Mathew Pokoik - news

Livia, Frederick Sommer ©Frederick and Frances Sommer Foundation

With the Holiday’s upon us, which includes lots of cooking and meals with Family and Friends, I thought I’d share a favorite passage from the late and great Frederick Sommer. I’ll be posting more about Fred soon, along with some notes from our conversations. I find this passage to perfectly encompass the experience, discipline, challenges, and joy of photography.

We’re not so damned inspired every day! If we rely on what we meet, some inspiration will arise. As an example, if I go into a grocery store, no matter how beautifully stocked or lush it is in terms of display of fruit and edibles of all kinds, if I am smart I will take home what is best that day. Even if planning a banquet (something I seldom do, believe me), I plan from all the things I find there; I do this every time I go into a grocery store. I buy the best of what there is that day. If the beef looks good, I’m not going to buy lamb. I buy the best of the beef; if the best of the beef is expensive, I buy less of it. I buy carefully, so you can be sure I get a lot for my money. The store may have what you think you want that day. You are looking for pears. There may be pears, but those pears may not be at their best. Confusion is not enriching if you try to unravel it. It is unraveled confusion if you impose upon yourself what is available and come back with bad meat and bad fruit. Take what is really there, and gradually build from it. You build your meal, your banquet; it’s always a banquet when a few things are beautifully related.

From A Talk Given at the Art Institute of Chicago, Oct. 1970.