Vodou Damballa, East Flatbush Brooklyn

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Vodou ceremony in East Flatbush apartment. People were wearing green in honor of Damballa that can also be represented by St. Patrick or Moses. The space was too small for live drummers. Many young kids that were born in the USA. The only time I could use available lights was when candles were lit

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NYPD 67th precinct + NYPD gala

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67 pct. east flatbush - lots of guns in the streets and club shootings. one female officer received an award. earlier in the month 2 teens held up a laundromat at gun point - she arrested them without shooting nor drawing her fire arm. Someone got shot 8 times outside a club after a fight. the captain talked about the drug dealing that happens in clubs. he did not want to name the clubs in question but with a grin he gave out the location's intersection. He said that the club smelled like you were in kingston. everyone laughed and he said "hey! i can't wait to retire and move to kingston jamaica! but here it is not legal" A kid on his way to school found a wallet with 500 dollar cash in it. he called his mom and gave it to the NYPD. he received an award and a cash prize. Senior auxiliary cop was wearing old style jacket. different fabric and more fitted than the current uniforms. more photos from ElCaribe in Mills basin. Police commissioner Kelly gave awards.

Boïs Cayman - Haitian slave revolt anniversary - Prospect Park

22 images slideshow

http://picasaweb.google.com/stefpix/ProspectParkBoisCaManVodouCelebration120820081723/photo#s5233745261889961554

This Sunday August 10th some members of the Haitian diaspora in Flatbush
set a tent and a table with offering
by the pond near the Parkside and Ocean Aves entrance.
They were celebrating the anniversary of the Haitian revolution
that started between August 14/16 1791.

This festivity has been happening in prospect Park since 1990 with the
exception of last year.

Different people, priests and intellectuals
were talking in French and Creole about freedom and equality.

3 bands played at different times vodou and rara music.

home made food was sold

a french guy asked me for my email address so he could get some pictures.

the earlier rain made the event a bit smaller -
but everything went on until midnight or so.

from wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boukman

> Dutty Boukman was a houngan, or vodoun priest whose death was considered a catalyst to the slave uprising that marked the beginning of the Haïtian Revolution. Boukman was born in Jamaica.
> In late August of 1791, Boukman conducted a ceremony at the Bois Caïman and prophesied that the slaves Jean François, Biassou, and Jeannot would be leaders of a slave revolt that would free the slaves of Saint-Domingue.
> Soon after the uprising began, French authorities captured Boukman and executed him by beheading. The French then publicly displayed Boukman's head in an attempt to dispel the aura of invincibility that Boukman had cultivated. The attempt failed.
> Haitians honored Boukman by admitting him into the pantheon of loa (Vodou spirits).

prospect park bike race - helmet-less spill

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http://picasaweb.google.com/stefpix/BikeRaceHelmetLessSpill120820081507/photo#s5233710900030431042

I was cutting thru prospect park -
every other Monday this group of kids from Mexico and Guatemala do a 5 loop bike race.

when i was a bike messenger i always liked the style of the central
American riders -
they usually had nice bikes - modern but not the latest and fanciest -

i know the short Mexican riders were the ones that would always outrace
me uphill on the bridge.

so i was happy to see a group of them at the park -
they had stop watches and a couple of camcorders.
they looked like an old school race.
I felt inspired and in awe.
they had many specialized allez and some trek - $1k road bikes - a few
with older frames.
after one loop i could not believe how fast they were racing -


to see these short guys pushing so hard reminded me of marco pantani on
the mont ventoux.

never seen at the park other riders sprinting like this for entire loops

one guy had to give up -
he had been doing music this year and he could not train 3 / 4 times a
week like the others -

he looked tired.

another one stopped and said one of them crashed on the other side of
the park.

i raced -
and it was the kid i took photos of at the beginning -

his face and arm were bloody - he was in shock but he was awake and aware -
the ambulances took a while.

i took some snaps wondering if it was the right thing to do -

some girl at the scene came to me and said it was disrespectful - but
his friends did not seem to care.

i felt if he had a helmet probably he would have had less injuries -
if you dont see sometimes you dont really worry.
from what i understood he used teh front brake when ended up on the drain cover - the bike skidded and he flipped over.

he had injuries on his arm that hopefully absorbed the impact on his head.

his bike looked just like had scratches on the handlebar tape -

i think probably they might have been going between 25 to 30 MPH in thet flat / slightly downhill spot.

when i crashed in 2005 i was in semi shock for 30 or 60 minutes - my
face was covered in blood and i felt my eyebrow was gone -
i would have not minded someone taking a photo of me
actually after a while i took some to see the damage - before i could
stand up on my own and walk home.

i helped the friends of the injured rider by giving directions to the
hospital -
the paramedics spoke no Spanish and the riders spoke little English.
they kept asking his name in a loud voice - as raising the tone would break the language barriers.
the injured rider could move his arms and legs and nod.

I remember when lance Armstrong's teammate and friend Casartelli died at
the Tour de France in the 90s

back then looked like no one was wearing helmets at the Tour -
Laurent Fignon with the ponytail in the wind.
after that it all changed.

pix - awesome color | cop car crash | block parties | rara marching band |

50 image slideshow

http://picasaweb.google.com/stefanog/AwesomecolorFlatbush/photo#s5228466328361282050

sometimes I shoot for local brooklyn papers for quick cash and bike exercise.
politicians / get togethers / news stuff.
-
during the summer block parties are the thing happening in brooklyn on sunny weekends -

i once attended a lecture by this photographer Bill Owens that made an amazing book called "suburbia"
from his newspaper work in the 70s
http://www.billowens.com/#a=0&at=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=4

these assignments remind me of that book.
-----
this saturday my itinerary included ft greene , prospect heights, canarsie, flatbush.

the more you get closer to the ocean the nicer the streets look.
green blocks - neatly trimmed hedges, yards with flowers and plants.

middle class gatherings that are more about sharing food, sitting in the yards, letting the kids play in the street.

the parties closer to the heart of flatbush
where people live in apartment buildings on narrower blocks
the music is louder - people drink beer -
the street basketball is intense
and i can see some of these kids eventually playing in a pro team in a few years.

- it is a good training for me sometimes to try to make something look exciting even if it is bland -
but i need always to get some shots for myself - the papers have not so much use for close ups / details or pictures where people don't look happy / smiling/ having a good time.
but i am always drawn to the details of the faces -
something that would look good full page maybe.
--
an undercover police car was speeding and crashed into a red car driven by an older man.
red and green gas spilled on the street -
no one was really hurt -
it could have been worse.
a cop had a taser gun on his belt -
and a regular gun too.
quietly the NYPD started carrying these yellow plastic electric shock stun gun
meant to disable people but sometimes produced lethal consequence.

---
there is an old dutch cemetery and victorian houses off east 21st st / church ave / flatbush ave -
looks like somewhere in northern europe - somewhere a few centuries old

--

i quickly rode to the knitting factory to catch awesome color -
was tired -
had to drink a late night coffee
and the show was tight and loud
a pixieish girl backstage was wearing some home made earplugs that looked like some fashion accessory
--
stopped by prospect park
the rara bands playing as usual -
now it is easier to take photos
people are not so suspicious of me anymore -
so i can focus on getting new shots - just find different ways - perspectives - approaches.

--
[here is a clip i shot]
http://www.vimeo.com/1418684



--
bye
stefano

4th of july - sonic youth / rara band

click here for 99 photo slideshow on picasa

http://picasaweb.google.com/stefanog/July4thSonicYouthRara/photo?authkey=bKTqlQMLtxo#s5219743772306463042
4th of july 2008
between prospect park brooklyn
and battery park in lower manhattan

the radio predicted rain
and possibly storms

in prospect park
i was invited by the haitian rara band people for a barbecue -
it is early
i see trays with marinated chicken -
take a few shots

at 2 45 i start riding to manhattan to catch the feelies the opening band -

riding over the brooklyn bridge is insane with all the distracted
pedestrian tourists invading the bike lane

I get a crew pass from sonic youth's tour manager -
there are some issues with the passes -

the "artists" can't go to the VIP / guest section that has slight;y
better free food -
pulled pork and mac and cheese -
and with the crew pass I can go just everywhere!

the feelies look aged after all these years but they sound just the same.
after all they disappeared for 20 years or so.

sonic youth sound great
i like these summer open air loose and fun shows -
like a picnic in the park with old friends -
hanging out outside rather than in a cramped windowless room backstage
with too much bread and cold cuts.

at 8 I ride back to brooklyn hoping i can make it across the bridge
before they close it for the fireworks / safety.

I see cops and yellow tape at the entrance of the brooklyn bridge.
"i have to ride to brooklyn" i tell a cop -
he asks me for ID to prove i live there and
i am free to go.

the bridge is deserted and i see the macy's fireworks barge being pushed
by a tugboat.

I ask 3 cops if i can take their photo at the roadblock
but the captain tells me photography is not allowed on the brooklyn
bridge "because of 9/11].
he looks around for a sign to confirm what he is saying
but I can only see one that states "NYPD video surveillance on the bridge".
I tell him that probably every year the tourists that visit the bridge
take millions of photos and if i were a terrorist i would probably use a
concealed video camera instead.

I see a girl walking up on the bridge pushing a stroller with her kid to
see the fireworks.

I ask her how did she get thru
"my boyfriend is a cop!"
she replies with a smile.

prospect park
there are 2 big rara bands playing near parkside and flatbush avenue -
by the pond -

this vodou lady introduces me to some musicologist that is studying
haitian drumming -

there is a guy playing melodies on a regular trumpet -
sounds like a vocal part.
it gives some sort of jazz flavor -

--
i go to rehab - the new old club on avenue b and
3rd st

thurston moore is playing with 3 kids from northhampton mass -
2 guitars
2 drum kits

symmetric on the stage -
sometimes furious

feels like 2 channels of a stereo
competing and blending in

--
have to weed thru 12 GB of stuff 1300 images
down to 450 now -

been taking L-Carnitine supplement for a month
helps me focus -
helps me ride miles and miles with less fatigue
makes it all easier -
and i feel i dont need coffee as much anymore
energy without the nervousness and the crash of starbucks cups