"Night News" - an occasional missive from the darkness
Vol.6 No.1
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"I have all but killed myself for Photography. My passion for it is greater than ever. It's forty years that I have fought its fight - and I'll fight to the finish - single handed & without money if need be. It is not photographs - it is not photographers - I am fighting for. And my own photographs I never sign. I am not fighting to make a 'name' for myself. Maybe you have some feeling for what the fight is for. It's a world's fight. This sounds mad. But so is Camera Work mad. All that's born of spirit seems mad in these [days] of materialism run riot."

-Alfred Stieglitz
xto J. Dudley Johnston (15 October 1923)
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"And I find I kind of funny
I find it kind of sad.
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had.
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take.
When people run in circles its a very very
Mad world
Mad world."

-"Mad World" (Orig. by Tear for Fears)
xand last year's runaway UK Holiday 'hit' by Gary Jules
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Friends of The Nocturnes,

Has it really been six months since last we spoke (wrote)? Our last missive was the end of last year - so, now on to our Midsummer's edition of NightNews! As always, you can read it here, or online at http://www.thenocturnes.com/nitenews.htm where a more readable, printable version resides. So, let's just dive in, shall we?

EXHIBITS NOTED
Dates have been announced for the return of "Studio Nocturne," hosted by The Nocturnes as part of San Francisco Open Studios, at Fort Mason: October 16-17, 2004. Last year's event was a great success - many print sales, and an estimated one thousand art lovers got to see/meet some Nocturnes "in action!" This year should be even better - mark your calendars NOW! Details are forthcoming - http://www.thenocturnes.com/studionocturne.htm - on the Web site, soon!
Participants this year (some new; many returning from last year) include:
Tim Baskerville
Todd Friedlander
Susanne Friedrich
Hadley Grousbeck
Randy Gunning
Mark Interrante
Richard Kettles
Adam Moore
Jason Mullins
Greta Schnetzler
Manu Schnetzler
Karen Schreiber
Lena Tsakmaki
Roxanne Worthington

Speaking of Open Studios (past and present) - Ten Nocturnes (those who have come thru our Workshops, classes, and/or shows; i.e. they're "in the system") participated in "ArtWalk," selected from artists participating in last year's City-wide SF Open Studios, in a recent exhibition at Embarcadero Center. A hundred artists were selected (hmmm, that makes it 10 percent Nocturnes-affiliated!) and included Nocturnists: Marc Babsin, Tim Baskerville, Jeanne Brophy, Karen Gellert, Randall M. Gunning, Maura Kendrick, Adam Moore, Greta and Manu Schnetzler, and Lena Tsakmaki. A number of Studio Nocturne artist from last year's event also participated in ArtSpan's Annual Benefit Auction, held at the Canvas (out at 9th/Lincoln in San Francisco) on May 25 - and one of the "Dream Dates" by Tim Baskerville sold at auction.

"Communing With The Universe: An Exploration of Nocturnal Imagery" was an exhibit of work by New York Nocturne Robert Vizzini at Farmani Gallery in Los Angeles from March 5 to April 1, 2004. See http://www.farmanigallery.com/Rober_Vizzini/robert1.html for more detail about the show.

Todd Hido had new work ("Roaming") up at the Stephen Wirtz Gallery in San Francisco from April 12 to May 29, 2004 - see http://www.wirtzgallery.com/exhibitions/2004/2004_04/hido_2004_frame.html for a description of this ominous new work.

Our latest online exhibit of Night Photography - "New York Nocturne" - is now in place at http://www.thenocturnes.com/newyorknocturne.htm - Judged by noted New York Photographer Jan Staller (www.janstaller.net) this exhibit explores the strange nocturnal beauty of "the city that never sleeps."

CALL FOR ENTRIES
Work on the planning of the "Embarcadero Nocturne" exhibit taking place at venues along the Embarcadero (from Pier 35, southward to China Basin and the Ball Park) has moved forward a bit recently. Location-scouting continues - any suggestions, contacts can be emailed directly to us at the address below. To date, we have a number of dedicated Nocturnists with work to show, who have expressed interest. More news at our semi-annual AlumNight event (see below) on July 3rd. Look for a "Call for Entries" on the Web site and/or in your email soon . . .

We are also pleased to announce that the Prospectus for our latest online exhibit of Night Photography - "The Nocturnes 2004, a Biennial" - is now in place at www.thenocturnes.com/entries.htm - juror TBA. Celebrating our original exhibit of Night Photography (and the birth of The Nocturnes in 1991) this online exhibition is open to all interpretations of the nocturne - reflecting the motivation behind that original landmark exhibit.

WORKSHOP NEWS
Tom Paiva and Tim Baskerville conduct another of their four-night San Francisco Workshops on August 27-29, and September 4, 2004. We had a full complement of attendees (10) for last year's Workshop at this time of year - hopefully history will repeat itself. Visit www.thenocturnes.com/workshop.htm for more details.

Tom, Tim and I lead another workshop in Death Valley National Park this fall - October 25, 26, and 27, 2004,with the aid of the Full "Hunter's" Moon. If you haven't considered it yet, it is a great photographic tour! This is our fifth or sixth trip down to Death Valley with a group, and it's always great fun, with great images! See www.thenocturnes.com/deathvalley2.htm for all the information you need to register.

At this time we would like to announce two new Workshop offerings for this fall. One, which we mentioned last time is being held at Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California (down near Palm Springs), November 26, 27, and 28, 2004. This should be a great trip also (we had to "jump thru a few hoops" to get a permit) - but we think you'll find the surreal features of this unique landscape under a Full Moon captivating. We will photograph such picturesque and iconographic sites as Cap Rock, Split Rock, Hidden Valley & the Live Oak areas. Details are available at http://www.thenocturnes.com/joshuatree.htm - but hurry, you need to register by October 1st!

The second new Workshop we are offering takes place September 28, on the night of the Full "Harvest" Moon, at Rush Ranch Open Space, in Solano County (Northern California, near the Sacramento River Delta area). Rush Ranch, an operating cattle ranch, is located in a 2,000 acre open space operated by the Solano Land Trust. Situated in a much different landscape than the "usual Nocturnes fare," it promises to be an exciting, unique event. Previous workshops sponsored by the Rush Ranch Educational Council have included a Poetry Workshop (with former US Poet Laureate Robert Haas) and a Plein Air Painting Workshop. We think you don't get much more "plein air" than Night Photography! Visit http://www.thenocturnes.com/rushranch.htm for more information.

Finally, Tom Paiva (and a number of local SF Bay Area Nocturnes, reportedly) participate in Lance Keimig and Christian Waeber's Mono Lake (http://www.thenightskye.com/register.htm) Photo Workshops, July 29 to August 1, 2004. Don't think that Tim or I (or Tegwen - http://www.thenocturnes.com/images/nocteam.jpg) will make it, tho,' - as Tim says: "I'm afraid that, once we got on Highway 395, the temptation to keep going South (Death Valley, Mojave, Joshua Tree) would be too great!" Care for a little pre-workshop inspiration? - Check out Stephen Johnson's (www.sjphoto.com) beautiful photo book (actually, a catalog/history of an exhibition curated by Johnson, Al Weber, and Don Worth that toured throughout 1980-83) on the subject, entitled simply, "At Mono Lake," (see LIBRARY NOTES below) available thru his Web site. Tell him we sent you . . .

BOOKS AND ARTICLES NOTED
Check out the current issue (July) of "Popular Photography" for an article about our own Tom Paiva's (www.thenocturnes.com/tompaiva.htm) technique of photographing 'round twilight time (a tricky proposition, at best!). Congrats, Tom - maybe we can utilize some of that technique in our Death Valley Workshop, or San Francisco, or . . .

Some of the work of Matthew Lennert (www.matthewdonovanlennert.com) from his new monograph "Answer Yourself," was featured in the April issue of B+W magazine (4 pages, 5 photos) - great work, Matt! As you may know, the book features a foreword by our own Tim Baskerville, and can be ordered at the Photocelt Web site - http://www.photocelt.com - Also, be sure to check out the review of this book - http://www.thenocturnes.com/backlist.htm - by 'card-carrying' Nocturne, Andy Frazer.

Also, in the May 2004 issue of "Photo Life" (Toronto) - Larrie Thomson (www.nightphotographer.com), a northern friend of The Nocturnes, is featured in an article he's authored entitled: "A Night in the Life," complete with some of those lonely nocturnal prairie images of his! Favorite soundbite from the article: "Over the years, some of my coolest locations were discovered by accident on the way to somewhere else, and many of my best night shots were ones I never would have expected. The details don't matter! The biggest part of night photography - and perhaps photography in general - is simply getting out there and doing it. The great locations will eventually reveal themselves and the nocturnal magic happens." 5 pages/8 photographs - have a look!

Congratulations to NP (Night Photographer) Michael Frye (www.thenocturnes.com/michaelfrye.htm) for his article appearing in the June issue of "Outdoor Photographer" on "The Classic Western Landscape" including work by Art Wolfe, David and Marc Muench, the late Galen Rowell, and that "Adams guy" (no, not Robert - see below) - little of it night work (the David Muench star trails pic makes up for that, tho!), but spectacular nonetheless - and all from around the general Mount Whitney/Owens Valley area (Highway 395 runs right thru it). Our favorite soundbite of the article: "The late adventure photographer Galen Rowell traveled to Africa, Tibet, Patagonia, and the Himalaya, yet called the Owens Valley - the deep valley that lies east of Mount Whitney and the Sierra Nevada - his favorite place on Earth." Hard to argue with that . . .

Neil Folberg's night work from Israel ("Celestial Nights"), as well as an extensive interview by Editor Brook Jensen, appear in the current June/July issue of LensWork, on news stands now.

Finally, David Fokos' work appeared in the February/March issue of LensWork (www.lenswork.com), along with some text of his. Seventeen images and a page of text, total - definitely worth a look-see!

As noted here before, we have recently added links to reviews of texts listed on THE BACKLIST - http://www.thenocturnes.com/backlist.htm - WHY NOT let us know of your favorite "NP" text, and write a review (it can even be brief!) to be published on the Web site - get involved! Have a look at the first two reviews we've published: Matt Lennert's new book, as well as Troy Paiva's "Lost America," both penned by devoted Nocturne, Andy Frazer.

GUESS THE WORD IS OUT ON NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY DEPT, PART 2
The February issue of "Outdoor Photographer" (see NP Michael Frye mention above) included an article and photographs by Bill Sharpsteen extolling the majestic, transformative power of Full Moon and medium format photography, illustrated by images of locations like Zabriskie Point, and the Sand Dunes in Death Valley! Another one that's hard to argue with . . . BTW, what are YOU doing in October (see Workshop News above)?

IN RELATED NEWS
We would like to alert you all to a new publication (from the publisher of Sky & Telescope), just out this May/June: "Night Sky". Billed as "backyard astronomy for everyone," the magazine aims to show people that "Astronomy doesn't have to be hard." Like our peculiar brand of Night Photography, here at the Nocturnes, the essence of it is in curiosity and discovery - tho' we speak of the experiential and transformative effect of the nocturne, we're really talking about the same thing. Now, while our more-seasoned Nocturnal associates (notably AstroPhotographers Jerry Day - www.darkskydreams.com and Chris Cook - http://www.abmedia.com/astro/) may chuckle a bit at the more mainstream audience this magazine is aimed at, we believe it's a nice introduction to the topic. And something to look for (skyward) on those nights that aren't illuminated by a full moon. Visit www.nightskymag.com for subscription, other info.

For those of you who won't have an opportunity (or didn't get enough) fireworks over the upcoming Holiday weekend, you might want to investigate a big "Fire Arts Festival" over in the East Bay at The Crucible (on 7th Street, near 880 in Oakland). Featuring lectures, demos, workshops, etc. in fire, metal, and neon work, as well as Fire-eating, blacksmithing, casting, etc. Co-sponsored by the Burning Man folks, it runs late, days/nights July 7-11, 2004. Might be an interesting setting for Night Photography, no? Visit http://www.thecrucible.org or http://www.burningman.com for more details.

POP QUIZ
Is an NP necessarily an OP? What about AP - an OP, NP or both? (Just wanted to see if you've been paying attention!)

ALUMNI NEWS
Our tenth semi-annual AlumNight event is scheduled for Saturday, July 3, 2004 (also a full moon night) - to be held at the new home of Bay Area Photographer Dan Heller (www.danheller.com), up in Marin County on Saturday, July 3, 2004. We'll meet from 6-8pm, followed by night photography in the hills adjoining Dan's home above San Anselmo until . . . ?? If you would like to attend - please RSVP (workshop@thenocturnes.com) NOW - we have a few slots left. FYI, we will be screening a short preliminary version of a documentary film about Night Photography that Nocturne Andy Frazer is working on. Should be fun! This event is FREE for all past participants in The Nocturnes Workshop Series, the U.C. Berkeley Extension Night Photography class, our fall "Studio Nocturne" event, and all local exhibitors in our online shows. It is open to prospective participants as well - sort of a Open House - so, if you know of someone who's REALLY interested . . . or interesting . .

Our Third Annual "Photo Camp" on Angel Island (in the middle of San Francisco Bay) takes place this September 26th. Open to Alumni only, it proves to be a high point of the "high season" of Night Photography here in the Bay Area. Why not sign up for one of our other Workshops (thereby securing your alumnus status) and have a shot at what you're missing on this special "overnighter?" Visit http://www.thenocturnes.com/angel2002/index.html to view work from a previous Camp.

Alum Marc Babsin had a gallery show of his work this spring at 66 Balmy Gallery - www.66balmy.com - in San Francisco, from April 22 thru May 9, where he showed 20"x24" prints mounted on aluminum.

John Vias showed new work at the recent 2004 East Bay Open Studios, June 5-6 and 12-13, at his studio in Berkeley.

Nikolai Cornell (an alumnus from many moons ago) has launched his own Web site - http://www.shadowandlight.net - as he says: "Have a glance when you get a chance. You won't be disappointed."

Tram Davies - see www.thenocturnes.com/studionocturne.htm - is part of "Out of Tune in June" at Black Cat Gallery in Culver City, from June 19 - July 19, 2004 Tram has shown work in a number of our online shows, and was an award winner in "TcoN" (The Color of Night), as well.

Web sites of Alumni and Honorary Alumni ("Accidental Nocturnes") mentioned in this edition of NightNews:
Andy Frazer - www.gorillasites.com/nightphotos
Jerry Day - www.darkskydreams.com
Chris Cook - www.abmedia.com/astro
Marc Babsin - www.marcbabsin.com
John Vias - www.johnvias.com
Nikolai Cornell - www.shadowandlight.net
Tram Davies - www.tramdaviesphotography.com

MUSICAL NOTES
Recent Acquisitions:
Convict Pool, by Calexico. 2004 Quarterstick Records #qs90cd
California Bloodlines/Willard, by John Stewart, 1989 Bear Family Records #BCD-15468
Me and Mr. Johnson, by Eric Clapton. 2004 Reprise Records #48423-2
The making of Electric LadyLand by Jimi Hendrix. 2003 Rhino Video DVD#5747

LIBRARY NOTES
Recent Acquisitions:
At Mono Lake: A Photographic Exhibition, including work by Stephen Johnson, Ansel Adams, Timothy O'Sullivan, Don Worth, Robert Dawson, etc. Friends of the Earth Foudation, 1983. ISBN 0-913890-56-1
Eden, Robert Adams. Roth Horowitz, New York, 1999. ISBN 1564660680
Cultures of Darkness: Night Travel in the Histories of Transgression, Bryan D. Palmer. Monthly Review Press, New York, 2000. ISBN 1-58367-027-0
Secrets of the Night Sky, Bob Berman. Harper Perennial, New York, 1996. ISBN 0-06-097687-x
Photography and Beyond: Space Time and Memory, Robert Stearns and Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Harry N. Abrams Publishers, New York,1995. ISBN 0-8109-3519-8
Steam and Steel: the Railroad Photography of O. Winston Link (Gift of Michael Quinn and Hiroshi Sejima). Ron Sellers Productions, Portland, Maine, 2003. Calendar ISBN 1-56906-644-2
Written in the West, photos by Wim Wenders. te Neues, New York, 2000.ISBN 3-8238-5469-0
London Night, John Morrison and Harold Burdekin. Collins Publishers, London, 1934.
Night has a Thousand Eyes, Arthur Upgren. Perseus Publishing, New York, 2000. ISBN 0-7382-0322-x
PhotoSpeak, Gille Mora. Abbeville Press, New York, 1998. ISBN 0-7892-0068-6
Highway: America's Endless Dream, photos by Jeff Brouws. Stewart-Tabori-Chang., New York, 1997. ISBN 1-55670-604-9
Alfred Stieglitz, Museum of Modern Art. Kultur Video, New Jersey. VHS#1877 ISBN 1-56127-877-7
Death Valley, by Ansel Adams and Nancy Newhall. 5 Associates, Redwood City, CA, 1954.
Four Corners Country, photos by Dick Arentz. Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1986. ISBN 0-8165-0920-4
Night Photography, Dan Norris. Black Rabbit Productions, Moab, Utah, 1995. VHS ISBN 1-887817-04-2
Winter 2003, Aperture #173. The Aperture Foundation, 2003. ISBN 0-931788-38-3
Legends of the American Desert: Sojourns in the greater Southwest, Alex Shoumatoff. Harper Perennial, New York, 1999. ISBN 0-06-097769-8
The Twilight Hour: Celtic Visions from the Past, photos by Simon Marsden. Little Brown, London, 2003.ISBN 0-316-64537-0
Photography at Night, Richard Newman. Watson-Guptill, New York, 2003. ISBN 0-8174-5015-7
Spring 2004, Aperture #174. The Aperture Foundation, 2003. ISBN 0-931788-41-3
Ansel Adams, a film directed by Ric Burns. PBS Video, Burbank, 2002. DVD# B8702 ISBN 0-7806-3939-1
InfraRed Photography Handbook, Laurie White. Amherst Media, Buffalo NY, 1995. ISBN 0-936262-38-9
Landscape: Photographs of Time and Place, by Ferdinand Protzman. National Geographic Society, Washington DC, 2003 ISBN 0-7922-6166-6
Heavenly Bodies: the Photographer's Guide to Astrophotography, Bert Krages. Amherst Media, Buffalo NY, 2004
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This concludes this edition of "Night News." As always, this and past issues
of "Night News" are accessible at http://www.thenocturnes.com/nitenews.htm.

We all agree it's a mad, mad, mad, mad world. So, if you find yourself out on Highway 395: ". . . let's be careful out there."

Susan Nichols
nichols@thenocturnes.com
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"It's been ages since you visited any of us . . . "
The Nocturnes family of Web sites:
http://www.thenocturnes.com
http://www.timbaskerville.com
http://www.meersfamily.org

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