SNAPPING RIGHT ALONG

I've been visiting Flickr quite a bit this past month or so, and, based on the searches I've done (places I've lived and worked, people I've known and know) I've concluded that Frank Zappa was absolutely right when he concluded:

"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice -- there are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."

The latter definitely is what's going on with me, as I Flickr my way to Casper, Wheat Ridge (and also Wheatridge), Rock Springs and Kingman.


As an occasional photographer who's lucky enough to actually get paid to take pictures, I've been blown away by the photos on Flickr. Not only are there plenty of images with decisive moments personal and otherwise, but there's also a lot of good news sense and technical skill there, as well.

Based on a recent article by Amy Gahran on the Poynter Institute website, I'm convinced that before long, a site like Flickr (or perhaps even Flickr itself) will become a clearinghouse for news photos as traditional journalism begins to embrace the concept of citizen journalists. There are plenty of people in the right place at the right time, and news organizations are finally going to tap this resource. And if they're smart, they'll pay for it.

But back to nostalgia...

During a recent trip to Wheat Ridge, I had hoped to do a lot of shooting, especially using a low-tech analog Holga camera. I especially wanted to get pictures of the Wheat Ridge and Maple Grove grange halls. However, at least I managed to grab a somewhat-artsy picture (above) of the famed "concrete cowboy" who's stood guard at the entrance to Rustic Ranch Mobile Home Park on Federal Boulevard for as long as I can remember. What's fun is to see how many other folks have taken pictures of the same view.

See photos I've put up on Flickr.

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