The Wall Street Journal, Timothy Findley & Roxanne Rolls
The Wall Street Journal, Timothy Findley & Roxanne Rolls
Thursday, October 29, 2020
These days of idle time I often go to my files to look at what I have. Today this file called Roxanne Rolls appeared. Inside where 36 snaps of a woman, a lovely woman, in bed with a Sony TV set on her night stand. I have no memory of having taken this picture. It had to be for an early Vancouver Magazine circa mid-60s. I have been able to find out that she was a DJ in town. I know nothing more about her.
I like the photograph because her long straight hair reminds me of folksingers of the 60s.
Many think I am or was a celebrity photographer. Of late I enjoy being able to photograph people who I know who may not be famous. There is something rewarding about taking photographs of a human being precisely because they are human beings.
I do not believe that today I would have taken this picture just as I did then. I know I used a portable (but heavy Ascor) studio light attached to an umbrella. I like the composition because of the long stretch of white sheet. Could I have done the same with a digital camera? Would I have changed my point of view?
Today I received a phone call from New York City. I almost did not answer thinking it was a crank call demanding money. It was not. It was a 30 year old Gill Fontimayor from the Wall Street Journal. They have offered me good American Dollars for my photograph of Timothy Findley. I would say this is an odd combination — The Journal and a dead Canadian writer?
Fontimayor told me that Journal does not like to use modern photographs that may be readily available. He said they like historical photographs.
This made me smile. Not only am I obsolete, retired, redundant & inconsequential but I am now also a historical photographer.
That makes my portrait of Roxanne Rolls a historical one, too.
Originally published at http://blog.alexwaterhousehayward.com.
