Just for laughs

Just a bit of a true story that still gets laughs from fellow news photographers. Maybe you’ll get to chuckle a bit:

News photographers can be a funny bunch. We experience the “hurry up and wait” situation more times than we’d care to admit. We arrive at news conferences, concerts or other events at, or a little before the designated time, which is not always the time it starts. So, we are made to wait and sometimes use that time to talk amongst ourselves to kill time. Various topics come up. Maybe we’ll talk about politics, the news industry or we’ll talk about waiting.

One story I’ll tell is about the time I was assigned to photograph a man attempting to break the world record for lifting a small aircraft. If I remember correctly, there were five print news photographers, and maybe a couple of broadcast guys at the event. There wasn’t much in the way of vantage point options, so I laid on the ground and composed the shot. Another photographer laid next to me, and before I knew it, we were all lying in a row with lenses pointed in the same direction.

We all knew each other, and the guy next to me, a friend of mine, said “So, do you think this will break the record?” My wit was sharp that day. I responded saying “what, how many photographers can take the same picture?”

That is all.

R.I.P. Clarence Clemons

Rest in peace Big Man.

Ride for Faz, Jason Fazio Poker Run

We did the Ride for Faz Poker Run today for Asbury Park Firefighter Jason Fazio.
Shar, Uncle Larry, Shannon and myself joined hundreds of other riders, logging about 70 miles and stopping at Fire Houses along the way. Great ride to benefit firefighter Jason Fazio, who has been in the hospital since January, after being critically injured fighting a fire in AP.

No pictures from me. Hey, it was my day off!
You can see some pix at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-Thoughts-for-APFF-Jason-Fazio/138747602852680

A day late and a dollar short? Not last night.

A day late and a dollar short? Not last night.

One of the good things about living next to a town that has some serious live performance venue’s is that I can hear who’s playing on the outside stage from my window.

A couple of years ago the music from the loudest band in the world was echoing through the myriad of buildings into my living room. The unmistakable voice of Lemmy singing Dr. Rock got me off my ass. We found ourselves rushing the get dressed and did a speed walk to the Boardwalk to enjoy the rest of the set free of charge. Not the best seats in the house, but who cares?

Last night I heard music and leaned my head out the window. It was Social Distortion playing on the outdoor stage. We threw some clothes on and did the 15 minute walk down to check them out. We picked up the pace when we heard “Prison Bound.” Next up was “Story of my life” and we were not quite at the venue yet. We knew that them playing these two songs, they were getting close to the end of their set. As we approached the venue we heard Mike Ness say “Good night everybody.” Ok, so we’ll catch the encore. They played on for another 20-25 minutes and ended covering Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” A beautiful night.

For a band that’s been around since the 70′s, Social D still has it. Their music is sincere, and has a storytelling quality about it. Makes me think of old filling stations in dusty Western towns. Dudes leaning on old cars, or sitting on bikes wearing jeans and cut-off t-shirts. A hot lady on one arm, a leather slung over the other and a cigarette hanging out of their mouth. The waitress in the greasy spoon serving you a burger with a heaping side of cleavage. Social Distortion is true Americana.

Print news photography: Jump ship or end up walking the plank

I remember back around 2001 or so when one of the photographers at a daily newspaper I was freelancing for announced he was leaving the business. I looked at this young, talented photographer as a source of inspiration, and couldn’t comprehend why he was leaving. He said “I see where this industry is headed, and I don’t want to be a part of it. ”

1978 was a good year

Looking for your first 1911 and going crazy from the hundreds of choices out there? Perhaps think about buying used.

NJ Blizzard aftermath day 5: Primal instincts take over

Day 1 of the blizzard of 2010 brought the neighbors outside to assess the damage. Some helped by shoveling paths for senior residents to walk their dogs, of just be afforded the ability to get out of their homes. Snow drifts covering entire doorways kept the sick and elderly locked in.

Front loader was music to our ears

Finally, 5 days after the blizzard, we woke up to the beeping noise of a front loader getting rid of the snow on our block.

NJ Blizzard day 4, not going anywhere

My block 4 days after blizzard, not a plow in sight

Neighbors bike in snow

Our cars, my bike and the poor bastard across the street

Snowstorm 2010