Shot with Pentax I-10 with "toy camera" filter.

So, after about eight years, I have finally picked up my camera again! Well, that’s not exactly correct. “My camera” was an old analog 35mm. I sold it about a year ago to some young skater guy who came and carried it away in one hand while holding a 6-pack in the other. “This should pull the job,” he said. I wished him luck. I, on the other hand, was frustrated with 35mm development, finding film, lenses, filters, and, alas, paying for it all!

Today things changed. I bought a little digital “toy” camera made by Pentax (the Optio I-10). A wonderful little camera packed full of features for the urban photographer that I fancy myself to be. 12 mega pixels ensure great enlargements, HD movie camera for when I just can’t resist trying to be Andy Warhol and tons of on-board filters for my lomographic tendencies. All this for a price tag just under $200 at New York cities famous B&H Photo (a store visit which deserves its own blog post).

After coming to a stalemate in my writing I am totally excited to get back behind the lens. Not being a fan of chunky SLRs I was hesitant to get back into photography noting that DSLRs had made little improvement in that regard. Then, I tried analog lomography for a bit and ran into all the 35mm frustrations again. But now, I am free! I have the best of both worlds with my new little toy. I am off to explore my photographic passion once again armed with a neat little camera which can easily “pull the job”. A camera that might make Terry Richardson envious even!

Above is my very first artistic photographic attempt after years of ‘temporary’ retirement. It is called “The Doorknob”. 

Reed Magazine Issue 63

Reed Magazine, one of the oldest literary journals west of the Mississippi, has just released its new issue, number 63, which features my essay When Men Cry. A self-biographically inspired fictional essay, When Men Cry looks at just that – when men cry. How do we respond when men cry and why do we, on the whole, discourage this most natural and therapeutic act? Perhaps if we encouraged boys to cry men like Bush might grow up with their heads connected more soundly to their hearts – which could have worldwide impact.

Reed can be purchased from the magazine’s website at www.ReedMag.org.

Lucky Bastard New and Selected Poems

My new collection of poems titled “Lucky Bastard” is now available from Amazon.com. Follow this link to order. Lucky Bastard is a little collection of new and selected work including a handful of new sketches! It’s a fun little book, go ahead, see for yourself!

Michael Sweet and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

I was very happy and excited to be a 2009 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for teaching. The award was given to 15 teachers this year from across the country. We all met for a week in Ottawa and received a cash award of $5000. Here we are as a group at the national awards ceremony on Parliament Hill.

Some of my recent work has been published in the famous Evergreen Review! I am very excited as this magazine debuted so many great writers over the years including Charles Bukowski… and we all know I am a great fan of Bukowski’s work! Click on the image of my name to take a look!

trouble
pop singer michael jackson suffers cardiac arrest
keep the faith
unbreakable
don’t walk away
pop singer michael jackson in coma after cardiac arrest
will you be there?
bad
dangerous
pop singer michael jackson reported dead
cry
i just can’t stop loving you
is it scary?
confirmed – pop singer michael jackson is dead
scream
i can’t help it
the way you make me feel
scream
don’t stop ‘till you get enough
gone too soon
break of dawn

Dedicated in memory of Michael Jackson 1958-2009