Retreat becomes full-blown hiatus - final post until September 15: puddle lakes, familiar road, study of the young writer
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 8:47AM ;)
I shot two scenes today, both on my morning walk, and one portrait, on my coffee break. This is the first scene and I shot it because when I saw these puddles, I was reminded of how it used to be when I would be flying my airplane and would look down and see a seemingly endless spatter of lakes laid out across the tundra.
Minnesota boasts of 10,000 lakes. There are 3 million in Alaska and I used to fly over them in my little airplane. I would pay very close attention to those lakes, and match them up with the ones on my map. I always wanted to know just where I was.
Once I lost track and then all the lakes looked the same and I could not match any of them to my map. Oh, well. I just followed my compass and it took me to where I wanted to go, anyway - that being Umiat. Then GPS came along and it didn't seem to matter anymore, but still I kept track of those lakes, because I still wanted to always know where I was.
I long to fly over those lakes again.
;)
I have photographed this stretch of road many times - with snow, school buses, people on bicycles, fall leaves, dogs running, moose crossing, a cat walking... but somehow, today, when I looked at it, it looked different to me than it had ever looked before.
So I shot it again.
Afterward, I realized - this summer retreat that I announced awhile back - this effort to keep this blog short and simple? I must make it a full hiatus and break away until mid-September.
It is not because I am tired of doing the blog. I love doing the blog. Of all the forms of publishing that I have ever engaged myself in there is only one that I like doing better than the blog - and that is the writing and making of books.
That is my favorite thing of all - to write and make books - I have done a lot of book writing and making that still needs to be brought to completion - and then this blog.
But I have some projects I must finish, and soon, including two Uiñiq magazines, the second of which will probably be the last Uiñiq I ever do. I can't say that for certain, because I thought that in 1996, yet I wound up doing some more.
If I am to finish these Uiñiqs and the two other jobs I have lined up between now and summer's end, I must put aside as many distractions as I possibly can.
And, as much as I love it, this blog is a distraction from those projects.
So I am putting it aside until September 15, when all the paying projects that I am working on should be done.
Then I truly need to figure out how to make online publishing pay, because I either figure out how to live in the world of online publishing or I go under. It is that simple.
The old ways of doing things are fading and, when I finish my current projects, I am pretty sure they will be over for me, for good, permanently.
So I have to figure it out.
I do not have the temperament to take a regular job - even a photography job - and to work for someone and get bossed around. And there aren't so many good jobs left anymore, anyway, because everybody's got a camera on their phone and everybody is on Facebook and photographs are seen more and more as cheap and common things that are to be taken for free and given away for free and it is pretty hard to compete against free and for free.
And yet, to survive online, one must somehow learn to give away his work for free and yet bring in income for doing it.
I have yet to figure it out, but I must.
If I can, I can really do something.
If not... no... it can work. I know it can work.
It must work. It will work.
I can do it and I will do it.
I just don't know how.
Haven't a clue.
;)
This is the portrait I shot, just before I rolled past the drive-through window at Metro Cafe. Hence:
Study of the Young Writer, Shoshana, #7,921: she appears at the Metro window with a braid in her hair.
I know that in taking such a long break, I will lose some of my current readers for good. Other things will fill the time they now devote to this blog and when I return, they will just keep going on as they are.
But I won't lose Shoshana. She will come back and she will read the blog again. I am confident that others among you will, too.
And then I have to get... I don't know... say, 100,000 or so more new readers to join in.
Maybe a million more.
Or one very rich philanthropist who wants to turn me loose.
Then I would not have to worry about making a living and I could really go nuts. I could make an online publication like no one had ever seen before.
I am not saying it would be the best online photographic publication in the world - not with great publications out there like Burn and Visura and Lens, drawing on a wide variety of the best photo talent in the world. But it would be good and it would be like nothing else anyone had seen before. This I am confident of.
Alaska would come alive, right here, in my blog, or whatever my blog becomes or merges with. ALIVE!!! Because this place called Alaska lives, and I live to be in it.
That will not happen, of course. That philanthropist does not exist. But, somehow... I just have to figure it out.
Maybe pulling back from it for awhile will help me figure it out.
Or maybe it is all a foolish dream, destined to go the way of all foolish dreams.
No... no... I cannot yield to that notion.
I will keep reading Shoshana's stories as well. When she finishes a story, she brings a copy to Metro Cafe and passes it through the window to me, along with the coffee and the pastry.
That is why I know she is a talented writer. She is a talented barista as well, but her talents go way beyond making and serving lattes.
See you in September!
PS: Even though I will not be posting, I will keep shooting, everyday, capturing smatterings of whatever I see, just as I have been.
Reader Comments (39)
I will miss your posts Bill. But I'll be reading when you return. Your blog is in my reader so I look forward to the day in September when one of your posts will magically appear and all will be right again. :)
Bill,
I will use the hiatus to start at the beginning and bring myself up to date on the world of the Metro Cafe and the little Su and those frozen lakes and the majestic Bowhead whale so that when you come back in September I will have some idea what you are talking about!
The best advice I can give is this: Never start a knife fight with an Octopus.
I will miss your blog, but do understand. I have circled 9/15 on the calendar to remind me that you will be back. I do know that many would be happy to pay for an online publication, or another book. The "Gift of the Whale" is a magnificent, important work. Have a great time working and spending time with your family.
I wish you the best of luck Bill, and I am certain you will accomplish what you want.
I'll mis your posts Bill but maybe I'll run into you in Wasilla sometime! I look for you everytime I am in town, because as anyone reading your blog can see, one never knows where Bill will pop up :)
bill,
i feel you.
don't ever give up on your dreams.
much love,
katia
i will miss you too, and i will be here when you come back..looking forward on your and your families adventures .
Best of luck to you Bill as you finish up projects (paying projects are a good thing!) and hope the time away gives you a chance to investigate a plan for the future. See you in Sept!
I will miss you Bill. Good luck, I'll see you in September.
Will miss the daily dose of neighborly chat and photos . Will be back when you return.
Very best wishes for current projects and hoping you will have a path open right up in front of you which leads to the next set.
Thank you for this place of comfort and enjoyment.
Good Luck, Bill!
Well, Bill, we will all miss you very much, and Kalib and Jobe and Margie and the rest of your family and friends, and look forward to having you back in September. Take good care,
I still think you should write wonderful children's books. Kids love to read what you have to write, parents and grandparents like to read what you have to write, along with seeing the world through your lens. Yes, there are many who take photos and sometimes gorgeous photos -- but your special talent is to make those photos come alive by sharing your view of the world, along with your special interpretation of your world.
Thank you!
Thanks for all the posts. I hope to see many of these places in person. Looking forward to your return. Cheers!
See you in September, for sure! Be well.
Thank you FROSTFROG (BILL)...thank you Wasilla people...
see you all...in few sun turns around the Universe...!!!
Peace,love and Viva!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best of luck and may your wishes come true, Bill! Sad to think I won't get my smile every night before I go to bed with the pictures of those beautiful boys, wife, your kids and your cats!! It doesn't get much better than that! Will be anxiously awaiting your return. Have a wonderful summer and see you soon!
I'll be back Sept 15! Have a productive summer!
Bill, I'll be here in September and you can count on it, I'll miss my daily trips here very much, but I want you to succeed even more. You are such a talented writer & photographer, I have strong faith that good things will come your way & you can live your dreams.
Take care, all the best to you & your wonderful family, friends, & cat kids. You're part of my family now too.
Kat
I don't think you'll lose a soul here. We read your blog because we love it. Love should not be fickle and run away because of a few weeks absence. I hope your work goes well.
I, too, shall miss you!
I agree with Grandma Nancy. Kids books!! With your photography skills and your love of Kalib and Jobe, you could do kids books in a snap.
Tell their stories. Tell of their heritage. Just think of how you talk to them and put it on paper. I know I would buy such a book for my grandchildren.
Best of luck to you, Bill. Looking forward to that fine day in September when you return.
we will be waiting for you..........enjoy your time off and another vote for a children's book!
You know I'll be back. Your my eyes in the south.. and in the far far north.. :)
I'll be back in Sept. for sure! Thank you Bill - for all your stories, and photos! I enjoy reading this blog so much, and I believe if we (the readers of this blog) spread the word about the awesomeness of this blog to our family/friends, when sept. Comes we can bring many more readers with us! Maybe not a 100000, but a step closer to that! If I manage to marry money, or win the lotto before then, I'll be your philanthropist, and send you a check!
I don't believe you're going to lose any of your regulars, Bill. There's no one else like you, and we'll miss you during your hiatus. I hope this time brings lots of good, fulfilling things your way. See you in September.
You NEED to push away from this computer and do what you were born to do Bill. Get out there and shoot Alaska.
*wince*
Do I sound like Sarah?
Take some reeeeeeal good pictures, friend!
I thank all of you for the encouragement and support. When I come back, I am going to learn how to make iPad books - so stay tuned and you just might see my first iPad children's book!
what about joining the Frontiersman? Or ADN? Or Alaska Magazine? I just read today that all the small local Alaska newspapers - Tundra times; Cordova Times, etc. - are closing. very sad. It is sad that journalism is changing and there are not many paid positions anymore. Or what about joining a large corporation and doing their in house newsletters - such as a large Native corp. What about Alaska dispatch? that might be a perfect match for you.
I appreciate the thoughts and concern, Nancy, and I would not totally rule something like Alaska Dispatch out, but I have a dream and a vision and I must pursue it.
I liked the idea of retreat much better than hiatus. There's a bugle call with retreat. None with hiatus. Just what do you have against bugles anyway?
You will figure it out. Of that I am certain. Enjoy the break!!
There may be many free photographs, Bill, but NO ONE captures the lives and souls of native Americans like you do. That is your gift and yours alone.
I can't wait until September 15!
I knew that you were coming back in September but couldn't remember the date. Only 10 more days!! Hope that all has been well with you and the family. I've missed peeping into your world!
9 more days.. O SO PATIENT YOUR AUDIENCE IS!!!
Missing you, Bill..
Hi Bill, Even folks in Connecticut miss you.
take care!
I hear Uiniq edition looks pretty good.. not sure who in Fairbanks has it, but I would LOVE TO SEE IT!! CONGRATS ON ALL YOUR HARDWORK BILL :)! O so looking forward to the 15th!!! Can't wait to hear, see, and read all you've done!!
Its Sept 14, I hope to read a new post from you soon. Miss you, and your daily journies.
Yay, tomorrow is the day! Been waiting patiently. Taikuu for the Uiniq, good job!