Issue #115 - March 2011
  March, Already?

There isn't much to report about this past month.  It started slow and then flew by so quickly that it was nothing but a series of blurs.

The updates this month are few.  The only thing that I updated consistently was The Observer.  Enjoy.
 

Afterthoughts : This Past Month

While January flew by, February first started off slow.  However, as I now look back, other than the first week, the rest of the month went super fast.  I think back at what happened and it's just a blur.

Feb 1 through 6th was just about the slowest week I've felt go by in a long time.  Perhaps because I picked up extra hours at work, and my free time seemed to dwindle to nearly zero.  Nothing really good to report this week.  Just working.

* * * * * *

Feb 7th, I found out that my rotting car needs another repair.  I'm stuck between dropping more money on a car that's falling apart, or not spending the money and having to take the bus everywhere.  Because I can't afford to pay for a newer car, my options have become super limited.  I wouldn't mind taking the bus, I have in the past, if it wasn't for the super long trip out to my San Marino job.  I've taken the bus out there before, but it's an ordeal.  Mainly because I have to leave about three hours before my shift starts.  I spend more time going to and from work than I do at work.

* * * * * *


Balboa island

Feb 12th, The Girl took me to Balboa Island.  Walking around the shops was cool, but strange me found a laundromat to be the most interesting spot on Balboa island.  The picture of the Coke vending machine lower on this page is one of the interesting pictures I took in the laundromat.  The day-trip was fun, and I got to explore yet another place here in SoCal that I've never been to.

* * * * * *

Feb 14 is Valentine's day.  Neither The Girl or I have had much luck celebrating Valentine's day.  This year was no different.  While we had each other, I worked both jobs that day in order to pick up a few extra bucks.  In my financial situation I couldn't pass up the extra bread.  But The Girl and I celebrated a couple of days earlier on our day together at Balboa island.  I think next year I'll have to make a better effort to make Valentine's day with The Girl something special.

* * * * * *


Three Friends

On the final weekend of February I met up with two of my oldest friends to celebrate.  I've been friends with these two for more than 2/3rds of my life.  It's hard to believe that we're now grown, one starting a family, and that we're still friends.  I don't keep in contact with very many people throughout the years, but these friends have made an effort to remain in my life.  Good times.
 

Extra : Vivian Maier

A co-worker showed me a site featuring the works of Vivian Maier.  Never heard of her? Well, no one has apparently.  The story of how her work was discovered is on the site.  What I want to limit my remarks to is her work.  In looking through her photos one can tell that she had an eye for the sublime in the "common."  But the world we see every day is only common because we rush by it, and it takes a special kind of photographer to capture the every day beauty we take for granted, precisely because it's so "common."  Ms. Maier's work reminds me a lot of the work by Henri Cartier-Bresson's work.  Ms. Maier's work is similar, but doesn't completely borrow every aspect of his work.  Her work is more closely cropped, and by association a bit more intimate, but never intrusive.  There is an absolute craft behind the seemingly simple compositions.  One can see that there isn't just a "Oh that looks interesting" approach to her compositions, but rather a thought-out process working on many layers and levels at the same time.  It is a craft that comes from practice, honing a keen photographic eye.  The prints shown on the site have, to my knowledge, not been cropped.  They show an artist in complete control of her craft, framing her subject in camera, rather than relying on cropping later in a darkroom.  I remember one of my old photo teachers telling me how important having a good negative was, and that includes composition.  In short, Vivian Maier was good... really good.
More pictures can be viewed on Artsy's Vivian Maier page.
 

Etcetera : iPhone Project 52/2011 February pictures

Now that the 2010 iPhone 52 project is done I've decided to continue with that same theme and post more pictures featuring the many qualities and apps on my iPhone for 2011, not just one particular app like last year.  I decided to post one picture using different apps on Sunday, and continue showcasing the ShakeItPhoto "fauxlaroid" app on Mondays thoughout the year.  Enjoy.


02.06.11


02.07.11


02.13.11


02.14.11


02.20.11


02.21.11


02.27.11


02.28.11


 
Read previous installments in the Elsewhere archive