Oh, and I didn’t go to the 38th Annual Philadelphia “not just” Rock Record and CD Show either. And what does this have to do with photography? Not fully sure, but let’s keep going here.

Photography is my true avocation, but my true hobby is stereo and listening to music. I own a lot of records … at least 6,000 or so … many of which were bought during Covid. And I’ve kept buying them, but am trying to slow down a little, be more selective if you will. In fact during the past two weeks I have weeded out about 500 or so records that I hope to unload at my local used record store, and I have listed a bunch online that are worth more money.

As with film, there’s been a vinyl renaissance going on with tons of new and reissued audiophile music coming out all the time. Yes, I just ordered the new Beatles US 1964 Capitol Records mono box set, but I’m on a multi-step recovery program!  So it took a lot of willpower to not get up early and stand in line on Friday just so I could get another previously unreleased Bill Evans concert album, and even more not to go to the Philly show that would have “dealers from all over the country”!!

Stay with me here.

The point is, that while I don’t play an instrument … I did when I was young … and hope to do so again in the not too distant future … music has always been incredibly important to me … ever since I could listen to it on my first tiny battery transistor radio. Then I listened to it on my parent’s stereo and on my older cousin’s even better stereo. Finally I was able to cobble together my first stereo when I fourteen. Season tickets to the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra followed during college when Michael Tilson Thomas was conductor. It’s never stopped.

So, instead of buying more records this week I read more about Caponigro and even watched a couple of interviews on YouTube. I was struck about just how important music was in his life. He talked about spending the daytime doing photography, then at night he would play the piano. Just like Ansel Adams, he was a classically trained musician. It got me wondering about how many photographers are musicians or are involved with music, or are just obsessed with it like me. While I have no idea I’ll bet you there are a lot!! But here’s something … I do know that beyond Caponigro and Adams, Wynn Bullock was a trained vocalist and Eugene Smith hung out with and photographed jazz musicians. I even know several photographers that are serious musicians and a few that insist on listening to music when they are printing in the darkroom.

So is there a connection between photography and music? Does one inspire the other? Are they complimentary? Do both cause you to explore the world, albeit in different ways? Does one reinforce the creative process embodied in the other? Does listening to or playing music make you think about photographs you’ve made or could make? Does being out there making photographs or printing them in the darkroom put music into your head … music you have heard or that you could make?

All I know is that I love photography and music, and anything related to either. When I’m not engaged in some part of it, chances are I’m thinking about it.

What about you?

Stay well,

Michael