It’s been almost a month since my last post. By even the most liberal and rationalizing definition I’m a bad blogger. Looking through my Blogger dashboard I see a half dozen drafts of posts I’ve started but not finished. One show a picture of Junior where the grass is still green. I’ve no shortage of topics, ideas, or experiences. I just can’t find the damn time. And I keep telling myself I have to make time.
Winter is always a challenge for riders, some more than others, and certainly for me. Snow, cold, short days, they just pile up into a mental mindset that makes it difficult to roll the Vespa out of the garage on good days. The above picture was made a couple weeks ago on one of my morning walks with Junior. Thankfully the snow is gone now. Replaced with rain. But not really relevant to being a bad blogger.
Blogging takes time and of late it’s been in short supply. The little man has taken much time in training and exercise — time I used to spend riding and writing. It’s worth it though. Right now we’re practicing a “Meet the Mayor” exercise.
A pause along the road during a lunchtime ride. Not a common occurrence of late. Still, when it does happen, it usually performs some spiritual magic. I should make more time to ride, especially outside of riding to work. Another should.
A new responsibility at work. The main reason I’ve become a bad blogger. About a year ago I was tapped to lead a redesign of our college’s magazine and have become the new managing editor. My production assistant is holding up one of the mock-up copies from a few weeks ago. The redesign process was far more complicated than I ever imagined and the responsibilities of producing a magazine have pushed the limits of my skill. Like riding in snow.
I’ve not ridden nearly as often this winter as in the past few winters. Aside from the time constraints I just have not felt like assuming the risk. Nothing to prove, nothing to gain. I still venture out on a semi-routine basis and brave sub-freezing temperatures. A stop on the way home from work at a local park I find more ice on the ground than I expected. But I have not found myself on snow covered roads very often. And that’s fine. And I have time for other things.
If there is a driving desire it’s to use the camera more than ride the scooter. And that desire has led me back to shooting film and working in the darkroom. Being immersed in digital technology at work leaves little appetite in my free time to do more of it then. It’s been nice to process film in D76 and make prints in a tray of Dektol.
The Vespa and camera have reignited work on the 3 Prints Project. Slowly I am returning to that ritual of shooting and printing. Meeting every Sunday morning at Saint’s Cafe to look at work is as quietly pleasant as I could ever hope for. The Vespa seldom has trouble getting a space in the free motorcycle parking area.
As much as I enjoy meeting with my friend Gordon and talking photography I really find the drama and stories at a cafe a goldmine for eavesdropping and finding stories to write about. I stood outside the window before leaving a few Sunday’s ago and made this picture. Each person like an actor on a stage.
Looking over my bagel towards the young couple at the next table I could tell it was their first time together. Maybe a first date. Their attention and focus on each other was amazing. With an ability like that to focus their attention so keenly they would make good riders. Or photographers.
I wanted to walk over and see what was holding this man’s attention. He seldom looked away from his reading even when drinking or eating. I think about what holds my attention that way. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a comic book.
Cafe’s are great places for a photographer. It’s warm. There’s food. And no one seems to pay attention to someone with a camera. I probably would think twice at a Starbuck’s in California is someone was carrying a firearm. Or maybe it would just be a different sort of photograph.
It’s always a pleasure to see what your photographic friends decide to share. Gordon showed up with this portrait he made of me at the cafe and a picture of the Vespa 300 I was riding awhile back.
Kim making pictures in the car last fall on a trip to Altoona. Photography plays a role in both our lives. For me as a way to pay the rent and for her as an extension of her art work. She never fails to amaze me with her ability to see the world around her. I tend to dismiss or overlook situations that she is able to mine gold. She’s preparing for a show right now and I have been helping edit her pictures. Like many artists she can be quite critical of her work. I sit and look at her prints and say to myself, “I wish I shot that”. I’m a craftsman. She’s an artist. That’s why she was able to come up with “Scooter in the Sticks” as the name of this blog all those years ago.
Wow, D76 and Dektol. Two words I haven’t heard in many, many years. I used to be really into B&W photography back in the 70s then life got in the way. I still have my darkroom sitting in boxes in the shed behind the house.
I still have a very hard time taking pictures with identifiable people in the frame. I like the cafe shots.
Richard: Kodak still makes chemicals for black and white work. I’ve been using those same two since the 1960s. I did finally abandon Tri-X film in favor of Ilford HP5 when it looked like Kodak was closing the doors forever on b&w film.
I wonder what kind of darkroom you have sitting in boxes. Sounds like treasure to me.
I’m not good making photographs of people out in the world unless I am supposed to be doing it. I admire the ability of street shooters and the pictures they make. I am still a sneaky photographer.
Bad Blogger, maybe, but Good Post! There’s balance in the statement.
I’m trying to remember how many years it’s been since I’ve dipped my fingers in Dektol … the smells and cocoon like serenity of my darkroom was both comforting and a long time ago. In a (very) few ways I do miss that process. Something comforting and magical there … unless there is a deadline to be met with a stack of negatives to print. At that point it was simply work.
I think you’re simply experiencing one more of the seasons of life.
Thanks for your comment and visit today. I recommend trying the gum process in the spring when you’re ready to re-do your house exterior. All the neighbor children will be more than happy to help!
Chuck
Dear Steve:
My friend Roy used to be a newspaper photographer, and I’d run down to his office in Jersey City, where we’d hole up in the darkroom, as he first developed negatives, and hung them up to dry.
Then he’s start making prints, pulling Kodak paper out of a cabinet with a door that slammed shut like a mousetrap. The B&W prints swam in a cold water bath, before taking a ride on a large drum, in a dryer.
The air conditioned atmosphere in the darkroom was tainted with the smell of developer and fixer, which had a distinctly industrial bouquet to them. He had to get the prints to the paper around 11am, at which point we’d head out to bar, to discuss the plight of the artist, prostituting talent for money.
It’s 30 years later, and I’m still doing that.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Manual film processing..the only way to do it. Still have my stainless steel Kindermann tanks and related items And my black and white still gets processed, by me. And I use Ilford B&W as the only viable product for me. The photo of you, in one of the many tunnels at Penn State, shows us who you are the bad blogger in the brain bucket, isn’t really you. Maybe put Junior in a helmet and use him as the bad blogger as he’s the real reason for you hiatus. And the magazine; that’s a hell of a lot of work,. Sure you get paid to do so however it is still nerve-wracking doing layout and adjustments and simply learning the art of graphic layouts for publication. I have used Quark in my past, and must admit I learned very quickly. And submitted material has to be right and it has to fit on the planned pages. A managing editor could also be called “managing the impossible” and making it all look normal and natural. What’s the circulation BTW, Is it a quarterly? How may any one of us obtain a copy?
Yesterday was only the fifth day since December 1st, that I didn’t ride this winter. It’s okay to not ride when your “better judgement” (or other sources of wisdom) give you the advice you seek! Enjoy the forthcoming Spring!
Chuck,
It’s hard to compare darkroom work with digital and even harder to explain the attraction and work to anyone who has discovered the ease of working digitally. But you touch on the magic of chemical work. That’s part of it. I just hope I am not engaging in some subconcious nostalgia…
Jack: Talk about nostalgia. Each image you describe could be taken from my own experience. Those big Pako drum dryers were a marvel at work and a nightmare to change the belts.
Talent for money. It always comes back to that.
I appreciate your comments. They are like mini blog posts by themslves. I’m honored you take the time.
Bryce: Junior SEEMS to be the cause of my blogging neglect but I can’t be sure.
The same goes for the magazine and it’s been much as you’ve described. I’m pleased with the progress but plenty still to work on down the road.
I’ll post something about it when it hits the street next week along with a link to the new magazne Web site where you’ll find information on free subscriptions.
Bob: you sure are a hardcore rider. I’m just waiting for warm weather.
Welcome back to posting. I’ve been following and enjoying your writing and photos for a while, always taking a peak from time to time to look for a new post through google reader.
And I’ve been riding a Kymco scooter since last month. Going to and from work is now a whole new journey. Both challenging and fun. So thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Looking forward to seeing more of the three prints project, which is still one of my favorite ongoing series on the web.
Wow! So much to identify with. Such powerful photos. No wonder I still try to emulate you.
That’s one of my photographic goals. To produce pictures that allow the viewer to contemplate for a bit.
I especially like the grumpy looking self portrait.
Congratulations on the magazine thing, too.
Ricardo: Thanks for the kind words. I always feel better when I am riding and writing.
Congratulations on the Kymco scooter. From what I’ve seen they are a fine machine!
matt: I’ve been working and have a lot of material. I should be posting some 3 Prints material soon.
I was really, really sad to see you end your 1pt4 blog….
Grumpy? I thought I looked thoughtful and intelligent.
Thanks for your kind words about the pictures. I believe each of us responds in our own unique way to experiences and events. Once we identify those reactions the powerful pictures follow. Technique and craft play only a small role. Important but small.
Glad I could offer some things to think about.
The previous comment was for irondad. Typing on the iPhone at 1:54am is a reciepe for disaster.
I so relate to your words on not having enough time to do the things you desire–and, I don’t have a new puppie to take up my limited time. I too have many “draft” blogs, unfinished, never posted. Oh well…our intentions are good. That outta count. Nice post!
Sojourner rides: I just love giving myself credit for good intentions. I am always looking for the path of least resistance…..*grin*
Sweat goodness that’s me in the coffee shop window. I look fat. I guess my face is hanging down/forward. Remind me to walk with my face pointing up so I don’t look so fat.
Paul: Have you picked up a parasite that is affecting your vision? That’s not you. Click on the picture and take a closer look.
Geez.