The Swedish astronaut

I've finally found it! 27 years of life spent looking for the perfect title for my first novel (to be written at some future time when I actually have an idea, whether or not it relates in anyway)! Coming to a book store near you probably never, the daring debut novel by John Loomis entitled The Swedish Astronaut. I'm sure its going to have it all: love, mystery, intrigue, ghetto blasters, Chris Cooper, pop songs as metaphors.

Silliness aside, I got a call today from Redux asking, "would you like to photograph the Swedish astronaut"... The Swedish astronaut, really, I mean, come on, that's a no brainer. Do I want to photograph a Swedish astronaut? Fuck yes! If it had been a Swedish dentist, or car engineer, or even an American astronaut, then I'd have been a bit more wishy-washy. But nope, its the genuine article, and therefore I have an early flight to Texas tomorrow morning, which is apparently where the world keep's its first and only Swedish astronaut.

As is becoming clear this post is simply an excuse for me to type "the Swedish astronaut" as many times as I can. And if you were wondering, Swedish for "astronaut" is pretty much "astronaut." In addition to Texas, things are picking up a bit on the year (I'm a bit surprised, too). I have a few shoots for new clients making me busy; again tonight for Every Day with Rachael Ray (no mom, I didn't actually photograph her, just for "her" magazine), the Swedish thing, and then a piece next week for Sherman's Travel that has been in the workings for some time. The percentage chance that I pull off my World Press entry in the next few hours before the extended deadline ends is pretty poor. I really did mean to get it done. POYi will probably suffer the same fate, not because I'm lazy, but World Press is really the only competition that means anything to me (and POYi isn't free).

To belabor the point, and I don't have anything in particular against contests, but I can think of only 2 reasons to enter any of them: money/fame/career and/or finding a larger audience for long term work about an issue you care deeply about. The first reason is only realized if you win one of the major awards in the contests... a 2nd place in general news, or something, doesn't mean a damn thing ultimately, even if its nice on a book shelf. As for the second reason, I didn't finish any body of work this past year that I believe is important.

Lastly, and officially now, Blueeyes Magazine's new issue is now online!

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