new ttv photo

It's been a while since I've really resumed my ttv photography. This image taken today is the classic embodiment of this genre. Besides, I felt all the text needed to be broken up with an image.

amateur videographer

Recently, at work, in an effort to add a little more interest in our website, I decided to try adding video snippets of interviews conducted with people relevant to our non-profit work for the Golden Rule Project. These videos were shot with an inexpensive Flip Mino camera, the most basic of videocams, then edited using the Windows MovieMaker software that came with our software bundle. It is a very rudimentary program, but allows you to perform some basic tasks, like creating title pages, adding dissolves and fades, etc. Attached is the link to one of the first videos I produced. Although admittedly crude, I'm still nonetheless proud of the fact that I could put together something reasonably decent.

I hope you find this moderately interesting.

http://www.goldenruleproject.org/Images/videos/phillip%20as%20mayor%20final%20cut.wmv

always something new - percebes!

This morning in the waiting room of a doctor (a consultation for possible sleep apnea), I read an article on percebes. Isn't it interesting how we are always forced to desperately seek a publication that might offer us some level of entertainment in waiting rooms across America?

Magazines I never knew existed seem to be de riguer. My dentist, as an example has many issues of "Fighter Plane" magazine strewn throughout his spacious and otherwise tidy waiting room. Does he actually have an interest in fighter planes? Is he trying to show us that he has a bold, dashing side that we never glimpse in his white, pressed smock, as he tries to keep HIS side of an otherwise banal conversation going. (I can only mutter sounds to signify agreement as his instruments are banging around in my gaping mouth.)

Do these obscure magazines of highly specialized interests (translation: of no interest to the normal or sane person) come in some bulk package rate approaching "free?" Can't my exorbitant bills help subsidize some interesting literature? I feel very, very hostile when I am forced to feel grateful for finding a dog-eared copy of "O" magazine in the vacant seat next to me.

One byproduct of such magazine selections is the material you find yourself reading and the discovery that you can in fact, find amusement and genuine interest in articles you would normally ignore. The world continually offers us wonder no matter where we are or how old we are. Which brings me back to percebes!

In essence, a percebes is a goose barnacle. Percebes have long been a delicacy in Spain, but have recently found favor in some of the elite restaurants in the United States and other countries. What is particularly fascinating about percebes is the difficulty associated with harvesting them. Percebes are limited to certain regions in the world. They survive by clinging on rocks that are continually battered by violent waves which helps force food their way. Unfortunately this results in a very dangerous harvesting environment. Each year at least one death and multiple injuries befall the harvesters in Spain (where the acknowledged BEST percebes can be found).

The "Percebes" (yes, the harvesters are referred to by the object of their hunt) often work in pairs where they have 2.5 hours before the arrival of low tide and 1 hour after low tide to do their work. They have a rope affixed to some stable outcropping to enable them to lower themselves to the precipitous rocks below which are surrounded by boiling water. Their eyes are more often fixed upon the waves below them as unpredictable swells can easily overtake them. These swells originated miles away, so they are aware that the rhythm of the ocean can be a deceptive thing. They are attuned to subtle changes in the waves that can signal an approaching swell. They must react instantly and scurry about the rock face as the advanced warning does not afford them much time. Did I mention the best harvests occur during the winter in Spain? Thus the waters are even more volatile.

Strict limits are imposed upon the Percebes and their daily catch. 8 coast guard boats continually patrol the shoreline where the best harvests occur.

According to the author of the article, the first time he had percebes he was less than thrilled by their appearance. He described his bowl as having the appearance of a collection of dinosaur toes. However, when he bit off the head and sucked the insides out of the shell, he claims it was one of the "purest" tastes of the Atlantic Ocean he had ever experienced. In Spain, incidentally, a typical bowl of soup adorned with 7 or 8 percebes goes for over $50. As I mentioned, percebes can be sampled at some of the finest restaurants in the United States on an occasional basis.

I share this information here because I am still delighted and amazed that the world contains many things we do not know. No matter how old we are, it still offers us the same sense of wonder we felt as infants when we took our first steps. As adults we can still revel in these new discoveries, and now we can even dance.

a through the viewfinder portrait

As with this blog, my through the viewfinder photography has also been neglected during the hiatus that is the holidays. In an attempt to resume my image a day commitment to myself, I've slowly resumed shooting again. Attached is a portrait I took recently.

Ruminations

It's been a while since I've posted anything here. Since my last post, Barack Obama was elected as President of the United States, gas prices soared and abated (to the lowest price point in 4 years), Thanksgiving has come and gone and soon Christmas will be upon us. Events and milestones continue to flow like an unending river, waiting for no one, letting nothing impede its flow regardless of its volume. The world continues regardless of people we lose along the way as it has for hundreds, thousands of years.

Along with the countless people, animals and insects have also succumbed to this natural cycle, some lines actually becoming extinct, never to be seen again. As we grow older, our own mortality looms before us invoking fear and dread. Perhaps the comfort is best found in our respective religious beliefs (for those of us fortunate enough to have them) or perhaps we can revel in the fact that we have participated in an ongoing process that has been shared by millions. We have been a small drop in the continually renewed river and we have witnessed many things as we have followed its course, some profoundly beautiful, some horrific and incomprehensible. Nonetheless, we must give way to the new water that replenishes the river and be grateful for the part we played in this rushing stream and for the journey it afforded us.

museum of natural history

An identical photo recently appeared in a national photo magazine. Since I was there at the Museum of Natural History in NYC, I couldn't help but duplicate it. There is something surreal about the image. Too bad I didn't get there first, but I imagine others have taken the very same photo many times before.

a tree grows . . .

The Lady

And of course, what trip to NYC would be complete without a visit to Lady Liberty?

The Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge shot on the run during a recent visit.

pittsburgh at night

Just a conventional panoramic shot of Pittsburgh at night taken from the Duquesne Incline during a recent trip.

encounter in an elevator at the Waldorf Astoria

We were in New York two weeks ago visiting our daughter, Marissa, who currently resides and works there. As an activity suggested by Marissa, we booked a walking tour of the Waldorf Astoria followed by High Tea.

During the tour, the guide had our group of 15 split into separate groups as we rode the small elevators from floor to floor. As she recounted the glorious history of the hotel, she mentioned past and present residents that included such illustrious celebrities as Frank Sinatra, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and most currently, Martin Scorsese. She escorted us to another elevator to tour yet another floor and as the doors opened, there stood Martin Scorsese in the back of the elevator hidden behind an unsuspecting couple. I pushed my wife into the elevator and jumped in, followed by three other members of our entourage who were also unaware of the identity of the short man in the back corner of the elevator.

As the doors closed, I turned and looked directly at Mr. Scorsese and exclaimed, "Wow! We are in the company of genius." This prompted the entire group to turn around to identify the object of my statement. There was a brief moment of awkward silence just prior to their recognition. Scorsese responded in kind by looking behind him at the same instant as the rest of the occupants of the elevator. Then, as if realization slowly overtook him, he looked back at me, and pointed to himself as if to say, "Oh, you mean ME!"

He smiled, (and may have chuckled) and responded simply, "Thank you, thank you."

I couldn't resist, continuing, ". . . and I'm just talking about your acting in the American Express commercial." He laughed and said, "Yes, it IS getting a lot of play . . . "

And with that, the elevator doors opened and we all reluctantly departed for our fourth floor stop (except for that same unsuspecting couple who originally obscured him from public sight), as Martin Scorsese said, "Good-bye."

the difference between light and shadow . . .

I've discovered that the images I consider most successful in my through the viewfinder series are the ones where glare comes directly into the lens. The subsequent ghosting (which I've concluded from the image prior to this one, and the one prior to that, is attributable to the lack of lens coating technology that existed in the earlier cameras) creates a beautiful, almost dream-like effect.

latest image

Just when you think there cannot possibly be any additional images, Voila! It's interesting how inspiration ebbs and flows in spite of your best efforts to maintain a high level of creativity. During one of my many bouts of insomnia, I had the inspiration for this photo. It did not turn out quite like I had envisioned, but nonetheless I am pleased with the result. I intend to do a re-shoot to more closely approximate my original vision, but this does not negate the fact that sometimes happy accidents occur. In this case, the glare of light on the old (uncoated?) lens added to the overall ambiance. I'm still thinking of the perfect title for this image. I've come up with "incognito" or "an unidentified woman" or "secrets." Your suggestions are welcome.

and yet another image

This is essentially a straight through the viewfinder image. The blurring and ghosting are direct results of the Kodak Duaflex viewfinder. As in toy camera photography, through the viewfinder photography often yields unexpected, unplanned images with their own inherent beauty.

abstract image

This is one of the first images taken with my new (old) Kodak Duaflex camera purchased on eBay. As you can see, it's an abstract image composed primarily of light, shadow and texture. I'm very pleased with this photo. I considered revealing the nature of the object captured in this image, but it detracts from the aesthetics of the image if you know how it was derived. Let's just agree to call it "art" and leave it at that. (Actually, if you're really curious, check out my flickr site).

more images

What can I say? I can't stop posting my latest ttv images. I'm very pleased with the results. I received my Kodak Dualex on Friday, THE ttv camera of choice. It is a beautiful camera, very light, very compact, elegant in its simplicity. Today I received my Argus Seventy-five. It is in very good shape and my mask photo is the first one taken through its viewfinder. I've entitled the photo of the horse, "horse dreams" and the photo of the mask, "I seek the light in my disembodied dreams . . . "

prevarication

I know I promised to refrain from posting any more ttv images, but I shot this image today and it's my favorite one thus far. It was extremely difficult to take in the dim light of the old sink. I had to focus my camera manually since I knew the autofocus would by virtually useless in the darkness. Additionally, I had to perch the tripod-mounted camera precariously on the edge of the sink counter as I stood on a chair to get the right angle. The exposure was a full ten seconds at f/6.7 (to try to coax a little depth of field out of the "guessed" focus) at 200 ISO. Even with aggressive software sharpening, the image is still largely unfocused except for the lower portion of the drain stopper. As far as happy accidents go, the final image looks drastically different from the image I saw in the viewfinder at the moment of exposure; it is far more complex, textural and mysterious.

through the viewfinder is too much fun

I'll refrain from posting anymore through the viewfinder images on this blog unless they're really noteworthy. Henceforth, if you're interested in seeing my latest photos, you can access them via
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10639969@N05/ and searching under "sgseko" for my photostream. I'm including this photo primarily because of the nice blurring on the upper third of the frame. This was totally unexpected and unnoticed during the time of exposure and is just the sort of happy accident that used to delight me with my toy camera photography. I've yet to receive the Kodak Duaflex I won over eBay, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the resulting images will look compared to the Argus Seventy-five.

my eBay days are over . . . (at least for now)

This morning I finally met with success in purchasing a Kodak Duaflex camera!

It has been an intensive week of vying for and bitterly losing several auctions along the way. Up until this moment, the scenario has played out pretty much the same. As you can imagine, I have watched the cameras much like a lion hidden in the bushes as it stalks its prey. I don't even hint at my presence lest I force other predator/competitors to pounce first. No, my stealth is as much about these other predators as it is about the prey. Unlike the lion, however, I have to continually hit "refresh" to monitor the countdown to the end of the auction period. Unlike nature, there are deadlines in the jungle known as eBay.

Nearby, I glance at my atomic clock to validate synchronicity with eBay's clock. I have concluded that they are perfectly synched. With 20 seconds left (taking into account my dial-up connection and processing speed), I submit my bid price, find I am the highest bidder, and upon the final "refresh" learn that I have been outbid by $ .50 to some tool named "geodecember" or "bardb" or something equally offensive in its attempt at a cute alter ego identity. Undoubtedly they all cackled villainously in that last "refresh" moment proclaiming them the winner. This scenario played out several times and as such, I was becoming increasingly agitated and obsessed with winning. This is a mistake I recognize. Emotions were beginning to hold sway over cool, detached reason. Adding to my annoyance was the inflationary spiral in Duaflex prices: $20.49, $21.00 $14.50 (I have no reason for this drop here), $22.49, $21.00 $37.49, $40.00, $40.01!

At some point, one has to decide whether to continue the quest, waiting for the perfect item to recycle on eBay in pristine glory, or to choose instead to pursue an acceptable alternative. There are those coveted items that have been extensively photographed from every conceivable angle on eBay to seduce us into burning desire. They often do go for higher prices in a fevered bidding war. There are two Dualexs that fall into this category coming to a bidding close towards the end of this week. I debated over whether to engage in these forthcoming auctions, but opted instead to try today for a poorly photographed Dualex that lacked the "sexiness" of the others, but claimed to be in excellent condition. Whether this will prove a mistake or not, I'm still not sure. I do know that I'm weary of the time it has taken me to engage in the pursuit, so I decided to perservere one more time today in the hopes that this will all soon come to an end. And, as things turned out, I did win this morning's bid at a price of $21.50.

The seller lives in Colorado, a nice western location that makes me feel comfortable as it has the same regional sensibility of Utah AND a component of the seller's alter ego identity has "mom" embedded in it. I take these all as positive indicators of a good and honorable transaction with the product meeting my expectations of being in reasonably good shape both cosmetically and optically. After all, the primary reason I am buying this camera is to shoot photos through the viewfinder. The camera need not look brand new, nor does it even need to function as a camera. Thankfully, the quest is over. I can turn off the "obsession" knob embedded in my brain and free up space once again to return to the demands of the real world and everyday life. I now have three diverse ttv cameras: the Kodak Brownie Reflex, the Argus Seventy-five and finally, the Holy Grail of ttv cameras, the Kodak Duaflex.

more ttv images

I call this one Baby Godzilla. (I originally thought to entitle it, "He comes for me in my dreams . . . " but thought it revealed too much of the inner workings of my mind.) The sparks were very problematic. I had to manually turn the broken wind up key backwards to produce them. Since it was difficult not to move Godzilla while cranking the key during the long exposure, I finally had to shoot one photo of Godzilla in a stationary position, and another to get the sparks, which turned out very blurred. I then added the sparks later via Photoshop. My goal is to shoot one "good" ttv image a day.

still life

I've been receiving a lot of feedback on the ttv photos I've posted on flickr. It's been very gratifying and helps inspire me to keep shooting in this genre. Here's another photo I produced last night.

yet another ttv image

I know I'm getting a little carried away, but for me inspiration arrives infrequently. I'm enjoying the possibilities of ttv photography. Yesterday I won an eBay auction for my own Argus Seventy-five, the model my co-worker loaned me. I like the curve of the viewfinder over the Kodak Brownie Reflex. This weekend, three Kodak Duaflex auctions will come to a close. If I manage to snag one of these, my eBay days will be over until the next "big thing."

more through the viewfinder images

Here are two more ttv images. Both were taken with the Argus Super Seventy-five camera.

a first foray into ttv photography

Kim, a co-worker and fellow photographer, discovered with much amusement that she possessed an Argus Super Seventy-five in her collection of cameras. Today she brought it to work for me to play with for a few days. These photos are the first I've taken. I should have utilized a Digital SLR with the hood-like attachment, but as I was at work, I enlisted the aid of my digital point-and-shoot that I carry with me. The portrait is a reverse ttv image. I shot it through the lens rather than the viewfinder as indicated by the argus model name on the faceplate of the camera. I'm excited about the prospect of further exploration.

the monster in eBay and through-the-viewfinder revisited

I'm really kind of a terrible person. I base this on my recent behavior on eBay. But lest I get ahead of myself, let me begin by saying that all of this eBay "stuff" started with my new-found desire to experiment with through-the-viewfinder photography.

This next paragraph details my obsessive nature in the world of cameras, so if you're not interested in this sort of thing, I recommend you skip it.

I've been doing further research and concluded that there are cameras better suited to the ttv genre than my Rolleiflex. The Rolleiflex is simply too nice a camera to be utilized as a ttv "lens" since it possesses considerable weight, bulk and inherent value. Most ttv shooters utilize older Kodak or Argus cameras that are fairly inexpensive and lightweight. The camera of choice seems to be the Kodak Duaflex (the original, not the II, III or IV). The original Duaflex has the advantage of not having a "hood" over the viewing lens, thus making it easier to affix to a "contraption" (basically a tube that runs from the shooting camera to the viewfinder to eliminate extraneous light in the final image).

And thus my eBay visits have begun. Can I say here that I truly hate the bidding process? It encourages the worst behaviors in me and I seem to enter this "combative" mode that easily overtakes all reason. I have resolved to keep my bidding within a certain price range that I feel is reasonable as per guidelines set down by ttv forums. Using reason and restraint, I have successfully purchased a Brownie Reflex (an evidently, less desirable ttv camera at the moment) for $ .99 plus shipping. Buoyed by this triumph, I'm now contemplating bidding on a Brownie Starflex, another lesser valued ttv camera, that I am confident I can obtain for the same $. 99 plus shipping.

The Duaflex, on the other hand, has become more problematic. This is apparently THE ttv camera for the moment and I confess that I have deliberately bid in minimum increments moments before the auction close, to force my hungry competitors to pay prices that are probably acceptable to them, but in my scornful way, higher than they would have preferred. I know, I know. Despicable, spiteful, combative and mean. Road rage run amok on the information superhighway. Karma will undoubtedly ensure the fact that I will never obtain a Duaflex at the price point I have set it my mind. I would therefore like to publicly declare that henceforth, I will abstain from such behavior. I will be a sporting bidder and only vie for the Duaflex without regard to vengeance, poor sportsmanship, annoyance or testosterone flare-ups. I may have to concede and move beyond my original price point as I sadly witness the Duaflex go for increasingly higher and higher prices (at least judging by the last week's activities). But I will not let panic and acquisitiveness get the better of me. No, I will enter the eBay arena with honor and restraint. I will have my Kodak Duaflex, no matter how long it takes, no matter how persistent I must be. I am resolved. May the best man (or woman) win!

toy camera revisited

Occasionally, I'll revisit some of my old images to see if age or the perspective of time alters my opinion of previously discarded photos. Once in a while, I'll find an image I like. This is one of those from my toy camera foray.

through the viewfinder

There are a number of photographers who create images by shooting through the viewfinders of old twin lens reflex cameras. These cameras have collected a lot of dust in their viewfinders and they tend to have a lot of light fall off at the edges. The resulting images are thus very dreamlike and look more like fading memories than photographic images. Toy cameras like the Holga and Diana render similar effects.

I happen to have a very old Rolleiflex that I inherited from my uncle that I re-discovered this morning. I immediately popped open the viewfinder to look through it. The view was even worse than many of the images I had seen shot through other viewfinders, but it occurred to me that it would be fun to try this genre nonetheless. The above image is the result of my first attempt. I had to perform a lot of digital clean-up to produce this image due to the condition of the Rolleiflex's viewfinder. Even at that, the quality is very, very poor, but I like the image and can't help but think this technique has potential. Look for more postings of my ongoing experiments.

For further examples and explanations of through the viewfinder photography, here are a few links:

http://www.ttvblog.wordpress.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/throughtheviewfinder/
http://jennycisney.1000words.kodak.com/default.asp?item=273519

dark stairs

I go up and down these stairs every day at work, but only saw the chiaroscuro effect of the morning light today. Admittedly, the image is blurry, but I think it enhances the ambiance of the setting. The sharp images just didn't work for me.

mexican coke

While we await the end of the world as we know it (see below), may I recommend what has become my latest guilty pleasure? Mexican Coca-Cola! Coke produced in Mexico is sweetened with cane sugar rather than the high fructose corn syrup that now dominates EVERTHING sweet in the U.S. of A. The cane sugar yields a nice crisp, flavor that is sadly lacking in the U.S. version. It is not cloyingly sweet. Instead, it is sophisticated and nostalgic - stirring up memories of the taste we remember from our childhood. Mexican Coke can be purchased in the Mexican Food section of your local supermarket. It comes in the traditional glass bottle with a paper ingredients label affixed.

No need to thank me. Just enjoy!

the end of the world . . . revisited

The Large Hadron Collider (see August Archives, "The End of the World . . .") fires up today. There are those who are still worried that the LHC will inadvertently create a black hole that will result in the destruction of the world. Although today will begin a series of preliminary tests (firing protons in one direction, then later, in the other, with the actual experiments taking place in several weeks or months), I guess we'll just have to wait and see if the doomsayers are right. Good luck to us all. See you on the other side.

design - the audi R8

Truly a thing of beauty . . .

gallery show images

It occurs to me that I may have neglected to include the link to my show at Phillips Gallery (in May) on this blog . For those of you interested, the URL is:

www.phillips-gallery/artists2/stse_08.html

textural images

Here's an example of my latest experiment with creating textural images. The texture is added in camera. It is not done digitally with the computer. This technique admittedly lends itself better to some images than others.

the influence of pete turner

Here's an example of some of my early photos that were obviously inspired by the work of Pete Turner as mentioned previously. For a reference, Turner's work can be viewed on his website at www.peteturner.com.

how to kill a rattler - part two

My good friend, "Celeste," the rattler killer, called The Department of Game and Fish in Arizona (Fish and Game everywhere else) to find out how to get rid of Mojave rattlesnakes since it seems a good bet they have a den on their property. The response was an emphatic, "You can't!" Killing rattlesnakes is frowned upon and illegal unless they pose an imminent threat to you. It doesn't count if they're a threat to your pets, they are on their own. Apparently, the woman my friend talked to didn't believe rattlesnakes were an imminent threat 13 times. (I'm imagining 13 little squiggles representing each snake on the stock of her shotgun.) The Game and Fish lady asked if my friend was hunting them. She vigorously suggested my friend get a hunting license which will allow her to kill 4 a year. The rest she should spray with cold water. "Celeste" didn't think she should ask if that was after they were dead.

blue peach

This is a photo I shot this week. I normally don't like to "invert" photos to produce a negative image or alter its color rendition - I think they tend to be gimmicky at best - but in this case, I liked the clean white background that resulted from this technique and the idea of a blue peach.

The first photograph to inspire me to explore photography as an art form was just such an image. Entitled "Magenta Horse," Pete Turner, the then pre-eminent photographer, manipulated an image of a magenta horse set in a bright red background. It was very graphic, bold and beautiful. I can't remember the exact technique he utilized to achieve this effect, but he is known for re-copying his slides multiple times to increase color saturation and contrast. I think he may have cross-processed his film (either developing negative film in slide film chemicals or vice-versa), then re-copying this image onto positive film multiple times perhaps even using colored filters to enhance the color. In any event, all of my initial attempts at photography were greatly influenced by his work. I'll post some examples shortly.

I am still excited by a Turner photograph and happily, he still produces images. Over time though, the graphic nature of his work, although clean and crisp, began to feel a little sterile to me. I think his images lacked texture (and still do). In general, a lot of photography lacks texture to me, so this is not just an indictment of Pete Turner's work. I think it is a general criticism of the inherent nature of photography. I continue to work on techniques to imbue texture into my images and think I’ve done a relatively successful job with my latest work. I’ll includes some of these images shortly to allow you to be the judge. All in all though, I am still inspired by Turner’s work and continue to be re-vitalized whenever I see one of his images. It hearkens me back to that initial excitement I felt at the possibilities. It is like hearing an old song on the radio that re-kindles all of those same emotions you felt with your first love.

true love . . .

I shared the fact that I had started my own blog with a friend the other day. Her response (after something like, "You mean, like EVERYBODY else?") went like this:

"I would have a blog if I wasn’t so lazy, but it would be all about potato chips, my only true love."

Which prompted me to solicit an appropriate response (mostly from women). I share some of them below:

Potato chips will never disappoint you in bed (or anywhere else for that matter).
Potato chips will never say, “I’m just not that into you.”
Potato chips are willing participants in WHATEVER video you choose.
Potato chips will never feign interest in you.
Potato chips will never make promises they can't keep.
Potato chips will never leave you for somebody else.
Potato chips will never disappoint you in bed, unless you sleep on them.
Potato chips will never borrow money from you and forget to pay you back.
Potato chips are too good for their own good.

No WONDER you can't eat just one . . .

chocolate souffle recipe

I love to cook. I don't know a lot of people these days who engage in this activity, at least not to the extent that our moms did. Drive by any popular restaurants on any weeknight and you'll see plenty of cars in the parking lot. And the weekends? Well, forget it. Reservations are a must. I know we all lead busy lives and cooking meals has been reduced to yet another annoyance we must endure, but occasionally a nice warm meal prepared by your own hands in the comfort of your own home just can't be beat. I've reached a level of proficiency where I can usually equal (and a lot of times exceed) a meal at a good restaurant. As a result, I have my favorite recipes. The really good ones are those that aren't that difficult, but are very impressive due to their amazingly high "delicious" factor. I'd classify this as possessing a high effort/impress ratio (henceforth, "e/i factor"). Following is one that I'd like to share with you:

Ingredients:

6 Tbs. unsalted butter
4 oz. semisweet chocolate
1/2 C. sugar
1 1/2 Tbs. Cornstarch
2 eggs, plus 2 egg yolks
fresh raspberries (optional - no, make that mandatory)

Serves 4

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a saucepan and set aside.
Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a mixing bowl and set aside.
In a third bowl, whisk the eggs and yolks together. Add the melted butter-chocolate mixture to the sugar mixture and combine thoroughly with a wire whisk. Stir in the eggs and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate.

Lightly butter 4 small ramekins (about 4 1/2 inches in diameter). Divide batter equally into ramekins.

Bake for approximately 18 minutes in an oven preheated to 400 degrees.

The chef suggests making this in advance and refrigerating overnight so that the batter (which is extremely sticky) is easier to work with. I have ignored this if I am pressed for time and find it is sticky, but not impossible. Also, it's important to NOT overcook. It will look bad and taste worse. I have tried to stick to the 18-minute cooking time and sometimes, the center is not thoroughly cooked (although my family prefers the center to be slightly underdone - sort of like a molten chocolate cake dish). You can use a wooden toothpick to assess the center. Again, I would advise you not wait until it comes out clean, but you will be able to tell if it is still too liquid.

Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and raspberries on top. Enjoy!

bees and ccd

By now you've heard about the alarming loss of entire colonies of bees. The phenomena is referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which in itself is disturbing. Can you classify the deaths of so many bees as a "disorder?"

Two articles appeared in the latest issue of Gourmet magazine (of all places) that I wanted to share. The first, was written by Ian Knauer regarding lessons learned from his grandfather who was a beekeeper. The author points out that the pollination of produce by bees amounts to approximately $21 billion annually. I think it is telling that the impact of the loss of bees is felt most when quantified in dollars.

Thus far, entomologists theorize the cause of CCD is a virus, which by itself "is not enough to kill a bee, let alone a whole hive. But when combined with other viruses, predators, pests and bacteria, the virus appears to cause a breakdown of the immune system, and the insects become unable to fight off disease. Autopsies performed on infected bees have found almost every virus, bacteria, and pathogen known to affect bee health. The hives, frames, and wax that remain after the bees have disappeared contain toxic levels of any numbers of diseases." Beekeepers in the past have prided themselves on the longevity of their hives: a hallmark of their caretaking skills. "Over time, the wax (in these hives) becomes dark golden, even chocolate-colored." Thus the legacy of time and many, many generations of bee colonies are now being destroyed in an instant of fire and smoke. "Wax melts over wood and sets a flame that seems too great for its kindling. Pollen sizzles and honey boils."

The companion article by Heather Smith, discusses what can be done if the population of honeybees continue to diminish. A honeybee is one of 20,000 bee species. Apparently there are also 200,000 other species of insects that are responsible for pollinating fruits and vegetables. One strategy suggests allowing small sections of cultivated land to revert to their "wild" state (simply leaving them unmowed for example). Also, placing small "habitats" for these insects in these areas will promote the presence of alternative pollinators. The author states that honeybees are really not the best pollinators since they usually settle upon repetitive flight patterns as they go about their business. Disruption of these flight patterns by other bees and insects actually promotes a wider range of pollination. While this article suggests that we may not be impacted by the loss of bees as much as we might fear through such strategies, it is still frightening to me that we are suffering a loss to our ecosystem that may not be resolved.

I am reminded of the people who claim there will be benefits to the melting of the polar ice caps; the opening of new trade routes through previously hazardous ocean territories or the opportunity for tourists to easily visit areas previously confined to a few intrepid travelers. Is it just me or do such perspectives only reveal further our own self-absorption and interest to the exclusion of the larger concerns that deserve our attention?

design - frank gehry

Frank Gehry's Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Need I say more?

book arts

Book arts is an amazing art form that deserves much more attention. Typically, artists skilled in the craft of bookmaking, compile these little masterpieces with labor-intensive attention to every minute detail. Text is often handset and printed with antique letterpress machines. Pages can be handsewn together between covers that have been lovingly carved, drawn, etched, imprinted or embellished with whatever technique the creative mind of the bookmaker envisions. Often the resulting pieces are expensive, but unique to this art form, they are meant to be handled and appreciated. They often contain lyrical poems, original text or reprinted classics. They almost always contain some type of graphic element: woodblock prints, etchings, linotypes, photographs, etc. Artists books are truly beautiful expressions of a unique craft. Sometimes these "books" are not even books. They can take the form of boxes, containers or small sculptures.

Listed below are some websites highlighting book artists:

http://www.timothyely.com/
http://www.flyingfishpress.com/index.html
http://www.vampandtramp.com/html/home.html

and yet another commercial break

In 2005, another friend formed a partnership with an associate to begin Saltgrass Printmakers, here in Salt Lake City.

As per their website, Saltgrass Printmakers is a non-profit organization dedicated to the art of printmaking. Its goals are to provide educational programs, open community access to professional printmaking facilities, collaborative and individual opportunities for fine art printmakers. and to engage the community to increase the appreciation and understanding of printmakers' art.

I became familiar with the printmakers' art through a business collaboration with the University of Utah's Red Butte Press and Book Arts Program. Although it is in the context of letterpress printing, the University puts on an excellent workshop every year dedicated to this dying art form. It was in one of these workshops, where I met Sandy Brunvand and her husband, Erik. Sandy (pictured above on the right) is an art professor at the U. and is an accomplished artist in this medium. She started up Saltgrass with Stefanie Dykes (pictured on left) shortly after our class and together they have built an impressive facility to promote and encourage printmaking.

Visit their website at: http://www.saltgrassprintmakers.org/.

They also display prints for sale in their charming facility, which are a relative bargain in today's escalating prices of overrated art. Along similar lines, if you are not reticent to invest in artwork, there are many beautiful handmade artist's books available, which combine artwork, letterpress, and bookbinding. I will provide some URLs which highlight some of these gems shortly.

a commercial break

I have a friend who started a business partnership a while ago. They specialize in design and set-up work for weddings and events in conjunction with their floral business. Should you be seeking such services, I'd like to suggest you give them a call. The name of the business is Trifecta Design and their URL and contact information can be found at http://www.tfadesign.com/.

LASIK recap

Last Wednesday, I underwent LASIK eye surgery. I have worn glasses or contacts since the fourth grade, so you can imagine, this was a radical step for me. For those of you who have no experience with LASIK, I thought I would briefly recap the procedure. Prior to the surgery, the nice assistant asked me if I would like a Valium to calm me down. The correct answer was a resounding YES. Never turn down drugs when they are proffered, especially with the prospect of forthcoming terror and pain.

Since I have never really taken a Valium before, this in itself bears a little description. In essence, it put a layer of distance between me and the rest of the world, almost as if I were removed from the procedure by a sort of out-of-body, but still-in-body experience.

Then, while in the chair, after having different types of drops placed in my eyes, as the doctor and about 4 nurses, all huddled around me, I could hear the whirring sound of the tiny saw that was to cut my corneas being activated. The nurses had taped my first eye opened, then inserted a sort of bracket to keep my eye propped open. I can't quite remember the actual saw as it cut my cornea, but immediately after, the doctor said my vision would blur as he pulled back the corneal flap he had created.

At that point, I was to focus on a flashing light and I could hear the intermittent crackling of the laser and could see peripherally, the laser as it reformed the shape of my lens. Once that was done, the doctor returned the corneal flap (with the blurriness diminishing) and flushed the eye with liquid to help reposition it. This procedure was then repeated with the other eye in its entirety. All told, I would estimate the whole thing took about twenty minutes.

Immediately upon the return home, I tried to sleep aided by the encouragement of the Valium. HOWEVER, my eyes hurt SOOOOO bad, the over-the-counter pain medication had no effect. Sleep was impossible. Thanks must go to my wife, who provided a nice prescription pain medication she had sequestered for such emergencies. This promptly took care of the pain and succeeded in knocking me blissfully unconscious. Three hours later, I awoke, pain gone, only a slightly scratchy feeling in the eyes, which eye drops alleviated.

The next morning, without having to put in contacts or put on glasses, I could see!

It has been about a week now, and my vision still moves in and out of focus a little. I'm told this will abate in about another week, but nonetheless, I can see unaided. Every night before I go to bed, I have to remind myself that I no longer have any contacts to remove! Modern science. It is a wonderful thing.

the end of the world . . .

Recently, I read an article in the New Yorker about the Large Hadron Collider (L.H.C.), which is to be completed sometime soon. In essence, it is the latest and greatest particle accelerator, spanning some 17 miles, that physicists hope will yield answers to some of the many questions and theories concerning the nature of the universe. I’m not sure why I’m drawn to the subject of physics, but I think it has to do with the immensity of the universe that surrounds us and the idea that people actually dedicate their lives to try to understand the fundamental nature of it all. It is akin to religion and the realization that there indeed exists something much larger than ourselves out there. It is wondrous and humbling (and come to think of it, actually asks many of the same questions as religion. Physics is simply seeking a different path, perhaps going about things in a more pragmatic way, although, it too relies upon faith to a large extent. But I digress . . . )

I wanted to share a particular passage with you,

“Worries about the end of the planet have shadowed nearly every high-energy experiment. Such concerns were given a boost by Scientific America – presumably inadvertently-in 1999. That summer, the magazine ran a letter to the editor about Brookhaven’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, then nearing completion. The letter suggested that the Brookhaven collider might produce a mini black hole” that would be drawn toward the center of the earth, thus
“devouring the entire planet within minutes.” Frank Wilczek dismissed the idea of mini black holes devouring the earth, but went on to raise a new possibility: the collider could produce strangelets, a form of matter that some think might exist at the center of neutron stars. In that case, he observed, “one might be concerned about an ‘ice-9’-type transition,” wherein all surrounding matter could be converted into strangelets and the world as we know it would vanish.” Wilczek labeled his own suggestion “not plausible,” but the damage had been done. “BIG BANG MACHINE COULD DESTROY EARTH” ran the headline of the London Times . Brookhaven was forced to appoint a committee to look into this and other disaster scenarios. The committee concluded that “we are safe from a strangelet-initiated catastrophe.”

So, now we know we should live in fear of the possibility of strangelets, something we heretofore we were not even aware existed. In a way, l like to think of myself as a stranglet, waiting to initiate my very own catastrophe.

bigfoot and the loch ness monster

Recently there was a story in the news about two Georgia men who claimed they had stumbled across the decaying body of Bigfoot in the woods. The story goes on to say that they never believed in the Bigfoot stories prior to their discovery, but their find had of course convinced them otherwise. They hauled the body to their truck (as three of the creatures looked on nearby), where they eventually transported it to the safety of their freezer. They then reportedly took photos of the creature and sent blood samples to a university for DNA testing. The photos were blurry, obscure and inconclusive. How, one wonders, can you even take such bad photos with today’s technology? Ultimately, the incident was revealed to be yet another hoax. Although I anticipated the inevitability of this conclusion, I am always let down and disenchanted when such perpetrators are exposed. As Chris Carter, the creator of the X-Files, practically opines in the title of his latest X-File movie, “I Want to Believe.” I fully understand and embrace this. Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Yeti. I truly WANT to believe in the existence of these reclusive entities - mythical creatures who offer us glimpses of their existence when we need it the most - in those times when we have become disillusioned or cynical, skeptical or hardened by all of the bad news, when we grow weary of the stories of our inhumanity towards one another. I yearn for the next report of yet another such encounter: a sighting of an undiscovered gem to once more rekindle our sense of wonder and to return us to our childhood innocence when everything was new and magical.

flickr

flickr (http://www.flickr.com/) is a photo sharing website that has gained a lot of popularity over the last couple of years. There are others as well, but what is notable about flickr is the fact that they recently negotiated a contract with an agency to pay photographers' for their work for potential use in ad campaigns, publications, etc. What is somewhat baffling to me is the fact that something like 2,400 photos are uploaded to flickr each minute! How is it possible to wade through the volume of photographs submitted?

Photos can be viewed by "tags" which are key words the photographers submit along with their photographs (e.g. "lighthouse" to identify the subject matter). Another way to gain exposure is by joining various groups who are typically aligned by some common interest, such as photos taken with toy cameras or moose photographs or some equally obscure thread. (Have I taxed your patience with these details yet? Where, you ask, is the payoff? I worry that there is no payoff here, BUT) In the interest of self-promotion, my flickr site can be reached via http://www.flickr.com/photos/10639969@N05/.

AND, interestingly, I have been asked to join a small number of groups or to be counted as a contact to a few other photographers. When you are somebody's "contact" they will automatically be able to see any new photos you've submitted to flickr and you will be able to see theirs. The implication is that you jointly admire one another's work. For some reason, I seem to appeal to Russian or East European photographers. I'm not sure what elements of my work is culturally appealing, but I'm not one to question people who like my work. Perhaps if I were to move to Russia, I could garner the success as a photographer I have only heretofore dreamed of.

henry poole is here

I see many, many movies. This weekend I had the opportunity to see a small gem (an entrant at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival), "Henry Poole is Here." This quiet little film. starring Luke Wilson (but do not let this deter you), contained no CGI, no explosions, no Kung Fu wire work and no lightsabers. Instead it dealt with the more mundane topics of mortality, isolation, faith, love and hope. I recommend it highly. This film is rated PG.

yummmm, cats!

A friend's wife who works for the Audubon Society in Connecticut, recently visited a falconer. During the course of her visit, the falconer told her about the time he was contacted (picture a distraught, but resolute neighbor on the phone) due to an alarming number of missing house cats. Obviously the falconer's raptors were the cause of the rapidly declining population. Upon further investigation however, the Falconer discovered that a Caribbean gentleman had moved into the area concurrent with the cat disappearances. It turns out he was catching and eating the felines -- apparently a common food item back home. (Not that there's anything WRONG with that . . . !) Upon negotiation, the falconer was able to convince the new resident to only catch feral cats and leave the beloved house pets alone.

how to kill a rattler . . .

OK, OK. I know this is not a photo of a rattler. I just don't have one in my personal archives. The following text involves the desert however, and let's face it, scorpions live in the desert. So please, read on.

A life-long friend of mine (let's call her . . . "Celeste," as there will undoubtedly be other stories forthcoming) recently moved to the desert environs of Arizona (close to the bustling metropolis of Kingman), a la a post-apocalyptic setting for a Stephen King novel. She and her husband are fulfilling their dream of building a "green" home nestled in the heart of nature. She has reported killing a number of rattlesnakes just ten feet outside of her house.

How, we wondered did she go about killing these snakes? Did she use a hoe or a shovel?

No, she responded. This is not the methodology of a novice Rattlesnake killer; she simply shoots them with her shotgun. My friend, Celeste, she is a delicate creature.

design - phillip johnson redux

It occurs to me that the close-up of the Phillip Johnson building in my previous photo does not give due homage to the famed architect. Pulling back, you can see both of his high-rise buildings in all of their glory.

design

Close-up of a Phillip Johnson building in Houston.
The black building in the background is also his.

links, connections, images

Photography plays a major role in my life, which is amusing since I only shoot intermittently at best. I do find that there are times when inspiration overwhelms me however. Often, these moments yield some of my better work. If I go too long between shoots, I get a little depressed. Recently, I had my own show at Phillips Gallery, here in Salt Lake City. I challenged myself to produce an entirely new body of work rather then rely upon past work. The experience taught me that creativity could be summoned under the pressure of a deadline. Since this is not how I usually work, it was a good exercise for me.

Below are a couple of links of photographer's websites who have provided inspiration:

http://www.ericogden.com/
http://www.cuttingphoto.com/

Eric Ogden's work is exquisite in its moodiness. His color palette and the wonderful settings for his portraits evoke the past.

Ann Cutting has long been one of my favorite photographers. She introduced me to the concept of utilizing a toy camera to capture the "feeling" of a moment, versus a technically perfect image. She continues her conceptual explorations by layering multiple images upon each other to create dream-like settings.

I'll post other links from time to time.

design (continued)

The SR-71 Blackbird. Capable of traveling from L.A. to N.Y.C. in 23 minutes.

design

I've decided to highlight images of items that I think exemplify good design on an intermittent basis. This first image is a classic.