Election ...!

I don't feel like blogging today, but my new Facebook page puts my blog url in plain view, and knowing how inquisitive we human beings are, it pressured me to pen something positive. I do not have any problem saying what I think and how I feel, but  I am mindful of how I say it, because so many people these days have developed a thinner skin, and so many others are not blessed with the ability to discern, and so many more just have no clue what is really going on. So it is with the greatest of respect that I carefully say what I have to, and if you are wise, and in the know, you will follow along, but if you do not catch it at first, don't worry, you will catch up in good time as you become privy to more information and data.

Given the politics in SKN, I have people who will insist on getting my views on certain happenings and goings on in our Federation. My response is not what most of them wish to hear, but yet they ask, knowing my response. Just in case you never heard it before: "we need to learn to respect people for their personal view, they are in their shoes and we are into ours. I can't tell them what to do with their life, and they should not be so forward as to tell me what I can and cannot do with mine. Sometimes we could feel that what people do, seem not be in their own best interest, but they will have to grin and bear the fall out, not me. In the worst case I may or may not join the procession, and when it pass me on the way to the Field, I will say like everyone else, "He/she was a good person""

So let us be respectful of people, even though we know that they made the wrong choice, maybe even like Judas, everyone has to answer, to the Creator sometime. I notice that more and more people are recognizing that we cannot carry any of our earthly possessions, and are adopting a different stance. I have seen some millions created from some very hard work just vanish at the hands of people who had no idea how it came or any interest in preservation. Sometimes one has to give though for tomorrow, even though by tomorrow we may no longer be here.

But this blog is about photography. Bashing is the new world trend, left, right and center, every thing and almost everybody get a bashing. No one and no thing is exempt. I have learned  that if you can't say anything good at anytime, say nothing. In skn I sometimes get the impression that a silent war exist between photographers. I guess that could be a natural instinct as people may try to protect what they believe to be their turf. I have been approached by photographers overseas with the idea of seeking to establish a regional pricing structure for photography and photographic services. In SKN some photographers complain bitterly about price slashing, and I am really sorry to hear, but I am thankful that I am not in this fray.

I am not into delivering domestic professional photography services, nor do I make recommendations or endorsements. I am enjoying my retirement, and happy to take a few pictures as I walkabout skn, and post some of them on Facebook, straight out of the camera. Every now and then someone wants to wring my arm into taking photographs of them, but I gave up the stress of working a pro photo studio and clients in 1989, and I have no intention of going back there. That is for the young hot shot digital photographers of today. A few years ago I decided to help out people who felt that they really needed my photography, and the only payment requirement was that they would make a generous donation to an organization or charity that fed hungry children or sheltered homeless people, and not necessarily in SKN. In my spirit I felt that some of these folks were not as honest with the donations as they would have me believe.

So what of photography in SKN? From what I hear it appear that there is a need for photographers to push themselves far more than they have in recent times. I suspect that they would need to invest in the best affordable equipment and software necessary. Here I must commend the City Drug Store and Harper's Bookstore in downtown Basseterre, for offering the trade Professional quality prints in all sizes at cut throat prices. The only down side in my opinion is the TOTAL lack of privacy at CDS. This is a critical issue when dealing with professional corporate accounts.

I have no idea how photography is doing in the Nation. Almost everyone has a camera, but I suspect that many are not in daily use, yet, but it could be catching on. So what is the Ministry of Culture doing about photography and the development of art in skn? I suspect that there are persons with that focus and in good time we will hear from them. In between time one has to self develop ones photography. Our people are blessed with understanding, and YouTube is the university at our fingertips. I am seeing more and more cameras at events, real DSLR cameras, brand name cameras, so our people are getting more serious about photography, and certain 'things" need to be put in place.

Now, let's look at some pictures taken in the last week or so. It is Music Festival time in skn. I just may find my way there, even though I do not party-all-night anymore, one night out in a year would not hurt, would it?