Mark Tucker

(Photo by Mark Tucker)

This is what sent me off to the Obama rally. I've enjoyed and envied Mark Tucker's work for many years. He is a successful commercial photographer whose personal work makes you want to get him a grant so that he can do what he wants for the next few years just to see what happens. I've read articles all over the internet trying to figure what he does to some of his photographs. In an interview with one magazine, he talked about painting his prints with Wingel and asphaltum and other mediums. I tried it, and I've come to the conclusion he was kidding. But whatever he does is enviable.

Here are two photos in the strict photographic tradition (I think). On his blog, responding to a comment that the photograph of the boy was "instant Arbus," Tucker responded:

Truth be known, I damn near didn’t ask this kid if I could shoot a frame, due to the Arbus image! I don’t know if your comment is positive or negative, but it did do a head-trip on me when I saw the kid in the crowd — there he was, with a great face, great freckles, and a zillion buttons on his shirt — everything about him said “Oh my god, he’s the best one to photograph”, but there was still that weird Arbus thing in my head: “Should I shoot it?”

I was timid about asking him if I could post these photographs, but he was very gracious about it. I will have my photos from the rally tonight. I am pretty certain, after posting these, I won't be posting mine. But who knows? It is my blog, and I may be drinking.