Thursday, December 29, 2011

Trains

Trains were the invention marvel of the 19th century.  It thoroughly revolutionized land transportation and made possible the unprecedented movement of goods and people to and from prairies, villages, towns, and cities.  Unlike airplanes in the century that followed, trains slice through our own civilization up close, leaving behind deep in us an unmistakable rhythm that is punctuated by the bellowing of horns.  This signature sound, even to this day, evokes in us the sense of connectedness to our far away brethren.


Panasonic GH2, Rokkor MD 50mm f1.4.

The model train show at the National Heritage Museum was presented by the Hub Division of the NMRA.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Men and their games

This picture was taken in, of all places, Boston, MA. The men are engaged in a game called Xiangqi, which is an ancient Chinese board game related to the western game of chess.

P1010145-1
Panasonic GH2 with MC Rokkor-PF 50mm f1.7

Instead of a duel between two chess masters, the Chinese version seems to be played by two opposing generals, each with a team of trusted advisers constantly dispensing their opinions.  More pictures from the Chinatown in Boston can be found here.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Remembering the Past

The picture below was taken in front of Buckman Tavern which is closely associated with the skirmish in Lexington on April 19, 1775.  It was taken on Saturday, September 10, when many flags were placed on the lawn to commemorate Sep 11. The woman from the Tavern came out just long enough to be in the shot.

Remembering the pasts: recent and distant

Recent events are still very clear in our collective memory. Distant ones are becoming blurry.  Many things have taken place in the space between the flag and the door of the tavern.  Some glorious, some tragic. To name a few:

Sea of Tranquility
Saigon '75
Dallas '63
Hiroshima
Normandy
Auschwitz
Kitty Hawk
Gettysburg
Philladelphia '76

...
What we peer into the past the woman from the Tavern struggles to imagine.