Out

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It's time for the most colorful photo-op of the year in St. Louis, the Pridefest Parade. Now, I'm as straight as the shortest distance between two points (although I've been hit on a couple of times at this event) but nobody cares. Everyone is delighted to have their picture taken. Everyone is tolerant, everyone has an attitude of live and let live, and let's have some fun while we're at it. It's a great day in the Lou. These are some of the first images I edited. Days' worth of material to come.
The temperature here hit 108F / 42C yesterday. Bone dry, 15% humidity, more like Phoenix or Las Vegas than the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Exactly the same forecast for today. The first six months of 2012 have been the hottest since record-keeping began in the 19th Century. We've had almost no rain in May or June. Someone's gonna have to write an update of The Grapes of Wrath.

A Whiff of Latex

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I've photographed this group at the Pridefest parade for the last couple of years. Don't know who they are - no signs or banners, and I'm too busy shooting to ask someone. They carry ordinary blow-em-up-yourself balloons. If you have ever inflated one, you've probably noticed the odd, not quite rubbery smell of the latex. Now imagine that in a small area, multiplied hundreds if not thousands of times.
The aroma was more prominent than garlic at a cheap Italian restaurant. It made me queasy, but then whatever it takes for the shot.  Anyway, latex is a recurring theme at an event like this.

Goo Goo Eyes

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Got what's going on? These ladies painted eyes on their upper eyelids. When they close their eyes they look like Betty Boop or zombies. The group was hanging out on the sidewalk by the Pridefest parade. It's a matter of taste, but I particularly like the second and third photos. The bottom one is one of my best group portraits, IMHO. It reminds me of the cover of an old Paul Butterfield Blues Band record I really like.

 

A lagniappe: this is Fourth of July week in the U.S. It falls on Wednesday so the whole week is kind of down the tubes. We're off to New Jersey tomorrow for the annual Crowe family get-together. My town, Webster Groves, MO, started its festivities last night with the opening of the carnival. I present a sample below. There will be more from Ridgewood, NJ, and the streets of New York City, but we're not finished with Pridefest yet. Not by a long shot.

Stepping Away From Pridefest For A Bit

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I'm not through with the Pridefest photos - I could dribble them out for weeks - and I've got some strong stuff to post. Shocking, actually. Not shocking gay, shocking hateful. We'll come to that but for now we will walk off in our rainbow high heels to more festive holiday stuff.

A couple more shots from the Webster Groves Fourth of July carnival for now. Sorry for few if any comments yesterday. Worked late and had to pack last night. Flying to New York today and then a drive over to Ridgewood, New Jersey, to see the family.

Straight Outta Brooklyn

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Landed at La Guardia yesterday on a hazy summer day. The photo below is lower Manhattan from somewhere over Brooklyn. (Please turn off all electronic devices for landing.) Note the Liberty Tower, built on the site of the World Trade Center, which is near its full height. Below it and just to the right, on the shore of the East River, is a much smaller building, whitish and with stepped upper stories. It's the last building on Wall Street. My father spent most of his career working there. He was in commodities, not securities - sugar, actually. He always had a huge cache of candy when grandchildren started coming to his home.
Son Andy and special someone Claire came out Monday from Chicago and spent the night with an old high school friend of his who now lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The picture above is from the friend's rooftop, looking back toward Midtown.
Fourth of July parade and fireworks in Ridgewood, NJ, today. Into NYC tomorrow.

StageIt.com 7/2/12

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We took the stage again tonight for our fifth show on the website Stageit.com to perform a set of Fine Fellows material. Ian Lee sang his heart out for the folks watching online, while Errin Keith and Chris Wallis kept the rhythm section tight. I backed up Ian on piano and with some vocals, and I had a great time. The guys just sound better and better each time we do a show, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's recording session of new material. Also, I'd like to say happy birthday to my wife Christine, who has been running the cameras and mixer for us each week!

Supporters

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Okay, no high marks for the pun but these pictures illustrate something. It is a very,very good thing to have caring people beside you. We saw some of that on Tuesday with the people from my office gathered around our friend who has been through the cancer maze. My mother died of breast cancer when she was 56 and I was 24 (my parents got a late start for the time, but that's another long story). I had recently graduated from law school in St. Louis and two of my three siblings were in college or grad school. She should have had more of us.