Paris – 2000

A Different Part Of The World

Dan Murano

The title "A Different Part Of The World" was suggested by my friend Grace, who's seen a lot of my work over the years. It doesn't refer as much to locations or cultures as it does to an individual's way of viewing the world. You'll no doubt see different things in these photos than I do, and I might see something different the next time I look at them, especially after a long passage of time. Photos continue developing long after they're made.

Wabi-Sabi

Wabi-sabi has been a buzz term on a number of YouTube photo channels. The Oxford English dictionary defines it, in part, as "finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence, or simplicity". While there is more to this Japanese / Taoist philosophy, I understand the concept enough to apply it to my photographs in a way that allows me to accept them without applying a standard of perfection seldom, if ever achieved.

This approach led me to take another look at images I've often dismissed for technical flaws such as processing errors, light leaks, odd colors from outdated film and motion blur, among others. Instead of asking if a photo is perfect, the ultimate question is what does it say?

Street photography is one of the dominant themes in my work, but it isn't exclusive. I enjoy stringing photos together by colors, shapes, angles and lines, facial expressions, subjects and more. Moving through a gallery is more visual than narrative. If that's an imperfection in my approach, it's one I embrace.

Here's a Wikipedia article on wabi-sabi.

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The photo gallery

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Background notes

Reference photos are in the same order as the gallery.
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Street scene, Washington, D.C. I always liked this image, but never showed it because the high contrast and garish colors seemed overpowering. Pure clutter, but then there's the guy's exposed belly.

This is what Roland Barthes might call the punctum of the photo. Some viewers might find it to be something else - the baby's legs or maybe woman's hand in the air. This is the only frame I made of this scene. It's uniqueness is one of the things I love about film photography. In that era, I had to be frugal about how much film I exposed and I think that made me a more thoughtful photographer. I prefer working that way, even with digital.
Color slide, 1987.
Late afternoon at the beach. I find many punctums in this image. At first it's hands, but then the woman's expression, the man's tattered jeans and all the colorful shoes.
Delaware, 2021. MFT digital camera.
Girl in plaid pants. I long overlooked this negative because the subject's not perfectly sharp. I didn't realize until after scanning it that she's throwing a ball. Viewing it from a wabi-sabi approach, the blur doesn't bother me - it's more about the bright colors in sunshine, the body angles, movement and all the various shapes in the frame. I enjoy how all these all bring life to the scene.
Color Negative, 1973 or 74.
Beach blanket. The yellow blanket is the first draw for attention, but then the graceful folding of the blanket, the man's tall socks and the patterns on the other guy's trunks and the red towel yellowed by the afternoon sun. All this while a man in the background casually puffs on a cigarette.
Provincetown, 1983. Slide film.
Afternoon nap. A man naps with his signs on the National Mall. It was a hot day with huge crowds in town for the 4th of July celebrations.
Washington, D.C. Kodachrome slide, 1985.
Protester with sign. This is from the LGBQ March on Washington in 1987. I have one other frame with her looking away from the camera, but this direct gaze into the lens intensifies her defiance.
Color slide.
Uncle Sam. Shop window, Chincoteaque, Virginia.
Color slide. 2001.
Smoke break. I used Kodak motion picture film for this shot. The film required special processing and came back from the lab as both negatives and slides. I never showed this image it because the colors seemed off to me, and also for privacy reasons. After about 49 years or so, those issues are moot. I like the vintage look.
Near Greensburg, Pa., 1976 or 77.
Man in red shirt. I like how the red shirt enhances the isolation the man shows on his face as someone in the crowd is passing a pipe. This was also on the National Mall, and it's another image that I'm happy to finally show.
Kodachrome slide, July 4, 1985.
Celebration! Back then, it was OK to bring wine and beer to the National Mall 4th of July celebration.
Kodachrome slide, July 4, 1985.
Having a beer. The National Mall.
Kodachrome slide, July 4, 1985.
Chaise lounge sunbathers.
Delaware, 2003. Color slide.
Beach buckets. It was a muggy day and I had just walked out from an air conditioned room when I saw these buckets light up in the last seconds of sunlight. The lens fogged as I pulled the camera out of the bag, but there was no time to wipe it off. The fog gave the buckets an ethereal glow.
Ft. Myers, Florida, 2002. Color slide.
Girls running out of the ocean.
Delaware, 2003. Color slide.
Girls running to the ocean. I love all the movement and the colorful toys in the foreground. The guy who's bending down almost touches the frisbee as the girls race towards the waves. It's hard to see at this small size, but a balloon with a gondola gently floats over the distant waves.
Ft. Myers, Florida, 2002. Color slide.
Red light intersection in fog. I like how the red light spills over my windshield in this photo made with a Canon Powershot SD450. Even simple cameras can make interesting photos.
Virginia, 2006.
Scarecrow contest. Keene, New Hampshire, 2004.
Color slide. .
Face painting. These are the characteristically rich colors of Kodachrome
D.C. Pride festival, 1985
DC Pride festival. More Kodachrome colors!
1985.
Blizzard of '96. The government had already shut down over budget negotiations before the storm forced most of the businesses to close. Those of us working in news had no option to stay home. I was riding in the backseat when my coworker drove through this intersection.
Color slide. January, 1996.
La planète désir. Bus stop, Paris. 2000.
Color slide.