Go Not Gentle

Go not gentle without a fight
Keep not that smile but frown
Go not easy back to town
all too soon
wrongs seem as right.

Tell the ones so wrong
This is where we turn
This is what I yearn
all too soon
its to the nursing home.

Go not gentle in the ride
Keep not that lip raised
Go not easy in last days
all too soon
Undertakers pull smiles wide.

150th

Thousands came to watch. Hundreds came to participate. You would think it popular by the numbers.
You would be wrong. I wonder if most who attend such events have any clue? By the comments about me during the parade on Saturday, one would doubt it. Each year the line up of the men in blue and gray grows greyer. Fewer each year the youth to carry forward the historical portrayal of their ancestors. Greyer still the memory of the history, or why they fought, of what they were fighting against, of what we to this day continue to battle; an all encompassing Federalism. A government as mamma, nanny, pappy and god all rolled into one entity. Taxed beyond our means, on Federal aid in every manner imaginable, the lure to not work or become untangled fading with each generation.
I told the old Confederate yesterday this was one of the last places we can still defeat Federalism, even if only pretend. And even the pretend each year is impeded by regulations and strict rules as to what you can and cannot do upon the field. Even the battle field was not bush hogged as in years past, the men marching in waist high grass, further heightening the possibility of a fire. And then there was the uniformed team of ten smoke jumpers on hand with shovels in the event something did catch fire. And if the soldiers fired their cartridges anywhere but upon the battle field, a ranger would promptly seek them out and expel them, or even their entire regiment. And so, is it any wonder the men in gray and blue grow weary fighting this battle? They no longer can gather and just fight it out as in the days of old. Now, they must adhere to a book of rules growing thicker by the year,until the day will come where the only people participating are the grand army of the federal regulators.
So, the men you think out of sync with time, behind the times, are in reality, the very men who are keenly aware of the times, aware of the danger you think they look silly fighting, but in reality are in a serious fight of their lives, yours and mine. Sit a spell with a few of these men and you will come away with a greater appreciation such men yet exist. A greater appreciation for their ancestors and ours that knew what the fight was for.

Olustee 2014

The 150th Olustee. The announcement that a million dollars has been secured to construct a new museum. One of the largest crowds and number of re-enactors to date. I was there before 8 and made my official free entrance via the food vendors bridge. Looking official helps. Go straight ahead with confidence and an air.
First route was to the authentic Confederate camps to find my ole buddies from North Carolina. I did not find them but found Stragglers partner at the entrance of the camps, always camping out under the stars without tent. Old pards. Talking with him, the regiments and companies were marching past for the parade ground. I fell in behind the horses and followed to the parade ground, catching up with my pals marching. Following the dedication ceremony I met the three in the Straggler camp by the corral. We talked awhile, of seeing a ghost and talking with him in a prior campaign at Gettysburg, of getting stuck near Ocean Pond this year trying to find the settlers camp, the park service pulling them out.
I bid adieu and roamed about, stopping here and there to take photographs. Most of the people I tried to take their name and give them a card. I even gave General Tom a card and told him there are several photographs he would truly like to see. I missed seeing the young Cason fellow this year who kept the General's horse, Beaureguard last year.
I was able to find the two ladies with children I photographed in Lake City on Saturday. They had again the little one year old boy dressed as a girl, a common practice in the period. I was able to take better photographs of them. I told them I enjoy more the ladies in the hoops and finery more than the men.
Who wouldn't? After nearing 500 frames, I knew that I needed to conserve battery since I had no spare.
I planted myself by my familiar pine where the soldiers line up and waited for the General to appear and do the sword ceremony. I was not disappointed. With the ranks three deep this year, it took quite a while to see all the troops marching past. It was impressive.
Again I took a direct path to the battle field and caught again the ranks coming up the trail. I then parked on the far left of the battle and spoke with the old commander, now resigned to guarding the fence, keeping spectators back. He was interesting in that he pointed out nuances. One being a blind re-enactor led by another seeing re-enactor. Sure enough, the battery died in the D3100 and I did not bring the D40 along, a bad move. I then used the Canon S100 point and shoot with the limited zoom.
After the Georgia flag was rallied down the line, I left early, as did the old commander. I was home by 3, a perfect weather day at Olustee. Not sure this year about the number of keepers out of nearly 600 frames.
Some days you have it, others you just seem to struggle with exposure and stuff. I sure could have used the D7000 I had earlier in the year. It was usually spot on with the exposure, without having to do such fiddling as I do with the D3100. I am forever over-exposing and adjusting down or up the compensation.

World Press Photo of the Year

 John Stokes wins nothing with an image of a miscreant on the shore of Crescent Beach shining his flashlight attempting to capture a signal from his grandson in Japan.

John Stanmeyer wins the World Press Photograph of the Year with an image of migrants on the shore of Djibouti city raising their cell phones attempting to capture a signal from neighboring Somalia.
Its all in the timing and the exotic location.

Crete

My old friend from high school Wolfie today offered to take me along with him to Crete, Greece for about a month with a friend of his from Jesup, Georgia. It is an enticing offer, but something I am just not up to at this point in time. Things upon the home front are tenuous and could turn bad next week, in that Melanie could wind up being laid off. As the only working person in our family, it would spell trouble ahead indeed.
The gusty winds destroying my work today and yesterday seemed but a sign to things that lay ahead. I know we cannot live upon dire predictions for the future, but our record over the past years since 2009 seem to bear this out.
Rick and Ridge and Jordon and I also planned about March 22 to take a week trip down the Suwannee. It is said I could do that anytime, but not really. In truth, I would much prefer a trip down the Suwannee any day to any trip to Greece or anywhere foreign.
 Plus, I do not like being beholden and destitute. So I messaged Wolfie to keep me in mind for his next big adventure.

Getting prepared for the UK vs UF game. I predict UF by 2 in OT. Ricky predicts UK by 8. I told him I would treat him to Beef O Grady's if he was right. I hope he is.

Tomorrow I suppose I shall venture out to Olustee early, getting in by the cemetery, saving $10. Done it every year. I will hang around the camps and take the usual. I hope perhaps to do something new, which is becoming a challenge. I will take two cameras, well, actually four, two DSLR's and two point and shoots.
Take some snacks. Hope Bumgartner and partners are there again. I did not see them in the parade today.
I enjoy sitting in their camp and talking or just listening to them.
I may stay for the battle, depending on the day and how batteries hold up. I have no spares this year.

What I learned

Location. Even though the six prints were hung on the main traffic aisles, they were not hung so as to meet the walkers eye to picture. The ones right next to mine at an angle facing the crowd were seen, mine walked right past, even though they were right beside one another.Lesson is to angle prints to the eye sight.
Location. In choosing to hang the photographs on the flimsy grid zip tied to the entrance of the tent, a strong gust of wind still snapped one of the grids and sent four prints falling. Three had the glass shattered, the fourth, the frame warped. The plexiglass frame withstood. Lesson here is to use plexiglass or avoid flimsy grids.
Presentation. Again, it goes back to the framing and matting. The size. The print that got the most interest was the 11x14 Mt Tabor black and white, probably from a historical point of view. One ole geezer said it was Watertown. I had to correct him. He probably did not like that. I really like the way John Warr presents his prints, triple matts, wood frames, excellent work. Helps to operate a frame shop.
Selection. What I thought would be of interest, the Civil war era prints with sayings, garnered little attention.
People just do not want to take the time to stop and read. They do not want to be engaged more than a few seconds. No one likes to linger.
The lady who had the most prints wowed the crowd with vivid color. She used mostly matts of color as well, not the bland white I use.
Business. I learned that the card reader Square on the Iphone will be a great asset if I even decide to show and sell anything.
I did learn that of all the crafts, not one gourd was shown. So, that is a niche.
Pricing. Has to be rock bottom cheap.

Disaster ensues:
I arrived at 7:30 this morning downtown to the tent having been blown over in the early morning wind and rain that  came through. It destroyed the tent, upended all the art work, broke three more of my frames, making a total of seven taking water, glass,mat damage. Katrina Browning, whose tent we were using, was bent and twisted. She had the bulk to the work, all of her work she said, messed up. Most of her work was in vinyl but still took damage. I cut my finger on the glass and tried to get things rounded up. Others filtered in and it was decided to just take down the entire display and call it quits. The wind kept gusting through the two buildings we were next to coming off the lake. We only sold two pieces, purses of Mrs Zechers.

Lessons further learned: Obey the rules. The stipulation was two works only. I think everyone disobeyed this. Katrina worse, to her chagrin I am sure. Me too, with seven works and some sealed 5x7's that survived.
Lesson two:Prepare for the worst. The tent was not anchored adequately. But, I do not think any amount of anchoring would help in a tornado type situation.
Lesson three: Take work down for the evening and store in vehicle. It can be set up the next day. Safe from thieves and wind and water.

Dem Blues

Woke up this Friday morning to the don't cares, don't give a blue. Gotta go down to Olustee this morning at 11 to sit til 1 at the Gateway Gallery booth. Got the don't care to. Got to take Pearce down to the Fun Run tomorrow at 7. Got the don't care to. Want to ride out to the battlefield Saturday. Got the don't care to.
A mystery what predicates these don't care to, don't want to's.
Melanie on a conference call yesterday. Again, her company announced layoff's soon upcoming. Will she be one?  Occurred to me, of all the folks here in Lake City, Me, Sister, Mamma, Allison, Jordon, she is the only one working. Sad.
Some days it is all eager and willing. Not today somehow. Yesterday was all frame and mat and ready.
Then the car took all day, had to end up going to pick up car after waiting forever for the shuttle service.
I get there, I was going to blow off steam, but remained calm and reserved. Why unload on others, like I am doing here? Ha.
So that put me behind on going down to G&K nursery for the Camila's,going to the gallery to take the two prints, etc.
Today the usual cup of coffee and the usual routine.
Wet and cold. That makes for a miserable mood I am in.
Peace out.

Finegan's Boys

Today is Thursday and it is cold and the rains have ceased. The Florida humidity combined with the cold makes for a miserable cold. The Camry is down at the shop, I am waiting for the call  for the shuttle to return and pick me up. This afternoon I will go down to the gallery and drop off the two prints for tomorrow. I will try and decide if I should likewise take more. I will probably take the basket of extra prints down when I go tomorrow to volunteer from 11 to 1.
I rewrote the poem above, Finegan's Boys and the Falling Creek, after Shannah Hodge said she liked it up until the 6 men carrying. Trying not to be so depressing in my poetry, but hard.
I am a depressing person even though I come across as jolly and carefree.
But, that is where input is appreciated. It helps us gauge and adjust, fine tune. When all we get are ignores or likes, we either delete or print more, the likes deceiving, the ignores deceiving. Comments help immensely.

I took Melanies Camry in at 8:30 and by 3:30 no call. I call and they said they would send the shuttle out. By 4:30 and no shuttle. Numerous calls later I am beyond frustration so I get Jordon to take me in to pick up the durn car. I started to unwind upon the service men but what was the use. I then went by the nursery to see if they were open, naturally, two til five and they were closed. I was going to buy two camellia plants for Valentines day. Tomorrow before 11 I hope they are open. Then I went from there downtown to see if the Art League people were there setting up, to help. Saw no one. Came on home. Jordon had gotten Kens so I ate, then went up onto Rossi Road hill to shoot the full moon. No planes or birds intersected.
Came back home around 7pm.

Old McDonald's Bike

Going thru the drive-thru at McDonalds four days ago. Sitting in the back seat with the 180mm telephoto on manual. Shot four quickies of the bicycle parked outside by the drive by.Low light. ISO set at 1600.Noise galore. Suppose again I will ask your opinion of the sequence. My preference is for shot number three, but then, to each his interpretation. In reality, three was actually shot last.
In the case of all four, post processing involved, as initial exposure was the same.

On we go

Printing up til ten and matting. Printed 12 5x7's for possible display at Olustee, depending on the tent. Too many to decide upon. Possibly take the remainder to the gallery and switch out. I will be interested in seeing how the writing prose on the photograph is accepted. Hey, I am poetry of Image. Why not.
If the lack of likes on Facebook is any indication, it will not go over too well. But then, what does on Facebook other than whats cooking and who is breaking up.

Old Files

Going through the old Dell Vostro 1000 laptop. Still has photographs from 2011 and back. Not as many as once thought. At some point it will be necessary to somehow get them off this computer. Its days are numbered. I was searching for the best moon shot I took in July of 2012. Lo, it wasn't here. It was part of the time the hard drive died on the other computer and was lost.The image quality and noise in these two shots stinks, especially the sky. It was almost pitch black when originally taken from a kayak, with a flash.

Olustee

Tis that time of year again. I am not too certain if this year I will be so wholly involved. On Friday I man the booth for the Art League from 11 til 1. Saturday, I would like to go out to the battlefield, but meme is here and Melanie is going to Williston to see her mother and Kim, her sister from Alabama. So I suppose I will go early Sunday. I saw Faye Bowling in Office Max and thanked her for all her devotion to Olustee over the years. I told her I had some photographs and poetry that I would show her, as a possible use for next year.
Today, after the proverbial trip for magenta xl, I printed out a dozen poem and photo combinations. I will choose two to hang and take the rest down to Olustee somehow. I have run out of mats and frames.
I want to enlarge to 16x20 and above if funds allow, which they don't at this time.
Much by way of want to's. Little by way of can.

It is a raining, cold day this Wednesday. Melanie has given mamma a bath and oriented her. She gets totally confused as to time and day and place. Jordon is in the last stages of his flu, though it hasn't affected his video playing. If the weather permits, I will go over to Alligator Lake to see if the white pelicans are back. I went the other day and about a dozen were in the distance. It would be nice to catch them closer.
Allison has been in the hospital with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. She came home today around ten where she will need bed rest for several days. That will be tough as she is always such a go getter.
I was to take Pearce Saturday to the Olustee Fun Run but it looks like a nix. At least he said yesterday he didn't want to run. I think he fears not winning. Just like I was back then. Shy and letting things get away because I would not act upon things. Sad.