-----///\\------Please
----///--\\\----put this
---|||----|||---on your
---|||-- -|||---profile if
---|||-- -|||---you know
----\\\--///----someone
-----\\\///-----who is living with, survived
------///\-----or has passed away from
-----///\\\----cancer.
----///--\\\---Thank you
NOTE: I myself am a recent cancer survivor.
I'm Colorado born and bred but have been an Arizona desert denizen for many years. As anyone can see from my birth date, I've been around for a long time. I started counting myself in the geezer class when I hit 65.
I am finding Flickr TOO fascinating! It is downright addictive. I'm spending way too much time on it. I just can't help myself. It's too hard to let go of a bit.
May 6, 2005: I'm having some thoughts this morning on what this is all about. This thing of all of us taking our photographs and transforming them into this electronic/digital medium called flickr. My thoughts are that in the normal course of our lives, we primarily make contact with others by looking out through our eyes at the person or people we are making contact with. We know what they look like, even if we are writing to them or talking to them on the telephone. On flickr and other similar sites, we are making contact with the other person by looking out through their eyes. We are seeing what they saw, or, at least, what they want us to see of what they were seeing. Do you see what I am getting at? I have a lot of contacts here at flickr and others at the lens flare and I feel that I have gotten to know them a bit. Yet, what I know of them is by seeing things through their eyes (their photos). Sometimes I never even get to see a photo of the person at all, just their photos. Yet I have a definite emotion and impression about each one, based solely on what they have chosen to let me (and all others) see. Here, you get to know a person by what he or she chooses to photograph and display, not by what he or she says. Of course, if the photographer includes a description, it can help a lot. Not just in understanding the photograph, but in understanding the photographer as well.
So, I have written down my morning thoughts. Maybe now I can get back to the business of making myself some breakfast.
July '05. It occured to me that maybe I should list the sites I have started. So, here goes:
Arizona Towns and Cities Here
A group for showcasing scenes from towns and cities in the state of Arizona. You don't have to live here to join. Perhaps you vacationed here sometime in the past.
Pre-1930 Photos Here
Photos taken prior to the year 1930.
Original 1940s Photos Here
Original photos taken between the years 1940 and 1949.
Original 1930s Photos Here
Original photos taken between the years 1930 and 1939.
Music Music Music Here
Anything to do with music. This includes live performance, singers, musicians, musical instruments, music related posters, jacket covers, labels, bio covers, recording equipment, etc.
Red Rock Country Here
Perhaps you have some photos from red rock country. Any red rock country, worldwide, will do.
Wild Planet
A place to show your photos of the places on this planet earth that are still wild.
Old, But Not Forgotten
People, places and things that are old or perhaps no longer extant, but, for one reason or another have not been forgotten.
StorySets
Stories as told in sets. You post one photo from the set in the group pool and provide a link to the set. Each photo in the set adds to the story being told.
Parks, Arboretums, Botanical Gardens
There are many good photo opportunities to be had in these places. You probably already have some you can post here.
I've Kept It All These Years Here
This is about all those things you've had around the house forever. Let us see what they are all about!
Wide Open Spaces Here
Just what the title says. Photos of the wide open spaces of the world.
My Story Here
This is a site for photos with stories. Written stories. This is a fun site, because you get to read a lot of good stories as well as post your own. This is not a site for "The photo alone tells the story". A real story is required. A personal story, not just one copied and pasted from some other web site.
A Shot in the Dark Here
A group for posting your shots in the dark. Of course, we'll need a little light in them too.
Aesthetics Here
This group is doing well. IMHO, it has some of the most beautiful images in all of flickrland.
My Life As Here
The idea is to show, by photo and description, what your life is or was at a particular time.
How Things Were in the Olden Days Here
Just what it says. The "olden days" are up to the photo poster. If it's the 1990s, that's fine. If it's the 1930s (like for me), that's fine too.
Grandparents Here
This one is self-explanatory, I trust.
Model A Ford Here
This is mostly my own little project. I happen to love Model A Fords. There aren't a lot of them around any more, but I have many photos of them. There are quite a few Model A Ford photos from other folks too.
Patterns Here
There are lots of beautiful patterns in this world and in this pool.
Pre-1960 Cars and Trucks Here
If you have any photos of cars or trucks that were built prior to 1960, please post them here! I love old cars and trucks and would love to see your photos.
Resorts and Hotels Here
I live in an area where there are dozens of resorts. Some large and some small. I have a long-term project going to document the exteriors and interiors of as many of these resorts as I can. However, I'd really like to see some other folks post some photos here. I have found that resorts are some of the best places there are for taking photos. I just walk in like I'm a guest and proceed to snap away. No one pays any attention to me. If you have any resort photos, I need them here. I recently added hotels to the mix. Some hotels are quite beautiful, inside and out.
Grandchildren Here
An understandably small group. Most of the folks participating in flickr are not geezers like I am, hence - not a lot of grandchildren shots. Yours are welcome if you have any.
Timepieces Here
Since I started this group, I have found that I really like timepieces. Some of them are quite beautiful. The timepieces can be clocks, watches, sundials, or any other device for telling time.
Ornamental Art Here
I get some of my ornamental art photos from resorts, but I have started to see it in many other places. Even manhole covers can be ornamental.
Music Makers Here
A group for posting live performance of music. This is one of my favorites because I am SO into music!
Catchy Photos Here
It's pretty self-explanatory. If you feel that yours is a "catchy photo", this is the place for it.
Those Good Old Days, Here
A group for period photos of whatever the good old days means to you. But, not a group for new photos of old things.
You are cordially invited to join any or all of the above groups. Just click on the blue ..Here.. and you will magically go There.
I am admin on a fewother groups, but I didn't start them.
My gallery on The Lens Flare is listed below. I have some photos there too, but more here on flickr.
Below is a map of states I have lived in. Not just visited, but lived in. Also included is Washington, D. C.
- JoinedMarch 2005
- OccupationTechnical writer
- HometownDenver
Most popular photos
Testimonials
A polished gem or a diamond in the rough? I can't decide, but I know a treasure when I see one. What a life and what a man, and what an inspiration. His is a photo stream that you can really get into, really explore! His is a talent, or maybe a desire, or possibly a compulsion, to share via his images, and even… Read more
A polished gem or a diamond in the rough? I can't decide, but I know a treasure when I see one. What a life and what a man, and what an inspiration. His is a photo stream that you can really get into, really explore! His is a talent, or maybe a desire, or possibly a compulsion, to share via his images, and even more special, his words, the experiences then and now, of a life, a family, and some places. Gary doesn't just post a few pictures and walk away. Sharing is where it's at for him. To make a connection through sharing is a form of caring, and it is easy to see that this man is a kind, caring, sharing individual and I'm glad to have met him here on flickr. So, bombs away dream babies. This desert rat has got some stories to tell. Pull up a rock, light a pipe and settle in for a spell. Take it away, Gary.
Read lessI just read Gary's insightful take on Flickr. it's illuminating and his telling comes from a sagely voice, one that not only truly knows but has fully lived all he has to say. He makes me understand why I spend time on Flickr. how important making a connection is. and it's evident in the groups he has started. i would … Read more
I just read Gary's insightful take on Flickr. it's illuminating and his telling comes from a sagely voice, one that not only truly knows but has fully lived all he has to say. He makes me understand why I spend time on Flickr. how important making a connection is. and it's evident in the groups he has started. i would like to see more through his eye. when i grow old, i would like to be like him.
Read lessAt the time I'm writing this, Gary has created 97 sets, which gives you an idea of the diversity of his interest and the boundlessness of his talent. Spanning generations, his photos are imbued with his love of his family and his desert. Few Flickrites have created more groups, either. I am delighted to have met Gar… Read more
At the time I'm writing this, Gary has created 97 sets, which gives you an idea of the diversity of his interest and the boundlessness of his talent. Spanning generations, his photos are imbued with his love of his family and his desert. Few Flickrites have created more groups, either. I am delighted to have met Gary through Flickr. He is a treasured member of the Flickr community.
Read lessGem66 is not only a photographer; he is a born storyteller as well. Going through his photostream is like reading and seeing his autobiography: the life of a man who chose the wide open spaces of the desert over the jaded culture of California and the mountaneous roughness of his Colorado roots. Looking over his shou… Read more
Gem66 is not only a photographer; he is a born storyteller as well. Going through his photostream is like reading and seeing his autobiography: the life of a man who chose the wide open spaces of the desert over the jaded culture of California and the mountaneous roughness of his Colorado roots. Looking over his shoulder at his images and reading what he says about them you sometimes have the feeling that deep in his heart he would like to be one of those wild horses that live in his vicinity and that he speaks of so lovingly. I for one am glad he's not but that he is a loving, if sometimes nostalgic human being with an eye for beauty and a pen/keyboard to describe it!
Read lessgem66 is most certainly a GEM! He takes a wide variety of photos focusing on Arizona, and has started many public groups. One he is working on in particular is the many resorts and renowned luxury sites of the Scottsdale area. Oh, and he started the group on Grandparents and also Grandchildren, too. Check them out! … Read more
gem66 is most certainly a GEM! He takes a wide variety of photos focusing on Arizona, and has started many public groups. One he is working on in particular is the many resorts and renowned luxury sites of the Scottsdale area. Oh, and he started the group on Grandparents and also Grandchildren, too. Check them out!
Read lessGary is the only person who ever told me where to get off and had me so convinced that I not only agreed with him, but thanked him to boot. I haven’t known him very long, but he interacts with honesty that it makes it easy to call him a friend. When Gary made contact and I read his profile, I knew that here was a … Read more
Gary is the only person who ever told me where to get off and had me so convinced that I not only agreed with him, but thanked him to boot. I haven’t known him very long, but he interacts with honesty that it makes it easy to call him a friend. When Gary made contact and I read his profile, I knew that here was a man with stories to tell. So I invited him to the Tom Sawyer-like Adventures group and it has been uphill so far, with Gary placing his stamp on the group, defining the kind of stories that make the group live up to its name. But at heart, Flickr is about photos and Gary’s photos, which run the gamut from yesteryear, to yesterday to just posted minutes ago, offer us some rare vintage pictures of another era, as well as the colorful and informative photos of the digital age. Gary, an adventurous man, has walked a different path than most of us, so it is rewarding for us to see the world through his eyes and, through his stories, his thoughts as well. Those stories add punch to his already insightful pictures and, thus, take us, vicariously, on adventures into the desert, the blinding snow, the winding sometimes dangerous mountain roads, as well as calm, structured downtown Phoenix. And, as if all that weren’t enough, he is a person who comes across with honesty and sincerity.
Read less