© 1996 Bryce Lankard ~ model: me

Nothing is simple on my mind

trying to unwind and the wind blows my hair further away from my head

I feel every breath it takes

and it annoys me

is that the point

solitude and empathy

reaching down in the depths of depravity

they’re marching in the streets now

after all that work we did when the monster was here

reaping his rewards

buying his dominican republic

sipping on the blood of patriots

while the world crumbled

and you think that the meanings are twisted

mirroring the rich

those depicted

wrenching the oblivion of the soul

till it all crumbles up

i wonder if they listened to the sound of their own thoughts

if they ever felt the wind nag at them

with it’s sultry breath

did it blow them away

there’s no escape for them today

better tell them to go out and play

I’m thinking about Dr. Martin Luther King today. The dream still lives. This monument to General Lee still stands in New Orleans though. Maybe as a reminder, and maybe people take it the wrong way, but if we don’t recognize hate and fear when it raises it’s head this proudness of Lee will stare down upon us all.

Comes the wind.

Enjoy.

Winds of Change - models; Amber and Candace - @2008 Zoe Wiseman

The My Art series that I was selected for showed on Ovation TV today. Here is the YouTube video. Enjoy!

This is almost as good as sitting in the drivers seat of a Ford GT. Almost.

Maj. Vernon Hoehn

My grandfather is dying from Parkinson’s Disease this week. It has taken hold of him and prevents him from swallowing at this point. This is his life according to the military:

Army Air Corps (US Air Force Reserves)

9.14.1942 – After passing examinations at Chanute Field, Illinois he was accepted as Army Air Corps Reservist

2.24.1942 – Called to active service and pilot training – European Theatre of War

3.1945 – Left New York City

3.13.1945 – Shipwrecked in the Atlantic Ocean on the way to the Azores

5.5.1945 – Deopham Green AFB, England and 431st Bomb Group

6.25.1945 – Left Deopham Green and weathered in Glasgow, Scotland

1.27.1945 – Left Scotland

10.23.1945 – Inactive Status

1950 – Active Reserves at Atterberry AFB, Indiana. (renamed Bakalar AFB) – Member of the 71st Sq. 434 T.C. Group

10.28.1962 – Active Duty Cuban Missil Crisis

11.28.1962 – Relieved of Active Duty

9.1964 – Applied for 20 year retirement status. Erroneously told he was 23 days short.

2.1966 0 Signed up for 3 years Active Reserve to help pay for college

5.13.1968 – Active Duty Rickenbacker AFB in Columbus, OH

12.12.1968 – Left for Viet Nam via San Francisco, Tacoma, Anchorage, Attu Island, Guam

1.20.1969 – NTrang, Viet Nam

6.8.1969 – Relieved of Active Duty

5.1970 – Inactive Status

6.13.1981 – Retirement from Air Force Reserves at age 60

His life according to me:

Took his grand daughter up in his plane at age 7 and let her fly it as co-pilot. Many more flying lessons would be had in the next years.

Never let me win a foot race. But he made me faster.

Always was there with a camera and video when his grand daughter was skating. Recorded every skating competition he attended.

Put in a swimming pool when I said I wished we had one.

Fixed my cars on several occasions when they broke down due to my driving like a maniac. He never complained and showed me how to change an alternator.

Always wanted to see me and always had a smile and positive attitude.

Loved my grandmother.

There are many more things… it’s just reflection. He was a great man. Served his country for almost his entire life. Served his family even more. I will always look back and smile. I wish I could tell him these things, but I know he knows. He just can’t hear now.

Goodbye Granddad. You were so good to everyone in your life.

granddad

Before you go on a trip, especially one that won’t allow you to rent gear, you need a check list. A packing list, and a bag that you can carry on the plane. Checking your gear and trusting airport baggage with expensive equipment is a bit foolhardy. If only I could Fed-Ex it all so it arrived before me. But I don’t even trust that. So – I thought I’d let you all into my ritual of organizing before a photo excursion by posting my check list.

iPhone snap of Holga back

• 1. Holga w/Polaroid Back. I don’t leave home without it!
• 2. And that means – 10 packs of Type 85 Pos/Neg
• 3. Sodium Sulfite (hmm… airport security… wonders to myself)
• 4. Polaroid Bucket
• 5. 2 Nikon FM
• 6. Nikkor 50mm
• 7. Nikkor 105
• 8. Red Filter, Orange Filter, Yellow Filter
• 9. 20 BW Kodak Tri-X 35mm 400 Speed
• 10. Rollei
• 11. 20 BW Ilford Delta 120 400 Speed
• 12. 20 BW Kodak Tri-X 120 400 Speed
• 13. The last stash of Kodak Portra
• 14. My last roll of Kodak Color Infrared
• 15. Film Cooler for Infrared Film
• 16. Diana Camera
• 17. Pano Holga Camera
• 18. 4×4 silver/white reflector
• 19. Polaroid film protectors

I’m debating on taking my Speed Graphic 4×5. I know I’ll want it at some point but the terrain is going to be rugged and traveling light seems like that will give me the most freedom. Not only would I have to tote the 4×5 around but boxes of Type 55 too. So it’s not sounding too adventurous at the moment. Thinking about renting something while I’m there for a day so …

• 20. i545 Polaroid Back
• 21. 1 box of Polaroid Type 55

Yeah – I kind of have to shoot 4×5 – at least one day. Even though it will be insanely cumbersome, it will probably be worth it.

• 22. Video Camera

I have a few days yet, trying to think of more crap I can fit into a carryon seems exhausting. If only I just needed clothing.

For those wondering what the prize is going to be… I’ve decided to give whoever guesses where I am 2 movies I made to music of my photography mailed to you.