Another Fine Job by Ponchaveli

Yesterday, while the temperature was still under 100 degrees F., venturing out was done in a abbreviated version. There were several projects that I wanted to check to see how they have changed. It never fails. There is always a discovery that turns up as a serendipitous event. For years, I have well discovered the old biblical saying that where the Lord closes one window, He opens another. In this case, it was shoe stores. One popular shoe store near Love Field closed and yesterday, I discovered on a walk-about a very nice shoe store that I have missed somehow. And, who happened to be celebrating their two year anniversary in business. They liked the printed canvas.  I even found one print pattern on one of their shoes that I have on the canvas low cuts.

Then, as I have done for 16-years, I either walk or drive down one Deep Ellum street and this street really is a named alley. My first trip down that street (alley) was when I was doing the research for the Fortune 100 for a Deep Ellum Foundation grant. This garage door was open and the sound of voices was coming at me. As it turned out, I'm standing in the owners living room by accident. Since then, I have discovered it is a loft and a photo studio. Yesterday, as I turned onto the alley, I saw the man sitting in the alley in a chair with camera on his lap. A photo shoot was going on and the assist personnel were changing models. Work is work and while it might have been observed for a while longer on foot, I was in the car and did not want to distract. It's kind of like shooting and some wiseguy goes by on the street and blows his horn to distract or break your concentration. I didn't want to be that guy with the horn if you understand the thought here.

On the crossover from Deep Ellum to downtown, I wanted to see Jackson street as it comes out on Harwood. The news that DART might be running the new rail line underground rather than down the middle of Jackson Street had me curious. First Presbyterian Church is a beautiful architectural domed feat and it is also a very active church with Dallas' homeless. So, it makes sense to run the train subway-style rather than on-grade right through the First Presbyterian campus. The two Masonic Temples on the opposite corner agree.

I drove Jackson (which to me is more of an alley than a street) down to Lamar and then took Commerce Street across the Trinity to a place that is a source of colorful art. Some would call tags or graffiti. It's also a noted place for photographers. It is somewhat common property for shooting but there is a respectfulness between artist and photographers. That's the part I like best. It's old school respect that my grandfathers knew as a deal with a handshake. While there, a guy told me about an artist (who he did not know by name) that was just about to finish a mural of Mohammad Ali nearby. In a flash, I was on my way to check it out. I had been waiting for the so-called "break out" when someone would do a large scale mural of Ali. This was the photo call so to speak. I was stunned. Not only was the mural a living tribute, the artist, Ponchaveli, was still there. I was able to get some shots and with a signed release, submitted the image to a world-wide live feed. The image is up an running as I write this.

There is so much going on in Dallas. Things are happening all over the Metroplex. Every one is chomping at the bit to get the first shots of the "THE STAR" the new home of the Cowboys in Frisco. Friday was the last day at Valley Ranch, the home for the past 31-years. For those of you that don't know..... that's the office or where the players go to work every day. The AT&T Stadium is where the games are played. Two seperate venues. I'm more interested with what is going to happen to the old place in Valley Ranch.

Now that hot weather has set in..... it's up early in the cool of the day now and I'll be shooting with morning sun rather than mid afternoon over my shoulders. The change will show up in the images. However, I am still having focus issues with the camera at the present time. I need to call support and talk to them again about the issues, but, until then I work around it the best that I can.

The old Pythian Temple in Deep Ellum--if ever there was a building that needed to be restored to its days of grandeur, this is it! The ball room is on the 5th floor.

The barrier between downtown and Deep Ellum appears to be coming down. The real question is when? The view looks west into downtown on Elm street.

If you want to see the full image, go to my home page, click on the far right tab, scroll down to the button "alamy", click it on and either click on the dallaspaparazzo above the search box or type in Ali mural in Dallas, but for the next 24-30 hours check the live news feed first.

Dallas Prepares for the 50th Anniversary of the Assination of President John F. Kennedy

Originally, I had wanted to attend the 50th Anniversary ceremonies to be held on Friday, November 22. Of course, the city limited who can attend. Never-the-less, in this day and age, I understand the city's concerns I just don't understand why they stop people from remembering someone that changed this country. Especially on such a historical day. Jackie's dress won't be released to the public for viewing until 2116 or some date I won't live to see. I could have seen this one, however.

So yesterday, I tried to stay away from downtown but my car just kept steering me to go take a look at Dealey Plaza, although I have seen it hundreds of times before. I was surprised to see empty parking meters within a block on Houston Street. When I started to drop quarters, I was even more surprised. Twenty-five cents gets you 12-minutes of time on the meter. Now I know why the meter spaces were empty. One hour of time was a big $1.20 for up to two hours (if I dropped another $1.20 behind the first). It's not bad overall. Some of the garages get more as do some of the lots for all day parking. The Sixth Floor Museum was charging $5.00 at their lot.

It was a good thing. There was a group of Asian businessmen touring with their American host. People were thick. Some guy coming down Elm Street near where the "X" is marked on the street was blowing his horn at the tourist. My mother would say, "there is always one in the crowd to put a bad image on all the good." People did look up from their conversations and I did see a few shake their heads.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the fences and barriers start to go up. The extended weather forecast for Friday doesn't look good, either. Cold, windy with gust to 25 Mph, rainy. If you believe in Karma, then Mayor Mike Rawlings has got some bad Karma for limiting who can come to the ceremony! I have only met him once. Tom Lepert , was a more likable  figure. As a former CEO of Turner Construction, the man knew how to plan, budget, build and lead. While Mayor Rawlings  is okay as a person, the best way to describe him is that the former CEO of Pizza Hut left off the peperoni on his pizzas.

Yes, I said earlier that I understood why the ceremony had to be limited to some degree. But to me, it's like putting the cart before the horse.

Looking at The Texas Book Depository from Commerce Street

50 years ago, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge wasn't there.