CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Boy's Rugby Match, Reigate UK 2010 from UKOK

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I have often wished that all deadly conflict could be resolved in a different way!

You're INVITED!!!

Car Wash Entrance, Baton Rouge LA 2010

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Residents and Visitors: 20th-Century Photographs of Louisiana

marks the eighth collaborative exhibition between The Historic New Orleans Collection and NOMA. The first based solely on institutional photographic holdings, the exhibition draws from the holdings of both museums and features more than 100 photographs by artists who lived or worked in Louisiana.

The exhibition offers not only glimpses of Louisiana and its people throughout the 20th century, but it also displays the evolution of photographic technology. The works from the two collections were chosen to provide a well-rounded overview of Louisiana photography, and among the photographers represented are Walker Evans, Arnold Genthe, Ernest Bellocq, William Greiner and Clarence John Laughlin.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Opening: Wednesday September 29th, 2010, 5:30- 8:30pm

Exhibition: Sept. 29th -February 13, 2011

New Orleans Museum of Art

City Park

New Orleans , LA

www.noma.org

Tropical Depression

Rain on Window, Caribbean Sea 2007 from the series CRUISE

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Before the BP oil spill, the Gulf Coast was a place of abundant shrimping, tourist-filled beaches and a happy if humble lifestyle. Now, it's home to depression, worry and sadness for many.

A Gallup survey released Tuesday of almost 2,600 coastal residents showed that depression cases are up more than 25 percent since an explosion killed 11 people and unleashed a three-month gusher of crude into the Gulf in April that ruined many livelihoods. The conclusions were consistent with trends seen in smaller studies and witnessed by mental health workers.*

* Gallup: Depression up 25 percent on Gulf after oil

• By JAY REEVES
• Associated Press writer
• Published: Sep 28, 2010
• www.2theadvocate.com/news/103946994.html

OF TIME and PLACE

City Park - Train Bridge, New Orleans LA 1996

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I have been making photographs since I was 12 years old, 41 years!

And after all that time and all those images, I can still remember the days.

STRAIGHT SHOOTING

Piccadilly Circus, London UK 2010 from UKOK

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I define straight photography as going out into the world, and making pictures of found subjects , without manipulation or alteration.

The digital age, with all it's possibilities, may be putting an end to straight photography?

WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS.....

Red Bass, Baton Rouge, LA 2010

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As a kid, I desperately wanted to play a musical instrument. I attempted playing the piano, drums, guitar and finally the bass (since it only had four strings).

However, to play music – a great gift, was for me not meant to be.

Searching Big Sky

Big Sky near Dover, UK 2010 from CRUISE

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Big Sky often refers to large expanses of flat land such as the U.S. state of Montana, and the eastern region of the UK known as East Anglia.

Big Sky may also refer to:

• Big Sky (TV series), an Australian televised drama that ran from 1997-1999
• Big Sky, Montana
• The Big Sky (novel), a 1947 novel by A. B. Guthrie, Jr.
• The Big Sky (film), a 1952 film by Howard Hawks, adapted from the novel
• The Big Sky (song), a 1986 song by Kate Bush
• Big Sky (Brett Garsed album), a 2002 album by Brett Garsed
• Big Sky (Highway 101 album), a 2000 album by Highway 101
• Big Sky (One More Girl album), a 2009 album by One More Girl
• Big Sky (wrestler), ring name of Canadian actor and former professional wrestler Daryl Karolat, who is better known by the stage name Tyler Mane

OBSERVING OSLO

Port of Oslo, Norway 2010 from the series CRUISE

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The fort overlooking the port, reminded me of an ant pile swarming.

VOGUE*

Woman Posing, Katherine Palace - St. Petersburg, Russia 2010

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Ladies with an attitude
Fellows that were in the mood
Don't just stand there, let's get to it
Strike a pose, there's nothing to it*

*Madonna VOGUE lyrics

ESSENTIAL MEMORY

St. Petersburg "Winter Scene", St. Petersburg Russia 2010

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I see tourist snapping endlessly with digital cameras

and shooting copious amounts of video.

I am also sure no one is going to look at most of it!

UNTOLD STORIES

Couple walking near Buckingham Palace, London UK 2010 from UKOK

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As much as I am loathed to title , explain or describe my photographs,

I often have the urge to make up stories about them!

SIGN HERE

Sign at Katherine Palace, St. Petersburg , Russia 2010

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It is one thing to figuratively read a photograph,

and it's another to literally read one!

POLLING PLACE

Light Post , Stockholm, Sweden 2010 from the series CRUISE

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There is always a wealth of cryptic information to be found on light posts and telephone poles.

UNTITLED

Girl and Boy walking in Field, Reigate UK 2010 from UKOK

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Ideally, I would like to make photographs without titles, descriptions, or explanations!

PICTURING PEOPLE - Cason Mays

Cason Mays, Baton Rouge LA 2010

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Cason Mays - Professional Tennis player, amateur volleyball player and cyclist.

IN THE OUT DOOR

Service Entrance - Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen , Denmark 2010

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I find myself peering thru the kitchen doors of restaurants, looking into the fluorescent filled , "back of house".

The day I walked Copenhagen, Tivoli Gardens was not open yet. The garden takes up a full city block and is surrounded by fences. I walked the perimeter and made a picture , when I got to the service entrance.

It was the part you aren't suppose to see!

TOURIST vs. TRAVELER

Bee with Flora, Stockholm, Sweden 2010 from the series CRUISE

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I am loathed to think of myself as a tourist. The word conjures up images of being herded around on a bus and being shown landmarks and highlights.

As a traveler, I seek the essence of a place. I want to experience the normal, everyday aspect of a city or place. My photographs, I think, attest to this notion.

I am a traveler.

SEAT SELECTION

Umpire's Chair, Helsinki, Finland 2010 from the series CRUISE

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I spent three years working as a tennis official. It was interesting work and often fun, but it was no substitute for actually playing!

DRAGGED THROUGH BROADSTAIRS

Children playing on Beach, Broadstairs - Kent, UK 2010 from UKOK

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I would have never seen this place, if it had not been for a decision to go visit my new friend, artist Ann Carrington.

Ann described Broadstairs as a 1950's English resort community stuck in a time warp. It was and I am glad I found it!

4EYES

Rugby Spectator, Reigate UK from the series UKOK

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I wear eye glasses and I still don't see all that well, which makes me curious as to how well others see!

EVERYBODY is a STAR

Katherine Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia 2010 from the series CRUISE

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I am enamored with making pictures of other people taking pictures.

It’s fraught with possibility, happenstance and mystery.

STOCKHOLM SYNDROME

Railroad Signage at Dock, Stockholm, Sweden 2010 from the series CRUISE

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My first visit to Scandinavia, and specifically Sweden, was better than I imagined. Stockholm is a beautiful city and Sweden is filled with beautiful people!

LINGERING in LONDON

Men at Bus Stop, London UK 2010 from UKOK

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I have been making pictures in the UK, and especially London, for about 15 years now.

I have noticed that I have shifted my attention from places to people.

Out the Window in Russia

Katherine Palace, St. Petersburg , Russia 2010 from the series CRUISE

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It was a cool but sunny morning and my dad toured with us around the grounds for 2 1/2 hours before we made it inside the palace. It was a beautifully gilded place, but it was warm. As we made our way from room to room, my dad began to complain that his back hurt, so we sat him down on one of the security guard's chairs. She did not appear happy about either my dad's plight or the fact that she lost her seat.

In a matter of minutes, he went from the chair to the floor, passed out, turning blue and barely breathing. I directed my attention to my sister, because by this point I thought he was dying. Needless to say, emergency medical care in Russia is not exactly to our standards. Miraculously though, my dad was revived and made it back to the ship and actually continued his vacation.

However, I do not associate Russia, although beautiful, with being a happy place!

WINDOW SHOPPING

Restaurant Window, London UK 2010 from the series UKOK

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I sat in a London restaurant while my friend chatted with her girlfriend who was visiting from out of town. I could not stop looking out the huge picture window , as people passed and peered inside. I might have sat there all day making pictures of this scene, changing from moment to moment.

It was the best kind of window shopping I could imagine.

DIXIE

DIXIE in London UK 2010 from the series UKOK

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It had been four years since I visited my good friends, the Tellings, in London.

I was determined to make a good picture of Dixie, whom they acquired two years ago.

FROM RUSSIA with LOVE

GEORGE in St. Petersburg 2010 from the series CRUISE

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George is a well known radiologist from Mexico City, but seeing him walking around St. Petersburg in a faux Russian military hat and Ferrari jacket, you would be hard pressed to tell!

BIRDLAND

GULLS in Baltic Sea, 2010 from the series CRUISE

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It has been exactly one month since my last blog post. My silence was the result of traveling to 7 European countries in 21 days. This is the 1st of 21 posts which breakers the silence.