Canadian Sojourn Part 4

To continue doing something with determination or resolve despite difficulties or an unlikely chance of succeeding.”


Latnia young womam, sitting in window, black  hair, head and shoulders, Black and White images.

I want to speak about my van in the manner of John Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charlie”. It was a VW van that had been outfitted by the previous owner from a camper he had found. It came with a closet, pull out bed, another seat/storage area, and a water-tank/refrigerator. I had packed my foot trunk with all the things I would need for my new life. Some years before, during the Cuba Missile Crisis my father bought a camp stove, I had gotten a sleeping-bag, and a survival inflatable boat. Of course I had packed my cameras, and all my other photo gear so I was all set for my trip/new life. The van was outfitted with Wonder bread polka dots curtains.

Black and White image, young Caucasian woman, closeup of her face, sitting in a window.

My only real decisions was did I have the determination to make the move to Canada. The only thing I knew about the palace was in Montreal had a world’s fair that year. I figured that I would learn French at the very least if there is were I’d settled. Part of my cover story was I wanted to see some of my country before I was drafted into a war that I didn’t support. I had made up the cover story to cover my tracks if anyone asked about my reasons for going. I knew that if I did this there was no turning back once I cross that border, that I’d be stuck in my decision for possibly the rest of my life. At twenty-one (21) there was a lot of years left to me so I had to make an important decision.

Black and White image,full length shot of a young Caucasian woman wearing a grown.

As I prepared to leave Virginia Beach I assessed the time I had to get to my next stop. The bulk of my trip was done in the hard driving I had survived. The remaining state were compressed so that I had some time to explore site I had noticed in the area. Top of my list was a telescope array I had seen, I figured it had something to do with NASA. So down a lonely road I drove to a site that was ripe with these dishes that were point up in the air, no trespassing sign abound. I walked around the fence tried for a better view, but then it occurred to me that I was probably doing something that would bring the cops down on me. As I headed back in the direction I had come a jeep full of soldiers came driving up to give me the once over. But they didn’t stop me and soon I was back on the highway heading north.

Again this was back in 1969, the Democratic Convention riot had just happened, the city of Philadelphia was not high on my list of places to be. Neither was New York city, I was intimidated to drive there. So I figure that Trenton was okay because I knew I’d have a place to park my van at least. There were two brothers who were family friend who had a place there, they were kind enough to put me up at their motel. I stayed for about two (2) days to rest and relax, I remember getting a packet of Oreo cookies and milk. I attempted to try New York, but all I did was buy gas for my van and drove on to Rhode Island.

Black and White image, young Latina woman, sitting in window light, tight shot of face and hair.

Providence was a sleepy little seaport town then with cobbled streets and narrow roads then. I drove around to reconnoiter, drove past the church and on out of town. Found a park were I could walk around and a place to park were I wouldn’t be disturbed. Made some dinner and settled down for a good night. In the wee hours of the morning I heard tap, tap, tap on my side window, a voice call “You can’t sleep here”.

Sunlight in the studio!

Jean

Red hair, sunlight, nude, nudo, michael vasquez, michaelvasquezart.com
Sunlight in the studio with Jean Dawson.

Last December Jean Dawson came by to play with the sun.  Then my image processing program decided to freeze up on me, Jean’s friend came  over to fix it.  Now I got to get back to my sojourn, but first I  have so adjustments to work out.

Whimsy

Star Falls

 

Welcome to the first of my flight of Whimsy.  When working as a photographer, I am like hunter, seeking…., trying to let nothing escape my notice.  Glittery objects catch the eye, I am lost in my own creative world.  I focus attention, lost in the curls, and the stars.  My eye seeking out the proper angle, let the curls lead…, no the stars.  The idle part of my mind creates a story, birthplace of stars, curling down to earth…., each little sharks teeth, one following another down…, till the ribbon snaps…., star free.  Curl…, rebounds give each star that little snap, and away.  Curl rebounds…, re-curls, springs back…, yoyoing, till the tension catches each curl in it position.

From the King William Fair held in San Antonio, Tx each April.  Used to be free, got too popular for its own good.  A nice family weekend, children welcome, their strollers not so much.   Gets pretty packed, people are looking for other people and not little ones at tripping height.  As photographer/hunter I get freedom of movement so I can stalk my prey, get a clear shot.

A dad asks, can he buy a roll of film off me, so I give what is a fair price for me, considering what I may loose not having that roll of film.  A bit of attitude at the price, I tell him that if it too much fine, I’ll keep it.

Starfall

king-wm-hats-edit-white

Taken at the King William Fair in San Antonio, Tx in around 1995.  Traditional film and processing of high speed film, shot on the street with no special lighting.  I love this shot in the series on the fair and the colorful events.  Stay tuned!

My story:

Each little star is nurtured and protected on the vine-like colored coils of light.  As they mature, and grow a ribbon slowly descend and guide each individual star as its launched into space, the ribbon snaps back, the ribbon curls…., slowly  over time the ribbons unfurl, their tension is dissipated…, they flutter in the space breeze looking for their own individual star somewhere out there shooting across the sky.

Moving Mariachi

Moving Mariachi.jpg copy

This image taken about 1995 or so, long time ago, and still relevant.  I got a friend to drop me off near the parade route about 8:30 and I finish walking and shooting about 11:00.  Lots of walking and shooting, but I was in shape, and I enjoyed myself…, figured I walk about 20 miles in all.  A pretty night, lots of pretty girls in pretty costumes.  Funny how to just have a camera in your hands and people will preform for you.  I was the only one who knew I was “dragging the shutter” and maybe there would be no usable images, then again I loved what I got and even sold one.