Live Accompaniment

That's how Dave rolled at the Number Ones birthday party!


Watching Patrice O'Neal's Elephant in the Room on Comedy Central right now. At least CC had the decency to show it. I've been on somewhat of a Patrice overload today. More comedians than I've ever heard in a single day all talking about him, reminiscing, laughing, sharing stories never told before...it was a fun but sad listen. You wish it wasn't necessary, yet it is.

Special thanks to ESD for the shoutouts today! The least I can do is share the link for The Stanley McDonald Fund. If you already know who Dave is, then you know all about the fund. If you don't, click the link, read a little, and if you have anything to give (and are so inclined), Dave and Casey surely would appreciate it. I mean, it's almost Christmas for crying out loud, if you're going to feel charitable for just a few days out of the year, why not help some nice people out for crying out loud.

Dave Sings While Sam Claps

And some chick I don't know has her arms crossed in the background:


Patrice O'Neal died today. I never met the man, but I felt like I knew him. I guess all of us did who heard him on the radio, we who were made to laugh and think when he shared his insights on the world. He had a lot more to give, but his body betrayed him...betrayed us. Of course, it's selfish to say that we won't have his humor when his mother has lost her only son, his wife a husband, and his wife's daughter (not biologically his) a father. It's a sad thing to see great minds go at such a young age. I guess that doesn't really have to be said.

Goodnight big guy.

Greenpoint Pier

Circa 1999-2000:


I wonder if this thing is still decrepit, or if it's now a Whole Foods. I don't get out that way so much anymore. Hell, I think it's been years since I was last in Greenpoint. Then again, why would I need to go there? I have everything I need right here in Manhattan.

Woody Allen never made a movie called "Brooklyn."

Okay, I'm almost caught up. I just have to post one picture in the next 23 hours and 45 minutes. I can do that, right?

Hmm....

Garbage Shot

In Greenpoint, circa 1999-2000:


Speaking of garbage....wow. I'm getting sloppy. I'm still down a photo, not having posted one yesterday, so I'll get this one up now.

I'm refraining as hard as I can not to make a "getting it up" joke, but I did say "as hard as I can," so I don't even know anymore. I got nowhere near enough sleep this weekend, and am probably still a little on the short end there.

Gay and Waverly

I think there's a light leak:


I mean, I've heard of flaming, but this is ridiculous. I mean, ridiculous like Aristophanes.

Only someone who's wasted their life in front of a TV set (like I have) will truly understand and appreciate that last sentence. I'll give you a hint though, if you were watching channel 11 in NYC on Thanksgiving Day you should know exactly what I'm talking about.

I owe you another one later today.

I Have No Idea

Who these people were:


Well, the woman we saw yesterday, and this is the first we're seeing of this man, though he wasn't hte man who implored me to shoot the women. That man did not have his photo taken. I'm not really paying too close attention to Gigolos on the TV right now, I'm just waiting for Dave's Old Porn to come on. Tonight's episode features Seka and Jim Norton! That sounds like quality television indeed.

I Was Forced to Take Their Picture

Well, not really "forced," but more like implored. Maybe strongly implored. A man who might have already had a few that evening told me that there were pretty girls I should be taking pictures of, and led me to these women whom I captured on film. As you can see, sometimes aiming a twin lens reflex camera in the dark isn't always the easiest thing to do (for me at least).

Okay, I'm distracted by part 2 of the Woody Allen documentary on PBS, I admit it.

East Side Dave

On the mic:


I forgot what song he was doing here. Though my favorite detail of this photo are the miniature "#1" foam fingers that are sticking out of his jacket pocket, which he was giving to everybody in attendance. Later that evening, he was dolled up in a giant #1 outfit. Despite my foreknowledge of this, I left at midnight. I had miles to go before I slept that night. No, that's not true, I had miles to go early in the morning after I slept that night, so that's why I needed my sleep before my miles. Come to think of it, I could use some sleep right now.

Sweet Caroline

Featuring East Side Dave (L) and Anthony Cumia (R)!


I'm going to have to take this one to the darkroom so I can properly burn in Anthony's face to make it a darker shade (Sorry about that Ant. But then again, I have seen Rotgut's "Live At The Apollo" album cover...), but for now, this will have to do.

Yes, this was taken at Dave's more ones than imaginable birthday party. Either way, I enjoyed myself, as I'd daresay most everyone else did too. Lotsa booze flowed that night, boy howdy.

And if you're wondering if more photos from this event will be posted soon....you'd be correct!

Tyler

Taken in Dallas during the 1999 Recess Records tour. Tyler played in a band from Portland (Oregon, not Maine) called Berzerk. He was nice. They were all nice. I don't know whatever happened to those nice people, since I didn't bother to keep up. Maybe that wasn't so nice of me.

Yes, yet another day went by that I didn't develop any film. But at least I've been busy with other photographic pursuits, so it's not like I'm stagnant over here. I just have to get into the bathroom and get shaking mit der chemicals what whatnot.

Broken Busker

In New Orleans, 1999:


I really have to get to developing.

I know, I know...

By the way, Haagen Dazs now has Peppermint Bark ice cream in stock at their stores. If you need me, I'll have my head in the freezer.

The Dark Tower

Ooh, scary!


Yep, that's me hitting the archives...

Once Upon a Time

It was occupied:


Nowadays, not so much (no photos taken by me as of yet).

I like the dude poking up at the bottom. I wonder if he got to finger any chicks in a tent while he was down there.

Building Fronts

In Greenwich Village:


If this is the house I think this is (the one on the left), then it belongs to a famous musician (perhaps, I'm just going on something some chick told me once). So I'm not sure if it's the house I'm thinking of, and I'm not sure if the person who's supposed to live there actually lives there. I'd be terrible at publishing one of those maps to the stars' homes.

I had a varied shooting day today. This morning I was at the Hard Rock shooting the Opie and Anthony "Thanks For Nothing" live event, and this afternoon I was in Union Square shooting the occupiers, and trying to keep myself from getting arrested by accident. Though it seemed that things went somewhat okay in Union Square, but it seems that all the action today was happening downtown. And where was I during all that action? I was right here being cozy, of course. Oh, and I have no idea when these films will actually be developed. Next up to get the magic juice (not "Jesus Juice") are the rolls from East Side Dave's all 1s birthday party, and some 35mm rolls that I have no inkling from when or whence they came. I mean, I know I shot them, I just have no idea what's on them. Obviously, it can't be anything too important if I wasn't in any rush to see what was on them.

But then again, even when I do want to see something in a timely fashion, I can be so willing to give in to my old and dear friend, laziness.

Ahh, laziness. Where would I be without you? I mean, seriously, who knows where I'd be without laziness...

La Lanterna

The Garden Is Open!


I'm not sure how much of a "garden" it really is, since it's completely glassed over and open year round. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything growing back there either, but I don't go there for the garden. I do go there for a little something every now and then. Maybe a dessert item, a chamomile tea, maybe even a sandwich with some kind of Italian deli meat and melted cheese, or maybe a salad with those giant thick slices of parmesan cheese forming some kind of Devil's Tower inspired structure over the arugula (You know, there are people that call arugula "rocket?" What the fuck is up with that?).

And this was also the first home of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Seeger. It was his mother in law's joint and after they got married they moved in. Living with your mother in law...no wonder he wrote protest songs.

Garage Lights

Lighting the way:


Once again (and as per usual), I shot something that I thought would come out looking a lot better than it actually did.

Welcome to photography, Stupid.

Chrysler Reflection

In the mirror, of course:


And by Chrysler, I mean Chrysler Building. There isn't much of it there, but when I was looking at it through the Rolleiflex, it looked like such a cool shot. You know, the majesticness of the Art Deco spire in the mirror with the side of a UPS truck in the background...And hey, I did get some of it.

What, you can't see it? Take a closer look:


Ain't that cute! Just chalk me up as another victim of Parallax Error!

IN OTHER ALREADY DEVELOPED FILM NEWS:
So I developed that second roll of VP620. You know, second in a series of like six or something. I developed it a week ago but only now sleeved it up, and let me tell you whoever was shooting that day obviously didn't know that for an image to be captured on film it helps a whole bunch if the subject the person is trying to capture has light falling upon it (then again, I should talk). The negative was so thin ("thin," that's what the pros say, "Thin"), I could barely tell where one picture ended and another began. This means I may have cut across a picture or two when I was putting the negatives in the sleeves. I've even debated not putting the results up here, but how can I deny my adoring public? So one of these days you'll get to see the results of this day of shooting from August 1971 whether you like it or not.

Oh, I also developed the third roll, and thankfully the shooter remembered how important light can be when it comes to photography. But we can't get to three without having number two first.

Construction Construction

A double exposure:


Unintended of course. And gee, what magic (yeah right)!

Brooklyn Bridge Break

From the archives:


I always liked this one. It might be from the archives, but at least I made up for missing yesterday.

This is how we dooz it! (apologies to ESD)

Brooklyn Bridge Fisheye

With a light leak!


Yes, a trip to the archives, and yes, I didn't post yesterday, even though it still feels like today. But you see, the reason I'm late is because I was actually out shooting! Yes, I was just out with my camera and flash getup and shot my little heart out. Whether anything worthwhile came of it is anybody's guess. Frankly, it's been so long since I've shot with the YashMat and the flash I forgot what the best setting combinations are. You know, shutter speed, aperture, flash strength...who the hell knows. We'll hell know once I develop them, and who the hell knows when that's gonna be...

8th and University

Featuring my favorite building muse, 1 Fifth Ave:


I feel like I've posted this picture before. I'm not sure anymore, even though I've searched through the photos and I haven't seen this one posted (I think...). I think this is a sign I need to be shooting more lately. I also need to be developing more lately. I need to be scanning more lately. That reminds me, I have that second V620 roll that's been hanging from a nail in my bathroom doorway for a week I think, when I developed it. Why don't I just take it down and cut it up and put it into a sleeve and scan it?

Why don't I pay my bills on time even though I haven't lost the return envelopes or my checkbook?

I'll give you a hint, it's the same reason.

HOW ABOUT A STORY?
So I'm being a bit lazy here and instead of properly formatting and copy editing this story for the blog, I'm just cutting and pasting it more or less how I sent it out in a personal correspondence (that's electronic mail I'm talking about) earlier this morning. Enjoy?

Since I finished lunch yesterday, I was craving a ginger ale and a cookie, my standard late night snack. I went out before midnight to get it (to CENSORED, of course). I went there, got the ginger ale, and also went to the ice cream section. I had to check the haagen dazs to see if they had the peppermint bark ice cream in stock yet. they only have that around the wintertime for some reason (I mean, who wouldn't want peppermint bark ice cream all year round? stupids). So they didn't have it, but they did have this new limited edition flavor, cranberry pumpkin spice. So far be it from me to let this ice cream go untried (and besides, I must be doing something right with my health, so says the doctor), I bought a container (I can't say pint because HD scaled back to 14oz, those fuckers). I also picked up the heart cereal that they have there and not at ALSO CENSORED, BUT FOR NO REAL REASON.

so I got back home, put the ice cream in the freezer, opened up the ginger ale, but something was wrong. I couldn't find the cookie. So I started looking to see where I could have put the cookie. I checked the kitchen table, the bed, the couch. I checked them again, I turned everything over. I even opened up the freezer to see if I put it in with the ice cream. I checked the fridge. I checked the bag which was completely empty. I checked my coat pockets. I checked the pockets of my sweatshirt that I then realized I didn't even wear to the store. I couldn't figure out where I put this damn thing that I had been craving since the afternoon. Maybe I had left it in the store, but that was impossible since he put everything in the bag. I don't know how long this went on. Five minutes? Ten minutes? Where the hell was it? I sat down and opened up my ginger ale and then it hit me...

I NEVER BOUGHT THE COOKIE!

So instead of going back and getting a cookie, I consoled myself with some ice cream. I consoled myself a little more after I woke up. Now I'm hating myself. Well, actually I feel a bit better now. I'm going to be okay. I'm already okay. I can't believe I forgot to buy the cookie. I can't believe it took me so long to realize I forgot to buy the cookie. I might be losing my mind.


Oh, and by the way, the ice cream really wasn't all that. It was nowhere near the glory that is their peppermint bark ice cream which will make you ejaculate and soil yourself at the same time. This pumpkin spice cranberry business barely got me twitching down there. Of course I finished it. I mean, it's sugar after all, right?

Oh and also by the way, I wasn't hating myself because I pigged out on ice cream, it's because I pigged out and I'm a bit lactose intolerant and know better than to have a 14oz of ice cream in such a short amount of time. But I've done it before, and lord knows I'll do it again. The intolerance doesn't seem to kick in as much with the peppermint bark ice cream, I'm thinking because peppermint is good for your stomach. That's what I keep telling myself...

The Photographer at Work

No, not this photographer, that photographer:


That photographer happens to be Bryan, and if you want to see more of his work, you can check it out at The Light Dynamic. After seeing his work, I'm sure you'll start checking his site a lot more than you check mine.

Maybe I should rethink this...

Vesuvio Bakery

This place is a blast!


I tell you, Pompeii humor never gets old!

Reflection of a Chinese Butcher

In Chinatown:


At least I'm assuming he's Chinese. I know in this modern politically correct era I can't assume that the man with the long knives was actually Chinese. I will say that I was in Chinatown, in an establishment that sells Southeast Asian foodstuffs with an emphasis on all things Chinese (including shark fins. I wasn't happy about that, but did I say take any action to benefit the betterment of the earth? Of course not), and the man was of a Southeast Asian morphotype (Ooh, look at me pulling out a word from my Evolutionary Biology days), so I'm going out on a limb and saying that he was Chinese, consequences be damned.

Oh, and he was butchering a Chinese Turkey (don't fail me now folks...).

At the Time...

I thought this was an arty shot. I might have been wrong:


My gosh, you should have seen the way my inbox exploded just because I missed another day of posting. I mean, this was like the third or fourth time I missed a daily post in over two years now for crying out loud, so give me a break! And I always post two the day after I miss one, right? So get off my back already! Some people are just so demanding.

Then again, even God takes off on Sunday (unless you're a Jew and it's Saturday, or if you're a Muslim and it's Friday. I don't know if those other religions catch a day off or not. Do Shiva or Thor ever catch a break?), so who knows? Maybe Sundays off will be my new "deal." No, I couldn't do that to you, my adoring and expectant public.

Looking Down Prince

Street, not Nelson:


Though I hear it's pretty easy to look down at Prince Nelson, since apparently he's somewhat of a short person. If you want to metaphorically look down on him (am I using "metaphorically" correctly here?), that's your business. Then again, if you're an even shorter person, like maybe one of those many short people that populate TLC. You know, they run candy shops, and try to go about their daily lives even though they live in a big world...they probably look up to Prince Nelson in the literal sense. In the metaphorical, I'd say a lot of people look up to him, even if they have to look down.

Mulberry and Prince

Streets in stone:


That's the corner of the O.G. St. Pat's church downtown, not to be confused with that big newfangled thing up there by Rockefeller Center.

So I've got the Opie & Anthony replay on my computer speakers, and The Grapes of Wrath on the TV, and I'm successfully absorbing neither.

Sunflower

In black and white:


Yeah, a big yellow flower in black and white. That makes sense...

August, 1971

The label:


The photos:

Some were better exposed than others (like I should talk):


These next two were on the better side:



What's the deal with the crucifix there? I never knew Golgotha was so lush.

Mans' best friend was there:


And his trusty steed:


I think I saw this character on Let's Make a Deal:


A cat with its head in a pot!


Mans' other best friend, with man:


These look like they came via an atom smasher (or particle collider, to get technical about it):


And why pay a landscaper when there's free labor on hand?


When the cat's away, a dog will have a drink finally:


Where's the cat? Oh there it is:


I can't believe the people who shot these 40 years ago didn't run right to the drugstore to have them developed. And just think I have another six (count 'em, six!) rolls to get through! I have two others already reeled up and in the fridge ready to go, and there's no reason why they shouldn't go because I'm using Diafine (5+5) and don't have to deal with any temperature adjustments.

Back to the usual nonsense tomorrow.

Stuffed Kitty

In the West Village:


Cute little guy, isn't he.

Ended up at Zuccotti Park today. I wasn't expecting to be down there, but lately whenever I go out to shoot I'm drawn to that place. And even though I was there just a few days ago (on Friday), once again it looked different still. More tents. More tarps. More tension. Maybe I go there because it's more dynamic than Washington Square lately. Maybe I go there because I want to be there with a camera when something goes down (so far in all my times there absolutely nothing has gone down, though today Ben and Jerry's was giving out free ice cream, so that's something). Or maybe it's like what I heard an older gentleman saying to someone down there a few weeks ago. It's like Richard Dreyfus in Close Encounters. People don't know why they're heading down there, they just are. Maybe to be a part of something. Maybe to say they were there, even in some small way. How this all plays out, what greater effects it may have on our world (or not), nobody knows. I think in these times we all want to fast forward to the ending. Lord knows, I do. But until then I'll keep going down there, shooting and talking, and someday I'll look back on what I've collected in this current moment of history. Then again, everyone is down there collecting.

The revolution may not be televised, but 40 years ago GSH had no idea that someday it would be blogged, flickrd, tumblrd, and youtubed across the globe faster than any old TV could carry it.