Daily Photos

< March 2012 >

March 1, 2012
Continuing the tradition of Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Clifford Brown and Miles Davis. The tuba was commonly played in early jazz ensembles. Much of the success of a jazz band rests on the drummer. Surrounded by an arsenal of percussion instruments. The trombones have all the best lines. WOODY ALLEN

March 2, 2012
Ordinary people sat in the seats surrounded by signs that warned NO PHOTOGRAPHY. I freely roamed a catwalk above the stage, taking as many pictures as I wanted. I also took pictures from the edge of the stage. For a while, I even shot from the pit in front of the stage. At intermission, I hung around the musicians backstage. My point is, my camera gives me ACCESS!

March 3, 2012
I had the option to take pictures of more musicians today, or try something a little unusual. I made the right choice. It was pink versus purple as the Gem City Roller Girls took on the Rollergirls of Central Kentucky (R. O. C. K.). A piece of purple tape on the track was all that separated spectators from competitors, so taking photos was easy. This looks like it was manipulated in Photoshop, but this is what the camera captured. It`s a fortunate combination of horizontal panning and a burst of flash at the right moment. I assume there`s already a song about a roller derby girl. But if not, somebody needs to write one.

March 4, 2012
I get the feeling there are ARTISTS around here. There`s one now. I KNEW it! The artist demonstrates her award-winning technique. There I was, surrounded by four-foot-tall (but very tough-looking) Girl Scouts. I had no choice but to buy cookies. I bought two new photography books, but forced myself to remove two other photo books from my overflowing shelf.

March 5, 2012
`Watch out for that coronal mass ejection!` `Stand RIGHT THERE while I give this propeller a spin.` Early pilots were carried aloft by wood, canvas and faith. How quickly the invention was turned into a flying weapon. Off we go into the wild blue yonder, climbing high into the sun. ROBERT CRAWFORD

March 6, 2012
SOME PEOPLE had to work today, but not me. The first to bloom are the first to die. I`ve stopped counting the number of days until spring. Hasan Isakkut came all the way from Turkey (by way of New York) to play and sing for people of Dayton today. Will work for music. I gave Hasan some photos of his performance, and he gave me a copy of his latest CD.

March 7, 2012
Tonight I was at a music demonstration and performance that was entirely in a different language, but having seen countless similar events I don`t think I missed very much. She dances too. The jawbone of a burro makes a good rhythm instrument. Not something I expected to see in a church basement. Watching over the city of Dayton since 1859.

March 8, 2012
The `gum boot` dance tradition emerged in South Africa as a result of the oppression of manual laborers. The Irish dance tradition emerged as a result of the oppression of domestic laborers. Different, but the same. The gum boots are decorated with bottle caps as a reminder of the chains around the ankles of the workers. Tonight`s event featured Step Afrika and Hammerstep. These dancers will return to Dayton for a big show in April.

March 9, 2012
Taking photos is a satisfying form of creativity for me. Hint: it`s very large. Lacking any sense of style, the building`s present owners have hung a string of cheap plastic lights over the door. `The Answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything is . . . forty-two,` said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm. DOUGLAS ADAMS Considering the location, I`d guess it was deliberate.

March 10, 2012
My neighborhood is being taken over by the NCAA. Two hawks have returned to town, making the other birds nervous (but really it`s the squirrels who should worry). Pull up a chair. Finally, I heard the artist explain the origin of this painting (see April 13, 2011). Normally, you`re not supposed to touch the artwork, but she made these so I guess it`s okay.

March 11, 2012
All eyes were on Dayton as it hosted the inaugural NCAA First Four Festival in the Oregon Historic District today. To maintain a `family-friendly` atmosphere, some of the more colorful business establishments were camouflaged. And the neighborhood vagrants were given new clothing. Many talented entertainers performed all day long. In addition to the talented entertainers, there was this guy.

March 12, 2012
It rained today. And after that, it rained. Ready for bees. [I saw a butterfly yesterday, by the way.] Dwarf iris `Katherine Hodgkin.` `Spring is here, yeah baby!`

March 13, 2012
Today we turned the corner on winter, never to look back. The squirrels knew it, the birds flew it, the flowers grew it. Did you see today`s paper? A passerby said, `Today is a great day for photography.` Today is a great day for anything (except maybe skiing). It`s dangerous to take pictures in a parking lot. I TOLD YOU to turn off your cell phone!

March 14, 2012
I`m so happy about the early spring weather, I can even rejoice in the return of dandelions. Coming soon to a mailbox near you. A bird apart. In my neighborhood, St. Patrick`s Day lasts all weekend. DON`T PARK ON MY STREET!! Historical detail.

March 15, 2012
Flowers got an early start, but the trees are catching up. If insects like this didn`t keep plants like this alive, then you would not be alive. Be considerate of what sustains you. The avian politics of my neighborhood have transformed since two hawks moved in. In the morning, little birds sing and chirp, until a hawk squawks once and they go silent. I usually like to sit at the front. Oh dear.

March 16, 2012
Redshirt freshman. Mother of the Year: an infant, a toddler, and a cigarette. It won`t help. They`ll still park on my street tomorrow. Cardinal Fang, fetch the comfy chair! MONTY PYTHON Who will buy this wonderful morning? OLIVER!

March 17, 2012
I worry about the future of America. Get outside and enjoy them while you can. There were already dead ones on the ground. Mathematics in action: a Fibonacci sequence in the yard. The old and the new. I`m good at tiny. Don`t ask me to photograph a mountain.

March 18, 2012
What the honeybee saw. Yellow is in style this season. I heard a large bee somewhere nearby but couldn`t see it. At this point, tiny raindrops began to strike my camera. The most cooperative creature I`ve ever photographed. He and his buddies made a deafening creeking noise.

March 19, 2012
I live where the bottles break, but the blacktop still comes back for more. I live where the bottles break and the blacktop still comes back. JOHN GORKA I live where the neighbors yell and their music comes up through the floor. I live where the neighbors yell and their music wakes me up. JOHN GORKA Solar eclipse. RED LIGHT PHOTO ENFORCED Ef·ful·gent: adjective. Shining brightly; radiant. (Of a person or expression) Emanating joy or goodness.

March 20, 2012
On Tuesday, March 20, hundreds of Springboro High School students, as well as their families and alumni, rallied in support of principal Ron Malone. After twelve successful years as principal, Dr. Malone was facing reassignment to a new position in the district office. The outcry from the community was immediate and vocal. Although most school board meetings are hardly noticed, Tuesday night`s meeting was a highly-publicized event. The mood was tense, but all parties were respectful as board president Scott Anderson addressed the crowd. Ron Malone is to continue as high school principal. Overwhelmed by the show of support, Dr. Malone was congratulated by students, friends and family.

March 21, 2012
Somewhere, there`s a large hive with many of these bees. I much prefer to encounter them on an individual basis. BEWARE Wild flowers Directly above the bed of wild flowers. Colors of the city. In the name of love.

March 22, 2012
Louisa May Alcott has been set to music. `Beth March` helps older sister `Meg March` with her hair. Meanwhile, `Amy` tried to fix her nose with a clothespin. I wasn`t surprised to discover that the lead role of Jo was performed by the not-shy soprano of December 4, 2011. I was surprised that `Little Women` had sword fighting. Despite some unexpected elements, this `Little Women` retained the key element: the bond between four sisters.

March 23, 2012
The daffodils are dead. Long live the tulips! My skin tends to get rough and break out this time of year. One photographic technique that I have learned over the years is how to crouch down awkwardly in a public place. I dunno - do you think these colors go together? Photography attracts a crowd. Hey - bid on my photo!

March 24, 2012
Emerging from hibernation, today I taught a photography workshop to a large group of camera enthusiasts. How rude. Life is short: why be drab? Four eyes. See, I told you life was short.

March 25, 2012
Today I was honored to discover that the Oregon District hawks have nested in a tree directly in front of my house. The artist in her studio (see March 4 above). Another resident at the artist`s studio. Life is full of mysteries. The artist makes more than just paintings.

March 26, 2012
For the artist`s next citrus project (see March 25 above). It`s easy to find music in the Oregon District. Still gathering twigs for the nest. Tulips: the inside story. Try to say `railroad` three times fast.

March 27, 2012
Watch out, this is fast pitch. The fans cheer as the catch is made, but the coach yells. `TALK TO EACH OTHER OUT THERE!` Her second hit: the pitcher is also a slugger. Sometimes the suicide squeeze works perfectly. I`d love to say she made a diving catch to save the game, but this time the team had some hard lessons to learn.

March 28, 2012
It`s my favorite time of year. Green Street isn`t just green. Male robins continue to grow red feathers as they age, while females do not. On a spring day, press record. During winter, press play. The old dog learns new tricks.

March 29, 2012
This is REALLY fast pitch, so I stayed behind the fence. Out by a mile (or 1.609344 kilometers). After the game, Wendy stitched his shadow back on. SWING! He miscalculated his own speed or the outfielder`s arm.

March 30, 2012
Today`s photos were taken with someone else`s camera, so things were a little awkward for me today. And these are someone else`s shoes. Things would have been REALLY awkward if I`d had to use those too. My role was to photograph someone being photographed. We attracted spectators as we walked around downtown. The other person`s camera has a smaller brain than mine.

March 31, 2012
No Cheerios were harmed in the taking of these photos. I secretly hope that nobody will scroll down this far. Today`s photos were taken in desperation at 11:52pm, but it actually required a lot of effort to set up this scene. I have long had a container of toothpicks that I never use, but one was necessary tonight for Cheerio management. Now go to next month for some COLOR GUARD photos!

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