The New York Times > Arts > Music > A Jazz Discovery Adds a New Note to the Historical Record: "The music was discovered by accident, during the routine practice of transferring tape from the Library of Congress's Voice of America collection to digital sound files for preservation. Larry Appelbaum, a studio engineer, supervisor and jazz specialist at the library, said that he was given a batch of about 100 tapes for digitization one day in January and looked to see what was there; among them he noticed a brown cardboard box for a 7�-inch reel, marked in pencil 'sp. Event 11/29/57 carnegie jazz concert (#1),' with no names on it. It piqued his interest, and one of the boxes holding the Carnegie tapes - there were eight in all - said 'T. Monk.' 'It got my heart racing,' Mr. Appelbaum said. "
My hope is that we don't have to wait too long to have our own!!!
April 25, 2005
The New York Times > Magazine > Great Performers 2004: The year's best actors.
The New York Times > Magazine: "Great Performers 2004: The year's best actors. " I'm a little late here, but the portraits are magnificent! My favorite is of Joan Cusack. Very East Coast and Penn from the 50's. There really is not a weak portrait of the group.
April 22, 2005
downs and ups
I lost that job that was supposed to happen tomorrow, but I gained a gig today. I got a last minute commission to shoot a editorial style portrait of an exec at a radio station. This job is the reason I love what I do. I get to do what I am good at and am appreciated for it. The best part is I will have another portfolio piece to add. Shooting jobs is a great thing, but being able to use it for the portfolio is a big bonus.
With the exception of being delayed 4 hours for the actual shoot, which I didn't mind as I arrived at my favorite cafe to blow time, everything went well. I hit it right off with my subject, an attractive mid - aged woman who let me know she was not attached... We rolled with friendly banter, give and take, nods and subtle gestures. I don't direct too much, as I hope to have my subject tell their story. I just kind of gesture to emphasize a look or emotion. I was confident I got what I needed in the 1st 10 exposures, but we extended the time for another 60 or so. I felt she was assured we got some great images as I started to break down the equipment. Nothing like a happy customer...
Along with quite a few compliments of my images from fellow workers at the station, one was most poignant... "Wow! It's as if someone snapped a picture of the vision in my brain. Perfect."
Though the spirit of this shoot comes far and few between, it carries in my head for a long time. I am revived.
With the exception of being delayed 4 hours for the actual shoot, which I didn't mind as I arrived at my favorite cafe to blow time, everything went well. I hit it right off with my subject, an attractive mid - aged woman who let me know she was not attached... We rolled with friendly banter, give and take, nods and subtle gestures. I don't direct too much, as I hope to have my subject tell their story. I just kind of gesture to emphasize a look or emotion. I was confident I got what I needed in the 1st 10 exposures, but we extended the time for another 60 or so. I felt she was assured we got some great images as I started to break down the equipment. Nothing like a happy customer...
Along with quite a few compliments of my images from fellow workers at the station, one was most poignant... "Wow! It's as if someone snapped a picture of the vision in my brain. Perfect."
Though the spirit of this shoot comes far and few between, it carries in my head for a long time. I am revived.
April 19, 2005
a rant...
I guess when you work on the low end of the totem pole, shit always happens. I take full responsibility for what happens to me, but it doesn't make me feel any better. I got booked 3 weeks ago to shoot a gig this Saturday. As they requested, I sent my invoice in early so I'd have a check waiting for me upon completion of the job. Soon after I emailed the invoice, I get a call telling me the shoot is cancelled. We are talking a mere 4 days before this job is supposed to happen. I've lived 2.5 weeks thinking I have a gig. $#&*@+!!! I really hate low end commercial work.
Well, just get higher end commericial accounts you may ask? Ha, easier said than done. I will promise not to bitch about this again... anytime soon.
Well, just get higher end commericial accounts you may ask? Ha, easier said than done. I will promise not to bitch about this again... anytime soon.
April 18, 2005
PASTA
Tonite I learned to make fresh Pasta. WOW, the taste along with a garlic, oregano, pine nut, and flat parsley pesto was just amazing. I think a pasta maker is on the wish list!
April 14, 2005
Ruby, My Dear...
We found Ruby when she was not more than 3 months old. A little head peeked out of a canvas sack on the side of the street. She had a broken hip joint, apparently after someone kicked her... then discarded her. Almost 11 years later, she is still my love...
She runs like the wind, well, used to. Now she moves like a calming breeze.
She runs like the wind, well, used to. Now she moves like a calming breeze.
April 12, 2005
Kyocera | News release
Kyocera | News release
When the Contax 645 auto focus line came out, I thought they would give Hasselblad a run for their money. Very well designed, great ergonomics, and produced wonderfully sharp images. This system came out very pricey, as if to say, "Who is Hasselblad?"
-------------------------
What used to take a generation to improve product, these days a decade is a time warp. I'm wondering as technology moves forward, are we going to have a past? My Dad had a Kenwood stereo system with a Gerard turn table and Knight Speakers. These components did there job for over 20 years without having to take it to the shop. And back then, if you took it to the shop, there were guys who could actually fix them. I too bought a Kenwood receiver in the mid 80's. I had some problems with it a few years later and was told it couldn't be fixed because there were no parts source...
All my photos in the last 6 years are digital. They sit on CD's and soon dvd's. All my correspondance for the most part has been email in the last 10 years. I've all ready lost very important communications travelling this route. Lp's and cd's for music are now an afterthought. All my music sits on a hard drive. For immediate accessability, we are living in the times. I can communicate with all most anyone in my world within a day. But what I fear is as technology rolls on, we are missing elements that may prevent us to have keepsakes of our past. How ever our memories are held and as delicate as they have ever been, I'm feeling I really need to take hold of these issues and hold on to my own past, some how...
When the Contax 645 auto focus line came out, I thought they would give Hasselblad a run for their money. Very well designed, great ergonomics, and produced wonderfully sharp images. This system came out very pricey, as if to say, "Who is Hasselblad?"
-------------------------
What used to take a generation to improve product, these days a decade is a time warp. I'm wondering as technology moves forward, are we going to have a past? My Dad had a Kenwood stereo system with a Gerard turn table and Knight Speakers. These components did there job for over 20 years without having to take it to the shop. And back then, if you took it to the shop, there were guys who could actually fix them. I too bought a Kenwood receiver in the mid 80's. I had some problems with it a few years later and was told it couldn't be fixed because there were no parts source...
All my photos in the last 6 years are digital. They sit on CD's and soon dvd's. All my correspondance for the most part has been email in the last 10 years. I've all ready lost very important communications travelling this route. Lp's and cd's for music are now an afterthought. All my music sits on a hard drive. For immediate accessability, we are living in the times. I can communicate with all most anyone in my world within a day. But what I fear is as technology rolls on, we are missing elements that may prevent us to have keepsakes of our past. How ever our memories are held and as delicate as they have ever been, I'm feeling I really need to take hold of these issues and hold on to my own past, some how...
April 05, 2005
February 9, 2005
So I looked back in this journal because I knew I felt the way I do now earlier in the year. Being a freelance artist is really a tough proposition. My ups and downs get pretty extreme, though I usually show that part of me to a small number of close friends. I still have the desire and hope that I'll succeed in my quest, but I do often travel the less travelled, difficult route. That will make me only stronger, right... I know given more time, I will commission more work and eventually hit my stride. It is just that it has been so long where my life was stable, I find it diffucult to believe that it can be that way once again. My head is still up, and occasionally falters. I still move on...
April 04, 2005
April 02, 2005
30 sec blog
Smoke outside the window, voiceless conversation of 2, Orange Vespa speeding past. White haired hipster, then a grunge guy walking thru... Attractive woman sits closely to her man as they read the paper together... Espresso in the air...
March 31, 2005
March 25, 2005
Robby Müller...
black and white is kind of a poem, you leave out words you don't need anyway... color gives you very much a superflous information which you don't need at all to tell the story...
March 21, 2005
Reuniting with the Hard Light
I remember my first foray with studio lights. I bought myself a 3 light Smith Victor kit with stands that came in a card board box. Trying to emulate all the photographs I'd seen in books and magazines, I failed miserably. I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn't believe manufacturers of lights would sell such crap! Really though, I would imagine if those companies sold these lights with the instructions to use them with an umbrella or softbox would reap them with many satisfied customers.
That said, it did take me many years to understand what light could do with the various tools available to photographers and film makers. I still get lost in how some scenes in movies are lit. The true masters of lighting can make a effect that is so blatent, but just the same so natural and undefinable.
I went back to my roots and shot this photo with one light, one light with no tool to shape or reshape its natural characteristic. A 500 watt bulb, generating lots of heat, slamming itself against the shiny cone reflector only to be redirected in a hard arrow like direction towards whatever I pointed it at, leaving only razor sharp lines of shadow and light.
That said, it did take me many years to understand what light could do with the various tools available to photographers and film makers. I still get lost in how some scenes in movies are lit. The true masters of lighting can make a effect that is so blatent, but just the same so natural and undefinable.
I went back to my roots and shot this photo with one light, one light with no tool to shape or reshape its natural characteristic. A 500 watt bulb, generating lots of heat, slamming itself against the shiny cone reflector only to be redirected in a hard arrow like direction towards whatever I pointed it at, leaving only razor sharp lines of shadow and light.
March 18, 2005
to be 25 again...
All the world is ahead of you. You don't know that exploration of the now is one of the most exciting times of your life... I can't tell you how many times I thought to myself with my conversation with her that things will be good, time will move along with you and things will be all right. She is seeking and exploring in a world that seems closed off. I wanted to tell her from experience that what is happening now is inconsequential. But I did not want to come off as the wise one. But in a way, I was the Sensei. She sought me out and wanted guidence. From another generation's point of view, all I saw was opportunity.
I had my run, but did not take advantage of it when I was there. Living in the now too much and not thinking of the future. I am in my midlife, trying to start life like I too was 25. Now from behind, I am starting again.
I had my run, but did not take advantage of it when I was there. Living in the now too much and not thinking of the future. I am in my midlife, trying to start life like I too was 25. Now from behind, I am starting again.
March 16, 2005
March 13, 2005
Our Deepest Fear...
Sent to me by JS...
Our deepest fear -
Is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are
Powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be-
Brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the World.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people wont feel insecure around you.
We were born to manifest the glory
Of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us,
It’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people
Permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically
Liberates others.
- Nelson Mandela
Our deepest fear -
Is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are
Powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be-
Brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the World.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people wont feel insecure around you.
We were born to manifest the glory
Of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us,
It’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people
Permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically
Liberates others.
- Nelson Mandela
March 11, 2005
March 06, 2005
March 05, 2005
to Blog or not...
A noticed a friend who started out blogging on a regular basis has stopped, or was in the midst of not posting something new for quite a few days. She said that she started to lose interest as she knew not many people were reading her blogs, mostly by the number of responses she got. I set up a tracking software on mine, and know if I get outside readers and how long they stay to read, if anything. I can see most people that come to my blog just hit that button to move on and don't stay to read anything. Often I see that they don't stay for even a few seconds, unless that is a glitch in the software I am using... But I think I am writing, and often many days go by where I don't post either, not so much for others to read, but maybe for myself to re-read what I have written about in say a year or 2, to get a perspective on things. I tried writing paper and ink, but I just find it easier to click on this page and start writing. I know what I write here may be often censored, but this is working for me right now. I've gone back all ready to early posts and know that I've moved from a point where I was stuck from and this helps my psyche. A reference point if you will... I've moved on to v.2.0 and it is documented.
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