Window light
What? I am meditating!
Is there anything better than window light? Of course, Hobbs using my meditation mat and re-tasking it for his purpose.
I’ve seen many flash photos taken by those who are exceptionally good with them, but I think that window light beats them every time. I think that it might have to do with the imperfections of the light, perhaps dirt on the window, blinds in the way, whatever. There’s just something special about that light.
And here is Tony on the same day making use of the entire couch. Both shots, Leica M6, Fuji Neopan 400, developed in Rodinal.
Brothers: Fred Jr.
My brother, Fred Jr.
At this point in my life, I am fascinated by the passage of life and the changes in values that one goes through in midlife. Certainly, it has been called a crisis and for some, I’m sure that it is. Sometimes it is a complete restructuring of ones life. Values change. Things that worked before, no longer work. Relationships dissolve, others are born out of the loss. Amazing if you step by and look at it.
As a young man, of course, my career was important. Raising a family, doing the right thing, etc. Now, as I’m older, I feel the need, no the desire, to reconnect with family. All of my brothers and sisters are 1/2 brothers and sisters, same father, different mothers, save for my sister Earlene, same mother, different fathers. However, we’ve never used the ’1/2′. We are just brothers and sisters.
I have 3 brothers, two sisters:
- Fred Jr. – Akron, Ohio
- Charles – Akron, Ohio
- Henry – Memphis, Tennessee
- Earlene – Akron, Ohio
- Carolyn – Memphis, Tennessee
All of my siblings are at least 10 years older than I. As families go, I was pretty much raised as an only child. And, as a consequence, my siblings and I were never very close. We loved each other, but didn’t hang out together. As a matter of fact, I don’t even remember their birthdays or ages, except for Earlene’s because we talk all the time and I stay at her house every time that I go to Akron. Also, our birthdays are in the same month, February. Hers on the second, mine the 20th.
Fred Jr. is the elder brother. We did spend some time together. He loves to fish and so he, my father, and I used to go fishing a lot on Lake Erie. We like to joke with each other about who can catch the most undesirable fish. I see he is the king; he says that it is me. 
I took this photo last weekend while in Akron. I was walking around downtown taking photos and he drove by, stopped, and we talked for about 20 minutes or so. He was riding in his minivan that has nearly 200,000 miles on it and it’s only about 5 years old! He drives a lot.
Some number of years ago he got really deep into the church, became a preacher, and now travels the world and the country visiting prisoners and preaching his truth. Thankfully he doesn’t preach to me.
I see him probably about once a year when I visit Akron. I feel that I want to visit much more often now, at least twice a year.
So what about Chris?
Chris shoots da Leica M6
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know of my quest and intention to meet as many fellow bloggers as I can. To date, I have met a number of you:
- Earl Moore – North Carolina
- Mike Brown – South Carolina
- John Wilson – Formerly, California, now Connecticut
- Tom – The Photo Father – New Jersey
- Chris Klug – Pennsylvania
- Ibarionex Perello – a chance encounter in NYC
As you’ve seen throughout the week, I’ve made mention of meeting and photographing with Chris Klug. I’ll start with a one sentence summary: I didn’t get enough time.
I flew to Ohio to spend time with my family and Chris was kind enough to make a 90 minute drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Akron, OH. When he arrived, around 11 or so, we went to breakfast. Unfortunately, he had eaten along the way. So, we went out, I ate, he munched an English Muffin, and we talked.
As you can see from his various posts, Chris is certainly literate, knows how to hold a conversation, and is very interesting. After breakfast, we went back to my sister’s house to grab his gear. We exchanged cameras; I took the Bessa, he the Leica, and away we went. While on the road, he asked if the area that we were in was where I grew up. I told him that it wasn’t and, since Akron is so small, I took him on a tour of my old neighborhood, Jr. High School, and elementary school. It was then that I discovered that both were now defunct.
All during the way we talked of things photographic, then while going through downtown, lapsed into things spiritual. Chris is very interesting and I enjoyed the time listening. Of course, he approaches his photography just like he does his writing, well thought out and considered. I like to flit about taking shots, he, on the other hand, likes to stop and consider things for a bit before shooting.
We stayed out for a few hours and then headed back to my sister’s house were we talked for a bit more then he had to go and I had to go and drop Tony off at the airport. All told, we spent maybe 5 hours together. It certainly was not enough for me. I’m planning, in my head right now, another trip up that way just to have at least a whole day or two getting to know Chris.
He has alluded to a future post, in his post on Brand Loyalty, where he will give his impressions. I eagerly await that. I know that it will be well thought out and interesting.
I think that it might be time for some international travels!
Is there an M9 in my future?
My good friend, Monte, has given me a good shot to the ribs a couple of times about saving money for an M9. This all started when he, Earl, and I had dinner when he was in town. I made an off-hand comment that I ‘might’ get, or was thinking about getting a Leica M9. To be sure, it was just a thought.
Previously, I had exchanged a few e-mails with Paul Butzi about his experience with his M9. He provided very good feedback. I asked a few questions about usability and how close it felt to the M6, as he was an M6 power user, shooting thousands of rolls of film with it. He assured me that I’d just fall right into line with the M9.
The thing that I couldn’t get over was the price. $6995. OK, let’s just say $7K. I can think of lots of better things to do with $7K including taking a pretty damned exotic trip with my D300 or M6!
Anyway, like I said, it was just a passing thought, and to be completely honest, I just cannot see myself spending that kind of cash on a new camera. That was simply thought up in a moment of laziness, instant gratification desire, and overt consumerism.
We never know, but more than likely, I will NOT buy an M9. I have always wanted to live simpler life, free from the rampant consumerism that I see here in the US. I need to stick to that because it is what feels right for me; however, every once in a while, that consumer bug bites me, or should I say, I’m drawn to the church of consumerism. Meditation is a good repellent for such things.
It’s all gone now
Found memories
This is an image of the former YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association). When I was younger, we’d catch the bus downtown and walk to the YWCA. They had swimming for 2 hours for $1.00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It was fun stuff.
Last year, I made a book for SoFoBoMo, In Retrospect, which can be found here. It was inspired by a trip that I made back to Ohio to visit my sister. In the book I took you on journey from elementary to high school. At the time of that writing, my high school, Central-Hower, had been closed.
When I went back this year for a visit, I found that both my middle school, Goodrich Middle School, and my elementary school had been closed as well. The elementary school, McEbright Elementary, has been torn down and is being replaced by what they are now calling Learning Centers. These are two floor, high tech elementary schools.
I took Chris Klug by the school to show it to him, as he was interested in where I lived and where I went to school. I was shocked to see that the school no longer existed, but found instead, the skeletal beginnings of the new learning center. Time marches on. Now, even as I type this, I remember my old school, the faint smell of coal dust from the furnace in the basement, and the sounds of traffic that passed on Cole Avenue. The school was so old that it was not air conditioned. I wish that I could have walked the halls once more.
So, the moral of this story is, if you are thinking about doing a book, or anything, do it now. Don’t wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow, you might not have the opportunity … it just might be gone.
Suddenly, my walk didn’t seem so long
This is a photo of my favorite statue in Akron. It’s a sculpture of a Native American carrying his canoe between the waters of the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers. Carrying a canoe or watercraft between two navigable bodies of water is called a Portage. This sculpture is on an appropriately named street, Portage Path. The history of Portage Path is that it was an 8 mile portage between the previously mentioned rivers. The Native Americans used this path to carry their canoes between those bodies of water.
I walked a good deal this weekend. Nearly 11 miles on Saturday morning and about 9.5 on Sunday morning. Monday morning, I had to give my feet and joints a bit of a rest, only walked about 3, perhaps 4. Anyway, I stopped along the Towpath trail, which is a trail between Akron and Cleveland, Ohio. This is the same path that the Erie and Ohio Canal used to get goods between Akron and Cleveland. Of course, I didn’t walk the entire distance or I doubt that I’d be writing this right now! I would have been exhausted.
As I was walking, I thought of how they carried canoes across those vast distances. 8 miles is no joke just walking; however, carrying a canoe and walking, well, that’s a whole different story. It’s no wonder they were in such great shape!
I’m glad to say that at no part during my walk did I have to carry anything heavier than my S90!
Ohhhhh. That’s what she wanted!
Did you hear what happened? He didn’t have a clue!
Well, I’m about to use yet another word herein that I’ve not used before. However, this time I won’t tell you what it is. You’ll have to look for it. Haha. It’ll be easy to spot.
OK. I’m not a street savvy guy. Never have been, probably never will be. So, here I am, downtown Akron, shooting pictures with Chris Klug. Yes! We met this weekend, but more on that in another post.
So, here we are in the heart of downtown, across from the library, taking photos. We each sit on the edge of a water fountain that has some interesting modern art, taking photos from a different angle. I finished first, then started looking around for other things to photograph. Chris kept shooting.
I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. A young lady was approaching. She had a shaved head, a pretty face, and a nice set of … ummm, personality. 
She came right up to the fountain and sat beside me. A conversation ensued:
Lady: What’s up?
Paul: Nothing much. What’s up with you?
Lady: Just out looking for a place to spend the night.
Paul: Oh really?
Lady: Yes. Really.
Paul: (Silence … don’t know what else to say. “Nice weather” doesn’t seem appropriate)
Lady: So, like I said, I’m looking to find a place to spend the night.
Paul: Oh. Well, good luck.
Paul: Chris! You ready to go?
Chris: Ready when you are.
Paul: (to lady). Well, it was nice meeting you. We’re from out of town and we are just down here doing some photography.
Lady: OK.
So, we left. That was that. When I told the story to my brother, Charles, he laughed pretty hard. He said: Doug! (my middle name). You didn’t know that that was a hooker trying to pick you up? What she was saying was that she wanted the two, or perhaps three of you, to get a room, transact some business, and then she’d keep the room the rest of the night. My brother Charles, in his earlier years was of the street, for the street, by the street, so I trust his interpretations of these things fully!
I said to Charles: Ummmmm. No, I didn’t know that! Well, I know a little bit about cameras, but precious little about the street!