Daniel Greene

Tag: Phoenix

  • In Memory…



    In Memory…
    Originally uploaded by Daniel Greene.

    …of all those who have died in service to the United States of America.

    I almost kept this post to just that first sentiment, “In memory of all those who have died in service to the United States of America.” But that would be too safe. And I can imagine being criticized for copping out and pandering to blind patriotism.

    Yet I know that many Americans’ patriotism is not blind at all, but rather… forgiving. I am reminded of a story my Granny Greene recounted. She spoke of a woman she had known who worked for the USO during World War II. She said, “When you walked by a young man in the canteen and he patted your fanny, you just smiled and kept on walking. That’s patriotism!”

    And that’s what many of us do– smile and keep on walking. We know that countless men, and now women, have died in battles we wish had never begun. We know that the current war is not a popular war (and I use the word “popular” not only in the sense of “well liked” but also “of the people” because many American know that this is not our war, but a war waged by politicians either we didn’t vote for or we regret voting for). And we know that some people make it hard to be proud to be an American. And yet we forgive these deaths, these wars, and these people. We smile and keep on walking. We are proud to be American not only because of everything that is American, but in spite of things we might not quite approve of.

    I believe we have more reasons to be proud of our country than to be ashamed of it. And we must always remember that no matter whether or not we believe in war, our countrymen and countrywomen who have died in wars deserve our gratitude and our honor. We cannot know what it is like to fight in wars unless we have fought in them. But we can remember the inestimable value of every human life and have the deepest respect for each individual who gave his or her life for America.

    And let us not allow patriotism to blind us to the value of each and every human life lost on the other side as well. Our enemies are not necessarily evil, at least not down to every last person who has fought us in honor of their country. We must remember the fallen not only here, but there as well. We must force ourselves to have some compassion for the mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, daughters, and sons who have lost their beloved family members to these wars.

    And we must work toward peace for our sake and for theirs.

  • You’ve Been Served – Version 2

    This is a revision of the original. I tried to bring out the shadows well enough to make everything more visible and compelling. I think it is more iconic and compelling, especially at small sizes.

  • You’ve Been Served



    You’ve Been Served
    Originally uploaded by Daniel Greene.

    For some, this is an eviction notice.

    One thing I’m beginning to realize I need to work on is taking photos with iconicity, photos that are clearly pictures of something. I think if people can’t tell what a photo is of from a one-inch-square thumbnail (as shown on Flickr in a person’s photostream ribbon or in the “Photos from your Contacts” and/or “Everyone’s Photos” strips on the Flickr home page), then they won’t click and view the image.

    And yet there are photos worth looking at that don’t look like anything in a 72×72 pixel thumbnail. Or are there? Perhaps the test of a good photo is its iconicity, or its ability to convey a compelling message even in a one-inch-square icon. If that is true, then my challenge is to tell stories like this one is a more photogenic way. Perhaps if I had squatted down and taken the photo from an angle looking across the Official Notice from the bottom-right corner to the Tickle Me Elmo doll in the upper-left corner? Maybe that would have been a more visually compelling and easy-to-read ironic juxtaposition. To borrow a stage term, this image just doesn’t “read” from the “back of the house.” Just as one wants a “stage picture” to be dramatic even when seen from the last row of the audience, a photo should be compelling even when viewed in a one-inch-square thumbnail.

    Am I wrong? What do you think?

  • Arizona Falls at Night



    Arizona Falls at Night
    Originally uploaded by Daniel Greene.

    This is one of my favorite sights in Phoenix. Located on north side of Indian School Road just east of 56th Street, Arizona Falls is a manmade waterfall that channels the water of the Crosscut Canal through a hydroelectric power generator. It is a part of the Salt River Project (SRP). I have taken many photos of it by day, but this photo is one of the first photos I’ve ever taken of it at night.

  • Red Neon at Super Target



    Red Neon at Super Target
    Originally uploaded by Daniel Greene.

    An interesting element at the new Super Target in Christown Spectrum Mall

    By the way, I was very kindly and gently asked by a lady security guard about what I was taking photos for, and I said, “I’m celebrating the opening of Super Target! 🙂 I live in the community, I love art and architecture, and I’m taking photos to commemorate.” She was actually watching politely while I took this photo. I assured her I would not take my camera into the store. We chit-chatted briefly, and she went away while I walked my camera back to the car. It was no problem.