Cartopia

Cart Spectacular

2009-06-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

It happens sometimes. I run across a bunch of them acting out- telling me their stories and if I am not too busy to listen I get some decent shots.

This is a decent rhyme I came across in Asimov quotes:

"Tell me why the stars do shine,
Tell me why the ivy twines,
Tell me what makes skies so blue,
And I'll tell you why I love you.

Nuclear fusion makes stars to shine,
Tropisms make the ivy twine,
Raleigh scattering make skies so blue,
Testicular hormones are why I love you.

- Isaac Asimov

After Sushi

2009-06-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Take a cart photo or two....

Gallup & Sushi

2009-06-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

I never thought it would happen. People here love chinese food- really the american food we call chinese so you get the idea, but I would have sworn that sushi was beyond the desire or culinary ability of Gallup.

So when the hip new night club called club zen got closed down for liquor violations in its place appears one of the best things in Gallup in years- a steak and sushi joint.

The steak is good and what is amazing is the quality of the sushi. It s top quality and well done- and lets not forget the lobster bisque or very excellent calamari.

I Love to Ride in the forest

2009-06-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

This is why:

VLA

2009-06-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

I stopped in at one of my favorite places on earth last sunday- I took some photos.

New Venue

2009-06-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

Shopping cart photos can be seen in person at a gallery in Washington D.C. soon.

click this link to see more about this:

http://ucartwhino.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Shane at Art Whino and James Walker for his belief in my work.

Going to Mt. Taylor

2009-06-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took a ride through the Cibola National Forest so that I could get to the top of Mount Taylor.

Along the way I found this guy hanging and looking cool.

On the top of Mt. Taylor I found this-

James Walker Opening Night

2009-06-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

James had a blow out opening night, at Art Whino!

Moreburg

2009-06-11T09:14:00.001-07:00

Some more

2009-06-09T21:53:00.001-07:00

Virginia is for lovers.....

2009-06-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

.....of shopping carts

2009-05-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

2009-05-04T23:28:00.000-07:00

carts today

2009-02-17T20:03:00.001-08:00

Great Weekend

2009-02-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

Terri and I had a weekend together in Phoenix. She surprised me with an evening of fine dining at Ruth Cris Steakhouse (the calamari was the best we have ever had), a race on go-carts, and entertainment by my favorite comedian alien (MORK).

And I took a decent photograph of a cart

And a better one of Terri-

Consuming

2009-01-27T21:25:00.000-08:00

It keeps me busy- and I do some of the pages.

Plans for February

2009-01-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

I might do some riding in Utah in February- Valley of the GODS!

Older Cart

2009-01-24T12:10:00.001-08:00

I shot this a summer ago, maybe two, when I was in Los Alamos

The Emperor

2009-01-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Not a very good cart shot from ireland because it is not "tack sharp"

And now back to the carts

2008-11-28T22:03:00.001-08:00

Something from Black Friday!

Navajo Nation Part I

2008-11-16T18:39:00.000-08:00

I have driven through most of the Navajo Nation, so I knew some great riding existed there, and today I got a good dose of it. I rode about 75 miles of dirt through the Chuska mountains. The riding was great and even though bits of snow cover got me to slow down see wild horses running along side me and mule deer doing the same in one day was just great. Total vehicles seen on this route 4 pick-ups going to get firewood.

The roads I traveled were great for the bike.

Below is Whiskey Lake.

Some snow was encountered but not like last weekend in the Cibola NF.

At one point wile trying to get to a fire lookout I tried to get over this deadfall and the chain got pushed off. So with a little improvising and using the deadfall I was able to put the chain back on. I abandoned trying to get to the lookout on this route, but found my way there anyway. 9100ft. and views to Shiprock.

This is a clasic hogan- not many are seen with the mud roofs:

Dropping down off the plateau was an event too. Horses looked like the only thing using the road I had planned to use to get down. The bike made it like a champ and soon I was in Toadelena, and then back to Gallup.

If there is no more snow between now and next weekend I will again ventue forth into the Navajo Nation for great riding- stay tuned.

Snowy Ride

2008-11-11T20:55:00.000-08:00

Today I went for a ride because school is out and it is a great way for me to reset my attitude.
The ride out was a bit chilly but I was eager to get into the forest. A couple of days ago Gallup got an inch of snow overnight, so some of it was left in the forest- more than I thought was going to be there.

This is the last of the dirt:

Just after this shot I rode thought a puddle that was 3/4 of the way up my wheels- and partially frozen- that makes for some cold boots.

Then the snow got more serious

Time to pose out and show why it was worth it even if it was slippery

ancient archetecture

Aspens!

On the way out it started to snow. It was a great adventure.

Congratulations!

2008-11-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

My dear friends James and Berni got all hitched up on Halloween!

Congratulations!

This photo comes from one of our first trips together, we piled into Jame's jeep and headed to the seashore for the most fantastic french fries ever, and board walks and lots of photography (old school film type photography).

I hope James and Berni have a ton of great adventures together, they were truly meant for each other. I am certain they will- my best guys!

Maseltov!

amazing artist

2008-11-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

There is an amazing art student at the school I teach at. She is making work that is just BRILLIANT. She reminds quite a bit of of another amazing artist who likes to have animism incorporated into his work.

This is her work in progress and she hopes to cast it soon.

Found

2008-11-03T20:29:00.000-08:00

The other night we went for a walk the whole family and I, and we saw an owl fly off a power line- totally silent- owls make no noise when they fly because of the way their feathers are made- downy instead of bristled. Well I also know that owls swallow their food whole and barf out an egg like bit that holds the entire skeleton of what it has eaten. Terra went in search of those when she found this skeleton and got me to look at it (not barfed out). Get ready for a package James!

15&16

2008-11-02T18:48:00.000-08:00

Matthew and Terra are a year older- here are some b-day shots:

H-eve action

2008-10-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

creatres of the night on the front bit of the house.

james&dublin

2008-10-29T19:49:00.001-07:00

fallen

2008-10-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

adventure

2008-10-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

So I went to check out Cottonwood Canyon on my bike

The road was "challenging" to get there

There were aspens with bear claw marks on them

cool roads to travel- no one else around

then I went down this (it is worse than it looks- lots of rocks for a road):

And then I saw this:

but I kept hear something funny- like loud banging- and I couldn't figure it out. But then I stopped and looked over the bike and found something missing

(it is the botom bolt for the sub frame- hello)

and on the other side too- this is no good. And so I made a call for rescue and thought of how to ride out on my own power. I improvised with some foot peg bolts that i didn't need (but didn't fit right but were "close") and some duct tape and tie ties- all the best mickey mouse fixing i could make. Terri & Dan were just champion too- racing out to find me!

I rode out. and the repair held but it ended what would have been a much more enjoyable ride back home. Terri and Dan helped me load up and ride the bike back in the truck.

Riding

2008-10-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

This is near Cottonwood Canyon in the Cibola National forest. Yesterday, I had a bit of an epic adventure there. more soon.

2008-10-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

james_dublin

2008-10-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

sneak-o-graph

dublin street shots

2008-10-21T21:00:00.001-07:00

shots from the street

i ride here

2008-10-19T19:30:00.001-07:00

This is a place I love to ride... i was there yesterday

more>>>MORE

2008-10-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

On our last full day in Ireland we traveled to Dublin. There were some interesting sights there.

Things are written in Gaelic.

James was plaintive

Snoop hangs there

more of more

2008-10-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

I liked this place best of all the places we went to in Ireland. I climbed up onto this big mound of dirt and thought about how lads for ages must have climbed this tuft and looked at Dunluce Castle. It is that cool connection that you can get to places with a history. I also liked the way both James and I shot at Dunluce. Check out his version of shots from there....here

So some great shooting deserves some late night portraits in Belfast.

The next day we traveled to shoot a wedding:

And at the reception the had a crazy good 80s tribute band:

more from green land

2008-10-16T20:58:00.001-07:00

A self portrait from the infamous Giants Causeway

James

best part is seeing james and david in this shot

....and then some art before lunch

big POST

2008-10-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

Things from the other side of the POND.

Navan pose out

James at Giant's Causeway

James at Macha

2008-10-14T06:19:00.001-07:00

workin' it out

Tried and true

2008-10-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Well this is supposed to be about carts.....

my favorite from the wedding

2008-10-10T22:38:00.001-07:00

Teicha&Jeffrey

2008-10-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

A recent wedding:

ancient kings

2008-10-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

this is near navan hill or emain macha...so the reference

M&T sedona

2008-10-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

The kids in Sedona

Mom & Dad

2008-10-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad have spent time with us. I shot this portrait of them while we visited in Sedona. Sedona is a place that they love to visit and the scenery is beautiful there.

Keepin' it the same

2008-10-09T17:52:00.001-07:00

Sedona makes sure all of its businesses follow a strict code for outside colors- it also has a great light pollution plan.

Out of Order

2008-10-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

This shot is of james, but from nearly the end of our journey through Ireland...I will keep publishing these shots in order....later.

The Plaza Cafe

2008-10-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of breakfast food. The plaza cafe has two of my favorites- french toast, and sugar with coffee and cream.

If you stop in Gallup and need to be fed a delicious meal- especially breakfast- I say your only stop should be the Plaza Cafe. There are restaurants that look better from the outside in town but none that will make you feel better on the inside.

The best french toast in the world:

Great Coffee:

Terri sporting an Irish look:

Coffee my way:

Faustus

2008-10-04T21:08:00.000-07:00

I shot this one today while snacks were purchased at the dollar store. It relates to the idea of dealing with the devil- faustus

T & M

2008-10-04T20:53:00.001-07:00

Back to EM

2008-10-02T19:10:00.001-07:00

Doesn't look like this here

2008-10-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Eamhain Macha

2008-09-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

The next few posts will be from Eamhain Macha, or Navan Hill. The structures that surrounded this location existed 2000 years ago. James and I were both impressed.
The site:

Our hero:

Never

2008-09-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

I had more good shots in this area than I though I had.

James_armagh

2008-09-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

James posed out in a trolley...trolley pose out!

Armagh Continued

2008-09-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

Every time I see a construction cone I think of Guenther (and his thoughts on being an amateur).

Guenther Cartwright was a big influence on me as a photographer, and I don't think his impact on improving the quality of every photographer he came into contact at RIT can be underestimated. He was a big influence on me for certain.

Guenther called his own photography the work of an amateur- as in someone who does of the love of it.

Armagh- Grand Trolleys

2008-09-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

I found the Trolleys in Armagh to be pleasing.

james a portrait in unreal color

2008-09-22T19:10:00.001-07:00

Something green from somewhere.......

Belfast Skyline

2008-09-22T19:02:00.000-07:00

From atop a parking structure you can get an idea about Belfast.

Bonnie Banks

2008-09-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

From time to time I had this song running through my head...and I know it refers to Scotland...but it was still running through my head while with James and David in Armagh. It's a popular song from the first half of the twentieth century called the Bonnie Banks O Loch Lomond- I heard it first as a swing song by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.- cheers

Some other Ireland images- more carts to come soon

2008-09-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

Random shots.....Largely from wanderings with James' cousin David.

The Titanic was created in Belfast.

First Cart

2008-09-20T16:44:00.001-07:00

I really like Yorkies

Homecoming

2008-09-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

I helped out a bit with some getting some actionshots from the homecoming game last night.

Fire Fence

2008-09-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

The night before July 12th is a night for starting huge fires in Belfast. We drove past some of the fences erected to keep those places separate from the homes that surround the vacant lots where the fires are lit- see here for more information

24AUG08- trees

2008-09-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

On the weekend we visited with more of James' relatives (which was fantastic) and along the way we made a stop at what we were later told was a Fairy Tree. In essence we just stopped because we thought the tree looked so cool.

According to the Tree Council of Ireland :
The hawthorn is the fairy tree. It is extremely unlucky to cut down a lone hawthorn, as the fairies will have their revenge.

James Rocked out on the Fairy Tree: (see more of his shots here)

Inspectors

2008-09-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

The customs service of Northern Ireland

23AUG08

2008-09-14T15:22:00.000-07:00

More travels with Phillip who was a grand host to us. He took us to the front of the most bombed hotel in the world- the Europa- and then across the street to the Crown bar- for a tourist Guinness- even the bar was definitely ornate- look here for the shot James was making.

More from the shipyards

Later in the day we went to the Ulster Folk Museum which was a little walking in the drizzle while seeing all kinds of historical homes and businesses

A self portrait

Almost 50,000 Irish died during WWI

The Crown

23AUG08- Irish Weather

2008-09-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

James likes his coffee black and instant-

Rain was on the forecast for the day

Then we headed to the shipyards

I shot some landscapes- head protection required.

Ireland Friday 22AUG08

2008-09-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

Some shots around Carlingford Castle after enjoying a very pleasant meal and my first Guiness in Ireland.

Drive By

2008-09-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

You can see Castles everywhere in Ireland- we drove by this one on the way to some vittles.

James @cloughmore

2008-09-12T20:58:00.001-07:00

James workin' it at cloughmore

Cloughmore

2008-09-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I was tip top for the hike to the big stone - Cloughmore. But the trip was worth it. Here is the story of this huge rock which is truly geologically different than the surrounding stone-

Cloughmore, a 30-ton Granite boulder lies on the Mountain Ridge approximately 1000 feet above Rostrevor village. Geolgists describe Cloughmore as a spectacular deposit from the Ice Age, but local folklore has much more colourful story that relates to Finn McCool (the legendary Irish Giant). The giant got into a fight with his archrival Ruscaire , another giant, and they threw bolders at each other. This is how Cloughmore arrived at this spot.

Just trying to keep up with james' posts is a work out but you should definately take a look at his blog too

James and Phillip going to the top:

A view from the path up:

At the top Phillip and James posed out:

Local schools get their uniform colors from these flowers:

Phillip and James looked for another vantage point and jawed all the way:

On the way down there was a brook that posed out too:

I was really glad Phillip and Aideen took us to this spot, it was beautiful and it was refreshing to stretch my legs a bit. It was also fun applying a strong feel of Fuji Velvia or that crazy AGFA film we used to shoot with to these shots.

Out of order

2008-09-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

Out of time tonight..so this one is out of order

James at the lake

2008-09-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

James getting some scenery....at the lake

Near KilKeel?

2008-09-08T18:53:00.001-07:00

This was a stop at a lake near Kilkeel, Ireland.

Amphitrite

2008-09-07T23:07:00.001-07:00

Something found while traveling and shooting in Spokane!

One last

2008-09-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

Still sorting out photos from day 1

James and the delicious YORKIE bars- and one last shot of the church

A little more travel work

2008-09-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I am off to shoot a wedding in Spokane so I will not be able to post for a couple of days, So I will stock you up on some images...

The roads there are a little narrow

The Cathedral by St. Patrick's grave site:

Everyone wants a photo of his grave:

The grave yard by the Cathedral and the grave-

Getting ahead of the game

2008-09-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

So we traveled on the first day to St. Patrick's grave and the grave site of one of Jame's relatives and I shot some photos while getting there too.

This is a shot of an orangemens lodge that we passed on the way to Down Patrick- and St. Patrick's grave site.

Along the way we saw some pastures

And drove through some small towns:

Ireland- the Journey

2008-09-02T09:21:00.002-07:00

James and I took a journey to the Isle of green and learned all kinds of things about Ireland- especially about recent and ancient history. We bounced around the Island from Belfast to Dublin.

The goal for next many posts is to post photos from this journey- there will be some carts- or Trolleys as they are called there...I will attempt to make the postings chronological.

On the way over I got sick on the plane so the very first day I was pretty much out of action and didn't take many photos but by day two I was feeling better and I took this photo of signs that the "troubles" are still fresh memories.

enjoy----

This is a portrait of james I made later in the journey:

Video of Trip

2008-07-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a little iMovie production of the trip.
Cheers!

1500 miles of grins

2008-07-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

My trans- NM off road adventure is over and I am a little sore, but the trip was super fantastic and full of great riding. Here are some preliminary images.

ready to roll

2008-07-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

Queequeq is ready to roll tomorrow morning.

Queequeq

2008-07-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

This little guy is traveling with me on my adventures this week. He calls himself Queequeq. He rocks and will be posing out as I cover New Mexico from South to North.

Fourth Photos

2008-07-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

We had a little front porch fourth photo session at el casa. Sparklers and posing out galore!

A venture into Texas

2008-05-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

We have been watching the x-files a lot lately. Sorry for those trying to get to the web site. My credit card number changed and well......it should be up again shortly. I pulled out some hyper focal focusing magic to pull this one off.

And add a flat tire too

2008-03-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

Shot this then returned to find my tire was flat.

Odd But True

2008-03-03T20:45:00.000-08:00

Seems I have caught the attention of the Chinese. Below is a screen grab from a web site that translates into "Grasping Shrimp." Glad to have you on board!

translation (rough)

Looking about in Phoenix

2008-02-26T20:48:00.001-08:00

Spotted this one during a foray into Phoenix for work. I wish I could look about for carts in Ireland where one of the worlds best photographers is right now.

Italy

2008-02-20T21:24:00.000-08:00

I would someday like to go back to Napoli.

On travels

2008-02-18T22:23:00.000-08:00

We went on vacation, and I found some good carts.

Shooting

2008-02-05T21:36:00.000-08:00

In the back of my mind has been the way I shoot, so after photographing a cart in one of my favorite cart spots, I took this photo. It shows how I wind through the approach of a cart, kind of like stalking the darn thing- like a hunter on safari. The straight line of footprints heading back shows my egress from the shoot- probably nothing but snow could demonstrate this except maybe a video- which would be boring to watch.

The bottom photo is the captured image from this approach.

more snow

2008-02-04T20:38:00.001-08:00

I had my camera with a 24mm lens on it and just as I was walking to the front door a bird crashed into the window. It landed under a closeby bush and I took its photograph at the closest possible focusing distance- this was one cool bird. Then I walked around back to my captive cart to see how it was doing. Tomorrow will make two days in a row that we will have canceled school for the kids.

Trials

2008-02-03T22:22:00.001-08:00

This has been a lousy week and that ended with work in Phoenix. We did some Orienteering, and everyone had fun- we camped out because the super bowl was in town, so I got a sunrise photo this morning and then we drove through some of the worst weather- it took hours to get from Sedona to Flagstaff passing road carnage on the way.

Old News

2008-01-22T20:33:00.001-08:00

I'm getting ready to put together the 2007 Cartography annual, and remembered that this happened back in June. Don't get too excited, but Wired let you put your own image on the front of their magazine- for free- you just had to upload the image. So this one is a one of a kind.

Lots of Snow

2008-01-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

With a snow day today I took a photo of a captured cart that I have around the side of the house.

Rapunzel.

Lasagna

2008-01-06T17:15:00.000-08:00

I made dinner tonight but called it:

MANSAGNA

titus photo of the day

2007-12-29T09:14:00.000-08:00

titus is getting more and more sore- he is an incredible dog

Christmas Carts

2007-12-25T14:53:00.001-08:00

Our local big box closed yesterday at 6 pm. Every year it looks like a neutron bomb went off when the blue shuts its doors. I got some shots last night and today. I hope you are all enjoying today.

titles-
Amusia
In the end is my begining

CrR