Quote: Michelle Obama

"Like so many of you, I'm pained by these recent tragedies. And I'm exhausted by a heartbreak that never seems to stop. Right now it's George, Breonna, and Ahmaud. Before that it was Eric, Sandra, and Michael. It just goes on, and on, and on. Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can't just be on people of color to deal with it. It's up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out. It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets. I pray we all have the strength for that journey, just as I pray for the souls and the families of those who were taken from us."

Tagalog

from Facebook...

Trying to learn a bit of Tagalog from one of the cleaners at the plant where I work security. As with most everything I do, this relates to photography. The hope is to eventually visit the Philippines, to make photographs and work on various photography projects there.

I have found that language skills are very important in gaining trust and building friendships with your subjects. All vital when your doing social documentary work and need to gain access into peoples lives.

Besides languages are loads of fun! Thou extremely hard to learn you got to give them a try!

Today's words
ADOBO - Chicken or Pork dish with soy sauce and vinegar
DAYUHAN - Foreigner
CHINOY - half Chinese, half Filipino person
PHILAM - half American, half Filipino person

Carbon Transfer Printing

Am learning how to do CARBON TRANSFER PRINTING. I think I will give this process a go, along with wet plate and platinum printing. It creates really beautiful images and seems not to crazy hard. Thinking of eventually doing carbon transfer printing onto glass. I keep imaging my  lifetime of negs in Carbon Prints now!!!!!!!! :)

Sample of the final stage of Carbon Transfer Printing from GPV Photography

Dream In Thai, Birdman!

Had another dream where I spoke Thai today. Over the years I have had many dreams where I spoke Thai, dozens of them, but it has been a while. Today during my sleep before my security night shift, I had a Thai speaking dream.

In the dream I was photographing a man that looked like Dom (from THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY project). This man was living outside of Thailand in a nearby country but when I spoke to him in Thai he understood and replied back in Thai, The strange thing is this "Dom"  man had a big white bird with a broken leg tied to his shoulder with a long rope-string.

The bird was squawking, flapping its wings, while Dom was moving around, and I was trying to get a good shot of them both. I think I failed in the attempt because I was frustrated in the dream,  frustrated that the picture was not coming together. After several minutes of this the man asked me for some money and I gave him 40 baht, 2 green 20 baht notes. He was happy. I also told him I would give him some pictures when I came back to Thailand from Canada. Dom said it was OK that it was not necessary, I told him no problem and he was happy again. Then I woke up.

100 000 Dead In America

Today America will hit 100 000 Corona virus deaths, almost 350 000 lost worldwide.

Reading about this lovely persons life lost to Covid-19, is so tragic. She was only 51, a good,caring human being who reached out and helped others. Donna Morrissey is just 1 of 100 000 Americans, gone way to early, denied 30 years of life.

Below, is her last Facebook post, from April:

---------------------------------------------------------
Friends, I was in the hospital today with severe dehydration. Many thanks to our healthcare workers at Cape Cod Hospital who helped me to recover. Full disclosure - for the last three weeks I have been diagnosed with the Coronavirus. The journey has not been easy. I will beat this one! But people need to sequester. Don’t take chances! This has ravaged my body and quite frankly I have never felt worse in my life. At least I had the foresight to have my cheetah pillow and blanket with me. Each day they are changing the length of time the virus lasts and how long you will be in pain. They say I could have symptoms for a month or more. Please, please, please take it seriously! Our lives depend on it!

 Boston Globe Story About Donna Morrissey

Donna Morrissey died due to the coronavirus on Friday. –Tom Herde/Globe Staff

Anapon Photo Showing In Rome? For LOOSENART.COM

from Facebook..

Anyone know about LOOSENART.COM?, they seem like very nice people. Got a THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY image selected. by these folks. There is a $30.5 Euro fee for printing the image for display at a show in Rome Italy in August. The image size is big, I guess, measures 70 X 50 CM ( 27,55 x 19,7 inch). The exhibition outside of the printing of the image is paid for by the organizer. I guess the Artist gets the print and also there is some kind of catalogue as well. 1468 images were submitted and 107 photos accepted (some nice work).

As a rule I never enter anything that costs money to submit work. This event cost nothing to submit but now there is printing fee after being accepted. The venue looks fine, the location wonderful, and the other work quite nice. There is not much social documentary photography showing, only another 3-4 or so images, lots of abstract photography stuff.
Not sure about the 30.5 Euro, not sure I can find the image they want (am very disorganized!). Still it might be a good deal in the end. Get the work shown in a far off place, telling the story of Anapon to a larger audience, another item added to the CV.
Will probably go though with it so people in Rome can see Khun Anapon. Getting his story told to a wider audience is the idea. Still keep thinking just giving the $30 Euro to Anapon directly might be a better plan.
Any thoughts?
Oh yes forgot to mention 100% of sales go to the artist. No worries there thou, I NEVER SELL ANYTHING!! :). The ideal would be to sell the print, then hand out the money to ALL the people under the freeway next trip, bit by bit.

-------------------------------------------

Update* Decided to go for it. Cost was 30.5 Euro. We get a 70x50 cm print, a catalogue and the work gets shown in Rome, Italy along with the written project statement below. I am happy that Anapon gets to talk to the people of Rome for a while, his story reaching a slightly larger audience.. Selling price $500 Euro (was going to put $400, but then decided heck since no one will buy it anyway I will just pump up the price a bit!).

Maybe I can sell the print after on eBay then donate the money to THE PEOPLE UNDER THE FREEWAY later.

Other nice thingy, is will get another international credit on the CV (thou this one is kinda bought depending on your point of view).

Here is the write up attached to the photo:

Project Statement

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

The men and women photographed in THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY are a group of Thais who live in slum rooms and shacks under or near an active freeway in Bangkok, Thailand's notorious Klong Toey Slum. They exist on the edge of society, often forgotten by their peers and abandoned by their families and loved ones. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY fight a daily battle to survive in an over populated city swarming with well over 10 million people.

My shot of Anapon that was selected.

Some of the chosen prints

Put The Voigtlander 655mm On The Chamonix 16x20

Put the new lens on the 16x20 for the first time .

16x20 Chamonix
Voigtlander 655mm (24.5 inch) F6, Euryscope series IV Number 7 (year 1886)
Linhof Tripod with a geared center column

Note* Brandon F, a Facebook friend who knows brass lens, said this. "The Euryscope series IV Number 7 should be 24.5” (622mm) FL not 25.8” Great lens. I sold mine a couple years ago. Kept the Number 6."

Euryscope Specs

Chamonix 16x20 with 655mm Voiglander Lens

Geared Linhof Tripod

Dad And I

Cleaning out a closet in my dad/moms home I found a photo of Dad and I, from long ago. We lost dad February 22, 2015. Looks like it was made in one of those b/w photo booths they had in shopping malls. This little picture was placed (probably by dad) into a frame with a larger wedding picture of family. I guess dad wanted to protect the photo from getting damaged. Do not remember this image at all, do not remember the moment, do not remember anything about it. Rather surprising to find it, in a frame, which was in a box, which was in the bottom of a closet under other boxes. Wish I could go back to that time and spend a few minutes with dad again, and remember everything after.

Working On Final Edits For "Shades of Grey Magazine} #2 Submission

Working on the final re-edits for THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY for "Shades of Grey Magazine", online. These photos are of Owen 55 shot on Tri-x and I think the 15mm on the Leica R6.

Plus one head shot of Dom 55.

Here is a link to THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP photos and interview published in "Shades of Grey" in March.
 THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, in "Shades of Grey"

Tonights IMac Work

Bio And THE PEOPLE UNDER THE FREEWAY PROJECT STATMENT

I hate writing about myself. The me me me stuff that many art folk do is so tiring and filled with bullshit, I do not want to go there! Writing about photography, or about my subjects is great, but who gives a flying f-ck about Gerry, not me.

I was asked to do a "Bio and a Project Statement" for THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, which will be in the next issue of the online magazine "Shades of Grey".  This is what I wrote for them:

Bio

My pseudonym is Gerry Yaum, I am a Canadian security guard and social documentary photographer. My only goal as a photographer is to tell the stories of the people I photograph in an honest, true and empathetic way. Through my photographs I hope to allow my subjects lives to be seen, thought of, honoured and remembered.

My main influences are the photographers W. Eugene Smith and Sebastiao Salgado. Both men I admire greatly for their compassion and their shared love for humanity.

Project Statement

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

The men and women photographed in THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY are a group of Thais who live in slum rooms and shacks under or near an active freeway in Bangkok, Thailand's notorious Klong Toey Slum. They exist on the edge of society, often forgotten by their peers and abandoned by their families and loved ones. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY fight a daily battle to survive in an over populated city swarming with well over 10 million people.

More Re-edits, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY

A few more re-edits from THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY photo series.

Dom 55, Waiting for drug buying customers, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Jack, Thinking, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Ooh 40+, Next to her fire, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

New Photo,

Oye 72, Watching under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Oye 72, Watching under the freeway#2 , THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

New Photo,

Vee 40, Dom 55, Chomppo 62, Eating under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Bia 58, Talking to me, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Bia 58, Thinking, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

New Photo,

Self Portrait, In the hotel elevator after shooting under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Set Up My HPRC 2780W KANATA Lens Case

from Facebook....

Been working on a Lens Case for the coming KANATA, cross Canada Wet plate project. I have bought several lens to use with my 16x20 Chamonix and my 35x35 HF3535 cameras. These lens as you can well imagine are mega expensive. I DO NOT WANT TO DAMAGE THESE LENS IN TRANSIT during my travel from one Canadian location to anther over a 10 to 15 year period. To that protection aim I picked up a second hand (new-never used but I am the second owner) HPRC 2780W case last week.

The case retails new for $400 plus CAD, I got mine for $200, a reasonable price from a nice seller. There was no HPRC CASE foam included in the buy. I had to make do with some loose foam from the seller and some foam I picked out of a backyard garbage last winter (got a bit left over for more lens safety later) I fitted the foam into the box, then cut holes for my 3 large lens. I hope that this hard plastic case box, with rubber seals (control dust) and with foam inserts will protect my lens in the coming years of travel. If I can keep the lens in good shape, I can make photos with them and later resell each lens for as much or more than I originally paid for them.

The lens include a Carl Zeiss Jena Apochromat Tessar  F15/180cm (year 1922) , a Nikkor 1780mm F14 and a Voigtlander 655mm (24.5 inch) F6 (year 1886).

Left too right....Carl Zeiss Jena Apochromat Tessar F15/180cm (year 1922) , a Voigtlander 655mm (24.5 inch) F6 (year 1886).and a Nikkor 1780mm F14 

My New Lens Carrying Hard Plastic HPRC Case Set Up!

Re-edit Of Anapon In His Room Photograph

from Facebook....

I think this is a re-edit of an older image of Anapon a man I have I have been photographing in this tiny room since 2011-12. I have been photographing Khun Anapon since about 2011. He is a former Muay Thai Boxer and family man, but now he just lives and stares out of a small room made of scrap would under a busy Bangkok freeway.

Just rounding out my re-edits of THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY PHOTO. Still have to re-scan 3 film shots. Having trouble getting sharpness in the scans as the Tri-x negs are curved.

Anapon 47, In his one room home under the freeway (the roof is the freeway above), THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Anapon 47, In his one room home under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand, 2019

New Photo Of Bia With Picture Of The King Of Thailand

from Facebook...

Another New Photo of Khun Bia. Here he is in his slum shack room showing me his beloved photograph of the King of Thailand Like all Thais Bia loves Thailand and greatly respects the royal family of Thailand.

Bia 55, Shows me his photo of the King of Thailand, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Bia 55, Shows me his photo of the King of Thailand, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Self Portrait In The Dump

The gallery, magazine folk are always asking for personal ME portrait images to go along with shows. That sort of thing has always made me cringe. Still needs to be done so here is an attempt at that. I like the fact I look frazzled and worn down. A day photographing in the heat and filth of the dump at 54 years old will do that to you. Imagine growing up in that world and having to remain clean and filled with positive energy.

Self portrait, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot Thailand, 2019

Self Portrait, in the dump after a day of shooting, THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, Mae Sot garbage dump, Mae Sot, Thailand 2019

Dom Selling Under The FreewayDom

from Facebook.

Here is a New Photo of Dom. He would sit everyday on an old discarded sofa under the freeway selling drugs. Pills, possibly YABA? "Crazy Medicine", which is a type of amphetamine (I believe). People would drive up,, park their motorbike, buy from him and be off.

Dom 58, Waiting for drug buying customers under the freeway. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY. Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019

Dom 58, Waiting for drug buying customers under the freeway, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok, Thailand 2019