Dead cat

I rock (v.t.); I, rock (n.), Iraq (v.i)

The Panama
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Suburban Cactus - in black and white
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Suburban Cactus - anything but wild.
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A visit to the local Museum of Contemporary Culture.
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Candy's pain is under control for the moment, though there's some indication of a flare up in her left arm as well. We had an appointment with one of her doctors early this AM and she's now scheduled for surgery on March 2. I think that has to put a lot of things on hold for the moment. We were hoping surgery wouldn't be the answer but, I guess there's no way around it.

One of the things that goes on hold is the idea of actively looking for sone one(s) to work with to expand the model oriented sections of my portfolio. Candy is the first priority.

On Display. My part of a "collection".

It's really nice to see some things up. I really like this bunch together. As a group, they have a very musical quality, aside from the obvious content. For example, 1 and 3 are fairly square in format while 2, 4 and 5 are full frame rectangles - musically that would work out to A-B-A-B-B, a blues format.

Another way of looking at the progression would be grouping content. 1, 3 and 5 are musicians (jazz, bluegrass and blues, respectively) while 2 and 4 are based on repeated patterns (one of the major foundations of music). That would translate to A-B-A-B-A ... another progression.

Jaguar

Time to start looking for models. I set up a few "Desire to Work With" acknowledgments on OMP... though I do dislike the site. It has too high an escort content and I'm not looking for a date. I am looking for alternative/art/glamour models willing to work nude and semi-nude, though.

Aside from updating and expanding the model portions of my portfolio I'd like to position myself to make contributions to Mike's website, Femmexotique. It generates money. He pays and that would mean I can pay. If I can pay, I'll shoot more. Pretty simple formula. The bottom line is that I'd like to shoot more.

Bluegrass in Arizona 

Parade Rest ...

ain't what it used to be. I won't ask if you don't tell.

Culture Clash

The Fiesta de los Vaqueros is coming around again toward the end of February. I'm afraid that Candy's back problems may preclude our going this year. We had been planning on taking a box so I could get some decent photographs of the action. We sat in the bleachers last year and I was disappointed by the chain link fence that blocked my view of the rodeo. I could "see" what was going on but photographing it was more than simply problematic.

There are other things coming up just as fast. I am not looking forward to going to those things alone. However, I think I have to start liking the idea. I think venturing out is becoming less and less of a thing we do together and more and more of a thing I must do on my own if I'm not to be held prisoner as she is to her medical condition.

There were so many things we'd planned to do together. Visits to Mexico, touring the Anasazi ruins ... now this. We will see what the doctor says next week. There is the possibility of surgery but even in the best of circumstances, there is no such thing as routine surgery.

The Keyboard 

Dinner - Chicken with Green Beans, stir fried with a touch of Pino Gregio.

Another pocket camera sketch. I should break out the Alien Bees and really work at shooting food. I've always thought it would be a fun project ... but on the other hand, when you think it through, there's a lot of preparation that goes into a food shot - and by the time you've finished shooting, the food is worthless as a meal!

Things Coming in Twos

It's getting time to update my portfolio with some slightly more premeditated stuff than I've been shooting lately.

I'm jealous of the photographer/model relationship that Sharon Spear and Frank Mengles (in St. Louis) have. They work together often. They share an artistic taste (though not always to my taste). They have a collaboration. Unlike fashion and commercial photographers, I really don't need new faces every time I turn around. I would rather work with someone for an extended period of time - develop a rapport and a collaborative communication. I think that's asking too much. Most models are bubble-gum chewing post teen prima donas with dreams of being discovered in a drugstore in East Armpit, Idaho - not realizing that the odds of them making it big are about the same as the kid down the street getting tapped for a multimillion dollar pro-basketball contract or moving from garage band to rock star in the space of a week and a half. Oh, gawd, give me someone in their 30's ... someone who's had that kind of BS put into perspective!

Self Portrait

Midnight

I seem to have become my own subject. In the last few years I've taken a number of self portraits. I think the fascination is that I don't fully recognize the person I see in the pictures. There is a familiarity but ... not who I expect to see. I think I expect to see myself as I was 20 years ago when I was 40 and to see myself now is always a surprise.