Quote: Sitting Bull (1831-189

"Warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who cannot provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity."

Volcanoes Anyone?

Since I MIGHT be going to Indonesia, and I MIGHT be photographing people working in a semi dormant volcano. I thought some knowledge might be of use. To that end picked up a 144-page book for $16.70 CAD.

If I photograph workers in the semi dormant volcanoes, best to know a bit about what I am standing on!

Learning Indonesian

 Learning to speak Indonesian is TOUGH! Even thou the language is easier than most, I am still struggling. There is plenty of English in Indonesian, but the pronunciation is usually different, HELLO become HAH-LO, SULFUR becomes SOOL-FOOR -- OO---OO sounds. So, in a way it is almost like learning a new word. 

I have lots of sources to learn Indonesian, songs, google translate, various aps and movies. The problem is I have nowhere to speak the language with a real person. I cannot find any real Indonesian people here in Edmonton to speak to. 

If I do this, I will probably be landing in Jakarta with some language skills but never having been in the country before and never having really spoken the language before. Everything will be new and confusing. I have read that 10% of the country speaks English. In Thailand supposedly 24% speak English, yet I am constantly speaking Thai in Thailand. I expect to need the Indonesian language even more in Indonesia than I now need the Thai language in Thailand.

Going into a new country to make social documentary photos while speaking a new language at 59 years of age will be daunting! I have lived in Thailand and feel comfortable there, but this whole Indonesian experience will be challenging and potentially dangerous.

Some subjects that might be possible, include the scavengers in the various volcanos and people working in various dumps around the country. I might also try photographing in an area of slums to tell those stories, like I do with THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY in Klong Toey Slum, Bangkok. 

I have donation money from the Thai projects so I could use some of that to help the people in the pictures in Indonesia. I want to give back to the people in the photographs.

Learning About Indonesia

Time to learn more about Indonesian history and culture. Thinking of starting a new photography project-series there. Need to try to understand things better first and move forward carefully.

Link: UNB Exhibitions Advertisement

 Little advertisement for the last show.

HAPPENING NEXT

Quote: Charles Bukowski

 

UNB Buys 2 More Photographs

 

Studying Indonesian

Spent the night working on Indonesian and learning more about Islam. Need a nap, tough on the 58 year old brain!!

Indonesian!!

 Possible photo trips to come.

Quote: Edgar Allen Poe

Recently a writer told me, “No offence but you’re crazy!”:)

Quote: Aristotle

 

Indonesia? Might Be Visiting

Miss traveling. Thinking of going to Indonesia. Never been there before. To that end am learning a few words. THANK YOU in Indonesian is DUH-REAMAU KGAU-SEE.

There is a garbage dump with people working it outside of Jakarta. I am trying to learn more. I might try going there, making photos and helping, thou it would be difficult.

Bantar Gebang landfill, Jakarta, Indonesia

Quote: Gary Winnogrand

Always loved this quote. I have thought of it often when making Ambrotypes. I sometimes just want to see what something looks like when photographed on glass. Quite often this is my inspiration.

 

Doll Story In The Coming Issue Of B&W Photography Magazine

I believe the story of this young girl and her doll will be told in the coming B&W Photography magazine story. Please consider getting your copy when it comes out.

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from the Facebook/earlier blog story

Note* This story is part of the ongoing social documentary photography-humanitarian project, FAMILIES OF THE DUMP, in Mae Sot Thailand, which was started in 2013. We do photography that is then used to raise money to buy, headlamps, boots, medicines, food, tools, candy etc. The donations also include donated hats, boots, and toys (where this story comes from). Burmese refugee families have been working and living in the garbage dump just outside Mae Sot Thailand for over a decade.

Note* The doll in this story was donated by a young child in Canada. She wanted to give her toys to children at the dump, she has done this 2 times over 2 different Thai trips. I work with the young girls mother who arranges the transfer of toys and also has donated funds (4 or 5 times) to buy things for the families.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Giving Away A Doll Story

Wrote of this dump 2019 giving away a doll story before but thought I would share it one more time. Sitting in my guardhouse in the snow of Canada it came to mind once again. Memory flashbacks to the people in Thai happen all the time to me.

So, I am in the dump and see the little girl at her dump shack home who I will give the doll to. I reach in my camera bag and take it out. Then I make doll walking, talking noises as I hand it to the little surprised refugee Burmese child. She is absolutely thrilled! After I gave her the doll, I realize I need a photo of her with it so I can show the toy donating child in Canada and her mother (they can see where their donation went). The little Burmese girl thou is hugging the doll all backwards, she has this sort of happy, hugging doll, death grip, thing happening. I do not have a good angle to make a photo, I will not be able to show the folks back home. It is important they see the good they did, I need to do something! I cannot ask her to turn the doll around as that is beyond my Burmese speaking capabilities. So, I reach in and TAKE THE DOLL BACK!! The poor child looks at me with 'ABSOLUTE HORROR!!!". I am not going to give her the toy, I am taking it away!!! I can still remember her face; it was disappointment times 10! I then turn the doll around and hand it back to her and the picture below is made. She thought for a second the toy was not hers to keep. Thinking of the face she made, the sudden expression change from joy to shocked disappointment still makes me giggle. Anyway, she smiled again, and all was good. One of a thousand dump stories.

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Plan Of The Week: TEARS OF A BUTTERFLY Photo Book

Plan of the week!

Makeup a rough draft binder version of a proposed photo book called TEARS OF A BUTTERFLY. The book would be a volume of photographs along with stories on the subjects and the making of the pictures. Sort of a photo story book of 200 or so pages.

Of course, no real publisher would print it but I could self-publish. I could do up a semi decent desktop publishing Blurb book. TEARS OF A BUTTERFLY could be placed at future exhibitions for gallery visitors to browse through.

Not sure this will happen. It would probably take years to complete. But it is a productive, positive way to use my spare time during night shifts. One can hope it gets done 😊.

Maybe it could be one of those very personal books that gets published for real after your death.

Some possible photos to talk about, some stories to tell.

Titian

Picked up an interesting read from Value Village last night, $7.99 CAD. I knew nothing of Titian, now know a bit more. Lovely printed book.

Reading an art book on a cold winter day in January. Gotta love it!

New Submissions To Come

I have nothing other than the B&W magazine story coming out in the next months. NO EXHIBITIONS are scheduled! Nothing, Nada!

I hope to be doing some new submissions to mags and galleries in the next few months. First I need to update everything. I also need to redo/update the PDF files for the Thai projects, adding the 2022 work. Some of the old film work from these projects remain undeveloped (Families, not sure about Under the Freeway).

I am not far enough along to submit AMBROTOS KANATA yet, more ambrotypes need to be made, more and of better quality. I might be able to do submissions of.  MY FATHERS LAST DAYS or the Japanese series KODOKU. Some of the KODOKU images remain unseen/unedited (not sure where the files are). I could also try reprinting and submitting the SEX WORKERS ON WHITE series, this time on Platinum.

Winnipeg Flash Photographic Festival Advert

Updating my CV today (added one exhibition and being published in 3 mags). Found this, thought I would post it, in case I need the information in the future. From the April 2022 exhibition. 

Bland And White Photography Magazine Interview Complete!

 

Newish Dump Self Portrait

Found this today, was playing with it a bit. Shot with a point and shoot digs camera back in 2017. At that time I was carrying my 5x7 inch Linhof in the garbage dump in Mae Sot working on the project THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP. Shot all the 5x7 images on Tri-x, got to love that wonderful film 

Self portrait, the garbage dump with my 5x7

$20 Added To Help The People In The Pictures

I added $20 to the donation total to help the people in the pictures for THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY. Forget to add it before, it comes from a kind gentleman (sorry forgot your name) who gave us the $20 after my artist talk in Winnipeg.

The donation total now sits at $4334.67 CAD. It will be used to buy goods to directly help the people in the pictures, with no waste or middleman involved. From you to them!

Link: UNB Projects Description And Gerry Yaum Stuff

Just found this UNB shows link, not sure if I have posted it before. 

Note* I need to update the old CV. Have, 2  Solo exhibitions, 3 paper mags, and 2 online mags (published) need to be added. Need also to start resubmitting the work with all the 2022 images added to the PDF submission links. So much paper work to do. This me, myself and I doing most everything thing. IS TIRING! :) Sometimes there seems to not be enough hours in the day to get it all done. Then there is the whole photographing Canada thingy with the AMBROTOS KANATA project, but that's another story!

https://www.unb.ca/cel/enrichment/art-centre/index.html

THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP And THE PEOPLE UNDER THE FREEWAY, Should Be In The June 2023 Version Of Black And White (B&W) Magazine

Doing an interview tomorrow for B&W Magazine. It looks like the June 2023 issue of the magazine will carry some of the stories and photographs. Thanks so much David for finding the work, thanks so much Dean for allowing the stories into your wonderful world class photography magazine.

Self Portrait with the children at the dump 2013

Note* This will be the 3rd interview in the last 2-3 months. Did one for a newspaper and one for an arts radio program as part of the UNB Fredericton exhibitions, now one for B&W magazine. More interviews were done at earlier times, for other magazines and exhibitions. 

Interviews are always fun. Talking about what you love is always a joyous experience. My main problem is I get too excited with it all and tend blabber on too much. Will try to keep things battened down a bit this time.

Video Link: Extended Version Video Of The UNB Exhibitions

Learning Final Cut Pro!!

UNB EXHIBITION VIDEO EXTENDED VERSION

Quote: Native American Proverb

 

Merry Xmas Everyone!

Thinking of those I (we) have lost tonight. Merry Xmas everyone.

Black And White (B&W) Magazine Link

Here is the mag the interview and photos will be in. This magazine is available at my local Chapters/Indigo book store. It will bee cool to be shown in the same magazine like many of my fav photographers.

THIS IS  A WORLD GLASS LEVEL PUBLICATION, check it out if you have not read it before!

https://www.bandwmag.com

Note* I have had several long conversations with Jock Sturges on the telephone. He is a decent fellow who helped me with my photography, very opening and giving.  It is rather cool to soon (June issue) to be published in the same magazine as he was.  Just pure luck on my part, thanks David for finding the images and supporting them, thanks Dean for allowing me to be part of B&W, it is a true honour.

One of my favourite issues of B&W magazine. Love the Sturges article and images. Photo by Jock Surges.

3rd Magazine Story, Seems A Go

 If this happens it would be the 3rd paper magazine story on the work,#1 Silver Grain Classics and #2 Analogue Forever, I will be the 5th if you count thee 2 online mags "Shades of Grey". 

I think I am getting a bit ho hum about this sort of thing. It is alway nice to meet thee work published shared, to spread the word but my attitude has changed a bit. Thee first time I was super excited, thee second time I was kinda excited, this time its like "well that is nice, thanks".

"SILVERGRAIN CLASSICS PHOTGRAPHY MAGAZINE" THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

"ANALOG FOREVER PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE" THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

'SHADES OF GREY PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE' THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP

'SHADES OF GREY PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE" THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY"

Quote: Ossie Davis (Actor)

 

Posts, Fredericton, 2022

 A bit of a fun pic. Shot on the recent trip to New Brunswick for the exhibitions and the UNB.

Posts near the river, Fredericton, New Brunswick, 2022

LINK: To Our Current Exhibitions At The UNB

The UNB online galleries for the 2 exhibitions. THE FAMILIES OF THE DUMP and THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY. 

https://www.unb.ca/cel/enrichment/art-centre/online-exhibits/index.html