Great Photographer and Great Aunt

Alvera Steinman March 24, 1922 - January 3, 2010

Great Aunt Alvera passed on from this world Sunday morning in St. Louis, Mo. She was 87. Alvera worked mostly as a wedding photographer with the camera that sits on her lap. This was of course long before I ever imagined shooting weddings myself. It was actually because of her, that I never wanted to be a wedding photographer.  She photographed my parents wedding delivering a total of eight prints developed in her downstairs darkroom. All posed with eyes painted in if she caught a blinker. Apparently she was pretty bossy with the camera and never quite understood my interest in photojournalism. Her darkroom was in her basement surrounded by mallard duck paintings from my Uncle Jim and many many jars of preserves.

I took this image with my mom's point and shoot on the day we were cleaning Alvera's house and moving her into a nursing home. It was the last time I sat with her and the only time we sat down with her cameras. She had given me a few tours of her darkroom while growing up and always offered to let me have her enlarger. And despite our differences in photography...we did have that as a common bond. I think because of that, I was able to understand a small portion of my great aunt that others were not able to.

Thanksgiving day, Alvera had her first experience with today's technology, Skype as my father passed the computer around the family table. Zeta and I were on the other end in California and the family was in St. Louis. We were placed down in front of her when a huge smile came upon her face. "Where are they?" she asked my mom seeming totally confused but also amused. Between my mom's voicelessness and Alvera's hard of hearing, the conversation was just an exchange of smiles.

My grandfather, Alvera's brother, passed away two years ago. And my remaining Great Uncle Harold, her other brother passed away in 2009. Alvera was the oldest.

A Shucking Good Time

Oyster shucking 101: Hog Island Oyster Company. 

1. "Gentle with the tip."

2. "What the shuck did you say?"

3. "Work the tip then open it."

4. "I'm wearing this for protection"

5. "Sometimes I swallow. Sometimes I chew."

6. "Wedge it open."

7. "Smell your fingers."

8. "Don't smell your fingers."

9. "Get your dirty dick skinners off my tools"

10. "Somebody's gonna git hurt and fall into a grill..."

RED WALL

Red Wall Party Invitation Photo Shoot.

Los Dias De Muertos

Sage filled the air cleansing the night as hundreds of participants dressed as the dead and paraded the streets of the Mission District in San Francisco. This was my first experience with Los Dias De Muertos and I'm now a firm believer that it is a needed and unifying celebration of life. Arriving right on time, we walked with the ghostly procession of drums towards the park where the altars were placed. There we found hundreds of candles burning, pictures and handwritten messages. Liz added her candles to a small collection. Families gathered and all who were there seemed to be celebrating the lives of a loved ones. It was beautiful and has become a celebration that I hope to add to my own traditions. Maybe someday I'll make it down to the big one.

Decompressed and Rejuved.

Getting around to past posts. I'm hopping around a bit, but it's all good. These are a few of my favorites from Decompression's "Heat the Street" fair in San Francisco. My return from Burning Man was filled with surprise after surprise which resulted in a much needed return to insanity to maintain sanity.

The day was freezing and lacking dust but was filled with color, costumes, beats and rejuvenation.

Awarding the Green

Last night I had the pleasure of photographing the Green Business Awards in the Veterans War Memorial Building across from San Francisco City Hall with Orange Photography. I was pleasantly surprised with how happy and gracious everyone was that we were there. And even better that Orange Photography was awarded for their greenery. The wall hanging plaques were framed from wooden palletts found from the streets of the city.

Businesses from pet hotels to clothing to furniture were awarded for earning their Green Credentials. Way to San Francisco!

mayhem raised again

Last night the few us left in the city and few more who came into the city, gathered at the Green Tortoise ballroom to celebrate the life of our friend who's life was cut short. In typical Tortoise style, we shared our stories about Toby and our times together in the uniqueness that was.. when we all lived together, worked together, cooked together, cleaned together, partied and made music together. Alot of 'remember whens'. The tribe that I think of so fondly when I think of that year came alive again for me last night. It's obvious to me now, that the story continues on.