William Christenberry: Red Building in the Forest, Hale County, Alabama, 1994; 1991
Left: Sheron Rupp: Trudy in Annie’s Sunflower Maze, Amherst, MA, 2000; Right: Rhea Garen: Tree/House Freese Rd., Varna, NY, 1993
Left: Rhea Garen: Cascadilla St., Cat, Ithaca, NY, 1992; Right: Jack D. Teemer, Jr.: Columbus, 1984 (my papa!)
Left: Sheron Rupp: Untitled, 2003; Right: Sheron Rupp: Wartrace, Tennessee, 1990
Alex Harris: Onesimo and Eleanor Pacheco’s House, Vallecito, New Mexico, May 1985
Joel Meyerowitz: Fence, Truro, 1976
All from Where We Live, Photographs of America from the Berman Collection
So much of what I’ve been stuck on lately has been internet-based. I took a break the other day to enjoy this book which I adore, and includes several of my father’s photographs among others that I find so inspiring. When I come across my father’s work, I often feel a pang of sadness that he could not continue to do what he loved so much… as childish as this may read: it doesn’t seem fair that his time here on earth was cut so short. Especially as I grow older and closer to his age when he died. I am 33. He was just shy of 43. To imagine only having 10 more years left is just mind-numbing. I am grateful for the time we had him. I am grateful for so much in my life. Grateful also for the inspiration I still feel from my father and his whole body of work.
As Emil napped and the big boys were at preschool, I sat by the big window on our landing as giant snowflakes fell and dreamed of spring.
Have a wonderful weekend, and I hope that inspiration finds you.
P.S.- Find more of my father’s work here.
Wow! Those photographs are beautiful. But I’m so sorry about your father passing away that young. I can completely understand why you’d feel like it wasn’t fair. I would too. You and your family are so fortunate that he left behind such incredible insights into his creative soul. I always feel like you can tell so much about the photographer when you look at a good photo. Can we just talk about how cool it had to have been to walk through that sunflower maze?!
Lauren,
Not a day goes by that I don’t think about your father and miss him. Every morning, first thing, I check this blog and am reminded of how much you look like him physically, and how your photographs reflect the way he also saw life. I was startled the other day when noticing how much your brother, Jon, stood in my kitchen and I noticed your father’s eyes and brow – even his voice! I see the similarities and mannerisms of Jack in you both. What a blessing for all of us who loved him – to know that he lives on in you and your brother. Know that he is proud of you all. He was an incredible man.
Love, Mom
I clicked on the link for your father’s work and saw one of a boy jumping off the edge of a front porch. And even though I know there’s no way he could have known that Milo would be a kid who jumps off things, I can’t help but wonder if it’s all connected. You know?
I don’t think it’s fair either. And to sound even more childish, I sometimes get angry when I think of people who are cruel and make bad decisions and don’t take care of themselves – how those people sometimes make it well into their 80s or 90s. And then there are people who are so good and kind and make the right kind of choices about diet and exercise – and they still have to leave too early. There’s no fairness in any of it and if I think about it too long I just get angry because I like answers and there are no answers.
beautiful blog and the photos are simply stunning
beautiful blog and stunning photos
I think it’s fabulous that you have all these photos your father took, something tangible he left behind that you can hold. Earlier this week I was thinking it wasn’t fair that my Dad’s not here to watch how my children are growing up, but it’s really, REALLY not fair to lose a Daddy as early as you did.
Big squeezy internet hugs to you. (Really, spring can’t get here soon enough, can it?)
oh my word. i had no idea that your father was such a talented photographer. that one of the boy jumping off the porch reminds me of some you’ve taken of Milo.
hugs to you all.
Lovely 🙂 amazing job your dad is a very talented man
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Your father was a wonderful photographer, and he’s passed that talent on to you. I always count myself fortunate to have had artists for parents, I think it’s a rare gift that does teach you to observe and appreciate the world from a unique perspective. Whenever you write about your dad, what amazes and touches me is that he also sounds like such a whole and balanced person (qualities that I don’t often find paired with creative talent). I know his life was too short, but it seems like he gave you more in the short time you shared than many parents can provide with many more years.
Beautiful collection of photographs, sometimes it is so great to just hold a printed page.
Lauren,
It might be a little strange seeing a posting from someone you don’t know but I was a student of your dads at UD. I have peeked into your blog in the past after doing searches about your dad. My own father passed away a couple of years before yours but I have always linked there deaths. I was getting my MFA from IU at the time of your Dads death. I remember the last time I saw him it was at his home and he was very happy with the work I was doing in grad school. He was also showing me these incredible collage pieces he was working on that were mix media. One thing I always remember is he had taken these great photographs of his kids and made beautiful platinum/palladium prints. One of my interest has always been alternative processes and I got that from your dad. I hear you on the age thing, I can’t believe how young he was. I’m 47 now, married with a 7 yr old so it really puts it all in perspective. He was a great teacher and I have not let his memory fade.
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