Chapter 91 - The Things of the Night

Workin' on My Night Moves . . . 

SFC Max Banning was such a frequent visitor to The Night Moves Bar that all the girls knew him by his first name. Whenever I hear that song I think of Ol' Max Banning and wonder where he is these days. Last time I saw him was in 1984 as I was heading off to Fort Knox.

Max was unique. He was, literally, a pagan. He deliberately rented furnished apartments. He used only plasticware and paper plates. His TV was a cheap little portable. He didn't want any material things other than what was needed to be successful at work and at The Night Moves . . . or whatever other bar he frequented.

He took all his spare money and put it into gold Krugerrands which he banked down in Panama. His idea was to live simply and for himself and, after his time was done in the Army, he was going to take his retirement checks plus his gold and live the good life in Panama City, Panama.

He was an intelligent and articulate man but he was, unashamedly, self-absorbed. If it was good for Max then it was good. If it wasn't of utility to Max it wasn't in his life. He told me whenever he PCS'ed he would take a couple suitcases with him and leave everything else behind.

I was in awe of his brashness, his selfishness, his libertine life-style. Oh, and he was an efficient and capable NCO. He wasn't looking to light any fires or be the First Sergeant, too much work, but he did what he did and he did it well.

Anyway, whenever I hear that song I think of Max Banning. Even right now he is out there, somewhere, workin' on his night moves.

And so it was as I began exploring shooting in the dark, literally and figuratively. But this has been a long time coming. I can remember way back in El Paso, which would be the 90s, being taken with the way light moved through the night. The effect of the street lights and such on the scene. But that was the days of film and dollars. I didn't have a lot of either.

But now, with digital, the world is my oyster. Unfortunately, I can't muster enough initiative to get off my rusty-dusty and shoot it. Also, and this is a lame excuse but a real one, there is a paucity of interesting nighttime subjects available in this tiny burg. In other words, the downtown pretty much sucks, photo-wise.

But I've been setting my alarm for 0700 and then getting out for a walk. It's still dark enough (until the time changes this weekend) for it to be interesting while I do my walk. It's allowed me to see and begin to learn how to shoot these kinds of scenes.

And I like streets...the loneliness, the bleakness.

I also happened to glance upwards and saw the moon dancing in and out of the clouds. It wasn't an ideal situation, shooting handheld for a 1/4 second or so but I gambled. And I won.

I particularly enjoyed these shots of the moon. Yeah, yeah, yeah! I know it's a cliche shot and been done over and over again. But this one is mine and that makes it special . . . to me.

I did a little cropping on these to put them into a more aesthetic position within the picture. Shooting with the lens waaaaaaay out there makes even the smallest shake of the hand into a major disaster. I tried to hold my breath, lock my arms into my side. spread my feet one slightly in front of the other and snap when I had the moon in the frame. 

It was catch as catch can.

And, I have to admit, I did catch a few.

I kept on walking . . . that was, after all, the whole purpose of the expedition. And came to this scene. I wanted to come back to this particular scene after the last time and I wanted it to be darker. I was looking for something.

I didn't find it. I think to explore this and get close to what I was seeing in my mind I will need to break out the tripod and cable release. Gotta quit being so lazy.

Then I looked up again and, literally, grabbed this shot. It was like I looked up and saw it was pretty much perfect and I said, "Oh, Crap!!" and then whipped up the camera, took a deep breath and, BAM!! went for the gold.

And I struck the Mother-Lode!!

My favorite of the whole thing.

If once was good then twice should be real nice. And I banged out another. It's OK but not the same. Just a second and the whole scene changes. The whole Cartier-Bresson and his, "Decisive Moment" thingie.

I cropped this in but it still isn't as powerful as the previous shot was. Ah, that, "Moment!"

Then it was a new street and the same ideas. You have to walk each road by yourself. That thought just occurred to me as I was trying to figure out my affections for these kinds of shots.

BTW, there weren't any 'green' lights there. It was the way the lens with the polarizing filter on interpreted that particular light. Maybe the city is buying different lamps for their streetlights and they're just putting them in when they're needed. That could account for the difference in the streetlights.

What does this street say to you? What's your feelings when you see it. And, please, excuse the clarity. Again, it was a hand-held shot and try as I may, it has it shakes. 

I learned a long time ago that the ABSOLUTE slowest shutter speed you can hand-hold at and still, mostly, get a clear shot is 1/30 of a second. That's my rule. Most sane people recognize it as 1/60 of a second. They're right but I am a slow learner. At any rate, these were a LOT slower than 1/30.

I saw something here. Didn't capture it effectively. But there was a small potential.

Again with the loneliness theme. I think the night and the isolated lights evoke that feeling within me. Hahaha, no room at the Inn.

This one sorta worked. It's the cottage nearest the street and so, consequently, closer to me. And that makes it the obvious choice for me to shoot. Mystery, solitude, the secrets of the night driven away by the lit room signifying warmth, comfort and safety.

There once were four small apartment units where the two houses now stand where The Jetty curves to go around them. They stood vacant since I've been here but one morning I went up The Jetty and they were . . . gone. Just like that they were vanished. I'm sure it took more than a day but, BAM! they were gone. 

They were neat little units with a small curved driveway. Now they're two separate duplexes. I don't know if it's an improvement but they will make more money for Surftides than the other things did. I guess it's a better use of the land.

But it did make a semi-reasonable picture. I was able to lighten up the sky a bit along with the other details. I like this picture. The houses on the hill . . . sort of.

I've always wanted to shoot this sign. And I've always wanted to shoot it at an extreme angle. Kinda like this. It's not a great shot but it is what I was seeing. And having the morning sky behind it semi-helped.

It sorta worked.

The spotlight illuminating the sign also lit up the flowers. Just a kinda documentation shot. Of the night and the light and the sleeping flowers. I've learned in telling these silly and useless pictorial stories that you need to take shots to put things into context; to add another dimension to the story. Hence the 'throw-away' shots like this that help you to understand the whole scene.

And I got this. Not great but it's OK. I think the beauty is in the buds to the left. This is here as a reminder to me to explore this again someday.

Hahahaha, there's always someday until there isn't any more of them left.

And, yeah, I had the momentary urge to run up and jump up and down in this puddle. Then I realized I'd break something and I'd really dislike walking in wet shoes and came back to my senses.

But it was an interesting challenge. I'm looking but I haven't yet seen the special ones. Plus, I realize I need the tripod. But I'm too lazy. Ah, the ying and yang of the whole damn thing.

I've always felt one of my curses was to be intelligent enough to realize how unintelligent I really am.

And the dawn breaks over a new day.

A semi-friend sent this joke where one guy is saying, "I stayed up all night wondering where the sun had gone." The other guy pleads, "Please, don't!" Then in the second picture the first guy says, "Then it dawned on me!" and the other guy groans.

Love a good joke.  Love a cool, crisp dawn.

Here ya go. I told you I'd be shooting the progress of this building.

There's gonna be a big gap as I'll be gone nearly two weeks soon. But you can see it now, in the dawn.

On the walk back, I stopped by the scene of the accident I had shot earlier. They haven't done a good job cleaning up the area. Ah, the horror! The horror!

Zoom!!!

A quick change now. From the dark to the light. 

And a fun puzzle. I like this picture what with the color. Nicely done. I wanna go ride on the Ferris Wheel. Ferris Wheels, they believe the first one originated in 17th C. Bulgaria. The thing got its modern name from the giant wheel built for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It was 264 ft high and built to rival the Eiffel Tower from the 1889 Paris Exposition. 

It was designed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., and there is where the name came from. This spectacular attraction at the Exposition was identified by the man who created it.

A great use of color. Got it at the right time of the day with the light coming from over his shoulder.

Everything here screams "Magical" and "Fun".

But it was one of those cheaply made puzzles. The kind where the patterns are a slight variation on two cuts. And that can make for problems since one piece can fit into places it has no reason to be in. Like the edge of this puzzle. You can see it doesn't quite fit together snugly.

Before I broke it up I finally got the pieces to fit in the correct order. I had to take several out and move one from the other side of the Ferris Wheel to get them right. Stupid cheap puzzles.

Ah, So ist das Leben.

The Caps!!

I warned you so be quiet. It's been slow, cap-wise, and just these two were on the couch when I found I had the camera in my hand and the opportunity to take the picture. The one on the left, the Portland Pickles cap, is one of my favorites. I tend to wear it a lot.

Walking north instead of south on The Jetty, I came upon this scene. 

Nicely done I thought. Just some good fun and a good use of pumpkins.

Rounding about I walked back along a different street and saw this. Someone is a BIG fan of Star Wars. I mean, really big.

I think even his kids are into it.

OK, I got this beast from a semi-friend. I've walked by it on the free shelves at the library dozens of times. I instinctively knew it would be a monster and one that I wouldn't enjoy.

I mean, look at it!! It screams frustration!!

And to add to it, I am pretty damn sure there are pieces missing. Amy gave it to me while I was standing on the porch and then, the very next morning, when I stepped outside to go for an early morning walk I happened to see . . . a piece from the loosely boxed puzzle lying there.

If it happened there at that time then I know, for a fact, it's happened before. Oh, this was one, ugly puzzle.

But, I thought, why not give it a whirl since it's here. And so I dumped it out.

And groaned. Look at how small those pieces are. Plus it's an El Cheapo, so you know it's in that same two-cut pattern  . . . with slight variations.

I tried. I started building the edges and, after a longer while than I should have spent on it, I decided I'd had enough. I do puzzles for fun . . . not for raising my Blood Pressure. I just put it all back into the box and put it on the done pile. 

I don't need the vexation.

I went to one of the Cub's Birthday Party and took some pictures for them. I sorta liked this one. It reminds me, and I am not trying to be blasphemous here, of the painting, The Last Supper.

Can you see it!?! I was struck by that when I first saw it. I sent the pictures off to the one and then trashed them all . . . except for this one.

Hahaha, you know how I like them panoramas. This one fits the bill and I like the dynamics of the folks at the table.

Nelscott

It's boring walking up and down the same street. Especially a residential street like The Jetty is. Just traffic going too fast and the same houses. So I pull out Google Map and look around for someplace new. And decided that Nelscott would be different.

I found the public parking lot and then walked toward the beach. But, of course, I stopped and looked back because even though they never asked me to join, I like that Eagle's Club building. The one there, on the left.

In the 30s it was a Motor Court and Campground. Now it's the Eagles. Inside is even cooler with a huge rock fireplace.

And, yeah, even I am getting tired of flowers. 

But they're there and so . . . 

I am learning that this G3 X can't hold a candle to the SX170 that that piece of shit stole from me, the bastard. Argh!! Every time I think of that I get angry again. He stole SO much more than a camera but, gosh, I do miss that camera. It was familiar and I was able to get some very good, for me, pictures with it. And that human trash probably got $10 for it. I honestly hate that thing. I am, after years of wrestling  with it, pretty much against the Death Penalty. But with this garbage I think I could make an exception.

I softened the light. Reaching around for something. 

I had determined that I would shoot 'only' in B&W during this walk. It was a self-imposed exercise for me to 'see' in B&W exclusively.

Angles, lines, patterns. I think I've mentioned those before. And you can see that theme here. But the tones are dull. 

ARGHHHHHH!!!

The web strands caught my eye. My half-hearted attempt at catching them. I wasn't in any kind of zone on this day. But I was out and walking. I figure there aren't going to be many of these pleasant days left for a long, long time so I should make the best use of them.

And go for a walk.

Now this is interesting. I don't know why, but when I darkened the picture the yellow center of this flower sorta 'popped' out. It's like it is lit from within.

What was really neat was that I put this picture in my FB Album for flowers. My daughter, Michelle, looked at it and for some reason my Granddaughter, Frances saw it too. 

Here's what Michelle wrote on the flower, "Frankie wants to know “How can that glow up in the dark?”

Hahahaha, how cool is that!?!?! My Granddaughter is looking at some of my pics. Coolio!! And the answer, Frances, is that I have no earthly idea. It's just one of those Happy Accidents I occasionally stumble into.

And then I remembered I wanted to shoot only in B&W. I do like me some back-lit shots. But I really feel it didn't make the mark . . . not like my SX170.

I had it on Special Scenes Vivid Color and I think it affects the color more than when I do the other setting's Vivid Color. Don't know why but these were all a more peculiar color than what I expected and that's the only difference. I used this one because it was right next to the B&W mode and I was switching, despite my desire to shoot only in B&W, back and forth.

Here's the same scene in B&W. Flat. Crap.

As I got nearer to the beach the mist picked up. It wasn't a windy day and the mist lingered in the air. This is Anchor Avenue. The very first avenue, you can tell by the letter 'A'. In LCO, they named all the north-south routes as avenues and the name of each avenue is in alphabetical order. So, going from west to east they go, A, B, C, D and so on. The streets, running east to west are numbered starting at Devils lake in the middle of town.

And this is SW Anchor Ave.

Lovely light this day. 

Then I saw this small cottage and its name just struck a chord in me. Whimsical. So I first got my panorama shot to give context, define the setting, and then I zoomed in on . . . 

. . . the name. 

Isn't that cool! The Burgers!!

I flashed to a Perry Mason episode where Perry locked horns with the DA, Hamilton Burger . . . aka Ham Burger.

Hahahahaha, great fun!! But then I noticed the name of the place next door to it. That sealed the deal I had to have pictures.

The Green Onion!!

The Burgers and the Green Onion. Classic.  And then I was hungry.

Just a bit further down was the Beach Access. The color called to me. It's a simple scene but it has a few redeeming qualities which is to say it isn't a total piece of crap.

The color.

Hahaha, I caught this guy at that Decisive Moment. It's like he is parading back and forth, guarding his post like the soldiers at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

I think he is PFC J.L. Seagull. 

Get it!?!

Looking south down the beach. There's PFC Seagull still on parade while one of his compadres is checking out the couple walking on the beach.

This fellow was there enjoying the day. He had just finished taking a picture of the sculpture of the Harbor Seal. I waited until he was turned away and then caught this quick shot . . . actually, not so quick as I tried to wait until the surf became a bit more dramatic. I couldn't wait too long, though.

I wondered about that seal as there were none on this beach. Hmmmmmm...

It was a lot lighter out but I deliberately darkened this picture. Seems it needed it. The mystery of the couple sitting on the log. The light accenting the small pool of water and shaping the waves.

And the color. I don't particularly like the sky. I think a more cobalt blue would have worked better to offset the white fence and the green lawn. That's what I was shooting for.

See!! I am thinking!!

I don't know the history behind these steps but they remind me of some I've seen before in downtown LA by the Angel's Flight. That's what came to my mind. I wish now I had explored that tunnel underneath. I didn't really notice it while there.

OK, a little whimsy to lighten up my tone. Someone thought it would be a pleasant sight from the street to put a few of their stuffed dolls in this window. (Note I remembered my B&W decision)

And I even got into the scene. Ah, what a guy!!

OK, I wanted to shoot in B&W solely but . . . there's always that but. The thing that attracted me to this cottage is lost in B&W. Totally lost.

So I shot it again . . . 

. . . in color. Can you see what first caught my eye?

Yeah, the wee bit of Irish in my loves red doors.

And I have to admit that B&W has its place but not everywhere.

But I was resolute and so, just a few steps away, I shot this wire sculpture set on a concrete wall.

It was interesting. But I didn't feel, again, that the B&W was doing it justice.

So I shot it in color. 

What do you think? In this case I prefer the color version to get the rust stains on the wall. And the shadows are different.

My very last shot. I saw the red chimney and wanted it. Set against the blue sky and the tinged clouds, I thought it was cool. The light was right, too.

Lines, angles and color. I enjoy this picture.

That's it. Getting out and getting about.

Working out the matters of life in the light of day because it's difficult to explain the things of the night.



HOOAH!!