Teachers could use these images for literacy content having
students write on what the people in the photgraphs are
thinking.After visiting Cambodia last summer, I was very interested in seeing the
photographs of by photgrapher, Michael Burr at Mani's Bakery in Santa
Monica. Never having been to this place, I more or less, expected a
upscale eatery with a gallery room where the photos would be displayed.
I was surprised to see the bakery appeared, very much, like most of
the storefronts in the same mode as the city of Venice. whereMani's
is really situated.I walked through the fast food order area and reached
a gift shop. In the gift shop is where the framed photos on the wall,
about 25 in all. I knew nothing previously of Michael Burr's work and found
just a little bit of information about him.
He had been invited to Cambodia by two friends after traveling in
Vietnam for three weeks. He spent a total of eight days in Cambodia.
His goal was to capture this remarkable country through experiencing
it's sights, and smells. He stated," The tourist sees what he comes to
see; the traveler sees what there is to see." Mr. Burr has always felt
he is traveler as opposed to a tourist and tries his best to record his
own unique vision. He did his best to maximize the opportunites he
in Cambodia.
Angkor Wat is truly one of the phenomenoms of the world. I was
amazed when I viewed the temples and found that much of the writing
that was enscribed in the temples. some built as early as 950 B.C. and
still readable today. Of course one must know how to read Sanskrit.
The artist felt, as I do, that even with the most wondrous grandeur
of it's monuments, the country is more definied by it's people. With
this in mind I found his images to be incredibly real, showing the many
faces of the people. All photoswere created with a Canon Power
hot G 5 Camera and using two supplementary lenses
(wide angle and telephoto). The resolution files werecreated
in Photoshop 7.0. The prints are displayed on a Fuji Crystal
Archive paper using a Fuji Frontier Printer. This paper has a projected
longevity of 50 years, under Normal conditions.
I was excited to see that some of the images Michael Burr chose to display
were the exact images I had taken, last summer. Although, I must admit,
his pictures were much better than mine. The were much clearer, the
images sharper, the color more vibrant and more true to what you
actually saw. These pictures reawakened memories that reminded me
of the natural beauty that abounds in this country. I saw the
expressions of Monks who lit incense witha prayer for my happiness.
I saw the faces of children that haunted me long after I had
left the country. I remember the vendors on bicycles that carried their
whole store ona plastic box in the.There were scenes of the unabashed beauty of Angkor Wat. The trip down the river, around Siem Reap defined the adage that when
you visit a country you experience what there is. This was definitely
a most profound experience. The photographer, Michael Burr, has
delivered an arrray of itimate visions that offer insights into Cambodian
life in a most inspirational way. If you have the chance go see it at Mani's
Bakery, 2507 Main Street, Santa Monica- through January 3rd.[Edit by="pdobkin on Dec 19, 10:24:47 PM"][/Edit]
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