Sidewalk Fest (part II): Meeting the People

Saturday, September 23, 2006

This year, Crystal was volunteering at Sidewalk Fest. She even got a special t-shirt. Her volunteer shift was from 3-9 p.m.

Right as we reached Birmingham the previous day, we experienced some car trouble. It was almost certainly due to the fact that Crystal failed to get her car serviced before the trip. So, the task was put upon me to go take the car to get serviced someplace in town. We decided to go to a Wal-Mart Supercenter, since they'd be cheap. I acquired directions to the nearest Wal-Mart from the internet, and then proceeded to make my trip. More on that later.

I got a little ahead of myself. I got up at around 8 am, I guess. Crystal had gone before me and already got breakfast in the dining area. I decided to wash my hair, so it'd be fresh, but I opted not to style it. I just pinned it up in the back and put on one of my trusty covered-elastic headbands.





I went had breakfast in the hotel dining area called the Cafe Beau Monde. There a breakfast buffet was available for $8. It was pretty good.

After breakfast, I set out to find an place that sold memory card readers. It turned out there weren't any such places in downtown Birmingham. The one camera store in that area was closed on Saturday. I ended up getting directions to a drug store nearby, so I could pick up some things to style my hair. I had left my comb back in Mobile, even.


Justin, the clerk at MedTown Pharmacy

While checking out, I asked the clerk if he knew of an electronics store nearby. He didn't. Actually, he didn't known much of where anything was, which was pretty funny. But he was really nice. The other guy working the counter offered to look it up on the internet. He told me that there was a Ritz Camera a few blocks away, so I went in search of that, headed along 6th Ave N.

As I walked I passed a lot of memorials, statues, and landmarks in the downtown area. Birmingham is a city known for the many historic events that took place there, especially during the Civil Rights era.




As the further I walked, I realized the I probably wasn't going in the right direction. However, there was a Jazz Festival going on in the area as well, so I decided to continue on, hoping to get some interesting pictures. I saw a group of policeman standing on the corner, and proceeded to approach one. . .



*update*

So, I asked the police for some directions, but they didn't know about the camera store I was talking about. I asked the one pictured above if I could take his picture, because I just loved his features (I didn't say that, though). He oblidged. I ended up taking about 5 frames of him, because I was having trouble setting my camera to read enough light to make his face come out.

After thatn I continued decided to go back the way I came, and check out the string of barber shops that I had passed.


Mr. Wallace Hives

As I was walking by, this man asked me about why I was taking pictures. I can't remember exactly what he said. I could have said "yeah" and just walked on. For some reason, I decided to stop and chat with him. I told him about how I was a photography student, and that I was there to attend Sidewalk Fest. He said he was waiting to get a haircut. Before I continued on my way, I asked him if I could take his picture. I even him my card and told him that his photo would most likely end up in my blog. My home number rather than my cell was on the card, and later that evening my siser called me and told me that a man from Birmingham had called me. He though he had the wrong number, but she told him that I wasn't there. He just told her that I missed the "after photo" of him with his fresh haircut.


I ended up going in this place.

I asked the owner if I could take pictures. He gave me the once over, smiled slightly, and was like, "Yeah. Sure." This is one of the instances where being a moderately attractive female has it's advantages.




I met this man. His name is Kenny. He told me that he had been a barber for 20 years, and actually had a shop down the street. He was attending the school for the hours in order to get his license.


This guy looked just like someone I knew, but I couldn't place it right then. Afterwards, I realized that he looked a lot like this guy I know named Terrence.



Leaving the barber college, I continued on. I finally did find the camera store. It was located inside the building pictured above. The building was open, but the store was closed.


I met back up with Crystal and we ate a late lunch at the hotel.

Then I set out to find a Wal-Mart to with an Car Center to take the car to get serviced. I got directions off the internet, but I took the wrong exit off the interstate. However, the first place I saw after I got off the interstate was a Ritz Camera. So, I went inside and picked up a muli-card reader. I paid way too much for it, but, eh. I got a direction from one of the store clerks on how to get to the Wal-Mart. He was a light-skinned black man with hazel eyes and really long dread locks, which reminded me of Kendall.

I set off to find the Wal-Mart once more, but either his directions weren't very accurate, or I'm just bad with them (I'm thinking the former), because I got turned around once more. But after driving a while I decided to backtrack, and I found the street, where Sanford University was located. I passed by the school, wishing I could have stopped to take photos, because the architecture looked really cool, but I was on a mission. So, I finally found the Wal-Mart, but it didn't have a car center. I found Good Year nearby, though, thank the Lord.



That evening, we went to the Harbert Center to attend a screening of The Big Bad Swim. The venue was packed and it turned out to be a pretty good movie. Ishai Setton, the director, was there for a Q&A afterward, but I didn't stay for that.


After the movie, Crystal and I went to a WiFi cafe set up in the Harbert Center and got some food while I surfed the 'net. The strawberry tasted magnificent.

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That's pretty much the day. Sorry for taking so long with the update.

Next up is the final in the series: Sidewalk Fest (Part III)

Sidewalk Fest (Part I)

So, as promised, I have lots of pictures and anecdotes regarding my trip to Birmingham, AL to attend Sidewalk Fest. I didn't see as many movies as planned, but I had a really great time meeting people and taking photographs. It was also a good time getting away from it all, hanging out with my big sis, Crystal.

So, Crystal and I left Friday afternoon to make the 4-5 hour drive north to Birmingham. She came to my house to pick me up, and then we went over to her apartment nearby so she could pack, take care of her cat, Pierre, and then we would be on our way.


Pierre, being cute.

He kept bounding up and down the stairs chasing after my sister. He's sick right now, and can't go outside. I think he was following her just in case she opened the door, so he could escape. He had no such luck.



Bridge going over the Tensaw River. Below was like, an estuaury conservatory. Yes, the wetlands are very precious. Don't litter, folks.


When we reached Montgomery, AL, we stopped at a Waffle House to get some brunch. Our waitress was Doris. I should have gotten a picture of her.


Downtown Birmingham.

After driving in circles for about 20 minutes, we finally came upon our hotel.



Our home away from home for 2 nights.

It doesn't look like it in the photo, but that bed was so huge, and sooo very comfortable, and the pillows were so soft. . .


Birmingham at dusk.


The front of the Redmont Hotel at night. I found out later that it was newly renovated. From the interior design it looked like they took note of the period in which the hotel was built (1925). A lot of Art Nouveu influence was apparent in the design.


Opening night venue: Alabama Theater


Waiting in line


actor Joey Kern and Tim Skousen (dir. of The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang, with Justin Long via Joey's cell.

The opening movie night movie was The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang. It was hilarious. After the movie, director Tim Skousen and actor Joey Kern appeared to answer audience questions about the film. It was really great.


I have a thing for taking pictures of signs now. I guess it's the Graphic Designer in me fueling the compulsion.



I also have a thing for taking pictures of myself in mirrors. This is in the elevator on the way back to our hotel room.

I made the terrible mistake of not wearing my Onitsukas while walking around town. I had left them in the trunk of the car, and hadn't felt like retrieving them before our trek through downtown. My feet started to hurt, but fortunately, I got to recover during the movie. I wouldn't make the same mistake the next day.



Nothing like bedding down to a What Not to Wear marathon after a long day.

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Well, that about covers the first day of Sidewalk Fest. I took many more photos, if you'd like to see them, click here.

Greetings from Sidewalk

Right now I'm blogging from the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham at the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.

Opening night, I got to screen the movie The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang. It was directed by Tim Skousen and produced by the guys that brought us Napoleon Dynamite. If you've never heard of the latter movie, you may want to get out more. Anyway, the movie was awesomely hilarious. I laughed the whole way through, along with the rest of the audience. I'm really looking forward to the movie coming out on DVD. However as the director commented in the Q&A afterward (cast member Joey Kern was also there), there's a hold up with the distribution company (Sony), which sucks. But, he said the movie may be out by December, so here's to hoping.

I've been taking lots of photos as usual, but it I forgot my camera cord, so I need to buy a PC card reader from somewhere, so I can upload the pics. My sister and I are staying in this nice hotel in the area, and we got a special rate because we're attending Sidewalk Fest. Crystal (my big sis) is actually volunteering today, so I'll have to find some way to occupy myself. I'm not really in the mood to see many movies. It's just nice to be away from home and chill. I'll most likely walk around the city and take shots. I plan on getting some of my photography assignment done while I'm here.

Anyway, there are many details I'm leaving out, but I'll fill in the rest once I have pictures to back it up.

Later, for now.

Rebel with a very good cause

Welp. . . I got my new camera on Monday. It was waiting for me after I got home from photography class.




Of course I proceeded to take pictures of random stuff around the house. Then the next morning, I went to my neighbor's house and took photos of her adorable German children.



Click the above image to see more of my shots.

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Tomorrow I'll be heading to B'ham to attend Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. I may just buy another battery for my camera, as back-up, because I know I'll be taking lots of pics. I already have a backlog of images to show as is. That's why I started using my flickr account for easy upload.

Anyway, I'll have my laptop in tow at Sidewalk, and free WiFi is provided around the event, so I hope to be updatint with pictures while I'm there.

Stay tuned.

Oh, and if anyone is wondering what happened to the mural I'm doing, it's still going on, I just haven't uploaded the progress pictures in a while. So that's something else on my evergrowing to-do list.

Nat Nouveau colors & weekly forecast

Well, with Kendall's encouragement, I've been trying to talk myself into improving my digital coloring skills. I laid down the flats on the Natalie Nouveau piece this past Friday. I've yet to go any further.



After I drew the SLAM EVIL piece with Nat and Leroy, I suggested to Ken that he try coloring it. Using my flats as a reference, he got to task.



I really like the result. I'm a big fan of Ken's colors. He has a really soft touch and his strokes have a real organic quality about them.

....

This week I have a lot of work to do. I really screwed up in photography class and got the project due date mixed up, so now I have to pull an all-nighter to get my cyanotypes done.

Last week, I finally ordered the digital camera I've been wanting for a while, the Canon Digital Rebel xTi, that was just released this month (thanks to Ken for the heads up). It comes in the mail tomorrow, and I even got a confirmation call from UPS reminding me that someone needed to be home to sign for it, I suppose since it's such an expensive item. I could just pick it up whenever, but I want to be there to receive it so I can revel in the 10.1 megapixel goodness, before I have to head to the photo lab.

But then, the photo lab is going to be open from 3:30 to 5:30, and I'm hoping the package will be delivered before then. I can stay later than the scheduled lab hours because I'm an advanced student, and I'm definitely gonna need all that time.

This weekend I will be attending the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in Birmingham, AL. I went for the first time last year, and I had just gotten my laptop. They had free wireless at the different venues where the movies where playing. This time I'll have my laptop and new camera in tow, so hopefully it'll be a fruitful experience and I'll come back with some nice photos. I'm tagging along with my big sis, Crystal. She'll be volunteering on Saturday, so I'll have to find something to occupy my time. I'll watch a few movies and take some shots of the city. Birmingham has a really nice downtown atmosphere. I'm looking forward to this after all the stress of this week.

And then I have an evaluation scheduled with an orthodontist next Monday. . .sigh.

One day at a time, Sharon. One day at a time.

Good morning, Regret

By now you would think that I would be up
But my bed sheets shade the heat of choices I've made.
—"11 a.m." by Incubus

I wish.

introducing Natalie Nouveau

Ken dubbed me Natalie Nouveau after seeing the photos from the "Weekend from Awesome." I was wearing a tshirt with an Alphonse Mucha print on it. I really like the name and decided to create a character from it, which is what you see above.

I drew it Wednesday night on commercial breaks of Project Runway. I think that actually helped me with getting the figure accurate.

Today, I went up to my mom school to work on the mural once more. Turns out someone stole one of my tubes of paint and a paintbrush. Those tubes are around $6 a piece. Not cool. I was still able to work on the mural though, but it was frustrating using a different brush than I was used to.

The last period of the day, I got inspired to draw a picture of Natalie along with Ken's SLAM EVIL persona, Leroy rockWELL.



I'm really pleased with how this came out. It's pretty much how I pictured it in my mind. Yay for successful execution. If you haven't noticed, I tried to mimic Mucha's style with the art nouveau design elements ("stylized realism" at its best). I thought it would be hard to get the Leroy rockWELL character to fit in with everything. I used photo refs of Kendall to get the face right, and everything else just fell into place. The clouds on the bottom was totally spontaneous. Either I was being really experimental, or I was too lazy to draw their legs and feet. . . You decide.

911

Today I realize that there is a lot of reflection going on, but I've kept myself away fromo the mainstream media for the most part. However, It is interesting to think back on what was going on in my life years ago, how things have changed. . . how things have stayed the same.

I'm older, have had a lot of experiences. . . the jury's still out on whether or not I've come out the wiser, exactly, but I definitely have a slightly more mature view of things.

September 11, 2001, I was in my first semester at university, and now I'm in my last. I was ignorant of a lot of things, like the state of the world, the "bigger picture", and how intimate relationships are supposed to work. Now I know a lot more about all those things. It doesn't seem like I'm that much older, but at the same time I feel like those days were a lifetime ago. More like a life stage ago, and there seems to be little difference between the two.

Still in 5 years not much has changed in the world. People—young, innocent, no-so-innocent—are still dying in wars in one place or another. Children are still starving in Africa, and we now have more technological advances to distract us from the reality of the world we live in.

Until the metaphorical flood comes, that is.

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So, Yesterday I went to Pensacola Beach with my dad, 3 sisters, and paternal grandmother. It was raining, but I got some pretty nice photos out of it. I haven't been to Pensacola in forever, because during the summer it's really crowded. Still, despite the weather, yesterday, people were out surfing. I think the weather actually made for a better surf. Good times.

Kendall did this after I showed him the pics from the trip.


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I got my camera back from the Canon Repair Factory last week, and I was pretty happy about that. I bought a 1 gig memory card for it, so I could record more memory. Then, yesterday, I couldn't find my charger, so my battery ended up dying while on the beach. I resorted to using my lil sis and dad's cameras, and got a nice combo of photos.

Today, I looked for my charger again with no success. So I finally went to Best Buy and bought another one. *sigh*. I'll probably find my old one now, as things tend to go. But I couldn't go with a dead camera battery after just getting it fixed. I tell ya, if it's not one thing. . .

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School's going ok. I'm really fighting the pattern of behavior in procrastinating in photography, but not having much luck. Tomorrow is class, and I really need to finish shooting, because our first assignment is due Thursday, and cyanotypes are a time-consuming process.

However, tomorrow, I must get my hair done before class, 'cause it's lookig pretty bad.

I've also a backlog of pics I need to post, so I may just end up making pages for all of them.

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Ok, I'll end it here. There's been a lot of interesting things happening that I haven't blogged about, but I'll try to be more regular with the posts.

The Weekend from Awesome (part 2)

Ken's take at Steam.


Earlier that day, I went with my family to a nice restaurant called Zia's. Above is my roast beef, sweet potatoes, and dirty rice. It was really good. It was nice dining experience. Our waiter provided us with hot napkins to wipe our hands with. He really worked for his tip.


My little sister, Laura, about to tackle her plate of ribs. She may look small, but she can really put food away with frightening efficiency. Right after I clicked the shudder that section of ribs was gone.


While at the restaurant, I called Ken to schedule a time to meet. I wasn't sure what time my family would be done, so I originally set the meet at 3 pm. But, we ended up meeting at around 1:30. We were going to meet at this coffee shop near campus (Satori Sound), but it was closed. I suggested another shop nearby (Dr. Java). . also closed. So, we ended up going to Krystal to take advantage of their free WiFi.


Ken was helping me set up my blog using wordpress, but it didn't work out.

He showed me his sketchbook, and I got to view cool sketches done for him by some peeps from Satellite Soda, during his visit to San Diego Comic Con earlier this summer (read more about that here). I decided to add a personalized sketch of my own, and Ken drew something in my sketchbook, as well.


Tada! Ken graced me with this awesome self portrait. And you're probably wondering what the deal is with the feather. Or maybe you don't care, but I'll tell you anyway. Well, Saturday evening, when I took out the sketch to scan it, I found this feather intwined in the binding of my sketchbook. It must have gotten in there some kind of way while we were in Fairhope. I thought it made a cool memento, so it's taped to the page for posterity.

Check out Ken's blog to see the sketch I did for him.


Eventually, Ken broke out his Intuos3 6x8 to show me how it worked. I hava a measly Graphire 4x5, so it was a big difference, and his explanation of how the buttons worked was confusing. Plus, I was snapping pictures half the time.

Ken: Sharon, are you paying attention?
Sharon: Of course. *shutterclick*shutterclick*


After Krystal, we Ken suggests we head over to Smoothie King to partake of their delicious, uhm, smoothies.

On the way there, I saw these boots slung over the sign in the parking lot, and just had to snap a picture. It was just funny because of the area we were in, not quite the ghetto.


We drove downtown where I showed Ken this secluded little place called the English Park at St. John, downtown. It's really small and quaint, in the historic district. We chilled there for a bit. After While leaving, I got the urge to swing around this pole. Ken didn't have his camera ready the first time, so he asked me to do it again. (Great, Ken.). So I obliged, risking lead poisioning as a result of the paint chipping off the pole jabbing into my finger. It didn't, and the shot turned out great, so all is well.

Next, we drove over to Cooper Riverside Park, next to the Convention Center. After parking Ken informed me that he had to "go" really bad, so we went over to the Riverview Hotel across the street to make use of their facilities.

I went in the Ladies' Room, and there was this hatch open in the ceiling, which was really weird. I'm like, Ok, is there some type of Ocean's 11 heist going on or something here. . . ?



Kendall and I take in the view. They were doing construction down below putting a new front on the hotel.



We finally make it to Riverside Park (the wahduh). Ken gets a call from his best friend Dorrell, and proceeds to talk. . .

. . .and talk. . .

. . .and talk.


And then I get a call from my mom. . .

Mom: Hi, Sharon, how are things.<
Me: Yes, mother, I'm fine. Yes, I am in fact alive and breathing, not bound and gagged in the trunk of a black Mazda 6 on a one-way trip to a ditch on the side of some country road.
Mom: Ok, I just wanted to know when to expect you home.
Me: Uh-huh.



The personage depicted in this statue is Monsieur D'Iberville, one of the founders of Mobile. People have interesting ways of showing the love.



The only time I see good graffiti is on passing trains.


Ken continues his crusade to bring SexyBack.


We take a trip to Wal-Mart where Ken encouters this bastardized version of Iron-Man. It's blasphemous, I tell you. Blasphemous.

In an interesting turn of events, Ken ends up taking me home and meeting my folks. That was pretty surreal. He and my dad talked comics and Spider-Man. Then came the delicate subject of how me and Ken actually met.


Dad: So, Ken, you graduated from South?
Me: Uhm, no.
Dad: Well, did you go to school together?
Me:: Uhm. . .no.
Dad: Well, how did you meet??
Me and Kendall exchange nervous glances.
Ken: Yeah, Sharon. Tell him how we met. [innocent stare]
Me: Well, I met him on the internet, but it sounds really bad when you say it like that.

I wait for the crap to hit the fan. It doesn't and everything is cool. My dad was actually thought I was introducing to him someone I wanted to date. That was pretty funny. Anyway, it all went well.


It was getting late, and Ken had an hour and a half drive ahead of him back to Hattiesburg, MS. So, we took one last pic together.


Then he was gone.
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So, that was my how I spent my Labor Day weekend. I congratulate you for making it to the end of this entry. I had lots of fun, the best time I've had in a while. It's good just to get away sometimes. I know I spend way too much time indoors in front of the computer. Not good fodder for the photographer in me.

I'll be seeing Ken again at in October, I know, cuz I'm entereing his Soul Powered show. I'm in a rush right now, so there'll be another entry later today.

Check out Ken's take at Steam.