Bronx Mural / Grand Central 2006

Bethel, Bronen's

i'm on webster ave. have managed to track down the old music store where i used to rent my trombone. bronen's used to be near Fordham but they've moved a few times. Bronens (since 1915) is boarded up. On the corner to my left, standing in front of a bodega are six teenagers - black - wearing white tee-shirts and white rags on their heads.

I'm sitting in my sister's black toyota. As I step from the car wtih the m3 around my neck I see them sizing me up. Not out of corners of eyes - but straight glare. Straight glare means - what the f--k am I doin' here.

I don't care and don't return the stare. The cat spit up hairballs at 3 a.m. and kept me up for hours - so I'm just as irritable as they seem to be.

As camera comes to my eye to photograph the old store, two teenagers approach from both sides and they're on cells. I swear they're talkin' to each other.

I would like to be able to explain that I don't care about them - I'm just an old white guy that's come over to photograph the place where he rented instruments as a kid. It brings back memories of my mother. My mother was a real musician - piano and later cello. I used to go with her to pick up the cello.

One of the teenagers stops in front of me and says in a friendly way: just don't take pictures of us.

Me: Oh, no problem. I'm just photographing the music store.

Him: Music store?? Man that place been shut for years. It's a real shame. I used to get my horn there.

Me: I used to play the trombone when I was a kid --

Him: Oh, man - the trombone! That sucks!

Me: I hated it. I always wanted to play the trumpet. I used to live around here, y'know. Up on University.

Him: Man - musta been a long time ago.

Me: Yeah, like 45 years!

Him: Cool. Listen - just watch yourself around here - lot's of shit goin' on.

Me: Thanks. I'll be out of here in a second or so.

Him: OK. Too bad about Bronen's. I used to like that place a lot.

fixing the M3

I am having trouble with the M3 with slower shutter speeds. I noticed it first when I was shooting the infrared stuff - but now I see an uneven curtain pull at speeds of 1/60th or slower - sometimes. Anyway the camera needs a thorough going-over.

Any advice as far as a repair shop for old Leicas? I guess I'd sort of prefer if they were in NYC and I could drop it off and pick it up when ready.

The other thing - the M3 will not focus as close as modern Leica lenses are able to focus. I think this can also be fixed by a repair person.

Boy on Rock, 2006

Corner, Brooklyn

Down under the Manhattan Bridge area. Couple of days ago.

Bronx Mural, 2006

The Kiss, 2006

The park under the Brooklyn Bridge a few days ago.

What I'm Listening To...

While Four Rolls of Film Dry...

There are two or three shots that I can't wait to see...

The summer is always the slowest shooting time for me. I don't like the light. I don't like the heat. Man - I can't even hit the 68F water temp unless I keep some in the fridge. Oh - I know you can do it at 70F or 75F - but once I get a formula I like - not gonna change. Superstitious that way...

Every step of the way we walk the line
Your days are numbered, so are mine
Time is pilin' up, we struggle and we scrape
We're all boxed in, nowhere to escape

Well my ship's been split to splinters and it's sinking fast
I'm drownin' in the poison, got no future, got no past
But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free
I've got nothin' but affection for all those who've sailed with me
- Dylan, Mississippi

Eye

Untitled

Climbing Stairway

Two Shoes

Whenever I see abandoned shoes in the city, I wonder who left them and how they got there. Sometimes, they just seem to have been perfectly placed. Other times just dropped in a random way on the sidewalk.