I have struggled and struggled to come up with a decent way of backing up my files. As a photographer it's a problem that doesn't go away, it just grows and grows. And you add more hard drives, and more hard drives and it continues to grow. Also being a somewhat paranoid person I think that no matter how well you back up, if your data isn't off site your house at any moment could be destroyed by a scud missile, or attacked by a zombie horde.


* scud missile *


* zombie horde *

Such a catastrophic loss could not be recovered. So I have found an off-site data storage company called Mozy which seems to be a pretty good deal for the price. The only problem is even at optimal upload rates it is going to take me FOREVER to get this all uploaded. Maybe it will speed up at night. Hmph. Which reminds me I need to order an aiport card for Melissa's macpro so I can get the new service online and give Comcast the middle finger it deserves.

Thank you for your complaint and we apologize for the apparent misapplication of our photography rules. It sounds as if the train operator was indeed corrected when he called in, but we will identify him from the rail car number you provided and make sure he understand what is and is not allowed. we appreciate you reporting the incident.

--CTA Customer Service

I wish I had figured this all out a lot sooner.

To whom it may concern,
I am a local photographer and CTA rider who uses the CTA on a daily basis and have never until now had a bad experience with any CTA employee. On 7/16/08 at approximately 5pm I was riding in the first car of a brown line train traveling southbound. I believe it was located somewhere between Diversey and Armitage. I'm not sure what the route number was, but the car I was in was numbered #3432. The car was relatively empty, and impressed with the view from the forward window I took out my camera to take a few shots. I have previously read the CTA's posted policy regarding photography and I've taken quite a few shots always staying in accordance with those rules and trying not to be a nuisance to either fellow rider or employee. During a slow point where the train had stopped to wait for clearance the operator opened the door and very rudely and aggressively told me I was breaking the CTA's photography rules and that there was no photography permitted inside the trains. I do not believe I was being disruptive in any way to the operation of the train, nor do I believe I was breaking any rules as they are posted publicly. I told him I did not believe what he was saying to be correct and he informed me I would be removed from the train if I did not comply. He made some call on his walkie talkie about me, but no one removed me from the train. I presume because I in fact had not broken any rules.

I have no issues with photography policies designed to safeguard the well being of employees or riders. However I do not believe that quietly taking a photo out of a window interferes with the safety of the train. And even if it did I think it should somehow be included in the posted policy. Even if was unknowingly in the wrong I think that the operator in question (a hispanic male I presumed to be in his late 20s or early thirties) could use a lesson in tact and manners. Also if the CTA is that anti-photography then it should reflect in the posted policies. Ironically the same train operator passed by another photographer on a platform snapping away and he didn't seem to mind that at all. As a photographer I do not understand anti-photography policies that aren't in direct relation to safety, and as a paying customer I do not appreciate unnecessarily rude behavior.

Regards
Joshua Mitchell

The CTA's posted policy as of 7/16/08:
CTA Photography Policy:
The general public is allowed to take snapshots in public areas.
I consider myself the general public.
Equipment such as lighting, tripods, cables, etc. is not allowed - except in instances where commercial and professional photographers enter into contractual agreements with CTA.
Non of that here, just a crappy lens baby.
Photographers are not allowed to enter or photograph non-public areas of CTA stations.
Train cars seem pretty public to me.
Photographers are prohibited from obstructing transit operations, interfering with customers and blocking doors or stairs.
Don't think I was doing any of this either.
CTA personnel may evaluate the actions of photographers on a case by case basis to determine if a photographer is in compliance with guidelines. If a determination is made that the photographer is not in compliance, CTA personnel may ask them to stop.
Oh... the loop hole...

"See that one's not a cliffhanger. But you were expecting a cliffhanger, so that makes it a cliffhanger."
R. Kelly

photo by tastee

I am back. I am done with mourning the losses of friends I never really had. It's a waste of time. I am back. Back with my wonderful wife now AKA bloggingbride, a new BBFF (that's best Beeper friend forever), and a future to look forward to. I'm feeling a lot better about things, and myself. I may not be the easiest person in the world to get along with or understand. But I'm worth the attempt, and if you don't believe it... your loss. I've learned that the most important part of love can be forgiveness, but it doesn't mean much if you can't forgive yourself. I think I will keep joshuamitchell around, not sure what the posts will be like. But add both if you feel like it, or if you might be interested in catching up with what I did in my short hiatus.

Sometimes I feel like I'm not merging fast enough.

One thing I really suck at is directing people, i.e. translating a photograph in my mind, into a photograph on earth where people are involved. Um guys I have this idea for a photo, you sorta do this, er... yeh yeh... kinda like that, now Laura you lean that way and Dan do that, okay... huh? I think the directions were even more awkward and less concise than that.


This shot turned out pretty much as I envisioned it, minus the big shadow across Laura that I didn't really want there. Darn!

footsteps
and instability
they are what open and close
the doors behind me
I document this
in images
and memories
because I'll never have the day again.

the colors and cloth
that cover you
do not hide or protect
identity or soul
still we are quick
to avert our eyes
when life is looking
too dramatic
and it's petty reasoning
that fosters silence
and keeps people
alone

I believe in the end
we'll regret our anonymity
we'll regret the time
spent on our marvels
of construction
that tower over
our existence here.

we are not
made of stone.

6/18/08

So which livejournal couple's wedding did I shoot today? Hmm??

Wrigleyville
wrigley vile
your filth
and grime
are apalling
you are a mecca
for unemployed bouncers
and alcoholic sports fans.

your vomit stains
are permanent
cigarette butts
are your ancient artifacts
you swelter
in the summer
even the winter cold
couldn't kill your stench
your punk rockers
are fake
and manufactured
like your displays of anonymous love
on a Saturday night.

Wrigleyville
yours is a culture based
on no meaning
on a past time
past its time
an institution that lost its luster
to a steroid signature
a salary re-negotiation
or a FOX news scandal.
your vagrants scream
obscenities perfectly
your police
bloated and apathetic
you are the dark side
of the American Dream.

Wrigleyville
we tolerate your sins
and imperfections
because who wants to think about wars
or racism
hunger or education
our future or survival
when we have tickets
to the game?

6/20/08

http://www.nikonwatch.com/?p=511

This is one I'd say is an inevitable truth... Nikon will eventually produce a small body FX sensor DSLR. Whether this rumor is true now, or another year down the road it will happen. Will the low light sensitivity be as good as the current D3? I sure hope so. Will I be getting thise one when it comes out? Yes... a more portable version of the D3 would be a great backup.

The sun setting over Pilsen. The D3's dynamic range is pretty hot.
( more )

I went on a photo walk tonight. It ended up just being me and Zach, but it was a nice night and taking long exposures is always mind clearing and peaceful to me. We did wind up someplace a little sketchy, but it wasn't bad for very long. Feeling a bit tired and drained. Hanging in there though.

the city fills up
the footsteps fall faster
like heart beats and pulse rates
in the yawn of the early morning
before the summer hear begins

I see your reminders
in memories of structures
that have moved on without me
as I contemplate
calling off my search

who we are
no matter how far from the surface
no matter how concrete
or apparent
does not register
upon your closed eyelids
those eyes shielded
from walls created
from the light of angels
and the pains of truth

my city
is smoke filled
and dirty
noisy and unforgiving
brilliant in its
stone and metal
both new and decaying
it winds deep
it its toxic river
carving out my falsehoods
and promises
exposing the hypocrisy
of the soul

where is love but anywhere
anywhere and waiting
at just beyond arms length
but touchable
a fingerprint memory
a filled up city
of lost touches
and unheard voices

the sound and smell
purifying
casting shadows of the barriers
our conscious minds created
that keeps our hearts
walled
and distant
unmoved and forgetful
as we pass by
unnoticed
on every day
in every city
within the warming dawn

6/13/08

Trying to open them again takes guts.

I have a few new people who have recently added me from a cross post of the loft shots on saucydwellings. A lot of you new guys have very limited profiles! So please introduce yourselves before I add you back. Oh and if I did add you, post something about yourself anyway... I like to know my peeps.

I thought I'd wait to post these until we had a housewarming party. But aside from being busy I think Melissa and I would be too stressed about trying to come up with a guest list. So here they are...
( you asked for it )

IF I SPEAK AT ONE CONSTANT VOLUME AT ONE CONSTANT PITCH
AT ONE CONSTANT RHYTHM RIGHT INTO YOUR EAR, YOU STILL WON'T HEAR
You Still Won't Hear

It seems like last week was excessively long. Actually it feels like 2008 thus far, has been excessively long.

I'm not sure if explaining this shot a little more will make it more important to my audience. But to understand better the trains in Chicago have glass partitions on each side of the doors. This morning on my way to work I was in an empty car pulling into the stop when I noticed this peace sign on a post-it note on the opposite side of the glass. I don't believe in the wars that are going on right now, and as more people in my life are effected by these engineered conflicts I wish someone in charge would remember there is a thing called peace.

By the way I completed my cut. I'm down to 75 from over 100. If you are really going to miss me, let me know.