PLAYING RECORDS IS A GREAT WAY TO DE-STRESS

With Record Store Day 2020 postponed due to the pandemic, now’s a good time to listen to some great sounding vinyl. It’s a sublime way to pass the time while at home.

Live albums can be especially beneficial in bringing back fond memories of concerts you may have attended. Or you can spin some female vocals or mellow jazz for a relaxing break from the computer. Vinyl remains my preferred way to listen to music for its ability to let me connect with the artist in an emotional way. Continue reading “”

LONELY PLANET

It seems that every day there is big news breaking. On a smaller scale, Lonely Planet Publications is shutting down its production offices and eliminating its travel magazine and non-guidebook titles.

I was fortunate to have many travel photographs published in their books over the years. Here’s a Seattle cover of mine made on slide film before Photoshop. Continue reading “”

STERLING MOSS R.I.P.

Happy Easter. It is with a sad heart that I report Sir Stirling Moss passed away this morning. Considered the greatest racing driver never to win the Formula 1 World Championship, he succumbed to a long-term illness at 90 years of age.

Sterling won just about everything else during his long career – including numerous F1 races, Le Mans, Sebring, Targa Florio, and the Mille Miglia. Amazingly, he won 212 of the 529 races he entered. Godspeed. Continue reading “”

FAST CAR

Tracy Chapman broke the airwaves in April 1988 with this song and others on her self-titled album. Singles from the record, like “Fast Car” and “Baby Can I Hold You” are still relevant today. The CD, or better yet, the record or the elusive 12″ single discs, are audiophile grade music. Check it out. Continue reading “”

STAY CREATIVE, AND FIND JOY WHERE YOU CAN

While in quarantine during the plague that was raging in London, Shakespeare wrote King Lear. Even with social isolation, it’s possible to be creative and stay joyful. If you like to write or photograph, now is the perfect time to start those projects you never had time for. Continue reading “”

CAR PHOTOGRAPHY & WRITING IN THE AGE OF COVID

First of all, my heart goes out to all of those who have been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.

Fortunately, working from home, my writing routine has changed very little. For my photos, I’m working on projects that have been idle for awhile.

Once the “stay at home” order is lifted, I can resume my car photography. All I need is one person to drive the assigned car into position in front of an appropriate background. I can shoot the whole take with a normal and telephoto lens, keeping ten feet from the car and driver at all times. Of course, that doesn’t help the millions of people who are not so fortunate. Continue reading “”

TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER

Jackson Browne sang it best on “The Only Child”, but “Living in Another World”, a song by the British band Talk Talk, is just as good. It was recorded for their sophomore album The Colour of Spring in March of 1986.

I think it’s one of the more appropriate tunes for these uncertain times. I’m losing feathers too. “Life is what you make it” ain’t bad either. Continue reading “”