Home-Cooked Meal, #19

Johnsie & Christina, Chesterton, IN, 2007
Photo: Johnsie Mays

8,001.9 miles for G

The odometer on my car says I have driven 8,001.9 miles since I left Brooklyn for this trip in July of 2007.

In the past, Laura and a few friends have referred to me as an environmentalist. Although I do have a true love for the environment and our impact on it, I am nowhere near an environmentalist. I smoke on occasion, eat meat almost everyday, and I have been driving around the country in a carbon-spewing stink-box-on-wheels filled with plastic and leather for the last four months. The car was loaned to me for free for the project, I couldn't really complain about it. It's not like people with their bio-diesel or hybrid cars were knocking down my door. I took what I could get, and now I must pay for it.

Offsetting your carbon foot-print seems totally backwards to me. It advocates that you can pollute, get off with a slap on the wrist and not have to feel bad about it. But that doesn't fix the problem or promote any kinda of change. I say be conscious of the decisions you make and understand the effects your choices have on your environment. Now that I own a car and rely on it, I realize it's not always easy. I still do the best I can though. I don't buy bottled water, I try my damnedest not to eat fast-food, I only buy locally (If I buy anything at all), and I've even been somewhat good about last year's New Years resolution and have tried not to eat pork. I've been eating Miss Piggy on occasion, but far less then it used to.

So according to climatecrises.net, If I add in my cars make and model, I have produced just under four tons of carbon since leaving Brklyn. According to them, I should give $50 to support eco-friendly causes. I've chosen to buy $50 worth of trees (that's 50 trees) and plant them in honor of my Grandfather, Bob, or as I always referred to him, G, or G'Pa.


(center) G'ma and G'pa, Prom, 1948

G was always amazingly supportive of anything I wanted to do. He was like my best friend, and was always there if I needed something. I loved him more then anything, and it still hurts to see photos of him in the house and to know I am currently sitting twenty feet away from where he passed. Because of finances and living in NY, I had not seen my Grandpa for a while. I was three days away from visiting him here in Indiana, when he suddenly died in 2004. This was going to be the first time we could have shared a beer together, something we were both really looking forward to. He even went out and bought us a case of Bud for the occasion.

The night of his passing I walked into a little pub across from where I lived on 8th ave, and bought two beers and laid out an image of him on the bar. Although I thought about leaving one untouched, he would have thought it to be wasteful, so I downed them both, and got on a plane the next day for his funeral. I never saw my grandfather without a smile on his face, he was truly an inspiration and I am very happy to say that he would have loved seeing me on this journey, and I know he would have been my greatest supporter. These miles, even thought they are filled with dirty carbon, are most definitely for him.

Chesterton, Indiana

Lustron House, Chesterton Indiana
Photo: HABS, Library of Congress

Yesterday I arrived to my hometown of Chesterton. It's great to be home, but now what do I do? I'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs, trying to relax. Not happening. I know two people that still live here but work in Chicago daily. My Grandma is home from Flordia, which is really fantastic, but I can't sit still long enough to have a conversation with her. I need to keep moving, but I can't figure out where to go, and all I want to do is relax. Damn! OK, Tim...relax, just relax, now breath, just breath, goooood, keep breathing, slower, nice, very nice...NOW PUSH!!! Damn it...

Tip of the day: Google Alert

Currently at another rest area on RT 90 in NY. Too much coffee equals lots of rest stops.

Recently, because of the online interview at exposurecompensation.com, my name and work have popped up on a number of different blogs. Many of which I would have never seen without the fantastic Google Alert.

About a year ago I found the beauty of this service. Simply enter your name, a phrase, or word, and any time it pops up on the World Wide Web, Google sends you an email with a link to the article, etc.

Google sends me an email any time these words pop up: "Timothy Briner," "Tim Briner," "timothybriner.com," "Boonville," "BoonvilleUSA," and "Boonville USA." It may not be as much fun as randomly searching for your name on Google once a month, but it is very accurate, and instant. This also keeps me in the loop whenever something pops up about any of the six Boonvilles. Which is about everyday.

"Boonville" alerts have included: Scientist Examines Civil War Battle Site, Child drowns, Boonville Little League Team Loses World Series, Man Drowns, Ghost Hunters to Examine Historic Hulbert House, Boonville Hotel Opens, Meth Lab Busted, etc.

It's great for photographers and artists or anyone who is curious about random people stalking them.

P.S. I just got a Google Alert about my post on Google Alerts.

Thanksgiving and beyond

Thanksgiving Dinner, Lee, MA, 2007

Yesterday I spent Thanksgiving with Laura, her parents and some friends in Lee, MA. The day before I was visiting Drew and his family in Connecticut and I am now at a rest area on RT 90 in NY.

Before heading out I jumped up to Turners Falls, MA to visit George at Hallmark, a supporter of the project. Currently, I'm on my way to visit family and friends in NW Indiana and Chicago. I then head to a family reunion in Michigan, visit Tom, and then head down to spend a few days with Drew at his home and "Lab" in Louisville, KY. We will go over all the images that I have created from Boonville thus far, make some work prints, and I will focus on my next step. In early December I will arrive in Boonville, Indiana to continue my journey.

The next week or two will be full of work, but I plan on finding a few days here and there to do absolutely nothing! Although I am ready for the break, I am really excited to continue on to Indiana. I feel good about my current position in this project: I'm confident in myself, my ideas, and the work. It will feel nice to have a break, but I'm already gearing up for more!

Boonville Soap Box: Black Friday

Today is the Day After Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, or even more recently, Buy Nothing Day.

The holidays are right around the corner, and the crazies are coming out to play. Do you really need to purchase something? Maybe not, but most likely yes. So try and consider your options. look for items that are marked "Fair Trade." Think about the steps that go into your purchase. Where was it made? Can you support locally grown or made products? If not, consider how far it has to travel; Did it travel to you by ground or air? Most of us already know the problems and impact that air travel has on the environment, but do you consider where your food and clothes come from?

Small steps are big steps. Purchase used items, support the local second-hand store. Or, try and buy items that make people think. Last year I bought two hundred trees for four different people, and had them planted in their name. There are plenty of interesting and even tangible things that can be given, and still make someone very happy and make them think at the same time. My girlfriend recently bought us a wind-up radio for the kitchen. Winding the crank for 90 seconds charges the battery and gives you 20 minutes of listening time.

A few simple tips. If you go shopping, don't carry the items out in a plastic bag, plastic BAD! Simply carry them out, or even better, if you know you're going to shop, take your own bag! Shopping online sounds good, but depending on how many places you buy from, that many places are shipping things to your door, possibly by plane.

Go to this website for great Eco-friendly gift ideas for the holiday. Treehugger.com: Holiday list 2006 and Holiday list 2007.

Off of my box for now... Happy Buy Nothing Day!

Inspired by NotIfButWhen/2

Interview

Last week, Miguel Garcia-Guzman from exposurecompensation.com, a blog about photography, interviewed me about my career in photography and the Boonville project. It's colossal, meaning 14 pages long! It has gotten a great response. Read the full article here.

"A young photographer breaking his path in fine art photography. His vision, his dreams, the challenges, the inspiration.

I had the opportunity to interview photographer Timothy Briner, and he shared a candid view of his work, projects and struggles as a young photographer.

After several personal projects and a brief exploration of commercial photography, Tim is now embarked in a project, Boonville, that intends to explore “small-town” America, its people and its cultural diversity across states. But this project is not only a journey through America but a discovery of his own path.

The Boonville project is a a year-long cross-country journey to six different towns named Boonvilles across the United States. Timothy will be living with families and individuals during his thirty-plus days in each town. The final product will take images from the six communities, juxtaposing them together to create a fictional town named 'Boonville.' " --Miguel Garcia-Guzman

Continue reading HERE.

Thank you, Boonville, New York!

Photographing Thomas Rauscher, Boonville, NY, November, 2007

Two great articles came out the day before I left town. Read The Rome Sentinal's (Rome, NY) take on the project here. And read the follow-up article in the Boonville Daily News. PDF only, Download here.

A few days ago I left the lovely Boonville, NY. My time there was plentiful. I shot tons of film and met some amazing people. I also spent a lot of time on my own. Coming off of Boonville Missouri and N. Carolina with no break was exhausting. I needed time to reflect and explore my ideas. I probably spent a few weeks in NY hiding out, reading, writing and thinking. It made my time in NY different then the others but very worthwhile. The work is growing, and I am getting more confident in my everyday routine. I'm at a very good place in the project right now. Thanks again to all who have supported me and this project. It really would never of happened without you and all the wonderful people I have met along the way.

A huge Boonville, NY thanks to Wally Low, The Beasock family (Mark, Sandy, Sarah, Chris, Kody, Hanna), Lisa and Craig Trainor at the North Country Manor, The Raschuers, The Hulbert House, Mitchell and Desiree at Charlie Brown's, Rosemary and Bob Healt, Bob Jones, Kristi Mead and the Chamber of Commerce crew, Kathy at Chatty Kathy's, Joe Kelly, Judy Roultson, Mercer's Ice Cream, and the many people that took out the time to show me around and those who let me photograph them, it was an honor.

Thank you all...I will return soon!

2:31am

Brooklyn! A few minutes past schedule. But good timing nonetheless. I'm going to bed...

Boonville to Brooklyn

9:06pm, leaving town, going home, should arrive at 2:06am. I had a blast in B'ville NY!

I'll be sending thank yous and a link to a new article soon. Last few days have been rushed, lots going on. Grants to write, photos to take. Today was a blast. More woods! More portraits! More soon...

Missing You, A History of Inspiration

Roaming the woods, Boonville, NY, November, 2007

This project is a dream come true. Traveling across the country, working on what you wish, when you wish; It all sounds very romantic. And it is! But not without some debate. I am grateful and very excited to be doing what I am doing. But it gets lonely.

At times I find myself down and uninspired. Yesterday was one of those days. This is the first time I have done a major project on my own. The only thing that comes close is a self-portrait series I did in May of 2005, titled Lycanthrope (example below). Otherwise, I have always had subjects that I often photograph for days or weeks. Johnsie, Sidne, and Jason, I am missing you!


Self-portrait, from Lycanthrope, 2005

Together, those three people have probably been apart of 50% of the images I have ever taken. They are my closest friends. Some of my favorite work was taken long ago of Johnsie. Unfortunately, none of it is digitized. Johnsie was my best friend in High school. We have not seen each other on a regular basis for eight years, but he plans on coming to visit me in Boonville, Indiana in December. Maybe we can rekindle that photo-love!


(L) Jason, Boonville, NY, 2003 (R) Sid & Chris, outtake from Vacancy

Sidne is by far the prettiest of my muses and has been letting me take photos of her on a regular basis since 1999. The last time we took photos together was in 2006 for my series Vacancy. Sid is now a photography undergrad at Columbia College Chicago. Not sure if I had anything to do with it, but I like to think so. Sid would spend days and nights letting me photograph her. One time, I think she was only 17 and I was 19, we drove to Chicago and spent the entire night, until sunrise, roaming around town looking for little cracks and underground garages to take photos in; She was fierce and not afraid of anything. Sid would let me take photos of her doing almost anything. I don’t have that luxury with strangers.


Sidne, from Vacancy, 2005-2006

Jason Covert is the latest in the line of muses. Jason and I met in 2000 while working for a photographer. We bonded over how much we hated that job. Ever since then we have continued to cause trouble and get on each others nerves. In 2003 Jason and I went on our first-annual photo excursion. We made our way up to a little Village named Boonville. That trip was the inspiration for this current project. Jason spent ten days letting me photograph him. Without Jason, “Boonville” would not exist.


Jason Covert, Boonville, New York, 2003

As I said before, I was a bit down yesterday. I miss home. I am on day one-hundred-and-six and a I'm bit photo’d out. After lunch, rather then just giving up for the day, I decided to take a left out of the restaurant’s driveway instead of a right. I followed a road to another road and found myself on a very long dirt path surrounded by woods. I ended up having to turn around about five miles in, but as I did, I found a path that lead me to inspiration. It was a tree, two trees actually. Nothing really special about them, but I could tell they wanted to be photographed.

Inspiration comes in funny ways. I ended up shooting past sunset and then made my way back to the car. As I was driving back, surrounded by the woods being illuminated only by my head-lights, I thought of the below image: A portrait Jason took of me on our second photo excursion. As I thought of that photo, I thought of how lonely it can be creating this work and how I miss my friends, family and muses.


Timothy Briner, 2004, Copyright Jason Covert

I awoke today and quickly ran back into the woods. I will do the same tomorrow. I am very antisocial this week, and rather then forcing myself to find people to photograph, I am roaming the woods for inspiration.

Boonville, NY: 1911 vs 2007

Boonville, NY, 1911, H.M. Beach
Boonville, NY, 2007, Ben Hughes

This morning I received an email from Ben Hughes. Boonville is Ben's hometown and he wanted to share the above photo with me. The color photo is Ben's. It appears he set up exactly where H.M. Beach took his famous Panoramic. Thanks Ben!

Day 22 vs Day 36 vs Day 99

Day 22, Boonville, Missouri
Day 36, Boonville, North Carolina
Day 99, Boonville, New York

Behind Boonville (updated)

Are you a photo geek? Yes! Then read on, this is a geek-out session. "Behind the scenes of Boonville" is brought to you by Slims Restaurant, Boonville, NY and the beauty of hacking into a WiFi signal.

Photographing Thomas with tractor and spreader, Boonville, NY, 2007

Almost all of the equipment found above and below was provided by my Alma mater, The Hallmark Institute of Photography, or HIP, located in Massachusetts. After a year of talks and going back and forth to MA, they excepted my proposal and they became the largest supporter of the Boonville project. They also provided a portion of my film! I cannot thank them enough. It's huge!

Before I knew that I received this equipment, I was ready to take on the trip with what I already had. My old 4x5 camera and home-made lights, made from florescent shop/work lights and an older strobe setup. It would have been a lot less gear, but a lot more weight. I decided that If I was going to ask for new equipment, it needed to be light and portable. That is exactly what I got.

Everything you see below is able to fit into two bags, and on my back; Tripod and stands included. It's heavy, but if I need it all and I need to get somewhere remote, I can do it.


Toyo-View vx125 (modified) 4x5 camera.
Images: Expanded, compressed, and disassembled,
4x5 Lenses: 90mm, 300mm, 210mm and 150mm

My Toyo-View 4x5 camera is my most prized possession. For those of you that know what I am talking about, it is a field/studio camera. It has full range of swings and tilts and folds up to the size of normal field camera, and even weighs less then most. It nice!

The four above lenses were provided by a friend and fellow photographer in New Jersey. Thanks Dave! I use them all often.


(R) Large-Format Camera bag and equipment.
(L) Minus light meter: Extra cable release, loupe, Film holders,
Polaroid Back, Head lamp (for seeing in the dark),
Radio Slave, Folded reflector.

The above image shows my bag filled with everything that is in the above (L) photo as well as my camera and all lenses. It's not easy to close, but it does close. Only in situations that call for it do I pack my camera in the bag; Like hiking, etc. Otherwise, the camera sits on my tripod and then is tossed over my shoulder, or on the front seat of my car (see below).


4x5 and Mamyia 7II, with roll film and iPod, passenger seat.

My tripod (not pictured) is a new Induro Carbon Fiber tripod. Because It is Carbon Fiber, and because I continually throw it over my shoulder with camera attached, the column has come loose three times. After sending it back twice, I decided to modify it myself. I took a steel rod and put it all the way through the center of the column, and then bolted it on both ends. It hasn't budged since.

I also received a Mamyia 7II, seen above with 4x5. I use the camera for situations that I cannot use the 4x5. Tight spots, lots of action, quick shots, etc. The Mamiya 7II is awesome! I only use it about 5% of the time. Buy it is a great thing to have for that 5%.


Middle: Profoto 600 B (battery) with Flash Head, and 3 batteries.
Left: Folded soft-box strip with speed ring.
Right: Flash equipment in backpack.

The above is my lighting equipment. When I need a light, this thing is amazing! It is small: it fits in a backpack! And it gives me great consistency and output. The soft-box strip is essential and adjusts itself nicely for different light qualities. Good stuff.


Photo equipment, Joe's backyard, Boonville, NY, Nov. 2007

Above image is all of my equipment. And it all packs up into those two bags. It's great. But, with the 4x5 on my front seat or on my shoulder, all ready to go, it provides me with the opportunity to quickly respond to any situation. While in Boonville, Missouri I was walking through a park and found a young man that I desperately wanted to talk to and photograph. He wasn't into it. I asked him if he had ten minutes, he said no. "five?" I asked. "I've got one," he said. I didn't hesitate, and to my surprise, I got the camera set up, framed, focused, took meter readings, and shot, all in about 120 seconds. Surprisingly, the image is a winner. He was already doing everything for me though, I just had to click a button.

Looking back it seems I could not be able to get the work I am getting without this stuff. That is true, but the work wouldn't be bad, it would just be different. The equipment is amazing, but photography is obviously only what you make of it. This equipment doesn't make me a better photographer or artist, it just puts more weight on my back, while doing a few other things.

The Beasock Seven

Mark (dad), Sandy (mom), Sarah (18), Christopher (16), Kody (12), Hannah (9), Mia (puppy).

Carving pumpkin, Beasock Family, B'ville, NY, Oct., 2007

I have been staying with the Beasock family for over a week now. They have been wonderful! Each one of their kids have their own personality. I don't have a favorite, but Kody reminds me of myself at his age: Loud, obnoxious, and hilarious, with a slight touch of brilliance--if I may say so.


Kody and Christopher, sled-pulling in really cold water, B'ville, NY

I've had a wonderful time with the Beasock family: There is never a dull moment and I've had great Home-Cooked Meals and they have been very open to me and my camera; Especially at eleven-o'clock at night while tracking dear in the middle of the woods, with my flash going off three-and-a-half feet from their faces all while stepping in blood and messing up their tracking. We didn't find the deer (not my fault!)


Cristopher, Kody and Ross, Watercrossing, attempt failed, B'ville, NY

I've also had a great time getting in trouble with Christopher: shooting paintballs and BB guns at things we shouldn't have while Mom and Dad were out; And stealing all the candy during Halloween, only to be caught because we didn't hide the wrappers deep enough in the garbage. Amateurs.

It has been a great experience and it's been nice to be able to remove myself from the Village at the end of the day. Kinda like going home to Brooklyn after working all day in the city...but not.


Beasock home, four-wheelers, lawnmowers,
Sarah in front of six-wheeler, B'ville, NY, Nov., 2007

I can't wait to come back up in the winter...they've promised me a great time!

A Field Guide to the N. American Family

Garth Risk Hallberg, B'ville going-away party, July, 2007, Brooklyn

Garth (above) is the author and visionary of A field Guide to the North American Family: an illustrated novella which tracks two families through the wilderness of modern life. Their stories unfold in 63 entries, each comprising a chapter of text and a visual artist’s response to the entry’s title: Adolescence, Boredom, Chemistry, etc.

Garth and I become friends after I submitted work into his then online photo/book project. Which I am happy to say is now a book! I have one photo in the book, representing "Privacy." I am lined up with some amazing photographers and friends, including: Jason Lazarus, Brian Ulrich, Tema Stauffer, Amy Elkins, Jonathan Gitelson, Shane Lavalette, Kevin Sisemore, and many more.

I have not seen my copy of the book as I have been on the road. But the last time I was in NY Garth showed me a sneak peak of his advanced copy. It was literally a peak, but from what I saw I was very intrigued and impressed.


"Privacy," From Vacancy, 2004-2005, Timothy Briner

See if your local book store can order it! I have to advocate supporting the little people. If not...go to Amazon.

See the website here

vs Boonville, NY

Christopher, Watercrossing, Boonville, NY

I have gotten many emails from NY residents that are "concerned" or disappointed with my lack of positivity on this here blog. I assure you, it's not you, it's me...

I've heard that before.

Seriously, this is a blog, this is in NO WAY a representation of the project. I can't stress this enough. The work is private. Only four or five people have seen select images from Missouri and North Carolina and only one person other then myself has seen it all. Other then Drew, my film developer, no one will see the full project until at least July of 2008.

Yes, the NY posts have been sparse, the last one was a bit of a downer, but that's the way this entire project has been. Are you only looking at the writing from NY and comparing it to the end of the Boonville, NC trip? The last week in NC was great. The first two were horrible! And much of Boonville, Missouri was horrible, I was a wreck. Read a bit more before you start judging.


Large Format bag, Mamyia 7II and jacket in field, Boonville, NY

I have (according to Drew) been producing some very interesting things while in NY (I get the work in the mail tomorrow). I came off of sixty straight days before arriving in Boonville, NY and I was very tired. Physically: I was strong like bull; Mentally: I was completely out of it. It took a while to get myself back up. I'm now just getting on my feet again and I have extended my stay by two weeks to take advantage of that.

Boonville, NY HAS been great. I've met some fantastic people and have had some great times. While I was in Boonville, Missouri I was being spread thin, I met so many people that I was finding myself running out of time; My thoughts and ideas were jumping all over the place. These days, when arriving into a town, I find and focus on only a select number of things. Otherwise, I'd get one-hundred OK or terrible photos rather then ten or twenty great ones. It's a process.

I'm not documenting Boonville, I'm documenting my interpretation of the current state of small-town America, and I'm using the six Boonvilles as my inspiration. I don't need to, nor could I, have my hand in everything while here.

Plus, I'm coming back...this way I can focus on twenty more things and get a new outlook at a different time of the year. I may have overdone this, but I hope this helps clear up any doubt or expectations anyone might have had about me, this blog, or my time in B'ville, NY.

P.S. If you get up everyday and check this blog and keep being disappointed: Stop getting up, or stop checking my BLOG!