Al Olme At Browne's Photo Center ~ Spotting Prints

Here's another one of those circa 1969 photos. This was shot inside Brownes Photo Center while it was still on the corner of N.W. 22nd Ave. and 79th Street.

That show case behind Al was where all the used cameras and lenses were displayed, but it was those drawers below that held the real treasures. Those were the famous "Junk Drawers". They contained everything from oddball flash synch cords to filters nobody ever heard of. When Brownie bought out a bunch of used photo equipment the big stuff went on display. The rest got shoved in a drawer.

Eventually Al moved out of town, the store moved over to Biscayne Blvd and 82nd Street, and both the the quality and quantity of the junk quickly spiraled down hill. When Brownie died it was all over but the shouting.

Making Boring Advisory Board Meetings Somewhat Less Boring

That's me on the right. I shot this with my usual "hold the camera with my arm extended out of the picture". This was during a North Miami Board of Adjustment meeting. Sometimes I dress for the occasion, sometimes I look like a vagrant...LOL

Last October I had an exhibit of my photos at the Mario Flores Gallery in downtown North Miami, followed by one at the N.M. Public Library. Mario wanted me to do something "new and creative" as well as show my more conventional work. The effect is achieved by splattering Dektol developer on the exposed paper, tilting it this way and that so the droplets run across the paper, then just leaving it undisturbed for five minutes or longer. I then splatter a bit more fresh developer on the paper, repeating the tilting procedure but this time just letting it develop for a minute or so, then into the fixer. The developing procedure takes up about ten minutes on the average before the fix and wash. I probably make about ten prints for every one I like and keep. Of course every print is a unique one of a kind.