Ramblings...#2
by Timothy B. Anderson


A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to publish “Friday Night Grind: Bourbon Street, New Orleans” with photographer Jackie Brenner. In the process of putting the book together, she flew from her home in New Orleans, to mine in Albuquerque. For almost two-weeks we worked together on the layout, and just when I thought it was done, Jackie would say, “I think that one should be next to the other one.” Of course, it needs to be said that at the time of layout, all the furniture was moved to the walls in my office, and her gelatin-silver prints were scattered (that might be too harsh) all over the floor. I have to say, though, that out of that chaos evolved a truly remarkable book.

The images are grainy, and not at all flattering. They are true, however, to the environment and the task that was at hand. Throughout the process Jackie was slapped, pinched, argued with, and shunned.

“I am there without a camera just to introduce myself to the ladies, explain my intent, and promise to eloquently tell their story.” She writes in the Author’s Notes. “Immediately, I am shut down. They do not want to be photographed for fear of being exploited. I ask if they would like to see any of my work, to see what I do. They agree. Most of the ladies allowed me to photograph them, and through the viewfinder of my camera a truth begins to emerge. These are women of substance playing the part of everybody’s toy, yet they are nobody’s fool.”

It has been seven years since she took those pictures, and a lot has happened since then. Live have changed, we are on the verge of a new presidency in this country, and our financial system is very shaky. One life in particular remembers the pictures Jackie Brenner took of that club and the women who worked there. Ther

“Jackie, I don't know if you remember me. I'm Miss Kitty.” A voice from the past writes. “I wanted to thank you for giving me back some memories that I had lost in the flood. At first I thought you were going to make us look bad but I must say the pictures are good. I just got the book for my birthday, and one of my customers where I work now told me I was in the paper! I was surprised! I wasn't sure how I felt about it, until I saw the book. It touched my heart seeing my friends again. I'm in Florida now with my family and retired from dancing since Katrina. But I do plan on returning one day. I miss New Orleans. But I wanted to thank you and apologize for the girls that were rude to you. If you have any more pictures of me and my friends I'd like a copy. Or at least see them, your pictures are all I have left of the 15 years I spent dancing there. Please let me know.”

That note serves as testimony that the still image can still evoke memory, even in light of all that has happened in photography since 2001. It doesn’t matter how you get an image. It doesn’t matter whether you are using your old Minolta x-700, or a really cool Canon 5D, the bottom line is the image. As a good photographer friend of mine once said when we were doing a workshop together, and someone asked him (as if we haven’t heard this one before!) what made a truly great picture. The response was, “It’s not the camera, it’s the space behind it.” He was talking about you, and what you as a creative individual bring to the plate, not the piece of plastic or metal you hold in your hand.

Jackie has informed that there are a few signed copies of “Friday Night Grind” available, as well as a handful of unsigned copies. You can go to www.cygnetpress.com to pick a copy.