# 5738 / still life•little things ~ I like little things

June 17, 2021

IN ADDITION TO 123 PICTURES* MADE ON MY RECENT TRAVELS I also acquired a number of other mementos to add to my collection of little things.

While on the subject of little things, during my visit to Sante Fe I came across some pictures-on exhibit at the New Mexico Museum of Art-which really pricked my eye and sensibilities. So much so that they might cause me to order a new camera.

2 of 12 on exhibit ~ New Mexico Museum of Art (Santa Fe) - (embiggenable) • iPhone — ***2 of 12 on exhibit*** ~ New Mexico Museum of Art (Santa Fe) - (embiggenable) • iPhone

The pictures in question were made with one of the Fujifilm Instax cameras. One that uses the Fuji Mini Instant print film-in this case a Monochrome film-to make a 2x3" print with a 1.75x2.5" image size.

The prints I viewed were quite beautiful. And, given my previously mentioned affection for instant-Polaroid pictures-picture making, I was immediately afflicted with a must-have monkey on my back. So, I might just order a Fujifilm INSTAX Mini Neo Classic camera and bunch of INSTAX print film (color and monochrome).

Although, Fuji also makes a portable smartphone instant print printer which spits out square 2.8x3.4" prints with 2.4x2.4" image size.

All of which leaves me trying to wrap my head around the idea of a "film budget".

* processed and ready to print

# 5832-36 / civilized ku•picture windows ~ from the inside, out

June 16, 2021

NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO THERE IS ALWAYS A view of a window with a view of something. I call the pictures I make thereof, picture windows.

While my "standard" picture making M.O.-creating an interesting arrangement of visual elements across the 2D printed field of view-is always at the the fore when making such pictures, there is also a metophoric device in play as well. That is, an impression of the world outside is being made from an inside place which is akin to forming an impression, using the human visual apparatus, of the world outside of one's inside place, aka: one's inner self.

If I were so inclined (which I am most definitely not) to spew Academic Lunatic Fringe art speak folderol, I could delve down into the rabbit hole of self-psycho-analytical flapdoodle in an attempt to aggrandize / embellish my creative genius. However, I'll be content to let my pictures speak for themselves, so to speak.

5816-21 / the new snapshot•civilized ku•new mexico ~ off the beaten track

June 10, 2021

IN A COMMENT LEFT BY MIKE (no link provided), re: my recent travels, he wrote:

"...It's clear to me you stuck to the tourist locations and didn't experience much off the beaten track."

my response: In fact, when the wife and I travel, we never "stick to the tourist locations" (unless you count museums as such). That does not mean, as an example, we do not visit the Eiffel Tower when in Paris, it means we spend most of our time in Paris roaming / exploring "off the beaten track". We are most interested in experiencing "local" color and culture. And to be honest, avoiding the tourist crowds. All of which is also why-except for an in-transit overnight-we never stay in hotels.

That written, in today's entry are some-there many more-of the many examples of local color and culture the wife and I experienced on our recent travel. All of them are pictures made well off the beaten track.

Re: Mike's comment also included the rather snarky suggestion that:

"Maybe you should stay home in New York in the future since your comments about California and the West are so negative in tone."

To be perfectly clear, I have no problem with Mike's comment. However, I do find it odd that he left the comment on an entry in which I wrote:

"...after a few days-pleasant days to be sure-of wandering around the place..." and "...enjoying the sights, especially the many museums which have a very SouthWest indigenous-Native American / early Spainish-art bent. Or, in other words, it don't suck by any means."

That written, in a future entry I will address the part about my recent travel entries being "negative in tone". Not to contravene his point, but rather to explain my koyaanisqatsi-like additude toward much of life in these United States.

5810-15 / civilized ku•ku ~ ya gotta do what ya gotta do

June 8, 2021

SITTING IN A WINDOW SEAT ON AN AIRPLANE seems to make mandatory the making of a picture out of the window. In all honesty, I will admit to not being immune to this dictate.

Although, in defense of my ability to get at least a little bit outside the box, I have, every once in a while, made a series of pictures of a flying experience which ceates a little essay. In this case the story goes like this:

1. Albuquerque, New Mexico - airport* ambiance
2. kill time having breakfast / Bloody Mary
3. notice cloud through plane window
4-6. sequence - approach to Chicago's O'Hare airport

To be certain, while I have not reinvented the wheel, picture making wise, I do believe that the triptych makes a rather nice / visually interesting print. A significant part of that interest is the plane in the sky above Chicago - you can see it if you are viewing the image on a large enough screen. FYI, the middle picture was made over Lake Michigan.

*the Albuquerque place where you get on airplane is not an airport. According to all of the signs, to include highway exit signs, it is the Sunport.

# 5808-09 / landscape•ku•fauna ~ f8 and be there

June 5, 2021

I AM CERTAIN THAT IT HAS BEEN SAID that the iPhone is not suited for making wildlife pictures. To which I write, "HA!" Just have the cojones-or, perhaps, the lack of common sense-to get out of the car walk, slow and quiet, up to the subject like you own the place. Easy, peasy.

Pictured in this entry are; 1. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. That picture was made in close proximity to their place of residence, the 2. Rio Grande River Gorge (just a ways outside of Toas, New Mexico). At this location, the gorge is 800 ft deep.

The sheep, which were driven nearly to extinction in New Mexico, were reintroduced to a 50 mile(?) section of the Rio Grande gorge a few decades ago (?). There is now an established herd of approximately 350-400 animals. Yesterday, apparently a few of the herd emerged from the gorge for a late afternoon snack and I was just in the right place at the right time.

#5803-07 / civilized ku•Arizona ~ fortunately, it ain't San Diego

June 4, 2021

our Adobe hideaway ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico (embiggenable) • iPhone — ***our Adobe hideaway*** ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico (embiggenable) • iPhone

ON THE FACE OF IT, SANTA FE, AT LEAST THE CITY CORE, appears to be a rather quaint city which has preserved its historic roots. However, after a few days-pleasant days to be sure-of wandering around the place, it appears to my eye and sensibilities to be, under the Historic veneer, a Disneyland amusement theme park for the well to do. I mean, the "quaint" city-center town square/park is surrounded by luxury-goods stores-to include a Rolex store-all of which are dressed up in adobe veneer.

None of the above should be understood to be an expression of discontent. We are enjoying the sights, especially the many museums which have a very SouthWest indigenous-Native American / early Spainish-art bent. Or, in other words, it don't suck by any means.

# 5800-02 / civilized ku•landscape•idiocracy ~ taking the high road

June 3, 2021

OUR DRIVE FROM SAN DIEGO TO SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO via Arizona-with a few detours on to Historic Route 66 (cuz as the song suggests, "get your kicks on route 66")-took us along some interesting landscape. And, we came across a prime example of American Idiocracy.

5797-98 / civilized ku•people•nocturnal ~ California # 2

May 30, 2021

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES I GET A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE FROM DRIVING. However, then there is California.

Driving in California is more akin to an ol'-timey, wild west cattle stampede. And, day or night, it never ends. If I were to live in California, I would need to have a very fast automobile and a chauffeur. Preferably a retired, championship caliber Formula One driver.