No Traces http://notraces.com/ Film is not dead. en Copyright 2009 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:54:42 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Mae Reads a Christmas Story She loves books. The only thing she loved more this Christmas was the Elmo doll my mom got her - she's smitten with him... I love her more than any Salinger book - or any book he may write again someday.

My blog is almost five years old - that was my goal when I started out - five years - then maybe on to something else. I'm not sure when the last post will be - who knows, maybe this is it. I've been a photographer since I was - well too young to remember. I took a LONG break from it - life has a way of turning our focus on other things. No Traces helped me regain my interest in photography - I've learned a lot - I've re-learned just as much.

I remember when I posted my first image here - I remember thinking that if I could get just a few comments I'd be happy. I remember thinking if I could get just one image published I'd be happy. I think I have close to 15,000 comments now - and I've had many photos published - and will publish a few more before my time is through. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd meet so many wonderful people through this blog. It's been a great ride.

Looking back on it all - I wish I would have started No Traces sooner - like 20 years sooner, but like I said - life got a hold of me. Maybe in the next life I'll grab a camera or two and head off to faraway places and win the Pulitzer.

So - stay tuned -- I will be back -- either here -- or somewhere else. I've been working hard on creating my own style - my own vision - and I've not really been able to share it here with you. No Traces became a more family oriented site - and I have no regrets - but time ticks on for me - and I need to reach for something new. I'm not sure where it'll take me - and I may just fall flat on my face - but I have to try -- just like I had to try almost 5 years ago when I posted my first image - a beautiful car in the evening light of Havana. That image - that city - changed my life forever... I appreciate you sharing your time to take the journey with me... more than I can say... thanks so very much...

-bob

]]> http://notraces.com/2008/12/mae_reads_a_christmas_story.php http://notraces.com/2008/12/mae_reads_a_christmas_story.php Canon 5D Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:54:42 -0500 Santa's Little Elf & Her Sidekick What a year. The world is a crazy place right now - but I'm going to enjoy the ride. How can I not? I get to stay home and raise my littlest one. I learn from her each and every day. She doesn't care if the market implodes. She doesn't care about oil prices. She's unaware of terror and fanaticism. The only thing she does care about is her family - her dogs - and making sure her belly is full before she sleeps. I do my very best to see to it that she's happy.

I'll be relieved to see this year pass by, and hopeful as the New Year approaches. Change is upon us.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays -- to everyone. May the New Year bring happiness and renewed hope -- Happy New Year!

Listening to: Again & Again - The Bird and the Bee

Chris Bennett ]]> http://notraces.com/2008/12/santas_little_elf_her_sidekick.php http://notraces.com/2008/12/santas_little_elf_her_sidekick.php Contax T3 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:21:12 -0500 Winter Light I'm beginning to get the hang of taking care of her on my own. I'm usually with her for a little over nine hours, but I'm figuring out how to break up the day. The past week was really challenging because we both were sick - in fact, the whole house came down with the stomach flu. Not good. Even the renovations guys got sick.

Still -- it's rewarding when each day comes to a close and I somehow managed to feed her / change her / and make her happy - to the best of my abilities. I think I said this before - but it's worth saying again - raising a child is the hardest job on the planet. Don't try to convince me otherwise - I won't believe you.

The weekend is here. Less than two weeks until Christmas. All I want is strength to raise Mae the right way.

Oh -- and there's a full moon today -- beware!

Listening to: No One to Depend On - Santana

Tribble Mancenido ]]> http://notraces.com/2008/12/winter_light.php http://notraces.com/2008/12/winter_light.php Film Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:11:11 -0500 Mom and Mae It's late -- I'll write something later -- I've been working on trying to catch up on a rather large backlog of film -- here are two of my favorite shots -- and favorite people...

]]> http://notraces.com/2008/11/mom_and_mae.php http://notraces.com/2008/11/mom_and_mae.php Film Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:57:57 -0500 The Falls The world seems as if it's going right over the falls. I don't recall seeing things quite this bad -- but I have no doubt things will come back around. Hang in there...

Listening to: Pterodactyl Tuxedo - Gustafer Yellowgold

Takaai Okada]]> http://notraces.com/2008/11/the_falls.php http://notraces.com/2008/11/the_falls.php Film Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:33:44 -0500 Wrapped around her finger I love her more than peanut brittle...

Listening to: De Do Do Do De Da Da Da - The Police

I'll be Watching You]]> http://notraces.com/2008/11/wrapped_around_her_finger.php http://notraces.com/2008/11/wrapped_around_her_finger.php Film Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0500 One! Today is a historical day -- Mae turns ONE!

Even though I've had no time to do much of anything - other than cater to all her needs -- It's been a fun and rewarding year. I think she's pretty okay... We'll keep her for another year and see how things go...

I love her more than carrot cake. I love you Mae Mae!

]]> http://notraces.com/2008/11/one_1.php http://notraces.com/2008/11/one_1.php Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:22:22 -0500 Hipster I was working on another project tonight when she came home. She said to me, "I'm a supermodel, you may take five photos of me" -- I will tell you this -- she has the temperament and attitude of a supermodel -- no doubt about that...

Listening to: Somebody get me a Doctor - Van Halen

Takaai Okada ]]> http://notraces.com/2008/10/hipster.php http://notraces.com/2008/10/hipster.php Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:01:01 -0500 Young Men I did not take this photo. I can only say this image moves me more than any other image I've seen in a very, very long time. I simply cannot wait until November 4th. I think I know how these young men must feel. I've been fortunate to meet Senator Obama, and I will tell you -- he's the real deal.

The caption that goes along with this image (see the rest of the images by clicking on my link of the day - be sure to click on SHOW MORE IMAGES at the bottom of each page):

These two boys waited as a long line of adults greeted Senator Obama before a rally on Martin Luther King Day in Columbia, S.C. They never took their eyes off of him. Their grandmother told me, "Our young men have waited a long time to have someone to look up to, to make them believe Dr. King's words can be true for them." Jan. 21, 2008. -- © Callie Shell / Aurora for Time

Oh -- and -- PLEASE -- PLEASE -- don't forget to VOTE -- no matter who you may favor -- it's your right as an American -- just do it...

Callie Shell]]> http://notraces.com/2008/10/young_men.php http://notraces.com/2008/10/young_men.php Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:00:00 -0500 Walking Shoes I had a great day today. I spent it with a great friend exploring new places. Mother Nature really is beautiful. Sometimes I forget.

Listening to: Ball of Confusion - The Temptations

radio.uruguay ]]> http://notraces.com/2008/10/walking_shoes.php http://notraces.com/2008/10/walking_shoes.php Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:10:11 -0500 Stop on By I love this place.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Listening to: Stop On By - Rufus & Chaka Khan

Matthew Gamber ]]> http://notraces.com/2008/10/stop_on_by_2.php http://notraces.com/2008/10/stop_on_by_2.php Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0500 dreaming of havana Congrats to my wonderful daughter, Courtney - for landing the coolest job in all of NYC -- you deserve it -- and I'm so very proud of you! xo

Listening to: Breathe Me - Sia

richard renaldi ]]> http://notraces.com/2008/10/dreaming_of_havana.php http://notraces.com/2008/10/dreaming_of_havana.php Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:21:21 -0500 A Day with Mae As the financial world collapses - I realize there's much much more to life than money...

Listening to: Quicksand (Thievery Corporation Remix) - Natalie Walker

Dustin Parr ]]> http://notraces.com/2008/10/a_day_with_mae.php http://notraces.com/2008/10/a_day_with_mae.php Leica M6 Classic Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:12:00 -0500 Tightly I Hold Her I took a CPR and First Aid class this weekend. I needed to because Mae has managed to put just about everything in her mouth and she's choked a few times. I panicked. I didn't know what to do. I shoved my finger in her mouth, I smacked her on the back - both wrong things to do. I was lucky, she managed to work it out herself, but I knew I needed to educate myself. I signed up and spent my Saturday afternoon with other parents and a great instructor - and I learned how to properly deal with a choking baby - and (most importantly) - how to deal with a child (and adult) that's stopped breathing. I now can perform CPR. I feel pretty good about that.

If you have someone in your life - a child, a parent, a partner, a best friend - whomever -- and you want to be prepared to save them -- take the time and contact the Red Cross or American Heart Association and ask about their CPR class. You'll give up one afternoon - and in return you will be empowered. You'll be in the know. You'll have the skills it takes to save your loved one.

Just do it.

Listening to: Dancing Nancies - Dave Matthews (Live at Luther College)

Great Music ]]> http://notraces.com/2008/10/tightly_i_hold_her.php http://notraces.com/2008/10/tightly_i_hold_her.php Film Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:45:45 -0500 Red Riding Hood I've not been feeling so hot the last several days - it's probably the black plague - but I'll live.

As I was dying on the couch last night - almost asleep, a little girl whispered in my ear, "I love you, Bob" -- just the potion I needed.

I love her more than cotton candy (the kind that comes 3 colors to a bag).

Listening to: Superfly - Curtis Mayfield

Michael Moore]]> http://notraces.com/2008/09/red_riding_hood.php http://notraces.com/2008/09/red_riding_hood.php Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:35:36 -0500