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It has been two weeks since my last installment, longer since last I posted any work. I’m on a bit of a holiday, a break, taking a rest you see. I’m not sure how long it’ll be but I planned a month off.  Could be more but I’ll do my best to continue with these installments consistently.

Camera 4 x 5 Speed Graphic

Film Kodak

Lens 127mm

Shutter & Aperture 1/100 @ f5.6

George Herman Ruth (The Babe) is an American baseball legend of the roaring 20’s. I’m sure there are many of you that have never seen a baseball game in your life but you still know the name and the legend. His records stood for decades, some broken as late as the 70’s. He hit home runs on demand, womanised, trained with hot dogs and beer, loved kids and brought joy to many fans.

Many years after retirement fans came together to honour The Babe on the 25th anniversary of Yankee Stadium, 13 June 1948. He was ill from cancer and his body language showed this. Shoulders down, heavy head, using the bat as a cane he stood and received a thunderous applause from a packed house.

Nat Fein was the photographer behind this well thought out winner of the 1949 Pulitzer. The Babe standing apart from the players, hunched over, almost a ghost of the strong record making machine of his earlier years and yet still a man of men. His legendary number 3 worn with pride for the last time. The number was to be retired and Fein knew this. The impact of the number did more for this photograph than any front on could have. It was the last public appearance for the number and for The Babe. He would die two months later on 16 August. He will live on in stories and in this photo forever.

I must apologise for missing a week. I was too busy to even post a draft last week. I’ve actually been very busy this week as well but I’ve made the effort even though it is a rushed one. I hope you enjoy it despite my whinging.

Camera 4 x 5 Speed Graphic

Film Kodak

Lens 127mm

Desperation. It grips every one of us at varying levels. How far would you go? Could you imagine shooting a police officer at the age of 15 and then taking a hostage?

Frank Cushing was working the photographic beat one Summer afternoon. He was waiting to photograph a couple of victims of a hold up. In the car next to him a police radio put out an alert. A police officer had been shot, a hostage was taken and it was right down the street!

Frank abandoned his assignment and went to investigate the scene of the crime. Two police officers had stopped a 15 year old to question him about a robbery. The boy, Ed Bancroft, took out a pistol and shot one of the officers. He fled into an alley where he grabbed another 15 year old, Bill Ronan, as a hostage.

Both ends of the lane were quickly blocked off. Ed began to threaten the police warning them not to come closer or he would shoot the hostage. He fired a few times towards the police to show he was serious.

Meanwhile our photographer on the scene took a photo from the end of the alley. He knew the photo was a waste as he was too far away. The police began to move in on Ed. He again screamed his threats and backed them up with another shot at the police. Frank knew he had to move quickly to get a closer shot. He calculated which house would give him a good vantage point and knocked on a door. The owner let him in and Frank slowly made his way to the rear porch and took his photo that won him the Pulitzer for 1948.

A police officer made his way silently behind the fence where Ed was seen in the picture. He stood up at the right time and whacked him on the head with the butt of a weapon. As it turns out the boy had nothing to do with the robbery in question.

Frank later tells, “I was wondering whether the kid would shoot me, but I wanted the picture.” In an age where hold ups were rare and close photos due to the limited focal length even rarer, Frank’s photo was genuinely remarkable.

Yesterday I began my riding with familiar roads I’ve driven on many times. It was a decent ride of 13km’s to start me off. I’m still getting used to the bike and the damage the seat does to my bum. Need to harden up a bit. See a map of my ride here.

Today I was feeling a little bit more adventurous so I threw the bike in the car and drove down to Tarren Point for a longer ride around Captain Cook Drive. It’s mostly flat with safe shoulders and low on traffic. I was able to get into the swing of things very quickly and before I knew it I finished my 25km route in 1:07. That’s an average of 22km/h which is ok for a newbie who’s rather unfit if I’m being honest. At one stage a roadie was following me for about 2km’s. I was rather proud of myself leading the way when he flew past me like I was standing still. His legs were pumping away and instead of a deflated ego I just watched him disappear and promised myself I’d be that guy one day. Map of the ride here.

Yesterday I bought myself a mean little light road machine. It’s certainly not the top of the line road bike but it’s not half bad at all. It’s fitted with a complete Shimano 105 set and is a mix of carbon/alloy compact frame. The top part is carbon while the bottom alloy.

I’m about to head out to pick up some nice Shimano RO99 shoes and I’ll be ready to roll and fall over at the lights because I’ve never ridden clips before.