Anyone Can Be a Photographer?

For the past handful of years, I've been watching camera companies advertise their products by telling viewers that anyone can be a photographer. Each time, I cringe, just a little.
I will never deny that professional photographers can take bad photos, or that, conversely, amateur photographers can take good ones. I always wonder, though, how many ordinary people out there are of the intelligence and disposition to figure out what they need to learn and practice in order to have a professionals' tools at their disposal.
As an art teacher, and as someone who is trained in many things, but untrained in many other pursuits which I enjoy, there's a lot that I have to say. ...but I think Cody Ellerd's article in Seattle Bride Magazine says it better, as an account of an amateur shooting alongside of a professional. Perhaps anyone can be a photographer, but when a couple or a family wants that special moment captured, just anyone won't do.

Project Guitar

Devin picked up with Washburn G10-V, 'as-is', at a garage sale, for $20; broken bridge, unresponsive electronics, missing locks on the nut. Herein follows the account of my restoration of this guitar:

I would have loved to keep the Kahler surface-mount tremolo bridge--Kahler is about the only company that makes a sturdy, metal-capable surface-mount tremolo (as opposed to Bigsby, and such, with which I would be afraid to dive-bomb)--but parts for this bridge are scarce, at best, and a new one would cost as much as a new guitar. I also didn't want to drill out an opening for a strat-style bridge, which would also cost as much as a new guitar, especially since I'm not ready to do it myself, and would need a luthier friend to do the work.
So, I gave it a fixed bridge. My installation of the bridge is the only thing which is wonky--a little too far back, so the 12th fret harmonic lies slightly in 13th fret territory...

Thankfully the electronics were mostly intact. I had to replace the tone pot, and re-solder most of the connections (this would have happened anyway, since I completely dismantled the guitar in order to paint it). The most difficult part was actually finding good washers and nuts for the switches and pots. Ace, Menards and Home Depot all failed at delivering parts that were sufficient for electronics work. (any good recommendations, please let me know)

Aside from replacing a broken pickup ring, the last piece was a string retainer, since the headstock is a goofy wide shape, and the nut can't keep the strings on by itself. This was solved with a piece that came off of a parts guitar from the 50's or 60's (I don't know because it had no markings). I tried normal string trees, but the shape of this headstock required that they hold the 1 and 2 strings, and then the 5 and 6, which are too thick for contemporary string trees.

The custom paint was simply done by painting a coat of acrylic paint, then 1 coat of acrylic polyurethane, followed by applying the design, cut out of a mylar adhesive sheet. Then, all I needed to do was to spray on the main color, remove the mylar sticker to reveal the secondary color in the shape of the sticker, and clear coat the entire thing.
...yes, the design is a high contrast image of Cartoon Network's update of the Teen Titan, Raven. My own drawing, thank you.
The bad finish was courtesy of a brush-on polyurethane which didn't smooth out.

First test run was during rehearsal for my 80's cover band, the Thupergroup, which can require a lot of tonal versatility from an instrument. This guitar was more than up to the task, having switches for each pickup and a pull-pot to switch the bridge pickup to single-coil, and I am very happy with it. Despite the drawback of the original bridge being prone to losing barely replaceable parts, I offer kudos to Washburn for making a very cool rock guitar, even if it has a goofy headstock design.

Dandy Derald and the Feisty Kangaroo

The following was composed by one Cordell Monson, and is officially the funniest thing I've ever read:

Our story begins deep in the heart of Texas, where the water runs slowly and the women like big belt buckles. The most unlikely of the likeliest characters, Dandy Derald, opens his big greenish brown eyes as if to welcome in the new morning. Sighing slowing and with about as much emotion as a long horn steer mounting his mate, Dandy touched his head and pondered the emotions encompassing cattle breeding. "What a far out, hip-ass dream I had," thought Dandy. "I adore mi amore....," his voice trailing off into the winter air as a portable shooting gallery caught his inexperienced eye. Now, Dandy Derald had two eyes, don't misbehave, but only one could be said to have experience. When Dandy was a mere child, but not as mere as you or I, he closed one of his eyes and did not reopen it for many years. As a matter of fact, I'd like to point out that it had been many years since Dandy had experienced the joys of bi ocular vision and the technological advances therein. "A portable shooting gallery!" exclaimed Dandy, for he had never seen one of the fascinations before.... Not with both eyes anyway, due to the reasons I've already mentioned and feel I have gone above and beyond the call of duty to clarify.

Dandy Derald reached for his six foot sailor, a dude he really hated, and headed for the door. The music was playing and the lights were getting brighter, as they do whenever a six foot sailor is within armslength. As the dust began to settle behind the now "long gone" portable shooting gallery, Dandy felt a gentile tapping on his delicate shoulder. He spun around with the grace only his aerodynamic ass would allow and the demeanor any mother could, but never would, fall in love with. "Hark ye, Harold Angel," Dandy sneered. "You'd best be praying for thine birthday back." Harold Angel had lost hs birthday within two days of Dandy shutting his eye. But when Dandy reopened his eye, Harold's birthday did not return. Yeah, I know, so fucking weird. (I wouldn't usually write with such inexcusable profanity, but I firmly believe that in this instance it is proper and I have deemed it profound. Thank you.) "No." said Harold, "I want to ask your advice."

"Well?" Dandy stated/asked.

"Well, I want to become a kangaroo..."

"You want to become a what?"

"...a professional kangaroo."

Dandy Derald thought about the ramifications of things like vacationing on a star, eating arsenic, feeling around inside of a deep fat fryer and becoming a kangaroo. Finally, he closed both eyes, folded his hands and slowly, but not too slowly, said with a quiver in his high pitched fully developed finger puppet styled voice... "Hark ye, Harold Angel. You have my blessing as long as you promise that you will be the most and the only kang

Things I Cannot Say Out Loud: to an Annoying Wedding Guest

Originally created on 7/19

Thupergroup played a wedding last night. As a show goes, it was a long affair; we were booked for 4 hours of playing time, including breaks between sets.

During the only break that we ended up taking, with the iPod dance music blaring from the speaker directly above me, I was approached by a man who asked me if I was in the band. "Yes", I responded, thinking that this could have been confirmed with a simple look at any moment over the past hour. Given that our first set was fairly soft, only livening up to the point of "Rock This Town" and "Rock and Roll All Night", it made sense when this man asked if we were going to play rock music, and I said, "Yes, we're saving it for later."

However, over the course of the second set, this same man took a number of opportunities, between songs, to shout "Roxy Music!", and look at me expectantly. Meanwhile, the look on my face should have said "What the hell is Roxy Music?"

It turns out that Roxy Music was a band, in the 70's, and probably a fairly influential one, sporting the likes of Brian Eno in their lineup. ...and "Roxy Music" is apparently what he had originally said to me, and I had heard as "rock music". Should I know this band? I don't see why I would--my parents didn't raise me on any music except for Abba and Roger Whitaker; my friends don't talk about them; my radio stations don't play them.

Regardless, when we were done, 40 songs and 3 hours later, we were tired and worn, and still needed to tear down our gear, sound system included. The Roxy Music fan was leaving, but used the occasion of passing me by(while I was wrapping cables and packing equipment) to point and me and say, "You are disappointing," with a big smile on his face. This probably was meant to be edgy and facetious, but it looked a little bit more like "drunk" and "annoying". ...and because he apparently felt a need to put more of a point on it, he added, "Roxy Music--learn it!"

...and what can I not say out loud, at that point?....

"Thanks, you disappoint me too; not for having not experienced a band, though. You disappoint me for being a failure of tact and social grace. So, the next time that you learn and perform 40 songs in one show, I will make very sure to criticize you for what you have not accomplished. Your musical obsession has nothing to do with me or my band, and your choices in asserting that obsession to me were rude and tasteless. I will listen to Roxy Music if you promise to never reproduce."

Here's to catharsis. Cheers.

A Look at NHL Expansion Teams

Originally created on 7/11

After reading ESPN's Ultimate Standings, I found myself with a bee in my bonnet. Writer Morty Ain dogs the Wild, saying "the on-ice product is merely mediocre: Minny has failed to make it beyond the first round the past five seasons." Of course, the fan in me wants to object, claiming any of several reasons why this application of the word 'mediocre' can only be a product of shoddy logic.

Is Ain's qualification for mediocrity really that solid? Advancing past the 1st round of the playoffs once in five years? Statistically speaking, losing the Conference Quarterfinals of the NHL playoffs places your team squarely in the middle of the pack. By definition, that is mediocrity.

5 years of nothing past the 1st playoff round seems much too common an occurance to me, though. The storied Edmonton Oilers did not make the playoffs at all from 1992 - 1996; the mighty Detroit Red Wings had a stretch of 17 years where they made the playoffs only twice, while the Wild have made the playoffs thrice in 8 seasons, and have not had 3 consecutive non-playoff years. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets spent 7 years as a statistical doormat, followed by 1 playoff year, only now beginning to find a stride. Every team has their rough spots.

If the Wild are going through a mediocre patch, though, one has to wonder if it is simply because of their young age. Like hockey players, hockey teams need time to grow into their game. So, my question became focused on expansion teams, which were started from scratch in the NHL. While every team has to begin from scratch at some point, close to half the NHL's current teams began in another league, and had time to develop their players and their system before joining NHL. The Wild and the Blue Jackets are the NHL's youngest teams, each with only 8 seasons under their belts. How long should it take an expansion team to find some success? How long to make the playoffs; to advance beyond the first round; to win a division, to win the Stanley Cup? As the Wild are only now entering their 9th season in any league, I looked at every expansion team in NHL history, and roughly sorted them according to the successes of their first 10 seasons.

• New York Islanders, 1972: made the playoffs 8 of those first 10 seasons, making it past the first round in 7, winning 4 division championships, and 3 consecutive Stanley Cups. They would win one more Cup in in 1983 to make it 4-in-a-row.
• Philadelphia Flyers, 1967: made the playoffs 8 of the first 10 seasons, past the first round in 5, and added 4 division championships, and 2 Stanley Cups, in '74 and '75.
• St Louis Blues, 1967: made the playoffs 9 of the first 10 seasons, past the first round in 5, won 3 division championships. The Blues have never won a Stanley Cup, but their playoff streak extended for 25 seasons.
• Buffalo Sabres, 1970: made the playoffs 7 of their first 10 seasons, past the first round in 5, won 2 division championships.
• Ottawa Senators, 1992: made the playoffs 6 of theif first 10 seasons, past the first round in 2, won 2 division championships. Their first 4 seasons were just abyssmal, each year posting less than 20 wins or 25% of games played. They turned around quickly, though, and put together 10 consecutive playoff seasons with 4 division championships in that stretch.
• San Jose Sharks, 1991: made the playoffs 6 of their first 10 seasons, past the first round in 3.
• L.A. Kings, 1967: made the playoffs 6 of their first 10 seasons, past the first round in 3.
• Minnesota North Stars, 1967: made the playoffs 6 of their first 10 seasons, past the first round in 2. Now in Dallas.
• Atlanta Flames, 1972: made the playoffs 8 of their first 10 seasons, past the first round in 1. Now in Calgary.
• Pittsburgh Penguis, 1967: made the playoffs 5 of their first 10 seasons, past the first round in 2
• Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 1993: made the playoffs 3 of their first 10 seasons, past the first round in 2. Now the Anaheim Ducks.
• Minnesota Wild, 2000: made the playoffs 3 of their 8 seasons, past the first round in 1, won 1 division championship in 2008.
• Florida Panthers, 1993: made the playoffs 3 of their first 10 seasons, past the first round in 1.
• Nashville Predators, 1998: made the playoffs 4 of their first 10 seasons.
• Atlanta Thrashers, 1999: made the playoffs 1 of their 9 seasons, won 1 division championship.
• California Seals, 1967: made the playoffs 2 of their 9 seasons. The Seals were never fated for anything more than the recycling bin, it seems. After 9 seasons of name changes and lost revenue, they were moved to Cleveland, and finally absorbed by the Minnesota North Stars.
• Columbus Blue Jackets, 2000: made the playoffs 1 of their 8 seasons. The Blue Jackets have matched the longest playoff droughts in this list, going the first 7 years with no cup dreams. This is probably more excusable since it was their earliest years. However, in their 8th year, they looked up and saw the playoffs. One more year, and they'll have tied the California Seals record. Let's hope they last longer than the Seals did.
• Tampa Bay Lightning, 1992: made the playoffs 1 of their first 10 seasons. The Lightning had a rough time of their youth, making the playoffs in the 4th season, but not again for 7 years. That year(2003), though, they also won their division. In 2004, they won both their division and the Stanley Cup.

When compiling my list, I noticed a trend of more recent expansions having less success, with the notable exception of the California Seals. If it's fair to say that, can it be explained by the fact that there were only 6 teams in the league until 1971? Can it be explained by rule changes or the league's relationship to the NHL Player's Association? ...or by the league's expansions procedures? Regardless of the explanation, if that observation is accurate, I would have to posit my Wild as overachievers.

Of the teams expanded since 1991, only the Sharks and the Senators made the playoffs more than half of their first 10 seasons, and only the Wild and the Thrashers won a division title in their first 10 seasons. The Wild are in a position to make the playoffs 5 of their first 10 seasons, which could move them up a few spots in the list. ...and if expansion teams really do have it tougher in the modern era, I will say confidently that the Wild should have been on the bottom of the list, along with their expansion cousins in Columbus. The Wild, however, have 3 playoff seasons in 8 years, and a championship in a division well-known to be very competetive. To me, this seems at least on schedule, possibly ahead.

If anyone has any insight into the effects of rule changes, or player's association agreements, or expansion procedures, I would love to hear your comments.

Wild Free Agent Wish List

Originally created on 6/30

Ok, NHL free agency time again. Here's my wish list:

Alberts, Andrew - D: I admit, my reason is sentimental-he's an Eden Prairie boy and family friend. The Wild would have to pass on more D-men than I would like in order to have room(Skoula, Bergeron, Foster), and they probably aren't shopping for another big stay-at-home man, even one that hits as well as Alberts.
Addendum: (7/8) The Wild apparently are passing on quite a few d-men, and added both Greg Zanon and Shane Hnidy. Hnidy will provide some bristling presence near the goal, and mentorship for big meanie, John Scott. The moves have the ring of change from the old administration, who had a habit of bargain shopping for potential over resume. Alberts would likely have tempted Doug Riesborough, but if Fletcher signs him, my guess is it will be because he's local.

Antropov, Nik - RW: (signed with Atlanta, 7/2) Big scorer with hands and leadership? Sign me up.

Bertuzzi, Todd - RW: No, I'm kidding.

Bonk, Radek - C: (signed in the KHL) I have a feeling he would produce more under Todd Richards than under Barry Trotz. He's not old enough to be out of gas, and there are old Nashville buddies here, with whom to play.

Cammalleri, Mike - LW: (signed with Montreal 7/1) He's what we were hoping Pierre-Marc Bouchard would be by now. Magical playmaker with bonus goals.

Havlat, Martin - RW: I hesitate to add him to the list because he's so much like Marian Gaborik--so talented, and so injury prone. Apparently, though, the Wild just signed him to 6 years, effectively making him the new Marian Gaborik. I anticipate having the same mixed feelings when he scores 20 goals in 30 games on the season. Admittedly, though, I think he'll look just dashing in Iron Range Red.
Addendum: (7/6) Much credit to Havlat for being so polite and complimentary during his press conference. It'll be nice having a dynamic scorer who is really excited to be part of the team. No disrespect to Marian Gaborik, who reportedly wished Havlat well, even offering his condo, but Gabby didn't want to be here, in the end; even if he tried to keep his conflicts quiet, he was still breaking up with the Wild for the past few seasons.

Koivu, Saku - C: (signed with Anaheim 7/8) Brotherly love is nice, and we also need more scoring, and depth at center.

Lang, Robert - C: (added 7/8) An old, injured center might be a bigger gamble than I'd like, and I've never liked his character. However, he still works hard at the end of his career, and the talent showed a-plenty last year in Montreal. It also seems like he's reigned in his mouth since his days in Washington.
...and thank God he reigned in that haircut. I admittedly had the same cut, once, but that was 1990, and I was 12. What was Lang's excuse?

Morrison, Brendan - C: (signed with Washington 7/10) Another decent scorer at center, whose value likely increases with his role on the team. Probably a bargain buy. Can he continue to play full seasons of hockey?

Parrish, Mark - RW: (edited 7/8) Adds toughness, scoring and local flavor. Wild fans might remember him being a disappointment on the score sheet, but they might also remember him being a galvanizing locker room presence, and a magnetic leader who was captain for consecutive months. ...and if they look around the NHL, I think Wild fans might note that talented players looked lost and fell short under Jaques Lemaire(see: Pavol Demitra). It was a rare player that came into the Wild system and exceeded their previous stats(see: Brian Rolston). Even players that we liked scored less, because they were playing a different role(see: Todd White, Kim Johnsson). I think we gave Parrish the shaft, and owe him about a 3-year, $8 million apology.

Potulny, Ryan - C: Ok, he's a Restricted FA, but he's so talented, and he's another Gopher yet to come back home. Facetiously, I say make an offer.

Prospal, Vaclav - C: (added 7/29) Vinny's contract was just bought out by the Lightning, which makes him a free agent. Despite that chemically happy look in his eyes, he's a sharp scorer, and while he's had ups and downs, he's capable of 30 goals and 80 points (even if he's more likely to get 20/50). Still, we like 20 goals. 20 goals is not 20 kicks in the face, or 20 scorpions in your pants. ...and, oh, look--he's a centerman.

Sakic, Joe - C: (retired 7/9) Who wouldn't want him?

Sundin, Mats - C: (added 7/8) Another hesitant add. After last year's half-season retirement tease and return, only to disappoint Vancouver fans, he isn't nearly as hot a commodity as he was. He also, however, might be looking to redeem himself, and he could bring buckets of goals anywhere he goes. In 12 full seasons with the Leafs, he never scored less than 70 pts, and less than 30 goals only twice.

Sykora, Petr - RW: (added 7/8) The free agent pool is thin at center, this year, and Wild may want to look at wingers for their scoring punch; they have centerman options in a few of their "wingers", and GM Fletcher has mentioned both Bouchard and Pouliot as possible centers. Sykora is both humble and proven, and simply does his job well. He often goes uncredited for being a prolific goal-scorer, and is a model of consistency, having scored more than 20 goals in each of the last 10 years.

Tanguay, Alex - LW: (edited 7/8) Despite a few down seasons, I think he's got plenty of game left, and would probably be sparked by playing in the Northwest division, which features 2 teams that both traded him. In proper perspective, he is a fantastic play-maker, but has yet to score 30 goals in a season. At 29 years old, though, he should have some more chances. With the Wild, he would be almost guaranteed to play alongside two of [Koivu, Havlat, Brunette, Bouchard] and that prospect makes me drool just a little.

Zednik, Richard - LW: (added 7/20) Career high stats of 31-19-50 are underwhelming for the talent of the Slovak winger, but he has heart and dedication. I'd wager that it takes a special person to have their neck cut open by a skate, and return to the game.

Zherdev, Nikolai - RW: (added 7/9) 25-year-old Zherdev is talented beyond question, but many have questioned his work ethic. Still, he has shown that he can chip in close to 30 goals with or without a work ethic. Currently a restricted free agent, he has filed for salary arbitration, but the Rangers responded by signing Ales Kotalik, which seems a loud signal that GM Glen Sather is plenty willing to let Zherdev walk away from the arbitration and become an unrestricted free agent. If the likes of Kovalev, Tanguay, Sundin, etc. are worth a look, Zherdev is as well.

Framed June

Digital photography, 2009

Sammy Enjoys Ella's 4th Birthday

Benji Enjoys Ella's 4th Birthday

Ella's 4th Birthday

Wishing for Wittier

Example for a class assignment.
Photo-manipulation, 2008

Kierkegaard from Rorschach

Example for a class assignment.
Photo-manipulation, 2008;
some elements from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' "Watchmen"

Noodle Monsters Logo Proposals

3 of several logo ideas for (kickball team) the Noodle Monsters.
2008

Sting Volleyball Banner

Small design sample as a portfolio piece.
Digital photo, Photomanipulation, Design, 2008

Mojo

'Mojo' is my rock & roll alter ego. He is a bearded entity perceived only in grayscale.
Photo-manipulation, 2008.

Hoff-Hilk Catalog

Pages from a catalog designed for Hoff-Hilk Auction Services

Fruit Tart Table-Top Ad

A table-top advertisement designed for Patrick's Bakery & Cafe

Dance Dance Meg Cover

Cover art for a compilation CD entitled 'Dance Dance Meg'

Christmas Burn Logo

Logo for a holiday-time music exchange project, entitled the 'Christmas Burn'

Art Postcard

Postcard advertising an art website which never came to be.

Like A Ghost

Written and performed by Devin Joesting and Bethany Tweeten
Produced by Mark Joesting, 2006

Some Things You Just Don't Forget

Written and performed by Devin Joesting and Bethany Tweeten
Produced by Mark Joesting, 2006

Light The Peace Bomb

Written and performed by Broken Noise Produced by Joel Hinck Joel Hinck - Vox, Guitar Kris Gensmer - Drums, Vox Mark Joesting - Bass, Vox

Reaching For The Blade

Written and performed by Broken Noise
Produced by Joel Hinck

Joel Hinck - Vox, Guitar
Kris Gensmer - Drums, Vox
Mark Joesting - Bass, Vox

April Winter

Written and performed by Acadian, Produced by Alex Oana, 1999 Benjamin Horn - Vox, Guitar Jamie Norman - Bass, Vox John Gensmer - Drums Mark Joesting - Guitar, Lyrics

Aileron

Written and performed by Acadian,
Recorded live at Area 52, 2004

Benjamin Horn - Vox, Guitar, Lyrics
Jamie Norman - Bass
John Gensmer - Drums
Mark Joesting - Guitar

A Song For Devin

A song written for my wife;
written, performed, recorded by me

When You're With Us

A lullaby written for my niece, in the first year of her life. Written, recorded and performed by Mark Joesting, 2005

Puppies, Kittens, and Flowers

A lullaby written for my niece, in the first year of her life. Written, recorded and performed by Mark Joesting, 2005

I Saw Three Ships

Traditional song, arranged and performed by Paisley's Green, engineered by Mark Joesting

Growth Or

Graphite on paper; 1996

Portrait of Morgan

A portrait; graphite on paper; 1998

Ytterboe 125

Portraits--residents of Ytterboe Hall, room 125, '99-'00; graphite on paper; 1999

It Is A Mirror

A self-portrait; graphite on paper; 1997

Melancholy

Final Bachelor's work; soft pastel on matboard; 2000

Sensuality

Final Bachelor's work; soft pastel on matboard; 2000

Enquiry

Final Bachelor's work; soft pastel on matboard; 2000

Curiosity

Final Bachelor's work; soft pastel on matboard; 2000

Window

Conceptualization of a window; graphite and chalk on paper; 1998

Weary

Charcoal on paper 1997

Comfy

Soft pastel on paper 1998

Self Portrait Under Christmas Lights

Soft pastel on paper 1998

Study of Rachel

Graphite on paper 2000

Enamoured

Charcoal on paper 1997

Lahar of Pinatubo

An exercise in impressionism; acrylic paint on canvas board; 1995

Ooh Pretty

Acrylic paint on matboard; 2000

Eyes Open In A Storm

Oil paint on masonite 1998