20 April

First Portrait: My Friend Scott

by Jon Katz
My Friend Scott
My Friend Scott

I got the new monochrome camera especially with portraits in mind and some farmscapes and scenes. I chose my friend Scott Carrino, the co-owner of the Round House Cafe as the first portrait subject. He was sitting out by the back door of the cafe visiting with Red and talking to passers-by.

Scott is different, he more patient and social than I am, he has many friends and seems to know everyone in town. He is happy to talk to anyone and is always amiable and courteous. I have a lot of trouble with small talk, Scott can chat with anyone, although it does wear him out after awhile.

I think this shot caught the humor in his eyes and the warmth of his soul I’m glad he is the first portrait taken with the new camera and I am also very happy that the camera pulls in such detail, softens the background so skillfully and captures the wrinkles of a man who smiles a lot, even when things are rough.

20 April

Discovery: The Frida Kahlo Leggings

by Jon Katz
Discovery
Discovery

Maria’s leggins – she loves leggins, she sees them as a great liberating clothing for women – began to wear out, they all had holes in them. Maria buys few things for herself, and nothing retail. So I decided to surprise her with a gift of Navajo designed leggins, she liked them a lot, grumbling as usual that I ought not to buy her things.

In the course of going online and researching the leggins, I found myself on a site where various artistsĀ  design special leggins for people with idiosyncratic tastes. I saw two I had to buy, one had dinosaurs on it, and the other was a pair of Frida Kahlo leggins, designed to celebrate the Mexican artist who has been such an inspiration for Maria.

I am happy to see she just loved these, she didn’t even squawk at me for buying them for her. I love them too, Frida’s famous and eclectic face looks out from the knees. I have found a great gift to buy Maria from time to time. I can’t think of a more natural pairing. And this has awakened me to the creative power of leggins.

20 April

Daily Video: Meditations On Sheep

by Jon Katz

I thought today that I don’t really pay enough attention to the sheep, in my writing or in my videos and photography. I am not overly fond of sheep, I can’t say I love them, although Maria loves them and we both treat them very well and care for them conscientiously.

The problem is, I have a border collie’s notion of sheep, the dogs are always with me, and the sheep association me with them. It’s a cordial but distant relationship. Still, I love their calm and focus, when they eat it is a meditation, even the dogs don’t really disrupt it. Come and see.

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