Posted by rcmckee on 23 Jan 10 – 0811
Went to the Health Museum yesterday to shoot their newest exhibit for my friendly Chron editors… but I think I went through the wrong door, because I found mysef in the middle of an Irwin Allen-esque nightmare…
And, like a true hero… I stood around and shot pictures.
(The unfortunate victim-to-be there is Jenny, The Bloggess. Or maybe the victim-to-be is a giant Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula. I wasn’t sticking around to find out.)
I think it came out all right; I caught up with her later, trying to feed her erstwhile blogging partner/rival/companion in crime, Ms. Prunella Farquar, to a giant Atlas Beetle.
Of course, turnabout being fair play, Ms. Farquar was trying to feed Jenny to another giant Atlas Beetle as well…
I kinda figured that whoever won, I’d be better off elsewhere. Besides, BOTH the beetles looked hungry and I wasn’t interested in being the next thing on the menu….
Posted by rcmckee on 11 Dec 09 – 0920
Shooting a small school party.
Up walks a young girl… 4, I think, maybe 5, that age where absolutely solemn is trademarked.
“You should take a picture of me.”
So, without even looking, I tilt the camera on its strap and push the button.
“Thank you,” she says, totally deadpan, and runs away to play with friends.
!!!!!!
Sometimes, if you just get out of the way, the photographs will walk up and climb right into your camera for you.
Posted by rcmckee on 17 Nov 09 – 1228
Over the weekend I had the privilege of being part of the Grand (Re) Opening of the African American Library at the Gregory School, the newest branch of the Houston Public Library.
I say REopening because the library is located in the completely restored* 1926 Gregory School building in the Freedmen’s Town area of Houston. The reading rooms are on the second floor; the first floor is taken up by historical and art galleries
and a restored classroom with furnishings appropriate to the original building.
The Library has done a sweet job here, and they’re not finished yet.
One of the major focus points for the library is the collection and conservation of historical artifacts and oral history relating to Houston’s African American community.
Much of the history presented here is within living memory — many of the participants at the grand opening spent time in the exhibit halls reminiscing about personal experiences at the school or people they’d known as community elders.
The library features a recording studio accessible to members of the community who wish to contribute, and is making strides towards digitizing and recording documents, photos, and artifacts from that period.
Information about contributions, donations, and so forth is found on the Library’s website.
* I have some shots from the restoration on another computer; I’ll add them into this post later in the week. Come back soon.
Posted by rcmckee on 01 Nov 09 – 1214
Small Person. Big Slide. HUGE fun.
Posted by rcmckee on 28 Oct 09 – 0244
Fired up the time warp machine again over the weekend. Didn’t look like a deLorean this time, though…
Taking us back to those thrilling days of yesteryear… when, this time, nobody actually wanted to hang the photographer. Much.
(Click on Mr. Rice or his fine machine (1920 Model T Ford) for more)
Posted by rcmckee on 10 Sep 09 – 0742
Okay, so (a) it’s not yet Friday, and (b) There’s probably not much flying for this guy…
but certainly he’s decorative enough… and although the book says he’s shy and retiring, I don’t think he reads much – he nearly stepped on my foot.
Posted by rcmckee on 12 Aug 09 – 0840
Saturday evening in Sugarland for the finals of the Sugarland Superstar talent show.
Somewhat better than it might have been, though as a dedicated non-fan of Amateur Hours and Open Mike nights, I had no trouble thinking of places I’d rather be.
Fortunately, one doesn’t have to be lost in the performances to photograph the performers.
Cedela Abdulla sings Mariah Carey… and quite nicely, too.Other pix
HERE, and following.
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Posted by rcmckee on 06 Aug 09 – 0627
Scanning proceeds at fairly slow speed, organizing as we go and throwing out many many slides of which I was once quite proud… I’m better, smarter, and have higher standards now. This is a great deal of a good thing.
Some of the old stuff was good, even now, though… and it brings back good memories of good times.
Going way WAY back here… when we were all very young.
Girl In a Purple Coat
Girl In A Top Hat
Girl with Keys
Girl with Sticks
Posted by rcmckee on 20 Jul 09 – 1247
Fort Worth in summertime isn’t a great deal cooler than Houston in Summertime; it’s preferable only because (a) in a Fort Worth summer, evaporation still works, and (b) Fort Worth does actually have OTHER seasons as well.
These small, but meaningful, differences mean that it’s possible to actually venture out of the air conditioning for brief periods during the Fort Worth summer without an environmental suit.
One can, for example, visit the lovely Japanese Garden in the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.
Mind you, in mid-July the dominant color is definitely green (with minor tinges of yellow), and it’s still pretty hot…
but it’s a very nice place. I’ll have to make arrangements to go in with serious photographic intent sometime this fall. (For Houstonians: Fall)
Posted by rcmckee on 16 Jul 09 – 0951
On the too-rare occasions that I get time and opportunity to visit Mom in Fort Worth, we make it a point to visit Oscar’s – a justly popular Mexican eatery and one of our favorite spots.
Complete with mariachis.
