The HONY Homey

The other day I was wondering whatever happened to that guy, you know... the Humans of New York guy. I mean, he was practically the be all and end all guy for a coupla years running. Seemed everybody loved the guy, had a gazillion billion followers. And looking back, not hard to see why- he had positive, feel good sound bite stories illustrated with complimentary photos. 

Of course, he did attract a vocal minority of haters, mostly from "the street photographer community" who took umbrage at his being considered... "a street photographer," as he was often referred to. No serious photographer was he, they were quick to point out- just an overly popular, no talent hack! How could anyone (anyone!) take him seriously?

And serious "art" photographer he was (and probably is still) not. Actually his photographic "style" reminds me of another "just the facts" type of photographer/typologist- Bill Cunningham. The latter just took simple, straightforward documentary snap shots of people in their latest fashion attire. No photographic art aspirations- any style to be found was in his subject's attire. Brandon Stanton's main aim was exposing the person's unique story, the positive feel good vignette illustrated by a well exposed, properly focused portrait that showed his subject in their best light. Brandon was a true "story teller," the photograph was secondary. Despite that, a lot of people assumed he was a really good photographer because the photographs were technically proficient, and everyone always smiled- I'm assuming the latter, again, since I was never a fan. And the "good photographer" part is what irked some people, especially those who took "the art of photography" tres serious. 

At first, I guess, I was one of those- until I rather quickly realized that (as I said) he really wasn't about the photography, but the story. I have no idea if he considers himself a serious or good portrait photographer, I'd imagine he does to some extent- after all, he certainly has been successful! And to be honest, I don't think I would have been able to handle and come out of the whole FAME thing as relatively unscathed as he has, particularly at his age at the time.

The NY Mag story asserts that he has a rather formulaic process which he forces upon individuals to get the feel good, adversity conquering vibe that appeals to his fans. Seems it, but then, doesn't any successful artist, entrepreneur, whatever operate on honing their skills into as efficient a formula as possible? And it certainly does seem that he definitely has done far more good for certain people he's featured than any long lasting harm. Like I said, never followed the guy that closely (more like, at all)- but it stands to reason there would be more dirt and retaliation on the guy if he was up to no good.

Years back, I thought he would end up in some branch of documentary film making since storytelling is his main thing. Apparently not, but hey, I wish the dude well- maybe, besides making money for himself and his subjects, he'll even learn to take a decent portrait one day.

Genius Strikes Again

Trump said the U.S. could “put the Chinese flag” on F-22 fighter jets and use them to “bomb the shit out of Russia,” “And then we say, China did it, we didn’t do it, China did it, and then they start fighting with each other and we sit back and watch,” Trump said.

Really, this guy should be like... President or something! He's like totally outta the box, off the hook- G-E-N-I-U-S!!! And just, like when he actually was POTUS (that actually did happen)- his sycophants insist he was just joking. And if ever cornered about his mind blowing, mind numbing stupidity- he was just being... "sarcastic!"

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Chechnya post-Putin; what he does best.          Photo: James Nachtwey

 

By now, we've all seen that notorious traffic jam of tanks and military vehicles,  all those little ducks all lined up so neatly in a row. And just a coupla planes could wreak such absolute havoc upon them all... and possibly ignite a world war the size and consequence of which would make our impending global warming catastrophe moot. Zelenskyy is right in pleading for those NATO planes to draw attention to the plight of his people, but should they consent to his impassioned pleas- it would well ignite the ire of the once apparent and now fully exposed Russian nuclear madman. 

Russian forces are already maniacal enough to attack one of the worlds largest nuclear reactors that contains... 6 reactors! Poke a stick in the eye of that mother and it will make Chernobyl look like proverbial child's play- a nuclear exclusion zone that would stretch thousands of miles for thousands of years (not to mention the hundreds of thousands of immediate, and long term deaths)!

Should the US and NATO team up to defeat this madman, you know his fellow autocrat, wannabe world rulers in China and North Korea will join in the fun and... goodbye, blue marble in space.* Mutually Assured Destruction.

You know we got some undercover ops working in there now, and maybe, just maybe we can get just enough weaponry in there to hold off this mass murdering lunatic from doing his utmost. He's already been humiliated in the world's eyes, and that means he's gonna double down on the payback end. Let's not forget how Putin joyfully reduced Chechnya to bricks and rubble in another unjustified war in which the levels of brutality shocked even hardened conflict journalists, and how Russian jets repeatedly attacked Syrian schools and hospitals. The guy has to be stopped (contained?), the question being- how to do it without killing off the rest of us...

* and that's not to say that the US and Russia alone can't destroy planet Earth

Soth & Black

 

Photo: Alec Soth

No, not the latest law firm, just two of photography's current big guns currently showing in the same building in San Francisco- one on the fifth fl. at The Robert Koch Gallery, the other directly below on the fourth at The Fraenkel Gallery. 

Matt Black displays square photographs from his latest book American Geography which concentrates on the poverty he's documented throughout the US. Digital photography does not often translate well into B&W; it doesn't have the 'infinite' shades of nuanced whites, subtle greys and sublime blacks found in film- and therefore lacks its classic beauty. But Black seems to have found his particular style and language in the B&W digital realm, he prints dark and deep, reminiscent of de Carava, avoids digital highlight blow outs, and while his prints are tack sharp, they also maintain a grainy, somewhat dream like, Holgaesque type character.

Alec Soth's A Pound of Pictures is not the best work I've seen by him, some of them (literally) being just very large snapshots of very many snapshots. Still, he had at least three photographs that really appeal to me: one is a massive shot of an Asian woman taking a selfie at Niagra Falls, a close up of a rather tattered butterfly on a piece of fruit, and a beautiful shot of some wild sunflowers set against a blue sky with puffy clouds. 

PS- Oh, and the woman at the desk at the Fraenkel actually says, "Hello" upon entering- a very different experience from NYC galleries where visitors and attendants actively glare at each other (should eyes per chance lock).

Photo: Matt Black

WTFx3!!!

 WTF is up with DA Alvin Bragg and Attorney General Merrick Garland!?!

Relatively Speaking...

Much as I am in full support of the Ukrainian people in their hour of need, it would sure be nice if the world offered as much love for the people of: Syria, Yemen and Palestine, etc. as they get the ever lovin' shit bombed outta them.

Hhmmm... wonder why that is?

PS- As far as I recall, Europe has a fairly long... history of war(s).

Long Live Free Ukraine!

Photo: © Stan Banos

 

 Partisan update 2022!

 

Another totally and completely unnecessary war purely for the sake of someone's vanity (Iraq, anyone?), someone's insatiable lust for power and glory. We are only in the beginning stages and things are not going smoothly for Vlad- all props to Ukraine! But the Russians have yet to deploy the vast majority of their troops and war machine, and as it continues it will get very ugly, very quickly. Remember, Vlad has no qualms about going after hospitals, defenseless civilians and children as witnessed repeatedly in Syria. 

 

Personally, I think he might've bitten off a bit more than he can chew, and this may well come back to bite him hard, maybe even ultimately help depose him- but before that even has a prayer, it will be a long, dark winter for Ukraine. I really hope it doesn't come to that, but this is what the ultimate face of authoritarianism looks like- whatever the politics involved...

Truth To Power!

"Speak... PLAINLY!"

Cringe... as you witness Russia's No.1 Spy Chief nearly piss himself in the presence of the Soviet Union's former No.1 Spy Chief, as the latter considers putting his confused underling out of his pain permanently! 

This is everyone's worst public speaking nightmare come true...

From Sea To...

I once thought that the levees in New Orleans were these audaciously high palisades of steel, earth and fortified concrete that rose precipitously skyward to protect their vulnerable inhabitants behind and below. And... uhh... they're anything but! They're mostly fairly modest earthen constructions and modifications of gradual incline (as seen below), wouldn't notice most if not pointed out- and they're still in need of further updating if they are to meet the future (and even present) needs of those relying on their protection from the full ravages of oncoming climate change. And New Orleans is not the only place that will need them- more like every inhabited coastline... of every continent on the planet.

Photo: © Stan Banos

Focus On...

 

Don't ask.        Photo: © Stan Banos

This is the photo which finally taxed my patience with my pair of Fujifilm X-T1's, and finally made me purchase a minty X-T2. Looked fine when I took it, only to find upon closer inspection that it was out of focus! Fortunately, I was able to somewhat salvage it using Focus Magic trial software. Although still not up to properly focused standards, it did a fairly remarkable job and is at least now suitable for book proportions. It's a snapshot for sure, though one that never fails to bring a smile to my face when viewing.

I had previously noticed that every so often (about 1 out of every 30 shots or so), either X-T1 would produce an off focus image using my 14mm (21mm equivalent), even without action in direct sunlight. It never cost me a photo I really liked until this one, and it usually (though not always) occurs when I reshoot the same composition repeatedly (something I don't usually do)- as if though the focusing algorithm (or whatever) couldn't deal with the fact that it had to refocus a scene already in focus and then instead of just laying low and leaving well enough alone, just panics and short circuits. Dunno, but that's my 'tech breakdown' till someone offers a better one.

I've been resisting using manual focus in a digital world, perhaps, a viable alternative is to just make better use of the back focus button- I keep forgetting it's there, that it actually exists, it's not part of my muscle memory. Though I'll have to concentrate on doing just that, since I'm not getting rid of either X-T1, I still value their image making capabilities, and their resale value is well past due. It's just hard to... focus and/or concentrate all that much on anything when confronted with subject matter as above...

One Nice Little Ditty!

 And just perfect with the video...

The Laws of Physics

Photo: © Stan Banos

So I got myself two disparate, potential keepers this past weekend and once again managed to delightfully neither know, nor care who was playing or winning in the Superbowl. And it was certainly nice to see people out and about again on an abnormally warm, spring climate change of a day casually walking about Golden Gate Park. On my way home I managed to gingerly step upon a wooden board on a sidewalk corner atop some uneven cobblestones, and the damn thing slipped liked quicksilver from under me, went flying forward about five feet like a runaway skateboard and I ended up squarely flat on my ass before I knew how any of it happened. I was fortunately able to soften the fall by extending my left hand- I didn't actually have the time to think of doing that, it was a simple reflex action governed by the sheer physics of the situation. Had I had been falling to my right, my trusty GR held in my right hand would have been flattened into a small shattered mass of broken plastic, glass and... what is it now, "a magnesium/aluminum alloy?"

No harm, no foul, I dusted myself off and proceeded to do the laundry upon arrival. When the GR3 came out and I saw its $900 price tag, I rather wisely began the hunt and landed a rather minty, used GR for $350- it's patiently waiting in the wings for when the physics even out. As it inevitably will...

Photo: © Stan Banos

Good Question!

One top (Black) female Olympic athlete is banned for using a mild recreational, non performance enhancing drug, another top (White) female Olympic athlete is allowed to compete despite using a performance enhancing drug. No, two different, separate sets of rules definitely not in play here!

10, 15 Times...

What's the fuss? Who doesn't know Classified material takes 10 flushes, Top Secret... 15!

6 Committees, 33 Hearings...

on Benghazi and yet... ABSOLUTE, FUCKIN', CRICKETS on Trumpwad crunching up, ripping up and flushing documents down the toilet. Not to mention Ivanka and Jared using private phones for government business, and the burner phones used in "the war room" at the hotel where Trump's henchman plotted stealing the election!

A ‘Stunning Display Of Stupidity’

 "The Gazpacho Police"

 "I love the uneducated."   -DJT

100% Legit Question!

So let's see... it's an actual law, very clearly written and just as clearly broken, repeatedly and with obvious malice aforethought (since he was also repeatedly advised and warned)- the latter the key obstacle so hard to prove in court to gain conviction.

So why does this blatant disregard of law (amongst others) by a nation's top official warrant little more than a most astute joke by a late night comedian? How about said chief executive being held liable for its consequences exactly as written:

 forfeit of office, and disqualification from holding any office.

A Little To The Left, No Right...

 

Photo: © Stan Banos

Now, just a wee bit closer/OK, maybe a step back! I wanted to catch this woman's head dead center in the opening between the trees on either side. I also wanted to position her smack in the middle of of the the arced construction midground. So I moved a tad this way and that trying to nail my perfectly imagined composition, and in so doing, rather (in)conveniently managed to discombobulate the remainder of the original composition. Sometimes ya can't make it all right just on your side of the equation no matter how you work it, particularly when confronted with an unwilling, uncooperative 'model.' In this case, compromise was the word, my imaginary stab at total symmetrical perfection was not in the cards.

Fortunately, I think the composition still has enough going for it as is, the light is gorgeous and maybe being slightly off balance even works in its favor- maybe it's not a Pulitzer, but it's a keeper...

Stupid And Funny...

...things said by Republicans. True, I could spend the rest of my natural days writing this particular post with a ton of the near hilarious stupidity they just happen to fabricate and spout without the slightest forethought or shadow of sentient self realization, but these two shining examples from 2/04 will do. One is by an actual Republican lawmaker (all Republican lawmakers should be made to watch School House Rock), the other by a diehard believer.

Double Take Theater

Photographers are constantly seeking to expand their horizons beyond the normal to see things differently, if only for that one shot. Film goers are constantly seeking to escape the normality of our everyday lives by leaving reality behind within the confines of the movie theater. Irony has a way of transcending reality when, and how, we least expect it. And this most certainly qualifies as the convergence of all the aforementioned in a manner most sublime.