be graduating from college in less than 4 years. It does not seem like it whatsoever but this summer will be life changing. One trip out west and later one trip to Rome, Italy for 6 weeks. God has blessed me, my family and friends in so many ways and this is one of them. Every summer since I graduated high school I have taken summer classes and worked 40+ hours so this summer is my chance to take a break on that and shift my focus to more photography.

My equipment list keeps growing, and ALL equipment is bound to fail...at some point...especially for me...so pray that I will not have to purchase another Digital SLR camera body while I am out west or in Italy this summer. Currently I have all of my stuff layed out across the floor in my living room to make sure that I have everything as well as what else I need to buy. I will probably end up having 5 pieces of luggge. and most of my luggage will be supplies-not so much clothes.

1. for my 4x5 camera
2. for the rest of my SLR (film and digital equipment)
3. Clothes
4. Personal toiletries
5. Miscellaneous (camping, food, and tools)

I will not be finished packing by tonight, but tomorrow I plan on having most of my stuff packed and ready to go so I can enjoy these last few remaining days in GR, Mi