The process I employ in the computer darkroom does not involve heavy plates, long exposure times, nor toxic chemicals. However, as with the early pioneers, the final image is a function of light, tone and composition. Relieved of the dangers associated with the original process, I can only hope to some day master a technique that "mirrors the truth". At Time Less Image we continue to seek exquisite beauty in our images, exploring all techniques, old and new.

"The people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made". In the 60's I didn't fully understand the significance of the lyrics to the song "Sounds of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel. Over the years, experiences, education and maturity helped develop a political philosophy to respond to the reality behind words such as:

• The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
• And tenement halls.

Although I consider myself a fairly moral individual, I must confess to a love affair with all things neon. I will get up early to catch the bus to Boston, then the Amtrak train to New York City. I'll wander the city, camera at the ready. I'll often catch some interesting shots during the day, but the fun doesn't begin, for me, until the sun goes down and the neon takes center stage. I stop only for a slice of cheese cake. I've spent a few nights in the Port Authority bus station because I've missed the last bus home.

I plan my strategy during the long train ride. Of course, I'll usually regret not packing a wide angle or fast mid range lens, or a tripod because of my concern to travel light. However, my biggest disappointments are realizing that one of my old friends has been replaced. I shed a few tears for the bald neatnik. His easy sense of self stood in stark contrast to the skinny models  we have become to accept as the desired body image. I miss him.

• Old friends,
• Winter companions,
• The old men
• Lost in their overcoats,
• Waiting for the sunset.

I am heading to the Farmers Market tomorrow. I know I will have plenty of tomatoes from my own garden to can, but I did not plant large quantities of other items for pickles and relish. While visiting friends in Maine last week we ate beets from their much larger gardens. One recipe I am dying to try is Odessa Beets. Use this recipe as a stuffing for baked acorn squash, put it in a sandwich with cream cheese, or eat it straight as a side. Leftovers keep for at least 1 week. From "The Moosewood Cookbook." raw beets, lemon juice, prunes, garlic, black pepper, walnuts, fresh or canned-in-juice pineapple cvt Ingredients:

• 5 (medium) beets
• 2 tbs. lemon juice
• 8 prunes, thinly sliced
• 2 (medium) cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp. salt 1 black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup finely chopped (English) walnuts
• 1 cup finely chopped pineapple (fresh or canned-in-juice)

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400. Wrap the beets in foil and bake until very tender (40-45 min.). 2. Rinse under cold running water as you rub off the skins. 3. Trim the ends and coarsely grate (or use a food processor with the grating attachment). Transfer to a medium-sized bowl. 4. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. Chill until serving time.

While preparing my list and checking it twice, I found myself humming a song. I thought I was humming "The Farmer In The Dell". However, I found the following in the source of all knowledge: Wikipedia. The Farmer in the Dale is a nursery rhyme. It tells the story of a farmer in a dale who takes a wife, who takes a child, who takes a nurse, etc, until finally a rat takes a cheese, and the cheese "stands alone".

• The farmer in the dale
• The farmer in the dale
• Hi-ho, the derry-o
• The farmer in the dale

The dictionary gives the following for dale: n.A valley: galloped over hill and dale.[Middle English, from Old English dæl.] Like most nursery rhymes or songs, there are geographic variations, and in the United Kingdom this is known as The Farmer's In His Den. The 'Hi-Ho, the derry-o' is variously replaced with 'Ee-i, tiddly-i' in London, 'Ee-i, andio' (for instance in Northern England), and 'Ee-i, ee-i' (for instance in the West Country). In the UK, the rat is replaced with a dog and in the final verse, all other players pat the dog or alternatively its bone. Additionally, "Hi-ho the merry-o" is another variation of the lyrics sung.The melody is also used for "A-Hunting We Will Go".In French it's "Le fermier dans son pré".

The Silver Surfer (Norrin Radd) is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby. The character first appears in the comic book Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966), the first of a three-issue arc fans and historians call "The Galactus Trilogy".

Originally a young astronomer of the planet Zenn-La, in order to save his home-world from destruction by a fearsome cosmic entity known as Galactus, Norrin Radd made a bargain with the being, pledging himself to serve as his herald. Imbued in return with a tiny portion of Galactus' Power Cosmic, Radd acquired great powers and a silvery appearance. Galactus also created for Radd a surfboard-like craft — modeled after a childhood fantasy of his — on which he would travel at speeds beyond that of light. Known from then on as the Silver Surfer, Radd began to roam the cosmos searching for new planets for Galactus to consume. When his travels finally took him to Earth, the Surfer came face-to-face with the Fantastic Four, a team of powerful superheroes that helped him to rediscover his nobility of spirit. Betraying Galactus, the Surfer saved Earth but was punished in return with everlasting exile there.

Stan Lee enjoyed the character and decided to feature him in his own individual title in 1968. John Buscema was penciller for the first 17 issues of the series, with Kirby returning for the eighteenth and final issue. The first seven issues, which included anthological "Tales of the Watcher" backup stories, were 72-page (with advertising), 25-cent "giants", as opposed to typical 36-page, 12-cent comics of the time. Thematically, the stories dealt with the Surfer's exile on Earth and the inhumanity of man as observed by this noble yet fallen hero. The Silver Surfer comic book series became known as one of Lee's most thoughtful and introspective works. Englehart writes that Buscema and Lee were "pouring their souls into the series".

Waldo County, situated in mid-coast Maine along scenic Penobscot Bay, has genuine New England character evidenced by working port towns and quaint rural villages. Visitors are awed by the area's unspoiled beauty. From striking coastal views to sweeping mountain vistas, dramatic natural settings abound. In addition great care has been taken to preserve and refurbish numerous historic landmarks, homes and buildings. Consequently, the Maine of yesteryear is still found here.

The earliest bicycles had pedals mounted directly on the front wheel. In order to increase speeds in the absence of any practical method of gearing, larger and larger wheels were built, culminating in the classic penny-farthing where the wheel could be 1.5m (60") or more in diameter. The name refers to the penny and farthing coins of the time, the former being large and the latter unusually small. Other popular names include high-wheeler, high bicycle and boneshaker, although the latter generally referred to any early bicycle before the invention of the pneumatic tire.

It had only a brief vogue, arriving and departing within a couple of decades, but it has caught the imagination as visually representing the late Victorian. This brief lifetime coincided almost exactly with the birth of cycle sport. 

Plenty of music and plenty of clowns make any parade a child's delight. Add "the Shriners on Trucks and carts and you have a parade for the ages! A traditional 4'th of July (Independence Day) celebration includes: a pancake breakfast, a parade, a lobster and clam bake (with corn on the cob), a concert on the green, all ending with fireworks. Bar Harbor, Maine USA does it with style.

It's a quintessential NYC tourist thing to do - take a hansom cab ride around Central Park. It's a tourist stereotype, but it's fun and not something you do every day, which must be why everyone does it. The cabs line up around the south end of the park, across from the famous Plaza Hotel. Find one you like and hop in. Rides tend to run around $25 and loop up to the halfway point of the park and around - maybe about 20 minutes. If you get a good cabbie, he'll give you a history of Park sites and others within eyeshot. Make sure you get the cute photo of yourself in the cab. 

This image was designed with digital tools to replicate the appearance and texture of pen, ink and watercolor with a batik effect. I have been attempting to replicate a style similar to Batik. Batik is a wax-resist dyeing technique used on textile. Batik is found in found in several countries of West Africa.