Raindrops — 5.26.2010

A Passing

We had adopted a pair of white hens about a year ago. We named them, aptly enough, the White Chicks. They were virtually inseparable, seeming to watch one another's back. But chickens can only do so much. One was killed by the late and not so lamented Teddy, the dog we adopted from the people down the road. The remaining White Chick laid the biggest, whitest eggs. A couple weeks ago, she had been brutally assaulted by one of the roosters. It is their way. Tenderness is not part of the chicken mating ritual. Half her head was covered in blood and we thought she had had her eye pecked out. We brought her in the house and nursed her for about a week. She still had the eye, but it was of no use. She was half blind. When we returned her to the general population, she seemed like she was shying away from the others. She would turn her head like Linda Blair in the Exorcist, just to see around her. I had a special place in my heart for White Chick. I felt her vulnerability. Soon enough, she was laying those big white eggs again... right up until the day before yesterday. She seemed alright. I found her on the hay bale, close to death yesterday morning. She passed away fairly quickly. I don't know what happened. I mourn her loss and am a little uncomfortable with this image. I think it is beautiful, but sad. Very sad.

Florida Images

I have been remiss... again. I can't believe it's been over 4 months since I've posted any images here. I will try to do better. Here are some recent images from last week's journey to the heart of darkness...

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 4.1.2010

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 4.1.2010

Paradise, Hollywood Beach, Florida, 3.31.2010

Mah Jongg, Hollywood Beach, Florida, 3.31.2010

Moon over Fort Lauderdale, 3.30.2010

FLASHBACK: New York, 1968

I was going through some negatives, looking for something. I found something else. These are a few (!) shots I took, in 1968. Some are embarrassingly trite. Some are historical. Some are very personal.

Window Shopping, New York City–4.1968

Free TV, New York City–4.1968

Steinway & Sons, New York City–4.1968

I studied under two hardcore Leica street photographers, who were steeped in the tradition of Friedlander and Winograd. Even though I shot with a Canon SLR, I was clearly influenced.

Steinway & Sons, New York City–4.1968

49th St. Encounter, New York City–4.1968

5th Avenue, New York City–4.1968

3 Women, Central Park, New York City–4.1968

Brooklyn–4.1968

Masked Men, Brooklyn–4.1968

Church's Ice Cream, Brooklyn–4.1968

Looking past the Myrtle Avenue El, Brooklyn– 4.1968

Playground, Brooklyn– 4.1968

Street Demonstration, New York City– 4.1968

Easy Rider, Central Park Demonstration– 4.1968

Be-In, Central Park, New York, City– 4.1968

Street Demonstration, New York City– 4.1968

Central Park Demonstration, New York City– 4.1968

A case of simply being at the right place at the right time. 40 something years later and I still think the woman is all wrong. Too done up .

Ossie Davis, Speaking in Central Park, the day after Martin Luther King was assassinated.

April 5, 1968

Motorcycle Irene– 4.1968

Irene came in costume. She was nothing if not the embodiment of contradictions. We were friends. We also lost track, years ago.

Irene– 4.1968

Maggie's Eyes– 4.1968

Maggie with kitten– 4.1968

Joyce, reflected– 4.1968

Probably the last photograph I took of Joyce, and the last time I saw her. In this one, the moment had passed, the magic had disappeared, the subway to Manhattan beckoned.

Joyce– 4.1968

Joyce– 4.1968

Maybe my favorite shot of Joyce, and the least representative. She left me with strong memories and film negatives...

First Frost

First Frost, Silverton, Oregon–12.2.09

Hard to believe it's been about two months since I last posted any photographs. It makes me think of that often quoted line from John Ono Lennon, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Maybe it's the global warming, or maybe it's just Oregon. Two years ago, the first frost arrived on Halloween morning. This year it came two days ago, on December 2. The photograph is a pile of leaves on one of our front stairs that I really should have swept away before this. By the way, there was no Photoshop work done on this image. The muted tones are exactly what the camera caught.

Butte Creek, Oregon-- 9.28.09

Horse Drinking at the Creek

Indian Beach, Oregon-- 9.13.09