The Wonderland

 ... of Jason Eskenazi! A most definitely known photographer- and for good reason.

Fame And (Mis)Fortune!

I had no idea whatsoever about the torrent of copycat infiltrators Jake Ricker was subjected to at what would mark the forced conclusion of his Golden Gate Bridge project. I can well understand wanting to see him in action, congratulate him, engage in conversation and possibly learn from him- but I just can't even begin to contemplate what was going through these people's minds that they would willingly try to copy his photographs... directly in his presence! How does one even begin to make sense of that- the audacity, ignorance and sheer impudence of such an act? How do their minds (not) work- somehow, someway thinking they can magically glom on to his hard earned work, talent and recognition simply by trying to directly imitate him... right next to him!?! How dishearteningly surreal is that- particularly at such a world famous venue which is both so uniquely public and yet singularly isolated? We're such an utterly flawed species...

Hope he eventually gets his well deserved book deal!

I Wanna Live...

In this girl's universe!

Fight Song!

I'd gladly follow her into any battle with this song in the lead- a beautifully infectious, somewhat quirky, and highly melodic song (with a long convoluted history) as are many in Sinead's repertoire. Her rendition captivating and life affirming- as was she...

Ce La Vie...

Really enjoyed this (Celui qui tombe), not even the music (which I didn't particularly) could stop me from liking it. And it works on so many levels- as both sculpture and dance, love and confusion, and anything and everything we experience in life, art, and loss...

Feeling Groovy!

Really need to get my mind off the usual lunacy we are forced to live with on a daily basis, so how 'bout a nice lighthearted musical melody to soothe the nerves and bring in the weekend... 

So all you younger readers, aspiring musicians, and sailors trapped on aircraft carriers for almost a year with no goddamn end in sight, eating a hamburger patty with a scoop of rice (then hoping to find a working toilet) because of an illegal war meant to take our minds off a bunch of files, photos, tapes and videos that implicate our POTUS and so many of his dearest friends in an international pedophile ring- this one's for you!

You Throw A Party, And...

 What I have to remind myself- ad infinitum...

The Joys Of Retirement

Photos: © Stan B.

I still wake up giddy most days, two-thirds of a year in, retirement has certainly not lost its sheen! Don't know if a return to employment will mar the scenery at some inopportune time hence, but for now... 

One of the things I find (that I could in no way foresee) is how in the moment I am now allowed to be, to experience, to feel! No longer consumed by time restraints, one can now truly relax, enjoy the moment- free of schedule or time limit. Weekends, holidays, even vacations are all finite, so that even while enjoying, one is forever aware of the ever present temporal restrictions. Life is forever consumed by the accountings of everyday life, the eternal ticking of the clock, the push to get things done, before...

Being free of that particular anxiety and apprehension is liberating indeed, and can even lead to more thoughtful and contemplative photographs, and perhaps more important, definitely more important- if I don't get the photograph... at least I fully enjoyed the moment itself! Felt it, breathed it, took it in and experienced it! There's always another day, and another picture- up until there isn't, and then... I needn't worry that possible return!

Trump Dump

We all lead busy lives- so just in case ya didn't catch the art phenomenon of the year... 

It sold for $1800, if we would have gotten our promised tariff dividend- that would have left the buyer with $200!

One Man Level of Cool!

Photo: © Stan B.

Having grown up in New York, I've always admired a sense of style. It takes something to possess one, even more to own it; and says something about the person and how they move in the world. Of course, it's ultimately superficial (never judge a book by its cover) but in a world so dominated by the visual- it can carry the day! Some may call it, "Cool-" the look, the manner, the very presence.

There are many things I admire about San Francisco, where I have lived these past 25 years. One thing it clearly does not possess however, is a distinct sense of personal style- it's never recovered completely from the Flower Power days, but its denizens absolutely jump at the chance of getting into costume for whatever generic holiday, event or celebration (they even run their foot races in costume)!

I was on the return journey home from Crissy Field in SF, a simply gorgeous day in a simply gorgeous area around the Golden Gate Bridge, enjoying it for what it was since I knew I was returning home with nothing to show for it, when I happened upon this gentleman who seemed dropped by the hand of god beside that particular signpost. A surreal off site presence, as if he had created his own French New Wave retro movie in which he was clearly starring in the leading role! And star he did!

Before exposure I only dared look at him peripherally, trying desperately not to be noticed- while positioning myself directly in front of him (with no one else beside or around me for cover)! To make things worse, there was a group of tourists directly beside him- I would have to wait, and clearly he would change his position or just wander off while I waited for them to depart and leave us. My previsualizaion was most certainly doomed. Meanwhile, I turned around, checked my exposure and distance- and... prayed. 

As the crowd finally (finally) moved, I turned and quickly took a short series of exposures with very minor alterations from left to right. In my absolute haste to get it in the can, I still didn't get the opportunity to assess the totality of the image (and subject) I was capturing. And he never did look in my direction or acknowledge me (at least not while I was looking), although he certainly had to have sensed my presence. I thought perhaps it was just another street eccentric who temporarily succeeded in  rising to the level of his own imaginings (the most any of us can usually aspire to)- but upon examining the image, it was clear the guy's no simple poseur, this guy's the real deal! Cool? The man defines it!* The suit, that pose, the whole freakin' shebang- goddang, he is a goddamn, one man movie! But is he hero, or villain?!?

*He even balances the phone parallel to the horizon line!

Things I Contemplated Over The Weekend...

A Coupla Things:

Trump Assassination Victim's Widow Makes Stunning New Claim 😳 #Trump #Breaking #Politics - YouTube

ICE Officer In Maine Shooting Has History Of Violent Behavior, Family And Records Say | HuffPost Latest News

A Twofer:

Republican election fraud

They told her she could vote - YouTube

And Finally:

"We Don't Have The Biggest D*CK On The Planet!" - Nick Irving

[DEBATE] U.S. Lost The War With Iran!

Miscalculations are costly. #historyshorts #history #trump #greenland #nato  

Addendum: COMIC RELIEF!

American Insanity

Was going to post on photography, but it's just too fucking disturbing to ignore- people wantonly being assassinated on the street by our 'Law and Order' administration, a 'Law and Order' administration led by an adjudicated rapist, con man, traitor and pedophile revered by millions who proclaim themselves (as does he) to be both Christian and patriotic...

Across The River

Photos: © Stan B.

I was walking out of my mother's nursing home when I was hit with the hottest wind I ever experienced in my life, unnaturally hot, radioactively hot, and having grown up in NY, having experienced many a NYC summer, I realized- this is most definitely not normal! 

It was 98 degrees that day and the major reason I wasn't spending extended periods of time pounding sweltering midtown city streets in the little time I had. So, I continued my Queens bound journey to Long Island City- which I once termed "the armpit of NY." For decades it was the land forgotten by time, one of the last stops before Manhattan on the 7 IRT subway line. Not many people lived there and it wasn't anything even remotely resembling a city, the area immediately surrounding said subway stop was just a stagnant, malignant area of decay- like a hoarder's long forgotten and abandoned living space. The area adjoining it was a mixture of longtime residents living in small residential communities separated by areas of light industry, spreading from the aforementioned LIC to neighboring Astoria- as sleepy and domestically banal as neighboring Manhattan was forever busy and bustling. It was an area I frequented while living in the Lower East Side for it's relative solace and tranquility, streets where one could find themself the only person afoot, where even the occasional horizon line could be spotted.

That all began to change the end of the last century, when hyper gentrification began to rear its head in the NYC real estate market directly across the river. It began quietly in the eighties with PS1, a beloved art museum alternative- when someone once proclaimed: "Artists- the shock troops of gentrification!"* Anyway, by the turn of the century there were Manhattan sized skyscrapers (both business and luxury) springing up all around- a trend that continues to this day. Still, there are pockets of quiet and stillness not found beyond the riverbank, as well as the occasional tree for shade and solace, which is where I headed to and found the included photos (as well as the best bagels I ever did eat)...

*I suppose one could now substitute "techies" with artists.

101 And Counting

Some things will always lie beyond human comprehension.                                Photos: © Stan B.

The one thing I found myself most wanting to do when I was in Washington, DC this 7/04 was to walk about, megaphone in hand, proclaiming, "Climate Change is a hoax" as we all collectively melted in the 101 degrees of sunlight and heat. But I came armed with a coupla cameras instead, which were useless after an hour and a half. Oh, they worked alright- my brain no longer did. I arrived around noon and there was many an American flag bedecked person and situation to photograph, but after that first ninety minutes of walking about in such utterly diabolical heat, thoughts of shutter speeds, light and composition went quickly out the front door, back door and every window in between- photography was no longer an option, everything focused on survival. 

Fortunately, National Guardsmen along with many a sidewalk merchant were handing out and selling (respectively) bottles of water, and the umbrella I took in case of afternoon thunderstorms became absolutely crucial to my survival in the sun- would not have survived without that goddamn umbrella; it was beyond brutal! Three hours into my six hour stay, I fortunately snuck into an air conditioned hotel that had some mighty comfortable lobby chairs where I managed to nurse myself back to humanity for an hour upon the onset of nausea. 

Meanwhile, someone (some mischievous, malcontent of an idiot) managed to shut down half the goddamn city on our nation's premier 250th anniversary celebration- The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the infamous Reflecting Pool and every other tourist attraction in between were all made completely inaccessible to the public on this most celebratory of occasions of our nation's history! Who even thinks of doing such a thing!?! And this was midday, well before the evening thunderstorms which did indeed come, when shade was very much at a premium, and every tree counted! Instead, some uncaring, unthinking idiot corralled hundreds of thousands of suffering visitors into its hottest of streets, while they desperately sought to find some manner of access to what they all obviously came to see and enjoy... Only to find that every entry way, no matter how far they ventured, or in what direction they veered in the searing heat was guarded, walled off and denied them. That was certainly one helluva way to fill his goddamn, crappy ass, so called 'state fair!' 

Child demonstrates how shade was at a premium- as only a child can!

Why no one complained, or downright revolted was probably due to the debilitating heat and the fact that many of said visitors, probably the vast majority, were of the uber 'patriotic' Trump class. They are not going to find fault with anything this bribe procuring, felon committing, forever lying traitor and pedophile has ever done or ever will do...That was made more than clear to me that day when a small band of demonstrators dared to raise their voice. I had begun to think that there was some small leeway being made of late into the Trumpian mindset that so fervently and fastidiously denied all chance of logic, reason and fact, but sadly- it is im-pen-e-tra-ble.

My train was scheduled to depart at six, arriving approx at 9:30PM in NYC- it was somewhat delayed, finally arriving at 2:30 AM (thank you, Amtrak)! When removing my t-shirt, I noticed it appeared as if tie-dyed, my dried sweat had left decorous, if unsightly rings of dried salt throughout; I drank around six bottles of water that day- and had yet to pee once... 

Photos: © Stan B.

Happy 4th!

Photo: © Stan B.

I can pass (in a crowd), and am no doubt considered some kinda Arab when in Europe (hell, most Americans ain't sure what a Puerto Rican is)- but this is indeed interesting! Meanwhile, this is as borderline Genius, as this is hilariously obvious. And as to further round out our nation's great history... Enjoy the day!

Blogo Interruptus...

Taking a break for a few and will be happily sweltering away this 4th at our nation's Capital in the interests of patriotism and historic documentation. Hopefully, we won't get completely rained out (as I once was many moons ago in a similar NY to DC train run- there's an over 50% chance of pm thunderstorms) on our 250th. Looking forward to seeing the 250 (350?) foot gash in the non-reflecting pool- and hope all the violent, radical, Leftist thugs that did it are behind bars by the time I get there. I'm thinking I'll also be able to catch a glimpse of the beautiful tarp hiding the removal of Trump's name at the Kennedy Center. Have no idea if the Great American State Fair will be open or closed... closed or open- kinda like the on again, off again Iran War! Two of the main attractions will definitely not be there- MAGA's own, onanistic Uncle Sam, and North Carolina's own singular contribution...  'cause nothing celebrates the United States' 250th better than flying the Star and Bars! 

Hopefully, get a few keepers while there and will drop a post on the 4th here for a few laughs, so tune in... See y'all in a coupla weeks; stay strong, vigilant and outta them goddamn Epstein files, just like our POTUS (well, 2 outta 3, 1 outta 3...)- hey, it's good to dream!

The Unrelenting Universe...

Photo: © Stan B.

For Better Or...

We do it to remember.                           Photo: © Stan B.

I recently burned my greatest hits unto gold discs for posterity's sake... Yeah, I know, I know- delusions of grandeur. They probably won't survive a succession of dark, damp basements, or being melted in the Goodwill furnace. But this concerns... "the process;" no, not how to burn dvd's- that's simple enough (it really is). 

It's about preparing the files themselves- viewing them as critically as possible and making the necessary edits, a lot of basic stuff and small details that somehow previously escaped: localized contrast and exposure, color balance, etc... issues big and small that were somehow overlooked. 

This is "for the ages," so ya wanna get it right once and for all, like when submitting a file for an exhibition quality print- you want everything as perfect (or near perfect) as you can personally manage. And that's what this exercise forced me to do- and there were, admittedly, a lot more images I had to finesse than I previously imagined. I started in January, thought I'd finish by the end of the following month, and didn't finish dotting the i's and crossing the t's till mid-May (although there was a full month's detour shooting and self publishing a whole new & unexpected project in the interim).

Don't know if they'll last the hundred years advertised, but I'm glad I got it done- if only to have said images at a level of competency I can now show without hesitancy! That alone was worthwhile, and there's always that chance, however slight, that the images will actually endure into their stated longevity to be appreciated in a time they long preceded...

Sittin' & Thinkin,' Really Sittin' & Ahhh...

Now, I never heard of Freedom Williams, and certainly have no idea what his music is like, but I kinda do like the guy, in some way or another... (starts @2:56- make sure ya hear him all out).

Social Media

We all need to be more civil while using.     Photo: © Stan B.