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02.28
(no explanation given)
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02.27
(nothing posted)
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02.26
It's February in Minnesota and warm is the new black. Layers are all the rage. Layers everywhere. Simply EVERYONE is wearing them. Uncharacteristically, Lori has fallen victim to the times and piled them on as well. But underneath all those trendy layers, I can see that she's really a Zeppelin fan at heart.
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02.19-25
(nothing posted)
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02.18
This was taken back on November 4th at The Cabooze. Howwastheshow.com reviewed the performance here. The "group of hippie girls" mentioned in the last paragraph of the article is this bunch.
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02.17
(no explanation given)
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02.16
(no explanation given)
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02.15
(no explanation given)
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02.14
(no explanation given)
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02.13
(no explanation given)
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02.12
My cousin Mark in the gloom of my brother Dan's living room.
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02.11
Lori and Anna laughing at the answing machine. The calls came in around 4am the night before:
FIRST MESSAGE:
"Hi Lori and Anna. You don't know me and I don't know you either, but we should get together sometime. Call me."
SECOND MESSAGE:
"I'm really upset you guys haven't called me back. I thought we had a good time so if you get this call me back."
Now unfortunately the third call woke me up and I answered to find out who the hell was calling us at such an ungodly hour. I don't remember that grumpy conversation very well, but we're betting the next two messages would've sounded like this had the joker not been inturrupted:
THIRD MESSAGE:
"Fine! Fucking don't call back then! How can you two just use someone that way! People have feelings, you know. Call me back, dammit!"
FOURTH MESSAGE:
"Me again. I'm sorry about that last message. I just feel hurt. I didn't mean anything by it. Please call.
On it could have gone, vascillating between anger and contrition, spiralling into dispair. Too bad I answered the phone? Hillarious.
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02.10
Neighbor kids. Elijah broke his thumb crashing into a chair if you're curious about the cast on his arm.
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02.09
Caught Brandy burning her tongue while studying my new camera over lunch at the cafe. Tricky exposure because of bright pathces of sun. I was pretty spoiled for three years by the Sony F717. Much to relearn.
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02.08
Father and son playing with a toy airplane after breakfast at the Seward.
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02.07
(no explanation given)
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02.06
Traditional Chinese street performers were unloading their dragonsuits along my route home from walking Lori to class. As I approached, this boy crouched and began examining the blade just as I past him. I turned and took the shot without stopping.
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02.05
(no explanation given)
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02.04
(no explanation given)
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02.03
My Sony F717 digital camera is beginning to die. No surprise there. It's been through everything I have for the past three years and I don't think its creators meant for it to be carried constantly like a jedi sidearm. So for the past couple of months I have been asking the universe for an upgrade. It answered quickly with a Canon EOS D60.
Thank you Keri, it's like getting a guitar once owned by Clapton.
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02.02
(no explanation given)
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02.01
Heh, First Avenue. Trampled by Turtles were wrapping up their tour with Camper Van Beethoven, a fairly significant event for them. Before the show, the Stage Manager - Conrad Sverkerson, had asked me to not take photos from onstage. I naturally interpreted this to mean that my photo pass allowed me to shoot from anywhere except standing onstage during a performance and I nodded "no problem." I've had that limitation placed on me many times (most times actually, but not always). Sometimes I can only shoot for the first three songs, other places don't allow flash, or photographing patrons, etc. Different places, different rules; and "stay off the stage" is almost ubiquitous.
My first mistake was trying to get a shot from the edge of stage left (on the stairs) between performances. Trampled was tearing down and Camper was setting up. It was a great opportunity as both bands were messing with their gear all bathed in white light. I began working with the geometry of the scene and waited for the shot to appear - something, anything. A handshake. A smile returned. All four of them sharing a glance. Wait for it. Wait, and just as Dave Simonett reached up and smiled to accept Jonathan Segel's handshake - a sweet decisive moment marking the end of a successful tour- Conrad stepped in front of me (intentionally blocking the scene) and told me to leave and I politely and immediately obeyed, but as I was descending the stairs I spotted a folding chair and got the bright idea for my second mistake which was opening it next to the stage and standing on it to continue looking for another shot in that wonderful light. Standing on a chair is something I've done many times if I have to shoot clear of an elevated stage. Unfortunately Conrad decided I did this to spite or outsmart him and he started in on me.
"You think you're funny, don'tcha?"
"Conrad, I'm not messing with you. I'm just trying to get my shot. I'm out of everyone's way."
"Yeah, very funny. Get the fuck away from my stage."
Jonanthan from Camper was interested in having me shoot their set so I was back at it when they came on. I had no wish to run afoul of Conrad again so I stayed away from perches on the sides and went down in front, the only interesting vantage remaining. There I made my third mistake by conducting myself as I always do in every joint, slipping carefully but quickly through the throng of people, camera and photo pass clearly visible so I am permitted through. No one ever minds. Everyone's always friendly to me down in front (and usually want their picture taken too). So I'm down there and I'm about fifteen shots into Camper when someone grabs a handfull of my shirt and roughs me out of the crowd. It's Conrad again, of course. In my face.
"I've been watching you. You're placing your camera against the stage and against monitors, plus you're pushing your way through people. Why can't you just stand out here and take normal pictures like everyone else? I've had it with you." And that was that.
I did resist the urge to ask him the obvious: why he gave me a photo pass if he expected me to shoot as a typical stationary audience member - why they even have photo passes, really. If I can't get close, I've got nothing, and if I can't stabilize my camera against the lip of the stage or against monitors, I can't get clear pictures without rudely blasting the scene with my flash over and over. Of course I didn't bother him with those details because I knew he wouldn't care. He's got a really hard job and booting photographers is as good a stress reliever as any, I suppose. But why a man would prohibit serious photography of a stage he's devoting decades of his life to managing is anyone's guess.
So, I got psychotically chewed out in front of my friends. That sucked. But getting 86ed for doing my job would've been hard to avoid. Conrad gave me access and then became incensed when I had the temerity to use it. So I laughed it all off and walked home to Lori smiling.
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Previously...
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