The Fast And The Furious...

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Without End...

Photo: © Stan Banos

Less than 1% of the Epstein files have been released, and already, the MAGA faithful are proclaiming his exoneration, his complete and total vindication. Ghislaine, the convicted sex trafficker, has proclaimed Trump, the self professed pussy grabber, a "complete gentleman" and she, a complete innocent; and this is but one facet of his blatant, multifaceted criminality. Once again, the criminal in charge is allowed to spew forth the most obvious of lies, accusations and defamatory non sequiturs that now not only go unchallenged, but are actually used to defame, harass and criminalize those they are so vilely leveled against! A tirade of vengeance against those he's deemed have wronged him because they have dared to call out his own multitude of criminalities, only some of which he would have been righteously convicted of had he not been reinstated. 

"Ever wonder what it's like to live under Fascism? You are," read the graffiti. It's true, everything I've ever read about its history and trajectory describes the gradual, step by step encroachment proceeding today. Fortunately, Trump doesn't want to take over the world militarily, he just wants to enrich himself without end, and if people have to die or suffer, or lose all they have for his own betterment- what-is-the-problem? He has no issue with the thousands now slowly starving to death in a famine of friend Bibi's own making- if he has a say in the real estate to be had. His ridiculous claims to have ended multiple wars are not based on any urgency to save lives, he has no empathy for anyone's plight, or their suffering- only that they are the currency to attain what he currently covets... A Nobel Peace Prize. It would all be so laughable, if not from a man bequeathed with the power to manifest his petty machinations- all of them being slow walked directly in public view. 

For eons, people world over believed it couldn't happen in America, people just wouldn't stand for it! It is, they are...

Welcome To The Godox Train...

Fujifilm X-T2 w/EF-X8              All Photos: © Stan Banos

Of the literary thousands of posts I've put up over the past twenty years on my blog(s), probably around a dozen (make it two to be on the safe side) have been on camera equipment. Not my thing really, although I've loved my fair share of equipment. I'm also a natural light kinda guy, and with the added ability to dig out digital shadows, never thought I'd really need any kind of additional lighting. I-was-wrong. Sometimes that little extra kick to: help with the raccoon eyes, give some small measure of detail in deep shadows, or just add the little extra oomph can go further than I thought. But I'm still not about to embark upon lugging around some biblical sized potato masher. The miniscule, near toy like flash that comes (or at least came- I'm assuming they still do) with the Fujifilm's XT cameras is more what I'm talking about... Mostly I just I just need a little something for masked or sunny day eyes.... Fill Light!

And while the EF-X8 accessory flash is just fine for my Fujifilm and my (currently somewhat working) GR is also accounted for with its built in flash- what do I do with my Q? At first I tried the Godox iM20 a bite size chewable of a flash that was surprisingly... powerful. It's manual only, has four power levels, but if I went just slightly closer than full length portrait (in landscape format) at its lowest setting, it would still blow out the exposure! If you don't use WA lenses, this may not be a consideration; one thing that is, no matter what lens used is that you can't see its miniscule diodes in direct sunlight. Still... pretty freaking amazing for size and power alone!

Godox iA32

Fortunately, there was an alternative... the Godox iA32, it's automatic (not TTL, old school auto), set the ISO and aperture and you're good to go. Now, I've yet to shoot with it in the field, but some (very) preliminary testing shows that it blows out the exposure by a full stop when set to ISO 200, f8 on auto! Well, I can deal with that, especially in direct sunlight, just set a full stop higher- I'm not your onion skin depth of field, butter creme bokeh kinda guy anyways. And it also gives several f stops to choose from in auto (not just a couple) at every ISO, and seven manual power levels- with three levels for each of those seven, talk about fine tuning. I'll probably just use the 1/32 or 1/64 manual settings for most of my needs if I find the auto problematic. It's almost identical in size to my GR, runs on two AA's, has an easy to see digital read out on the back and can also be triggered off camera. Did I mention it also does bounce (and looks like an electric razor)? 

Godox iM20

Godox has also recently come out with an iT30 mini TTL flash for most popular camera brands (except Leica) as well as the even smaller iT20 (also TTL) as I write this- pretty freaking awesome! At this point I'm betting they'll probably release both of the latter for Leica when I'm finally ready to use my then antiquated iA32 for reals...

Truth To Power- (Epitomized)!

 INTERNATIONAL  --and--  DOMESTIC!

PLAYED!!!

Like A Fiddle. Does it show?

 It's True- Lawless Gangs Do Roam DC Streets!

Debate 101

I've noticed how people often assume that those who are articulate are also, by nature... intelligent. And while both those qualities can, in fact, exist in tandem (perhaps more often than not), they can also exist very much apart! Rush Limbaugh was articulate (or perhaps I should just say he had a way with words), as is Charlie Kirk- today's version of the latter. I find it hard to choose which one more despicable. But today's version of a Conservative "Master Debater," as seemingly sure footed as he is when 'debating' college kids (rarely does he challenge full fledged adults or experts in any field), is far from an even mediocre thinker when it comes to actual intellect. He merely relies on the traditional con man's rhetorical bag o' tricks along with: a rapid fire cadence, continuous shifting of the goal posts, false flags and projection. People unfamiliar with said tactics can often mistake his shrewd, double dealing, whirlwind of verbosity with actual intelligence. Far from it... 

For those interested (I found it fascinating) here's a deep dive into Ol' Charlie's magic bag of rhetorical jive:

Win Some, Lose Some...

Photo: © Stan Banos

Although I generally prefer candids, sometimes there's no getting past having to ask a person directly in order to have any chance of getting the picture, my guess is that people consent about 60% of the time (considerably higher during public events). Compliance certainly doesn't guarantee success, but at least ya get yer chance and go with it! Recently, I noticed this guy who sporadically boards my bus on the way to work and he's a killer dresser, a style very much his own, somewhat reminiscent of Michael Jackson. A visually striking individual who makes one wake up and take notice during the early morning commute. Getting off the bus I decided to approach him the next time to see if he would be amenable to having his portrait taken at a time of his choosing, even if it was just meeting him at his bus stop a coupla minutes early before boarding. Finally, saw and approached him several days later, made my quick pitch right on the bus- and the guy just... stared at me. No yes, no, verbal or non verbal sign of acceptance, rejection, or even confusion- just a blank, unemotive stare. "OhhK, thanks anyway," I said, as I made my way to the door at my stop. Weirdest outright rejection I ever did get, but then this is the weirdest stretch of commuter travel I ever have traversed. That weekend I did manage a portrait I rather like (see above) along the same route, but the bus guy still kinda haunts me- a) because there was just so much there for a striking portrait, and b) the inexplicably bizarre manner of rejection.

Memories, Dreams, Photographs...

Photo (also approx. twenty years ago, of person unknown): © Stan Banos

On a recent promenade through the Tenderloin district, a mail carrier stopped dead in the middle of the street and asked if my name was Stan. Who the hell is this mail carrier asking me my... Oh, shit- I know you! You're the mother of the child I tutored some twenty odd years ago, the mother and child I think of repeatedly- as in, wonder whatever happened to...

She was a mother determined, a mother determined not to let the streets swallow her child- she had hired me when he was around the ages between ten to twelve, once or twice every week to help with his reading and homework. Nice kid. Always wondered. He's twenty eight now, working as the manager of a retail store. 

You made it, mom; you did it, you succeeded! And it was great to see her smile...

For two decades, they've lived in the back of my mind. A question that could have gone either way, vague memories of a past life for which one can only hope the best. Time and memory, people and events- the things that fill the passing of our lives. And its photography, so limited as it is, that has always remained the one small manifest that gives some small credence to the past, all our pasts...

One Way, Or The Other...

Photo: © Stan Banos

I'm not a violence first kinda guy, cause it usually just begets more of same, and uhhh... it's pretty nasty stuff! But something like the above gets me in the type of head space that asks: If you had a chance to shoot Hitler in the head- would ya do it? Hopefully, the answer would be "yes." Then, what about all the other bad guys who kill lots of people, would ya kill all of them too had you the means and opportunity? Afterall, the net good to society would be one of innocent lives saved- that's a good thing... No? But that kill list would grow pretty long... pretty quick! And who anointed you judge and executioner? Hhmmm... 

Is Netanyahu as bad as Hitler? He hasn't killed anywhere near millions- only thousands! Estimates are around 1,200 Israelis killed as a result of 10/07 Hamas attacks. Over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of those attacks- 18,000 of them children. I'd say that's way, waaaay more than sufficient payback- not to mention the almost complete and utter devastation of Gaza resulting in massive wholescale homelessness and the complete annihilation of infrastructure: schools, hospitals, electricity, clean water and food availability. Palestinians have been bombed out of home, 'safe zones,' and refugee survivor camps- and are now being methodically starved to death. Israeli soldiers are so bored of shooting so many Palestinians, they are literally making games of what body part to aim at on any given day. 

And the man who allows, promotes and prolongs this evil is none other than Bibi Netanyahu. He both covets their land, while seeking to delay the serious criminal charges awaiting him (for previous crimes) that would most likely see him imprisoned, if ever vigorously prosecuted... So is he a bad guy- yes; a killer, yes; a man who deserves to be killed, so that others may live? He's certainly not even hinted at ceasing any of the slaughter any time soon! I'd much rather see him arrested, tried and sentenced for crimes against humanity. And bringing up The Holocaust, as some kind of excuse or license is itself about the worst slander possible of that darkest of moments!

Israel has extracted it retribution tenfold and then some- this repeated Wack-a-Mole bombing, maiming of children, and purposeful starvation complete with 'food distribution' kill zones is clearly genocide by any other name. There are no visible targets left in the dust and rubble that is now Gaza, yet Bibi remains dedicated to targeting whatever remains of life and limb. He needs to face the music (of his own making)- one way or another...

Killed minutes later....

FOLLOW-THE-$$$!