Memphis In The Meantime
Blake is a photographer and writer from Memphis, TN.
His works have appeared in numerous publications and galleries including:Mad Magazine, Eye Magazine, The Memphis Business Journal, WKNO Art Auction, Orpheum Theater Annual Auction, Memphis Blues Society, and the Memphis Flyer
This book was printed and designed using the software available from http://www.familymemories.com/
Special thanks to David and Chris Bradley at FundCraft Publishing for making this project of love happen.
I shoot Leica cameras and I still shoot film rather than digital. This provides for a higher image quality as well as a unique photojournalistic approach to photography.
My natural documentary style has always been to capture my subjects relaxed, unscripted, and enjoying themselves. By operating inconspicuously, my photography insures a unique mood.
I still find myself using traditional film cameras exclusively. I dislike the clinical, artificial vinyl look of digital photos and the inherent limitations in this particular format with the constant upgrading digital systems as often as computers - digital is not a stable format yet. To use the cliché, it doesn't work for me.
I'm more absorbed with traditional means of photography. A soulful experience whose essence can not be captured digitally - only film will truly capture the soul of photography.
Photography is about light and what it does and how it is captured on a piece of negative. I certainly think there are applications for digital photography and digital film. Some things are very raw stories that digital photography kind of lends itself to. I don't think that digital photography is romantic yet. It's not sympathetic the way that film is.
I don't think that they should necessarily try to make digital look like film. It should be like learning to speak a new language. Digital should have its own language. Obviously try to use as much information as you can, as with a piece of negative. But it's a different language and rather than try to make it into film, let it be digital, let it be what it is.
This book tells the unique story of the Memphis Blues through modern day photographs.
The book is 9X12, linen case bound with a die-cut front cover. The highest quality controls were used to insure that this book will last a lifetime.
All first edition books are hand signed and numbered by the author. The first edition consists of a limited edition printing of 250 copies.
Memphis In The Meantime will be available in bookstores near you soon. To arrange publicity, promotional copies or interviews, please contact Blake here.
This book is dedicated to every Memphis musician, without whom, this town would suffer enourmously. All photos were shot with Leica cameras. This book is also especially for Emma. Thank you to Leo, Eric, Dave, The Evil One, and every one of my friends in the Memphis Blues Society.
Thank you everybody for everything. Thank you to my parents for love, support and understanding. Thank you to all the true Bluesmen everywhere.Keep your dreams alive.
All books are meticulously printed on 100 lb gloss paper stock, case bound.
US & Canada qualify for domestic shipping,
Local orders include the Memphis Metropolitan area and will be hand delivered
International orders will be sent via Media mail and may take longer to arrive.
Please allow 2-4 weeks for shipping and delivery.
Please select the appropriate delivery method
What they are saying about Memphis In The Meantime:
About.com Blues Review
I love it. It's a terrific collection - intimate, friendly, atmospheric and very nicely balanced between different types of shot on v. off stage, black and white v. colour, tight portraits v. context, etc Very impressive.
When I was a teenager, just getting into blues and photography and roughly the same time, but growing up in a corner of rural England and being just about the only blues fan I knew, I had an idea that I'd do a kind of classic blues journey up from the Delta through Memphis and on to Chicago with my camera doing just the kind of thing you've done here. I never managed it, but I'd have been delighted to get anywhere close to the kind of images you've put together.
And I like it very much that there are so many blues guys. And young, too. It's great to see that people are still picking it up. A few established stars and aging baby-boomers can't keep it going for ever.
Great job, and $20 very well spent. Thank you.
Matt
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