Do Not Go Gentle

Observers at the Pagan Picnic. Not so mobile but definitely still in the action. Reminds me of Dylan Thomas' poem Do Not Go Gentle.                     

I'm Staying On This Side Of The Street

Since I was totally out of new material, I snuck out of work a little early to take advantage of the extra golden hour light provided by the change to daylight savings time. This is just west of downtown. It used to be an AT&T Long Lines building before the technology changed. I hope never to visit.         

Gratuitous Violence

The Renaissance Festival always has a jousting show, but it was different this year. After a few runs on horseback with lances, the knights dismounted and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. It got nasty.

These pictures are in chronological order. It felt genuinely dangerous. Never before did one knight slit the throat of the other and leave him to die, spouting fake blood, in the dust. I thought it was horrifying, perhaps reflecting the darker side of America. The audience was  full of children. Madeleine, of course, was too young to get it but she did look over my shoulder while I was editing these shots. "He's mean!" she exclaimed. 

Yes, really mean.              

Thursday Arch Series

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Just the basics. I think that one of the best things you can do with an Arch photo is to find a cloudless day make a pinpoint exposure on the bright metal skin,and then let the sky go black.

I've been really bad about commenting on my friends' blogs lately. There are a number of hoary English legal maxims they teach American law students, one of which is that the law is a jealous mistress. So many hard deadlines, so many specific responsibilities. So, it's just been exploring new dimensions in overwork lately. Oh, and the World Series distractions. The Rangers are up on the Cardinals three games to two in the bast-of-seven series. Last night's game in STL was postponed due to rain and will be played tonight. The Cardinals have to win the two remaining games at home to win the championship. Lots of distractions.

"I'll Keep My Guns..." (Guns Weekend, Part 2)

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Seen on the back window of a huge SUV in downtown traffic. Another example of why you should always have a camera handy. In this case, mine was resting by me in the car on what Americans call the shotgun seat.

This is a specifically anti-Obama sticker. One of his campaign slogans was "change you can believe in." These people scare the bejeebers out of me. It involves the far-right (and pretty common) paranoid delusion that liberals, or progressives as we call ourselves now, actually, really want to create a socialist dictatorship to deprive drivers of GMC Yukons of their freedom (to waste energy?), money (via taxes) and, of course, their guns. Sheesh. We just want everyone to be happy, healthy, safe and maybe have some fun.

I got a bunch of good pictures yesterday at the second annual St. Louis Idiotarod, a benefit for Operation Food Search. Coverage is starting today on Downtown St. Louis 365. Worth a look.

Thursday Arch Series

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I really like jet airplane contrails with the Arch and a clear sky. Sometimes it adds a slash of drama. I wish this one were a little brighter but it wouldn't take much more Photoshopping. The Arch itself on that cobalt sky isn't bad, though.

And about that photo competition: I got my butt kicked in the third of six rounds with this picture against roadside daisies, despite having packed the crowd of 50 with 14 supporters. Well chacun à son goût or de gustibus non est disputandum or however you would like to put it. My stuff can be a little too edgy for a general audience. Onward, and to thine own self be true.
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