I picked up an adapter on eBay, to use my old FD mount canon lenses on my current EF-S mount camera. It’s not perfect… it messes with the light and focus. But I did make sure to get one with the lens to compensate as much as possible. It also requires manual focus and aperture. I popped off a couple test shots while Abbey scowled at me. And I got a few with the modern version of the same lens, for comparison. Need to work on my focusing. But it will be fun to use the old glass, sometimes.
Today is World AIDS Day. It’s the first time in almost 40 years that the US government is not recognizing it. The justifying quote from the State Dept, that I heard this morning was that “An awareness day is not a strategy.” My well-considered response to the State Department is “Fuck you. You clearly have no idea of the power of people feeling seen.”
More than 700,000 people in the US — and over 44,000,000 in the world — have died of AIDS-related illness. Thousands of people are still dying every year. Hundreds of thousands of families here have a hole in them. And over 1,000,000 people are living with the disease in the US.
If the government can fund some of the batshit projects and events occurring at the White House this year, it can do whatever is necessary to also honor those lost to and those living with AIDS.
My first job when I moved to DC was at a studio that did a lot of work — before and during my time — with the AIDS community. I remember my boss’ work for the Names Project (organizers of the AIDS Quilt). I worked with AIDS Nutrition Services Alliance. I worked with AIDS National Interfaith Network. I remember coworker’s projects with the National Minority AIDS Council. So many people who made it their life’s work to help the people affected by this. So I think about and honor those people today, as well.
The government failing to recognize these people — it’s own citizens — is terrible.
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us.
– Daniel Burnham
Please keep in mind that this post is more than 3 years old. Opinions change. Tastes change. Everything changes. I may still agree with this, or like this, or I may not. But everything is kept up here for archival purposes.
I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.
– Mother Teresa
There is in every true woman’s heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.
– Washington Irving
Knowing Is Not Enough; We Must Apply. Wishing Is Not Enough; We Must Do.
– Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
You Don’t Have To Be Great To Start, But You Have To Start To Be Great.
– Zig Ziglar
Please keep in mind that this post is more than 3 years old. Opinions change. Tastes change. Everything changes. I may still agree with this, or like this, or I may not. But everything is kept up here for archival purposes.
Reading genealogy records. My 5x great grandmother was born in 1775 in South Carolina, moved to Texas at some point, and lived to her late 80s at least.
That means she was successively a British colonist, an American citizen, a Mexican colonist, a charter citizen of the Republic of Texas, an American citizen, a Confederate citizen & again an American citizen.
Please keep in mind that this post is more than 3 years old. Opinions change. Tastes change. Everything changes. I may still agree with this, or like this, or I may not. But everything is kept up here for archival purposes.
A little while back, we stumbled across a table at a salvage yard (Community Forklift) that looked rough, but had a nice structure to it. It had seen better days, but I was sure I could fix it up.
And it was my favorite type of project. One that was so f’d up, that I was safe. It’s hard to be accused of ruining an antique when someone else already has. And someone else did: Someone had attacked the top of this table with a random orbit sander, and left long, distinct, spiral gouges, and large sections without finish. (You generally never use a power sander on an antique… and definitely not if you don’t know what you’re doing.) It looks like they probably then set it aside in a basement or storeroom, where it also picked up some scuffs and a little paint spatter. And then there was the dog chewing on one of the legs…
Over the course of fixing this up, I determined it has had a couple previous restorations. At least one from someone very skilled, and another from someone who probably wasn’t.
I did my best ‘sympathetic restorations’ on this. The color came out incredible, when you consider there is no stain on the piece at all.
My best guess at the age of the piece is that it’s 150, up to maybe 200 years old. This was never a piece of fine furniture. While it’s well built and beautiful, it shows rough handwork in several places. But this was fun, and it came out well, IMO.
EDIT: Forgot to mention: It’s a Pembroke Table, with Sheraton style legs.
Please keep in mind that this post is more than 3 years old. Opinions change. Tastes change. Everything changes. I may still agree with this, or like this, or I may not. But everything is kept up here for archival purposes.
The latest project, that’s been floating around for a month or two. We found this table at Community Forklift, and thought it was great. At a glance, it looks old and very cool. (And very cheap).
A closer look at home already made me a little suspicious. I didn’t want to touch it until we checked with someone, who also confirmed that they didn’t think the table was a real antique either. While it means we weren’t going to make any money off it, I had said up front that if we didn’t sell it, I liked it for my own use.
In the end, I suspect it was a 1950s shop-class project, or maybe someone’s garage project. Most of the wood has some age to it. And there are signs of repairs, good and bad. So in the end, it’s still a reasonably old piece, with real people and an interesting story behind it. And I still think it looks cool.
Please keep in mind that this post is more than 3 years old. Opinions change. Tastes change. Everything changes. I may still agree with this, or like this, or I may not. But everything is kept up here for archival purposes.
If Tuesday night on the streets near the white House was about every protest group wanting to spread their message, Saturday afternoon has become about every individual, every age, every gender, every ethnicity, coming out to sing and cheer and celebrate. Puppy dogs and rainbow flags, american flags and t-shirts, strollers and party tiaras, 50 languages and 50000 signs.
Please keep in mind that this post is more than 3 years old. Opinions change. Tastes change. Everything changes. I may still agree with this, or like this, or I may not. But everything is kept up here for archival purposes.
For a long time, my dream job has been as a presidential photographer.
I think my best photos are the ‘capture the moment’ images. Wether it’s long slow periods with that one subtle moment, or finding a clear, distinct moment amidst utter chaos. I love it.
And can you imagine any place more in the moment, doing more important work, experiencing more unique moments, than the White House?
But the last 4 years, I couldn’t bring myself to even think about it. I don’t necessarily have to agree with those I work with, (though it helps), but I couldn’t even imagine working in this outgoing administration. They wasted everything… they wasted opportunities, they wasted the american reputation, they wasted political capitol, and in the end, they also wasted lives.
I don’t know what’s coming with this new administration. But I can always fantasize about my dream job again.
Please keep in mind that this post is more than 3 years old. Opinions change. Tastes change. Everything changes. I may still agree with this, or like this, or I may not. But everything is kept up here for archival purposes.