The Left Hand Slant

a pile of junk

2011-04-11T20:35:00.001-05:00

a pile of junk, a photo by Bowman! on Flickr.

3000 In 3:00

2011-04-02T21:57:00.000-05:00

My Pummelvision from ryan bowman on Vimeo.

3,000 photographs taken between 2008 and 2010 compressed into 3:00. Hold on.

monday is sooner than you think

2011-04-02T14:16:00.001-05:00

monday is sooner than you think, a photo by Bowman! on Flickr.

I have been shooting around with the new Ilford Polaroid film from www.theimpossibleproject.com

The weekend is never as long as w wished it would be.

ruins

2011-03-31T09:12:00.001-05:00

ruins, a photo by Bowman! on Flickr.

Hiking across central Arkansas in search of archaeological sites, I came across the ruins of an old historic settlement in an area called the Devil's Backbone. Much more ominous sounding than it actually was. I was able to make a couple photos while I was writing up site forms and sketching maps of the area.

The Oklahoma Art Guild National Show 3-18-11

2011-03-17T15:06:00.000-05:00

Friday night at the IAO Galery in downtown Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Art Guild (OAG) will be holding it's annual National Juried Show. Your's truly has a photograph amongst the collection. There will be free drinks, food and live music as well. If your in the city and you are free between 6-9 come on by and say hello.

Details here

Mandi G 6 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2011-02-26T19:42:00.000-06:00

Mandi G 6 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Odyssey

2010-12-28T11:33:00.000-06:00

Odyssey Opening Night Party

The Kiev 88

2010-10-12T08:29:00.003-05:00

kiev self
Originally uploaded by Bowman!

   The one thing I must constantly remind myself about shooting with film cameras is, that taking the photo is only part of the process. Making the photo, that is to say, actually developing in the dark-room and then once again to create a paper print, can be pain-staking. Last night I spent three hours on what ultimately amounted to two prints. Bad chemicals and dumb mistakes - mostly over-exposed film took their toll on my psyche and motivation.
   But like most things, after a bit of time to contemplate, you realize that the mistakes and the hiccups along the way help things later down the road - like signposts for bumps in the road.
   So basically what you are looking at over here is a test shot, or I guess a speed bump. It is the first shot taken, developed and printed using my new Kiev 88. New to me anyway. It is a medium-format (120) film camera make in the USSR sometime in the 1950-60's. Here is a link to the Camerapedia page for the Kiev 88.

Of the Plains

2010-09-26T14:59:00.001-05:00

Of the Plains
Originally uploaded by Bowman!

It has indeed been sometime since I was at work in the darkroom or blog and it feels mighty refreshing to be getting things done. I have recently posted a new batch of photographs made across Kansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Sad and lonesome places, mostly...

2010-01-06T10:21:00.000-06:00

Save 10 - The Lightbox Collection

Hot off the press! This work is a compilation of the Delete Me Uncensored (DMU) Flickr group. Props to Ivan for his hard work putting this thing together. Check it out! You know if you buy one photo book this year - make it this!

the hit

2009-11-08T15:56:00.001-06:00

the hit
Originally uploaded by Bowman!

Saturday the TKE alumni squared of against the undergraduates of UCO and OSU. As usual we alumni dominated the game. I took the Kodak Brownie out behind the plate to capture some of the game. I am pleased with how they turned out.

Zombies!

2009-10-28T21:48:00.001-05:00

Zombies!
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

Last weekend was the annual Ghouls Gone Wild Parade in Oklahoma City. If your thinking, "Oklahoma City... really?". Yes. Really. This is the third year and I think this thing is on the brink out getting massive. The gents from the Flaming Lips are behind the scenes so to speak. The event is packed with macabre parade floats, hordes of zombies and the now legendary march of 1000 skeletons.

I hiked over to the midtown traffic circle to join the throngs of people. With a bit of luck I was able to duck past the gate guards and post up with the guys shooting for the news channels. I was able to hang out in the middle of the route most of the night. How often to you get to shoot tons of people marching like something out of a George Romero film? If you live in Oklahoma CIty, it would seem at least once a year.

Happy Halloween everybody!

Lab 7 - The #1000 Image on Flickr!

2009-10-26T23:56:00.001-05:00

Lab 7 - The #1000 Image on Flickr!
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

1000 Uploads. Although, When I look through my stream, I think a few hundred didn't really need to be uploaded in the first place. Rather fortuitous circumstance that I happened to find a new camera today!

I came across a 1916 Kodak Brownie Model No.1 - I am still checking it all out. This is the first model of consumer camera ever made for the public at large. It introduced the snapshot to the world.

I shot a roll through the camera and with some adjustments I think it will be really fun to shoot with. I am so pleased to be able to shoot, develop and process film with a camera that is 93 years old and still functions like it did right out of the box.

Here is some more information about Kodak Brownie Cameras

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/features/brownieCam/

2009-10-26T09:15:00.000-05:00

Halloween is upon us again, and with it spooky costumes - which is hands down my favorite part. I spent some time at the Ghouls Gone Wild parade this weekend. I did not know that it was the nation's largest Halloween festivity. Who would have thought Oklahoma City would be the spot?

I am posting photo's to Flickr this week. I finished the film (of course) first and most of those are up to see. The digital shots will get worked on as i have time in the evenings.

Happy Muahahahonday!

Ghouls Gone Wild Set

a pasture of calves

2009-10-21T23:56:00.001-05:00

a pasture of calves
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

I don't know what my think with cows is lately. It would seem as though they are always getting in the frame. I just returned from Louisiana. These cows and the other photos I have uploaded to Flickr recently were all taken near Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. Have a gander.

How to take better Profile Pictures and Self-Portraits

2009-10-15T10:53:00.001-05:00

Okay, we have all seen those Facebook and MySpace self-portraits that are taken with one hand out or in a bathroom mirror or that just look plain bad. Well, in five steps I will show you how to take your photos from blah to badass, well maybe not badass but, certainly not bad. Let’s start at the top:

1. Be Creative. Let people see you. We have all seen these
photos where someone is trying to hide something about how thy look in real life. Don’t do it. Most likely your viewers you don’t look like that. Try taking a photo looking straight into the camera at eye level – full frontal as it were. Try a “profile” photo facing 90 degrees to the left or right of the camera at eye level. It’s okay to fill the frame too by all means mug it up for the camera, show us some personality! Just remember that these days –even with your profile set to private – this will be the photo everyone sees of you, so be choosy and make it a good one.

2. Choose your location. This sounds pretty simple right? Wrong! All too often people take a quick snap not realizing that they are sabotaging themselves inadvertently. See photobomb for examples of failed attempts. Take fice seconds to choose what will be in the background of your photo. Solid backgrounds or outdoor scenes are pretty easy to find. As a rule try to choose a background that is not too busy with color and distractions. You want the viewer to see you, not the copy of twilight on your nightstand.

3. Use a self-timer. Or, have a friend push the shutter button for you. The arms up looking down on yourself and the reflection in the bathroom window have been done over and over and at this point they just look tacky. Most cameras have a 10 to 30 second self-timer these days so set up the camera to do the work for you. If you are all alone and you are using a camera without a timer like, say a smart phone, make sure to keep those elbows out and the lens at eye level. Believe me that alone can make a big difference, you don’t want your photo to look like your cruising Craigslist casual encounters for a date at the truck stop. Seriously.

4. Edit your shots. These days there is no excuse for posting a shot full of red-eyes and
awkward colors with all the free resources available online. Services like Picnik and Photoshop Online and bighugelabs are totally free to use and easily correct problems and give you neat tools to enhance your photos before you post them to your social networking site. Besides these sites there are a whole range of free apps for smart phones that will edit your photos and post them to your site all in one flow.

5. KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid! Don’t overdo it. Most places on the web show rather low resolution photos so tons of detail will often just look like pixel noise. Keep yourself – the subject- the focus of the photograph.

That is a quick and dirty primer. I hope this helps out a bit. I doubt I have written anything here that you didn’t already know but, sometimes it’s good to hear someone else say what you have been thinking. Stick to these five steps and I can assure you that your photos will turn out better every time. So, go forth! Unleash your inner artist and make some good stuff!

If you have questions, comments or suggestions post them below. Good Luck!

cattle to the slaughter

2009-10-14T10:03:00.001-05:00

cattle to the slaughter
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

I made a trip to the panhandle of Texas this week. Just north of Borger I came across a huge cattle yard. I stopped in to ask permission to take a few photographs and let me just tell you the smell was amazing! (*coughs*) One of the nice folks working there told me that they can take up to 45,000 head of beef cattle there at any one time. That's a big operation - and if you live within the OK, TX, NM or CO area, you have probably eaten a hamburger or a steak that came out of this yard. Bon appetit!

Inside Best of Holga Blog this month...

2009-10-09T10:49:00.001-05:00

along an old country road
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

One of my photo's "along an old country road" made into Holga Blog this month (you can find a link on the right side of this page). I shot this somewhere near Pelican, Louisiana. I was hiking for an archaeological survey and crossed out from the forest just next to this old abandoned mail box. It was hot, muggy and snake infested but, it was worth it to get a nice shot.

it's evolution baby

2009-10-07T12:27:00.001-05:00

it's evolution baby
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

from ape to caveman to human to robot its all the same damn thing...

the crusader

2009-10-07T08:55:00.001-05:00

the crusader
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

trying to salvaga a ruined shot with some photoshop makey-upy. this week I am going to put together some short "How To" videos about basic black and white film shooting and development. Its about time to get back to the basics. Me thinks...

the cabin of the white witch

2009-10-04T02:53:00.001-05:00

the cabin of the white witch
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

lighted path to a dark doorway

2009-10-03T00:23:00.001-05:00

lighted path to a dark doorway, originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman.

Adams

2009-09-27T01:57:00.001-05:00

Adams
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

"He who has the zeal and ability to promote the public felicity let he be the servant of the public."

Samuel Adams

viewing

2009-09-26T14:07:00.001-05:00

viewing
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

I woke up early this morning. about 9:00 am. hey it's saturday. this is the view from my bedroom window. as i saw it while eating pancakes. that's how I roll...

the writting on the wall at city hall

2009-09-24T11:29:00.001-05:00

the writting on the wall at city hall
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

Wired

2009-09-23T08:48:00.001-05:00

Wired
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

Jimmy Hobbs

2009-09-22T23:18:00.001-05:00

Jimmy Hobbs
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

Pick up a copy for your coffee table or to level that old desk today!

2009-09-22T10:14:00.000-05:00

We Journey On ...

Photography of the...

By R. Doyle Bowman

Book Preview

prism wall

2009-09-21T21:45:00.001-05:00

prism wall
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

eternal arch at nine o'three am

2009-09-21T01:13:00.001-05:00

eternal arch at nine o'three am
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

in the forest of the forgoten land

2009-09-19T17:54:00.001-05:00

in the forest of the forgoten land
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

twins in the fog of the computer age

2009-09-19T00:58:00.003-05:00

twins in the fog of the computer age
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

In the computer age, the process developing film requires the artisanship of a nearly archaic way to convey information visually that is literally hand made and unique. To be able to go one step further, and digitize and transmit that visual image we must also posses the tools of modern technology in a way that can be immediate.

What a strange and marvelous place to be as a photographer. To be able to step into the past and the future at the same moment.

It's time to get metaphysical my people.

Clustershot - Stock Photography

2009-09-04T22:04:00.004-05:00

I have created a profile with Clustershot. Clustershot is a stock photography web supplier that caters towards the photographer with some very competitive payouts, ease of use setup and access to images. It can even upload straight from Flickr which is pretty awesome.

Check it out here

Street Dreams 2

2009-08-26T14:39:00.001-05:00

Street Dreams 2
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

DMU Mag Issue #1 Hot Off The Press!

2009-08-11T16:12:00.002-05:00

I have been part of the Flickr community for a few years now. over the past several months I have become a part of what some might consider a splinter group, others might consider the reason for posting photos to Flickr. DMU Delete Me Uncensored is a group comprised of photographers from all over the world. many of them are very talented and a few of these folks have taken it upon themselves to make the move from the internet to print media with the publication of the DMU Magazine.

Follow the link below to the original posting:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanomak/3812008486/

Great photography from a group of great photographers. Pick up a copy for yourself and forward the link to your friends.

Skywalkers

2009-07-02T09:54:00.001-05:00

Skywalkers
Originally uploaded by R. Doyle Bowman

Becoming and Going

2009-06-15T10:35:00.002-05:00

Becoming and Going
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

There is a strong argument to be made that technology has placed more of the power of photography in the hand of ordinary people in more numbers than ever before. With digital point and shoot, especially the DLSR's and the ever multplying swarms of web cams and cell phone camera, you would be right to think that there are more options than ever when it comes to snapping a photo - at any time and in any place.

We are all able to race around posting photos to our Myspace's and Facebook's, to out Picasa's and Flickr's, digitally dragging and dropping our lives out onto the internet, have we really changed the way people take photographs?

Quite a lot of people would argue yes, I would suspect. In fact most of the serious amateurs and professional photographers that I encounter shoot with expensive DSLR cameras with loads of money invested into lenses computers, software etc. The bar for entry is rather high when it comes to costs, but once in a large DLSR allows you to shoot anywhere, anytime with as many images as you can shoot. Imagine you have a maching gun that allows you to shoot everything and with any luck you will hit your target. That is the essential philosphy for most DLSR photographers today, shoot, shoot and shoot. Couple this with technology and you are able to generate an enormous volume of images and communicate them with a large audinence via the internet.

Now to be clear, I am not arguing against "machine gun" photography, for photojournalism and documentary photography it is essential. What I would like to talk about is a simple, exacting approach to photography. The greats, Steiglitz, Adams and Weston all used medium and large format film cameras that seem archaic today. While the technology has sped forward in recent years, the need for an exacting philosophy has not. The key to all great art is "visualization". As a photographer, a painter, an engineer, or almost any other creative endeavor the ability to pre-visualize the photograph is essential. To paraphrase Ansel Adams, the goal is to bridge the gap between the desired image, and the skills you have to make it. With a few slective shots, take what is in the mind's eye of the photographer and make that image exist in the world.

This approach is rather different from that of shooting and shooting, in hopes that the camera will capture the image for you. So what does all this have to do with Lo-Fi and Sci-Fi. Well, hold on casue I was just about to get to that. If we compare say the Sony Alpha 900 DSLR with is 20+ megapixels and interchangable lenses, lighting and image quality, versus the Holga 120N Plastic camera with a fixed shutter and a near static 60mm lens, that shoots through a cheap piece of plastic onto a medium format film that you won't see until you develop the negative, we see that these are two distict tools used for achiving the same goal. That goal is to bring what you see in the world into reality for others. One is a sleek, powerful and futuristic instrument, the other is a weak and awkward.

Both tools achieve the goal, and in a world where everything is at our fingertips, on demand at the push of a button it can be liberating to lose control just for a little while. While at the same time controlling the direction we take artistically. It seems that these days many of us become so caught up in the megapixels and the color noise and myriad other thousands of ways to screw up a photo that we forget that it is okay to screw up on purpose, to let the mistake be part of the final image, to let coincidence play a role in the life of our photos.

The Launch Continues...

2009-06-08T09:27:00.001-05:00

Launch
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

I am crossing my fingers that our camera has landed without injuring anyone. With the first balloon off i spent the weekend working on the logistics and cost of the project, from biodegradable balloons, reentry parachutes and camera types, there are more variables than constants which makes this all the more interesting and challenging. Later this week i will post photos from the construction process of the individual "packages" before they are launched into the sky.

Lets just hope some of these camera make they're way back to us...

The Launch

2009-06-05T15:47:00.001-05:00

The Launch
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Today we launched a test balloon to see if this crazy idea I cooked up would actually work. We took a 36" latex balloon filled with helium and tethered a disposable Kodak 27 frame 35mm camera to it. The hope is that a random person will find it, make some photographs and mail the camera back to me.

If this works, well it sorta has already because the balloon flew off, but if it works my hope is to loft 100 balloons with 100 cameras. Once those cameras make they're way back to me I will process them and compile the images into one large photobook. I am hoping that I can sell the book with the full proceeds going to a good charity.

Crossing my fingers, the balloon with be on the ground somewhere in North America by Tuesday.

Wish me luck!

Teach a Man to Fish

2009-05-29T20:03:00.001-05:00

Teach a Man to Fish
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Four rolls of film fresh from the darkroom. I will admit that I really screwed up the first roll of infared and at eight bucks a roll that no cheap screw up. That said i am really happy with how some of these turned out.

Julius Shulman Exhibit

2009-05-26T11:13:00.002-05:00

Case Study House #20, photographed by Julius Shulman
Originally uploaded by ouno design

An exhibit of the work of photographer Julius Shulman is now open at the Oklahoma City Musuem of Art. The exhibit focuses on Shulman's post modern approach to photography as seen in his work in Oklahoma. If you are in the Oklahoma City area I highly recommend checking this out. Thursday nights are great, you can tour the gallery and have cocktails on the roof from 5-9 pm, the prices are pretty cheap, $5 to get in and schmooze. Also the sense of self satisfaction and arty pretentiousness are absolutely free.

For more about the work of Juius Shulman see ...

The Archaeologist

2009-05-12T10:16:00.001-05:00

The Archaeologist
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Here are a few more frames of the black and white film I shot with my Holga this past week while hiking through the Piney Woods of Loiusiana.

Also, in a bit of pat myself of the back news, some of my work was chosen for Holga Blog, a photography magazine. Good stuff, some of the work featured there is pretty awesome

http://www.holgablog.com/

More Holga Goodness

2009-05-11T09:42:00.001-05:00

Sams Town
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

I have been developing rolls over the weekend and will be posting a ton of photos this week.

Mechanized Assault

2009-05-04T09:12:00.001-05:00

Mechanized Assault
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

This weekend I shot at the 45th Infantry Division Museum in Oklahoma CIty. In addition to the static displays of vehicles and aircraft, the museum has a wide range of exhibits chronicaling the history of the 45th from WWI through to today. I have created a set on flickr. I plan on writing a photo essay with some of the images later in the week.

B and J

2009-04-27T13:39:00.001-05:00

B and J
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Blogging this so Brian can come download these photos for himself...get at em.

Jerry

2009-04-27T09:02:00.001-05:00

Jerry
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

I met Jerry this weekend downtown. He said he was from Kansas City and he came down to Oklahoma City on a one way ticket. He said he had been on the street for a couple of weeks now. I asked if I could take his photo, offered him a couple bucks and a couple of smokes. I pointed him in the direction of the Jesus House which is an outreach shelter downtown.

Holglorious!

2009-04-23T11:22:00.001-05:00

What Is Beneath
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Well I just developed my first roll from the Holga 120 I picked up last week. I have to say that I was disappointed with the Epperson photo development team. I think I will be sending future rolls to a better processing lab.

Anyways, I have made a new set titled "Holga" on Flickr and I will be updating the set as I get film back. The first shots are from Louisiana. I am really liking this little camera, i don't want to even come close to my DSLR right now. Film is back bitches!

City Below the Sky

2009-04-14T11:07:00.001-05:00

City Below the Sky
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Abstract II B

2009-04-11T18:02:00.001-05:00

Abstract II B
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

The Oklahoma City Memorial

2009-04-11T14:44:00.001-05:00

OKC Memorial
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Wandering downtown this weekend, I stopped at the memorial to make some photographs. This is the second time I visited the memorial. The sun was out, the wind was calm and it make for a great afternoon to shoot. I focused much of my attention on the chain link fence that is on the west side of the property. Such great architecture I have created two sets on Flickr. One is photographs of the memorial and the fence. The second set is abstracts many taken from the architectural elements at the memorial.
Memorial
Abstracts

American Zen

2009-04-01T11:49:00.001-05:00

American Zen
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Ohhhh....

Opening day 2009 is so close.

Visit Archaeographica!

2009-03-30T13:51:00.001-05:00

I am working on a personal project merging historical photographs, lithographs and postcards with contemporary digital images. I am about half way through the material I outlined for the project a couple of weeks ago. I have made several posts at a new and separate photoblog called Archaeographica.

Check it out and spend some time looking at some unique images that bring the intersection of the past and present together. Larger sizes can also be found on my Flickr stream with this Archaeographica set.

Big Okc Panorama

2009-03-26T08:45:00.002-05:00

Big Okc Panorama
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

I had a chance to sneak on to the roof of a parking garage last night. On top of that the weather held off and the wind was less than it's usual annoying drone. I didn't want to try and cram my tripod into my backback, so I shot this, or rather this series of 12 images that I later stiched and merged together, handheld sans tripod.

I am really happy with the way this turned out. Although, I think Okc looks better when viewing the skyline from the west. This shot is facing east by the way.

In order to view the panorama, in its original size, click on the image and follow it to Flickr where you can click "view the original" It is a rather large and detailed image, but the details make it all worth it.

On a seperate note, I have a new site, Archaeographica, dedicated to striclty to posts and updates on a portfolio of images I was working to build. You may find it interesting. You can also sign up for RSS feeds and posts.

Cheers!

Maywood Archaeographic

2009-03-22T16:10:00.001-05:00

Maywood Archaeographic
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

I have been working on a concept for a photo portfolio I call "Archaeographica" As an archeologist and a serious amateur photographer, I have been looking for a way to combine my interests in a visual way. The approach I have decided to take, combines historical photographic prints with contemporary digital images to create a document that expresses the past and the present of a place at the same time.

These are the first in what I hope will be a large series of photographs dealing with the collision of the now and the historical...

Downtown Longing

2009-03-20T08:24:00.001-05:00

Downtown Longing
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Now that I live in the gritty middle of downtown, I figure it is time to start making some photographs of the city and the cogs that make it run. I am finding that living in the city can be quite different from the suburbs. The scale of places and even people is so much larger and present many more challenges than i had first thought.

I initally likes the composition of this photograph as I was sorting my way through a bunch that I shot this week. At first I thought it was good, but the photograph didn't really say anything. I noticed all the windows, how so many are dark, just a few are lit up. Then I thought, "what if people were in those windows, starring out at each other over the great expanse and darkness of the city?"

In the end, I think it speaks to the same feelings I had when I first moved downtown, that I was, and we all are, longing for something.

iPhone OS 3.oh!

2009-03-18T16:26:00.004-05:00

Here are some highlights from the Apple iPhone 3.0 software upgrade I found today (thanks to Gizmodo)

• Copy & Paste photos. You can also copy and paste photos. Now you will be able to select multiple photos by tapping the action button, copy some of them, and paste them in an email, ready to send.

• New Spotlight. iPhone OS 3.0 will allow you to search across the entire information contained in your device, no matter where, as soon as the information is supported it. If an application is written to support the new Spotlight, its data will also be available in the search.

• Search in Mail, Calendar, and iPod. These Apple applications have specific search interfaces. The search in Mail doesn't support the message content yet, but it supports searching in IMAP servers—that will save a lot of time logging into Gmail.

• 3G Tethering. (My personal favorite) This feature will allow you to connect your iPhone 3G to a laptop, to use it as a modem to access the internet. Carriers still have to sign-off on it, and probably charge more for it. None have announced it yet.

• Multimedia messaging. A big one to send rich content to people without mail-enabled telephones: The new MMS function will allow you to include everything, from images to sound to vcards (no word on video, however.) Personally, I find these usesless having email, but some people seem to want it.

• Shake to shuffle music. If you are in your iPod application, you just need to shake it to start the shuffling mode. Hopefully this will be optional for sports people out there.• Turn-by-turn directions. Developers will also be able to create turn-by-turn applications using the GPS information from the iPhone and combining it with their own maps, without depending on 3G connectivity or Google.

*iPhone OS 3.0 will be a free upgrade to all iPhone users, including the first generation (not all features will be supported in the first generation, like Stereo Bluetooth support). iPod touch users will be able to but it for $US 9.95.

-see the original post here

Walter Reed Collection

2009-03-18T14:46:00.001-05:00

Reeve39336
Originally uploaded by otisarchives1

A new collection of photographs from Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital has been added to Flickr. There are some terrific photographs in this collection, as well as more than a few to make you remember what goes on there, good, bad or indifferent.

Bender

2009-03-18T08:51:00.001-05:00

Bender
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

enough said...

Brian you are probably the only one reading this. Thanks by the way. You are right I need to quit swinging yard on the first pitch and wait for the right pitch.

I also like robots and paintings of them.

A Simple Self Portrait

2009-03-17T16:56:00.001-05:00

A Simple Self Portrait
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Since I have been struggling to update the layout and template for this blog, I thought i might go ahead and blog a new photograph of your humble narrarator and host, namely myself.

More to Follow...

This is a test...

Walk Diggy

2009-03-09T09:04:00.001-05:00

Walk Diggy
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Trademark Twitch Photo Shoot 02/27/09

I am uploading photo sets as I finish them this week, hoping to ahve everything done by friday. It was really cold the day we shot all these, which forced us into this tunnel. It was much warmer, and I am really happy with the way these turned out. Enjoy!

Inside an Analog Print Shop

2009-02-16T08:50:00.001-06:00

The Print Shop
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Just a few photos from inside a print shop.

The Left Coast

2009-01-10T18:59:00.001-06:00

Mr. Meatwad Esq.
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Photo's from a recent trip to Los Angeles for the New Year.

Landscape Book On Sale Now!

2009-01-10T17:33:00.001-06:00

We Journey On ...

Photography of the ...

By R. Doyle Bowman

Book Preview

The Wreck of the S.S. Minnow

2008-12-22T13:59:00.001-06:00

The Wreck of the S.S. Minnow
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Photographs from a wreck of a creek in Texas

Tabletown Christmas

2008-12-08T22:39:00.001-06:00

Tabletown Christmas
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

My mother's obsession with holiday figurines has reached a new high this year. I just had to photograph the little town she has constructed in my parents dining room.

Happy Holidays!

We Journey On To Setting Sun: Now Available!

2008-11-25T17:11:00.002-06:00

We Journey On ...

Photography of the ...

By R. Doyle Bowman

Book Preview

The Arnold Family Reception

2008-11-23T20:57:00.001-06:00

Reception Cover
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Photographed at the Will Rogers Theatre on November 15th, 2008.
Click Here For The Slideshow

In order to download or print a photograph you will need to sign-up with
Flickr It is free and if you have a yahoo mail account you are already a member.

Thanks to Mr and Mrs Arnold, and the new bride and groom for inviting me to photograph the event. Best of luck to all!

Obama November 4th 2008 - Revisited

2008-11-06T13:01:00.001-06:00

Obama November 4th 2008
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Using Photoshop Express to edit on the fly, i am updating the images i posted from the DNC party on Election night. You find them on flickr.com. You can find Photoshop express at Photoshop.com

Obama November 4th 2008

2008-11-05T00:58:00.001-06:00

Obama November 4th 2008
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Last night I attended the DNC watch party at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. I posted a set of rough images to flickr. It was an experience. Enjoy the photographs!

The Day It Rained On Our Lunch

2008-09-08T10:55:00.001-05:00

The Day It Rained On Our Lunch
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

With all this new of Sarah Palin becoming the VP nominee from Alaska, I started thinking about my own time in the Great White North. Follow the flickr link to view a small collection of portraits from Alaska.

Indiana Bones

2008-09-04T15:52:00.001-05:00

Indiana Bones
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Well, to everyone who reads this blog on a regular basis, namely, Mom, homeless guys on free library computers, etc. I apologize for the absence of blog posts in the past couple of weeks.

I started a new job at a company that you could Google, but you won't. It is the corporate life for me now alright. I have a desk, an office and a leather-bound binder so you know its serious.

Unfortunately, it has left little time for photography, I hope that will change as I settle into my new routine. I do have some exciting projects on the horizon, so stay tuned.

Cheers and Slainte'

Photograph to appear on Nowpublic and Social News

2008-08-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

"Exit the Desert", a photograph I uploaded to Flickr last week. It has been picked up by a writer at NowPublic and will be included in a slideshow along with an article about the desertification of many areas of the world. You can read the story and view the photographs here. This invitation got me thinking about a lot of things, the least of which the dangers of climate change and the diversification of the media on the internet and other non-traditional sources.
But, most importantly it made me think about how we participate in social actions of the internet. The photograph of mine which was selected is not a particularly special photograph but, it contains an idea that is quickly conveyed to the reader. The quick exchange of ideas and symbols is really what the internet and social news is about. The Mars Phoenix Lander twitters from another planet. In LA text messages send on Twitter warn first of impending earthquakes. The way we make news and get news is changing. I think in many ways this is a good thing. It is an example of the occasional wisdom of the commons. It often does not. But, it only works if we all contribute. Now is the time to do so.

Enter The Desert

2008-08-03T21:26:00.001-05:00

Enter The Desert
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Apologies for the delays in posting the past week. I know all of you were desperately awaiting a new blog post (cough). This photograph was made at Little Sahara State Park near Wynoka, Oklahoma. I was lucky enough to have a survey job out in that part of the world over the weekend. While I was out, I shot a few panoramic images which I will post on the Flickr page. Also, for those interested, I have assembled a Flickr set of viewer voted favorite landscapes. Have a great week!

A View at the Top of the World

2008-07-25T18:52:00.001-05:00

A Motorcycle
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Doing More With Your Photos: An Overview of Photoshop Express

2008-07-10T23:10:00.000-05:00

These days it seems that almost everyone has some form of online presence. Even my dog has a Facebook account! And it also seems like social networking sites are clogged with galleries full of images clogged with really bad pictures. Photo manipulation and management programs like Adobe Lightroom or Apple Aperture are expensive and often overwhelming for the average person who wants to make basic adjustments to their images. This is where Adobe Express steps into to save the day. A few weeks ago Adobe announced Photoshop Express as an online solution for managing and editing photographs.

Want to crop an image or simply adjust the contrast and balance? No problem. The basic service is free and allows the user to upload images from a computer of import and manage their images from a number of online sources such as Facebook or Flickr as well as a handful of other sources. In addition to basic editing tools Adobe has included some interesting functions such as "pop color" "sketch" and "distort".

The interface looks really slick and the uploading images creating albums and editing is a breeze. Once you are done you can email your images or add them to your online sites with just a few clicks. The best thing is nothing is downloaded to you computer. Everything is stored online, allowing the most basic of lolspeakers the ability to manage their images in a creative and effective manner. I highly recommend PX for anyone looking to do more with their photos.

Bad Windows

2008-07-09T20:39:00.001-05:00

bad windows
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

In preparation for the iphone 3G release this week, I made a point to shoot with my iPhone this week. Admittedly the on board camera is underpowered and "finicky" to put it kindly. Reading through Walt Mossberg's review of the new incarnation, I couldn't help but be bummed by the lack of any upgrade to the camera. 2mpx was fine in 1998 but 2008? iPhone users march on despite this crime. I use the device to scout locations and make notes on ideas for future shoots. Many people use there iPhone in creative and imaginative ways. To see more go here. As a side note,we will be lining up at the Apple store in OKC for the launch of the 3G on July 11th. Yes, I am a geek.

For My Mom

2008-07-07T15:04:00.001-05:00

Today is my Mother's Birthday. I won't say how old she is because it might upset her to share that kind of information with the world. However, I did want to share a photograph. This lil' candid portrait was taken over the past weekend. Mt Mom is doting on my Dad riding his new lawnmower.

She may think she look old or bad in this image. Not me, I think she is beautiful and grows graceful with her years. She always is there to help with a right words, even if I don't want to hear them. Always there with something to eat. So, thanks Mom! And have a wonderful birthday!

July! July!

2008-07-05T14:10:00.001-05:00

The 4th
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Ah the 4th of July. Fireworks, cold beer and karaoke! Well to be honest I have my doubts about that last one. Here is an image of last nights display from Bricktown in Oklahoma City. The view is from the Agnew bridge crossing the Oklahoma (South Canadian) River.

The Rail Yard

2008-07-02T23:46:00.001-05:00

The Rail Yard
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

Another attempt at Panorama. I drive by these piles of old railroad ties on my way to work occasionally. I plan to go back for more shots, but after I took this image a security truck drove by and took a strange look at me. These days photography seems like a crime to some people!
This is Moore, Oklahoma. It is my home town. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad runs right through the middle of town and most times the trains can't be avoided if you are trying to cross 12th street. You have been warned!

About a Pair of Boots

2008-06-27T20:19:00.000-05:00

At a Fred Meyer Supermarket in Wasilla, Alaska I bought a pair of Nike ACG hiking boots for about fifty dollars. They were to be hold overs just until I finished the summer season working for the Bureau of Land Management in Glennallen. They were brown, lightweight, a half-size too small but, most importantly they were cheap. This was May, 2002. I returned from Alaska that fall and began graduates school. I worked part-time as a field archaeologist for a local firm. I was broke, living in a one room apartment in a split level yellow house near the railroad tracks. It was the best I could afford. Needless to say that as I spent that school year trudging through dank creeks and buggy drainages of southern Oklahoma, the furthest consideration from my mind or my pocketbook was boots. The pair I had worked just fine and although they were frequently wet, impaled by branches or covered in red clay mud that would harden to a ceramic like shell, they held up.
Over the next five years they were my go-to boot. They had trekked the sands of the Sonora and the Mojave. Hopped over boulders and ravines in the Rockies and Ozarks. They had touched the shores of the Pacific, the Sea of California and the Gulf of Mexico. All these places and many more were logged as miles in my boots. Yet, I never thought about them because they were rugged and reliable.
Then one day last year, I noticed a split in sole. Then a few cracks in the heel and toe. I patched them as well as I could. Over the past couple of weeks they had become shadows of their former selves. The "shoe-goo" was drying and cracking. The laces were frayed and split. A hole peeked through the sole to the insole above. I was sad. I felt like they were not boots anymore at all but more like an old companion, a dog perhaps, who had reached the end of its time. I kept wearing the boots until last weekend, when the sole all but separated when I was crossing a rocky stream. I cursed the boots. They had left me nearly a mile or more away from my car, with thicket and scrub to cross on the way. I hobbled and "flip-flopped" my way out of the bush. I decided it was time to put the old boots out of their misery and buy a new pair.
I spent a bit of time this week looking at boots on the internet. Boots with Vibram soles. Boots with Gore-Tex. Boots with Oil proof bottoms and scratch proof uppers. I didn't want a new boot, I wanted my old boots to be new. I looked on the Nike website, but they no longer make the boot or a variant there of. "It should not be this big of a deal" I said to myself. Resigned to the fact that I was slated to go into the field my Saturday, and I needed a replacement pair, I bought the bullet. I went to the mall (a nightmare of a mall to be sure) and bought the lightest, roughest and perhaps ugliest pair of boots I could find.
Will they stand the test of time? Will then end up getting sent back to the store in search of a refund? Only time can tell.
As for my old pair, the Nike ACG's, they get a place in the gear loft next to the tents and backpacks.

The Oilfield

2008-06-23T22:51:00.001-05:00

The Oilfield
Originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman

This is a Panorama stitching of several images I took over the weekend just north of Hominy, Oklahoma. It is just what it says it is: An Oilfield. It seems I spend a large portion of my weekend hiking through these places. At any rate, I had the good fortune to stay at the Hotel Phillips in Bartlesville this weekend. In the lobby there are a series of photographs of the town in its infancy which inspired me to create some "olden times" pictures, complete with sepia-tone and dodged lettering.
This was my first time to experiment with photo-merge in Photoshop. You can click on the image to go directly to the flickr post and see the original image. Just a note of caution, it is extremely large. I am happy with the way this turned out, although there is room for some tweaking. I hope you enjoy the image as much as I do.

At The Drive-In

2008-06-18T00:28:00.000-05:00

A Change of Names..

2008-06-17T23:17:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. As you might notice, the blog has a new name. I am excited about it, and I have to give the credit to Micah Dabbs for the suggestion. It came to her in a moment of clarity or boredom or maybe just both. At any rate, I am left handed, she is left handed and a large number of the people in the "art" department that I work in during the week are as well. We often talk about how left handed people are "discriminated" against. The desks, notebooks, ATMs, cars etc. that are stacked against us.

You might say, "Yeah, So what? And what the hell does the left hand slant mean?" If your saying so what, chances are you are right handed and you have no idea how easy you have it. The "left hand slant" refers to a way of writing: with a slant. It also refers, in a metaphorical sense to a way of thinking. I often realize the things I photograph and write about are slightly odd or unusual. I ascribe this to my left-handedness and the way the screws in my brain turn.

So consider it a philosophy, a style, a school of thought or what have you. You can learn more about left handedness here. If you want to know more about famous lefty's check here. Thats all for now, I hope my righty readers can look past my "affliction" and still continue to read this blog. Remember you can always post comments, link to this blog or even subsribe to this blog with feedburner at the top right of the page.

The Projector

2008-06-16T23:06:00.001-05:00

The Projector, originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman.

Last week I was lucky enough to go "behind the scenes" at the Winchester Drive-In down in Oklahoma City. My thanks to Jon Johns for all the access. I posted a new set to flickr entitled "At the Drive-In" that you can check out. If you live in OKC or the metro, I would really suggest checking this place out if you want to have a old-fashioned fun time at the movies. These places are few and far between these days and are fading from our history all too fast.

They Lied?

2008-06-15T22:33:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weekends I have been doing a bit of archaeology in Osage County, Oklahoma. I have been driving back to Oklahoma City most evenings, and on my return trip I have driving past a group of well, odd or maybe even disturbing signs posted on the side of the highway. The sign pictured in this photograph says, " They lied, a frame up. They killed our cattle- tortured them on purpose to force us to move out.".

There are several more signs and I will post more on my flickr page as I edit them this week. I did a bit or research and found this page which gives some opinion on how these signs came to be. From what I have found, the land owners were involved in some imbroglio with the local sheriff and at some point a woman was murdered. Supposedly, these signs were posted as a protest of sorts.

I have to add that I felt a little odd stopping on the side of the road to make some photographs, even felt like I should not be there. On the other hand, whoever placed the signs wanted them seem and wanted the message pasted on, so what the hell. Now usually I would try to add some life affirming message to place all of this in context, but I will leave that to you.

The Dog Versus The Gypsy

2008-06-15T21:05:00.000-05:00

Hypothetical thought-experiment

DO NOT ATTEMPT IN REAL LIFE!

Your dog and a gypsy/vagrant/homeless person (whatever term you like) were in a river, quickly being pulled towards the brink of a waterfall with jagged death-inducing rocks below. You stand on the bank of that river with a magical life preserver on a rope. Whomever you choose to throw the device at will me miraculously saved. The other will plummet to their death. WHO DO YOU SAVE?

Keep these things in mind as you way your decision. The gypsy has no family, no responsibilities , save those to drink and perhaps rummage through the trash in search of "treasures". Also, your dog loves you and would jump in after you, maybe.

If you don't have a dog or are, in point of fact a gypsy/hobo, then replace that with a loved family member.

So, I ask again ( in all caps to intimate yelling) WHO DO YOU SAVE?

I asked this question over the weekend to about 10 people. Only some of them were drunk but, with the exception of two people, and one of them later changed their answer , they chose the dog, Surprising? Shocking? Or exactly what you would do?

Honestly, I answered that I would save my dog. Here's why and I think this is why others would as well.

You see, I know my dog. I have raised him since he was six-weeks old. He depends on me and I have depended on him. Beyond that, he is a part of my life and my memories. It is not that he is more worthy than another human being, it is that losing him would be like losing part of me or a part of you.

Now to be fair lets reverse the situation. One person did say they would save the gypsy and the answer was "its just a dog!" True enough. I can understand their logic. Consider that if that dog was now your mother or wife or what-have you, what would you do? Save the loved one right? And probably for the same types of reasons. Human life is sacred, but some life is more sacred than others. We protect what is important to us. It is in our nature to do so.

For the record, I do not advocate the wanton disregard of life be it human, animal or otherwise. I was actually surprised to hear some many votes for the dog side of the tally. Perhaps, at least here in the US we consider our pets to be like family, almost human in fact. If I were in the situation I would toss the magic preserver to my dog, Culin. Then, he would save the gypsy from the brink at the last second, grabbing his shirt sleeve with his teeth, giving a calming "Woof!" before I would pull them both in. That is just the kind of dog he is.

You can do both by going here SAVE DOG CHAPMAN!

(for the lolz)

Jacob's Cabin Redux

2008-06-11T00:21:00.001-05:00

Jacob's Cabin Redux, originally uploaded by R Doyle Bowman.

I found this cabin deep in the Chugach mountains of south-central alaska a few years ago. After having watched this last season of Lost, I couldn't help but think of the place. It was very creepy on the inside. It looked as though the prospectors who lived there just picked up and left one afternoon, leaving everything as though they were going to be gone a few hours, not forever. I edited the image in Photomatix Pro, which is great for creating HDR images. I am still getting the hang of it but, I am pleased with the contrast and color in this particular photograph.

Gap Scrap

2008-06-10T12:57:00.001-05:00

So, I bought at new pair of chinos the other day, which in and of itself is nothing of consequence or even remotely interesting. As I slip the pants on in my hotel, and yes I did not wash them first, which is kinda gross but whatever. So, as I put in the pants, I reach in the pockets and find a scrap of paper. Scribbled on it is some sort of Far Eastern language. Is it Thai or Pakistani or Malaysian? I have no idea.

Maybe it says "inspected by #3" or size 34 or something plain and typical like that. Perhaps it says, "Fuck you! And Fuck your $40 pants!" or "I hate this job!". Maybe it says, "Hey there enjoy your pants!" One can only guess at these sort of things. It is strange though, finding a slip of paper written by someone you have never met, and probably never will meet, in a pair of chinos. Sort of like a message in a bottle I suppose.

OIL! or "I Drink Your Milkshake!"

2008-06-08T23:57:00.000-05:00

The US produces 5 million barrels of oil per day. By God! That is a lot of oil to be sure! The thing is we consume over 20 million barrels a day. Just a bit more than 58% of our oil comes from imports and we are the #1 importing nation on the planet. Now, I am not standing on platitudes, arguing that we should or should not. I am presenting the facts. Only because I am interested and in a previous post I questioned the nature of gasoline use in our nation. I can't think of any way to change in other than to stop using so much oil. That is easier said than done considering the nature of our dispersed cities and the need to commute to work and the need to travel just about anywhere for getting just about anything done.

I made this long-form photograph or short-film because I happened to be near an oil well and had been thinking so very much about all things oil of late. If nothing at all take a second to watch the one-minute piece and think about how much oil you use. What can be done do decrease our need? What can each of us do? Comments on the blog are always welcome. At least you don't have to drive anywhere to read this!

A Lesson From The Old School

2008-06-08T22:28:00.001-05:00

This weekend I traveled to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The city is home to the Phillips Petroleum Company (Conoco Phillips). I was fortunate enough to stay at the Hotel Phillips and a room with a view of the Price Tower built by the eminent architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. I recommend visiting both if you are ever in this part of the world.

One of my good friends, Mike grew up in Bartlesville and happened to be in town the same night as me. We checked out Sunfest 2008, a live music festival which was pretty lame, but I was in the mood for fair food after having been on the road for several hours, so it was alright by me. After we had enough of the angst filled live music; bands that seemed to be angry about having nothing to be angry about, or some other avante-guard-nuevo-gauche philosophy, we left.

We visited a couple of local bars, and only a couple because there are, in point of fact, two bars in all of Bartlesville. That seems odd to me considering the blue-collar ethic of the place. After plying our whiskeys and rums we searched in vain for an all night diner. We settled for Taco Bell instead, haven't we all?

Mike said we should go to the "secret spot" but, warned me it would involve some hiking. We did not hike. We climbed. Up a tree and over to the roof of his old elementary school. To be honest, I was too inebriated to climb the sodding tree and instead I was lofted on to a rain gutter and pulled myself up from there. "I haven't been here in ten years." he said, once we were up. The roof had a commanding view of the town. Lights in the distance, the city and the homes of those who knew it was time to sleep and not time to trespass laid out before us.

On the roof we ate out burritos, and sprawled out on our backs with the whole of the night sky above us. Satellites and shooting stars whizzed overhead. The stars in their myriad and immovable setting twinkled and blinked. We talked about the nature of the world in the way that we might have done if we were ten years younger. Who created the universe? What happens after you die? Were our failures really blessings and so on.

It dawned on me as we reclined on the gravelly roof that we are never to old to stop and take it all in. The questions we had as teenagers never really get solved, we just stop questioning them. We tire, we give in and just accept the facts of the world. On the other hand, we are always questioning, we always struggle with faith and love and life. That is the lesson. No matter how comfortable or set in your ways you are, you should always try new things and have new experiences, no matter how ludicrous. In the end how you choose to deal with life is what matters, and that lesson is quite old school indeed.

2008-06-05T12:34:00.000-05:00

Hansel and Gretel

So creepy! Not to mention the fact that my talent as an artist leaves much to be desired. At any rate this is the third sketch from my upcoming series of photographs from the Brother' Grimm. In the image we see two children approaching an ugly woman and an attractive, yet creepy, house. They should know better! You can learn more about the Grimm's Fairy-tales at wikipedia

Grimm's Fairy-tales in a Modern World. 2

2008-06-05T00:45:00.000-05:00

The Three Army Surgeons

This is the second storyboard sketch from my series of Grimm's Fairy-tales. In the story three surgeons pay for their lodgings at an inn by operating on themselves and impressing the innkeeper. One removes the heart, one the eyes and the last removes the hand. As with all these stories hijinks ensue and tragedy befalls the characters. You can find more about this obscure tale at wikipedia

Grimm's Fairy-tales in a Modern World.

2008-06-05T00:22:00.000-05:00

Red Riding Hood

Imagine a beautiful young girl siting at the bar of a run down watering hole. We will call this bar "Grannies". In front of her is a mirror. In the reflection she can see, what our eyes perceive as a handsome young man approaching her. Only something is not quite right. In the reflection from the mirror she can see that he has quite big eyes, big ears and big teeth. The wolf is about to strike. Minus the imagery this scene is played out in bars ever weekend all over the world.

For a long time I have been wanting to do an entire group of photographs dedicated to the true creepiness of those compiled tales by the Brothers Grimm. The image above is a rough storyboard sketch from my notebook. As I have learned more and more about the capabilities of digital editing, manipulation, lighting and a score of other photo related techniques in the last couple of years, I thought this might be a nice start to a narrative style of photography. You can find more about all these stories at wikipedia.

The Costs Of Driving

2008-06-04T12:33:00.000-05:00

These days it seems venturing out on the open road is an expensive pursuit. I have been logging miles over the past couple of weeks, so I have been thinking about the cost of fuel, the nature of travel in America and the future of owning a gas guzzling vehicle.

There is not much that any of us can do about the price of fuel, short of drilling our own wells and making it ourselves, which probably is not very practical, "I drink your milkshake!" indeed! On the other hand I think the cost of fuel has a greater impact on the ways we live our lives. For years we have taking mobility for granted. 10 years ago I could have travelled from NYC to LA for the same cost as a trip from OKC to Austin today. I know I feel the pinch but the transport industry which brings us all things we can't live without is in a much tougher situation. I don't know what the future will bring us. I just feel as though the innocence of American travel is gone. There is a sense that the ways everything is structured, from travel, to community to infrastructure is going to have to change. The alternative is suicide.

* Just a note: I have purchased R.DoyleBowman.com I have not decided how I will build and host the site. There is some junk I just posted with some links last night up there now. I will keep you posted.

A Found To Do List...

2008-05-26T21:42:00.001-05:00

Leaving work one afternoon I saw a slip of paper twirling around the parking lot on a breeze. It Landed a few steps away from me, and I couldn't help but notice what it said. To Do: 1. Amy... I did not really think about it at the time but my iphone was in my hand and I casually took a snap-shot and went on my way. It was not until this weekend, sitting at the bar that some friends and I looked at the image and tried to decipher the meaning of the "list".

OK, so lets walk through this:

1. Amy: I imagine that this could only have the one, obvious meaning, perhaps that is why it is not crossed off the list yet. Clearly though Amy is a high priority, she probably has no idea she is #1 on someone's list.

2. Stonered: This is where it gets confusing. What is stonered? I like to believe it is clever code for "remember to get stoned! But write it in a way that if you lose this list because you got stoned no one will be quite sure what that means!"

3. Laundry: Still needs to be accomplished and after getting stoned it becomes the second highest priority.

4. Poop: I honestly did not notice this until a waitress at the bar pointed it out. She said, "Wow, why would someone put poop on a list? Is it that hard to remember?" Obviously, out author wrote poop so that in the course of the day if all else failed at least he or she would accomplish that one thing, thereby validating the need for a list in the first place. I would say mission accomplished. Well Done!

5. Couch: Move couch? Sleep on couch? Get stoned on couch? Do Amy on couch? Your guess is as good as mine.

Finally, we have stonered again with an asterisk, I think this denotes that fact that getting stoned would need to happen a second time that day. Note that as things are crossed off the list the other items are renumbered as there priority increases.

Now I have to say that in practice writing to do lists are good things, and I commend our author for having started a good habit. But, this has to be the weirdest damn list I have ever seen! Not to mention the fact that it was just floating around on the breeze waiting to be found. Do you think the author knows the list is gone? Will he ever "to do" Amy? Will he ever "to do: his laundry? We may never know...

A Horse...

2008-05-25T23:41:00.000-05:00

This week I traveled to Morse, Texas. As an archaeologist I often run into strange places and interesting people. On this occasion I found myself in an open pasture digging holes into the ground.

When I looked up from my notes a horse had wandered up behind me to check me out. She seemed rather inquisitive, probably hoping that I was there to bring her something to eat. At one point she tried to take a nibble on me.

I decided to take a photograph to remember the moment. It just reminds me that you never can tell what you will run into when you venture out into the world. Often I hear people talking about far off places and exotic cultures, which is all fine and well. I guess my point is that you don't have to range far away to have an experience you will remember, you just have to walk out the door...