Tag / travel photography

by Paul Ottaviano

Cooperation

jazz club and record albums morioka japan

Johnny’s Jazz Cafe. Morioka, Iwate, Japan. ジャズカフェ, 盛岡市, 日本.

Hoard jazz records.

Because cooperation and improvisation is a good evolved skill to have, and then make available to others. That’s if we’re applying intelligent Darwinism, within its proper sphere.

Once this storm passes, and it will, survivors  – odds are you will be one of them – may see exclusion based on lifestyle, area code, or politics as an absurd anarchronism. Instead, it may simply base on who is cooperative or not? Reputation will matter, again.

By the way, these records will have more value than TP before long, which can be subbed with a bidet, anyway (or a shower). For paper towells the smart money substitutes with Sham Wow’s, which are reusable.

Get bent, savage imbeciles.

by Paul Ottaviano

Pouring Cold Water on Your Hot Coffee

cup of coffee with ceiling fan reflected and ice water

Alternative process album cover concept. Zen Robot series.

Hot coffee for a cold night respite in Morioka, Japan. Then I saw the ceiling fan reflection in it, and couldn’t resist an image capture.

Having only low film speed loaded in my camera, I decided to use my phone instead. One of the things I like about instant photography and mobility is odd, serendipitous perspectives.

If I’m lucky and in form, an image such as this becomes an album or book cover concept. I’m feeling jazz when I look at this, but hope viewers conjure up their own melody.

by Paul Ottaviano

Patience

coffee vendor sits in his van waiting for customers

Coffee vendor waits for customers. Morioka-shi, Iwate, Japan. Nikon FE2 and Silberra 50 Orta black and white film. November 2019.

Devotion to craft and service. Making a lot out of small spaces. Do one or a few simple things right. There is much to learn from how small business makes its way in Japan.

by Paul Ottaviano

Get Lost in Joshua Tree

photo of graffiti at Giant Rock in Landers California

Giant Rock. Mojave Desert. Landers, CA.

A lot of people know about Joshua Tree National Park. The nearby town of Joshua Tree, CA has a reputation for being the odd twist of desert hippy. It also doubles as a retirement home for celebrity artists. Rumor has it that Robert Plant owns a home in the area, as does Cyndi Lauper. I doubt anyone cares to look, which is partly why people find it attractive.

In the vicinity of Joshua Tree are the Mojave Desert towns of Landers and Twentynine Palms. Out there space and privacy is abundant. Clocks tick slower, and people are unapologetic about doing nothing. Don’t expect a lot of on-demand economy.

If a visitor has Los Angeles’esque patience, or none at all, then misery awaits. If that’s your jam, go to Palm Springs instead. In the Mojave, 5:00 PM opening means a 5:00 PM opening. Not 4:59. And 5:00 can mean 5:08. But definitely not a minute before 5:00. In the desert, everything is relative and late is early.

There isn’t a lot to do if you’re not into hiking, camping, dirt bikes, or photography. And that’s okay. Nobody is in Joshua Tree to jet set. It’s a place to slow down and take naps in the hammock, and then enjoy a cold beer.

Looking for inspiration here? Then you’ll need to include psychedelics. But no reason to search for such things, when going off-path in the spirit of adventure has its own rewards. 

Find yourself lost in Joshua Tree.

landscape photo of dirt road in the Mojave Desert Landers California

Dirt road to Giant Rock. BYOB and vision quest. Landers, CA.