Photography - particularly of people, places, and events around our country; both of the everyday and the unusual. And of music, always music.
Writing - I'm in an essay mood, though the urge for short fiction and poetry is creeping in from the edges. I'm also dedicated to keeping the art of letters alive, as most anyone with whom I correspond regularly can attest.
Storytelling, from the heart, oral tradition style, origin myths, Raven stories. . .
Traveling; finding new places and revisiting favorite haunts.
Music - been interested in music of all sorts since I was a kid, when my father introduced me to his huge collection of LP's. He would play great classical music and ask me what I saw in my mind when I listened, then would draw it out for me. That's an all-time favorite memory.
Art - I'm a huge art museum and gallery fan, and though I'm not a bad artist myself, I choose to put my creative energy into the visuals of writing and photography.
Interesting and intriguing people, especially those that consider themselves creative and capable of conversations of some substance. People who understand the difference between superficial news and the more rare in-depth information, and care to take the time to know more. People who understand the differences between dialog and debate, and that not every conversation has to end with one person thinking "ha, I won."
I'm always interested in meeting people who enjoy, or want to enjoy, being in front of the camera. Be you a model, musician, artist, exhibitionist, public figure, proud parent, proud pet owner, or simply a person who would like to see what it's like to have yourself captured in photo, send me a note and let's make it happen. . .
John Hiatt, John Gorka, Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, John Prine, J.J. Cale, Richard Thompson, Lucinda Williams, Graham Parker, David Lindley, Lonnie Mack, Albert Collins, Mark Knopfler, Gordon Lightfoot, John Mayall, The Band, Ween, Jeff Beck, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Los Straightjackets, Alison Kraus, Coco Montoya, Joe Ely, George Jones, Randy Newman, Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, Jim Bianco, Jeanni Cioffi, Dawn Kinnard, Tom House, Kevin Fox, Roscoe Justice, and oh man, much more, so much more. . .
Cross Creek is the first that comes to mind as an all time favorite, for its simple but haunting and evocative storytelling of a writer and her travails. If you write, check it out. It's a sweetly told, slow moving thing full of wonderfully portrayed characters.
The Red Violin is the second movie that leaps to mind: a masterfully told story of a violin and its path through history. Wonderful, evocative, and beautiful, full of moving music. It's one you won't reget seeing and will not forget.
Rarely watched, though I am always intrigued by the immediacy of news reporting of national events as they unfold, for the rawness and emotion that occurs before the spin is applied.
Oh lordy, far too many to mention off the top of my head. I will say, though, that short fiction and contemporary poetry collections seem to always be near at hand, and the book Twilight of American Culture keeps popping back into mind. And, on the recommendation of a couple good friends now, I want to read The World Is Flat.
Heroes, hmm, that's a hard one in this day and age. It is tempting to speak first about those in creative fields; in those areas in which I have always pictured myself being, in one way or another. I'm still working at that. But I'm going to say my real hero, the one that sustains me throughout my thoughts and days, is my daughter, the beanchild, my inimitable Emily. I can't begin to explain how much I admire her. Being part of her life has taught me a miner's ton.
For acting, it'd have to be Steve McQueen, Jeff Bridges, Sam Shepard, Morgan Freeman, Robert Deniro, and Denzel Washington. Those are the ones that leap first into my mind. All true individuals, following paths I respect.
For songwriting, I'll easily go with John Hiatt, John Gorka, and Steve Earle. And if ya haven't discovered Tom House (great poet, too), he's the real McCoy, a genuine article.
For writers, poets, authors, I'm saying Raymond Carver, first off. The man knows how to distill things, and that getting down to the bone, well, matters.