The Alpha in this picture is hard to tell because they all think they are the Alpha. I am just sitting there having made the mistake of responding to a plea for help with what I thought was a computer issue only to be blindsided into a fight that I have no dog in.
I have a few expressions that I find myself repeating from time to time. Usually, because they started out as an attempt to be funny but eventually grew to acquire the seriousness of a stroke. My life: “All the disadvantages of being divorced with all the disadvantages of being married” is one of them.
So you may have surmised that Queen Boudicca in the center is the Former Mrs. and you would be right. On her right, my left, and looking at me like the regular whipping boy who is about to get the afternoon off, is Queen Boudicca’s court-ordered anger management class drop out, unemployed, boorish, drunk texting anus of a fiancé of 8 years for lack of a better name, Burf. Directly across from me is 2nd born son who I call Cooter because it annoys him but in a loving passive-aggressive sort of way. He decided that as long as I was there he was going to make me an offer for an Xbox 1. I buy it and he keeps it.
But generally, the reason I am there is that something is my fault. Or it is perceived that something I put into motion 20 years ago has suddenly broken the dishwasher. And this must be discussed at maximum volume. The finer points of which being repeated over and over.
My life is modest now compared to what it was. I married up but I jumped without a chute… and that was just and is fine with me. There are wonderful days when I don’t even hear another human being or my own voice. And I no longer have to sit in the bathroom to read an entire chapter of a book. But sometimes it can get lonely and I feel a little sorry for myself. So, I pick myself up and I drive over to the old house on the nice side of town and park up the street. And I watch Burf and the Former as they interact in the backyard… and you can hear them almost a half a block away. And then I drive back to my place or go find a picture to take or an adventure to have and remember how good my life truly is.
The picture was taken with a Fuji X100. The very first X100 not like that fancy pants stuff you got going on now. I used the new neural filters in Photoshop to color the image. I rarely work in color but this artificial intelligence / neural network stuff is worthy of discussion. 23mm f5. 6 1/60 sec. Still have that X100 too.
04/05/2021 CORRECTION: After careful consideration, I’ve decided to remove the coloring. Just because. It’s my picture you know.
My book ‘Subway New York City ‘1975-1985’ is available on Etsy.
http://gerardexupery.com
Gerard Exupery has been a New York City Street Photographer for 40 years, He attended the School of Visual Arts and studied with Lisette Model at The New School. He has also worked as an oil rig roustabout, a photographer’s assistant, custom printer, motorcycle mechanic, audio engineer, video engineer, producer, and Mr. Mom. Exupery also drove a New York City taxi which he considers his post-graduate work.
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Arthur Gottschalk on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
Comment posted: 06/04/2021
Steve Curzon on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
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tony dadson on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
Comment posted: 05/04/2021
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Gerard Exupery on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
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Michael J on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
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DM on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
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Omer on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
Comment posted: 04/04/2021
Neural filters, eh Adobe?
Funny.
Comment posted: 04/04/2021
davesurrey on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
Comment posted: 04/04/2021
I love that single shot as it tells so much more that a sequence of shots wouldn't.
And it looks so posed, even though I guess it wasn't.
Comment posted: 04/04/2021
David Hume on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
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Bob on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
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Steve on What the Hell did I do? – A One Shot Story – By Gerard Exupery
Comment posted: 04/04/2021
Comment posted: 04/04/2021