I went down to school to register for next semester, still have to go back Monday to finish. I bought a Phoenix/Samyang 500mm mirror lens for $40 today off a friend. It only has one aperture, f8. It's fun changing the iso and shutter speed to compensate for no aperture. And because I have a digital camera, the magnification of the lens is multiplied to approximately equal an 800mm lens! It doesn't focus clearly. It's a very compact lens (4 1/2 in. long) and I'm told they sell for around $70 new on ebay.
[My locker is somewhere around the strange, almost-focused point. Shoddy equipment and materials are sometimes used to create a fine arts look. (Why is that?)]
Ted Jacobson plays his trumpet in the small park across from the Henry J. Daly Building at 300 Indiana Ave NW. He said he's there 5 days a week, from 2:30-3:30pm. He works much of the day as an assistant operations technician in a government reproduction office. Ted first started playing the instrument in 4th grade ... and he just turned 60. During his first run on the trumpet he played in several Jazz and Blues bands. After setting his horn down for some years his wife made the suggestion he should pick it up again for the musical enrichment of their children. "You know," said Ted, trying not to blow his own horn, " ... But sometimes people will walk by and say, "Thank you, you really made my day.'" Ted is a featured musician on the child music CD Growing Tunes available through Amazon.
[I don't know how long Ted was putting smiles on peoples' faces today. While me and a friend were talking with him the wind started blowing over metal newspaper boxes.]
This is Edward Hill a Metro analyst. I guess he was analyzing the 42 route home when I saw him earlier today. He proclaimed his real job to be making music. "I played up at Madam's Organ a couple nights ago," said Hill, referring to a popular Adams-Morgan bar. Hill also reminisced about a time he opened for country singer Mary Chapin Carpenter in DuPont Circle.
[Eddie Hill has also written the Metro Ballad ... appearing soon at a bus stop near you!]
There were numerous Veterans' Day celebrations around the Capitol today. I took this photo of Army 1st Lt. Alan Reich (ret.) coming from a reception at the Paralyzed Veterans' of America. Reich is also president and founder of the National Organization on Disability, a lifetime member of the PVA, and was a Korean War-era infantryman. Uncalculable respect.
[I tried to go get a police media pass today ... the station was closed for Veterans' Day.]
I got a lot accomplished today, which I owe partially to coffee, partially to networking. My problems seem on their way to being solved. And I heard some great news from Joe Armstrong, a contract worker for Hardesty, Inc. He said they're opening another coffee shop in the White House area. Caribou Coffee, right at Pennsylvania and 17th NW, across the street from Starbucks, a block from the other Starbucks at 18th and H St NW, and a half block from M.E. Swings at 17th and G St NW (Which has been distributing coffee to the area since 1916).
[Joe Armstrong and other crew workers carry duct work into an old investment banking office, starting the renovation for a Caribou Coffee. The shop should be operating well before Christmas.]
Yesterday I picked up a old Veiwlex negative projector. The last time I saw a negative projector was in a photojournalism class at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I took the class in early '98 as a Visual Communications major. I picked up this old soviet helmet in Kandahar. The negative is a pic I took of Marine Meduim Helicopter Squadron-263's Vietnam-era mascot, Ready Ape. His name comes from the crew chiefs' verbal verification to the pilot that the helicopter is ready to start. The crew chief would stand at the rear of the helo and shout to the pilot, "Ready APU (auxillary power unit)!"
[This is the image that appears to me when I have post-traumatic flashbacks. Unlike other vets who duck for cover, cry or end up mute and go crazy, I just kinda' stare at this old soviet helmet in my living room and a fortune-telling monkey appears.]
This is Andrew. He goes to the Corcoran College for fine art photography. I took this while I was on my way home from shooting an assignment at the Corcoran where I heard New York Times Photographer Stephen Crowley speak. It was a show of pictures that would captivate any photographer. I'm certain I'll be happy to have Mr. Crowley as an instructor next year.
[Behind Andrew is where the Secret Service physically detained me and forced me to delete my camera's memory card. All for snapping some pictures of them removing a psychotic homeless man (Warren) from the steam grate pictured above.]
For a long time now I've been trying to perfect my touring methods. It started shortly after I moved to D.C. I looked around and saw mostly tourists. As nature would have it I felt the need to fit in with the mainstream society. Now I wear a backpack, have a camera around my neck, and never leave home with less than two maps.
[I forget . . . don't seagulls like Alka-Selter or something?]
This is Joe. He is from Morocco. He works at M.E. Swing's Coffee on 17th St NW. Sometimes he makes esspresso. Sometimes he washes the windows.
[If you want real reflection ask to speak to Lauraine.]
Saw Solomon walking down Columbia Rd. Got this picture of him getting splashed by two girls on a bicycle while simultaneously being cut off by a car.
[Constantly in hope that I stumble across some excitement.]
I was exhausted from insomnia and stress today, stayed in bed til 3pm. Woke up, started laundry and walked to Adams-Morgan for some food. Of course I took some photos, that is always the object of my waking moments. I met some very pleasant, beautifully-minded diplomats from Nigeria. (Maybe Cameroon too?) Great weather!
[This is a busy intersection of neighborhoods, 18th and Columbia Rd NW.]
