I have been selected as a finalist in the Black Mtn. Photography Contest!

Sunset and Thunderstorm, Black Mountain, Cave Creek, AZ, © 2011 by Richard M. Coda

Today I received notice that I am one of the thirteen finalists in the 2011 Black Mountain Photography Contest. Black Mountain is the signature mountain at the far north end of Valley in Cave Creek, AZ.

Each of the thirteen finalists will be published in the annual Black Mountain Calendar. There are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, but also a "People's Choice" award that can be voted on in person at either the Cave Creek Museum or the Desert Foothills Library, or online via Facebook. The winner of the People's Choice will get the calendar cover.

Please vote for my image by clicking here.

You should never mix brown and blue...

Plywood, Miami, AZ, 2009 by Richard M. Coda

What? Who made that rule? Tim Gunn?

For as long as I can remember they (who is "they" anyway?) always said never mix brown and blue. I think they were talking about suits... don't wear a brown tie with a blue suit. Well, I was never one to follow what the fashion police said... but I think in this case they are wrong. I do know brown and yellow go together from listening to Rodney Dangerfield... "I told my dentist my teeth are going yellow. He told me to wear a brown neck tie."

Anyway, here are a few photographs where brown and blue are the two main colors... and they work very well together.

Rusted Garage Door, Superior, AZ, 2009 by Richard M. Coda

Pt. Lobos, CA 2007 by Richard M. Coda

As I am color blind (red-green) I have never believed anything anyone has ever told me about color... I can only tell you what I see. All photographed on 4x5" Fuji Velvia 100 film. Thanks to the famous Larry Golsh for egging me on to take the Superior and Miami images...

Photograph Accepted to Arizona Valentine Exhibit at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Museum

Central Avenue looking North, Phoenix, AZ, 2008 © Richard M. Coda

I'm an Arizona Valentine!

This image was recently selected as one of sixty artworks (out of 572) to be included in the "Arizona Valentine" exhibit to be held at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Art Museum, Terminal 3, Level 2 from November 12, 2011 through June 17, 2012. I am not sure if there will be an opening reception, but as soon as I find out I will post that information.

This image is from an 8x10" negative. I have contact printed it as well as had a 40x32" pigment ink print made of it. The silver gelatin contact print will be on exhibit at the Airport Museum.

10 Years Gone...

September 11 World Trade Center Memorial, Freehold, NJ, Nov. 9, 2002

Then as it was, then again it will be
An' though the course may change sometimes
Rivers always reach the sea
Flyin' skys of fortune, each have separate ways
On the wings of maybe, downy birds of prey
Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go
But as the eagle leaves the nest, it's got so far to go

From one of my favorite Led Zeppelin songs, "Ten Years Gone".

It is hard to believe that it was 10 years ago that America was attacked. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I remember my little girl had just turned 7... this week she just turned 17. She's a senior in high school now with college next year. A beautiful young lady, with amazing talent and compassion. A lot has happened in these 10 years, but a lot has not changed either. I won't get into politics here, but there is a lot still to be done.

I was going through some old photograph files and came across these. I had almost forgotten I had taken them. On November 9, 2002 we had gone to the Freehold, NJ September 11th Memorial. It is a beautiful monument. Scale replicas of the Trade Center towers made of granite. I remember it being odd that there was no one else there, even only 14 months after the attacks.

I also remember making some photographs on one of our frequent trips into New York with my college roommate, Steve Alex. These are from 35mm black and white film.

I wish we could all go back to September 10, 2001, but as we all know, that is not possible. So we must push onward, trying to make the world a safer, better place for our children, if that is even possible anymore.

Primordial: 2010 has been nominated for a People's Choice Award

I am very excited to have had my book, Primordial: 2010 - Photographs of the Arizona Monsoon, nominated for a People’s Choice Award in the Photography Book Now (PBN) International Book Competition on blurb.com.

Please take a peek at my book and vote for it as many times as you are allowed. And tell all your friends, too! To vote, click here http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1746882?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget

In addition to the blurb version, there are still 12 signed/numbered limited edition books available, each with a signed, limited edition print of the cover image. Click on the image or the first link for information on how to order.

Inspirations #27: Rocks

Earlier in my photographic journey I lived for landscapes, often traveling very far to get what I thought I was after. Living in NJ for all of my life (at that point) I was always searching for a wider view, which is very hard to get in the Garden State, except at the beach. Starting in 1983 I took my vacation every year in California, the epicenter of great landscape photography.

During my 1987 trip I had read about the Pinnacles National Monument. It had been described as a "mini Yosemite" where you could sometimes have the park almost to yourself. The park is actually half of the park... the other half is 195 miles to the southeast. The San Andreas fault had split the park some 223 million years ago and ever since it has migrated northwest to its present location. So, I made the trip one day and was not disappointed. The day I was there I exposed maybe two dozen sheets of film, and most came out pretty well. I think I crossed paths with 10 souls that day... nothing like the droves of people at Yosemite.

The park is very hikable, and even if you want to go vertical it's not that bad - unless you're carrying 40 pounds of gear with you! But I was 27 and in good shape so I couldn't complain. This image was made about half way up my hike to the summit.

Pinnacles National Monument, CA, 1987 by Richard M. Coda

Wonderland of Rocks, 1937 by Edward Weston

Moon and Half Dome, 1960 by Ansel Adams

Imageworks show at ASU Central Library

Imageworks had its first opening reception for the Large Format show at the Central Library Vault Gallery at ASU on Friday, Jan. 21. 2011. The opening was well attended and the work is top notch. Photographs ranged from 4x5" contact prints to 11x14" contact prints to to 48x60" face mounted color prints.

Three 48x60" color images by Juan Garcia

32x40" pigmented ink prints by Richard M. Coda

The Vault Gallery is a very large space and can accommodate a large number of prints. The members of Imageworks are a varied group and many decided to do "something different" for this show, which emphasizes work created with large format cameras. Juan Garcia and I decided to make prints much larger than we are accustomed to and we were both pleased with the results.

Below are some random snapshots of the opening reception. There are two more receptions scheduled for Friday, Feb. 18 and Friday, March 18, both from 6 to 9 PM. If you are in the area and enjoy good photography, please come and visit the show.

And one final shot that I have to go back for with the 4x5 in color...