Jay Maisel may be mellowing.

Odds are I will regret writing that headline by the end of the week.  After all, the first day of our class with Jay was pretty much all-Jay-all-the-time.  As it should be. Yesterday, Jay was showing only his own images.  Today, we will begin with him reviewing samples of work we brought as a 'portfolio'.  I doubt there will be as much laughing today as there was yesterday.

After the lecture Monday, he sent us out to shoot.  A few of us when to the Union Fair. I met a winner.

I shot her as she and her sisters and mother, Megan, were herding their oxen back to a stall.  Yes. Oxen.

Last night, Jay was the featured speaker at the Rockport Opera House.  He explained he's now working on producing a number of themed books featuring his work and travels during the past 50 years.  He showed 300 images - and we all wanted to see more.

As for today, wish me luck.

Day 1 with Jay Maisel

This morning I begin another weeklong workshop at Rockport's Maine Media Workshop.  For a week, along with about ten other photographers, I'll be studying with Jay Maisel.  This is a not-to-be-missed lifetime opportunity.

I know a couple of guys who have also studied with Jay. Their feedback is that he's tough, inspiring, demanding, fair, and a genius.

From experience, I know these workshops are intense.  At the start, they say that you've given yourself a huge gift, that for a week you will think about nothing else than being a better photographer.

I've tried to prepare for this week.  I have watched a half dozen videos featuring Maisel, seen numerous bios and profiles, and read his latest book, and begun to notice in some of my old work that I was doing a few of the things he recommends.

Wish me luck.  I'll try to post some thoughts during the week. I'll try.

Val's Drive-In, Lewiston, Maine

This small town in southwestern Maine is known for a few things.  It's the place where Sonny Liston "knocked out" Muhammed Ali. It's the home of top-ranked Bates College. And since 1974, Lewiston has been home to Val's Drive-In which still serves up burgers, shakes, and fries, delivered to your car to the accompaniment of '50's-60's music.

      '50s rock and roll, poodle skirts, and a warm summer evening.  The way life should be.

Last night was a busy one in Lewiston.  The annual Great Falls Balloon Festival was over by the river, drawing as many as 100,000 visitors during the weekend.  And a bunch of them stopped at Val's.

Here's what they saw.

Hola!

While it's raining and cold in Virginia, it's sunny and 70 degrees in Lisbon and Spain, where we spent fourteen days.  

Lisbon is a busy, energetic port while Barcelona is grand, extravagant, boisterous and very tasty.  

In between those places, we sailed on Windstar Cruise's Wind Surf and luxuriated in a James Beard Foundation-food and AKAWineGeek.com gourmet travel experience.  There was much food and wine and sightseeing at Spanish ports (Ibiza, Almeria, Tarragona, Malaga, Tangier).

There was also photography.

Neither rain nor clouds nor cold will sway the tourists from their appointed rounds.

Doesn’t matter if the temperature was 42 degrees, the sky was cloudy, and it was raining.  Still the visitors were visiting.

Lafayette Square, on Pennsylvania Avenue, is where you can see the front of the White House.  

It’s behind two layers of metal crowd control racks, a short stone wall, and a ten-foot high, spike-tipped metal fence.  And don’t forget security in front of you, behind you, on buildings in front and back ... and still the visitors come.

Years ago, you used to be able to drive down Pennsylvania avenue, past the White House on the left, and wave.  Now, years later, it’s a big park and plaza. The Avenue is closed to traffic, protected by two-foot high metal traffic barriers. It’s welcoming, not overly restrictive.  But in the past two decades, it's clear something's been lost.  

The tourists are coming!

In truth, the tourists never stopped coming.  A brief walk around the Mall is a fine way to spend a few weekend hours.

The Memorial's an easy target.  Doesn't take much imagination.  Moving moments occur every 15 minutes.  Visitors with tracing paper, touching the name of their loved one. Vets gathering to remember a buddy.

Onward to the Monument.  On this low-50s day, people were flying kites, walking and playing softball.

Across Constitution and up 14th street, you come to the White House.  And even though it's cool, and you may be wearing gloves and a hat, the tourists pause to look at the back yard of the President. And everybody wants a picture.

There! I found my theme.  

The Critics

About 18 months ago, I started a "picture of the day" project.  It was a good way to train myself to always be looking, not just for a shot, but to see there might be a shot, and be ready to get it.

At the Naples (Fla.) Art Association building, I found "The Critics".

The association has a gorgeous. large, two-story building including two exhibition spaces, a workroom, and a generous library of books, magaines and videos.  It is a wonderful resource and should you find yourself in the area, even on vacation, work this place into your itinerary.

Monumental picture

From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, down the Washington Mall, to the Capitol building which is currently under restoration.  

Coincidentally, Cuba's El Capitolio in Havana, is also being restored and has scaffolding around it.

Has Cuba changed?

That's what many of my friends asked when they learned I went back to Cuba, for a second visit, as 2015 wrapped up.

My answer is "Everything, and nothing."

Since my first photo workshop, led by Peter Turnley in 2012, the US has decided to 'normalize relations' with the Communist island, so close to Miami.  Expectations of hope and change are high among business people and many Americans believe that Starbucks will soon be on every street corner, Havana hotels will feature Heavenly beds, and a Shake Shack will be opening soon.

Ain't gonna happen. The US embargo preventing business deals like those which are exploding in Tehran right now.  Only an Act of Congress can withdraw it.  It is fantasy to expect the Cuban economy to expand and prosper soon.

What (also) hasn't changed is the warmth of the Cuban people.  

As a street photographer, I am more likely to train my lens on a taxi driver or a family picnicking than I am a statue or a sunset.  With a bit of Spanish study, I found that "Buenos Dias" and a smile will get many a conversation started.  The residents of Old Havana, living in buildings that quite truly are falling down around the ears, are eager to talk with Americans and welcome you into their homes.

Here are some of my photographs of last November's trip. The workshop was led by NYC street photographer Steve Simon,

Four days after ...

Here in Virginia, outside DC, we are digging out from a 25-inch snowfall.
Four days after the first flakes fell, while we were lunching at Mookies BBQ in Great Falls - even some commuter two-lane roads are no wider than one lane.  

Rush-hour tomorrow, by which many people think things "should" be back to normal, may be a real mess.

The good news is that the temp has been near 40 degrees today, with some sun.

So we've been getting melting - which is today's image.            Melting.