Idle issue #6

Idle

Idle Magazine

Edition number

out of 20

G o o d n i g h t

M o o n c h i l d

Goodnight Moonchild

words and photography by Leo Serpens

Taken from Leo's website, we've shared a snippet from the project 'Goodnight Moonchild' Self-Portrait and Still Life Series / Cleveland, TN / January-May 2016.

I believe that the complexity of love is much the reason why I have fallen so madly for it. I do not understand love’s nuances and temperatures—I do, however, feel them, and I feel them deeply. “Goodnight Moonchild” is a photographic diary of these feelings when catalyzed by distance, longing, and goodnight sentiments shared over four months of late night phone calls.

During this period, each photograph evolved from within the confines of my apartment, curating found objects and symbols significant to the relationship being documented. While only a few images contain actual, physical parts of my person, my vulnerability in their creation renders them all as self-portraits in my eyes. This series is not an attempt to understand love, it is simply an attempt at giving permanence to feelings, growing, and sifting for the things that make one feel warm when the person that makes them feel warmest sleeps and dreams many miles away.

See more of Leo's work at www.leoserpens.com

8

G o o d n i g h t

9

M o o n c h i l d

G o o d n i g h t

M o o n c h i l d

10

G o o d n i g h t

11

M o o n c h i l d

G o o d n i g h t

M o o n c h i l d

12

G o o d n i g h t

13

M o o n c h i l d

Y u b a

r i v e r

Yuba river words and photography by Brenda McChesney

Brenda uses photography to journal special moments and people in her life. Below is a story of her trip to Yuba river.

I take a lot of pictures of my friends.

However, it's something that I recently got in to. I used to primarily take photos of myself with just a tripod. Back when I was in high school, the camera was really my only friend and I guess that's why photography is so vulnerable for me now.

I pour a little part of me out with every picture. Every moment, every place and every feeling – for me, it's a way to journal everything. Nevertheless, one moment will stick with me forever and that was the first time I went to the Yuba River with my good friend who I hadn't seen since my sophomore year of high school. It was his first time there. Funny how I had

14

found the place online and he's lived near there for a few years now. While we were at the river, and he was smoking, I taught him how to work my camera. Somehow my pinky toe got cut and we didn't have bandages. I asked a guy with his two children, a boy and girl – he didn't have any. It was an odd moment for both of us.

So we ended up walking back to my car to grab a princess bandage that I had. He was so caring and willing to go with me and it meant a lot. I happened to take so many pictures of him that day. He was inspiring but he always was. Not once did we go swimming in that river, but sometime later I went swimming in that river on

my nineteenth birthday. That place will always be special to me. It's where I've taken all of my friends who I love dearly.

I take pictures of my friends because they mean everything to me. I can't seem to bring myself to take pictures that matter to me if I don't have an emotional connection towards the people I'm taking the picture of. I think that's how it will always be and I'm okay with that. I take pictures for myself and for my friends.

See more of Brenda's work at www.flickr.com/white_water/

Y u b a

15

r i v e r

16

Y u b a

17

r i v e r

Y u b a

r i v e r

18

Y u b a

19

r i v e r

T w o

g u y s

Two guys words and photography by Scott McFadyen

Scott was featured in our second issue of Idle and we'd thought we'd have a catch up with him and hear his stories of Friendship.

Two guys sitting in the sun: For over 10 years some high school buddies and myself have made a trip out into the wild each year. Some trips were just two of us and some were little jamborees of seven or more. Often we choose an alpine destination but there have been lake paddles, canyon treks and coastline rambles. Over time the temperament of the group has mellowed with age. I’m just fine over here. I’ve always enjoyed the in-between moments, after a meal or during an afternoon rest break, as much as the harrowing pushes to

34

get up, over or through something. This picture was taken one July after a breakfast beside Upper Michelle Lake in the Rocky Mountains.

T w o

Two guys standing in the mist: I received a call from one of my oldest buddies. All was well after having his first child, but he needed to get out for a mystical wander subsequent to the many months of exhaustive prep and care he had experienced. I shared a couple ideas, but the one that ignited us both was Tantalus. He said he’d call our guide friend Stevie – I understand it was a short discussion – and Stevie was in.

He’d had his eye on that range for years. The pieces fell in place easy as pie, and shortly after, we were in a helicopter bound for

g u y s

five days of rock and snow. After four glorious blue-bird climbing days, the clouds began to congregate. We spent the last day ambling, shrouded in cloud. White below, white above. Climbers call it "in the milk bottle"… Mystical wander achieved.

See more of Scott's work at www.flickr.com/letsgetindivisible/

35