Christine Cote

Day Spent With Paul Caponigro

2011-09-01T22:31:00.003-04:00

I am in Rockport this week taking a workshop with Doug Beasley. The title of the workshop is Zen and the Art of Photography. It has been a wonderful experience. Today, we had the opportunity to visit with Paul Caponigro--one of the great photographers of our era who, fortunately for us, lives very near Rockport, Maine. The opportunity came because a student in our workshop asked Doug, "If given the chance, with what photographer--living or dead--would you want to spend an afternoon?" Doug didn't hesitate, "Paul Caponigro." So, the phone call was made, a message was left, and the message was returned. And we had the splendid, unforgettable opportunity to hear Paul talk about his spiritual journey, see his studio and some of his prints, and join him for lunch at a seaside restaurant. It was an amazing gift.

Watch Annie Leibovitz Documentary

2010-09-05T22:08:00.000-04:00

Last night I watched Life Through a Lens, a documentary about Annie Leibovitz' life and work. It is really wonderful. I watched parts of it again this morning. Towards the end of the documentary, reflecting on losses in her life, there is a point when Annie says that the greatest relationship of her life was/is the one with her camera. This documentary allows the viewer to see that relationship develop...from her very early days with Rolling Stone to her work with Vogue and her personal work as well.

I will never be a photographer for as many years as Annie is a photographer...I started this art thing late in life. Still, the documentary made me think about the "relationship" I have with my camera. I have used my camera long enough now that it feels very comfortable to me, it rests easily in my hands, and I can find its various buttons and dials without searching or even looking. I know what it can do, I generally know what to do with it, and, in most situations, I trust that it will do its job for me. After four years, it has become like a good friend to me. But there is a deeper friendship to develop. I find myself these days with a longing to use my camera more often and for a greater variety of projects. I have stories that I want to tell, and I need my camera to help me tell them. I need to push harder to explore what my camera and I can do...I often feel that we have barely scratched the surface of possibility. So, it's good to see this as a "relationship" ...me and my camera.

Off to Rockport, Maine

2010-06-26T13:03:00.000-04:00

I'll be heading up to Rockport, Maine tomorrow for a week-long photography workshop. I'm taking The Expressive Photograph with Frank Lavelle. I always have a wonderful time there and learn so much. It's usually hard to leave and reenter normal life again after having been fully immersed in photography for a solid week. Not thinking about that now...can't wait for tomorrow!

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

2010-06-09T21:06:00.004-04:00

We have lots of Jack-in-the-Pulpit growing in bunches in the woods around our house. I really love the "flower"...so unusual...so interesting. I like the dark green and the striking purple colors too. I like that the flower is kind of hidden beneath the big leaves, and you have to move the leaves out of the way to get a good look at the flower. I wanted to photograph the flower, but I couldn't decide how to approach it. So I decided to try to create a composite. Here it is!

I looked in one of my old wildflower books and discovered a very sweet poem about the Jack-in-the-Pulpit. The poem is by Clara Smith, though I am unable to quickly find out much about Ms. Smith. Here is the first stanza along with a reference to the remainder of the poem.

Jack in the pulpit
 Preaches to-day,
Under the green trees
 Just over the way.
Squirrel and song-sparrow,
 High on their perch,
Hear the sweet lily-bells
 Ringing to church.
Come, hear what his reverence
 Rises to say,
In his low painted pulpit
 This calm Sabbath-day.
Fair is the canopy
 Over him seen,
Penciled by Nature’s hand,
 Black, brown, and green.
Green is his surplice,
 Green are his bands;
In his queer little pulpit
 The little priest stands.

Online text © 1998-2010 Poetry X . All rights reserved.
From Required Poems for Reading and Memorizing: Third and Fourth Grades, Prescribed by State Courses of Study | 1920

Show at The TIME Gallery

2010-06-07T21:16:00.003-04:00

My show "Musings..." at The TIME Gallery opened on Friday, June 4, and was a stop on the First Friday Art Walk in Portland. The weather cooperated...beautiful warm evening! So the doors were wide open, and people poured in throughout the evening. It was a wonderful event. Many thanks to the great people at Hour Exchange Portland for all their help. The show will be up through most of the month of June and can be seen in the CTN building at 516 Congress St. during daytime hours.

A very special thanks to Orion from HEP for hanging the show. He did it in lightening speed and did a fabulous job getting all the pieces just the right height! Just look how proud he is...what a guy!

Portland's Friday Art Walk

2010-06-01T21:27:00.001-04:00

Musings... was showing in the Moulton Union at Bowdoin College during the month of May, but today it moved to The Time Gallery in Portland, where it will hang during most of the month of June. The Time Gallery is one of the stops along the way of the Portland Art Walk this Friday, June 4, 2010. So, if you find yourself in Portland this Friday or if you are looking for something to do this Friday, stop in between 5 and 8 P.M. The Time Gallery is in the CTN Building at 516 Congress Street, right next to the Maine College of Art.

Violets

New Website Design

2010-06-01T21:05:00.003-04:00

My website desperately needed some remodeling, so I set to work and now it has a whole new look!
Also, I have three portfolios up on the site right now...

Musings in Maine Woods and Fields

Tom's House

Winter

A Wonderful Weekend!

2010-05-24T16:52:00.004-04:00

May is such a beautiful month in Maine! This past weekend was a perfect May weekend. The temps were in the low 70s and the sun was out bright. A very gentle breeze felt so nice. I did quite a lot of work in my gardens, and managed to sneak some time in to take some photos of a few things I saw in the woods...most notably Jack-in-the-Pulpit. I have an interesting idea for the composition, so I hope my idea meets my expectations. It's a difficult plant to photograph even though it is so unusual and interesting. Here is some information about it, along with a picture. I'll post my photograph as soon as I have it ready.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/jack-in-the-pulpit.htm

"Musings..." Opens at Bowdoin College

2010-05-11T14:18:00.004-04:00

My show opened on the Bowdoin College campus on May 3. It is in Lancaster Lounge in the Moulton Union. It will be up until May 30. The entire title is Musings in Maine Woods and Fields. Here is a piece from the show.

Yellow Paintbrush