The SnapClap

photo by: www.thesnapclap.com

Like my mother before me, my stay in the District of Columbia will be short lived.  My heart beats to the din of New York’s poly-rhythmatic-super-metropolis-soundtrack.  So, I guess it was inevitable that I return to the birthplace of the term rush hour.

However, to say that I won’t miss DC would be a lie.  I love DC.  As a matter of fact, I’ve written about it a few times, like here and here, and I’ve take some cool pictures here like these, and this one here.  So yeah, I had fun here in the District.

I remember when I first got here, I ‘discovered’ the Real DC morning show in WHUR, Toney, TC and George.  I felt like I was beginning to connect with the city.  That radio show was my first favorite thing about DC.  And then WHUR replaced the show Steve Harvey, I was heated. (especially since I just left Mr. Harvey on WBLS in New York.  

Here’s a short list of some things I’ll miss:

• The size of the city here, it’s like everything is accessible, and nothing is too far away.  I like that fact that my rent wasn’t high, but I was still only 20 minutes from downtown (that does NOT happen in New York)
• The Metro, even though I have my issues with it.
• Ben’s chilli bowl, thanks to my man Bill.
• Ozio’s and Stan’s, Ozio’s for the Friday night happy hour and Stan’s for the drinks
• The professional landscape for black folks.  I’ve met lots of people here who are really, really doing it on a preofessional level, you know?And there seems to be a concentration here in the Disctrict.  Networking functions here take on a different meaning, for instance, I went to a happy hour for black Ivy League graduates, I would never find myself in that environment in New York.
• U street, even though it was only three years ago when my cousin witnessed a shootout in broad daylight on U street Go figure, ’cause now you can’t even afford to live on U street.
• The diversity In DC, you might meet someone from Wyoming; you’ll be hard pressed to bump into a Wyoming-ite in NYC.
• Horace and Dickie’s and the Florida Avenue Marketplace Flea Market on Saturdays, This was like my Saturday routine. Oh yeah, and that dude with the barbecue pit next to the barbershop on H street, his brisket sandwich is unparalleled, the brisket melts like butter.
• I’ll even miss the short buildings too.

So, before my final ride up 95 North, I’d like to give a stupid crazy phat shoutout to the Disctrict and all of its residents and denizens!  My time here was cool and DC will always be a special place to me.  PEACE!

photo by www.thesnapclap.com.

This is when I was doing my little abstract photography thing. I always experimenting with light and film, and seeing what comes out. Going digital has made this so tremendously easy since the feedback is instant. But I do remember those days waiting for my film to be developed and then ordering prints. it was like waiting for exam grades or something.

At any rate, what does this picture remind you of? And can anyone figure out what it is? (hint, read the title of this post; c’mon its too easy!)

Photo by the workers’ opposition

I Have GOT to get myself to CUBA, . . NOW! I can only imagine how dope it must be there, well at least for photography.   You know, the old cars, no Starbucks, real food, real culture, the beach, baseball, Jazz and who could forget; the Cigars. . . ahhh, the cigars.  I really don’t know why we still have an embargo against them.  I’m not trying to stand on a soapbox or anything, but c’mon. 

, photo by @@-prats-@@.

Photo by lucy_nka

The Metro stations in DC always reminded me of a space station; all futuristic and what not.

This morning while riding a DC Metro Train to work I noticed an advertisement.  The ad featured extremley detailed instructions on how to protect yourself and others from the flu.  You know; wash your hands, cover your mouth, all that jazz.  Really and truly, I don’t understand why they have instructions for something that basic but overlook the real important stuff, like how to ride the Metro properly!

Look, I might be jaded or too “New York” or whatever you wanna call me, but DC folks, ya’ll don’t do public transportation properly, you just don’t.  You know how to stop the spread of germs, but you’re horrible when it comes to public transportation.   So, in lieu of a public service  to educate riders sponsored by the DC Metro, I’ve come up with my own list. 

Rules for Riding the DC Metro

For Metro Passengers:

1. Take your bag off – I’m tired of getting knocked around by your bookbag; or trying to shuffle around your shopping bags.  Take your bags off and sit them in your lap or on the floor.
2. Move to the center of the car/ back of the bus – There’s MAD room back there people!  Why stand on top of me, when you can sit next to that crazy looking federal employee.
3. Don’t stand in the doorway – This is self explanitory.
4. Collapse your baby carriages – Your carriage takes up the whole isle!  Wait a minute, how old is your kid anyway?!?  Listen, if his feet touch the ground when he’s in the stroller, guess what; he’s too old for a stroller.
5. Say Excuse me (!) – Come on!  How rude.  Just say excuse me and I’ll get out of your way.  And vice/versa; when I say excuse me, you should get outta my way, don’t just stand in the doorway; MOVE!
6. Be courteous of seniors/pregnant women – A co-worker of mine was pregnant, and  no one ever, never ever gave up their seat for her?  What kinda people ride the Metro and won’t give up their seats, for a woman who’s preggers?  What gives?
7. Let the passengers exit, BEFORE you attempt to enter the car – I CANNOT STRESS THIS ONE ENOUGH.  You cannot enter, before we exit; it just don’t work that way.  Be patient, wait till I get off the train before you take my seat.

For Metro Employees:

1. Easy on the brakes – Bus, train, it doesn’t matter.  The Metro drivers in DC are all herkey jerky on the brakes!  Drivers, please be considerate, there’s a whole bunch of people in here, and they all got bookbags on, and they refuse to move to the back of the bus.  When I ride the bus in DC, I find myself holding on tight even when I sit down!  That’s unacceptable!
2. Clean Metro buses thoroughly - I don’t understand why every bus in DC smells like urine.  It’s just not possible.  Every bus smells like urine!?!  And it’s not like its just in the back of the bus, or the front or whatever; its like a ubiquitous urine, you know?  No matter where you sit, it smells like a port-a-potty, and that’s no way to start or finish a day.  (Notice I said clean thoroughly.  Because sometimes they do a half ass job, so you smell Pine-sol and urine which is almost worse than urine alone.)  
3. Be short when announcing Metro station stops – I kid you not, there’s a conducter on the Metro, who thinks she’s an auctioneer.  She never stops talking over the train’s intercom system!  She’s like, “This is the Red Line to, Shhhaaaaaaaaaaaaady Grove.”  And then proceeds to tell the weather the time, the stock report, horoscopes.  I exaggerate, but only a little.  She really doesn’t shut up.  How many times are you gonna tell us what time it is?  We know what time it is fool, its one minute later than then last time you told me!  Please spare me; I have a watch, thanks.

Now look, you might get mad, and say I’m hating or whatever but you know what?  I like the Metro.  you guys got a really cool looking subway system, with the lights at the edge of the platform that pulse when the train is arriving.  You guys actually have a schedule with a display that alerts you to the next train.  Come on, that’s COOL!  Plus the whole “left side walk right side stand” thing you do on the escalators is genius! 

So, I’m mentioning the above suggestions out of love.  Consider it, corrective criticism, or a public service announcement or something. In New York, these things are second nature to us; we’re had a subway for like a hundred years!  So, I understand that someone has got to tell you DC folks how it’s done.  I don’t expect for you guys to get it right away, but if you do anything, just please take your bookbags off; it’s the least you could do, thanks!

Photo by www.thesnapclap.com

Photo by www.thesnapclap.com

Photo by www.thesnapclap.com

I was practicing my panning technique.  What do you think?

Photo by www.thesnapclap.com

Photo by Rob Vincent

New York does mornings different.  It just does.  Especially those bitingly cold January mornings.  The sun and neon lights reflect off the yellow cabs, brightening what would be an entire city of overcast icy blue skies, cop cars, steel and glass.  Manhole covers spew vapor and steam from towering orange cylinders.  Nobody speaks.  Its too cold.  No one looks up from the ground as they walk to work, the sidewalks are icy.  The sky scrapers stand steadfast defying their long shadows created by the low winter sun.  Yeah, I miss home.

Photo by www.thesnapclap.com

Last Summer I got my hands on a Tamron 28 – 75mm 2.8 lens.  I figured I try out its limited macro capabilities at the national Botanical Gardens here in DC.  At the time I was living close to H street in north east DC and I decided to walk from my crib to the Botanical Gardens.  Needless to say I arrived at the botanical gardens 25 minutes before they closed and drenched with sweat (it was pretty hot that day.)

The Botanical gardens was pretty ill, they all types of exotic vegetation and what not, it was pretty dope.  So, I’m busy shooting flowers and plants, just getting into the zone, you know?  I’m all about the pictures.  Next thing I knew, it was closing time.  After walking all damned day, and taking pics and carrying around my camera bag, I was parched.  I headed over to Capital Brewery across form Union Station and ordered some sweet potato fries and a Capitol Kolsh beer!

As I sat at the bar, I began to look over the pictures I had taken.  So I got my camera out, I’m futzing with my camera, looking at different settings and what not, etc.  A few of the bartenders were like, “OH, you’re a photographer, lets see what you got?”  I proudly turned my camera’s screen to them and displayed the flora I had recently photographed.  One guy looked at me, looked me up and down and said, “flowers?!? All you got is FLOWERS?!?  What type of photographer are you? You just got flowers.”

Sort of like puzzled and confused, I explained to him that I had a thing for Macro photography; it was something that I wanted to explore, but I don’t think he got it.  Then I realized, I probably ruined this guy’s whole perception of like black masculinity, you know?  That day I was wearing something like, timberland boots, green camouflage army fatigues with a matching hat and do-rag and an oversized Akademks shirt or something, you know?  Basically, I was “super-black-hip-hop-stereotype-guy” that day.  I see it now from the bartender’s perspective; its like here I come strollin’ in, a big, black, bald, superblack, sweaty, hip hop guy; with pictures of flowers.  They weren’t expecting no macro shots of flowers and exotic shrubbery!  They wanted like, rappers and blunts and women with pum-pum shorts or something, you know?  

I mean, they were so disappointed, it was kinda funny.  Well, I make no apolgies for what I photograph.  I happen to like Macro photography and shooting flowers and stuff.  A black man can’t even take pictures of girly flowers in America without his masculinity being questioned!  This is an atrocity!  I’m young, gifted and black!  I tkae pictures of whatever I want to!  WHAT!!  LOL! 

I’m just playing.  But for real, they were confused.  I don’t know why; maybe it was clothing, maybe it was the subject matter?  I don’t know?  I can’t be becasue of bad pictures, becasue these pictures are awesome, right!  Well, what do you think?

photo by Marcus Woollen

Growing up in New York city there a few things that you learn and accept about your environment. You don’t realize it, but New Yorkers see the sun less then folks in other places.  Why?  You see, in New York (especially in the city), there’s always something obstructing the horizon line; a building, a stadium, a statue; something!  Oddly enough, there’s one day a year when the sun perfectly aligns with 42nd street in Manhattan, this phenomenon is call the Manhattan Equinox.  Granted, many of these structures that obstruct the horizon line are beautiful in their own respect, but sometimes you just wanna see the sun crawl down the clouds and gingerly tuck itself under the horizon line; and sneak out of view.

While in college at SUNY Albany, I became a radio DJ at my school’s radio station WCDB 90.9fm.  Albany, is located in the Hudson Valley with the Hudson river low lands on one side and hills and mountains on the other.  In addition, the campus of SUNY Albany features tall very slender; sort of obelisk-looking buildings that stand higher above almost anything in at least a three or four mile radius, maybe more.  As a result, when you peer out of the bank of long, thin, rectangular, almost ceiling to floor, windows in radio station’s master control room; you were afforded a clear unobstructed view of the horizon.

My first radio show slot was 5pm to 8pm.  It was a Jazz slot, but I wavered from the format on occasion.  One of my favorite deviations was D’Angleo’s Cruisin’ (Wet Remix).  I’d put it on just as the sun was making its final appearance for that day.  Cruisin’s extended 6 minute plus extended mix was the perfect soundtrack for a city boy’s budding love affair with the setting sun.  The radio station broadcast booth would be all aglow as the orangey red-yellow sun would mix with the blue sky into a pink purpley melange of “relaxatory” goodness when coupled with D’Angelo’s Cruisin’.  The colors would come through the narrow windows and create weird long shadows on the control surfaces of the radio station equipment, and I would kick back and chill. I imagined it was perfect music to drive home to after a long day at the office, although I was only 19 and still wet behind the ears.

After undergrad, I came back to NYC and went to law school and lived in Brooklyn and forgot all about the sun. However, one of the first things I noticed when I moved to Washington DC, (with the height restrictions on buildings and such) were the sunsets.  It was like, everyday I wish I had my camera as I left work. Finally, I knew what it was like to leave the office; amid the sunset, cruisin’.  Finally, it all made sense. After many long days at the office, I can appreciate the song, and sunsets, all the more.

Alot of folks never heard this remix, so I figured I share it, along with a photo of a New York sunset.

Life’s up and downs
Photo by CATeyes

This picture is off the hook! I mean, there are alot of great pictures that I’ve seen on Flickr, ALOT! But this one its, just, amazing. The colors, the composition; just perfect. Its sharp, its clear; this picture is perfect.

Especially considering the fact that Coney Island’s Astroland and the surrounding attractions may never be the same. Last time I checked the land at Astroland had bee sold to a private investor to be developed into an entertainment complex and condos.

Well, take a look at this photo. Imagine the first dip of the cyclone, smell the sea in the air, hear the roller coaster clanking as it rolls over the wobbly wooden supports, get a Nathan’s hot dog and say goodbye to Brooklyn. Bye.

(by the way, the track above is an “EXCLUSIVE” Crooklyn Dodgers pt3. Produced by 9th Wonder featuring Mos Def, Jean Grae and Memphis Bleak.)

Photos by www.thesnapclap.com

Apparently I ride the bus with a staunch vegetarian, and his name is Gabriel.  I noticed these signs posted on the bus stop at 21st and Rhode Island a few months ago.  They showed up for a few mornings in a row, and then stopped just as mysteriously as they started.  Perhaps the name ‘Gabriel’ references God’s messenger, the arch angel Gabriel.  Maybe this person views their message of vegetarianism with religious fervor; or even more, views vegetarianism and religion as one in the same.

While I can’t claim to be fervent about eating my veggies, theoretically speaking, I get the point.  For instance, I just read about a survey that was just conducted on young children that focused on fast food restaurant brand awareness.  Needless to say, out of about 60 some odd kids, only 2 had never eaten at Mickie-D’s. Is that what I want for my kids? Do I want them to know McDonald’s before they can read?

I know there’s a giant leap between vegetarianism and McDonald’s and all that, but honestly it’s one of the things that come to my mind; McDonald’s, hamburgers, processed foods etc.  Veggies have been supplanted by Mc-fast foods, at the expense of our health and for the benefit of schedules.  I know moderation is key and all that, but we live in a country of excess, you know? Beef, its what’s for dinner, . . and breakfast and lunch too.

So, I’ve been contemplating becoming a veggie. . . at least on a schedule.  Maybe like, one week on, one week off or something?  I know one thing; I’ll never cut out fish!  Not that I like fish so much, its just that I don’t see myself eating Not-Dogs and Morningstar patties everyday you know?  I mean, I eat ‘em; but not like everyday.  I know I’m conditioned to eat meat, i know, i know.  Honestly, as of late, I’ve been eating so much garbage I could do without meat for about a month.  I need to detoxify.  Perhaps I identify with Gabriel’s message?

Well, at any rate, just thought I’d share some interesting photos from my bus stop and help Gabriel spread the word.

Photo by www.thesnapclap.com

I noticed this sign while filling up at the gas station.