Note* Added another 10-12 images, and re edited some that were already in the talk.
"Ain't Photography Grand!!"
This documentary is terrifying to me. How can a man justify what he did in his own mind, yet act in such a cold and methodical way, responsible for killing millions.
When speaking of his roll in the Holocaust, he simply said of himself "....I was merely a little cog in the machinery...."
While in the shower, I had a thought.
What if I created the Social Documentary Talk "Photography as a Force for Good", in book form. The photographs and the pics, stories, titles in a book (no videos possible). I doubt it would have the impact of a live talk presentation but at least it would have staying power. It would be something to leave behind after my death. Something that would have a chance at helping people, making a bit of a difference in the world.
The other option is do some kind of PowerPoint live spoken presentation, that might be more impactful but probably seen less.
A video of the talk intercutting me speaking with the presentation photos and vids and photos intercut on PowerPoint might work best. I do not have the money to produce that, unless it was some kind of static camera, which would be boring and near unwatchable. Could I set up several cameras and cut in between them?
Will think more on this.
Note* A Ted Talk? Highly doubtful, but worth a look.
Years back, I saw Edward Burtynsky speak at the Alberta Art Galleries (AGA) Ledger theatre. I marvelled at the time how well he spoke and how confident an eloquent he was. I hoped that some day I could do something close to me.
Today I received a comment from a friend who attended the Images Alberta Talk.
"I was really impressed with your presentation at Images Alberta. How your discussion worked with the pictures you showed. And of course, how powerful they are. Not to mention the quality of the images you showed. Among other things, it made me think of a parellel with Edward Burtinsky, in that it's often discussed that he often makes beautiful pictures of ugly things and places. You make great photos of real people in "ugly" situations. In both cases, this tension is part of what makes his and your pictures so powerful."
Note* Obviously I ain't no Burtinsky but it was still nice to read. Thanks ----- for the kind words.
Note* There might be some other money coming in. FRAMES photography magazine still owes $200 USD and S------- from IACC said she would help raise a bit of money.
One of the people who attended my Images Alberta Camera Club (IACC) talk suggested I speak at High Schools. A motivational/inspirational speaker of sorts, who can encourage the High School students to a better life.
A bit frightening, to think of. I am only a dude who makes photos and worked as a night time security guard for 31 years. Doubt I can motivate or inspire anyone. Maybe the stories can, maybe the photographs can, but certainly not me. I am nothing.
Still, it was nice of her to feel and write that I could. I guess, for her, the talk/photographs and stories were effective and had some small impact.
The new grand total raised so far to help those in need from the social documentry talks sits at:
- $250 CAPS (photo club Red Deer)
- $250 IACC (photo club Edmonton)
- $40 Donation from M--- IACC
- $?? Donation from S---/Family/Friends IACC
- $20 Donation from a kind man at the CAPS meeting (I had forgotten, thank you)
So at least $560 CAD. Hoping to get to $1000 CAD
Note* I will need to track this, set up an new link on my blog with these donation numbers, then lower the total on the blog as I spend the money in Asia. Will also made photos and videos of how the money is spent, to send to the kind donors.
Note** Link added to top of this blog page. Will track the money there, up and down!
Got an email message from a 2nd kind person at the IMAGES ALBERTA CAMERA CLUB (IACC) talk. They said they wanted to know when I would return to Thailand to do more photography and donation work and that they wanted to help, wanted to raise money from their family and friends to assist THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURES.
All good stuff, helping more folks in Thailand. Thank you S------- for your kindness and good heart.
Images Alberta my old club, is filled with kind hearted good people, gotta love that!
PHOTOGRAPHY and photographers AS A FORCE FOR GOOD!!
The IACC talk fee was $250 not $200 CAD. My mistake, I thought they said $200 before. All good stuff, now more for the people in the photographs. Helping more folks.
I had to freelance the talk last night, without notes. In the IACC audio visual technical set up (ZOOM and their PC laptop). I did not have access to my computer or my PowerPoint presenter view notes.
It was a freer type expressive talk. Just my TED TALK microphone and a clicker!! My only limitation is I had to stay in view of the ZOOM internet camera.
I will try to this freestyle talk in the future. I would love to be able to walk around!!
LOVED IT!!!
So I had a NEWBY talk moment at yesterday’s presentation for the IACC (Images of Alberta Camera Club).
Before the talk began the audio video guy handed me one of those high end TED RALK type microphones to wear. I did not know how put it on!!! First I put it on the wrong ear, then I put it on backwards!!!
The IACC guy must have been thinking. What kind of bonehead speaker do we have tonight ? Later at the beginning of the talk I had to stop and turn the microphone on!
After that things went well!
At the IACC (Images Alberta Camera Club) meting we raised $200 for the talk, and $40 extra from kind M----, making a total of $240 CAD. We (donors and myself) will probably use the money to buy food for people who live "Under the Freeway" in Khlong Toey Slum, Bangkok.
Note*A club in Canmore AB is a possibility and a club in Halifax NS, is accepted but no date confirmed.
Note** The Kelowna club talk is the one mentioned above, will be July 12, 2027.
The talk was rewarding I enjoyed it. The IACC club (Images Alberta Camera Club) was very well organized, they did a great job and had first glass gear to help smooth things over.
It was the first time I wore one of those body coloured microphone ear pieces! I did not even know how to put it on, newby move there!
Note* Thank you very much M------ for your personal donation of $40. You will directly help the people in the pictures. You have a good heart as the Thais say, KHON JAI DEE!!
Note* Thank you IACC members for the $200 talk fee, your money will directly help the people in the pictures.
Dreamed of my father today, heard his voice. It is our shared birthday, April 7. In the dream I hugged him and cried, told him how much I missed him.
Strange how our minds work. It has been 11 years now since we lost dad, I forgot it was April 7, but the mind remembers everything, even while sleeping.
Photo from an earlier birthday. We often had the same cake.
Applied for this sale of work awhile back. Should know by May if they will buy anything .
Two works submitted. Any sale money earned would be used to buy Silver Nitrate for the AMBROTOS KANATA project. Here’s hoping the work is bought for the Strathcona Public Collection.
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| Petrochemical Plant 14x14 inch Ambrotype, $1000 CAD |
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| Petrochemical Plant Boiler Stack 11x14 inch Ambrotype, $800 CAD |
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| Making of Ambrotype imagery |
From the Strathcona Curator of Public Art
——————
The last talk was so well received I thought I would work a bit harder at refining my public speaking ability. Am not really into self help books but this one was only $1.50, so decided to give it a go. Nothing to lose!
I expect dozens more talks n the years ahead. Improvement of my speaking skills, has to be a good thingy!
We earned $250 CAD at the last talk in Red Deer and another $200 coming from a talk in Edmonton. Last trip we paid over $1000 for food donations, so getting closer to that number.
Note* We also gave the January Kelowna talk scheduled but it will probably occur after my next trip to Thailand. I can not count those donation funds yet.
The Kelowna Photography Club will pay $200 CAD for the January, 2027 Social Documentary PowerPoint, ZOOM talk.
100% of that money will go to help the people in the pictures. We will probably use it to buy food for THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY.
Note* We already earned $250 CAD at the last talk in Red Deer and another $200 coming from a talk in Edmonton. Last trip we paid over $1000 for food donations, so getting closer that number.
Possible Social Documentary talk interest from the Canmore Alberta Photo Club.
Nothing set yet. Hoping to set up a talk and combine it with a trip to make Ambrotypes for the AMBROTOS KANATA project.
We shall see, it might work out!
$795 CAD plus power and water, $1000 plus a month, and a deposit. This place is 1 MRT stop away from Khlong Toei Station, near where I work on THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY photo/donation project.
I have a new talk scheduled with the Kelowna Photography club on January 12th, 2027. It will be a ZOOM talk, money earned will be used to help the people in the pictures. I would have preferred an inperson live talk, but they do not do them. So ZOOM is what will happen.
Always loved this picture of the motor home Fanny and darkroom trailer Freddy. It makes me want to head out and make Ambrotypes! Go, go, go, AMBROTOS KANATA project.
Wee Kai is now a young woman. In this video, the last I took of her with her father, she is with him in his shack on the garbage, 2018. Her father passed in 2021.
I often think back to this young girls life, and wonder what will become of her in the future. Here father has died, her brother and mother can only do so much. Poverty most often begets only more poverty. Will she end up back in the dump, a mother at 14, like so many others before her. Last I heard from here mom, she was in Mae Sot working.
In the video, I speak the little Burmese I know, to ask her father, his daughters name.
Am working on a new revised version of my Social Documentary talk on the projects THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY. I am adding 10-15 photographs and removing 1 of the videos. Plus cleaning up a couple of title typos.
I have an extra 15 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes total) at THE IMAGES ALBERTA talk, so hope to use that time fruitfully!!
The coming IMAGES ALBERTA photography club talk on April 9th will also be broadcast on ZOOM. Not sure how it all works but 2 ladies from the CAPS Red Deer photography club talk, said they would re-watch it on ZOOM.
Modern tech is rather amazing. I like the ability to do video talks but LIVE seems the better way to go. I sure enjoy speaking more to real people versus a computer camera.
Looking forward to the IMAGES talk, I am a former member of that group.
Nothing is confirmed yet but there might be another possible Social Documentary Artist Talk. The possible talk is a camera club in Kamloops British Columbia.
That makes talks in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Kamloops British Columbia as maybes. Not sure if they will be ZOOM talks or live.
Wetplate trailer opening soon! Got my supply of diluted Glacial Acetic Acid (White Vinegar) Will use it to make developer!! $3.59 CAD (50 cents off a bottle)!!
Developer Formula
1000 ml Vinegar
20 ml Bio Ethanol
30 gr Iron
40 gr Sugar
Got a supersized book of Brett Weston’s work this Calgary trip. 131 pages/Aperture Monograph. Was a $3.60 CAD Thrift Store find.
I like the simplicity of the design. Photographs alone with white borders and no distracting text. Like pictures mounted and framed in a gallery exhibition. The straightforward power of photography on display. Letting the photos speak for themselves.
If I ever get a book published, I would go this way.
The Red Deer CAPS social documentary talk went so well it encouraged me to try other clubs in Canada.
Some of these talk would have to be via ZOOM but there is also a possibility to visit the clubs personally as part of the wet plate, cross Canada project, AMBROTOS KANATA.
Contacted clubs in Lethbridge, Osoyoos, Whitehorse, Vancouver, Edson and Ottawa!!
Note* I have a talk in Edmonton scheduled for April and a tentative unscheduled talk in Halifax.
Did my hour and a bit talk and it went very well. Had maybe 12 questions during and after. 15 or 16 people attended.
4 different people came to talked after, called it moving etc. Thanked me and all that nice stuff. One gentleman even said he got so emotional that he almost left the room. He said many kind things.
All good stuff. I hope the next talk is even better at Images Alberta Camera Club Edmonton!!
Note* The emotional response in some, was surprising. I guess there is some power in the photos, videos and stories. We are on the right track.
Note** I need more talks!
Note*** $250 to buy food for the people in the pictures
Ready for my Social Documentary talk in Red Deer for the CAPS photo club. All ready to go an hour early. Hope someone shows up!!
Earning $250 CAD tonight, will use this donation money to buy food for the people UNDER THE FREEWAY in Khlong Toei slum, Bangkok, Thailand!!!
Picked up a heavy, well built, wooden table today. It is quite tall and very solid. I got it FREE. Will put it in the back woodworking yard and use it this spring/summer/fall. It should allow me to work more easily. You can never have too many table worktops!
Note* I am wondering if I can use this design, or a variant of it to hold my large metal darkroom sinks, when I transfer them from the other darkroom.
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| My new free and HEAVY/TALL table, 4x4 feet, 42 inches high |
Got some positive feedback today from a photo club in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Sackville Photography club.
https://sackvillephotoclub.com/
Will work towards scheduling something that allows me to do a talk when we are in the area with the motorhome and trailer working on the SMBROTOS KANATA Ambrotypes project!!
They pay $200 CAD, which I can use to buy food for THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY.
Sometimes
movies change the course of your life. This film led to my trips to
Southeast Asia. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, India, China,
Singapore and Japan. 30 years of travel, photography, friends and
experiences.
THE KILLING FIELDS!! Picked up a Blu-Ray copy for $10 today.
Note* The film THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY was also hugely important to my travels to Asia. The photographer played by Linda Hunt (Billy Kwan) was inspirational.