12.01.24 - A short examination about focus. Specifically focusing in, closing off outside noise, outside distractions and making your world fit into your view. It's a way to deal with the outside world, by closing it off, and taking control of what you can. Life has a way of diminishing focus, and Steve Martin's Vince is here trying to make sense, by zeroing in on things of importance to him. A picture is worth a thousand words, but the taking of it says multitudes.

The spare, focused nature of this monologue is fascinating. As in a macro photograph, every last word on the page matters, holding meaning—but also providing the subtlest clues to what might be beyond the confines of this tight moment. It's that mystery that is so engaging for an audience. Even the intake of breath matters here, serving as punctuation. Ultimately, the piece feels like a gorgeous meditation on the desire for control in a world where control is scant. A quiet but mighty monologue!

Photography is so many times such a solitary art form and even if there may be other people there as you are taking the photographs, the photographer can forget them and forget time as they focus in on the subject for one time or two times or a dozen just trying to get that bit of frozen time that is so precious to us all. Steve perfectly captures those times and moments in his beautiful and oh so artful monologue MACRO.