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Diners of Maine: A1

I renewed my interest in photography after taking classes over three summers at the Maine Media Workshop. Artists Frank Lavalle, Christine Collins and Jan Rosenbaum encouraged, guided, and prodded. Then last winter I told myself, "Enough learning - time for doing!"  Get out there and just shoot.

To focus myself, I pursued a theme: Maine Diners.  I considered almost a dozen and settled on three within an hour of our summer home in Wiscasset.

The first one, the A1 Diner in Gardiner, is an authentic gem of the golden days of diners.  It's been featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Mike Giberson, son of a previous owner, has co-owned and run the operation for more than 15 years. He arrives at 5am each day. 

The menu is traditional diner comfort food, to which contemporary offerings such as a curried chicken wrap, grilled pesto chicken and roast beef/red onion w blue cheese.  Patrons start lining up at 7 a.m. most mornings and Mike has a killer Sunday brunch.

A1 Diner photo gallery

Click on each thumbnail image to see a larger version

The diner was built  by the Worcester Lunch Car Co. of Worcester, Massachusetts, of the major diner manufactuers of the era and retains its original character.  The A1 opened for business in 1948 and has not been renovated, modernized, or 'improved'.

More Venice: Walking in the rain

During our ten days in Venice, we had rain.  

St. Mark's Square and its immediate area flooded, water six to eight inches deep. It's the lowest part of Venice, and it is the first area to flood. Sure it was inconvenient but, heck, if you were there, you'd feel you missed something if it wasn't wet and they didn't put up those walkways.

• Venice gallery #2

Venice

You call this a vacation? 

Six days in Venice in late October, a style called "Street Photography."  Which means maybe as many as 100 images an hour. Trying to shoot on the shoulders of greats like Robert Frank. Or Henri Cartier Bresson, who said, "You press the button ... and you say to yourself 'One of these will be a good one'." In search of "the decisive moment." 

The catalyst for the trip was a week-long class taught by Peter Turnley, who 60 Minutes showed is one of the best photojournalists in the world.  His images have been on the covers of Newsweek magazine more than 40 times. He has authored four books, and does work for international media such as Paris Match, Stern and National Geographic.

Shadowing Turnley for a few hours was the best instruction.  His strategy is easily described: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."  It is not easily copied. He weaves through crowds and and buzzes around people.  He's looking for a moment, a glance, a smile, an embrace, or a subtle smile.

The week introduced me to a new style of photography ... as well as the streets, canals, alleys, markets, bridges, Cambios, and people of Venice.  Imagine visiting one of the most mysterious and interesting cities and never once venturing into a museum, a 13th century palace, or even taking a gondola ride.  This was not touring. This was learning.

• Venice gallery #1