” I DON’T DIVIDE ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE AND GARDENING; TO ME THEY ARE ALL ONE! “
-Luis Barragan-
Peppers, Wappingers Falls, New York. Photographed with a Leica M-3: 90mm Elmarit; Tri-X
Leica M-3 series six: A return to black and white film
” CHANGE COMES LIKE A LITTLE WIND THAT RUFFLES THE CURTAINS AT DAWN, AND IT COMES LIKE A STEALTHY PERFUME OF WILDFLOWERS HIDDEN IN THE GRASS.”
-John Steinbeck-
Wildflowers, Ft. Montgomery, New York. Photographed with a Leica M-3: 90mm Elmarit; Tri-X
Leica M-3 series five: A return to black and white film
” ALL DOORS OPEN TO COURTESY.”
-Thomas Fuller-
I can’t be certain of the attraction to this cabin door on Hook Road. Maybe it’s because I can make up my own stories about life in it. I’ve photographed many time over the last three years but this is the first and final, but with film.
The cabin on Hook Road. Hopewell Junction, New York. Photographed with a Leica M-3: 90mm Elmarit; Tri-X
Newspaper Customer Service…or how to go broke?
I think I’m finally comfortable with my journalistic integrity to admit that I love the New York Daily News. It is just a fun read and other than the UK and a few found at at grocery check-out…where else can you enjoy headlines like that?
I most certainly enjoy it more since I’ve been getting it free for the past few weeks.
After thirty-five years in newspaper newsrooms, I do understand the importance of customer service. For years I was the early and only person to hit the 4th floor and it seemed that many customer service calls came to the photo department extension because of this.
The lack in quality of customer service can certainly be contributed to the downward spiral of America’s newspapers…..but taking stuff for free really is the wrong thing to do even if it is the New York Daily News and I call the dreaded “Call Center”.
NYDN: Recorded message “Please type in your phone number”.
GM: Hmmm I think, but my phone number is not on record since I didn’t order the newspaper.
NYDN: recording “I’m sorry we can’t seem to find your account. I’ll have someone come on line.”
GM: Figured
NYDN: “HI this is Jared can I have your phone number?”
GM: Jared I’d give it to you but it won’t do you any good as I’m not a customer.
NYDN: Yeah it does not come up.
GM: Yup
NYDN: “May I have your address.”
GM: Certainly
NYDN: “I have you at such and such.”
GM: Yes that’s my address but the name is wrong and I did not order the newspaper.
NYDN: “Are you sure?”
GM: Jared when they take an order do they ask for a telephone number or email address?
NYDN: “Ohhh yes, this is your telephone number.”
GM: No Jared this is my telephone number. See none of the numbers match.
NYDN: So that is not your telephone number.
GM: Nope, we seem to have a case where you have the wrong name, address and telephone number.
NYDN: I have it down as “weekend only delivery”.
GM: That appears to be a challenge also as I’ve been getting it random during the week. Thought it was something new you were all trying??
NYDN: Hmmmmmm
GM: Good-bye Jared.
Leica M-3 series four: A return to black and white film
IN THE WORLD THERE IS NOTHING MORE SUBMISSIVE AND WEAK THAN WATER. YET FOR ATTACKING THAT WHICH IS HARDAND STRONG NOTHING CAN SURPASS IT.
-Lao Tzu-
Fishkill Creek, New York. Photographed with a Leica M-3: 50mm Summicron; Tri-X
Leica M-3 series three: A return to black and white film
” A MORNING-GLORY AT MY WINDOW SATISFIES ME MORE THAN THE METAPHYSICS OF BOOKS.”
-Walt Whitman-
Stoney Kill Farm. Fishkill, New York. Photographed with a Leica M-3: 50mm Summicron; Tri-X
Leica M-3 series two: A return to black and white film
” IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHRE YOU ARE, THEN CHANGE IT…YOU ARE NOT A TREE. “
-unknown-
Former factory, Beacon, New York. Photographed with a Leica M-3: 50mm Summicron; Tri-X
Leica M-3 series one: A return to black and white film
“DON’T PRAY WHEN IT RAINS IF YOU DON’T PRAY WHEN THE SUN SHINES.”
-Satchel Paige-
Ice on Fishkill Creek, Hopewell Junction, NY. Photographed with a Leica M-3: 50mm Summicron: Tri-X
Niagara Falls II:
“SKILL IS SUCCESSFULLY WALKING A TIGHTROPE OVER NIAGARA FALLS. INTELLIGENCE IS NOT TRYING.”
-unknown-
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Niagara Falls:
From the U.S. side, the American Falls can be viewed from walkways along Prospect Point Park, which also features the Prospect Point Park observation tower and a boat dock for the Maid of the Mist. Goat Island offers more views of the falls and is accessible by foot and automobile traffic by bridge above the American Falls. From Goat Island, the Cave of the Winds is accessible by elevator and leads hikers to a point beneath Bridal Veil Falls. Also on Goat Island are the Three Sisters Islands, the Power Portal where a huge statue of Nikola Tesla can be seen, and a walking path which enables views of the rapids, the Niagara River, the gorge, and all of the Falls. Most of these attractions lie within the Niagara Falls State Park.
IT’S WHERE THE BALL ISN’T
IT’S WHERE THE BALL ISN’T
First, let me lead-off this discussion with a disclaimer.
The following are my observations, and not those necessarily of my employer; current ,nor former colleagues. Even Emmy my cat has little stake in this other than a current paycheck keeps her in litter.
It is my firm belief that Sports is NEWS and should be covered visually as if one was writing the game story.
For the visual reporter, your work starts the moment that you receive an assignment for game coverage and not the few hours before setting up in the well or press area.
You now have a laptop, electronic tablet and most important, a smartphone. Show that your smarter than your phone and use that technology to do your homework on those involved in the NEWS event you are about to cover.
Example: Ozzie Guillen returns to coach the Mariners after a five-game suspension Tuesday night. What was the story of the night?
Q. How many images of protestors outside the stadium moved on the wires prior to the game? A. 1
Q. How many images of Ozzie AFTER the game began moved from the dugout, etc. by the 5th inning? A. 1 A vertical that had little-to-no use on the web; mobile or even print. Understand your market, everything you do has a “Return on Investment” to both you and your employer. Every minute is a deadline on the web.
Photographers did a very nice job of covering Ozzie being interviewed in the dugout prior to the game … then it was back to the game.
A game that no one will remember for the score.
More images will be used the day after and over the following weeks of Ozzie’s return over game action. What is your market?
If you have a Kobe injured and on the bench…record it for news value.
If you transmit three photos of the cheerleaders before sending horizontal action on deadline (yes this happend a few days ago). We need to discuss news value?
Elements of Sports coverage to act as a guide, If you think the last element should be the first then we might see a brighter future.
Peak action / Telling reaction
Don’t settle for the obvious
Marriage between action and story
Pay attention / Watch the edges!
Vary your position
Know the sport!
Time to clean the litter box.
Barbwire, fences, rails and the law:
Texas law once said: When two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing: each train shall come to a full stop and neither train shall proceed until the other has gone. Huh??
A New York City Ordinance prohibited the shooting of rabbits from the rear of a Third Avenue street car if it was in motion.
Believe it or not, putting salt on a railroad track in Alabama was once punishable by death.
It is considered a misdemeanor offense to throw pickle juice at a trolley in Rhode Island..
In Seattle, Washington, women who sit on men’s laps on trains without placing a pillow between them would face an automatic six-month jail term.
It is against the law for a railroad to remove itself from a town of more than five hundred people in South Carolina.
In Washington state, a dog must have accompanied the cowcatcher to scare livestock from the tracks.
In West Virginia, it was once illegal to sleep on a train.
If you attack a train in Indiana, you’re gonna be jailed!
In South Dakota, it is illegal to place firecrackers on railroad track. The fine doubles if they are lit.
In Rhode Island, it is illegal to operate a passenger car between a locomotive and a load of dirt.
LifeForms with Chris Crocco: Beacon, NY
” THE THING TO JUDGE IN ANY JAZZ ARTIST IS, DOES THE MAN PROJECT…
AND DOES HE HAVE IDEAS. “
-Miles Davis-
Crocco has ideas…Chris Crocco,Fluid Trio Friday night in Beacon, NY at the Howland Cultural Center with Evan Gregor playing bass and Ian Froman on drums; produced by Nelson Conde.
To Learn More about Chris and purchase his music GO TO
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Nature does not Hurry:
” NATURE DOES NOT HURRY, YET EVERYTHING IS ACCOMPLISHED. “
-Lao Tzu-
Kent Falls, CT.
Cat days of Spring:
” CATS ARE INTENDED TO TEACH US THAT NOT EVERYTHING IN NATURE HAS A PURPOSE.”
-Garrison Keillor-
Pigs or Ballet?
” IT’S NO GOOD RUNNING A PIG FARM BADLY FOR 30 YEARS WHILE SAYING,
Really, I was meant to be a ballet dancer.
BY THEN PIGS WILL BE YOUR STYLE.
-Quentin Crisp-
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Pleasures, a substitute for Joy:
“I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy.”
-C.S Lewis-
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Ammunition Against Lies:
” THE BEST AMMUNITION AGAINST LIES IS THE TRUTH, THERE IS NO AMMUNITION AGAINST GOSSIP. IT IS LIKE A FOG AND THE CLEAR WIND BLOWS IT AWAY AND THE SUN BURNS IT OFF.”
-Ernest Hemmingway-
Alone in the Middle of the Ring:
Out of the golden age of boxing it is just Ali who is left standing. A man who has spent a lifetime in the boxing ring and has been fighting physical challenges in his twilight years.
Gone is Angelo Dundee his mentor and father figure; Joe Frazier passing a few months ago who took him to his athletic limits time and time again and the “Mouth that Roared” Howard Cosell who built a career in the verbal sparing ring with the fighter.
I grew up in an Italian household where the only fighter known was the “Rock” Rocky Marciano and anyone else other than Joe Lewis was not even worth a mention.
I remember it like it was yesterday, I was nine and it was the eve of the first Liston-Ali fight on February 25, 1964 fight but of course he was Cassius Clay in those days and the days leading to the fight were filled with interviews and press much like today’s Super Bowl.
There were phrases like ” Fight like a Butterfly, Sting like a bee.”; brief interviews with the famous Dundee and poetry by Ali on the fight’s outcome…
Clay comes out to meet Liston and Liston starts to retreat,
If Liston goes back an inch farther he’ll end up in a ringside seat.
Clay swings with a left,
Clay swings with a right,
Just look at young Cassius carry the fight.
Liston keeps backing but there’s not enough room,
It’s a matter of time until Clay lowers the boom.
Then Clay lands with a right, what a beautiful swing,
And the punch raised the bear clear out of the ring.
Liston still rising and the ref wears a frown,
But he can’t start counting until Sonny comes down.
Now Liston disappears from view, the crowd is getting frantic
But our radar stations have picked him up somewhere over the Atlantic.
Who on Earth thought, when they came to the fight,
That they would witness the launching of a human satellite.
Hence the crowd did not dream, when they laid down their money,
That they would see a total eclipse of Sonny.
The fight was on cable in those days and we neither had nor could afford cable but I did know that the neighbor who had just moved out of the apartment a few doors down had it as I could see the looping connection curled on the empty apartment floor as I passed the open window each day.
With military precision the night of the fight my friend Bruce and I packed up the portable black and white TV which was about a forty pound, metal cased, zenith with a small pair of pliers where the channel changer should have been and rolled it down the sidewalk to the empty apartment where Bruce made quick entry through the window and we settled in for what would be the most awesome fight of the golden age of boxing.
It was the start of my love for the sport of boxing and the end of my career as a first story man.
