In 3 Frames

“The Long and Winding Road”

jtolbertjr — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:07:24 +0000

(1) backup (2) backup (3) backup

jtolbertjr — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:04:08 +0000

Since my last post, a recovery firm was able to save most of my laptop’s data; however, the computer was a complete loss. I’m currently using an older desktop that was in storage…it’s slow; has a hairline crack in the screen, but it works. I’m a huge believer in learning from and/or taking advantage of the negatives that occur. So what have I learned from this incident? Three things… (1) backup (2) backup (3) backup…a 200 gigabyte external drive is now attached to my computer for scheduled backups. And how did I take advantage of this misfortune? It has caused me to more deeply consider the positive and negative role of technology in my daily activities. This incident, along with changes in my photographic life, are leading me into a direction that could ultimately find me discarding a traditional computer. I would still need a device and an iPad may work, but there are some software and storage issues that have to be carefully considered before I’d make that type of change. Of course, if I still shot film, this story wouldn’t be so complicated.

Larry David Destroyed My Computer

jtolbertjr — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:57:14 +0000

When a friend, Margaret D, offered to lend us DVDs of the first three seasons of the HBO show “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” (Thanks Margaret!) I did not hesitate in accepting. I left my copies back East and always promised that someday, I would go back where I left off (around season 4 or 5). So last night, my wife and I watched the episode titled “Affirmative Action.” When the principle character, Larry David, reacts to being confronted by a group of African American professionals, I laughed so hard that I spilled a glass of red wine on my laptop. The DVD was saved; the chair, table and floor were rescued; but my Macbook took a direct hit. This morning when it died after start-up, I cried.

I should be more upset but I performed a partial back-up last week. There were two projects I was working on but they can wait until I get the hard drive recovered. The rest of the computer will probably be trashed, or more appropriately, recycled (hence, the below picture).

I should have known better than to have anything in my hand or mouth when “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is on. Larry is always in trouble and the looks on his face alone are truly priceless. For that laughter, for those memories, watching “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is worth a computer.

UPDATE: You can find the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” segment that caused me to destroy my computer here

Rainy Days

jtolbertjr — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 04:42:17 +0000

Balloon Man

jtolbertjr — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:08:31 +0000

Ghosts of Commuters Past

jtolbertjr — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:17:05 +0000

“Hail Mary” Photography

jtolbertjr — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:08:38 +0000

He didn’t look like a Jamaican thug or drug dealer but about a dozen heavily armed police surrounded him as we passed by. My camera was quickly, but “innocently placed” between the seats in the open jeep and I hit the shutter in a “Hail Mary” move. Even if I shot this scene from a still position, I would have still exposed and post-processed to get the same dark, grainy result…that is what I like. I’ll save the near-perfect exposures for other subjects and situations. As I have written before, it is better to capture a moment, in whatever form, than to miss the moment entirely. In this situation, the final exposure fit the mood.

Lessons From Jamaica

jtolbertjr — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:42:12 +0000

I’m not very pleased as I continue to review and edit all the non-wedding photographs I took in Jamaica. Rather than waste time and energy crying about it, I focus on what I can do in the future to overcome similar photographic challenges. What lesson(s) did I learn? First, a little background: staying at resort, all of our needs, wants, and more, were met inside the resort compound. For economic and safety reasons, the resort promoted their internal and external activities. “Tagged” with a red resort wrist band, one was instantly identified as a resort guest, AKA “tourist.” Once, while attempting to walk past the resort gates to stores across the street, there were locals coming straight at us, eager to sell us their goods and services…that is until we were intercepted by resort employees. We capitulated to the wasting of gasoline as we were transported less than a quarter of a mile. After being carefully watched, cajoled, and manipulated by resort approved merchants, we were then driven back across the street and neatly deposited at the resort door. It did not take me long to feel like a prisoner with little inspiration to photograph the commercial environment that surrounded me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ungrateful for the experience, but my photographic life was unfulfilled with what could have been a great photographic opportunity. I wanted to photograph the real Jamaica and I was far from that reality. I photographed what I could and it did help that my wife and I were able to travel far into the mountain areas. The tourist industry in Jamaica caused me to further solidify my contempt for the “color” of commercialism. Sure, I could have brought back perfect color shots of tourist sites and other idyllic items but that would have been too easy for me. The bottom line is that I was in Jamaica to celebrate our wedding anniversary and attend my god-daughters wedding…photography was a luxury.

Tomb Raider?

jtolbertjr — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:39:37 +0000

There were three good reasons why we traveled to Jamaica in the middle of February: (1) Attend my God-daughter’s wedding (2) Celebrate our wedding anniversary (3) Allow my wife to practice for the lead role in the upcoming re-make of “Tomb Raider.” She booked us on a catamaran. Along the way, we sailed between the airport’s landing approach lights and waited. I used a very wide angle lens on my camera so the plane was much closer than these images appear. Amazing tourist experience and for a photographer, a great opportunity. However, I could not help thinking that if we were doing this in the states, the entire boat would have been blasted out of the water by the Coast Guard. Next day, we took a 4 X 4 into the mountains.

I’ll be the dork

jtolbertjr — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:20:07 +0000

While reading Jorge Ledesma’s post about his experiences with the reactions of those he photographs, I was reminded of this recent photograph. It was just the two of us in that time and space. Although I thought I was super inconspicuous with the camera phone, he seemed to know he was the subject…he looked right through me. Maybe he knew in a spiritual way. Then again, this is San Francisco, and many folks in this part of town are dealing with “issues,” so long, glaring stares are the norm. Generally, I have had very few difficulties photographing people. If I’m noticed, I will smile and move on. I agree with Jorge that the smaller the camera, the less noticeable you become. And if you have it on a strap, some folks think you are a tourist. Sometimes, it comes down to looking like a dorky tourist and getting the shot rather than appearing as “Joe Cool” photographer and possibly being denied the shot or even being questioned why you are photographing. I’ll take the dorky option. It also helps, in my case, that the camera is not considered a modern design. By keeping the image review on the LCD off (distracting) some think I’m using an old film camera and actually feel sorry for me! I’ll continue to kept Jorge’s post in mind as I refine my own technique during overseas travel next week. There will be no computer and no postings during that time because I will be too busy photographing…that’s the way it should be.