Repost: Opening Night At The UNB (UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK)

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.

UNB Opening Night Oct. 2022

Dad From Facebook A Few Days Back

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,

Dreamed Of Sonny

 

Quote: Desmond Tutu

 

Quote: Keanu Reeves

H2S Danger, HIGHLY POISONOUS GAS, That Can Badly Injure Or Kill

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.

Thong Time?

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.

Fatter version of the camera!

A Land Without Evil

This book was written almost 20 years ago but the horror for the Karen people continues in Burma.

Raphael

 

Portrait of a Woman “La Muta”, 1507

Poem: To Sleep By John Keats

 To Sleep

BY JOHN KEATS

O soft embalmer of the still midnight,

      Shutting, with careful fingers and benign,

Our gloom-pleas'd eyes, embower'd from the light,

      Enshaded in forgetfulness divine:

O soothest Sleep! if so it please thee, close

      In midst of this thine hymn my willing eyes,

Or wait the "Amen," ere thy poppy throws

      Around my bed its lulling charities.

Then save me, or the passed day will shine

Upon my pillow, breeding many woes,—

      Save me from curious Conscience, that still lords

Its strength for darkness, burrowing like a mole;

      Turn the key deftly in the oiled wards,

And seal the hushed Casket of my Soul.

Quote: John Keats

On his tombstone.

“Here lies one whose name was writ in water.”

Keats?

Giving Keats a try. Not sure I get him, will try.

Astronaut Gerry

"The Concerned Photographer"

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.

Indonesian Language Skills Moving Forward Nicely

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!!

Time To Get Into Shape!!!

 

If that fact you are going to be stepping into an active volcano after a 6 km climb, at 59, does not inspire you to get into shape, then nothing will!

Why I Do What I do!

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.

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

DB:

 

Can you please write me a short paragraph or two about why you do what you do, and the difference you are making in their lives, and how this makes you feel?

I have always felt that photography was a force for good. That with my pictures I could tell the stories of my subjects and improve their lives. My goal has always been to make photographs that help people.

Before I took even one photograph in the dump I handed out 3 bags of food. After that first trip, the pictures were viewed and the stories heard, donations started. We were able to provide the families with food, medicines, clothing, rubber boots, head lamps, tools, toys and candy. 

If you look at poverty and injustice as a whole it is overpowering and you feel helpless, you  feel you can do nothing to help. The largeness of the problem seems impossible to fight against. What I try to do is to only face the suffering I see in front of me, to concentrate on that alone. I do not look at the big picture, that is too complex, too difficult to change. I instead try and help the human being I am photographing. Gerry the simple security guard from Canada ain’t changing anything, but he can, with the help of the donators, do small things to make the life that stands in front of his camera a tiny bit better. When I give a lollipop or a toy doll to a child in the dump and they giggle, when I pass a bag of food to a mother and I see the smile and the gratitude in her eyes, when I hand a father a new pair of work boots and he pats me on the shoulder, then all seems good, all seems right to me. My simple philosophy is that you need to do what you can do, you need to help where you can help. If you reach out and assist those around you, then the world becomes in a small way a better place to be. It is a simple straightforward way of thinking, but it works for me.

Why do I do it? I am selfish, I help others for selfish reasons. The greatest feeling I have ever felt, the biggest joy,  my highest high, is the smile and a laugh from a young child or the look of gratitude in a mothers or fathers eyes. I help for selfish reasons, I help because it makes me feels so good!

Gerry

Will The Real Photographer Step Forward?

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!

Photographic Historical Society Of Canada Story

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 Haves And Have Nots

The have and have nots, the world is an unfair place.

Doing some research into helping the miners who dig for sulfur in an active Indonesian volcano. The idea would be to do a long term photo project, similar to the dump series and hand out donations along the way. Looking into getting respirators, filters, goggles, gloves and other PPE (personal protection equipment).

In the photos you see a CNN crew with full gas mask doing a story at the site, and the workers using only wet cloth to cover their mouths. The miners need proper protection, in the last 40 years, 71 workers have died digging for sulfur.

Note* Sent emails out to the GM and the Safety Specialist at the Petrochemical Plant I work security. I asked for donations of secondhand respirators, that I could clean and hand out in Indonesia. I could also buy donation PPE items in Indonesia but am unsure of what is available at what cost.

One man has a respirator, one man does not.

Eye Wash In The Field?

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:

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.

Link: Help From A Work Colleague

Last night one of my friends here at work (I work night security at a petrochemical plant) helped me with learning more about respirators and the dangers of Hydrogen Sulfide (it can kill you) and Sulphur Dioxide. If I end up going to the to photograph inside a Volcano in Indonesia (Mt. IJen), I will be facing both gases as they are naturally occurring dangers in an active volcano. The workers face those dangers daily. They work in very dangerous conditions to help their families. I have read that 71 men have die digging for sulfur (Satan's Gold) in the volcano, over the last 40 years.

The goal would be to make photographs in the Volcano over many days, possibly over many years like we have in the Mae Sot Dump. A huge part of the project would be the donation work. Getting respirators, filters for the gases, gloves, goggles and other PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) to the miners. To that end I have started writing my bosses here at work about the possibly of the plan donating used respirators. I could then use some of $6000 + in donation to buy the rest of the gear. When making photos I could hand out things on a nightly basis.

This is all still up in the air and might not work. I am not sure of the situation on the ground and whether I can gain access to the volcano and workers. There might be restrictions, gates, security or bribes that might be needed to be overcome.

We shall see how it goes. One brick at a time builds the grand cathedral. The dump project started out very small and lead to some very good things, maybe the volcano/sulfur/miner project will do the same.

We shall see!!

Note* Need to get my fat 58-year-old ass into better shape. This project will be extremely taxiing physically. There might be a 6km walk up the mountain into the volcano every night!! Plus, walking down and out of the volcano with the workers making photos. I probably could not do it now, but I have some time to improve my weight and conditioning. Even if this does not work out, no photos or donation work is done, improving your weight and conditioning is always a good thingy.

CNN STORY ON THE SULFER WORKERS

The rich have gas masks (respirators), the poor do not. I want to help change that.

Learning To Speak Indonesian Is Difficult But Fun

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.

Added Another $2000 CAD To The Donation Total Funds

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!

Penticton Show Photo

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!!

With a few of the many pictures exhibited that year.

Penticton Gallery Arts Story

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.

Student News Story On THE FAMLIES OF THE DUMP, Nomination And Original Article

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://www.nash85.ca/jhm-awards

https://theaquinian.net/visualizing-families-of-the-dump/

A MODERN HISTORY OF INDONESIA, Book

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.

2013 Second Edition

Audio Link: DO YOU WORK IN THE VOLCANO In Indonesian

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.

Indonesian map.

Audio Link: VOLCANOES ARE DANGEROUS In Indonesian

Volcanoes are dangerous, gunung berapi (fiery mountain) itu  berbahaya.

Audio Link “I am reading a book in 2 languages “

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 “

Title For Potential Photography Project

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.

Worker/Photographer unknown 

Speaking A New Language At 58

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.

Links: The Wonder And Beauty Of The "Wayang"

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

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.

The Wayang, a short history.

The "Wayang"!!

Note* Linda Hunt's Oscar winning performance as photographer Billy Kwan was inspiring to me, it influenced me, and was part of the reason I came to Southeast Asia to make photographs.

Rotten Egg Smell Gas! H2S Gas Can Be Deadly!

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).

Hydrogen Sulfide Fact Sheet

H2S facts sheet

Link: Learning Indonesian Difficult But Fun

Learning Indonesian is difficult but fun.

Some of the words are completely unique, others are almost identical to English as is the writing but with different pronunciations. June = Juni (Joo-nii).

For anyone interested in the language here is a song for you, along with the written lyrics to learn the words.

If I can learn at least basic Indonesian, it could/would open up a tidal wave of documentary photographic possibilities.

Indonesian Music Video

Vrgoun, Bukti

Link: Sulfur Minding Story? Long Term?

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/

Photo by Larry Louie