by Peter J. Crowley on December 16, 2008
Well I have wandered around this train trip for months now sometimes chronologically and sometimes just wandering. Lately I have been at a loss for words. Those of you who know me may find that hard to believe. There will be more images from the journey perhaps some of the non people images intermingled with new images and re thinking thoughts that have been thought before.
August 17th we arrived in Olympia.
As I scanned this image today I noticed the Chicago sweatshirt. One of the first building blocks of the Amtrak community began in Chicago. Union Station a large food court I sat at a table and struck up a conversation with Rick. “Where you headed?” his reply Olympia “me too.” He said “I’m going to my brothers wedding on Sunday.” I said “I’m going to my daughters wedding on Sunday.” Long pause…………………………………….. Are we going to be related? No just a coincidence, just a beginning to the westward journey. Rick assisted on lighting of the top photo here holding the fill light as we bounced up into the Cascades.
enjoy pjc
Photographic Art Portraits in Studio
by Peter J. Crowley on December 13, 2008
Our waiter who was excellent in Flagstaff
Oak Creek Canyon provided some natural beauty in Sedona.
August 20th Rees met me at the station, a quick shower, a big breakfast and off to Oak Creek Canyon to photograph some of the local natural beauty. Did you really think there would be no models on this trip? The muse was alive and well in Arizona, not just Athena but Flagstaff was a lot like Brattleboro. A small creative town old buildings, values but mostly friendly people. My camera was busy from dawn till dusk.
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it!” Mark Twain, thanks Webster for directing me to Barack Obama June 30th speech.
Photographic Art
by Peter J. Crowley on December 8, 2008
HOW SPOT-ON IS THIS?
Quote of the Week
‘I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.’
Thomas Jefferson 1802
by Peter J. Crowley on December 6, 2008
My last great seatmate from Chicago to Albany an ex Marine from Maine
who I became fast friends with once we started talking.
He constructs Dioramas of Historical Battles that are in many
Museums and Military Colleges.
He plays some mean Beethoven when not eating pebbles from Mt Rushmore,
in search of a new President.
Still August Nineteenth arrived in LA with a four hour layover and too much baggage! Rees had suggested a couple photo ops near the station, which is just off Ceasar Chavez Ave. Old LA is a couple block walk but I was beat, got out the door and was hit with 90 degrees and turned back to the slightly cooler Union Station to sit and eat. Webster from Zimbabwe who I had met in Sacramento joined me for dinner and conversation. Webster was a true highlight of the stay in LA and we got to sit together and talk for a few hours at the station and a couple hours more on the train. He knew more about American Literature than I did having just received his Masters in Communications at The University of Oregon. We sat, talked politics I attempted to explain the Electoral College which is like trying to explain someone wanting to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Neither makes any sense! When I told him I was voting for Nader and my feelings that the two party system was really a choice of which set of Millionaires get to spend tax dollars on other millionairess. Take note this is pre the first bailout. Webster comments on how he hasn’t met anyone with my unique viewpoint and integrity to vote my conscience. Sadly it is late and I am getting off in Flagstaff around 5 am so I must go back to my seat and sleep. We have emailed a couple times since our all to brief meeting. I now know just how tired I was in LA for I remember taking his photo but when I look at the negs it seems I didn’t how sad. Next stop Flagstaff for 24 hours of shooting talking and seeking the highlight.
enjoy pjc
Prints for the People 5×7 prints will disappear today.
by Peter J. Crowley on December 5, 2008
A moment in the shade for the workers as ghosts from the past race round my mind.
In Albuquerque a cause to fight for bike paths less polution.
Well I’m back on the train and back to the 19th of August despite starting the last post with it being the 20th. The nineteenth was perhaps the longest day of the trip. Five fifty five am didn’t happen often on this trip. In Sacramento I met Webster a PHD student on his way to Univ. of New Mexico we sleep walked to are next leg and met again in LA. Over the course of the day I watched and time traveled through the Ca. farms. My mind drifted back to the 60s/70s and Ceasar Chavez organizing United Farm Workers Union, yes “the times they are a changing.” But rambling through those fields my mind drifted to those troubled decades, and how wonderful it was to have a cause, hell many causes. From Prague to The Sorbonne, to Columbia and Berkeley to the fields where the migrant farm workers toiled in the sun for sub [prime] standard wages and living conditions a solidarity sprouted and grew wild like a weed. One voice singing as a chorus, in Bethel NY Richie Havens wailed “Freedom Freedom” and 500,000 people sang along. [including me] In my long life so much has changed so fast, but in the life of the planet it has all been a blink of the eye. Let the planet survive “To every thing, turn, turn, turn,There is a season, turn, turn, turn, And a time to every purpose under heaven” [Book of Ecclesiastes/Pete Seeger] as sung by The Byrds and everyone listening, sing along the words are easy “Freedom Freedom” Then it was the Dawn of Aquarius. What is dawning today?
Make it Peace and Equality. enjoy pjc
Layers of Life
Layered Life
Linocut by Sarah Harford