As True Today...

As the day it was written!     Photo: © Stan B.

On another note, happy to report that I'm in the midst of completing a new photo project that happened quite unexpectedly and is developing much as I envisioned- after first thinking it wasn't quite doable, at all. An amusing little piece of documentation of no particularly significant significance- which would pretty much describe and sum up most all my work! Should wrap up in Spring...

Grown Ups Talking (cont)...

Slightly different issue on a much related topic to the one prior. Again, two adults talking, not smack- wisdom....

2 Grown Ups Talkng

Almost forgot what it sounds like. An actual conversation where people communicate without screaming or vitriol, choosing instead to address the subjects(s) at hand: intelligently, insightfully and in as coherent a manner as possible. Didn't think it still possible, particularly with the subject at hand. An intriguing analysis of the motives, modus operandi and consequences of the evil amongst men of power...

Review And Resist!

I'm still reeling, seething from the disgusting, despicable display of conduct unbecoming of any human being of any age, sex or social stature thrust upon us via Trumpland today! I am, of course, talking about Pam Bondi the US AG who was bribed and bought while still working in Florida by one Donald Trump, and who makes the lowest thief, cheat and traitor combined in the entire history of humanity stand tall and proud in comparison. Of all the people in this cowardly, sycophantic administration devoid of a human soul, she alone by sheer force of will rises to most worthy of debasement, torture and eventual dismemberment.

Now- on to the camera equipment review... 

Recently bought a Godox iT32 shoe mount strobe for my Fujifilms, and it works like a charm- a little (it's surprisingly small, roughly the size of my Ricoh GR), dedicated TTL flash unit with separate camera dedicated magnetic mounts also enabling off camera operation! It has a host of manual/automatic, on camera/off camera features- but I want it mostly for direct sunlight fill flash. I got it on a Saturday morning just before I was to cover a protest, and didn't think I'd have a chance to sift through its multiplicity of operations to deftly use it just for fill, almost left it home. Nevertheless, I turned it on, scrolled upwards as directed on its back screen, and Boom- first stop... TTL mode! And it worked flawlessly* the entire afternoon... 

Photo: © Stan B.**

I wish I could say the same for my Fujifilm X-T1/2 cameras. After losing one too many photos due to their abhorrent, literally non existent AF, I will now switch to MF when using them. It's tedious, outrageous and rage inducing, but I really have little choice. In the long run, I'll end up losing more photos if I continue to use their nonfunctional AF, as opposed to manually focusing my subjects the slow, methodical OG way! Hell, did it for decades with analog and film, and if I could learn to shoot and compose with my right eye after decades of being a left eye shooter (when I got my floaters), I'll gradually if very grudgingly adapt to it again- with many a loud, choice cussword along the way (hopefully, not within earshot of my subjects)...

*Check to see compatibility with particular camera brand and models- with possible exception of Fujifilm, seems to work only with latest brand models (Leica version supposedly coming soon- hope it works with original Q).

**Yeah, don't usually like smiley pictures much, but kinda partial to this one. I'd show others but anything else that came close was outta freakin' focus despite being incredibly well lit! Actually, doubt such a small strobe had much effect at that distance from the subject- just needed something positive to look at after the Bondi madness and revulsion...

Not A Fan- A Supporter!

I'm not a fan of Bad Bunny's music (mostly an age thing)- but I am a genuine supporter of Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio! He's a beautiful human being, so positively proud of our tiny 30 X 100 mile island, its people and its culture. An island so small and widely ignored that the President tediously threw paper towels at its inhabitants in their hour of need; a people so disparaged, that we were said to hail from "an island of garbage" by a supporter in that same President's last election. This is a man so vilified by the MAGA hateful for posting the signs: “The only thing more powerful than hate, is love” and “Together, We Are America.”

The ultimate irony being that an official alternative was created and offered utilizing an aging performer who sang about doing girls, a performer singing and rejoicing about the same accusations the President himself so desperately continues to hide...

So... This Changes Everything, Right?

Everyone who didn't know Trump was an avowed, dyed in the wool racist before is now fully awoke, aware and in full condemnation mode- Right?!? They just weren't sure before, and people (like myself) are always trying to demonize him. Or... hey, it's just a meme, it really doesn't mean anything, so... "stop the fake outrage!" 

I can already visualize Republican legislators silently, walk/running past reporters' questions in the halls of Congress in their heads down defensive posture. Can already hear the half apologetic, totally incredulous excuses by the few corralled in some wayward corner of a Capitol hallway, the self righteous and indignant denials by the FOX talking heads...

But we had no reason whatsoever to believe he was racist before- just like we have no reason to believe he's a pedophile...

PS- I wonder why such a sue happy kinda guy doesn't-sue-'Katie Johnson'* for saying such horrible things?!? Hhmmm...

*full video

The Grand Experiment Is Over.

If you ever wondered what it's like to live under fascism, as have I (being an amateur student of the history marking the beginning of 20th. century Europe), we in America no longer have to. This is not hyperbole- if the Commander-in-Chief gets his wish that the (Republican) federal government should directly control national elections (particularly in those states he does not control politically), there is no longer any debate or even the slightest lingering doubt that we no longer live in a "democratic republic." This will not be partisan control of an election, it will be outright, one man, autocratic control- one bona fide dictatorship... and he is beginning to orchestrate it in full view via Georgia!  Gone are the days when anyone (incl myself) could fairly accurately decry that Dems & Repubs are two sides of the same coin- the feckless Dems have seemingly willed themselves off said coin. 

The mask is off- except for those worn by our anonymous 'law enforcers.' Our First Amendment already lies mortally wounded, as we can now be placed on an official terrorist watchlist simply for watching/documenting said 'law enforcers' in action (funny how even the reliably, vociferous multitudes of 2nd Amendment activists who helped empower this now blatantly obvious dictator were completely silent for the first time in memory when one of their armed believers was recently shot down in cold blood by said agents). Does anyone still really think he will now only arrest (or kill) the Brown people he detests? 

Unless stopped, Trump will control national elections- a complete violation of and direct attack on the US Constitution (the very institution so many of his supporters claim to hold so dear- without even a passing familiarity with its most basic tenets). Some of his supporters may not like the term "dictator," but that is who they actively serve- and the rest of us must defy!

"Sexy And Cute Brazilian 9 Yr Old!"

Yeah, and there's plenty more SICK SHIT GALORE in... the highly redacted, 'PG' 50% of the Epstein Files we're allowed to see (so there can't possibly be even worse stuff in the Verboten 50% we're not allowed to gander)! Torture, pedophilia, talk of bodies and purloined newborns- a world wide emporium fitted to your sickest thoughts and desires. This was a whole lot larger and a whole lot worse than anyone imagined- Donnie's Bestie was running an international scale, juvenile use 'em and lose 'em flesh emporium.

But not to worry folks, Donnie's people, as well as Donnie J himself, have proclaimed that there is NOTHING worth examining, NOTHING worth investigating- so don't y'all go worryin' your perty little heads... Ya hear!?

Retirement Reset

Photos: © Stan B.

After a week of weather, followed by a week of... jury duty, I could finally get back to this thing called "Retirement." And a lovely thing it is! I still look in the mirror sometimes, only to see the reflection of a laughing fool- no superiors, no deadlines, no responsibilities other than to myself... and it only took seventy years! 

I started jumping on various trains on our MUNI (commuter train) system, riding to The Last Stop- no, I have neither the talent nor intention of doing a San Francisco equivalent, but it felt great getting out and hitting the pavement under an unusually warm January sun- even for NorCal. I started casually exploring great swaths of the city I was not all that familiar with, camera and cigar in hand- and it felt... great! Walking about the outer environs of what is still (ironically) perhaps America's most beautiful city- despite the mortal wound still festering in its downtown. And thinking myself still the thirty year old I long since ceased to be, I proceeded to walk hour after hour, hill after hill, until I felt a stiffness in my left knee- which turned into a discernible limp by the time I got home. Blew out my knee in just two days! Swollen, stiff with (thankfully) minor pain, I figured a good week before back to normal- that was two weeks ago. Revised prognosis- a good month, month and a half... Particularly taking into account, that I've also been documenting a protest or two (at somewhat lower speed) in the interim, with more to come- the one and only good thing about Trump, increased protest photo-ops...

Moderation- the new North Star!

When in the Burbs...