Recollect - Issue 16

Since our last recollection, a lot has happened, but also not. My lifestyle is still the same, I'm still photographing my experience of the world, and reading is as much a priority as ever. So, to whatever extent those things pique your interest, I encourage you to read on.

As last year was winding down, I decided to pause Ten Photos, the other newsletter to which many of you are subscribed. There were a few reasons for that, but most of all, I was in a place where I felt forced to pick and choose. I couldn't justify doing everything I was doing, so something had to be cut, and that was it. Ever since, my output of photography has decreased slightly, but my sense of clarity has only increased. That said, there's a chance I will return to Ten Photos one day, but in the meantime, I have other things I would like to pursue.

The first of which is more videos. I've always enjoyed the process of making videos, especially because of their ability to transport me like nothing else does. When I watch my oldest videos, I'm teleported back to those days and times of my life, and I don't want to take that for granted. Years have past where I've not made a single video, but the moment I do, I'm reminded of how fulfilling and exciting it can be. So, up above, in the middle, you'll find my most recent video. You can watch it on my patreon right now, or you can wait a week or so and it will be publicly available on my new YouTube channel. My plan is to make at least one of these per month, share them on patreon first, and then make them public the following month. Fingers crossed I can keep that going. If for nothing else, I'd love to have these as a collection of time capsules.

Aside from that, I've put together a handful of other little projects ranging from a photo set in Cornwall with a behind-the-scenes editing video to a freshly-formatted moodboard of sorts called Miscellaneous Cool, among a few other things. You can find all of that over on my patreon, along with a free photo set + essay. Also, it's free to join/peruse before deciding to pay for the content.

Oh, and I've been drawing a lot, but we can talk about that next time.

Rogue Heroes. It's always a strange experience to go from a movie or tv-series to the book on which it's based. Although the inverse can also be strange. I find that going from screen to page can overly-inform my interpretation of certain characters, and sometimes the added depth of written information can feel like deviations from the story (this happened to me with Lord of the Rings, a trilogy I'd seen dozens of times before ever reading the books), whereas going from page to screen can feel completely unfamiliar and even disappointing (Frankenstein…). Anyway, I happened to watch the Rogue Heroes BBC-series before reading the book, and I think this is one of the rare cases where both mediums held up their respective ends of the bargain. The book is thorough and captivating, full of wild stories from a volatile time, and the tv-series plays on that perfectly, sparing you every microscopic detail in favor of further exploring the men and their daring deeds, all wrapped up in a specific attitude and tone. Is it all a bit over the top? Absolutely, but just like the paratroopers of the SAS, I think that's what they were going for.

Ride the Pink Horse. I'm a huge fan of Dorothy Hughes, especially her masterpiece, The Expendable Man. Needless to say, I had high expectations going into this one, and while I had a good time with it, I found that it lingered more than I hoped it would. This is the story of a man visiting a small town in pursuit of another man. Crime is involved. I won't say any more, but also… there isn't much more to say. The setting plays a major role here, which can be great, but by the end I'd had enough. This one left me wanting after other, better Dorothy Hughes books, and I'd recommend against making this your first if you've not yet read her work.

There Will Come Soft Rains. Barely a book, more like a pamphlet with its handful of pages, but a potent message for us in a world that could very well mirror the one it portrays. Due to its length, I can't say much, but I found it enjoyable and I'd recommend getting your hands on it if you're interested. Basically, it's about a smart house that goes about its duties… and then you learn some things. Sorry, but anything more would spoil it. In fact, if you do plan to read it, don't even bother Googling it, because the AI summary will immediately spoil it. You've been warned.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much. I'm just now realizing that this month in books has been pretty hit or miss. Speaking of miss, this book was not all I expected it to be. Maybe that's unfair, but it is what it is. Unfortunately, the title says it all. I think what I wanted was a bombastic tale of a cunning book thief who manages to get his sticky paws on some million-dollar classics, but instead I got a true story about a regular guy with a hoarder's mindset and access to stolen credit card numbers. To be candid, this was pretty boring, and from a true man who loves books, I can't recommend spending your time with this one.

I've been all over the place since last time, but rather than bore you with an exhaustive list, I'll just mention that South Korea was a stand-out, Jeju Island in particular, the Peloponnesian Peninsula of Greece is a history-buffs dream-world, and Shrewsbury, England might just be the most charming English city I've ever seen. In fact, that's where I'm writing from. As is typical, I've spent a month in this place, and I've actually managed to make a few reasonably-close friends. I also had the opportunity to finally visit my mom's hometown in Wales, and to reconnect with family after a few years. It's just across the border, about thirty minutes on the train. There's a lot I didn't get to do this time around, but I've loved it, so there's no doubt I'll eventually be back for more.

From here, for a big change, I'm off to Argentina. I've never been, and as it stands, I'll be there for two months, but depending on how it goes, maybe three? If you have any tips or suggestions, please send them my way.

But hey, that's all for now. I hope you enjoyed this issue of Recollect. If you did, or if you didn't, let me know. Hit the black box below or just respond to this email to send me your thoughts. I'm all ears. Thank you for your support. I'll see you next month.