But, where’s the contest you say?  Well, here it is.  I can’t decide which version of a shot is the best.  So, which one do you like more:

This one, or

This one?  The differences are subtle, but…

So, which one do you like best?

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Something about this just spoke to me as I walked past.

An evening view out the hotel room, with two crows and a pigeon.

Another doorway spoke to me as well, and I liked how the layers of paint added to the story told by the wear and tear.

This one really belongs in the Montmartre morning post, as it was of an apparent homeless man I saw wandering around a good bit seeking handouts.

This one I shot sitting at a nice little cafe as tourists and others gathered to review menu options.

This is a color view of the face.  Someone had painted red on various spots inside the mouth.

A final door for the day, and there is more to come.

The post Some More Scenes Around Montmartre and Paris appeared first on Laughing Wolf.

For me, part of the fun is playing “what if” and these two show a bit of that play, as I take two looks at the same location.

The light that brought out such wonderful colors elsewhere, brought out something different here, at least seen from this different view.

And again I couldn’t quite decide which was the better take

What do you say?

While actually in Pigalle, this gentleman also looked like he should be part of this.

I have to admit, it was the juxtaposition of the Guinness sign with Sacre Coeur that first drew me to this shot.

A nearby water tower also wanted to play.

It is interesting how different something can look in slightly different light, and from a different view.

The post A Gothic View In Montmartre appeared first on Laughing Wolf.

Fresh fruit arrives

While in Paris, I tried to get some sunrise shots up at Sacre Coeur but clouds frustrated that.  Instead, I ended up drinking coffee at a couple of places nearby, and getting a bit of breakfast at one, while recording the early morning life up near the top.  To be honest, I had left the area a bit down, put off by the players and hipsterdouches of the area, but in working the photos I see now why I was drawn there, and would go back.

Cleaning Up

Looking out for business

Early construction work near Sacre Coeur

Not the jogger I wanted to catch (she was too fast) but one of many that came through

On the way to work and school

Who is walking whom?

The Tower seen from a point near Sacre Coeur

In a small park behind Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur from the park

Two regulars greeting each other

A family walking through

One of the many artists who sell paintings in the little square arriving

Looking down one of the narrow streets leading away from the top

Off to school

A view of flower boxes and flowers

A light pole

Breakfast with a guest, who tried for a bite or two

One my guest’s friends

An interesting tree in the far corner of the little square

Part of Sacre Coeur seen from where I was having breakfast

Moving out

Arriving for work

Two friends greeting, and I would love to know the story behind the dance done by the one on the other side…

Work and rest at one

Charging forth

Ooops

Another of the many artists who sell their wares in the little square

Eating while watching

Lovers hand-in-hand

Laying out the places

The post A Morning In Montmartre appeared first on Laughing Wolf.

Like so many, Todd came into my life through Wolf Park.  When I first moved to Indiana in late 2004, I discovered the park and was signed up as a volunteer before the end of my first tour.  The Wolf Park staff and volunteers are family, and in many ways Todd was the heart of that family.

It was Todd who went and picked up interns as they arrived from out-of-state or even out-of-country.  It was Todd who introduced them to the area, often to the Park, and who helped the interns, practicums, and even volunteers find various unusual things suddenly needed.

Todd was both a story teller and a story collector.  He learned about each intern and practicum as they came in, and quite often came up with a witty and pithy one-liner that summed up a lot of things.  He would tell stories of events and interns past, stories about himself, and enjoyed sharing the laughter of the tales.  Sometimes the funniest thing shared was watching him start to laugh, and get to the point where he could barely finish the story.

Some of the funniest stories were of his misadventures in health.  He loved to tell the tale of running into his pediatrician, who looked at him and exclaimed in surprise: ‘Todd Satterfield, you’re still alive?!?’  Todd had a number of issues, but you would almost not realize how serious they were because he made parts of it into jokes and tales that brought laughter and smiles.

I was told of some of the issues, and did indeed keep an eye on him as did everyone there.  There was one time I almost felt sorry for Todd, and that was the night his blood sugar crashed and lied about it.  Kfir (a former intern and now volunteer) and I knew something was up, and once the situation was resolved I learned never to trust him if his blood sugar dropped below 100.  He learned that not letting us know that he needed something or had a problem would get a 30 minute (or longer) lecture from Kfir.  Listening to some of the lecture, I almost felt sorry for Todd, but agreed with Kfir.  Besides, I could already see Todd turning this into another good story.

A stranger to the area, I bought a house and Todd was kind enough to share his extensive knowledge of home repair and construction with me.  He taught me how to replace doors and frames, and though one of the efforts was to be me doing and him supervising, it turned into him doing and showing as he just couldn’t stand everything not being extremely precise.  Even when he could not do or even supervise, he would tell me what I needed to buy, and give me all the steps needed to do it.  ‘Make sure you do X, Y, & Z and remember you have to do these steps this way.’

I had my own joke on Todd at one point early on.  Some soundproofing panels had been given to me and I put some to use trying to dampen some of the sounds from the basement (pump, sump pump, etc.) by putting some of them up on the basement door.  Todd wasn’t real sure about this, and when he asked I responded in my best old horror movie voice “So no one can hear my victims scream” and the look on his face was priceless.  Once he figured out I was joking, I got “the look” that if you were around Todd you probably got more than once.

We didn’t agree politically on much, but we did find common ground in woodworking, wolves, and other topics.  He was so happy when he found out that I had watched “Rat Patrol” on TV as a kid too, and delighted when he found the series available on DVD for purchase.  We agreed on some people, some things, and especially some movies.  Todd was into movies, and to call it a passion is a bit of understatement.

It was also so much fun watching him start to explore food.  One of the fun traditions of the Park was something called ethnic night where once a week a different ethnic restaurant in the area was chosen for all to go to.  This sometimes had interesting results as an intern from that region of the world would have to explain that the food being served was not the real food of the area.  The other funny thing was watching Todd try something new.

The expression on his face one night at a Japanese restaurant when he had been talked into trying some sushi was priceless and makes me laugh to this day. Todd’s face lit up, his eyes widened in surprise, and he said “This is good.  No.  Really.  This is GOOD!”  I always wanted to win the lottery so that if his doctors agreed, I could take him to Russia (and elsehwere) to try some of the food.  Not sure what Todd thought of it, but a mutual friend agreed it would be fun.  Especially if we could tape and photograph his reactions to the food.  Would that this could have happened.

There are so many good Todd stories out there.  Quite a few of them revolve around things he did for others.  Despite hospital stays, transplants, and other delights, Todd always found a way to laugh, to make people smile, and just went about his life doing nice things for others.  That was just Todd.  Others involved misunderstanding things said (Human Chicken), or in taking phrases and putting them to better use (Piso Mojado).

He was devoted to his family, and the love he had for his children and grandchildren shone through.  His two daughters were the light of his life, and that light only grew with the addition of grandchildren.

He’d be pissed at me to know that tears fell in that first airport, and are falling now — even as I laugh.  I can just about hear him taking a look around on the other side and saying that “wow” that could and did mean and say so many things.  The world is a richer place for having Todd in it, and all who knew him are richer still.

Godspeed Todd.  Piso Mojado.

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Sunrise reflected in the new Omaha memorial

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Yes, I am camping and here’s the shot.  If the wind did not die down last night, I may have slept in the car.    As it is, not a bad home from home.

The hatch in back makes for a dandy standing office, and it is where I have set up the power drop from the camp so I can charge, work, or do whatever is needed.  No cooking, but getting by with things like dry sausage, cheese, meats the butchers prepare, and other delights.

All in all, not bad.  If only the wifi at the site were less flaky…

LW

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