Yiddish Theatre Tickets 1956
The National Yiddish Theatre, built for Boris Thomashefsky, opened in 1912. Yiddish Theatres along Manhattan’s Lower East Side on 2nd Avenue brought cultural heritage and entertainment to the 1.5 million Eastern-European Jewish Immigrants at the turn of the century. The legacy of the Yiddish Theatre in music, motion pictures and American life reaches through the decades, even today.
My project about the Yiddish Theatre had it’s beginnings over a year ago but did not take hold until badly timed with our pandemic. However I continue to research and just acquired these actual theatre tickets from 1956.
The Leica Film Look
Going a different direction for some of my photography. Will be shooting some film in a Leica lllf camera. This camera was manufactured in 1952 or 1953. All manual and not even a light meter. I always loved the look of film shot in Leica cameras.
Velvia
Fujifilm Velvia has been one of my favorite films. Even when I shoot my Fujifilm X-Series digital cameras, I shoot RAW and Velvia film emulation. It was because of the photographs in this book that got me into it. I like the saturated colors and high contrast. And I will be shooting the film again too.
Walter Iooss is a long time photographer for Sports Illustrated. And the man who shot the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition for years.
Film Again
I always liked shooting film. Dwayne’s was the only film lab left still processing Kodachrome. I like many photographers saved our last rolls to get into Dwayne’s to be a small part of photography history.
Now in these changing times, I am going back to shooting some film for a change of pace and for the idea of going back to the history of photography. There is no more Kodachrome or Kodachrome processing but many films are in production and have been brought back in to production.
Lomo Need Some Film
Sometimes I forget what I have. Have to get some film, I have not one roll left!
Me By Sandro Miller
Today I received an extraordinary gift of a lifetime. A signed print of a photograph of me by the esteemed and respected photographer Sandro Miller. To be in the company of the famous and noteworthy people who have been in front of his camera is truly an honor.
I was the host at the Palm Springs Air Museum for Sandro’s workshop for the Palm Springs Photo Festival in 2018 and 2019. In that first workshop he asked me to sit for the camera. My place has always been behind the camera. I must say that this was a memorable moment. Being photographed by a true artist. Thank You Sandro!
Note that this photograph of the print does not exhibit what an amazing work it is. A fine art print must be seen in person. And it makes all the difference in the world.
Shot Down
There are many Saturday presentations at the Palm Springs Air Museum. However I usually miss them because I am working on the flying side of things on Saturdays. Such was one presentation a while back by Steve Snyder introducing his book “Shot Down“. It It is my opinion that books like this are a window into history that is not seen otherwise. And it is always an honor to meet the people who have a personal relationship to the story. You can get the book yourself here… http://stevesnyderauthor.com Thanks!
“Author Steve Snyder’s father, Howard Snyder, was a B-17 pilot stationed in England during World War II. On February 8, 1944, his plane, the B-17 Susan Ruth, was Shot Down over the French/Belgium border after a mission to bomb Frankfurt, Germany. ”
“The book tells the true story of events leading up to and after that harrowing day. Of the ten-man crew, some died, some ended up in prison camps, and some evaded capture. What makes this book unique is the varied, detailed, and amazing story of what happened to each crew member, in particular, Howard Snyder who evaded capture and was missing in action for seven months.”
Photographer Scam
This is already an old scam. But old scams find new victims. So to my photographer friends, don’t fall for it.
Sepia Dreams From 2004
I first met Matthew Jordan Smith at a photographer convention and trade show in Las Vegas. He was doing a presentation and promoting his book “Sepia Dreams”. In the ensuing years we would see each other again at photographer conventions and smaller photo industry events in Los Angeles.
Then just last week, we met up again, this time online, in a zoom presentation in a weekly series being done by photographer educator John Cornicello. So if there is a positive to the current world problems, it has forced us to find a way to become closer in some ways. Matthew is now living in Tokyo.
“Sepia Dreams” is an extraordinary work…. “a collection of wise words from and beautiful images of fifty black celebrities from the worlds of entertainment, art, sports, and more. Speaking candidly about the motivations and qualities they believe have made and kept them successful, each celebrity interview takes the form of a lesson-one that is useful in our daily lives, one that shows us that dreams can come true…”
Photo Excursion Old Downtowns
A photo excursion on May 29th. Scenes and places we would often overlook, like a cleaners that many decades ago was the police station. This is the second half of this excursion exploring through old downtown areas. I have been doing photo excursions for a few years now. Others who have joined with me have been successful in their art of photography, painting and printing their works. This series shot on my Fujifilm X-T3 and XF16-55mm F2.8 lens.
My Bunny Mask
I like my mask better than your mask! Just had a couple made for myself. From one of my photographs of “Bunny”, the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang dedicated to Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend.
Annenberg Closed
Very sad news… The Annenberg Space for Photography today announced that it will be permanently closed. This was an extraordinary venue for photography and related events.
Photo Excursion
A photo excursion on May 29th. Scenes and places we would often overlook. I have been doing photo excursions for a few years now. Others who have joined with me have been successful in their art of photography, painting and printing their works. This series shot on my Fujifilm X-T3 and XF16-55mm F2.8 lens.
Hasselblad Masters Passion
Published in 2008, I finally got a copy. I was one of the original subscribers to the extraordinary Hasselblad publication “Victor By Hasselblad” and collected the biennial Hasselblad Masters series. However Hasselblad Masters Vol. 1 “Passion” long out of print was not available. Until recently…
A search found Gregor Halenda, who is one of the photographers featured in that very first volume. He had a few new copies in original packaging for sale. I immediately purchased one and Gregor was kind enough to autograph it. An example of his feature in the book is here.
I am a huge fan of Hasselblad and it’s place in history. So on a personal level this is very exciting for me. And photographers are all fans of incredible photography.
Open! Palm Springs Air Museum
OPEN! Yes the Palm Springs Air Museum is back open as of today June 1st. Truly one of the best air museums in the world.
If you follow me, you know I am closely associated with the PS Air Museum in multiple roles from photographer to the actual flying side of things.
So come visit and check it out. After all this Shelter In Place you will find it a great place to be. And you can still fly with us through June. Check it all out on the website at https://palmspringsairmuseum.org
And yes I shot this photo. Camera was a Fujifilm X-Series. Thanks!
Photo Excursion Post Shelter In Place
My buddy Dennis Johnson and myself cancelled a photo excursion that was scheduled for the day the Shelter In Place went into effect back in March. And here on the day it was lifting we did do a photo excursion. Photographs here on my Blog this coming week. We were both shooting Fujifilm X-Series cameras.
Memorial Day Flyover
Many of you saw it on the news across the country. And many of you saw it in person. Sixteen World War II aircraft traversed Southern California over Memorial locations, hospitals and landmarks honoring Memorial Day and those people on the front-line of the pandemic.
I was honored to be on the crew with the Palm Springs Air Museum flying in the World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. Starting out the day we flew over the Coachella Valley with the C-47, the P-51 Mustang Red Tail “Bunny”, the P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”, a Vietnam War era T-28 Trojan, and a T-33 Shooting Star.
Along with the C-47 we broke off with the P-51 Mustang to join the other aircraft flyover twenty locations in the Inland Empire, out to Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, up the coast past the USS Iowa to National Cemetery in Westwood, east over USC Medical Center, finally landing at Chino Airport.
A huge Thank You to Threshold Aviation for hosting us and providing lunch and relaxation. Your hospitality was very appreciated by all.
Departing Chino, it was back to Palm Springs going up with the three other Air Museum aircraft for a flyover again of more locations in the Coachella Valley, out to the Patton Museum, back up through Twentynine Palms, over High Desert Medical Center, Yucca Valley, Desert Hot Springs and finally back to land at Palm Springs and back to the Air Museum.
Thank You to everyone for being so very supportive, those who cheered us on the ground, and to those to whom we owe so very much. Here are a few photographs of the journey.
Photographed on Fujifilm cameras, X-T3, X-H1, 50-140 and 16-55 f2.8 lenses. Thanks!
Memorial Day Fly-Over
Join the Palm Springs Air Museum to salute all those who serve and have served our country in a momentous air display throughout the Coachella Valley and Southern California.
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020, starting at 10:45am, the Palm Springs Air Museum’s webcam will stream live the staging of pilots and vintage warbirds as they prepare for a Memorial Day ceremony with Pipe Band, burial flag presentations to pilots and take off of five vintage warbirds into the sky.
Uniformed members of Civil Air Patrol Squadron 11 will present one burial flag to each of the five pilots while the Palm Springs Pipe Band plays. The aircraft and honorees:
– P-63 Kingcobra: Cpl. Joseph LaSalle, WWI USMC
– P-51 Mustang: Lt. Col. Robert Friend, WWII USAAF (Tuskegee Airman)
– T-33 Shooting Star: Col. Robert Gilliland, USAF Korean War
– C-47 Skytrain: Maj Gen. Kenneth Miles, USAF Vietnam War
– T-28 Trojan: Col. Ross Miles, USAF Lost Current Service Members
The five aircraft will start-up and depart to fly over the Coachella Valley in honor of those who serve and served our country. The aircraft will then meet up with other warbirds over San Bernardino and fly over parts of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
The Coachella Valley route goes from Palm Springs International Airport to Desert Hot Springs City Hall, SunLine Transit Center, Sun City / Shadow Hills, Indio City Hall, John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Coachella City Hall, Coachella Valley Water District, Cochran Regional Airport, La Quinta City Hall, Indian Wells City Hall, Palm Desert City Hall, Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage City Hall, Cathedral City’s City Hall, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians’ Tribal Offices, Palm Springs City Hall, Desert Regional Hospital, Desert Memorial Park, and the General Patton Museum.
The aircraft will then join other aircraft from the Inland Empire Wing of the CAF, Flabob Aviation Associates, and the Condor Squadron Threshold Technologies, Inc, over San Bernardino.
All aircraft will then fly over the following locations in Southern California: Loma Linda VA Medical Center, Riverside National Cemetery, CHOC Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital (Orange), John Wayne Airport, Pacific View Memorial Park (Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend’s grave), Newport Beach, Long Beach VA Hospital, The Queen Mary, USS Iowa, Green Hills Memorial Park, Torrance Airport, LAX, Santa Monica Airport, LA National Cemetery, UCLA Medical Center, USC Medical Center, City of Hope, and finally Chino Airport.
Please join us along the way for this historic flyover. Thank You!
Map of the additional Southern California route below.
Frontline Fly-Over
Honoring the people on the front lines of the pandemic, the Palm Springs Air Museum is doing “Frontline Friday Flyovers”.
On Friday May 22nd we will be over Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital, Twentynine Palms City Hall, Hi-Desert Medical Center, Yucca Valley Town Hall and Desert Hot Springs City Hall. Departure time from the Palm Springs Air Museum will be approximately 12:45pm.
The aircraft flying will be the World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc”, the iconic “Red Tail” P-51 Mustang “Bunny”, and one of only of the very few flying in the entire world, the P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”.
A map of the route is in the discussion here so many of you can watch from your own backyard. Wave to us, I will be in the C-47. Thanks!
Frontline Flyover And 100 Megapixels
“Bunny” the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang headed out for a Frontline Friday Flyover. Joining up with the Air Museum’s World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” and the P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly” saluting the people on the frontlines fighting the pandemic.
Photographed with the Fujifilm GFX100 medium format camera system. A 100 megapixel camera capable of shooting five frames per second with continuous autofocus. I have found it fast handling, extremely versatile and producing incredible image quality.
Peaking Power Plant
Out shooting with the new Fujifilm GFX100 camera and GF45mm lens. A medium format 100 megapixel digital camera system. I am much more impressed with this camera system than I had expected. The image quality is extraordinary!
This is the “Peaking Power Plant” in the North end of Palm Springs California. It was designed and built to provide additional power during peak demand such as occurs in the high heat of the Summer.
