Thursday, March 31, 2011


I've probably mentioned at some point that I'm a big fan of Joel Meyerowitz's photographs. Back in...um...1979, his book "Cape Light" came out. I'd never heard of him before, but that book just knocked me over then, and it still does today. The photographs are amazing. Since I'm a lousy critic, I'm not going to wax all poetic about it but, trust me, if you haven't seen it, you really should. I just bought two more copies (I'm planning to give one away. The other one...well...I don't know. Wrap it in plastic and keep it for posterity beside the copy I bought in 1979?)

What's brought Mr. Meyerowitz up, again, is this documentary from 1981. The conversion to digital leaves a bit (O.K., a lot) to be desired, but it's definitely got its fascinating moments. Meyerowitz was originally a street photographer, beginning, as tradition dictated, with black and white, then moving to colour. He then took the, to put it mildly, gigantic leap from working in 35 mm (with a Leica, of course) to working with an 8x10 view camera...in the same style! In colour, still. The documentary is something photographers who've only worked with digital should really watch. White balance? How about taking your photograph (a nine second exposure), then sitting down and making notes (you know - pen, paper, writing?) describing the colours of the various elements of your photograph, so that you could then reproduce, as accurately as possible, those colours when you actually print (in a darkroom) the negative you just made? Does that put things in perspective, at least a little?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011


Almost tropical, isn't it? Bamboo-in-a-box. What won't they think of next?

Monday, March 28, 2011


Just so you don't think my life has become nothing but sun, sand, surf and mai-tais. And a volcano.

Sunday, March 27, 2011


This was taken at Big Beach, on Maui. Apparently it's a weekend destination for local folks, and a daily destination for many of the non-locals (i.e. the folks on vacation). And it's true - they're all there. Go past the tree, past the green, and you'll come to a sloping beach full of sun-bathing, surfing, swimming people. Which is why I was back there, behind the tree. Some people might see anhedonia. I just see a difference of opinion as to what constitutes "fun".

Saturday, March 26, 2011


I know - you've been thinking, "Gees, enough with the scenic vistas already! How about some good old brick walls and signs?". So, here you go. Believe me, if I could have chopped down the palm tree for you, I would have.

Friday, March 25, 2011


O.K., enough with the volcano. This is just part of the long walk back to the parking lot. Uphill. A long way uphill. My inner 2-year-old started whining as soon as I turned around to head back. "But I don't want to climb all that way! Carry me!" So I did.

Thursday, March 24, 2011


It's all downhill from here. With no guardrails.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Monday, March 21, 2011


Yep, Haleakala, again. Volcanic craters are big, really big. The far side is probably 3 or 4 miles away. And then you step off into the clouds.

Sunday, March 20, 2011


From high atop the crater rim of Haleakala. At just over 10,000 feet (3055 metres), it gives quite a view...of clouds, mostly. A sign in the parking lot advised people to, "...walk slowly..." - the air gets a bit thin at 10,000 feet. A lot of the visitors weren't. Thin, that is.

Saturday, March 19, 2011


If you have to be trapped in an airport, I can highly recommend Hawaiian airports. Instead of walking miles to a gate through highly-decorated, but ultimately cold and confining tunnels, lined with fast food joints selling the inedible, in Hawaii you walk along open-air concourses. Stepping off the plane when you arrive, you know you're in Hawaii because you can smell it, feel it, and hear the cooing of the local version of pigeons. Of course, you hear the same things when you're leaving. Which makes you want to turn around and try to figure out a way to stay. Evidently, I failed. Rats.

Friday, March 18, 2011


As the old saying goes, "And the last shall be first". That's my plane home on the left. That bright exterior light is, for those who live in my neck of North America, what's known as "sunshine". It comes, in Maui, with another thing called "warmth". I miss them both already.

Sad, ain't it?

Saturday, March 05, 2011


There might be a slight interruption of service while I relocate to sunnier climes.

Friday, March 04, 2011


I know, I know, but it's a different car every time. Honest. And, starting Sunday (with any luck), the view will be different. Really.

Thursday, March 03, 2011

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Tuesday, March 01, 2011


From the "Good news - Bad News - Good News" desk. Took my car in today for an oil change and whatever else needed to be done. Turns out it was also part of Honda's recall on 2009 Fits. The good news was that my car was fine. The bad news was that, somehow or other, the mechanic, while checking this out, managed to crack the front windshield. The good news was that he said so, and the dealership said so, and they're going to replace the windshield. No, "It was like that when we got it", just, "We'll order a new one, call you when we've got it, arrange a loaner car for you, and take care of it." Um, wow.