No photo today. I have something like 50+ rolls of 120 B&W film to develop. My European adventures were great: Frankfurt, Paris, Schwäbisch Hall, Dresden, Spreewald, I got lots of photos and had some great times and although I've been back in the states for weeks now I still haven't made it into my darkroom to develop film.
This week end is the Seattle Hempfest, one of my favorite local events to photograph. I was there today, luckily while the sun was out, and I should have a hundred or more decent photos. I am in favor of most of the things the event want to promote but most of the people attending and most of the speakers don't help their cause. Clearly Pot can have an effect on the mind. It all makes for great photo taking though.
I'm planning my next photo trip, a week to New York City. I have my plane ticket, I'm working on my lodging. Where I take photos is still a work in progress; but I expect to do as last year; and simply just walk the city with my Mamiya 6 around my neck. Ready for the decisive moment.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Took photos of people today at Gas Works Park (as they waited for the fireworks to start). but I won't have time to develop them until the end of August. I simply won't have time to get into the darkroom before then.
I'm packing my bags, and bike, tonight for my trip to Europe. I'll be heading first to Frankfurt, then to Paris for street photography, then back to Germany and some bike riding around Schwäbisch Hall, and finally to Dresden to relax in the Sächsische Schweiz (great bike riding too). Rather than take my S&S-equipped road bike I'll be taking my Dahon folding city bike. Once I get to Dresden I can use my old Canondale road bike I keep there.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

I seem to be too busy to make any blog entries, but I simply must! Went to the annual Solstice parade in the Fremont district of Seattle last Saturday. Here are some photos. It's always a great time, lots of naked bike riders (although now days they are pretty much dipped in paint (hardly naked). Still a great time and good photo chances.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
I rode my first century (100 miles) of the year Thursday. I realized on Tuesday it would be my last chance to ride a century before I turned half a century old; which I did yesterday.I rode my new bike, a Rivendell Romulus Cantilever. This frame was made in a small batch a few years ago and I found a new old stock in my size (61cm) at a Minneapoli
s bike shop. I received the frame a week ago yesterday and had the bike built up by Tuesday; so this was also a shake-down run.I didn't have the idea for this ride until Tuesday and did little more than put air in the tires and buy some food. Other than a flat tire, a constant headwind, and some light rain I had no problems and made the ride in an acceptable 6 hours. Not as good as I had hoped for, but considering I rode every day of the week (I should have rested at least Wednesday), didn't have the greatest selection of food along (too much sugary stuff), and was riding alone, I feel happy with the results. The bike was perfect and already feels like an good friend!
The clan members met me 10 miles from my destination, the Olympic Club in
Centralia (an amazing place). There we ate, drank, watched a movie, played some pool, and stayed the night. We came back to Seattle today to celebrate my birthday with friends. A nice start to the second half of my century.Photo 1: The 'Romy' at a snack break
Photo 2: Meeting the clan members (aka: Louise & Lucas) just before my final destination
Photo 3: The Olympic Club
Photo 4: The 'Romy' at rest in our room at the Olympic Club Hotel
camera: Leica D Lux 3
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Yes, it's another photo of me; sorry. But I just had to show off my newest berets. These are really big and floppy, they will make you feel like you've just stepped off the Ponte Vecchio in Renaissance days, perhaps heading to have an espresso with Michelangelo. Well, that couldn't be as the espresso machine wasn't invented yet but at any rate it's a great beret, or Boina as the Basque say. I've got them for sale Here
Friday, February 09, 2007

Had some free time last night and so I went down the street to the Sunset Tavern, in old Ballard, and saw Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised by a well balanced (sound wise) hypnotic sound. I especially liked the Cello player.Up Date: I'm still crazy about this band. I've bought the CD and now have bought a cello! Am I over the top? I don't think so. I always have liked the cello.
I highly suggest you order this cd straight away!
Camera: Leica D Lux 3
Monday, January 22, 2007

Have you ever thought of wearing a beret? One of the world's greatst head covering inventions ever. I own several berets: french, english, spainish. I love them.It is rare to see someone in France wearing a beret, they have been out of fashion there for the past 20 plus years; with the exception of the American tourist. So where is the beret still worn, or Boina as the Spainish call them, why the Spanish Basque region of course.
Which brings me to the finest beret made; which I just happen to import. I'm not getting rich importing berets, I guess it's my hobby, but sell them off my web site: HERE , and on ebay from time to time. I just received a new order and I haven't raised the price, even though they cost me more than the last order (and the dollar has fallen once again). So, splurge a bit and order one. They also make a great present as there is only one size (the headband can be stretched to fit any head).
Friday, January 19, 2007
A few months ago I made the terrible terrible mistake of pulling my 35mm Leica lens off the counter with my MP's neck strap. The lens looked fine but the focus was froze! I took it to a local German camera repair guy who, after months of dinking around says there are no new parts to be had and all the used parts he has ordered a not good enough. So now what? A new 35mm Leica lens is over $2,100!!! My other choice is a $1,000 Japanese-made Zeiss or $300 Voightlander lens. mmm. what to do? In the mean time I'm having fun with my new little pocket camera, the Leica D Lux 3. Still back-ordered most places I've been shooting away for over a month. It's not up to 35mm standards, which means the photos I take can only be for fun, or painting ideas.
Photo: Seattle
Camera: Leica D Lux 3
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Well tonight's Ballard art walk was a big success. It was unusually cold in Seattle (32 degrees f) so I was surprised to see how many people ventured out. Of course it didn't hurt that we had birthday cake on hand; not to mention beer, wine, champagne, german wieners. I showed a more extensive display of my most recent New York City photos, as well as a few new oil paintings.
Photo: Studio Boina, Ballard
Camera: Leica D Lux 3
Wednesday, January 10, 2007

I'm planning to head to San Fransico next month to see the start of the Tour of California, I'll also do some street photography while there. I also need to get a trip back to NYC but I'm uncertain if it will be spring or fall. Summer I'm off to Europe. I expect to fly to Brussels, visit the Eddy Merckx Bicycle works, stop off in my old haunts Paris before heading to Germany and finally Vienna and Venice.
This Saturday will be the first Ballard ArtWalk for the year and I will be open.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Well the Christmas season is over, thank goodness, and I just need to get past the New Year to get started fresh! I always feel anxious for this time of year to be over. It seems all forms of life (business, creative juices, et cetera) come a halt in December. During these slow December/Christmas days I've been giving thought to the next year: new goals, wishes, dreams, expectations and one of those was to get back into music.
So a Christmas present to myself was this nice new shiny double French Horn, or Horn as the pros like to call it. I played the horn for over 8 years and sadly sold it when I headed off to photography school. I always did want a silver horn and also always thought the detachable bell design was a good one, so when I saw this pop up on ebay I couldn't resist. Nice German (Geyer) designed wrap. I've already bought a music book of Puccini pieces, still need to find a nice book of Mozart. I also need a nice backpack style bag so I can carry my horn on my bike!
Photo: Ballard
Camera: Leica D Lux 3
Thursday, December 14, 2006
I did buy a new pocket camera, a Leica D Lux 3 It's by far the nicest looking of the pocket digital cameras but more than just a pretty face it has a useful lens range(one of the few that goes to 28mm) and it produces quite nice images, although the sensor size is too limiting; but so are all the pocket digital. I'm waiting, waiting for a full sized sensor pocket camera!
Photo: Madera, Ca
Camera: Mamiya 6
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Photo: Dresden
Camera: Hasselblad 500cm
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Tokyo was a difficult city to do street photography in as I was often the only non-asian in the area and people quickly noticed me. They also seemed to figure out what I was up to, unlike most places I've attempted my style of photography. Tokyo is a great city which I hope to get back to before long.
Location: Tokyo (Ikebukuro), Japan
Camera: 500cm
Friday, November 10, 2006
Good thing I got some bike miles in during our sunny yesterday as another tropical storm blew through town today. Ah yeah, if it's fall it must be "pineapple express" season. In other words, a storm from the south pacific blows through town providing warmth and rain, then we get a sun break of a day or two, then another storm passes through. It beats snow, hurricanes, hail, fires, earthquakes, but I'm already tired of it and am already thinking of migrating to Palm Springs!
Tomorrow is my new NYC gallery opening but the company I ordered frames from shorted my order! My walls will be a bit thin tomorrow but there's little I can do about it.
Photo: NYC
Camera: Nikon D200
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
I received an email invitation this morning to open a Saatchi artist's gallery page. Sure, why not. Received my inkjet paper this morning and got busy printing my November exhibit. Only one problem, I ran out of frames.
I sure love my new printer. Without doing more than clicking a few buttons this printer prints out prints exactly as they looked on my monitor. I guess I have Apple and HP to think for this simplicity.
Image: a hotel room in southern France
Material: Oil on Canvas
Monday, November 06, 2006
Photo: Berlin
Camera: Nikon D70s
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Photo: Berlin, 1992
Camera: Hasselblad 500cm
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Painting: oil on canvas
Location: Krackow, Poland
Monday, October 23, 2006
Painting: Taos Mission, New Mexico
Saturday, October 21, 2006
So, I have added a new link to my images offering 5x7 inch and 8x10 inch injet prints at what I believe are very reasonable prices; signed even. I will continue to offer hand-printed "wet" prints as well.
Photo: Tacoma, USA
Camera: Hasselblad 500cm
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
I'm not one for trendy gizmos, like text-messenging, or mobile phone email but gees when you can get cash back by using a credit card, and pay just one bill per month, why not! This isn't 1978 where the clerk has to phone in each CC transaction to get approval, a present day CC transaction is actually quicker than cash in most sitations.
Get with it lady, get a debit card or credit card, or carry cash. Thank you.
Photo: NYC
Camera: Mamiya 6
Sunday, October 15, 2006
This woman was at the SE corner of Central Park at a book seller. She had a great way of way about her, which didn't come across in my photo very well. Very expressive body.
Photo: NYC: Central Park
Camera: Mamiya 6
Thursday, October 12, 2006
It is a beautiful fall day and here I sit in front of a computer! Well I mean to do something about that right now. I'm off in a moment for a nice bike ride down along Lake Washington then up to Capitol Hill to pick up my Beans and then back to the grind; or not.Photo: NYC: Soho
Camera: Mamiya 6
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
I'm already missing NYC and would gladly go back anytime. I still don't think I want to live there but I could imagine at least a yearly trip if not biyearly visits. I don't think I have ever been in a city that offered so many chances for street photography. I lived a year in Paris, and while I hadn't discovered street photography at that point in time I don't think it's the same, there isn't the variety of subjects like NYC, same with London, Berlin, Tokyo. Big cities, yes, but for interesting faces I think NYC wins easily.
Photo: NYC, manhattan subway
Camera: Mamiya 6
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Location: NYC, Soho
Camera: Mamiya 6
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Photo: NYC, Soho
Camera: Mamiya 6
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Image: NYC: mid-town east
Camera: Nikon D200
Monday, October 02, 2006
Back from the big city to the little village named Seattle. I know I will miss the constant photo opportunities NYC offers but I also appreciate the nice salt air here, and finally, after a week, having a really good Latte was pure bliss. New York was great and I'm thinking I need to make a yearly pilgrimage there, but I doubt I could actually live there (I would like to spend 6 months to a year there at some point). Not being able to see the horizon, lack of mountains, and a few other points I fear would get to me with time. It's a very nice place to visit.Busy today catching up with business, and adding my new images to my Mac Pro. Tonight I'll start developing my 30+ rolls of B&W film. Could be a week before I start adding any black & white images but I should have color gallery up within a few days.
Photo: NYC:Soho
Camera: Nikon D200
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Today was just the opposite of yesterday. Today started off bright and sunny and ended up with rain. Rode the subway out to Coney Island, ate a Nathan's hot dog, of course. I should have some good B&W photos from the shopping street of Brighton Beach. Came back to Prince Street and got several rolls of images at a book and record flea market. I can hardly wait to develop my film and see what I have from this very productive week!In the evening I went back to Soho for dinner and stopped at a place that claims they introduced the cappucino to America. Well, I hate to keep complaining about coffee but if I was blindfolded and was just handed this drink I doubt I would have associated coffee with it. It was mostly milk! No wonder there are so many Starbucks here; but I refuse to drink there (even if they are from Seattle). There are man bumper stickers in Seattle that read "friends don't let friends drink at Starbucks". I agree.
location: NYC:Soho
Camera: Nikon D200
The day started off looking very grey and rain prone. It looked like a museum day. Instead I Wandered the West Village and hoped for the weather to change; and it did. I finally found a few coffee houses, the one I tried made a pretty decent Latte although the extraction time was too long and the coffee was a bit bitter. I think I like the villages the best; both east and west . Smaller streets and pace, good photo opportunities, and many nice shops. Found a nice place for with beer and cheap food, the Soho Park (at 62 Prince St).Went to Union square last night to watch the critical Mass but it was quite a let down. There weren't more than two dozen bikes. Too bad. I guess they've been cracking down on the bikers here and most are staying away now.
Photo: NYC:Lower Eastside
Camera: Nikon D200
Friday, September 29, 2006
Yesterday the weather was great in the big apple but this morning it has been raining and is now very grey. Might be a good day to see a museum. I'm beginning to form some opinions about New York, for one all the talk I hear that "Seattle ain't got no delis". I never knew what that meant as we have plenty of delis to buy a sandwich at. I now think they mean "I can't or don't have time to cook so I need a big spread of prepared foods on display to scoop into a plastic container to take home.". I am also realizing some of the claims are just plain over-blown, like the pizza being so great or the beagles not to compare. Yes, they're good but not that amazing. Seattle has some great Greek pizza places for instance. Coffee, now there is a subject that Seattle clearly wins; no question about it. I have yet to find a decent coffee! I have had to leave two cups on the table, they were so bad, and now yesterday in Little Italy, surly a place to find a good coffee, I had to stop my order and walk out after seeing the woman start to make my cappucchino using pre-made espresso!!! All I see here are Starbucks, no coffee carts, no little coffee houses. Oh, how I need a Vivacé espresso!
I'm not seeing many bike riders here either. More than L.A. but far fewer than Seattle or San Francisco. That's strange considering the terrible traffic, how flat it is here and how NY has millions more citizens than either Seattle or S.F. I notice every bike is secured with a giant hardened chain, and most are wrapped with tape; to look bad. Nice.
People? There is no doubt NYC wins in having the biggest selection and quantity of people. No doubt about that. People people everywhere, and they are all in a big big hurry. Breakfast, Fast!, Walking, Fast! Subway, Jammed-in! Yes for a photographer this place is great, there is never a shortage of people. I would love to live here for 6 months, maybe a year, but for life? I think I would quickly tire of never seeing more than buildings. Because it's so flat one never sees the horizon. Seattle, S.F. you can almost always get a view to the water (plus mountains in Seattle). Yes I think I would miss the hills and views the most.
Location: East Village
Camera: Nikon D200
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
The weather is turning for the worse here, quite grey today and rain expected tomorrow. In Seattle? Oh beautiful sunny weather all week; of course. So with the grey dark day today I had to pick and choose my subjects carefully and hence I took fewer photos than previous days. Photo: Central Park, NYC
Camera: Nikon D200
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Greetings from New York City. No, I didn't bring my bike, although I wish I had, it would be great to have a bike here but then I would be busy riding not walking and getting all the people pictures I am.Second day here and I have already shot over 150 black and white photos of people and hundreds of digital color photos as well. I have been to NYC a few times but this is my first real chance to focus on my own photo projects. It is indeed a treasure chest of photo opportunities. The variety of people is amazing and the density is like nothing I've seen other than Tokyo. Even Paris and London don't seem as packed with people.
At the same time the areas down around Greenwich Village are, well village-like.
Photo: Times Square, NYC
Camera: Nikon D200
Friday, September 22, 2006
I have been totally focused on scanning black and white negatives for pretty much the entire summer it seems. I may regret I wasn't out taking new photos (more), I don't know, but I felt the need to get my old and current negatives into my computer. My new printer should be here by the time I return from NYC and then I will start working on creating an exhibit in time for the holidays. I also expect to start painting again once winter sets in.
Photo: Kunming, China
Camera: Nikon F3
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Any way, I did more scanning today, after attending my son's school birthday party. Had two, yes 2 flat tires over the course of 22 miles today. Man oh man, I guess it's time for new tires.
Photo: Seattle
Camera: Leica MP
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
This Cliché that it always rains in Seattle drives me crazy! NYC (47"), Cleveland (36"), Washington D.C. (40"), (not to mention it's cold and snowy in winter in these places) and a dozen other cities in the US, not to mention many major world cities, like Paris, Berlin, London, Amersterdam,get more rain than Seattle. Seattle only gets about 32-36 inches per year, and only a few days per year below freezing. Los Angeles had 35 inches of rain last year!!! I think even S.F. had more rain this last year than Seattle.
Truth is we have great weather. Yes it's grey much of the winter, as is Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Copenhaagen, etc., but it's very mild as well. Not many places in the U.S., outside of California, can claim one can bicycle every day of the year (and even there it's often too hot to ride a bike). I guess my response should have been "is it snowing up in Maine?". Well, any way, no, it's not raining in Seattle, it's a nice mild fall day, and here's another photo from San Francisco. Thank You.
Camera: Leica MP
Photo: San Francisco
Camera: Leica MP
Friday, September 15, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Photo: Santa Barbara
Camera: 500cm
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
I took this photo at the Folklife fest some years back and have had several people come in claming to know this guy. Then one day HE came in! Just wanted to see his photo I guess. He looked for a bit, at himself, and then left.
Photo: Seattle
Camera: 500cm
Monday, September 11, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
While getting ready to rearrange things I realized having my people galleries by time period only makes sense to me, that most people would want to see images by location. So I'm working on building new galleries by location, and I realize that my trip to Lisbon brought quite the bounty of images. Here's another image from that trip and I have still more to scan.
Photo: Lisbon
Camera: 500cm
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