Alien Visit

A few days ago I posted pictures of bucks in the high desert of Arizona ⁽¹⁾. I am not a nature photographer and a fellow photographer posted this comment on my blog:

'Well done Vahe! Here I thought you only photograph PEOPLE! That is a good example what one can do with prehistoric equipment. But in the end it comes down to.........who is behind the camera!'

I agree and appreciate the comment.

… This morning when I sat down to have my coffee, there was a grasshopper “stuck” upside down on the reverse side of the coffee table’s glass top. We have a lot of grasshoppers this time of year so I ignored it. But after a few minutes it moved just slightly and gave me the uncomfortable feeling that it was watching every movement I made while sipping on my coffee.

… And that reminded me that a few days ago I had posted an essay on my literary blog where I mention David Carradine’s nickname as “grasshopper” in the 1970s TV series  “Kung FU” ⁽²⁾ 

The synchronicity of the events seemed interesting so I put my 1970s Nikkor 55 mm macro lens on my F3 and took a picture. Soon after the grasshopper jumped away.

… When I printed the picture, I could not stop smiling. Here is why:

First, this is the full picture (with enough noise in it due to the desert dust to remind me it is time to wipe the glass top…)

As I looked at the less than technically good shot, I noticed a familiar face. Here it is:

And for those who are not spatially adroit, here is the cropped section.

Is there any doubt that this is a human face? This is the perfect face of a man wearing glasses and a Genghis Khan moustache. Plus, I can see him frowning at me given the arching of his eyebrows. And his nostrils – these would make any plastic surgeon jealous!

So, did I take a picture of a grasshopper or of a man? And while we are at it, isn’t it freaky? If I believed in extra-terrestrial daily presence among us, I would say the grasshopper is much, much more than an insect:

It is an alien vessel sent to observe and report how a half asleep man drinks coffee at sunrise!!!!

August 26, 2015

© Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2015

⁽¹⁾http://liveingray.blogspot.com/2015/08/young-bucks.html

⁽²⁾http://vahezen.blogspot.com/2015/08/if-you-cant-be-poet-be-poem.html

Young Bucks

On a recent hike into the high desert, I took my 1974 Vivitar Series One 70-210 mm lens with me. During its days it was a respected lens but today one can almost get it for free in the flea market. I still like to challenge myself using "prehistoric" cameras and lenses. And today my "streets" were the open spaces of Skull Valley, Arizona.

Walked for a couple of hours after sunrise. On these hikes I take a pot of coffee with me and sitting atop a rock I have my first cup of coffee while watching the sunrise. Lately I have been seeing young bucks, with velvet covered antlers and decided to take the heavy Nikon F3 and Vivitar lens setup with me.

I was not disappointed. Around 8 o'clock I saw three bucks in the flatlands about 300 meters away. All these pictures are taken at f8 aperture and 1/500 second. I slightly enlarged a couple to emphasize the scene.

This young one was the most curious. I whistled loudly and he stopped to look at me.

 Then he joined the other two, one of which was an older male. They were now more than 400 meters away and I knew the old lens was going to struggle with the quality of the picture.

This one made me smile when I printed it -- the second, older male seems to tell a story while the young one ahead of him was pulling his tongue out! What was the discussion all about?

Well, maybe this is what the older buck was informing the young one!!

 I was pleased that the 40+ years old lens was still capable of capturing little secrets from 400 meters away....

August 24, 2015

© Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2015

Prescott Arizona National Cowboy Shootout

It is a re-enactment of the old cowboy days and when Prescott was a famous mining and cowboy town. In fact it is difficult to not feel that cowboy attitude when walking around town. There is a proud “can do by myself” attitude I suppose a cowboy had to have facing life alone with his horse.

Or am I adopting a romanticized Hollywood stereotype of the cowboy days?

No matter, the re-enactment in late July was the 10^th annual Cowboy Shootout when actors wear authentic clothing and re-create moments from the good old dusty days!

There are many pictures of the shootout on the Web, yet I wanted to see if I can find that angle every photographer hopes for.

First, the ladies. As one has seen in cowboy movies, many women worked in the bars and Saloons. The attitude and clothing do represent these working women:

The next picture was a capture of shades and forms where B&W film excels. The shades on the woman's body are from her umbrella she was holding to protect herself from the high noon sun. And on that split second, these shades reminded me of a temporary tattooing. 

I wanted to capture a single frame where the old and new show a harmonious continuum. This was my attempt when I saw the program coordinator wearing a Walkie-Talkie (made in China?) next to his mother of pearl handle pistols.

How can there be a cowboy show without horses? But this one seemed more interested in shopping at a kiosk than staying in the scorching desert sun!  The lady passing behind the horse and the modern “Do Not Enter” sign give a distinct perspective.

Finally, a bit of movement and a departing shot. These boots did sound exquisitely memorable with the slow walking cadence of the cowboy.

August 3, 2015

© Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2015