Gosh I need to make more submission, this was such a great event with so many great people contributing. The best of the best 6 pics sold to the UNB, $6000 earned to help the people in the pictures! We will buy goods and hand them out for free to those in need.
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| UNB Opening Night Oct. 2022 |
Thinking oh my dad today. February 22, 2023 is the 8 year anniversary of his death. A great father who loved and took care of his children. The hardest working man I ever knew. He worked full time until he was 79, passed away at 82. I remember him everyday.
https://gerryyaum.blogspot.com/2014/12/photo-story-early-dad-on-white.html?m=1,
This is from a "Safe Workplace" document dealing with the dangers of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). Hydrogen Sulfide is present in both gas plants like where I work and in volcanoes.
#6 About how the Hydrogen Sulfide burns blue, rang a bell. One of the things Mt. Ijen is known for is its blue glowing flames.
I tend to kick the sh-t out of my cameras so bought a THONG for my new/used Canon 5D Mark 4. It will help protect it in Thai garbage dumps and possibly Indonesia volcanoes.
Have to play with it some, see if I like it. Camera is larger.
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| Fatter version of the camera! |
This book was written almost 20 years ago but the horror for the Karen people continues in Burma.
To Sleep
Hmm, something ironic occurred today. Many years ago I bought a book I loved called THE CONCERNED PHOTOGRAPHER 2 (I also own volume 1). I love the book, studied it many times, it was influential and inspirational for me. I wanted to make important human photos just like the photographers in that book.
Fast forward to 2023 and David B from “Black and White Photography Magazine” just sent me the completed article about my photographs from Thailand. The article is titled THE CONCERNED PHOTOGRAPHER. He chose the title on his own.
Guess there was a bit of self fulfilling destiny. Kind of a beautiful thing there! Some dreams are coming true. :)
Note* I will post his wonderfully written story later, after the magazine has its run. I do not want to steal their thunder.
Note** THE CONCERNED PHOTOGRAPHER 2 includes the work of W. Eugene Smith, Bruce Davidson, Donald McCullin and Gordon Parks.
Please consider buying the "Black and White Photography Magazine" issue.
With the help of the computer/app//online assistance., my Indonesian language skills are improving at a steady rate. I am still way behind my Thai but way up on Spanish, Almere or Burmese. I think with a lot more effort and practice, this can be done!!
The one syllable I am having lots of problems with is the NG (nngggyyoohh) sound. It’s very hard to say, I have the same problem in Thai. With work, it can be conquered!!
I was a asked by B&W Photography Magazine to answer a few questions. I guess the story with photographs and interview is going to press soon. My answers are a bit full of myself, a bit too me me me, but I thought I would share them anyway :).
Please keep an eye out for the issue at your local newsstand and buy the mag. The writer David B is a good person, and the magazine does such wonderful work promoting the greatness of photography. We need to support them in their efforets.
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Weird moment of the day! THIS IS NOT ME!
I do own the camera, as I own most cameras ever made :) but the photographer pictured is NOT me with my camera. You would think my FRIEND would know what I look like!
Probably posted this before, but what the heck, 2 times the charm. From the Photographic Historical Society of Canada.
https://phsc.ca/camera/the-power-of-photography/
The have and have nots, the world is an unfair place.
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| One man has a respirator, one man does not. |
Thinking of getting a portable eye wash system of some kind to help me in the field IF I end up in the volcano. The gases the volcano expels often lead to vision issues. I guess your eyes can start to burn as a result of becoming slightly acidic. When you rub your eyes, you can make it even worse.
I was told that a way to deal with that is to take a shower and allow soap into your eyes intentionally. Soap is a base so it helps to neutralize the acid problem. Probably rather uncomfortable to do, but it is doable and safer/better than the alternative.
If I am in the field, several hours from a shower I was thinking that having a small system that would allow me to wash out my eyes with slightly soapy water might be of benefit. I would of course be wearing sealed to the face googles or a full-face respirator (worry these might interfere with picture making), but even wearing this type of PPE might lead to some gas getting into my eyes. To have a way to clean them in the field, sort of an emergency backup, seems sound safety wise. I might give it a go.
The eyewash needs to be very portable and light, plus rugged to take the abuse without spilling open, damaging my camera gear.
Note* Could also use this system with the ambrotype project.
Some Possibilities:
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| Might go with the last one which is, light, plastic, strong, I could have a separate small securely capped water bottle to fill it with. I could store the water in the bag away from my cameras. |
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| The rich have gas masks (respirators), the poor do not. I want to help change that. |
Enjoying my Indonesian language training. Learning another language at 58 is difficult but probably good for the old brain. Sort of an unexpected workout/exercise. I will not be fluent, but I should be able to learn to speak basic Indonesian. I know this is possible because I am able to learn basic Thai. If I can do Thai, I can do Indonesian as it is an easier language to learn.
I find with my Indonesian studies that online sources help so much. I have an app on my phone that teaches me vocabulary. I can put in words or sentences and they app translates from English to Indonesian for me. Even more importantly I can go the other way. So, I can learn how to say something then practice saying it to my app, going this time from Indonesian to English. If my app understands me then I know my pronunciation and word usage is correct. It is a great learning tool, sort of like having a human Indonesian language teacher in the room with me! The app allows me to slow down the words so I can hear each syllable clearly, which is a big bonus as native speakers speak Indonesian LIGHTNING FAST!
I think it has been about a month, maybe less of learning but things are progressing nicely. If I can keep up the effort and if I do not go to Indonesia until the end of the year, things should work out fine language wise.
If I have the ability to speak Indonesian, then the photo projects and donation work will be a success. I can make friends, solve problem and most importantly get a better understanding of the lives I have been allowed to photograph. Learning the feelings and history of my subjects will create deeper levels of empathy and compassion, which translate into better more powerful and effective photographs. It will also help with general knowledge; artist talks and my ability to raise goods and money to help the lives of the people photographed. Basically, the more I know, the better!
Note* There are also many online sources to learn Indonesian from, places I can go to translate words and to hear those words from both male and female voices.
I received the final payment of $2000 from the University of New Brunswick Art Centre and added it to the funds to be donated column on the left side of this page.
Later when I return to Asia I will use the money to buy goods to help THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP (Burmese refugees in Mae Sot Thailand) and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY (Thai people in Klong Toey Slum in Bangkok).
I might also be going to Indonesia for the first time. Looking into several possible projects. They have people working garbage dumps there as well. Also researching and learning of the workers in the Mt. Ijen Volcano. They require respirators, work gloves, goggles and other PPE.
Note* The 6 photographs that the UNB bought at $1000 a piece will be kept in their permanent collection. Meaning that the lives photographed will continue to live on after we are all dead. I like that feeling!
The Penticton Art Gallery show was 4 or 5 years ago now. A wonderful all-round event. Wish I could get more exhibitions. The one at the UNB this year was rather awesome but nothing on the horizon now. No shows at all scheduled, nothing, nada!! At least the "Black and White Photography Magazine" interview/photos thing is happening in the summer.
Need to get those submissions out there!!
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| With a few of the many pictures exhibited that year. |
Not sure if I have posted this before, thought I might. It is from the "Penticton Gallery Arts Letter, September/October 2018 Vol. 42 No.5"
THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP WAS EXHIBITED IN THE GALLERY.
Got some nice news today connected to THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP. Guinevere Santaguida wrote a university news story about the exhibition a while back. Today she informed me that the story has been nominated for an award. It is great when good things happen to good people.
Congrats! Guinevere.
Links to her nomination and to the original article published in "The Aquinian".
https://theaquinian.net/visualizing-families-of-the-dump/
One of the goals of this security work week is to read the book 'A MODERN HISTORY OF INDONESIA", second edition 2013, by Adrian Vickers.
Today's facts.
Population of Indonesia, 240 million plus.
Population of Jakarta, 15 million plus
Indonesia is made up of 19 000 islands!
Over 200 languages are spoken with the common language BAHASA INDONESIA being a variant on Malay.
90% of the population is Muslim. The world's largest Muslim country.
Tolerant society which accepts many religions.
Java the main island has 130 million people.
Corruption has been rampant through the years, rated at the top of the international corruption lists.
NOTE* This should be an interesting and challenging country to visit.
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| 2013 Second Edition |
This might come in handy if I photograph in the volcano (men digging for sulphur) and I am looking for friends.
Kinda working on strange language for Indonesia. Functional words and sentences for the various possible Indonesian photo projects. If things go well, I can use the Indonesian language stuff to keep working on the photo series over 10 years or so ( just like in Thailand). Long term photography and donation work is what I enjoy most.
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| Indonesian map. |
Volcanoes are dangerous, gunung berapi (fiery mountain) itu berbahaya.
Thailand and Indonesia are only about 3 hours 45 minutes flight time apart but their language, religions and cultures are very different.
“I am reading a book on 2 languages “
Been thinking and learning about the men digging for Sulphur in the Indonesian Mt IJen volcano crater.
If it happens it might be called THE MEN WHO SEEK SATAN”S GOLD, THE MEN WHO DIG FOR SATAN'S GOLD or possibly THE MEN WHO CHASE SATAN”S GOLD.
Note* Satan”s Gold is what the workers call the sulpher they dig and sell.
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| Worker/Photographer unknown |
My head is spinning with all the Indonesian learning. Trying to learn another language at 58 is challenging. I do feel thou it is slowly coming along. If I can do this it will be beneficial to the photos and respectful to the workers/subject.
I first learned of the "Wayang" when watching a very influential movie in my life "The Year of Living Dangerously". The Wayang are the shadow play, puppets, understanding Jave (Indonesia).
The Wayang, Shadow Play in THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY
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| Linda Hunt with "Wayang" (puppet) from "The Year of Living Dangerously". |
Tonight, I am studying and learning more about this amazing story telling art form. Hopefully can see some real shows when and if I visit Java (Main Island of Indonesia).
The shows throughout their history have often commented on dangerous political and social statements. This honest and freedom of expression is a key to "Wayang's" survival through the centuries. The puppet master could say things with and through his puppets, he could not say otherwise.
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| The "Wayang"!! |
Last night during my night shift I was watching videos on volcanoes and on the history of Indonesia. One of the things that came up was a danger that the sulfur workers face in the Indonesian volcanoes. There is a gas in the volcano crater that smells like a rotten eggs.
From my years working as a security guard in a petrol chemical plan this rang a bell. One of the dangers in a petrol chemical plant is Hydrogen Sulfide gas, H2S. In all of our plant work safety orientations there are warnings about the gas. H2S needs to be taken very seriously. If I go to photograph in the volcanoes, I will need to be wearing proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), probably at least a gas mask and sealed eye goggles.
Hydrogen Sulfide gas is naturally occurring inside an active volcano. The gas is heavier than air and settles in low lying areas. If you inhale enough of the gas you can die from it. To make photos in the volcanoes or to work there, you should be wearing proper safety gear.
I do not know the workers manage to work there without PPE. I have read they work 12-hour days for $12 a day. I need to learn more. I wonder if I can buy eye and breathing protection equipment for them there, then distribute the items as I make photos? We earned $6000 from the last exhibition, $6000 in donation money, 100% earned will be donated. Giving back to these workers seems the proper thing to do. Then maybe the photos made after that, in the volcano, can raise more money to help more people.
Getting ahead of myself here, not sure I can gain access and that this photo project idea will work. Still, it is worth more thought. If I go, I need to educate myself about the dangers, learn the Indonesian language (basic level) and improve my overall physical conditioning. Climbing in and out of volcanoes at 59 years of age might prove a tad difficult! :)
Here is the fact sheet for H2S, Hydrogen Sulfide.
Note* The workers have given sulfur dug out of the Mt Ijen volcano in Indonesia a nickname, "SATAN'S GOLD" (Setan Emas).
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| H2S facts sheet |
Learning Indonesian is difficult but fun.
Larry Louie made a wonderful set of photographs of the sulfur mining in the Ijen Volcano (Mt. Ijen) in Indonesia. A possible long term photo story there. Will talk to him about it next week when we meet. Here is his shooting story, and the story of the workers.
There would be some serious difficulties and dangers to the project. It emight even be life threatening. But the idea of helping these miners, telling their very human stories is very appealing me. I believe many of the workers only use cloth masks. Handing out reasonably made gas masks as gifts seems like a worthy thing to do. Just like the headlamps and boots in the dump in Mae Sot. Giving out the masks and helping these hard workers seems so right.
https://www.wired.com/story/sulfur-miners-volcano-indonesia/
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| Photo by Larry Louie |
