Old School Snapshot

Title: "Sisters, Golden Gate Park 2010"

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Besides the fact that I love the subjects of this photo dearly, I love how this image connects to the long tradition of the family vacation snapshot - subjects posed in front of a water feature, image taken with grainy film, and printed in the darkroom with slightly high contrast. There are photo albums all over North America filled with images like this, and without the date in the title I think it would be easy to think this image was made in to early 1970s.

I was happy to get a bit of time in the darkroom this weekend. I shot 6 rolls of film with my Holga on this short trip to SF, and I've just made prints from two of the rolls. I want to get the rest of the frames printed, and then make a selection of them to use in a zine or chapbook. I'm looking forward to converting these into a precious, low-tech object.

Walk On

Title: "Golden Lines"

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Early evening's

golden lines,

the briskness sharpened

by smoky fires,

each astringent breath

a wave.

Whispers

Title: "Thoughts swaying to the rhythm of the waves"

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Standing there,

enveloped by the warmth,
mind in suspension,
thoughts swaying to
the rhythm of the waves.

In spite of evidence to the contrary

Title: "An Unkindness of Ravens"

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The first glided from out of the sun,
wings spread for maximum coast,
landing spot judged from uncanny experience.
Back on terra firma, folded
up and strutting forward like a well
fed prosecutor sure of victory.

More rained down,
the sun glistening on their lampblack feathers
as they ambled forward for a closer look.
The glint in their eyes not
just a trick of the light,
representing their lust for the work.

A violent argument ensued as to who
should take the first tasty morsel that
would precipitate the frenzied feed.
Each squawked louder to drown
out the others like overheated children fighting
over the last swing in the park.

But one inched
closer and closer to the prize,
the others too intent

on arguing the merits of their case.
Then all was decided

as he picked up the tiny rodent,
judge flying off to the astonishment of his jury.

Alien Contingent

Title: "Nob Hill Voodoo"

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One morning I went out early for a walk around the neighbourhood of our hotel. As I climbed up a hill, I came across this display in a shop window. There were stately buildings all around, and some very expensive hotels a block away. Not to mention the Masonic Temple! It all seemed a bit spooky....

Big Alma

Title: "Victory, Union Square"

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"Big Alma", Alma de Bretteville (also known as "The Great Grandmother of San Francisco") met her future husband thanks to modeling for this monument to commemorate George Dewey's victory in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish American war. This statue was selected from a number of entries and only barely made the cut, thanks to the crucial vote of the chair of the Citizen's Committee, Adolph Spreckels. Although he was twice her age, she was smitten by him and eventually after a five-year courtship, they married on May 11, 1908. Because he was head of the Spreckels Sugar Company, Alma often referred to her husband as her "sugar daddy"

It is good to know the truth, but it is better to speak of palm trees

Title: "Two palms facing outward"

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The title of this post is apparently an Arabic proverb. I think a good proverb, like good art, is somewhat enigmatic or ambiguous, allowing for personal interpretation.