irving harper/finally a book!

I got a really lovely surprise in the mail before Christmas. A few of the new Irving Harper/Works in Paper book that is coming out soon. you can pre-order it here. I am so proud to have some my images from my shoots at Irving's included in the book. It is exciting that more people will get a chance to see Irving's amazing paper sculptures in more detail. So inspiring!! Michael Maharam and his crew have done such a wonderful job.
Looking at the new book today got me to thinking about all the images I have never shared and for some reason this one jumped out at me. Just a storage room in Irvings attic/studio, but man were there some gems in there! Lots of files of his furniture designs, and of course, a few paper sculptures/pieces, as you can see. I really love the wall with the crack marks. They reminded me of snail trails.

I see love/

Photography is so much of the time merely a projection. Does that make sense? What I mean is that when I take pictures of things in houses, I tend to see something more in them. On a psychological level, it could be more about me than it is about the person whose home it is. Hopefully it's about both of us. I have been thinking about this a lot with all the editing I have been doing for the European book (really need to figure out a title!). This image is the perfect example, although not from the book. It is from Věra Janoušková's atelier in Prague. It seems innocuous - a bookshelf with some pipes. But I saw this and I saw love. I had seen a couple of photographs of Vera's husband sitting around smoking pipes. It is clear that these were his, but he passed away years ago, so clearly she kept them beyond their "use". So to me they were a symbol of her love for her husband. How much of this is about me and how much is about Vera? I honestly have no idea...

Gae Aulenti/RIP

Yesterday I received that sad news that Gae Aulenti had passed away. I photographed her amazing apartment in Milan for my upcoming book this past September. I thought I would share one more shot for today in remembrance. One of the heartbreaking aspects of my work photographing these spaces is the knowledge that some will soon be gone. Houses invariably change after someone leaves this earth. Favorite momentos go to new homes and things are slowly gotten rid of because there is no longer any need for them. It is a natural, yet melancholy process.
Have a beautiful weekend friends.

bell's bookstore/

One more from Bell's bookstore in Palo Alto. I thought I posted this yesterday but apparently not...my brain is a bit of mush lately with my impending travels. I am in the "trying to get everything done before I leave" mode.

bookstores/bell's in palo alto

I went to Bell's bookstore in Palo Alto the other day. I have been going here since I was little as so many have. It has been around since 1935. Bookstores like these are rare nowadays. Remember when our free time was not spent trolling the internet, but rather browsing for hours in amazing bookstores like this one? I had the happiest hour there. Lots of books from every era and just one look at any shelf and it is obvious that there are treasures to be found if you just take the time. I found mine in the furniture section (surprise, surprise). "American Craftsman by Williamson" just leaped out at me since I am doing a project originally called that (it has since gone world wide). I probaby snickered out loud. Apparently that book has been done...in 1940. But of course I HAD to buy it. The only way these wonderful bookstores stay open is if we actually buy some books!