People Photography

'White Angel Breadline' 1932. by Dorothea Lange.

People photography = people taking pictures of people.

No, not the kind of picture taking where one Lines-Up-The-Gang-All-Facing-The-Camera-And-Tells-Them-to-Say-Cheese for an 'everyone is happy happy' pic.

No, not the stiffly formal posed studio portraits...and please no - definitely not the relatively unnatural set up of 'glamour shots' either.

We're talking about real people doing real things - photographed naturally, in the candid slice-of-life style (with a purposeful nod to creative composition and mood lighting, of course). Pictures which elevate humble snapshots into works of art.

Life is, after all, living art.
Those gifted in the photography of people have the innate ability to capture something of the living art of the human condition in their picture-making. These skilled individuals are able to hold and suspend The Moment - within the framework of a two- dimensional photograph.

One possessed of that gift is Callie Shell, who recently photographed President Barack Obama's First 100 Days in office.

Artists like Callie Shell make taking pictures of people look easy.

Don't be fooled.
Achieving memorable shots of people requires patience, a discerning eye and impeccable timing. Moreover, it requires a vision. It also helps 'to be one' with the camera. It's no easy task to take photos of people which convey emotion and/or tell a story.

Here is another very gifted artist who takes brilliant photographs of people - as well as places and things (yes, do take note that this is a multiple shameless plug).

Huzzah!! for people who capture, via their cameras - mesmerizingly memorable images of people.

sock it to me

For the past few days, temps have been in the upper 80's - low 90's all around. When record highs occur in springtime, folks just don't know what to do with themselves. We just ain't ready for it.

The high or low of outside temperature largely determines what we eat, how we dress and the type of activities with which we fill our days.

When it comes to knitting, hot weather certainly takes the fun out of working up big scarves, heavy sweaters, monster totebags (to be felted!) or anything nearing the size of a blanket. Weighty woolishness touching one's arms and brushing across bared thighs is downright uncomfortable. Sweaty. Itchy.

Hot weather knitting calls for choosing cotton-y fibers and/or small projects - lightweight creations - like socks.

Before my first attempt at sock knitting, I looked upon the idea of manufacturing a pair of socks by hand as an exercise in futility. Why knit socks when you can buy a pair at Target for a couple of bucks?

Knitting socks requires the use of teeny tiny needles (usually dpn) and yards and yards of narrow gauge yarn. Cost of yarn is between $7 and $25. Not cheap!

One must keep mindful of measuring for length, be brave enough to turn a heel, produce a convincing gusset, manage toe decreases, perform the Kitchener...

There's a tremendous amount of work involved. Since socks are relatively small, the knitting moves along fairly quickly. But wait - you must knit not just one, but TWO of these things before calling it a done deal. So, multiply 'fairly quickly' x 2.

Once a pair of socks come off the needles, they undergo the acid test. Socks get put on feet, then stuck into shoes. They are walked around on. Stretched out. Feet perspire. Feet get stinky. Socks get dirty - fast. They need to be washed. Worn again. Repeated washings. Socks tend to wear out at the heel or toe. Sometimes socks get holey. Then they must be darned. Sock repair. Who darns socks anymore?

As described here, the humble sock gets some serious wearing. Perhaps more so than any other knitted garment.

Which still begs the original question: Why knit socks?

You know what - it's actually fun.

There is a tremendous feeling of accomplishment that accompanies knitting thin yarn on skinny toothpick-ish needles. For me, it's a thrill to witness a sock shape emerge miraculously from a set of 4 or 5 dpns being juggled with (my) not-always-so-capable-fingers!

As a bonus, hand-knit socks are a pleasure to wear. Super cozy.
This must be from all the LOVE knit into them.

I'm now a bona fide knitter of socks.
Knitting socks to completion = it's an act of crafty magic with sticks and string.

(yes, I knitted the socks pictured above)

See you in SockLand.
That is my destination for summer knitting.

Oooopsie!

Monuments Redux (and to be revisited if they decide to correct the error and
move it move it).

It's a bit like having 'to buy the White Album again'.

weight weight don't tell me

Hmmmmmmmm....

PDC

Pretty
Darn
Cute.

RetroPhone application for iPhone.

For those of us of an older gen who occasionally wax nostalgic for the sound (alas, it cannot duplicate the feel) of rotary dial phones, this 'retro' application appeals.

I don't own an iPhone, but wouldn't it be fun to someday try the feature out on someone else's iPhone (hint hint).

The other thing I miss about an old style telephone is the perfect fit-to-your-face design of the handset. I especially appreciate the ear-hugging design of the listening section. The cupped design of the ear piece helps to block out distracting outside noises. To me, the curved shape of a tradtional handset also feels more natural, unlike the flat panels of cell phones. The old handset design also allows for a nice firm grip.

Some time ago, I was given one of these nifty accessories (in spicy orange color) for my basic clamshell cell. It plugs into the headphone jack of the phone. Works like a charm. Fun to use. It even sports a coiled cord to play with whilst talking.

In addition, the YubzTalk is PDC in its own right.

Carry-On Baggage

Perhaps because of my own tendency to carry under eye 'bags' (more when fatigued, but there nonetheless), I find myself very fondly drawn to actors/ actresses who also sport a bit of natural under eye puffage.

Folks like:
Stephen Rea (pictured above)
Greta Scacchi
Greg Kinnear
Jenna Elfman ...
...and others...

Problem, what problem?!?

BOOM in gun sales

What's wrong with this picture?!?

More guns = more gunfire = more deaths resulting from gunfire.

Yes?
No?

What is the ultimate purpose for a gun but to kill something or somebody?
What's that? 'Target practice?' Give me a ******* break!
Anyone stupid enough to justify gun ownership is stupid enough to fire a gun at some living thing so that it lives no longer. I don't get it, it scares me and I want it to stop.

DUH and OMG

P.S. Started this post in the morning before spending the day out. Upon arrival home - a phone call from a friend, telling me that traffic is stopped on the nearby interstate - something going on regarding a man in possession of a gun, with his wife and his kids in tow....

postscript to UP and DOWN

a chance of
SNOW
in
the
forecast
for
tomorrow.
Hee
Hee

UP and DOWN

Not that there aren't a slew of other topics to speak of today, but I'm totally feelin'
the week's weather report:

Temps today in the immediate vicinity = a high of 70º - 79º **
Blue skies and abundant sunshine. Light winds. Pretty springtime colors. Bulbs a-bloomin' and newly leafed-out trees....ahhhhhh......rebirth.

Tomorrow and the next day, things will turn around for a bit -
with the return of cold, grey skies and rain. Also good. We live in a drought state, so any last-of-the-season-precipitation is always welcome.

Come Friday = rain will cease, temps will drop about 30 degrees - high of 49º - 63º

The weekend forecast = warming up to sunny sunshine and blue skies once again.

Unpredictable is not altogether unpleasant when applied to the weather.
It's expected round these parts with the change of season, and I rather like it.

Unpredictable is not so good in describing the recent ups and downs of my moods, however.
That, my dear - is the damnable shits.

(**NOTE: I went down the hill to run errands today, and the temps reached a steady high of 83º - downright summery - not quite ready for that just yet....)