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Intro
‘The houses in Todd Hido’s outdoor shots seem to glow in the dark. While the bright light that shines through the windows gives some indication that these structures are lived in, one can also sense their gloomy desolation. Isolated in the frame, almost like portrait subjects, the houses exist in a still twilight that can leave a viewer wondering whether someone is home watching television or absent owners are trying to ward off prowlers. Hido, lurking with his camera across the street, comes off as a benign but creepy surveillance aficionado, a private eye of domestic disarray.
‘For his shots of interiors, Hido visited homes whose previous owners had failed to meet their mortgage payments and were evicted; now owned by banks, the places bear the marks of sad lives and hasty departures. His camera lingers on a few vestigial reminders: window curtains, a chandelier-style lighting fixture, and a stained mattress are almost all that remains as evidence of the former inhabitants. Hido doesn’t dwell on the sociological, however: his interest, indicated by the care with which he modulates light and color, lies in the haunting quality of these spaces. In a sense, the photographs duplicate the banks’ seizure of the houses by repossessing them in the name of art.
‘Anonymity is one of Hido’s most redolent themes. First, there is the anonymity of the houses themselves, which, as the repetitive exterior shots make clear, seem to have been designed and built not by a single intelligence but by some demented committee intent on foreclosing any possibility of individual spirit. Who creates these pathetic living spaces and dreary facades? But even more tantalizing is the question of who lives in them. Surely not people like us, we may be quick to assert, given the houses’ absolute lack of aesthetic appeal. Hido, however, shows no sign at all of passing judgment on his absent subjects. His prints nearly redeem the horribly empty living rooms, bedrooms, and family rooms by bathing them in soft pastels. Out of doors, he photographs at dusk and in the area’s storied fog to give the prints an unnatural but attractive glow.’ — Andy Grundberg, Artforum
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Action
Masterclass: Todd Hido
Todd Hido: House Hunting 1
Todd Hido: House Hunting 2
TODD HIDO “HOMING IN” BOX SET
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Found
‘I collect photographs and things I find in my night investigations, and the reason I do is that they’re all components that I’m able to pull together to create a story,’ says Hido. ‘There’s a communication that happens between people and pictures… that’s a really wonderful thing.’
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Interview
There is a very unsettling atmosphere throughout your photography, is this always intentional and why do you choose to shoot such sinister shots? Are you a moody guy?
Todd Hido: I’m actually not a moody guy at all! But I can clearly see that my work is. I guess I’m attracted to that cinematic feeling where something’s about to happen. Kind of like a pregnant moment. I’m very much attracted to that kind of narrative element.
The quality of your images is incredible, what camera and film do you prefer to shoot with?
Todd Hido: I have been using the same camera for the last 20 years–a Pentax 6 x 7 medium format camera and I’ve been using Kodak Portra of 400NC film forever. One of the main reasons that my work looks the way it does is because I’ve printed in the darkroom myself. I’m still using all analog technology and I go to the darkroom a couple of times a week to print. This is a very important part of my process. In most of my work nothing is staged, I shoot like a documentarian, but I print like a painter, often my contact sheets look nothing like my final prints.
I could imagine shooting all those night scenes in neighbourhoods some of which don’t look all that appealing at times must have been a bit more exciting than the actual scenery. Did you run into problems with people wondering what you were doing in the dark around their homes?
Todd Hido: One time some guy thought I was his girlfriend’s ex-husband. That was scary until he figured out I wasn’t! But I most often go unnoticed even though I am very careful to not look like I am “lurking”. However, I never ask permission as people would mostly say no. I have tried a couple of times when I first started but got rejected right off the bat. It is a very hard process making art to begin with—just finding the right place is hard enough and half the battle. Sometimes I’ll drive around for 5-6 hours to find just the right spot—and then you find it at midnight you can’t knock on the door and ask. When I find it I just take it. I never ever stand in someone’s yard or on their property. The police have been called several times but after they “run me though the system” and find I am not a criminal they leave.
Can you please explain for our readers your following quote: “I photograph like a documentarian, but I print like a painter.”
Todd Hido: Sure, that is quite simple. In most of my photographs of places (interiors or exteriors), I am shooting precisely what I have found. The only modification to that comes when I am working either the dark room or on the computer to make the final print. That is where I take many liberties in influencing the mood of how the picture will ultimately appear.
What’s your favorite time of day: twilight or dawn? Do you believe both moments have the same charm?
Todd Hido: I’d say dusk. I would agree that all transitions from light to dark have unique qualities to them.
As a photographer and an artist, how do you achieve the balance in sequencing your work? Making sure the pieces are similar enough to follow a pattern, but unique enough to tell different stories?
Todd Hido: Selecting and sequencing my images has always been something that I have very instinctively understood. My typical process involves making pairs of images, then pairing the pairs. After a few of those, you end up with different groups. Once that has occurred, those groups turn into books or projects when placed together. Yet again, I try and let my intuition lead me. Sometimes, when you overanalyze these things, they simply do not turn out very well.
Much of your work evokes the sense of an apparition or a vision, not exactly visionary but something that stops the viewer in his or her tracks with something otherworldly and at times even apocalyptic. Do any of these themes resonate with you or is this pure projection on my part?
Todd Hido: I always say that the meaning of the image resides in the viewer. But I definitely loaded the deck, and that is something that I would say is true about my work, that there’s something like an apparition. Is my new work apocalyptic? Oh, I would say it kind of fits that mode. Plus, the times we’re living in. It’s like I’m absorbing this into my process, the darkness. For my next book, the working title is Bright Black World. It comes from a description that a writer named A.S. Byatt had. She made a book of Nordic mythology. It talked about the Fimbulwinter, which is their version of the Myth of the Endless Winter. When it got dark, started snowing, and it never stopped. That’s her description of that darkness, and it’s where I got that title.
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Utilities
Todd Hido Official Website
TH interviewed @ Seesaw Magazine
TH @ Stephen Wirtz Gallery
Audio: TH Slideshow and Artist Talk
Audio: Todd Hido’s House Hunting @ NPR
Todd Hido @ Facebook
Buy Todd Hido’s books
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Show
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p.s. Hey. ** David, Hi. This blog is persnickety. I’m not, but it is. Big up on your Xmas miracle phone. Ah, have a, uh, festive and inimitable Xmas. Seems like a safe bet. You take care too. ** David Ehrenstein, Hi. Beckett on acid is a nice way to characterise his stuff. Huh. I’ll do my best, re: Wilson. ** Misanthrope, He’s a very pleasurable read. Can’t imagine you not liking his fiction. Well, you got to eat something at least a little special on Xmas, otherwise it didn’t happen. Spoken by the guy who will probably eat the same vegan microwave stuff he eats every other day, but at least I have Paris to do that in. I presume all this weird interest in celebrity minutiae is what it must’ve been like in the 1950s with Hollywood gossip magazines and all of that, it’s just that now everything is consolidated in this god damned internet so we basically have no choice but to know about it. But, yeah, not that I had a working brain the 50s, but it feels like a return to that era’s level of pervasive, extreme escapism or something maybe. ** _Black_Acrylic, My pleasure, Ben, of course. Aw, thank you so much about ‘I Wished’. I’m so happy you liked it, maestro. That means a ton. I’d be grinning from ear to ear if you could see me. I like the title ‘Shell’, as you can imagine. Oh, great, exciting, an enjoy the editing, I hope. ** CAUTIVOS, Hi, CAUTIVOS! I’m going to have to write in English because my Spanish is terrible and ultra-primitive. Thank you a lot for what you said. The publisher who just reprinted ‘Contact’ had said he was interested in reprinting the other Cycle novels and translating ‘Period’, but I don’t know if he’s really going to do that or not. Obviously, I would severely love for my books to be back in print in Spain. I just have to sit here and hope that’ll happen somehow. Anyway, thank you! Come back anytime, and again I’m sorry to have to speak back to you in English. Take care! ** Tosh Berman, His novels are really wonderful. I highly recommend you pull one off the shelf at your convenience and join the fan club. Early Happy Xmas of whatever sort to you, sir. ** Bill, I think ‘Two Lane Blacktop’ is on soap2day. Wurlitzer’s novels are terrific. My personal favorite is ‘Drop Edge of Yonder’, so I would maybe recommend starting there? How do you find these movies? ‘The Feast’, okay, I’ll endeavour re: it. Thanks, Bill. ** Steve Erickson, Everyone I know in NYC is describing the city similarly. Our case numbers just shot way, way up, so I fear we might join you. I thought that Can album kind of gradually meandered its way into being very good. Joni Mitchell = ugh, for me. I liked that Ben LaMarGay album a lot. No, we’re working on the film. Puce Mary just did some sound recording of the actor who’ll play one of the main characters (who gets killed and turns into a ghost) so she can start constructing his ghost presence, and we’re starting the story boarding and refining the script a bit. That art context roll out was the original plan, but I don’t know if that’s still that plan due our producer’s frustrating opaqueness. Might know soon. No, I don’t think I’ve seen any art like that. The artists I like seem to be treating the NFT thing like the elitist pet rock phenomenon it probably is. I agree with what Brian Eno said about NFTs recently, if you saw that. ** Right. I thought maybe a galerie show of Todd Hido’s melancholy, stalker-ish photos might be kind of Xmas-y. See you tomorrow.
Now available in North America 
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Hi!!
These photos have some very unsettling or disturbing vibes going on. I love them a lot. Thank you!
I just really hope whatever issues need to be sorted out with your producer get sorted out as soon as possible. Uncertainty can be maddening.
Yeah, I hear you… I’m still walking around in my platform Converse shoes, which… aren’t exactly winter shoes. So my toes send their greeting to yours, one big sculpted ice cube to another…
What a nice, animal-loving love! Just out there looking for exotic-pet owners (or exotic pet owners; that could work too, I guess). Sweet. Love screaming when every single Smarties on his special Christmas cake catches on fire in the oven, Od.
P.S. We’re celebrating Christmas tomorrow, so I’ll be back on Saturday. 🙂
Thanks Dennis… the bus journey from the train station to mom’s had some very goodlooking geezer white trash arguing with his girlfriend most of the way…. you could here them very loud…. they were upstairs but you could see them on the communal cctv intermittently… it was very entertaining…. he kept coming downstairs as well… the woman was screaming at him…. as he got off I considered asking for an autograph…
On arriving at mother’s Donald Trump was paused on the tv…. I was with her through the lockdown for 6 months, earlier this year…. there were good times and we of course got under each others feet…. the lockdown was very tedious at times so I found ‘news events’ very appealing… the storming of the capital for instance… I loved it Den!!!! I know it’s not a popular thing to say but after going through some real rough times…. I have a confession to make… I don’t hate Donald… in fact I love that folks hate him…. yet I don’t…. sure you get that? you have fucked up things going on aswell…. when he got in Dennis…. I went to bed assuming that Hillary would win… who I can’t stand…. and I went to bed…. some hours later I awoke and put the tv on…. and saw Donald had won…. people were crying hard…. and Den…. I was ‘riding’ on their misery…. and I truly hope he gets back in just to see those miserable faces again…. around the time of the ‘storming’ I stumbled across ‘kmf by kmfdm’ I love them…. and the song is an anti Trump song… but I totally listened to it… over and over watching the footage….. and loved it…. I can’t stand Pelosi she reminds me of Jackie Stallone’s miscarriage in Raffia….
Hope you don’t judge me on that count… it’s all about honesty…. and I figure I’ve only got about 20+ years left to live… I’m dun with the bullshit…
It was also great to see some of the other big stories as well… it got me through….
Lovin the photos here they are fantastic…. you can imagine some real fucked up stuff happening in those scenes…. like you appearing and asking “was it one sugar or two?????”
are you all ready for Christmas Dennis??? I am getting there
cheers xxx
These shadows are most seductive.
But I’m in a sunny mood today
Ha!!!! Fab song Dave!! Just made me laugh!! Cheers x
Yes these Hido shots are indeed kind of Xmassy in their own wrong sort of way. A great festive one to you and yours too!
Presents for family have all arrived and I’m looking forward to the day itself. For me, I just ordered the Wire magazine for their 2021 year-end lists which I always think makes for good seasonal reading.
Hido’s photos have this quiet unease that I really like. I haven’t come across his work before, will definitely explore more.
Just put a library hold on Drop Edge of Wonder, thanks. I thought I found out about The Feast from a trailer in a theater, but that seems unlikely. Maybe a letterboxd friend? In any case, I think it’s very worthwhile.
Bill
I liked these! Weirdly xmassy, as you say. Makes me think of Xmas 2019, when I wasn’t with my family, and I went out walking in town on the afternoon of xmas day and it was like being in a ghost town, and you could see everyone shut away in their houses. It was really nice. Probably my favourite/most memorable xmas day ever, aside from when I was still a kid and caught up in it all. Do you have a favourite xmas you’ve spent? I tested positive for covid today, which was not especially festive, so I think that the psychoactivity I reported to you the other day was not due to the vaccine, but due to legit having covid, or having it at the same time as getting the vaccine. It’s an odd thing, I feel weird (weirder than usual, that is) but not particularly unwell. More bummed that I’m gonna be stuck inside here for at least a week, plus delay my return to Paris. Anyway, should be thankful I feel pretty acceptable for having it. I booked myself a ticket to see ‘This is how you will disappear’ in Creteil next month, which is one of the Gisele Vienne shows that you did the texts for, right? Which I’m very very excited about, natch. Just gotta keep fingers crossed that I can get back in time and it doesn’t get cancelled. Anyway, gonna wish you a Thursday which has you discover a Narnia-style wardrobe in your appartment that you can disappear into for at least 10 days, cos that’s what I’m wishing for mine! Speak soon, xT
Were the “motel” and “Pornhub” signs were added later?
Yeah, I liked Eno’s statement about NFTs. A friend pointed out that he designed a $25,000 turntable, but at least it’s pretty. Most NFTs are butt ugly, especially the Bored Ape Yacht Club. At least Jeff Koons and KAWS are still pretending they have some level of concern for aesthetics.
Hey, Dennis,
These are so gorgeous. I love how spooky and other-dimensional all that hazy lighting is. Those window glows are something else. Definitely appropriate for a winter’s night such as this. An unwearable sweater every year sounds rather awful or at least highly inconsiderate. Thanks for the insight re: “I Wished” and “The Marbled Swarm”. They’re extremely different novels, of course. “I Wished” especially feels really really different from more or less anything else I’ve read of yours (the only novel I haven’t yet read, by the by, is “My Loose Thread”, which I do hope to read at some stage, but also I kind of like the idea of just having one more of your novels left to read, not in perpetuity, but nonetheless sort of lingering there, so things are still open, if that makes sense?). Just something that occurred to me, is all. The past two days have been lovely. My aunt from Ireland, whose habit it was to visit each Christmas prior to the pandemic, has finally made it back for this year, the first time we’ve seen her since 2019, and it’s a great pleasure, of course. Also tonight my three closest friends came over to do Secret Santa, and what would you guess one of them gave me? Nothing else but a BluRay of “Permanent Green Light”. Which made me extremely happy, of course, in addition to the already-existing, much bigger happiness of seeing my closest friends again. So it was a wonderful evening all around. I hope yours has been similarly so, or, if not, at least inoffensive? Fingers crossed. And if I don’t talk to you till after Christmas, as will likely be the case, have a very happy non-denominational holiday weekend!
(Reposting here because I think I may have accidentally posted this under yesterday’s post—do excuse me if I’m repeating myself.)
Hi D,
Thanks for the extensive intro to Todd Hido, I very much dig it. And prior to that thanks for reminding me there is more Rudy W. to explore. I loved Drop Edge of Yonder and Nog, so I need to do Quake as well. Yesterday I wrote a poem and sent it to a couple people including my big sis (11 Years older than me, Harvard Librarian.) She’s a pretty tough critic, I just kinda lob things at her now and then and she’s honest in what she likes and what she thinks could be better. With yesterday’s poem I could tell it really bummed her out! I guess I wrote it to exercise things that bum me out so that makes sense, but as usual I also just like the sound of words together. Here’s my holiday bummer!
Wassail
When presented
with an exhaustive
list of our crippling
deficiencies we
light candles to
honor lost sisters
and trysts forgotten.
We pull pressed
flowers from a book
of scraps to grind
into pasty poultices,
applying them to
criticisms leveled
at our intentions.
We mull wine and
ponder cinnamon
and squeeze lemons
by the flickering
tableau illuminating
the actors, frozen in
undying pantomime.
Happy xmas eve eve from Portland.
Much love,
L