Christ in the Camp

It was Chaplain Joey Young's first service in the authentic confederate camp as a chaplain. There were less than a dozen men gathered about the fire waiting. He had his Chaplin straw hat with cross insignia, his KJV bible, his bell, pocket watch and black tails. About the nine o'clock hour for service, he reached down, checking the time again before picking up the hat, then the bible and bell to toll the service. I was ready with one shot. Moments occur like this and are never again to be repeated, sometimes re-created.
This was around 2009. Each year since, I try and attend Chaplin Young's service, which grew this year to over three dozen or more. Even though he uses the Armenian way of raising the hand at the end of the service, I still like to listen to him. There are other Chaplains in camps, some better than others, some worse.
It is one of the things I look forward to on each Sunday morning during Olustee.
This print is available at the gallery in 11x14.
I recently sold a 5x7 version.

between a dream

as i rounded the corner of 250 and Country Club for home, the sun setting to my right, i pointed the camera and shot as the large oak came into view between the two roadside trees. It blurred the large black tree nicely, keeping the background relatively sharp. I doctored it up in post processing by adding HDR affect slightly, warming, brilliance, about anything I could do to give it a dreamy affect. I even took out the black light wire between the two trees. So in a way, it is more of a painting than a photograph, at least, a representation, impression. It goes to show, one does not always need a stationary platform in which to make photographs. Many of my photographs are from moving vehicles. I have no qualms about it. It adds the element of mystery, of surprise. Sometimes it works, other times it falls flat. Part of the fun.

Pray,Maiden,Pray

Not the song I wanted to play. Bobby Horton's song, Pray,Maiden,Pray in his volume 4 CSA Songs, is much more appropriate. I will try and download it to the computer and place it here eventually. I think the photograph is from the 2009 Olustee. Fortunately, I have Smug Mug, and I have at least saved several years from Olustee there. Other years lost to computer crashes.
I was really drawn to the little maiden with her mother, or granny, in the petticoats. One shot, just as good, has her looking up at her granny. I deliberately toned it down to evoke more of a nostalgic feel to it.

Take me out

Take me out coach...set me on the bench..between the blackness... take me from the ball hogging...my vain dribbling...just so Kenny...or Penny...or Calvin...can throw it up...the gym isn't even the same...not even the game...all shook and jive...each man for himself...no limit they say...to the me...me....me....take me way, way back...when I was a cub in Kentucky...the boys rotated through the options....waiting for the open man...at the end of the play...not the first pass...after crossing center court....to Orville and the JV...a West Virginia protege...of West and how to play....telling me...you could go far....far....and then the blackness came....and I was no longer the answer from Kentucky...just another spastic white boy....out of place...in this place....of such blackness....

Oh March

Oh March, come not again...we have yet to recover from the taking...of two-eleven...eight-thirty...Luther Ray...daddy....preacher...too large in life to die...Oh March...come not again...I have written...to Japan...and...nothing...over there...is a grandson...who loved me...more than his own....gone....a year since seeing him...this March....Oh March...coming for Melanie...taking the job...perfect for her...making her...return to the fields...the highways...the hedges...leaving us again....wondering....from whence comes the groceries...Oh March...we are in lock step with you...boots laced and breeches tucked....goose stepping....saluting....obeying....parading...tears hiding...prisoners of March....march...march.

In A Gallery It Sold

In a Circle they met sold today for $65 plus tax. I had planned on selling it for $97 since I did valued the frame higher than the print. But, the fellow said I told him $49, which I meant if it was in a black frame, so we compromised. Frame cost me nothing anyhow, since it was copped from sister.
Anyway, printed another to take down. Nice just to sell anything and make up for the rental and club dues.
Yet to see commission check though from Mike. Must mention it tonight.
In a circle they met seems to be about the only thing I can sell lately. Oh well, at least something is selling.
Took another poem down from John Clare facebook page and re-posted it at Poetry of Image blog. Miffs me to no end to post stuff only to have it ignored. I think it is all in the friend mix. Most are probably out working and aren't always checking Facebook like I am. Not all as addicted.
Tonight is the Spring Reception at the college. I do not hold out much hope of winning. I do think the ladies hands sewing in black and white will win overall or first in photography.

The Azalea Gala

It did not look as if the sunset was going to appear. Most of the late afternoon was gray overcast. I was inside and as I looked out the back door, noticed a redder sky opposite the sun. I thought that unusual. I went out back with the Canon S100 and took several shots, nothing of note. Turning, I was amazed. Over the pool and house a brilliant red appeared seemingly from the gray suddenly. I took a few shots and rushed inside, telling Melanie on my way to the front yard to look at the spectacular sunset. I went out to the azalea's by the road and tried to get a good shot balancing the flash with the sky. Usually, I over-expose the flowers. I got two correct before the brilliant sky faded. It came quickly and was over as fast.
The photograph was then placed on Facebook without little if any work. The comments were slow to come. Johnny Bullard was most kind, saying I need to make note cards and enlarge it. And yet, as nice a shot as it turned out, it has so far come no where near the shot of 170th Avenue lane. It depends greatly on who shares and sees. Friends of friends see and it grows. I cannot emphasize this enough to my friends.

of wind and rain

Wallace Stevens stopped by today and left two poems for me. Gerald, Melanie's step father in law stopped by to say hello, in town selling toilet paper to fire stations and jails. Things we need, poetry and paper.
And so Melanie types out her resume, while Frank, the Vietnam vet pool man puts a new mother board in the salt generator. Needs 40 pounds of salt, yellow stuff and chlorine. Always in need of something, that pool. Do not buy a home with a pool. You will grow old and tired of its demands.
It is eternally interesting to me the things that reverberate. The photograph of 170th Avenue was not particularly a grand shot. It was not even the main reason I told Gerald suddenly to stop! It was the fruit upon the Japanese plum beside the old oak that did. I offered to pick some, but they said it was on private property. I said, looks to me no one even lives there. And so, in the getting back in, I took this and two other lane shots. And that is the way it went. The three occupants in a particular hurry to get somewhere, with me, not. But, as I posted already, I resigned myself to the speed and tried to snap as we flew past places I once walked upon slowly.
And we never made it to the cemetery, detouring instead left at the intersection of the trees to go up toward Blue Grotto. I told Melanie that next time we come, it probably will be just me coming. No one else could stand my slow driving.

First Impression

I always find it a bit disconcerting when first presenting work to the volunteers for entry and processing. It is usually a good indicator of how the work will do, as invariably, they cannot contain their opinion as to what they think of the work. An awkward silence and you know you are sunk. A oh my and wow and still you feel you are sunk. It is a tough gauntlet to pass through. I prefer to have everything completed when I arrive so all I have to do is pass it to them and run. I prefer not to know the prints I have selected are again the wrong choice.
Usually the works we choose in some way, on some level spoke to us. We did not select them out of others speaking. Thus, when others speak of our personal choice, it is as if they are speaking of us personally. I know this is taking a print to too personal a level, but that is the way it is.
Well, we shall know come this Friday night when the two judges decide if it spoke to them.

Curves Converge

Taken from the dock overlooking Kings Bay at Crystal River. The lady was waiting for the next boat to load so she and boyfriend, husband, lover or whoever could load their 150hp watercraft. The curves from both naturally caught my eye, the exact intended purpose of the designer of such powerful craft, women and boat.

Today I take the three prints to the College for the show this Friday, to hopefully win something. Sam Reed, the volunteer in charge of hanging wants me on hand for awhile to take photographs of the volunteers. Said I would. Then, from one until five will be at the gallery volunteering.
The blow out from Olustee really cooled my interest in volunteering, with seven of my works messed up.
Maybe today will re-kindle some interest. Dale Tompkins put me on a Camera Club page I assume is part of his church. They plan to meet periodically and go on outings and such. I assume I will be the senior member of said group. Oh well, young ideas always good to be around. Lord knows we get the extreme opposite at the Art League.
BTW, the third print decided upon was Catscape, the distorted picture of Zoe our cat upside down.

And...my how we are growing...up to 15 followers. At this rate I will have to start watching what I say. No more, mamma took a bath today and I am about to shoot the next door neighbor's.....

Take it quickly

We had just finished eating an early supper at Charlies seafood in Crystal River. I was still full from the large pork and fries lunch at Frogs in Williston. Everyone else had eaten small Frogs BBQ. At Charlies I had the catfish, Gerald and Melanie the Maui Maui and Billie Earl the fried mullet. We walked out to the dock and as I approached, I had the little Canon S100 camera out and ready in P mode with a minus one exposure compensation. I had seen this lady sitting by her boat and knew immediately it would make a good composition between the two palms. The lady never saw me take the only shot I was able to get before she noticed us walking up and changed position totally, getting up to load the boat from Kings Bay.
Point is, had I not been scanning ahead, composing as I walked along mentally,  approached quietly and quickly, camera out and ready, I would have missed the shot. It is satisfying when things fall into place ever so often quickly.

Do you think you can tell?

Tomorrow is the entry day, the day to take the art work to the Gateway College Performing Arts Center to enter in the Spring Art League Show. Last year I missed the deadline by an hour. The year before that I got an honorable mention. Each entrant is allowed up to three works. Two I had chosen simply out of laziness and the fact I have no other 11x14's on hand. Suwannee Burning and In a circle they met. The third? Do you think you can tell what judges will like? I cannot. Do I go black and white, shock value, conservative and pretty? Perhaps the third will be something I do not usually do, perhaps the shadow selfie.
Intrusion of Illusion. Whatever it is, I went to Office Max and again came away with 80.00 in ink and paper. If time frames were not of essence, I swear the sending out for printing has to be less expensive. And I say that I want to move up to at least 16x20 and larger, with fancy frames and mats? No so fast cognoscenti.
Sam just called and he wants me to be on hand tomorrow around noon to take photographs for the club. I will likewise be at the gallery from 1-5 tomorrow. And around 1:30, Melanie is having an executive conference call. She feels tomorrow they will tell the people of the layoff. And we will definitely be printing 8x10 and 5x7's.