[Jimbaux was in da club Saturday.]
Where There’s a Will, There’s A Way
The fear-indoctrinated pessimist that I once was would often joke that “the way” only involved a large pile of money and maybe even some attorneys. I’m so glad that that worm of a person is undergoing a metamorphosis into something better, or, as that great Incubus song that was the soundtrack to the post in which I announced the loss of $3,000 worth of camera gear, that the better part of me is being found. It takes courage to have courage, or something like that.
When It’s Time For a Piece of Glass, It’s Time For a Piece of Glass!
Absolutely! Cowards get no glass, and I decided to man-up and get my hands on some nice glass. Since I had a photo assignment on U Street Saturday evening, and since I am a photographer, I knew that I had to do what it took to get a new lens. Thanks to the fact that I already had a loaner Canon from the Super Hero Supreme, I made my way to Penn Camera to check out the selection. I was perfectly content with getting a 17-40mm/f4 like I had before, but it (the store) was out of stock. However, I was allowed to test out the 15-85mm/f3.5-5.6 IS. I didn’t even know that there was such a thing, and after testing it out for a few minutes, I made the decision to purchase it and a new flash.
Walking out on the street afterward, I got some shots, the first of which is here.
Apparently, I’m a glutton for punishment in oh-so-many ways as I set about walking in some uncomfortable dress boots all the way from Penn Camera to the corner of U and 9th NW, my savage knees constantly taking the pounding, but I wasn’t close to being done yet.
We’re just a few blocks south of U Street in the below picture.
All pictures in this post were taken with my new 15-85mm/f3.5-5.6, and it seems I need to get out and go foaming with this lens! It really needs some test at the tight end.
Above is the memorial to the African-American soldiers of the Civil War.
Catch Me In Da Club
My work took me to the 920 Club for the launch party of Artists & Ink magazine, but I was given a ridiculously early time to be there. Lacking anything else to do, I took a walk back south, but this time to Chinatown.
My knees were hurting by this point, and I knew that they’d hurt more once I climbed back northward.
Event Pictures
Here are a few pictures from the Saturday event.
The DJ gave me his card and wants me to do some work for him, but I have to dig around for the card now!
I guess the new lens is performing well, up to the photographer’s standards, especially given that the camera is a Rebel as old as his old one.
Aww, ain’t they cute?
Below is merely a cropped portion of the above picture.
And, in the below shot, she posed so I could get the tattoo.
At about 23:15, I bailed from the event because I had other plans.
Weekend of Bernie
My pal Bernie, whom you met when we went foaming in the Shenandoahs a few weeks ago, was celebrating his 30th with some pals at the Black Finn, which is near where I was earlier in the day, near Penn Camera. Like a moron, I walked on aching knees all the way back there.
After leaving a place with blaring music, I was looking forward to a little peace and quiet. Before I got to the Black Finn, though, I could tell that I wasn’t going to be there very long. Music was blaring into the street from the place. How do people do that? How do people sit and have conversations when they have to yell at the people next to them? That’s something that I have never understood. It makes sense at a concert, but this wasn’t a concert!
So, I gulped down a big glass of ice water, and I went to the table where Bernie’s crew was. I took the below picture of him and Kelly.
I said hello, let Bernie check out the new lens, and then I got out of there.
Oh, and, apparently, I’m the inspiration behind this post from Bernie.
Different Is Good!
The content of this post is indeed different than that to which you are accustomed here on Jimbaux’s Journal! This will continue, as you will see, at least with the next post. Remember, too, that if you like what you see here, join the fan page on Facebook to be alerted to updates!
Jimbaux
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Well done, James. Keep up the fine work.
WOW Ghetto crashing. Looked like a great club for what I would expect in DC. Even the white dude with his gang tats looked like he belonged there. Note the spider web tat on his elbow. That use to signify he killed someone and not in the military. Looks like the biker type. As your daddy would probably probably say, you look like you are hanging with the wrong crowd. Better be careful dude.
How on Earth do you know that there is a “ghetto” quality to this event? and what makes you think that I’m “hanging” with the crowd seen in the pictures anyway? I have pictures that I’ve taken of Drew Brees. That doesn’t mean that I’m hanging with him! Why does the fact that I have pictures of people I met (and barely at that) only once translate into that I’m “hanging with” them?
Heck, the people in the pictures might actually be “ghetto” (whatever that means), but even though I was there, I’m not in a position to know – and, therefore, to judge – that much about them. How, then, can you just look at this post and call it “ghetto” from your distance?
The lady in the leopard print dress has awesome legs!!! I can see why you took so many pics of her lol! Seriously, you are very talented!
Glad you have “glass” again. The pictures are beautiful, and I expect nothing less from you. I am looking forward to more. But James, even I know (since the Vietnam era, as probably your dad) what a spiderweb tatoo on the elbow symbolizes. My friend, you would not go “foaming” (did I get the term right)and ignor the caution signals on the tracks would you?? I think you might be over reacting to your friends caution signals in your rush to judge negativity in your own life. Perhaps at my age I have buried too many friends and family members because of drugs and alcohol abuse to feel 100% comfortable with your photos of a nightclub scene, no matter how good they are. A very real part of me wants to protect/caution you about exposing yourself to things you need to leave alone. But you need to pursue photo-journalizm as clearly you need to explore your music. I just want you to be aware of your surroundings my friend. So cut your homeys some slack and remember that we comment because we care, not because we judge.
Diana,
Just for the heck of it, I looked up this: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_a_spiderweb_tattoo_on_the_elbow_symbolize
People go to prison. That’s just real life. People commit crimes – or they get framed – and many of them repent. It’s not like I even know the guy or will ever see him again anyway! I think I was introduced to him, but I don’t even remember his name. I had a job to do, and I did it.
Anyone who is “100% comfortable” with anything isn’t truly living. I’ve spent too much of my life in my comfort zones.
Furthermore, a quick check of Jerry’s comment on the article subsequent to this one reveals more of his true thoughts on the issue.
“The Education of Jimbaux”- Interesting times for you Jimbaux. I think Diana makes a good point. It seems as though you hovered around two very attractive ladies. Although you did get some good shots in da club I am not a fan of club pictures.
So, I read the commentary on this post and wanted to say that the pictures are nice (as usual, good job) and the club looks nice, it looks small and intimate and upon first glance, I thought it was a nice gathering. I didn’t immediately think, drugs, gangs and bad people. I looked at the two younger ladies and thought, they are young confident and certainly closer to my teenage daughter’s age than my age. I also see an air of protection felt toward the author of the post from his friends but also judgement.
Had this club been filled with scantily clad blonde women would the reaction be different? Had the club been filled with metro-sexual white males would people make the assumptions that I see here? Probably not. Perhaps next time the photographer should visit one of these establishments. I’ve been in scarier mosh pits than this place.
My only thoughts on the young ladies is perhaps they open themselves up to predators by dressing as they did, but other than thought I just seen young people having a good time and a couple of attractive confident women. As far as tattoos are concerned…I’m sure that not every person who has a spiderweb tattoo has killed someone, as not everyone is well versed in the gang mentality.
Post away… its your life. Don’t you forget.
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