When travelling with Harold, it’s a good idea to practice dialling 911 frequently. On our way down from the Freemen Hotel rooftop lounge we discovered some power issues with an open panel, bare wires and all. Harold decided to apply a bit of his recently acquired electrical knowledge, thanks Mike, and this is what happens….Harold happens.

These two photographs were made with a 1950’s vintage, Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. I’ll be posting images from some of the old cameras that I use because, while I’m fascinated by my pursuit of the newest gadgets to make photographs, (technology is soooo seductive), it’s made little difference to the making of a good photograph. I get caught up in the fuss about the new stuff, and I’ve had my share of nice gear to use, but the tools are in the service of a bigger mission, a good photograph is a good photograph, plain and simple. There, I’ve thrown down the gauntlet for myself, what is a good photograph you ask? That’s what this blog is for, life and the good photograph, more to come. Millions of Brownies of various models were sold around the world, it was a simple design, early models being made of cardboard, later made from Bakelite and other plastic materials. Brownie production began in 1900 with the cardboard box cameras, producing negatives 2 1/4″ by 2 1/4″ with good image quality for it’s day, and finished in 1985 as a very different camera, a 110 size cartridge camera, making negatives about the size of a fingernail with the resulting terrible image quality.

I’ve had the good fortune to be able to roam over these past few years, making trips to NFLD, Percé Rock QC, Tofino B.C. and Mazatlan, Mexico, and many stops in between. Puffins are amazing, superb flyers and cute as a button, they really seem to defy gravity, in the way a bumblebee looks like it shouldn’t be able to fly. At this viewing site in Maberly, NFLD they were pretty curious as well, landing perhaps 10 meters away, strolling back and forth along the cliff edge. I have an archive of images that I’m going to share, interspersed with talk around making photographs and being out in the world, hopefully the blog doesn’t become a confusing mess, but then, not knowing what to expect is a good thing too!

A stunning view of Mazatlan, the ocean and Isla de la Piedra….Stone Island. The roof-top pool and lounge area on the Freemen Hotel is a favourite place to grab a strawberry margarita, or perhaps a 43 on ice, watch the sun sink into the ocean and gaze out over the city and harbour. The Freemen sits at the south end of The Malecôn, a 21 km long promenade along the pacific ocean where people gather in the evenings to enjoy the view and feel the warm, friendly atmosphere of relaxation. In the photograph top-right, at full size you can just make out the 9 plex I stay in situated in front of the mountain just left of centre.

Leaving Santa Fe New Mexico on Nov. 29th, I cleared 5 inches of snow off the van with bare hands before I could hit the road. Of course I had gloves in the van! Bostick & Sullivan is a photographic supplier of all things “alternative process”, located in Santa Fe, and by “alternative process” I mean photographic processes that are antiquated, both for processing/making film and or making prints of various kinds. The old ways are still magical, messier than a digital camera and computer for sure, but beautiful in ways that are near impossible to replicate. A wonderful group of folks they are at B&S, they set me up with an Albumen Printing kit and a contact frame, both of which I’ll expand on in a future post.

Spare parts for my tank!

Sense of humour or a good business approach?

While I realize two photographs do not a State make, I find it humorous both of these places are there. Texas has the oversized reputation of the wild west and they love guns and stuff. I’ll be stopping in Texas on the way home, visiting Austin, and I look forward to  finding a lighter, light side to the State.

H & D in Mazatlan

Once again I’m fortunate to be in Mazatlan with my peeps Harold and Dianne, they’ve taught me to be present and relax, do what I came to do and enjoy it, the weight of the world will still be there when I want to carry a load again.

Well, here goes. An adventure in travel and blogging, Mexico during the winter of 2019/2020, on the road with Lenny, aka, The Dude, Bubs and Doodles. Crossing at Sarnia, Ontario took me over the Blue Water Bridge into the United States of America, Lenny felt I needed backup from another set of eyes I guess, this was the only time he rode on the front dash in 11 days. The Dude was a dream traveller, only giving me a moment or two of stress as we drove and drove and drove. First day into the US I made it to Cincinnati, Ohio and found a pet friendly hotel to crash. The chain of Red Roof Inns are comfortable, not glamorous, and Lenny gave a paws up when I asked him what he thought, suits me fine. Hamptons Inn and Suites as well as La Quinta hotels are also pet friendly.

Feeling the call of travel again, missing the space of ocean and prairie…..thoughts have so much room to move out there, and the wind can carry a heavy load. The stillness of open space wears loneliness like a glove,

In a closed system, entropy always increases.

Unidentified pieces of the past, relics with no part to play anymore, like worn out thinking and behaviour. Compelling nontheless.