My comment to Kirsten's blog
I never post here, but I thought I'd make a special post in response to and in addition to Kirsten's series on her visit to Portland.
First of all, let me start by saying that now that I see that wonderful picture of the Hawthorne Bridge, I must say that maybe the waterfront is cool enough to show people, even if it is a superfund site. I suppose my real argument is that the beautiful homes and gardens of Portland are just as worthy, especially in the summertime.
Next, I certainly agree that the SLR does not typically make that much of a difference and I can say this with certainty, being myself a novice photographer. I would never have made such a hefty purchase of my own; this was all Nathan's doing. However, the ease of use which is afforded by the SLR makes quite the difference in making me want to take photos, and I must say that in the end it does make a big difference. As evidence, take a look at Kirsten's photo of the bands playing. Next, take a look at the photos I took of the same event. Unless she only posted the photos that were all artsy and dark, I think the difference is clear for all to see. While there is virtually no difference in a daytime landscape taken in still conditions, the SLR with the giant attached flash makes photography in dark spaces much easier. Additionally, it has enabled the capture of several action shots that I never would have managed to catch with that slow-poke Nikon Coolpix that I loaned to my sister earlier this summer. Here's an example:
Anyone who's ever tried to catch a performer in the midst of a traditional punk rock jump knows that that shot ain't easy to capture.
Additionally, Kirsten very diplomatically stated my feelings on the "punk rock kumbaya" we had. I just want to add that after that event, I became increasingly more angry about it to the point where I have now wasted way too much effort on it and if I ever find my way back to the Ivy House, I'll be having a talk with the proprietor thereof, in which I explain to him exactly what punk rock is and the many ways one can tell that he and his band are decidedly un-punk.
To begin summing up my feelings, I think it is important to say that if I had a dollar for every time I heard the "what it means to be punk rock" talk, I'd have like $200. And if I had to give back the dollars of every loser who was wrong, I'd probably have $15 dollars left. Those dollars would have come from people who are actually in real, talented punk bands. People like the Dropkick Murphys, the Casualties and the Unseen. And I'd end up giving back those dollars, because who would take money from the Unseen? That'd be like mugging a homeless person for giving you directions.
Anyway, those guys know what punk rock is, and some little trustafarian hippie living in hippieville Portland doesn't have much right to be talking about it. And while we're on the subject, what kind of strong feminist is afraid to host a party? Seems to me like a strong feminist would bring people in with open arms and forcibly eject any wrongdoers? Also, I know good and well that no punk is EVER afraid to host a house party for fear of what people might say in the house. That concept is so far away from what punk is that it makes me want to react forcibly and negatively.
Phew.
I'm off my high-horse now, having said almost everything that comes to mind in response to that event. However, yes, to tourists, that episode was gold. I can see that. Even to me it was gold. It almost made me want to move back to the east coast where people know that a punk doesn't get offended and doesn't get afraid.
On to more appropriate topics. Sort of.
The 48 Hour Film Festival is an annual event in which film teams are given a genre, and have 48 hours to make a short film. The film must contain a prop, a line of dialog and a character. This year, the prop was a red balloon; the character was Ray or Rachel Schwartz, quality control advisor; and the line of dialog was "Do you smell what I smell." The Taxpayers' drummer, Noah, entered with his film team known by the name of Homeless Corner. Theirs was the only team to creatively vary the delivery of the line. Instead of simply saying, "do you smell what I smell," they had one character say "Do you smell?" to which another responds "What? I smell?" I was very impressed with their quality of work. Here's the video:
First of all, let me start by saying that now that I see that wonderful picture of the Hawthorne Bridge, I must say that maybe the waterfront is cool enough to show people, even if it is a superfund site. I suppose my real argument is that the beautiful homes and gardens of Portland are just as worthy, especially in the summertime.
Next, I certainly agree that the SLR does not typically make that much of a difference and I can say this with certainty, being myself a novice photographer. I would never have made such a hefty purchase of my own; this was all Nathan's doing. However, the ease of use which is afforded by the SLR makes quite the difference in making me want to take photos, and I must say that in the end it does make a big difference. As evidence, take a look at Kirsten's photo of the bands playing. Next, take a look at the photos I took of the same event. Unless she only posted the photos that were all artsy and dark, I think the difference is clear for all to see. While there is virtually no difference in a daytime landscape taken in still conditions, the SLR with the giant attached flash makes photography in dark spaces much easier. Additionally, it has enabled the capture of several action shots that I never would have managed to catch with that slow-poke Nikon Coolpix that I loaned to my sister earlier this summer. Here's an example:
Anyone who's ever tried to catch a performer in the midst of a traditional punk rock jump knows that that shot ain't easy to capture.
Additionally, Kirsten very diplomatically stated my feelings on the "punk rock kumbaya" we had. I just want to add that after that event, I became increasingly more angry about it to the point where I have now wasted way too much effort on it and if I ever find my way back to the Ivy House, I'll be having a talk with the proprietor thereof, in which I explain to him exactly what punk rock is and the many ways one can tell that he and his band are decidedly un-punk.
To begin summing up my feelings, I think it is important to say that if I had a dollar for every time I heard the "what it means to be punk rock" talk, I'd have like $200. And if I had to give back the dollars of every loser who was wrong, I'd probably have $15 dollars left. Those dollars would have come from people who are actually in real, talented punk bands. People like the Dropkick Murphys, the Casualties and the Unseen. And I'd end up giving back those dollars, because who would take money from the Unseen? That'd be like mugging a homeless person for giving you directions.
Anyway, those guys know what punk rock is, and some little trustafarian hippie living in hippieville Portland doesn't have much right to be talking about it. And while we're on the subject, what kind of strong feminist is afraid to host a party? Seems to me like a strong feminist would bring people in with open arms and forcibly eject any wrongdoers? Also, I know good and well that no punk is EVER afraid to host a house party for fear of what people might say in the house. That concept is so far away from what punk is that it makes me want to react forcibly and negatively.
Phew.
I'm off my high-horse now, having said almost everything that comes to mind in response to that event. However, yes, to tourists, that episode was gold. I can see that. Even to me it was gold. It almost made me want to move back to the east coast where people know that a punk doesn't get offended and doesn't get afraid.
On to more appropriate topics. Sort of.
The 48 Hour Film Festival is an annual event in which film teams are given a genre, and have 48 hours to make a short film. The film must contain a prop, a line of dialog and a character. This year, the prop was a red balloon; the character was Ray or Rachel Schwartz, quality control advisor; and the line of dialog was "Do you smell what I smell." The Taxpayers' drummer, Noah, entered with his film team known by the name of Homeless Corner. Theirs was the only team to creatively vary the delivery of the line. Instead of simply saying, "do you smell what I smell," they had one character say "Do you smell?" to which another responds "What? I smell?" I was very impressed with their quality of work. Here's the video:
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