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ML Hart

a journal of observations, obsessions and inspirations

Once again

April 1, 2012 By Martha

The Tenor Book. During the last 14 years, this project has variously been my frustration, my focus or my inspiration. Sometimes all those at once. More than 100 interviews, 65,000+ miles of travel and hundreds of hours in, I’ve dealt with one derailment after another. ‘Life getting in the way’ I call it.

I don’t have the time; I have other responsibilities now. I’ve tried to abandon the book, telling myself its time has come and gone. Time to explore other creative work. The devil on one shoulder tempts me and urges, “Let go. Move on.”

Then I say, hold on a sec. I review the photographs, the interview transcripts, what I’ve written so far, and I get caught up in it all over again. The angel on the other shoulder reminds me that a long-term project must be fueled by the passion for the doing of it. Fire, passion, energy. At times it’s burning bright, other stretches, it cooks along on simmer. There’s no right or wrong, better or worse. This is the process, and you’ve got to love it or you’ll give up.

Outlines and structures have changed over the years. I have changed, too, so it will be different than first imagined. But that’s true of any book, any writing, any creative work where the artist is not just focused on finishing, but on exploring.

There’s also an element of needing to let it settle correctly into the context, to step back, to let the wine mature – and breathe. And that’s okay.  Once more unto the breach from a favorite film version of a favorite play. . .  see? it’s way too easy to get distracted!

Updates here, more regularly than I’ve been posting (annually? seriously?! that’s crazy) and on a new website this summer, on Facebook, on Twitter. So ciao — for now. I’ve got some work to do.

She’s back… with some whine
Hey, old friend / What d’ya say, old friend?

ABOUT MARTHA

ML Hart headshotI tell stories with keyboard and camera. Words and images. Pull up a chair.

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ML Hart
MsMartha_writer avatarML Hart@MsMartha_writer·
23h

... and then you sail off towards the edge of the known world. That's exactly what #writing is like.

... and then you sail off towards the edge of the known world. That's exactly what #writing is like.
Loretta Milan@lorettamilan

“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing.” - E.L. Doctorow @LitLightbox #writing #writerslife

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MsMartha_writer avatarML Hart@MsMartha_writer·
23h

Important observation, voiced by Judge Jackson in the Stone hearing. You can't claim you didn't understand a symbol, or say you're very sorry and stupid (he got that last part right) and expect to be believed.

Zoe Tillman@ZoeTillman

Jackson says Stone is someone who by his own account has made communication his life's work, and he understands the power of words and symbols. "There is nothing ambiguous about crosshairs."

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MsMartha_writer avatarML Hart@MsMartha_writer·
21 Feb

The article points out issues worth considering - we make decisions with every image: camera, lens, POV, post-processing, and our own emotional/historical filters. But overall, photography is only 'a lie' if you hold the outdated notion that it's supposed to be 'true.'

Andy Adams@FlakPhoto

Every Photograph You’ve Ever Taken Is a Lie: Steve Mccurry, Tom Hunter, and the Problem With Visual Storytellers https://t.co/MslMiMeBAn

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ML HART

Writer. Documentary photographer. Artist. I'm inspired by both shadow and light and curious about most everything. Welcome to my journal of musings.
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© 1995 – 2018 ML Hart.
Original posts/stories/reviews, excerpts from books, extracts from interviews for The Tenor Book, unless otherwise attributed; all photography and artwork, except as noted.

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