Dark Subject, Dark Composition

As with anything, there are rules in photography and rules in life. The rules in life are often hard facts whereas photography, an art, has rules that are loose.

Typically, I don’t aim for dark pictures, but some subjects and locations call for it. I felt this was one that called for it. Striking a balance between light and dark are usually important, but sometimes the darkness can illustrate the true darkness of the subject, a problem or the future.

The Photo:

In this photo, after someone called 911, the man tried to explain how sober he was to police and paramedics. The Metro Officer gave him a choice of the hospital or jail. After the man thought wholeheartedly about the two choices, he picked the hospital.

Prior to police arriving he fell over the edge of a wall, hit his head and then stumbled over to a set of steps leading down to the edge of the Cumberland River and passed out.

Police and rescue spend a considerable amount of time on intoxication calls. Officers often give the choice of a hospital visit or a jail visit in order to allow someone time to sober up or even seek help. The reasoning, is the fear of someone accidentally harming themselves just as this gentleman proved was likely. Of course not on purpose, but on accident.

Public Intoxication:

The FBI National Crime Report annually lists over 1,500,000 arrests for public intoxication. Of course, not all agencies report total statistics to the FBI.

Auto Vehicle Accidents:

An analysis of alcohol dependence among trauma center patients found that the prevalence of alcoholism was substantially higher among vehicular crash victims and other trauma patients than among the equivalent general population group. More than half of trauma patients with a positive BAC at the time of the trauma were diagnosed as alcoholics. – SOURCE: "Alcoholism at the Time of Injury Among Trauma Center Patients: Vehicular Crash Victims Compared with Other Patients,# Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 29, No. 6, 1997.

Crime and Alcohol:

Among the 11.1 million victims of violence each year, 1 in 4 were certain that the offender had been drinking before committing the crime. – U.S. Dept. of Justice

About 1 in 5 alcohol-related incidents involved a weapon other than the offender’s hands, feet, or fists. – U.S. Dept. of Justice

About a third of all convicted inmates in local jails described themselves as having been daily drinkers at the time of the offense. – U.S. Dept. of Justice

Alcohol and College:

Death: It is possible that more than 1,800 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol- related unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes -Hingson et al. 2009

Roughly 20 percent of college students meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder in a given year (8 percent alcohol abuse, 13 percent alcohol dependence). -Blanco et al. 2008

95% of all violent crime on college campuses involves the use of alcohol by the assailant, victim or both. – National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

Drinking Underage:

Excessive drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year, and cost the U.S. $24 billion in economic costs in 2010. –Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Treatment Vs. Criminal:

One study found that each dollar spent on substance abuse treatment saved $5.60 in terms of fewer arrests, incarcerations, food stamp use, and less child welfare and medical costs. In other words, if $75,000,000 were spent on public intoxication arrests last year, then $13,392,857.14 could have been saved and utilized for treatment. . – National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

“A man who drinks too much on occasion is still the same man as he was sober. An alcoholic, a real alcoholic, is not the same man at all. You can't predict anything about him for sure except that he will be someone you never met before.” ― Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye

Louis Armstrong in Nashville?

While only 2 people were before him on the streets of Nashville he said, “Okay folks, one more song is what we’re gonna do, then we’re gonna take a little break.” I was standing before Louis Armstrong reincarnated, in 2016.

It was as if he was standing before a huge crowd with Dean Martin by his side in an underground night spot of New York City in the 1920’s. Of course, that was the prohibition era and underground is where the party and music were huge, at a speakeasy.

As he sang, he would use a white towel to wipe his face… Which is exactly what the original Armstrong did.

"Hello Dolly, ......well, hello, Dolly
It's so nice to have you back where you belong
You're lookin' swell, Dolly.......I can tell, Dolly
You're still glowin'...you're still crowin'...you're still goin' strong
I feel that room swayin'......while the band's playin'
One of your old favourite songs from way back when
So..... take her wrap, fellas.......find her an empty lap, fellas
Dolly'll never go away again" – Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

Louis Armstrong was born in 1901 and fell into the modern music era in the 1920’s. It was a time of change and new record labels were popping up throughout the United States. ASCAP was established and commercial radio began a new chapter of paying royalties to play recorded sounds of artist. ASCAP stood for “American Society of Composers.

Yoga Mixed with Sleep at Bonnaroo

Bonnaroo 2016 in the morning, a mixture of sleeping and Yoga. 

"Everybody seems to wonder
What it's like down here
I gotta get away
from this day-to-day
running around,
Everybody knows
this is nowhere."

- Neil Young, Everybody Knows this is Nowhere

The Closest Thing to Woodstock for This Generation

Sleeping... It was a big thing after a day/night of concerts.

Bonnaroo is perhaps the closest thing to Woodstock that this current generation will ever witness. The crowd was approximately 50,000 this year in Manchester, TN. In the past, upwards of 80,000 music lovers gathered.

"But when I played Woodstock, I'll never forget that moment looking out over the hundreds of thousands of people, the sea of humanity, seeing all those people united in such a unique way. It just touched me in a way that I'll never forget." - Edgar Winter, Age 69.

You may recall the rocker, along with his older brother Johnny, were born albino. When he played at Woodstock in 1969 his band was called “The Edgar Winter Group.”

Woodstock drew a crowd of 400,000 fans in 3 days. Of course back then, there was no social media to propel the event that included 32 acts.

Leaving Bonnaroo by foot

Leaving Bonnaroo 2016 may be the hardest part for some. Saying goodbye to an imaginary world of music, peace and love can be tough, I would imagine. The late nights and early mornings in song can be relaxing at times, and motivating when you don't feel like moving. 

As I drove away I saw people hitchhiking and asking for rides. Where they all came from, we will never know. Did they all get along, mostly. 

“Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.” ― Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005)

Music brings all together

"I'm from Florida," he told me on Sunday. "I got here at 3AM on Wednesday... It was really, really great," he continued as he took his Gatorade bottle shower. He then talked about the concerts, the cinema, the people and how they all got along.

"Music is the expression of the movement of the waters, the play of curves described by changing breezes." Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

The Wall of Dreams

There was a wall inside Bonnaroo where people would write their dreams.

Some of the items...

"Meet my biological mother"
"Travel the world"
"Find the Love of my Life"
"Blow Millions"
"Ride on a Unicorn"
"Start a Business"
"Play Music Everyday"
"Have Sex on a Plane"
"Have a Baby"
"Play Music for People" 
"Express Sans Fear" or Express Without Fear

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."
-Harriet Tubman

Bonnaroo on Closing Day

Bonnaroo comes to a close today (6/12/16) and I have met a variety of people. Everyone from lawyers to recent high school graduates are in Manchester, TN to attend the musical event. It is a very diverse crowd at the 700 acre farm.

On Sunday, you find people asleep everywhere. In some areas, it is necessary to step over people in certain camping areas.

It is not uncommon to see someone in their birthday suit bathing in the water fountains, rinsing off days of dirt and stench. Needless to say, some areas smell worse than others.

And yes, this guy was breathing.

Bonnaroo Facts (They do surveys):

• During the event, high fiving is something that everyone does. In fact, 42% of Bonnaroo goers report that they high fived 101+ people over the weekend.
• The most used social media app at Bonnaroo was FaceBook followed by SnapChat and the third most used app was Instagram.
• 26.6% of Bonnaroo goers report finding love at Bonnaroo while 73,4% did not.
• 60% of Bonnaroo fans say the most important thing to do at the event is to "Radiate Positivity."
• As far as politics go, 80.5% of music lovers at Bonnaroo plan to vote in the presidential election while 19.5% don't plan on voting.
• 22.3% of festival goers have never been to Tennessee before, until this year.

Bonnaroo 2016

Bonnaroo 2016. 

The High Five

After your vehicle is searched (not all, but mine) and you make it into the sacred Bonnaroo grounds, a line to get into the performance area awaits you.

High fives are a requirement at Bonnaroo 2016. If you don’t slap a hand in front of you, you may be looked down upon.

For any OCD friends out there, I doubt you would want to know the back story of where some of the hands have been prior to the high five.

Standing Tall

I never aim to be political, I simply try to gather stories through photograph.

Whether you agree or disagree with the suggestion of the Sheriff of Rutherford County stepping down in light of the recent indictments handed down by the Federal courts after an FBI investigation, it takes gumption to stand out above your colleagues and make a request for a public official to step down. It takes courage to stand out and do what you believe to be right.

This morning, lone Rutherford County Commissioner Pettus Read made a request for Sheriff Robert Arnold to step down or resign as the lead law enforcement officer in the county. Sheriff Arnold is facing a maximum of up to 95 years in prison if convicted.

This is a photo from the event this morning on the steps of the Rutherford County Courthouse. In his left hand, a county commission handbook.

He's So Nashville

If this man is SO Nashville, what do non Nashvillians say? "Nashville is wicked. It's like a proper music community, but it's also quintessentially American. You bump into people there with cowboy hats that spit in jars and call you 'boy.' I just love that." Ed Sheeran

The Gangrel

Interesting faces make for interesting photos.

Meet Gangrel. The 47 year old Florida native and pro wrestler was in the WWF in 1995 and later from 1998 to 2001. In 1999 they made a WWF action figure in his likeness. How many people have you met in real life that have their own action figure?

His real name is David Heath and he has two children. I know what you’re thinking, he looks as if he would have eaten them by now. But, I have to say in reality he seemed to be a pretty nice fella.

In high school Heath was said to be a top notch football player. A serious neck injury closed out the football days early. It was thought that he would never be able to continue his love for sports, but after much rehab he was able to move on. In 1988, he debuted as a wrestler.

Heath has appeared in multiple wrestling themed movies over the years and has even been in TV series. Some of the more recent TV shows you may remember him in include Cougar Town and Star Trek: Renegades (both from 2014).

Today, Gangrel the Vampire lives in California home. 

Me and Wrestling? Hmmm

I attended a wrestling match and it was good entertainment. The event was held at the National Guard Armory in Murfreesboro, TN. 

One of the older fans in the crowd told me that he has enjoyed wrestling for the past 70-years. When I asked him who his all-time favorite was he responded, “Johnny Valentine.”

In the Golden Era of wrestling from the 1940’s to the 1960’s, Valentine alternated between being a villain in some matches and a hero in others. His wrestling career ended in 1975 when he broke his back in a plane crash. Valentine died due to health complications in 2001.  

The event was part of the Arcadian Wrestling Association, owned by Leah Hulan (former Ms. Tennessee).

“When I was a kid at four years old, that's when I started amateur wrestling with my dad and family. And when that's instilled in you, it never goes away.” - Dwayne Johnson

Young Drummer Hitting a Lick

He looked as if he were maybe 10. As for his drum set… It consisted of buckets that once contained pickles, chlorine and more. Of course, it is not the drums that make the artist.

“Stamina is the force that drives the drumming; it's not really a sprint.” Neil Peart (Rush)

Clothing makes the man... or band?

Seldom can you actually see the drummer in bands. I think I know why in some cases. You never know what the drummer is wearing from the waist down… until you go behind the band.

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." - Mark Twain

Homeless Sign

He was holding a cardboard sign that read, “Homeless Need Help, Thank – You, God – Bless.”

Little Drummer Boy

At age 14 he travels each year between New Orleans, where his mother lives and Nashville, where his father lives. He spends one school year at each location. As long as he keeps his grades up, he is allowed to hit the streets to drum on the sidewalk in order to make money.

As for the drumming, he taught himself his techniques, which are spectacular.

He said that his dad had a bunch of buckets laying around the house, because his dad was a panhandler, and he got the idea to use them as drums.

Talent would be an understatement.

"I taught myself how to play the guitar, I taught myself how to play the drums, and I kind of fake doing both of them. But drumming comes more natural to me, and it just feels better." -  Dave Grohl, Nirvana and later the Foo Fighters

Native American

His long black hair stood out among the tourist that lined the streets of lower Broadway in Music City. He wore a single grizzly bear claw around his neck adorned with a turquoise stone.

He walked with a purpose, strong and proud. He stood about six foot two, if not taller. As we talked he confirmed that he is a Native American Indian. I shot a few photos of him and in conversation he said that he plays both lead and bass guitar around the Nashville area.

History tells us that Native American Indians thought of the grizzly bear as being a mighty force, which they are. No doubt, it is one of the most powerful and fierce animals to come up against in the woods.

Some Indians today wear a grizzly bear claw from their neck as it is thought to ad protection to them and bring good health. In fact, the grizzly has long been a part of American Indian rituals and celebrations.

At one point, there were about 50,000 grizzly bears living in North America. Today, the numbers are thought to be less than 2,000.

Native Americans Population:

The National Congress of American Indians reports that 2.9 million American Indian or Alaska Natives live in the United States today. That number accounts for 0.9% of the total U.S. population.

Alaska has the highest population of American Indians followed by Oklahoma and then New Mexico. 

Old Lodge Skins in the movie Little Big Man stated: "This boy is no longer a boy. He's a brave. He is little in body, but his heart is big. His name shall be "Little Big Man."

Vietnam at age 17

“I lost my older brother in Vietnam,” he told me while looking away to think. “When we joined the Army he was 19 and I went in at only 17 years old,” he then paused… “I did two tours.”

Mark Thiebold, who calls a tent his home in Nashville, TN, served our country in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army while in Vietnam. Total, he served in the Army for 12 years both in America and abroad.

Thiebold went into Vietnam in 1971. At the time, the United States Government was sending troops from the 82nd Division into both South Korea and Vietnam (1969 and into the mid 1970’s). The 82nd also worked side by side the 101st in some operations. He told me, “My job was to blow up bridges and build bridges, we killed innocent people.”