Ok, so here's my rundown of Saturday's events:
We met at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose (http://www.egyptianmuseum.org/). After a round of show-and-tell in the parking lot with prints, cameras and lenses and such, we headed over to the museum grounds for the first shots of the day. I discovered quickly I was carrying too much equipment, with my 6x7, MX, Auto110 and a backpack full of stuff, but couldn't decide what to leave behind. Everyone else seemed so much more comfortable than me. (;
Anyway. I don't think anyone bothered going into the museum, as the grounds were photogenic enough on their own, and they were free. Much chatting was had as we strolled around, snapping away with our various cameras. It was a lovely day, though the lack of any clouds made photography difficult at times.
For lunch we went to a very interesting Ethiopian restaurant a couple miles from the museum. The owner seemed to have a strange obsession with Mars (anyone remember the name of the place?). Food was very good, in my opinion. Some sort of meat sampler on this really cool spongy bread wrap thing (Godfrey ordered for everyone). I wish I could describe it better, because it was actually quite good. Nice conversation there, including interrogating yours truly about photo industry stuff I don't really know a whole lot about. Godfrey had to leave at this point, unfortunately.
Next stop was farther away: Kelley Park (http://www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/regionalparks/kp/kpindex.htm), where the Historical Park and Japanese Friendship Gardens are located.
The Historical park was very nice. Lots of mid- and late-1800s buildings restored and staffed with period-dressed people to educate visitors (and occasionally sell stuff). There was a working trolley, a working print shop, ice cream parlor, dentist's office, blacksmith, and lots more. It was something like a small Rennaissance Faire, but, um, a different time period, and more historical than hippies selling stuff. Not many people there that day, which made it easier to take pictures, but also made it feel like some sort of well-kept ghost town. The "OPEN" flags gently waving in front of some buildings seemed so lonesome, I went in some of them just to give the employees something to do. I got sidetracked by the guys in the print shop, who were not only talented printers (something I've done in the past), but were both into photography too.
By this time, sunset was only a couple hours away, so we headed over to the Japanese Friendship Garden. As far as Japanese gardens go, it wasn't as nice as San Francisco's, but it was much bigger. It was also where everyone else in town was; there were families everywhere. The risk of little children underfoot was always present, but at least most of 'em were cute and not troublemakers. The garden itself was very well kept, though I found it hard to find subjects I liked that weren't full of people, or too contrasty from the direct sunlight. Fortunately, there were plenty of PDML conversations to join in on. The whole day, really. Everyone seemed to get along very well.
As dusk approached, we decided it was time for dinner and caravanned to a chinese restaurant near where John Francis lives (which made it easier for him to go get his wife). More good food and good conversation. Marnie had to leave a little early, and missed out on her fortune cookie.
In the end, it was a great day of photography and friendship. Good food, good people, good photos.
Good night, (; John Celio
P.S.: I shot entirely on film, which should be developed tomorrow or the next day, but I'm curious where all the digital photos are. The majority of cameras at the gathering were digital. Anyone got some good ones to post?
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AIM: Neopifex
"Hey, I'm an artist. I can do whatever I want and pretend I'm making a statement."
