Brazen Betties Fashion Show, I

Torrington, CT

Tax Day Rallies, VIII

Hartford, CT

Tax Day Rallies, VII

Hartford, CT

Tax Day Rallies, VI

Hartford, CT

The Capital Police Force estimated the Hartford crowd at 1,200. That seems a bit generous to me. I pegged it at more like 900, but I can't claim any special training in crowd estimation. Most of the speakers for over two hours spent part of their time defending against anticipated criticism of, "the movement," as radical, racist, extremist, or stupid. They dislike all of these categorizations, except perhaps "radical" which some at least seem to be adopting as a badge of honor. But one strong-voiced middle-aged man, waving his hand broadly over the crowd, declared "look at this diversity!"

I was stunned. I'd been looking for non-white faces. I'd seen fewer than a dozen. Three black people including the young man above, twice that many of Asian heritage. The final speaker was a local businessman who told his story of coming from Puerto Rico with nothing, to make a success at the American dream. He emphatically identified himself as not an Hispanic-American, but as an American of Hispanic ancestry.

Tax Day Rallies, V

Hartford, CT

Tax Day Rallies, IV

Hartford, CT

Click on any picture for a larger, more legible view. Use your browser's back button to return.

Tax Day Rallies, III

Hartford, CT

New Milford, CT

Tax Day Rallies, II

Hartford, CT

Uncivil Discourse

New Milford, CT

Tax Day rally. Click on the pictures for a closer look.

Paddy's Day 2010, XIII

New Haven, CT

Paddy's Day 2010, XII

New Haven, CT

Paddy's Day 2010, XI

New Haven, CT

This year's St. Patrick's Day celebration in New Haven was low-key compared to last year. The weather certainly had something to do with the small crowds and subdued mood, but there was another reason. The police had launched a high-profile publicity campaign promising to enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding public drinking. Take a look at my pictures from last year's celebrations in several Connecticut cities, starting here, and you'll understand what a sea-change that represents. The rowdy celebration is such a tradition I wondered if there would be resistance or protest, but saw no sign of it. The bars were all open, but the coolers and cases were gone and almost nobody ventured onto the sidewalk with an alcoholic beverage in hand.

Paddy's Day 2010, X

New Haven, CT

Paddy's Day 2010, IX

New Haven, CT

Paddy's Day 2010, VIII

New Haven, CT

The rain got worse as the 1:00 PM parade start time came closer.

Paddy's Day 2010, VII

New Haven, CT

Paddy's Day 2010, VI

New Haven, CT

It was even more stormy on Sunday for the New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Paddy's Day 2010, V

Hartford, CT

Paddy's Day 2010, IV

Hartford, CT

Paddy's Day 2010, III

Hartford, CT

Under the red awning.

Paddy's Day 2010, II

Hartford, CT

Paddy's Day 2010, I

Hartford, Connecticut

Ironworkers Local 15.

It was cold, windy, and raining but the sidewalks in downtown Hartford were still packed with people.

Members Show II

Washington Depot, CT

Members Show

Washington Depot, CT

When a non-profit small town art association holds a members show with a ten dollar entry fee, all are welcome. So the walls get packed with work, and the rooms at the opening get pretty full too. More later.

Another Opening, Another Show, IV

Washington Depot, CT

Another Opening, Another Show, III

Washington Depot, CT

Another Opening, Another Show, II

Washington Depot, CT

Another Opening, Another Show, I

Washington Depot, CT

An opening at the Project Room of the Washington Art Association. Fascinating work by artist André Lucien.

Portrait of the Artist

Roxbury, CT

Painter Carol Brightman Johnson at the opening of her show at the Minor Library this afternoon.

Pictures of a Moment, II

Lakeville, CT

Another from the Tremaine Gallery. Again the exhibiting photographer is Anne Day.

Pictures of a Moment

Lakeville, CT

A show at the Tremaine Gallery of The Hotchkiss School. The photographs are by Anne Day, made in South Africa, 1990, at the time of Nelson Mandela's release after 27 years of imprisonment.

Blog Notes, WPII: on sabbatical

WPII will be taking a break for a while. The New England winter has finally caught up to my ability to find subjects for Pictures in Public. Since I don't have any indoor location projects going at the moment, we'll let WPII rest until the weather breaks.

Opening Reception

Washington Depot, CT

Another shot from an art association opening Saturday. With grab shots like these, editing takes on an even more important role than usual. To a certain extent, there's more conscious thought in the editing stage, deciding which pictures "work," than while shooting, where it's just observation and reaction.

Rules

Washington Depot, CT

Never have the main subject of your picture look straight into the camera. Unless it's a "portrait."

Never cut off people's body parts in your pictures, and don't leave extra empty space on the other side of the picture.

Always make sure the color balance in all parts of the picture is perfectly reconciled.

Those are rules. A good picture is something else. I like this picture. I don't like it because it breaks those rules, and likely many more. I like it because it works, and I don't pay any attention to rules when I make pictures.

Young Talent Show, II

Washington Depot, CT

Young Talent Show

Washington Depot, CT

Art Show Opening, V

Washington, CT

Chris and Jack, who curated/installed the exhibit.

Art Show Opening, IV

Washington, CT

Art Show Opening, III

Washington, CT

Art Show Opening, II

Washington, CT

Art Show Opening, I

Washington, Connecticut

They don't call it The Stairwell Gallery for nothing.