I’m delighted that my photo Night Thoughts won the Havana Times 2014 Photo Contest in the Cuba by Night category. This sixth annual contest had over 550 entries that went through three rounds of evaluation by 20 jurors. Thanks to Circle Robinson, editor of the Havana Times, for conducting the contest.
Night Thoughts – Havana, Cuba
Day of the Dead – Nazareno Etla
A surreal procession wends its way through the dimly-lit streets of Nazareno Etla, Oaxaca, at nightfall during the Day of the Dead celebrations. Here are some images that I captured during this event in November 2013, after the final day of a workshop with Ernesto Bazan. The first image in the slideshow was also included in Aline Smithson’s Lenscratch Trick or Treat Exhibition.
Feature Shoot Subway Photos
The public transit systems provide a fascination location for candid photography. Whenever I step into a subway station it feels as though I have entered a magnificent theater with a diverse cast of characters performing in an unscripted play on an ever-changing stage. I’m delighted that two photos from my Metro series are included in the Feature Shoot article 35 Voyeristic Photos of People on Public Transport Around the World. The show was judged by Travis Ruse, Photography Director at Inc. Magazine, and includes images from 15 locations by 25 photographers.
Metro Line 3 near Coyoacan, Mexico City
Linea 1 near Museo, Naples
Surviving the Facebook Black and White Challenge Virus
The following is a recap of my five-day ordeal with the Facebook #BlackAndWhiteChallenge virus where I posted five images from my series Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Plaza taken in 2009.
October 27 – Day 1
Autumn has arrived and it’s now the cold and flu season. Unfortunately, I’ve been infected by the dreaded Facebook #BlackAndWhiteChallenge virus which I caught from Alex Brikoff after logging on to my account.
According to epidemiologists, the best way to stop this scourge is to isolate infected individuals and to trace anyone that they may have had contact with. I intend to avoid using my camera during the five days that I’m posting images. I also promise not to nominate any of my friends to post their images in order to diminish the spread of this plague.
Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Plaza (2009) – Leica M8, 35mm Summicron ASPH f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/250 sec, lens cap on.
October 28 – Day 2
Lens cap problem discovered and my solution is progressing nicely.
I remain in quarantine, firmly determined not to pass this insidious virus on to any of my friends. Ironically, today is Dr. Jonas Salk’s 100th birthday. Oh, if he could only help us now!
Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Plaza (2009) – Leica M8, 35mm Summicron ASPH f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/60 sec, removing lens cap.
October 29 – Day 3
Lens cap problem fully solved. My temperature is normal, and I’ve been avoiding direct contact with anyone that has a Facebook account and a camera or cell phone.
Ironically, today is the 110th anniversary of the opening of the IRT subway line in New York City, where the #BlackAndWhiteChallenge virus has been festering, albeit in a much less infectious form, since 1938.
Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Plaza (2009) – Leica M8, 35mm Summicron ASPH f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/60 sec, lens cap finally off.
October 30 – Day 4
Oops! I dropped the Leica lens cap on the ground. That small piece of plastic costs $29.95, and of course I bent over and pick it up.
Coincidentally, today marks the 107th aniversary of the invention of Bakelite, a phenol-formaldehyde polymer that was the world’s first fully synthetic plastic, by Leo Baekeland. In 1894, Baekeland also invented Velox Paper, the first paper suitable for black and white contact printing.
Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Plaza (2009) – Leica M8, 35mm Summicron ASPH f/8, ISO 800, 1/90 sec, lens cap dropped on ground.
October 31 – Day 5
Success at last! I’ve finally captured this photo of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Plaza. Unfortunately, it appears that some camera settings were inadvertently changed when I bent over to pick up the lens cap. Luckily, I was shooting RAW, so it was possible to recover lost details in post-processing. Although some may think that this image is slightly overexposed, I prefer to believe that it vividly demonstrates the illusive Leica Glow.
Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Plaza (2009) – Leica M8, 35mm Summicron ASPH f/2.8, ISO 1250, 1/2 sec.
I’m pleased to report that this ordeal is finally over and that I haven’t transmitted the #BlackandWhiteChallenge virus to anyone else. I’ve also developed permanent immunity to any future infections by that virus. I’m now eagerly awaiting an invitation to the White House so that Barack can give me a hug and reiterate that we are not a nation ruled by fear.
Phinney Center Gallery Exhibition
I’ll have two prints in the Phinney Center Gallery Northwest Fine Arts Competition Exhibition juried by Jody Bento and Dionne Haroutunian. The show will run from October 8 through November 7 with an opening reception on Friday, October 10, from 7 to 9 pm.
Young Couple, Bosque de Chapultepec – Mexico City
Metro Line 4 near Château d’Eau – Paris
The artists featured in the exhibition are: Jo Braun, Brittany Faulkner, Susan Gans, Stephen Gilbert, Bill Hodge, Gay Jensen, Jessica Jorgensen, Gail Larson, Anita Lehmann, Stan Raucher, Susan Rotondo, Amy Smith, Dara Solliday, Melissa Wax and Lee Withington.
The gallery is located in the Phinney Neighborhood Association, 6332 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103.
Phone 206 783 2244. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9 am to 10 pm and Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.