Masterpiece

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"These are terrible, horrible, no good, get them out of my sight!" 
                                                                                                    Carroll Siskind

Serious photography began for me back in my college days in 1976 when I took basic courses as an elective to my biology major. The first assignment was to photograph a well sunlit, fully toned subject.  Instead, I went out during a howling, rain driven noreaster, looking to photograph the pounding storm driven surf with my Yashica 35mm. Shielded by a pavilion from the wind, I shot a roll of black and white of the 15-foot raging seas. When I showed the prints to the teacher, his comments were, "These are terrible, horrible, no good, (and they were), get them out of my sight!" Why he should criticize my initial efforts in such a tactless, callus manner, I do not know, but I thought to myself, "I'll show this guy." So I bought a tripod and cable release and found an abandoned work shed and shot some interiors of weathered boards, white window frame, work bench, and a window with an old Shore Dairies milk bottle on the sill. I then presented my latest efforts. As he silently shuffled through the pile he pulled out one print and said, "This is a "Masterpiece!" I have been photographing ever since.