"Please Don’t Be Too Nice"

Photo: © Stan Banos

“When you see thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just see them thrown in; rough. 

I said, ‘please don’t be too nice.”

When you exhort people (eg- police officers) not to be "too nice," guess how some are going to act, and what they're going to do... Gee, couldn't see that one coming- no way, no how! Five Time Deferment, Self Proclaimed Genius, Tough Guy Deluxe dog whistles our various police across the entire country that the gloves are off, safety precautions are a joke, etc, etc, etc.. 

And we wonder why this shit happens, over and over and over again...

Same Ol' Dominoes...

Another life taken because... somebody could, followed by the loud and customary condemnation of... the aftermath. The same dance, the same vitriol, the same condemnation, the same sides taken. The same broken equation that has defined this country since inception, and that continues to divide and spark anew three centuries onward. Power vs. perception, fact vs, fear...

Stand With Trump!

Getty Images

I've long wondered about this... Was is it my keenly astute photographic eye, my gradually aging eyesight- or just something everyone took for granted? Why does this "Morbidly Obese" mannequin of a man insist on standing in such a morbidly grotesque and comical manner, as if something longer than it is wide was erratically shoved up something definitely wider than it is long? Why does he perpetually look like he failed "Standing in Public Like a Normal Human 101?" That odd listing stature, the marionette like posture, hands adrift as if not quite functional on semi-attached arms... 

Seriously, what's going on there!? Normally, I wouldn't expound on one's physical deficiencies, but this is someone who time and time again goes out of his ever lovin' way to take the greatest of perverted personal delight in attempting to ridicule others' unique physicality- a particular avocation that usually ends up either completely backfiring (eg- attempting to mock a reporter w/disabilities in public- and then actually denying it), or exposing just how childfully, woefully ignorant he is of his own projection (eg- calling numerous people- fat). So yes, he is most definitely fair game.

The Leaning Tower of...         (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

Well, it seems that others have indeed noticed*- in fact, there's even an explanation for it! And keep in mind that this is the same guy with a such an obviously fake spray tan, an obviously fake comb over (actually, one helluva genuine comb over), a guy who can't even tell the truth about the size of his own buildings- let alone anything else...

*not one of his funnier bits, but still...

4 And 40

Photo: © Stan Banos

So... it's been a good four years plus of shooting color after forty of exclusive B&W. What have I learned thus far? What are the distinct advantages and disadvantages of each? Which is my preferred medium?

I started shooting B&W exclusively decades ago, just as color started to become the art world darling. I then switched to (digital) color around when photography was starting to go retro with B&W and analog image making. Yes, I have impeccable timing.

I first chose B&W not because I initially preferred it so much over color, but simply because it was the only way to exercise some modicum of control (aesthetic and economic) over one's own work. The expense and practicality of custom color printing was just impractical- commercial or DIY. And I gradually came to love and respect the qualities, control and results capable with B&W (as much as I came to dislike the darkroom). Black and White is a minimalist abstraction capable of saying  and conveying so much, but it requires years of dedication and commitment, technically and aesthetically, to make less... more. Just look at the plethora of crap being cranked out these days with digital presets on a host of vlogs and videos by photodawgs and streettogs...

Nevertheless, in 2016 I purchased a used Ricoh GR on a lark. I was curious about digital, but fully expected to resell it after a few quick months (weeks?) of (non)use. It was too small, couldn't possibly yield satisfactory results, and my aging eyes couldn't possibly cope without a proper viewfinder. The year previous I had bought and returned a new Fujifilm XT-1 because I did not like the B&W results in direct sunlight (I've since repurchased the latter). But with the GR, I committed to shooting what digital does best- color. I now shoot more and get more keepers than ever- and having a blast doing so, without the tedium, space and expense of a darkroom I can no longer maintain. 

Day-glo lime green T shirt on guy at left was very distracting...          Photo: © Stan Banos

So... color yields a higher percentage of keepers!? Not... particularly. For the last four years and counting, I've been using: a different medium (color), a considerably different technology, and a different lens (28mm equivalent as opposed to 20mmFF). All the above are complementary, if not entirely equal factors working in tandem. The less extreme 28mm lens and the ease and stealth of the palm sized GR both help facilitate shooting everyday subject matter, and having the option to shoot square at the push of a button, not to mention stitch together an occasional few photos, is pure magic! When I shoot people at events, I still pull out the 21mm (equivalent) on the X-T1 for the occasion.

What then have you discerned from shooting color as opposed to B&W? Well, basically, that... it doesn't much matter as much as I thought! I still shoot the same shit, pretty much the same way. Am I aware of color more? Absolutely, and shoot for highlights as w/chrome, but it doesn't play anywhere near as dominant a role as I thought it would... least not-for-me. And that perhaps is the biggest take away. Only once thus far have I had to convert an image to B&W because of a distracting color- and I suppose I could've just gone the route of changing said color in Photoshop if I really wanted to. I had far more problems with tonal merges shooting in B&W! And so far I've welcomed the added information, reality and emotion that color provides in my closing years; it's a most welcomed change in perspective. On one shot, which fell far short of anything I even had the right to expect technically, I converted to B&W and suddenly, inexplicably (far as I'm concerned) there was amazing detail in the sky area- where none existed previously! I took full advantage of that, accentuating that detail till I got exactly what I originally wanted and dared not dream of... And those two remain the only photos I've converted to B&W!

Original color had about 40% of the detail in sky area?!?                Photo: © Stan Banos

Is there anything I wouldn't shoot in color? Probably, though I've certainly discovered that it's less than I would have previously thought. Will I ever go back to B&W film? If a particular project demanded shooting B&W in direct sunlight, quite likely- just don't see it in the near future, and I'm much more curious to try some B&W digital portraiture in open shade, of which I've seen some impressive results!

 As for now, I'm rather content on learning more about this Colorful World of Wonder...

Levels...

Ricky Rat was a welcome relief to the saccharine Honey Bear...        Photo: © Stan Banos

First, we closed the stores, then boarded them up, then graffitied them up, then decorated them, before finally... 

Well, still working on that! 

 

Now he's even more ubiquitous!              Photo: © Stan Banos

A Stitch In Time...

Photo: © Stan Banos

Switching to digital in the last few years (more on that soon) has come with a variety of advantages. From the same image I can switch from color to B&W (even if the latter can be sketchy in certain conditions, ie- direct sunlight), or change formats in camera on a second's notice from 2:3 to 3:4 to 1:1; and then, there's the ability to stitch together panoramics- something I thought I would take tremendous advantage of, but have yet to really embrace, at all... until now. 

This pandemic shelter in place scenario has forced me to see things more intensely, very simply, because there's less to see out there- and I've literally noticed things I've unknowingly bypassed throughout the years. And as previously mentioned, there's less to photograph since there are less people out and about... making fewer potential photo ops. And I can most definitely forget the annual weenie fest this year for sure! Sooo... I finally got to thinking, if not now- When?

Not having lots of people about in the city is ideal for stitching shots together since it eliminates the problems of decapitations, random limbs and run on ghosts so typical of stitching together populated city street scenes. And they're rather fun to do, once you accept the fact that you're never quite guaranteed what you end up with- particularly if you don't use a tripod. So a few random tips, which I myself would profit from adhering to more closely...

First, shoot vertically- non negotiable. Shoot more frames in a tighter sequence than you'd think necessary- stitching software is indeed remarkable, but not miraculous! I was just polishing off the last few remaining edits on one photo (not pictured) after a couple of hours when egads- one window had a particularly wonky fun house slant to it! Nuff said. Also, I don't usually crop after I take photos- but this is... different. You are basically capturing the general view, the raw material for your finished image when scanning your horizon. You'll crop the shot to your specific composition upon viewing the stitched together 'first draft.' Which also means that you should take a step or two back when shooting (counter intuitive to the photo taking norm) to account for the distortion of perspective, slight handheld misalignments, etc inherent in these types of panoramics. And then have some fun... 

I'm not anticipating a slew of these to be honest. But when beset with a long stretch of limited opportunities- one more shot, is one more shot!

Photo: © Stan Banos

Portfolio Review

I don't attend portfolio reviews since they are way too expensive (ie- plane fare, accommodations, and cost of actual review fees, etc) and am already a bit long in the tooth. This Virtual Portfolio Review however, is both novel and affordable! Submission is FREE- but (yeah, there's always a B-U-T)... you're reviewed only if you are selected! Then ya cough up the $25! That's still a deal I can very much live with... ie- at least I'm not paying to be rejected!

But ya best well hurry since there are only Three (3) days left (this Tues Midnight) to apply- I only found out about it yesterday via Lenscratch!

Honesty and... LIES

Photo: © Stan Banos

Well, at least this guy is being.... honest. And I hope he manages to survive and turn his life around.

Unlike our Lying Liar of a Con Man POTUS whose most potent response to: any of life's everyday trivialities, any situation of importance, any life altering crisis is simply to lie and lie again as frequently and methodically as humanly possible.

Yes, everybody lies, everyone spouts untruths of convenience and calculation- but not as a daily MO, not as a force of habit, not as the automatic response of choice to everything that either blows up in their face or just happens to occur around them... An unrepentant, pathological liar who we have willingly allowed to occupy the highest office in the land! And who unlike the person above, will never admit to: any personal flaw, any lifelong mistake, any wrongdoing, miscalculation or simple misjudgement.

Plandemic Mania

Photo: © Stan Banos

I have many serious reservations about all that's claimed by the PLANDEMIC movie- although I am concerned about vaccine contamination, and particularly concerned by this movement's Ultra Right Wing associations.

But, but... when it comes to all the scary, interlocking tentacles and associations between medical science/funding and Big Pharma/profit- there's A Whole Lotta room for some very serious investigation.........

To Be Continued...

Photo: © Stan Banos

I've been pondering all along how we're supposed to develop "herd immunity" if we hide ourselves from each other for months on end. This guy (who just happens to be... A Nobel Prize winning Structural Biologist- whatever that is) and others like him, seem to think that places like, say... California, successful as it's been in avoiding a plethora of immediate hospitalizations and deaths, is simply setting itself up royally for a Monster Second Wave when we finally do emerge from our caves! And it kinda makes sense; we may have brilliantly prevented overwhelming our medical resources in certain areas thus far- but just because we're hiding doesn't mean the monster is still not out there... Have we averted catastrophe, or just... delayed it?

One thing is for sure, we only suppress and weaken our immune systems if we shelter and wear masks24/7! And a vaccine is still not anywhere close- and now, we may need more than one!

The Look (and Sound) of Cool

I can't believe I haven't ever posted anything on Sade. While so many female singers and musicians try to out expose each other, in terms of flesh and personality, Sade chose... cool, laid back class! No flashy dancers, no outrageous stage props, no stripper costumes and pole dances- and yet, she can ooze sensuality in just a few, barefoot steps with her fellow musicians. The thoroughly infectious smile, the less is more economy of movement... oh, and that voice!

Rebuttal, Facts And Possibly... HOPE?

I always usually like to hear different sides and opinions about various issues- I'll even tolerate flat earthers and people who scream, "Git the govmint outta my Medicare," strictly for comedic effect. Like they say, "You're welcome to your own opinion- not your own facts." 

Last week I thought Planet of the Humans was a relevant update (and revision) on basic truths I had wrongly taken for granted- perhaps because I hadn't been paying close enough attention. And quickly upon posting, I began hearing from reliable sources that such was simply not the case. Seems the "documentary" was, in fact, loaded with outdated info and inaccuracies- and this video summarizes it nicely (with a most welcomed sigh of relief). It's not always easy separating fact from fiction these days when there are so many sides to every story- and that is the classic Russian take on propaganda... pump out so many differing slants, opinions and "alternative facts" to make your freaking head spin! A tactic a certain POTUS has well learned and utilized from his best bud- "no one could see this coming... we have it under control... I always knew it was a pandemic... I was being sarcastic..." Etc, etc, etc...

Anyone taking their news strictly from mainstream news or alternative sources is simply setting themselves up for deception. And there is no happy medium, no way to relax and rest assured you're not being lied to. Time, effort, due diligence- there is no escape. No government, no matter the admin, can be trusted, and god help ya if you rebound in Alex Jones's backyard! Buyer Beware...

Hallelujah!

Photo: © Stan Banos

On... May Day, May Day 5/01/20, Year of Our Lord's Pandemic- I was one lucky SOB! I will never (ever), no matter how long I do this, get used to how one bounces about between drought and pure luck! Days, weeks, and sometimes even months with nothing to show for one's effort and travails, and then... BAM- luck hits ya straight upside the head! Today I walked past city hall just when a small caravan of (a dozen) protestors arrived protesting our current lock down. I got a decent shot, nothing all that, figured that would be it for the day, but kept walking. Went past the local Federal Building which in the past couple of years has ironically become one of the city's major meccas for: the homeless, addicts and mentally ill due to it's large open plaza and available places to sit and hang. On any given day, at any given hour one will most likely see something there they most likely won't forget- photo worthy or not. On some days it is literally Hollywood Zombie Movie worthy- and that's no lie.

Once there, you have two immediate choices to make- cut through the court yard, or follow the sidewalk. Friday, I cut through, nothing special, and right before I was to exit... BAM- that man takes a good long stretch, and I shot off three quick exposures. Had I gone the long route around, the scene from the front would probably not have been as good- and I wouldn't have gotten there in time to find out anyway! One lucky S-O-B...

'Course the flip side is all the times (no doubt the vast majority) when I take the wrong course at all the wrong times (ie- drought).

PS- Got another decent shot later that afternoon, so after this particular bit o' luck- let the drought begin anew...

Fierce Freddie and Co...

I don't often go here, but being that we currently exist in a 'situation' in which people are actually saying (with a serious face), "In these uncertain times," we'll make the exception this one time, since we all could use a bit of the positive at this point!

I really hate little itty-bitty, ootsie-cutsie lap dogs. But this one's something special unto herself. So ugly, she's cute- so absolutely loving and downright overjoyed just to be alive... she's every bit a star, a fighter, and then some!

But wait- there's even more in our one time, one day tribute to all those special, when even the big dogs have a special place in their heart...