Photography Thinks
So, the other event participants and vendors have started arriving, as the route setters from Vertical Solutions clean up and make sure the Boulders pose enough of a problems for the competitors. The rains came and went. Weather be what it is here in VT. ne2c productions seems t have it under control. Lake Champlain shows pretty for the first week of Autumn, an un predictable time, where for the first time in many, no one speaks about the colors of the leaves or the Sox.
So, they have a group of route setters who look at the plywood boulders and design a challenging wall. Each has their own assignment and vision, taking into account the skills of the competitors and the overall level of achievement required by the sport to enable a viable rating of all who participate. Then, they test their ideas, challenging their talent which may or may not be up to the abilities of those who compete, to create the event.
Lake Champlain has the capacity to take a beating and come back with a roar. Its magic and beauty have captivated, motivated and fascinated people for centuries. And that is a lot of effort over a long time. But this summer, mountains, errrr, climbing walls have come to the Lake, giving it a chance to show a new dynamic. Almost biblical, think about it, the mountains have come to the Lake.
Check out the Nor’Easter festival this weekend, September 23 through September 25. Rock climbing, running, boating, and cyclecross. A music festival featuring an eclectic mix of bands and sounds. A chance to aid flood victims through a costumed fun-run. Like, dude, what else could you want for the last weekend of summer?
Great thanks to Paul’s sister, Mary, who keeps part of her eye on her brother through this blog, for sending me this image. He did ask for you upon his return, asking that I tell you where he was at. His surprise that I had informed you that he was incarcerated at St Albans, lacked understanding of our relationships: yours and mine; his and mine; and the power of blogs.
Photographers, especially documentary/portraitists look at their work in search of increased understanding of individual people, as well as the human race, in general. That is quite a span in which to find a focus. Every portrait forces me to look at the person, an exercise which can start with the easiest question, like where was this shot made or when and why. But, at some level, I just look at the portraits, knowing they have recorded a life living.
So, he spent 31 days in jail. What a waste. “Nothing much to do there,” he said. Missed the Labor Day Weekend in Burlington. People on the street said it was for a failure to appear; others said his public presence and sanitary practices posed a problem. He had built up a series of unspectacular violations of the public order and couldn’t or didn’t show up in court to answer them. He went in, because there are only a few ways the system can respond to uncooperative citizens who disrupt the peace in the main urban glen in Chittenden County.
Still complaining, he returned to the spot where he hangs, starting the same cycle of present life again, and continuing to age. Yeh, they pick on you. Yeh, you have been underserved. Now what? It be getting cold, again. “Hey, yunno, there aren’t a lot of people walking down this street. Getting more difficult to make a living out here.”
People throw recyclable cans in the garbage. People pick them up. Some, like this dude, don’t realize they help promote the Green agenda, while showing great initiative. “I went to see if they had any work for today, but they didn’t. Got $15 to $20 here.” More than I made today from work.
Larry had some problems with the Rainbow People. They promote love between people and love of the land. Larry’s a peaceful guy, too.
Just some park space to spread out in. Whisper escapes.
I watched the cops frisk him when he got here in April. He acted friendly, offering things to people, talking a mile a minute. Came up from Fla., he said. Never spoke with him until mid-September. Interesting guy.
“Been all around. Make my money recycling. I know where to go; usually its where no one else goes. I make a living and live on it. Worked in Arkansas on a chicken farm for Tyson. Hard work. They give you vitamins to strengthen your forearm muscles. You got to hang 30 chickens a minute or they put you in the slow lane–20 chickens a minute, but they are wet. Lot of women work, doing chickens; strong women.”
Every morning they say, we get up and put our shoes on one at a time.
He talks constantly. Some say he mumbles. I understand him, sometimes. He undersands me, maybe.