Postcard from Tubac

Never heard of Tubac, you say? Am not surprised. It’s pretty small. Tubac lies about 40 miles south of Tucson. About 1,100 people live there today, but its history goes back over 250 years.

First established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio, it was the first Spanish colonial garrison in Arizona. Tubac was one of the stops on the Camino Real (the "Royal Road") from Mexico to the Spanish settlements in California. (By the way, "Tubac" is an English borrowing from a Hispanicized form of the local Indian name, which translates into English as "rotten")

In the 1840’s, Apaches repeatedly attacked the town, eventually forcing the most residents to abandoned the settlement. It was also the scene of a four-day siege in 1861, between Tubac’s remaining male citizenry, Confederate militia and Apache Warriors. Not sure who won, but the town pretty much remained a memory until around 1908 when some enterprising folks started to rebuild.

But what about the Tubac of today? Well it’s an artist colony. According to the Chamber of Commerce, there are, “over 100 eclectic shops and world class galleries situated along meandering streets punctuated by hidden courtyards and sparkling fountains.” All that is quite true. It’s a town totally dedicated to the arts (even if some may come from China).

To call it an artist colony might be a bit of an exaggeration, at least today. For several years, it was just that, but as it became more popular, bigger shops and galleries came in and prices went up…high enough the most of the artists were forced to leave. Not many left in town today. All to sadly, this is a common occurrence for artist colonies.

According to one local resident, the little town was hit hard by the economic collapse of 2009. When I first saw it in 2006, it was swimming with tourists, snowbirds and other AZ residents. On my visit there last week, it was close to empty. I realize it was the middle of the week, but when hard times hit, art is one of the first things to go. Too bad, as it is a cute little town and I hope it can rise from the economic ashes.

I wandered around town with my camera and took several interesting photos…but few more interesting than this collection of large metal flowers. I found different kinds of metal flowers all over town in all shapes and sizes. But I really like this collection. And the colors…wow!

If you are ever down this way, make sure you make a stop at Tubac and take it all in. It is really designed for tourists, but if you come here, that is what you are.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com

Postcard from Oxford

This photo was taken underneath the famous Bridge of Sighs in Oxford England. Now, I bet you thought that the Bridge of Sighs was in Venice, Italy. Well, you are right…there is one there also. It is probably far more famous than this one. But, in fact, this one is the more attractive of the two.

Why, you ask? The Bridge in Venice is almost all white and has a flat bottom…whereas the Oxford version is more colorful and has a rounded bottom. You have to be on a water taxi or a gondola to go under the Venetian version. Whereas you can walk under the Oxford bridge as it is built over a street: New College Lane.

The Venetian Bridge of Sighs (Italian name: Ponte dei Sospiri) got its name thanks to Lord Byron, the English Poet. It connects the prison on one side of the canal to the Doge’s Palace. The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. According to Byron, the prisoners would sigh when they crossed the bridge.

In Oxford, when a student is thrown out of the University (called “rustication”), he must cross the bridge for one last view of this fabled college town. Actually, that is not true. I just made it up.  Although it has been called the Bridge of Sighs, the real name of the bridge is the Hertford Bridge as it connects 2 separate buildings of Hertford College. It is just a walkway. 

While I did photograph the whole bridge from a distance, I think this underneath view is far more interesting. Someday, I will share the full view with you.

By the way, just around the corner from the bridge is one of my favorite pubs in Oxford, The Kings Arms. Nice place for a pint and a snack and to hang out with the students. Just opposite the bridge is the world famous Bodleian Library. Next time you are in London, take a short detour north and visit Oxford. Well worth it.

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com

Postcard from Venice

On this particular trip to Venice, I managed to catch a day where it rained all day. Lucky me. The day started out in Asti, on the west side of Italy. There it was sunny and bright…the day looked promising. As the train headed east toward Venice, I could see clouds start to form. By the time the train arrived in Venice, it was pouring rain…and I mean pouring.

It rained non-stop all day. Surprisingly, St. Marks Square, known for its occasional flooding, never did. In fact, this photo, originally taken with my film camera, is in St. Mark’s Square. The steps in the photo lead to the entrance of one of Venice’s most famous landmarks: St Mark's Campanile, AKA the Bell Tower for St. Mark’s Basilica. It stands 324 feet above the square and, ironically, is across the plaza from the Basilica. But, no one really cares if it attached or not. It’s very famous.

When in one of the most famous places in the world, it is so easy to look up and around. It is definitely breathtaking. But, as you know, I like to look down occasionally for something interesting or special that would make a good photo. I found this on this rainy day in Venice: a broken umbrella that someone discarded. I was immediately captivated and took this photo.

Of course, taken with a film camera, I didn’t know how it would turn out. But when I got back to the US, I found I liked it very much, which is why it is included here. The blue umbrella and the wet marble steps make such a great contrast. This may not be your cup of tea, but I like it. Such great memories (albeit wet ones).

Now you have something to do if you ever go to Venice and its raining cats and dogs…go look for broken umbrellas in famous places. Oh…and take a picture too!

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com

Postcard from the Cascades

 

Autumn Memory

as colorful leaves whirl to the ground...
some leaves swirl on the breeze
in a little autumnal dance 
as they tumble and turn, to form a memory
painting a leafy autumn picture in the air.....
faintly seen in leaves, two lovers holding hands
waltzing, in a symphony of color
brushed in sepia tones, of gold and brown 
amber sunlight over their heads
shimmering in a leafy umbrella, held in his hand
surreal and lovely
dancing in memory, the leaves remember their love
as they sat beneath the tree in spring and summer
now their love remains in the fall, fresh and lovely
in crisp leaves of old, infused, with their bright love
and now that fall is here....
the lovers have passed on, but their love remains
timeless, in vibrant shades...
shining in brown lace, and golden rays

L. spirit

 

“Autumn Road”

A Digital Painting by JR Corkrum

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com

Postcard from San Jose

I titled this photo, “Gateway: From College to the Real World.” I took it on the campus of San Jose State, my alma mater. In looking at it in post processing, it occurred to me I was looking out from the university campus to a regular city street…in other words, from the campus out into the real world…a gateway, if you will.

I recall my own departure from the academic world and facing the realities of the real world. The closed society of the university is all too idealistic, almost a utopian peaceful place to learn and meet other educated people. The real world is far different, as I soon discovered.

For a time, I was lost and went through some tough times. But, eventually I found myself, created new goals and adjusted nicely to the de facto existence offered in our society. Over the years, all has turned out well. But, it was those college years that gave me the basis for my life, as well as my photographic and writing career. How I photograph and write today bear little resemblance to those university days…but I could not have accomplished what I have done since without those years at San Jose State.

In a way, I am back at university these days. I attend lectures and other events at the University of Arizona. What a pleasure it is to sit and learn…and not have to take any tests! I’ve read where so many people my age are retiring to college and university cities where they can continue their education at a more leisurely and pleasurable pace…studying what they want without the competition of achieving high grades.

If you are young and have not been to college yet, heed these words and remember: College will be a special time in your life, one you will always remember and cherish. Take it all in, savor every moment, including those all-nighters writing a paper or studying for finals. There will be times later in life when you will wish you were back there again. But, persevere, use those lessons and move forward…through the gateway to the real world. 

Postcard from Yosemite

This is one of those peaceful, dreamy photos you get when you mount your camera on a tripod and use a very slow shutter speed. For camera buffs, this photo was shot at 1/3 of a second at f25, using an ISO of 100.

It was a very bright day, so I had to use a very small aperture opening at the lowest ISO rating on my camera in order to achieve the slow shutter speed. If you own a camera with adjustable settings, you should try this out the next time you pass some moving water. With a slow shutter speed, water blurs into a deceptively tranquil image that effectively conveys the impression of motion in a still photograph.

For your information, this photo was done on the Merced River just below Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park. It was done in May so the waterfall was filled to overflowing. The main course of the river is actually behind me at this location. This is one of those little offshoots of the main river.

I like to photograph these small areas, often much more than the larger views. It just seems so peaceful here. Trust me…I did take photos of the full river and the falls…in fact I have published some of those here before. But these little tiny places in a landscape like Yosemite can be awfully rewarding. 

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com

Postcard from San Francisco

There is just something about this photo that is both artistic and nostalgic. Maybe I am just getting old and remembering those great days of growing up in San Francisco.

If you have read these blogs for a while, or even only recently, you know a little about the F Line Streetcars that roam up and down Market Street and the Embarcadero.

Just to refresh your memory (but hopefully not to bore you) these F Line Streetcars are mainly from other cities around the world. They are generally many years old and were retired in their cities of origin. Someone in SF had the bright idea to buy them up as surplus, restore them, then put them back to use…but, only on one line…the F Line (officially known at the “F-Market and Wharves Streetcar Line”).

Its enjoyable to sit on Market Street or at the Starbucks by the Ferry Building with a cup of coffee and watch them go by. They are clearly marked as their city of origin…and they are all from a bygone era.

But it is much more fun to hop aboard one and ride it the 6 mile length from the Castro District all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf. Along the way you will see some of the major highlights of this great city…including the Castro District; Upper Market Street; Civic Center and City Hall; the Powell Street Cable Car turn-around; The Financial District; the Embarcadero District, the Ferry Building; Pier 39; and Fisherman’s Wharf. What a ride! And it’s only 75 cents for us seniors. They come along every 5-12 minutes with stops all along the way.

I took this photo on a streetcar originally from Milan, Italy. Obviously, I was sitting right behind the driver. Although you can’t see much of the scenery outside the car, it is on Market Street at the Embarcadero. Straight ahead is the Ferry Building. If you know anything about streetcars, you can tell this is an old car just by looking at the controls and the windows.

The only thing modern about this car is the fare taking machine located in the lower right corner. On a different car, the machine was broken and the driver just waived me to the back as I offered him my coins. After the doors were closed and we were underway, the driver announced that “the ticket machine is broken so the fare today is how much?”

The riders in the car then sang out in unison…”it is free.” He did this at every stop and by the second stop, I joined in the chorus. Silly, but fun…all part of being in one of the greatest cities in the world.

PS. If you would like to see a gallery of all the old streetcars running on the F Line, just click on this link. I think you will be surprised.

PPS: Sorry about not writing last week. I went out of town and stayed much longer than I expected. Am I forgiven?

(To see a larger version of this photo, just click on the image)

To see more of my work, both in photography and digital painting, please visit my website, www.corkrum.com