Friday, September 13, 2019

FRIDAY THE 13th

It's Friday the 13th - which indicates bad luck.

But how would I know? Heck, I have bad luck every day of the year.

Another update on my present ailments would be futile. I'm still bedridden with hip, knee, and back pain.
But I keep assuring myself that I'm slowly getting better.

In honor of Friday the 13th I figured I'd offer you something weird (something perhaps weirder than myself).

Photos by Arthur Tress
(a New York photographer, born in 1940)
Tress never fails to conjure delicious dreams and nightmares.  I've always been intrigued by his work and can strongly identify with his quirky, bizarre, often macabre style.
Click on photos to enlarge them

 Arthur Tress
self-portrait 

One of my favorites
owl on a Texas road in 1975






Rocking Horse Mishap

 Tress did a series of shadow photos.
This one reminds me of the 1922 German vampire film Nosferatu






Blue Collar Fantasy



At a first quick glance I thought these were axes with blood (!!!) - - but they're shovels with autumn leaves. 





 

20 comments:

  1. First, there are no words to empathize with your pain as saying hope you feel better soon doesn’t seem to cut it when you are in such discomfort and much pain. Admittedly, I check your blog daily to check up knowing there is little comfort to offer from a distance. Perhaps, I hope to read that you have suddenly moved what is (please excuse this) a definite hell-hole of a place based solely on your descriptions of the area and the misfortunes that you’ve encountered in terms of insects, critters, weather. Sincerely hope things will get better for you and will keep reading despite not having a rabies shot...does a flu shit count.
    Now to my post comment. Thanks for introducing me to Arthur Tress and showing these b&w images. Now, I am going to learn more about him. The shadows shot was great and those shovels and leaves threw me off as well, how macabre. And, the man with the iron on the woman’s hand made me wince. Planning an online search for more of his imagery.
    Sending as many good vibes as possible today, Jon.

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    1. Many thanks for your sweet comment and good vibes. I hate to always write about my ailments and complaints, but I do it just to keep friends and relatives updated. Living alone in an isolated area can be unnerving at times.
      I always have mixed feelings about living here. I LOVE the peace and privacy and natural surroundings - but I dislike the inconveniences and myriad of problems.

      I wanted to do a post for Friday the 13th but didn't know what to write about. Then I suddenly thought that Tress's photos would be appropriate.
      He did a whole series of shadow photos.
      The man with the iron sort of resembles Fidel Castro. I wonder if that was intended.

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  2. Sending caring thoughts and light your way. Jon, rub your body with Vix all over in the morning you will be much better. Few years ago at the age of 50 I had a lots of allotments and an elderly neighbour told me to try.I only use supermarket cheap version and it works. Regards Saffron from Australia

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    1. Many thanks for tour caring thoughts, Saffron. We have Vicks here in the U.S. and I always use it. I'm addicted to the scent.
      There's also an arthritis cream called (ironically) Australian Dream, which I might try. Have you heard of it?

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  3. Welp, those are indeed creepy, although the rocking horse mishap is a bit funny. Have your heard of Seph Lawless? He photographs abandoned places, like malls and amusement parks around the world. Some terrifying images of old hospitals and psych wards.

    Maybe today will be good luck for you instead and you will feel better. Take care!

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    1. There seems to be a dark humor in many of his photos - which I savor. I thought the rocking horse was funny, too.
      I never heard of Seph Lawless but I'll definitely do some research and check out his photos. I like creepy abandoned places.

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  4. Maybe I had one too many cups of coffee? Not that I'd like to surround myself with these works of 'art' (?), but the only one of these I found disturbing was the snake.

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    1. I really like the dreamlike (nightmarish?) quality of his photos. The one with the snake is rare - I've never seen it before. It was sold at auction and is in a private collection.

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  5. I hope you get in to see a doctor his coming week. Hang in there. :)

    Creepily, odd photographs. Seem quite tongue in cheek, really. Make me think of Halloween--LOL!

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    1. If I (ever) feel better, I'd like to drive to town next week. I can always stop in at the local medical clinic.
      The photos definitely remind me of Halloween, and Tress does incorporate a lot of dark humor.

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  6. Those are all excellent shots. But Friday the 13th for me has always been a good day. And on top of that it's a full moon tonight!!!!! Beware...…..

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    1. For some reason, I always associate Friday the 13th with Halloween. BTW - Arthur Tress is gay and it is sometimes apparent in his work. He did a series called "Boys".
      Yes! Tonight is the Harvest Moon! Autumn isn't far away....

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  7. Jon, these Arthur Tress photos are delightful! I can't tell if his self-portrait was done with a Bronica or Hasselblad, but he sure likes good cameras. His long depth-of-field work is great, and each photo rewards inspection with a surprise. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Wow, it's amazing that you can discern what camera he might be using. I'm impressed!
      I also love your apt observation that "each photo rewards inspection with a surprise". So true!

      I'm still bedridden, since I want to be careful not to re-hurt my injuries. This seems to be stemming more from my hip than my back - but the two are often in concert (or conspiracy) with pain.

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  8. The doctor should visit you, Jon ... hasn't he heard of home visits? You seem brighter today, though, let's hope it lasts. Enjoyed looking at the photographs, especially the last one.

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    1. Doctors never make house calls here, Valerie, but there are home care services for "seniors" (I'm over 50).
      I was extremely depressed for awhile, but I feel much better emotionally today.

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  9. Crap. I just wrote a long-asses comment, and then I messed up and lost it. (sigh)

    First off, I'm sorry you're in so much pain. You asked someone else if she was familiar with Australian Dream. I am. I tried it a while back, and then I got some coupons for Blue-Emu, which has pretty much the same ingredients, and switched. I wouldn't call either of them miracle cures, but they do provide some relief.

    Now, the pics. They're all intriguing, but my favorite is of the girl standing in the foreground and the person standing in the doorway of the house behind her. I don't even know why I like it so much. There's something about the composition, the way the two figures are lined up... I dunno. At any rate, it's evocative.

    Have a good weekend, cowboy. I sure hope you feel better soon.

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    1. I've done the same thing numerous times, Susan - write a long, heartfelt comment try to post it, and ZAP! it vanishes.

      I'll have to try Blue-Emu. I've heard of it.
      I like the girl in the white dress photo for the reasons you stated. The composition is great...and I wonder who the mysterious person is in the doorway.... Tress did several other photos of the girl in white.

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  10. Jon, I can't believe that it wasn't until the day was half over did I realize it was FRIDAY THE 13TH!?! Someone at work mentioned it just as I was leaving for the day.

    FAAAAAAAAAAAABULOUS selection of photographs! I LOVE scary, spooky, GOTH-looking images. I adore owls, so that picture is my fave. However, I also love the photo below it AND the one of the pillows, leaves and shovel handles. SPOOKY!

    Glad to hear that you're feeling on the mend. Be well, my friend!

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    1. I'm not particularly superstitious, but I always remember Friday the 13th. This year my birthday will fall on Friday 13th in December.

      I've always had a penchant for cats and owls. And everything Goth and spooky. Even though it's still near 90 degrees (!!!) I'm thinking of Halloween. Tonight is the Harvest moon.

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I love comments. Go ahead and leave one - I won't bite. But make sure you have a rabies shot just in case.