"I love this dirty town."

The film noir festival, Noir City 7, continues through this weekend. One of my favorite films-- period-- is showing on the last day, Sunday: Sweet Smell of Success.

(Roger Ebert's Great Movies essay is here, and this in-depth write up on filmsite.org is a detailed walkthrough for us groupies.)

This film has absolutely everything going for it: amazing, crackling, memorable dialogue; well-crafted characters at every level; the incomparable cinematography of James Wong Howe, I could go on and on but if you're really interested, the links above speak better than I could...

This scene below is probably one of the best in the film and shows why the Sweet Smell of Success is worth seeing over and over again.

***

Yesterday morning, the MUNI train I was riding went out of service at Civic Center Station. Rather than wait with the huge, annoyed crowds of people all going my way, I decided to walk the remaining blocks since I was going to be late either way.

Civic Center Station drops you off in the heart of the Tenderloin which, for its bad rep, still is photogenic in its way. The trick is that you just gotta keep walking. You don't hang out and you don't dawdle.

I didn't think too much of these shots at first-- they were something to do while I walked to work, slightly pissed off-- but when you give these images the Noir Treatment, even an early morning photo attains some atmosphere.

Amazing what you can see in 10 minutes sometimes.
And how sometimes black and white makes it easier to see.

See you at the movies.

Happy Free Friday, guys.

Well, that makes Monday a little nicer!

My dandelion photo was chosen as The Daily Click at Shutter Sisters today!

Muchas gracias to eagle-eyed Ms. Johanna for telling me about it... I didn't even know the photo was there.

Happy happy. I hope your day is full of little surprises (nice ones only) today, too.

Look at It This Way

"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." ~ Mark Twain

"One does not see anything until one sees its beauty." ~ Oscar Wilde

" The question is not what you look at, but what you see." ~ Henry David Thoreau

"I am a part of all that I have seen." ~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson

"What has happened makes the world. Live on the edge, looking." ~ Robert Creeley

"The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." ~ Marcel Proust

"My spirit has ways of seeing that my eyes cannot comprehend." ~ Philippe Benichou

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." ~ Edgar Degas

"The eye encompasses the beauty of the whole world." ~ Leonardo da Vinci

"One eye looks within, the other eye looks without." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

"Seeing is a gift that comes with practice." ~ Stephanie Mills

"With repetition, the alternate approaches become clear, options open." ~ Robert Genn

"No object is mysterious. The mystery is your eye." ~ Elizabeth Bowen

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” ~ Henri Matisse

"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens." ~ Carl Jung

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." ~ John Burroughs

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” ~ Jonathan Swift

“Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder.” ~ Eberhard Arnold

***

Thanks for seeing here with me. It's late...I'm sleepy. More later.

xoxo

I'm with the Hounds

Two Irish pubs, two glasses of cider, same night.

First, at the Blackthorn Tavern to watch the presidential debate (more on that later) with my new blog friend Greg of the famous N-Judah Chronicles, accompanied by his brother and brain buddy "Mason Powell." (If you live in San Francisco, you'd already know why that is an awesome pseudonym.)

And then to The Plough and Stars to see Culann's Hounds play, known as San Francisco's "Hardrocking Acoustic Irish Band." And that they are.

My beautiful friend Red Shoes (also my sister in tango) has been friends with the members of the band for years and takes guitar lessons from Fiddler, aka Steve Gardner. I'm so glad she invited me to join her...I'm totally hooked and groupie-fied on each and every one of them now.

See, I even have my own t-shirt.

***

Here's some info about the band: The inspiration for the group’s name, Cuchullainn, or Culann, was an epic warrior in Irish legend. Steve, who plays fiddle, guitar, mandolin and also sings, explains: “We embody a certain brash, perhaps over enthusiastic quality that might be attributed to Cuchullainn." He says, “I like the connection because deep inside me, I still love the hero tales and the faerie stories. I believe they are hidden wellsprings of cultural wisdom. We try to reframe these ideas in ancient tribal urban folk rock.”

***

I was so stoked that Mike was cool with me taking pictures. I was nervous about it, one--because I still feel very shy about photographing people and two--because the lighting there wasn't ideal (well, it was ideal for a band playing, but not enough light for me). The pressure was on--I had to earn my t-shirt.

I think I did okay in some of these. What do you think?

I couldn't have had a better time. The band is energetic, sexy and uber-talented. Every song makes you want to jump up and dance, and the room quickly became a sauna from the heat generated.

The band played a waltz so Mike could get off stage and dance with lovely Red Shoes.

For the most part, and no small thanks to my new Lightroom software, I think some of these photos turned out pretty well, considering the lighting conditions I had to deal with. I like that these photos capture the magnetism and energy of the group.

But don't take it from me. Go to their website, get a CD, and if you're local, find the Hounds and see for yourself.

***

And if you don't think a girl playing the accordion is one of the sexiest things you've ever seen in your life, think again. Renee makes me want to take up lessons. Or just have a big ol' crush on her.

The Girl with the Blue Hair

I am having way too much fun with this software.


This filter is called Direct Positive. I think I like having blue hair. It brings out my eyes.
;-)

***

This blue hair reminded me of an old wonderful book I have. It's the original version of The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Italian author Carlo Collodi. This is my book, published in 1927, and it has an entirely different story than the Disney version that most people would know.


Pinocchio goes through many grave and serious trials, aided by the Girl with the Blue Hair (in Italian she is the Fairy with Turquoise Hair), who would later be transmogrified into a minor character as Disney's Blue Fairy.


Like most fairy tales, the original story of Pinocchio has very deep allegorical meanings and symbolism that were completely denuded or removed entirely when given the "Disney" touch. I remember reading my book over and over again and being completely absorbed in Pinocchio's dangerous and fantastical world.

Here is a very good introduction to the original story, with an interesting interpretation of the Girl with Blue Hair. Next time you see a copy of the original story in the bookstore or library, give it a read and see what you think.

Isn't it funny how things just pop into your head from out of the past like that?

Okay, now I'm going to bed. Seriously. Nitey-nite.

This Is Not the Real Post, Either

I'm too tired. I've been walking for hours. And no one mistook me for Jean Seberg, either.

But I do like this new Lightroom software very much. This is a filter called Cold Tone. It's fun, huh? I also figured out what my best self-portraiture angle is. It's called In Over My Head.

I am seriously going to put my feet up and watch at least one movie. And eat some Cherry Garcia because we didn't get any ice cream today.

If someone would pleeeeease write me a doctor's note so I can stay home from work tomorrow, I will totally be your best friend. Pleeeeeease.