Linda Connor is an American photographer who has been working with distinct and very analog photographic tools to achieve her images. Last night we went to the Phoenix Art Museum to 'meet the artist' and Linda spoke about her work and answered questions. She had a lovely, engaging personality; wonderful story telling; and the comfort in public speaking that comes from those who have spent a lot of their life teaching in universities and colleges. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I must admit, I found her work somewhat bland as black and white photography normally focuses on the strong contrasts between white as pure light and black as deep shadow. Her photographs were more sepia-ish and middle tonal. Which I thought odd. It meant you had to look very closely at the photographs to determine the detail rather than the fleeting glance black and white normally allows.

However, once she started speaking about her production technique and the technologies she uses, the style of the photography became more apparent. It is a limitation of her technology in reality.

She uses 'printing out' paper which is an old technology from the 19thC that is one-to-one in ration, but also exposes over time until a fixant is applied. She exposes her photographs in her backyard using sunlight. She mentioned a photo that is hopelessly over-exposed can take up to two days to be put on film.

The camera itself is some big Charlie Chaplin like caricature of a camera. It is on a big wooden stand, has the bellows, and even the black cloth cape over the back. It has a large soft lens as she described it so artifacts like movement and diffusion are common in her photographs. It also means, she does not see the photo until she brings all the negatives back to the US and develops them in her backyard. She said she often took many shots of a scene for that reason.

I enjoyed it. Linda was easy and entertaining to listen to and the technology she uses makes her photographs much more interesting to re-look at.

The Phoenix Art Museum has a photography policy which I was warned about and then given a flyer on when I paid the ten dollars to enter. I carry around a Canon XSI with me pretty much everywhere and as a result when I was walking around was reminded that a section had a no photography policy. This is the policy on the flyer:

Visitors may take photographs in the Museum for their personal enjoyment. To protect the objects being photographed, the copyright privileges of their creators and/or owners, and the safety of our visitors, however, there are certain restrictions on taking photography in the museum.

1. Still photography of the permanent collection, taken in existing light and without flash, is permitted on the condition that the photographs are solely for personal, non-commercial use.

2. Flashes and tripods, as well as movie and video cameras, are prohibited.

3. Photographs my not be published, sold, reproduced, transferred, distributed or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner whatsoever.

4. Works on loan to the Museum or in exhibitions may not be photographed. If you have any questions, please ask a Security Officer or Gallery Attendant.

I have sympathy for the no flashes or tripods rule; the no movie cameras seems over the top. And I seriously doubt that restricting photographs for personal use only is not legal under copyright law. It seems overly restrictive and totally unnecessary in my opinion.