Journey with John Stokes: In a By Gone Era

Journey with John Stokes: In a By Gone Era: This evening we made a return journey to the Columbia County town of Lulu. Lulu is located approximately seven miles from Lake City on SR1...

D850 Era

Jordon, my son in the Army, was home for most of March, on leave between assignments, going from South Korea to Italy. During his time here, he kept asking about cameras, and what would be my dream camera. I told him the Nikon D850, since I have used Nikon since the 80's, but never had the full frames. He surprised me during his time home by ordering a Nikon D850 body. After several delays due to the price, over 3K, the body arrived late on March 13 at 7:02PM. It came the day before but UPS needed a signature and I had went into town.
I had hoped to take the camera with me to Newnan's Lake where Ray Carpenter, a photographer friend paid my $150 to spend a half day with Dick Vautrinot, a well-known nature photographer, photographing eagles and osprey from his pontoon boat. Fortunately he allowed me to use his Nikon D850 on my 200-500 lens. Following the session, I was able to save his settings on a SD card, which I downloaded onto mine, saving set up time.
My first test was the local Pro Rodeo in a very dark arena on a Friday evening. Even with pushing the ISO practically to the maximum, the images still maintained detail and sharpness. I was stoked.
Though heavy, I have found the body with heavy lens not too much a burden, except when trying to hand hold for any length of time on a subject.
I did notice two dust spots already, though I trust the sensor cleaning and some blowing will eliminate them. The bane of digital. Never a problem in film days.
I was also pleased to be able to use all the old lenses, programming them in. I still plan to purchase one or two wide primes and such down the road.
I also purchased a Western Digital 8TB hard drive so I can hopefully begin backing up some photos. Jordon unfortunately left for Italy before we could find the free Photoshop Express editing app for the MAC. The only one I can find is 99.99, or monthly.
So I am still stuck with editing on the iPhone.
But all in all, Stoked.

Long time away

Seems it’s been several years since posting, what was once a daily experience. I grew weary. Like a diary, the reflection became tedious, frustrating. No audience. Just myself.
Going through old post, I remark upon some, that person seems a stranger to me. Did I really write or photograph that.?

This weekend is Olustee. Many good times from the days in the 80’s of the Blue-Grey run, the time in the camps at the battlefield. I am going out Sunday for the newspaper.
I have the new 200-500 beast lens I’m taking, or lugging.

Today Carolyn White out of the blue sent me a letter. It was around 85 with Bob Jones I found their note in the bottle at St Marks. I will write her. Then they celebrated 20 years marriage. They are on 49 now.

Life moves quickly.

2017 July

Since the long lapse without laptop I've all but ended what was once a common thing. 2017 July finds me at my mamma's side, sitting the day with her. All are either at the beach or on vacation. So Melanie and I sit in. One I haven't seen here in two or more weeks. Vacation is more important. For Gods sake, mamma's on Hospice care. What would it put you out? But, what is the use?
I am still working as a driver at Baya Medical. Nearly two years. It's a job that had Melanie wasn't able to be the bread winner, I'd be on the street below poverty level. Pitiful to come to age 62 and be a failure with no decent retirement. Matter of time it all comes crashing in. We go in two weeks to see Jordon graduate Army boot camp in Ft Sill, OK. A bright spot. His maturity and overcoming holed up playing video games. No word from Landon going on 4 years. We aren't over it by any means. Each day painful as the first. By now Nathaniel our grandson nearing seven no memory of us.
Melanie is the director of Nurses for Haven Hospice and is overly busy. Again, if only I'd never ran into Calise at JCPenney having it in for me and firing me, I'd have been able to let Melanie do the supplement job. Life sucks. Sucks. Sucks.

Last 2016 Post

2016 was by no means a breakthrough year, but it was quite a good year photography wise. The biggest was being selected as the primary photographer to decorate the new Odom Moses offices in town. Many of my works were enlarged 20x30 and such, matted and framed very professionally. There was a reception and tour. It was a hit. I would never afford to do so many so well. 2016 I was able to reconnect with the Reporter and do two covers for the Currents magazine and several front page photos. Too bad I couldn't work full time. The Gallery, I think I sold enough to not go in the red on rent and framing. It's still a struggle to select what will sell and not be too cheap. The Happenings page was started and grew to 3500 followers. Instagram was started and grows daily, nearing a 1000 followefollowers. The Facebook pages don't grow and few people respond unless it's something with people in it. I find it frustrating as what I like, poetry and the creative or far out photo, people don't.
I was able to do two covers for Johnny Bullard's books. I did free work for Baya. I shot one wedding.
Tomorrow I start a church directory for Fellowship Baptist. So on to 2017.

Lens binge

It could be the result of the same old result, of reading too many reviews, that I bit for the Adorama sirens and ordered a Tokina 11-24 2.8 lens. In addition a polarizer, tripod and lens hood. Do not know if things will improve, being that the 18-300 has improved things marginally. 0ne thing is certain, the Cabela's VISA is near max.

Lantern Park

Today I attended the 50th anniversary of the Lantern Park Baptist Church founded by the late LE Peterson. I attended by myself, Melanie keeping Mama. I went down to the 2nd row on the left,the place we sat in the late 80's and 90's when Melanie taught Awana and our sons were little. I was baptized by Rev Peterson. They were great people. We parted ways sadly when I came to oppose the dispensational teaching. It was a strong no no, to which I was called the poison man by attempting to send contrary tracts to the deacons. The Sunday Rev Peterson said he would reveal the poison man if he didn't stop, we quietly bowed out. This was the first time back since. I have to assume nothing has changed and being independent fundamentalist it still adheres to Scofield and his system. It wasn't a hill to die upon but I did.

Driving Me Crazy

We took a long ride yesterday to Cross City for the buffet dinner at the Carriage Inn. From there across the highway to Dairy Queen for sundaes and such. It was raining with lightening. Our day of photography seemed a wash. We proceeded up 19 toward Jena, turning into the scrub to make our way to Steinhatchee falls. I took the perfunctory few photos despite the lack of proper light. We loaded and drove in to town, Steinhatchee that is, pausing at Roy's to survey the recent storm damage. from Hermene. We went back into the scrub to a pond, perfunctory photos. Over to a landing. PP.
To Shared Island. Dixie Mainline. Suwannee. And on. Perfunctory. Photos.
Point being. You cannot drive a photographer. I gave up trying to say stop, slow, wait.
I just thought of returning alone.

Honesty

Honesty hasn't always been my strong suit lately. In the realm of photography, the raw image as from the camera or iPhone has been manipulated, often without the knowledge of the viewer. I've added full moons to scenes, I've manipulated color, sharpness, etc. Some images to the point you would not recognize it from the original. It emanates from an unhealthy desire toward a wow factor, to garner likes. What is the solution? Don't do it unless there is full confession of the image being manipulated or created. It is a great and fun way to save images but the viewer should be made aware for my own integrity sake.

Reach One

It was my senior year at Florida Southern 1979. I had declared an Art Education major mainly out of exasperation, the only thing I could do at the time. I really did not aspire to teach. But it was practical and seemed a way to get a job in art. In the course of the year, early on I was assigned to Mrs Plemons kindergarten art class in nearby Winter Haven. I was to observe and learn. It was a wonderful week with the then innocent and excited kindergarteners. I so hoped my internship would be with the kindly Mrs Plemons. The last semester arrived and schools were assigned. To my great disappointment I was given 7th grade at the then new Lake Gibson Junior High. The teacher was Mr Weinstein, a Jewish gentleman who had a strong disdain for my Christianity. The art classes were basically detention halls for the students. Most of the time was spent breaking up fights, quieting the class, getting control. Mr Weinstein was the constant recepient of pranks. When it came time to turn the classes over to me, Weinstein was more than ready for a break. And so I proceeded with my projects, one such creating a stained glass paper mosaic, of which Weinstein opposed as being too religious. And so the end came. I passed. I vowed never to teach again.
It seemed a total loss. Years later, well into a career in retail, one day I received a letter from Lakeland. It was Greg, one of the shy students who was picked on and did not fit in. He wrote that of all the teachers he had in school, I was his favorite. He wanted to write and thank me. It made my eyes well up. So it wasn't a loss after all. I had reached one.

March Madness

Kentucky got beat by Indiana this past Saturday, ending a so-so season. Much of my blogging has gone since I got a certain visit in December, that showed me this blog was being followed, searching for reasons to continue hurting me. So I've quit. Sad that only twelve or so people ever followed this blog, yet the one ruins it.
These days I've been working again going on nearly a year now after a long unemployment since 2012 when I had a one year meter reading job. I am now a driver for a Medical company setting up o2 and such. I travel. It's good. Low pay. So-so bosses who try my patience. No job is as we would like. I manage. Pays some bills.
I drive the old PT cruiser and my only son Jordon drives the pathfinder we bought from my sisters ex husband. We still miss the 4wd pathfinder we gave to our other son.
Melanie the wife after a year working away in Williston Hospital as Dir of Nurses, got a job at Hospice as dir of nurses. Much better. She likes it.
Still have work at Gallery in town. Sell here and there. The Odom Moses Accounting Company recently honored me by enlarging and framing many of my prints for their new offices. Very well done.
I will try and blog as I think about it.

Faux Pass

Saturday afternoon I decided to venture down or uptown to take photos of Lake Cities buildings, in the hope of aligning them later with old photos from Florida Memory, overlaying them. Past and present. My first stop was Railroad Street and the crossing and old depot. I ventured up and down, near Alachua Street where the free soup kitchen is for the down and outs. Sure enough, around the corner came a burley white man, late twenties, asking for a cigarette. Then asking what was I taking a picture of? I really needed to answer as he started babbling words unconnected and trying to walk too close to me as I made my way back to the car. He knew he was razzing me for he said hey, where you going? To take more photos! I went on down closer to the lake where less of these types hang out. But, here came a lady asking what was I doing? When I told her she asked if I was in the gallery and when I said who I was, knew me. She even said what was I thinking putting the hat picture in? I said, you never know. She said on Tuesday she was going to bring her drawings to be juried. You never know. That cocky, street bravado street confidence. I wished her well. Who knows, I may of been talking to the homeless descendant of Monet.

I learned that if I was to frequent downtown, to carry some cigarettes or tokens, to keep near the car and to watch my back. Or wear a meter reading outfit!