unbillable hours

Needless to say, picture envy didn't get posted last night. It's a matter of technical difficulties. In any event, I'm going to postpone it to next week. If you're interested in submitting, please send your links to me at this address (change it to have an ampersand and no spaces). Those that submitted for this week will be the first to go up for next week, with my apologies.

I was unable to get to a computer all weekend (along with most of last week), so Picture Envy will be delayed to at least tonight, but it will be up. I appreciate your patience.

I DON'T MIND, REALLY

The Museum of Natural History, New York, NY (April 2004).

Picture Envy for June 21, 2004

Today is the Summer Solstice, the date that marks the northernmost point of the Sun's travels across our sky (well, really it's the southernmost point in the Northern hemisphere's vantage point of the sun, but I like the poetic image of Phoebus Apollo rocketing over the land), and this week's Picture Envy recognizes the Solstice with this image, from the NASA Astronomy Photo of the Day website.

As for the photos submitted for this week's review, I'll start with one of Kathleen's picks, even though it's related to the hated Red Sox. It's Muddy Rivers' Go Sox, taken during the American League Playoffs of 2003. I lived just north of where (I'm guessing) this shot was taken during college, and it's a cool neighborhood.

Next up is another shot from Muddy Rivers, this one entitled Dancing. It's a shot of a couple dancing in a fountain, and has a great, symmetrical layout.

The third shot for this week's Picture Envy is Da Goddess' Hibiscus, a colorful and, um, Freudian close-up of the flower. Da Goddess has a number of shots that really use color saturation well, and I think this is one of them.

The fourth submission to Picture Envy comes from Kevin Murphy, but if you had told me that T.E. Lawrence or Robert D. Kaplan had taken the shot, I wouldn't be surprised. Entitled On The Road With Ali, it's a black and white shot taken in Pakistan. I'd love to hear more of the back story behind Murphy's trip to Pakistan.

Next up, Jerome Du Bois, who was (deservedly) praised by James Lileks for his absurdist story about Cuban Art in America, has submitted Winter Birds Transmigration, a black and white photo and brief essay that gives us the following observation:

These days, though, thanks to incessant observation and science, we know how fruit can turn into a bird, and how a bird can seed a tree, and the many braids between migration and transmigration. As knowledge deepens, the sadness and ignorance recede.

After Kathleen sent in Muddy Rivers' photograph, above, she reconsidered and sent in a few of her own, from a Caribbean cruise. First, we have one of the remarkably modern lifeboats, then one looking back upon St. Thomas, then my favorite, a shot of another cruise ship (around sunset, I'm guessing by the lighting), and, finally, a shot of one of the tugs that harbor pilots use to guide the massive cruise ships into the ports of these small, Caribbean islands.

For my pick of the week, I've selected a shot from Chromogenic, one of the "Hot Blogs" on Photoblogs.org. The shot, entitled "This Is The Way It Was," is a social commentary (at least I think so), reflecting the sort of emptiness that can infect the lives of men and women.

Finally, I wanted to introduce a good essay into the mix of Picture Envy. To that end, I present Petteri Sulonen's blisteringly funny Boring Photographs. Sulonen's essay reads as a challenge to those who try to take photos that work as art:

Something horrible tends to happen to people when they suddenly realize that the camera they hold can produce things that are pretty in and of themselves. They suddenly stop making interesting pictures -- the pictures that fill their albums, tell stories, evoke emotions, preserve memories. They go into a rictus of squeezing out endless flower macros and portraits of ducks. Eventually, as they progress in what they think of the art of photography, they may graduate to gauzy soft-focus portraits of simpering women (clothing optional), black-and-white figure studies of carefully sanitized, moodily lit nudes with perfect bodies on a black backdrop, eagles taking wing in zoos or wildlife sanctuaries, motorbikes speeding through the curves on a track, "golden hour" landscapes with mountains and water, or macros of bugs. Eventually some of them may realize the futility of it all and go into a rebellious mode and shoot off an angry series of poorly exposed grainy and blurry pictures of nothing in particular, or dress the simpering ladies in vinyl and slather lots of make-up on them and call it "fetish photography." Log on to Photosig and you're guaranteed to see a ton of these pictures on both the "Featured Photos" and "Photos" page. And, of course, open up any DPReview forum, and it's virtually certain that there'll be at least one thread with flower macros on the first page. Bubble gum for the eyes.

Reading that, I have to admit an embarrassed recognition of attempts I've made (the flower macros, the "golden hour" landscapes and the rebellious, grainy shots of nothing), as well as those of the sites I enjoy (there's a certain link between these "shots of nothing" and the photography – albeit enjoyable photography – of Quarlo and Satan's Laundromat {sometimes I wonder if, deep down, the two photographers of these sites, being so close in proximity, gnash their teeth when one scoops the other; alternatively, they may be the same person}). But, this does require a challenge be answered: what is it about certain photography that makes it interesting, compelling, or "beautiful" to us? What is not boring photography?

I look forward to your thoughts on that one.

Next week's Picture Envy, the same rules apply: send in that which you think is related to photography - shots on someone's blog that you enjoy, shots of yours that you wish to share, essays, tips, etc. - and I'll put it up for the world to see. Just a few tips: don't send in the actual picture file, just send a link to that picture; you're not handing over rights to this thing, you're just promoting it. Don't be afraid to self-promote; that's sometimes the only way you're going to get noticed. And, finally, don't forget: send it to this address by 12:00 AM, Sunday, if you wish to be included in the Picture Envy for June 28, 2004.

Thanks go out to Kevin Donahue for the link to Picture Envy. That's greatly appreciated.

APEMAN

Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

I'm an apeman, I'm an ape, apeman, oh I'm an apeman I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voodo man, oh I'm an apeman I look out the window but I can't see the sky, The air pollution is a-foggin' up my eyes, I want to get out of this city alive and make like an apeman.

Oh come on and love me, be my apeman girl And we'll be so happy in my apeman world.

I'm an apeman, I'm an ape, apeman, oh I'm an apeman I'm a King Kong man, I'm a voodo man, oh I'm an apeman I'll be your Tarzan, you'll be my Jane, I'll keep you warm and you'll keep me sane, We'll sit in the trees and eat bananas all day, just like an apeman.

The Kinks, Apeman, on Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One

The Flaming Lips have nothing on The Kinks for great album names.

WORLD ON A STRING

Museum of Natural History, New York, NY (April 2004).

You know I lose, you know I win. You know I call for the shape I'm in. It's just a game you see me play, Only real in the way That I feel from day to day.

Neil Young, World on a String, from "Tonight's the Night" (1975).

HAYDEN LIGHTS

"The Big Bang," Hayden Planetarium, Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

This picture was a matter of pride for me. As I walked into the darkened planetarium, the security guard looked at my camera bag and said "normally, I'd tell you that pictures are not permitted, but what are you going to do? It's pitch black in there."

"Right," I said. I had 3200 speed film in the camera, and I started to try and figure out the exposure rate before the Maya Angelou-narrated program began. Before the lights dimmed, I set the timer on ten seconds, and rested the camera on a platform by where I stood. During the program, I exposed a few frames, unsure of what, exactly, I was shooting. I like the surprise of this one.

Some unrelated notices

1. Picture Envy For June 21, 2004

Picture Envy is indeed coming up again. Last week there were ten photos used for picture envy, and I'd like to build on that number. So, once again, send in links to photos that "wow" you, tips, and discussions/debates about photography to this email address. As a bit of a suggestion, if you want to drive hits to your site, you shouldn't send me the picture, just the link to where the picture is on your site. If you're interested in doing this week's Picture Envy, please remember that I'll need your links by 12 AM Sunday ('cause I can't stay up late on a school night doing this).

2. Disclaimer

I wanted to take this time, and I'll probably do this on a regular basis, to put up a bit of a disclaimer. In the past, I've written short stories that have ended up on the site. Please understand that these stories are fictional, and are not based on any person, living or dead. Any such similarity is purely unintentional. This site is here, in the end, for entertainment purposes.

Kevin Heller, Esq., has a more formal disclaimer that I will borrow and modify here with my apologies, which he has apparently borrowed from Denise Howell, Esq., author of Bag and Baggage.

The views expressed herein are solely the author's and should not be attributed to his employer or their clients. This site is not maintained utilizing the author's employer's resources or on company time. Any postings on legal issues on the Unbillable Hours blawg are provided as a form of entertainment for the web community, and do not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. I try to provide quality information, but I make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from Unbillable Hours. Legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, so nothing in Unbillable Hours should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel. I am admitted to practice law in New Jersey and do not intend to represent anyone desiring representation in a state where this site may fail to comply with any and all applicable laws and ethical rules. [*disclaimer via Denise Howell]

This web site is presented for entertainment purposes only.

What I'm trying to say is that this site is meant as a diversion. It allows me to post my photography, my book and CD notes, and my short fiction. It's not something that should be considered a press release or position statement. At present, this site is really focused on photography, because I'm trying to submit my short fiction to journals, but I don't intend to stray from my central point: this site is intended to be an entertaining diversion. Nothing more.

On The 100th Bloomsday

For millions of people, June 16 is an extraordinary day. On that day in 1904, Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom each took their epic journeys through Dublin in James Joyce's Ulysses, the world's most highly acclaimed modern novel. “Bloomsday”, as it is now known, has become a tradition for Joyce enthusiasts all over the world. From Tokyo to Sydney, San Francisco to Buffalo, Trieste to Paris, dozens of cities around the globe hold their own Bloomsday festivities. The celebrations usually include readings as well as staged re-enactments and street-side improvisations of scenes from the story. Nowhere is Bloomsday more rollicking and exuberant than Dublin, home of Molly and Leopold Bloom, Stephen Dedalus, Buck Mulligan, Gerty McDowell and James Joyce himself. Here, the art of Ulysses becomes the daily life of hundreds of Dubliners and the city’s visitors as they retrace the odyssey each year.

ReJoyce Dublin 2004 - The Official Bloomsday Centenary Festival Site

Ulysses (Vintage International Edition)

Dubliners (Penguin Popular Classics)

THE OLD WAY

The Old Way

The Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, April 2004.

Picture Envy for June 14, 2004

This is my trial attempt at Picture Envy. If it works out and I feel that there's sufficient response, I'll keep doing this. If not, I'll set the idea aside. In the meantime, if you're interested in taking part in next week's Picture Envy, follow the rules written here, and drop me an email at this address (note the anti-spam provisions taken).

The Photos

1. Will Burnham, The Girl With The Blue-Green Hair, on You Lite 'Em is my first pick for this week's Picture Envy. It's a brilliant shot, really bringing out, through photoshopping, the subject's character.

2. Sam Javanrouh, Townhouse Alley, on Daily Dose of Imagery is my second pick for Picture Envy this week. I like that the picture is so colorful, yet ordered and slightly stifling.

3. Kath-leen, Dinghy Envy, on Unsettled. Someone told me that Kath-leen was afraid of sending in her links, so they took it upon themselves to send this in. I think that's a good thing, since this shot of New England's rustic beauty is excellent. Kath-leen has an interesting photo project, devoted to the "potty."

4. From the public realm, this picture was sent to me by my friend Julius, of the late, great Lost In Mirkwood blog, from the funeral of President Ronald Reagan, a ceremony I watched closely (click on the picture for a larger view). It was fascinating, to see this example of American pomp and circumstance, something not often seen. Julius has a gallery of digital images that he has created, Fake Rendered Love, that is worth checking out.

5. Kevin Murphy, Little Man in Big Shot, on Funmurphys: the Blog, which is a great shot, because it has a certain air of being an old picture, because of the lack of light in the outer regions of the shot (much like what happens when photos are taken on a Lomo camera). Kevin asked, in an email, if this is the sort of shot I'm looking for. My answer: absolutely, but it's more about what you think is worth considering.

6. Kristen Beam, of Sigh Club, has submitted a number of shots for this week's Picture Envy. First, we have a shot from South Holyoke's St. Patrick's Day, called Parade Ennui.

7. Kristen's next shot – 'cause it's all about Kristen today – is of a cat, entitled Snorri on the Inside. Kristen explains that "Reykjavik, Iceland, is a very cat-friendly city."

We all have our faults.

Nonetheless, I'd like to make my way up to Reykjavik someday. The wild and the snowy appeal to me.

8. The third shot sent in by Kristen is entitled One-eyed Girl. It's of a St. Bernard and a camouflaged figure from Provincetown, Massachusetts. Why one-eyed? How did that happen? Did Scheherazade have anything to do with it? [Yes, I know I'm going to get in trouble for that one.]

9. I like Kristen's last shot the best. Blue Lagoon is a shot of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, in Reykjavik, Iceland. It's a dramatic shot of something that is largely exotic to the US (outside of the Yellowstone area, I presume).

10. Joanie, of Da Goddess, sent in this great shot of an alligator (click this link, right, to enlarge).

Joanie has been busy encouraging people to join up with Spirit of America, but still manages to do a lot of interesting, colorful photography.

Tips

There weren't any tips submitted this week; hopefully, we can build on this in the future.

Discussion

No one submitted any invitations to debate on photography this week, so I'll open the discussion myself. I'm looking to pick up either a new camera, somewhat of the novelty sort, or lens/effect/filter to play around with my photography. I've been taking a lot of straight-forward shots, and I'm somewhat bored with this. What are your thoughts on the Holga? The Horizon 202? The Lensbaby? What do you use to take shots that defy the normal range of what is expected by a film camera?

I'm going to continue Picture Envy, as of right now. I think this is a slow start, but I'm confident that it can gain momentum with your support. For those interested in being considered for next week's Picture Envy, please send me a link to your photos/tips/debates/discussions on photography (or those of someone else's). I hope that, through this little project, a bit more can be done to encourage photography and the publication of photography on blogs.

/s,

tpb