Photography with Joe

  The Case for Criminalizing Jokes Free speech is dead. Yet people cling to the illusion that they can say whatever they want, hiding behind “intent” or “humor” as shields. The UK is already punishing people for hate speech—even when they thought they were joking. This proves the old rules no longer matter. Why not cut to the point? Make jokes illegal. Ban every non-literal, every pragmatic utterance. The so-called “minor injustice” of punishing humor is nothing compared to the greater injustice of allowing people to believe they have rights that no longer exist. Jail time will drop, clarity will rise, and the myth of free speech will finally be buried.

  Noblesse Oblige in an Age of Intellectual Power Let’s get this straight: power—real power—isn’t measured by titles, votes, or bank balances. It’s measured by who you lift, who you teach, who you give the tools to survive and thrive when the game is stacked against them. Intellectual power, academic influence, creative authority—this is the leverage of our era. And if you have it, you owe it . Noblesse oblige is not optional; it’s combustible, it’s dangerous, it’s responsibility dressed as opportunity. I’m talking about wielding your knowledge like a torch, not a cudgel. Mentorship that breaks hierarchies. Ideas that destabilize comfort zones. Exposure that accelerates the overlooked. If your brain, your insight, your access can open doors, shut up about humility and start opening doors . Too many people hide behind “meritocracy” like it’s a shield. Newsflash: if you hoard your brilliance, your connections, your strategies—you’re complicit. Complicit in mediocrity. Complicit in...

Seeing Color: How Our Brain Tricks Us and Cameras Try to Keep Up TO RICHARD Before we can discuss the illusions created by Samsung cameras or any camera for that matter, it’s best to start at the beginning: our brain does not see exactly what our eyes see. Vision is sometimes reality, and sometimes a created image—our perception is always a mix of raw input and brain interpretation. Our perception of color is not a direct readout of the world—it’s a reconstruction built by the brain. Light reflects off objects with different wavelengths, but the exact mix of wavelengths hitting our eyes depends heavily on the lighting. A red apple under bright noon sunlight looks different than the same apple in the golden glow of sunset. Yet, remarkably, we still perceive it as red. This is because our brain constantly compensates for lighting conditions . It applies unconscious “corrections” so that familiar objects maintain a consistent color in our mind. In a sense, our brain is lying to us, making...

  “Dick, when you take a photo with your Samsung, the camera isn’t just snapping exactly what the sensor sees. The sensor records raw light, but it’s limited—it can’t capture every sparkle or highlight perfectly. The phone then runs some smart software on that raw data: It merges multiple exposures (HDR) so bright spots like glimmers don’t get lost and dark areas aren’t crushed. It cleans up noise, which also makes little sparkles pop more than the raw sensor caught. It boosts local contrast and sharpness, making reflective surfaces look extra shiny. So the final photo is like a polished version of reality—it’s technically “enhanced” by the phone. Your viewfinder already shows a processed preview, which is why it looked like what you saw with your eyes. But the saved image might exaggerate glimmers even more because the algorithms are trying to make it look vivid. In short: the camera didn’t lie, it just used smart tricks to make the glimmers stand out more than the r...

  When Dec 26 works well As A Music Relase Party It’s a good date if : The event is low-pressure (drop-in, casual, no strict start time) Your audience is local , not industry-heavy The vibe is cozy / celebratory / communal , not hype-driven You’re okay with smaller but warmer attendance Examples: Listening party Intimate live set House-show energy Bar or lounge event with flexible timing When it’s a bad idea Avoid Dec 26 if: You need maximum turnout You’re inviting press, industry, or promoters The event relies on high energy or late-night commitment You’re counting on ticket sales rather than goodwill

 

  Big Beautiful Bill It would be illegal for a state to require schools to get a license before using AI tutoring systems. It would be illegal for a state to ban AI reading-assist tools for young children. It would be illegal for a state to restrict the use of AI that grades children’s homework automatically. It would be illegal for a state to require safety audits for AI used in children’s math or language apps. It would be illegal for a state to stop schools from using AI classroom-monitoring systems that track attention or behavior. It would be illegal for a state to require parental opt-in before a school can use an AI learning platform with a child. It would be illegal for a state to ban AI from generating personalized lesson plans for students. It would be illegal for a state to impose transparency rules about how educational AI makes decisions. It would be illegal for a state to regulate the training data used in children’s educational AI tools. It would be illegal for a sta...

  Dr. Scholz — Kamishibai Photography is a global practice of documentary and narrative photography inspired by Japanese paper theater (Kamishibai) and shadow play . It explores human presence in public and semi-public spaces across Canada, the United States, Korea, Japan, and other urban environments. The work focuses on people, movement, and behaviour, while also highlighting the traces they leave behind : objects, pathways, gestures, and the subtle imprints of human activity. Subjects are engaged through playful interaction, sometimes directly responding to the camera, producing a “quantum effect” in which the observer subtly alters the environment. A defining feature of this style is temporal storytelling . Sequential images of the same subject, object, or environment, taken over months or years, create evolving narratives that capture change, continuity, and the passage of life. Each photograph acts as a frame in a larger story, echoing the episodic, sequential format of K...

  Changing of the Colours, Toronto — 2009 In 2009, I photographed the Changing of the Colours ceremony in Toronto, attended by then–Prince Charles. I had the privilege of being invited and positioned close to the future king, which gave me a perspective few people ever get during an event like this. My artwork from that day captures the discipline and precision of the soldiers lined up, their uniforms sharp, their movements synchronized, and the entire ceremony unfolding with a sense of tradition and dignity. What stood out to me was the way colour, light, and human presence worked together — the red and blue of the uniforms against the Toronto backdrop, the contrast between stillness and motion, and the quiet weight of the ritual. This piece became one of my first attempts to document not just what happened, but how it felt: honour, continuity, and a moment where Toronto intersected with a larger historical narrative. #by江戸門戸 Scholz©2009 #江戸門戸 #CitizenCanada

  **Why You Want Me on Your Team: I’m the Connector Who Turns Networks Into Real Opportunities** Most people see individuals. I see systems — and I build bridges inside them. My core skill is simple and rare: I instantly identify who should meet whom, why they matter to each other, and how that connection can unlock talent, resources, or opportunities neither side realized they had. If you’ve ever wished you had someone who could expand your reach, energize your community, or accelerate partnerships without friction — that’s where I excel. 1. I Map Networks Faster Than Most People Can Describe Them Some people think linearly. I don’t. I track needs, skills, goals, and context and match them in seconds. A student needs experience? I know someone looking for volunteers. A creator is missing a tech partner? I know who’s hungry to build. This isn’t guesswork — it’s pattern recognition. Psychology calls this  associative network cognition  (Mednick 1962). You’ll call it extrem...

  Thinking About Switching to digiKam (My Notes for You All) Lately I’ve been trying to sort out a long-term plan for managing all my photos and videos. I’ve got files spread over multiple drives, some of them not even plugged in most of the time, and I want a system that lets me browse and organize everything without relying on the internet or cloud services. Privacy matters to me, and I don’t want a program sneaking anything online. After doing some research, digiKam keeps coming up as the strongest option. It’s completely offline. No accounts. No background sync. It runs even if you disconnect the internet entirely. It also remembers files on drives that aren’t plugged in, which is important for me because I bounce between different storage devices. One thing I wanted to understand was how much space the program itself uses. The answer: not much compared to the actual photos. The database (tags, metadata, all the catalog stuff) is usually a few hundred megabytes to a few gig...

✅ 1. How much space digiKam uses digiKam uses two things on your system: A. The Database (the “brain”) This stores: Tags Keywords Ratings Face data File locations Metadata Size: Small to medium library → 200–800 MB Big library (100k+ photos) → 1–3 GB Extreme library (300k–1M files) → 3–8 GB+ So: the database is not huge compared to your actual photos. B. Thumbnails / Previews This is the part that takes more space. Size estimates: 10,000 photos → ~1–2 GB 50,000 photos → ~5–8 GB 100,000 photos → ~8–15 GB 300,000+ photos → ~20–40 GB Depends on: Thumbnail size settings If you allow digiKam to make full-size previews Image formats (RAW previews are bigger) Quick math: Most users end up with 3–12 GB total across database + thumbnails. ✅ 2. Where you can store that data You are NOT forced to keep digiKam’s database on your main system drive. You can put it on: Another internal drive An external SSD A USB hard ...

Phreaking Today What Remains of Phreaking Today (2024–2025)? People still talk about “phreaking,” but the truth is simple: classic phreaking no longer works. The old tricks — blue boxes, 2600 Hz tones, payphone manipulations — all died when telecom fully went digital. But the  culture  didn’t disappear. It just changed shape. 1. The Culture Lives On You’ll still find phreaking’s legacy in places like: 2600 Magazine Hacker conventions  (HOPE, DEF CON, etc.) Stories and folklore  from the early phone-network era These communities focus on digital privacy, ethical hacking, and telecom history — not old-school exploits. 2. The Nostalgia Remains Enthusiasts maintain: Old switchboards Rotary phones Analog PBX systems They do  demos for history and education , not hacking. It’s about preserving the sound, feel, and creativity of the era. 3. The Profession It Evolved Into: Cybersecurity The spirit of phreaking — curiosity, problem-solving, system understanding — evolved...

  What Remains of Phreaking Today (2024–2025)? People still talk about “phreaking,” but the truth is simple: classic phreaking no longer works. The old tricks — blue boxes, 2600 Hz tones, payphone manipulations — all died when telecom fully went digital. But the culture didn’t disappear. It just changed shape. 1. The Culture Lives On You’ll still find phreaking’s legacy in places like: 2600 Magazine Hacker conventions (HOPE, DEF CON, etc.) Stories and folklore from the early phone-network era These communities focus on digital privacy, ethical hacking, and telecom history — not old-school exploits. 2. The Nostalgia Remains Enthusiasts maintain: Old switchboards Rotary phones Analog PBX systems They do demos for history and education , not hacking. It’s about preserving the sound, feel, and creativity of the era. 3. The Profession It Evolved Into: Cybersecurity The spirit of phreaking — curiosity, problem-solving, system understanding — evolve...

\ Shooting Golden Hour With a 10–20 mm Lens: One Photographer’s Struggle and Next Steps For weeks, the photographer had been fighting the same battle: every time golden hour arrived, their 10–20 mm lens turned a simple portrait into a lighting puzzle. The soft evening glow that normally makes portraits effortless somehow became harder with an ultra-wide. Faces went dark, skies blew out, and flare streaks sliced across the frame. What should have been easy, warm, dreamy light became a frustrating experiment. The Problems 1. Too Much Sky in the Frame With the 10–20 mm, the lens captured everything—the bright sun, the glowing sky, and the darker ground—all at once. Exposure became a guessing game. If the sky looked right, the subject went murky. If the face looked right, the sky turned into a washed-out strip of white. 2. Shadows on the Face at the Worst Time Golden hour backlight is beautiful with longer lenses, but with a wide angle, it left the subject’s face in shadow. Even a...

  Bing Videos Changing Ballast

  Memory of a March —  “Memory of a March” documents protest not as a set of sharp images, but as it is actually lived—moving, uncertain, emotional. Faces blur into anonymity, not to erase people, but to reveal the collective force they form together. The softness protects identities while capturing the energy and tension of the crowd in motion. Instead of freezing a single moment, the images echo how protest feels inside the body: shifting, imperfect, half-seen, but fully experienced. These photographs show protest not as evidence, but as memory—fleeting, atmospheric, and deeply human.

  🜂 THE DEVIL’S DICTIONARY OF CHINESE OPERATIONS (Extended Edition) UNITED FRONT WORK DEPARTMENT (UFWD) Founded: 1920s (formalized 1942), refurbished endlessly Geographic Focus: Everywhere Chinese communities exist, and everywhere they don’t but might someday Budget: $1–3 billion/year (speculated), or whatever it takes to buy friendship in bulk Status: Ongoing Definition: A benevolent institution devoted to uniting the world under the comforting belief that everyone secretly agrees with Beijing — they simply require persuasion, incentives, or a gentle reminder from someone who knows their parents. OPERATION FOX HUNT Founded: 2014 Geographic Focus: Nations with extradition treaties— and especially those without them Budget: $100–300 million/year (speculated), plus travel expenses for the politely terrifying emissaries Status: Ongoing Definition: A volunteer repatriation program in which “volunteering” is strongly encouraged. Demonstrates the touching persis...

   📍  Where Baltimore Orioles Live (By Season) Breeding / Summer Range In summer, Baltimore Orioles spread out across much of eastern and central North America. Think of it like a giant seasonal road trip north. Specifically: from southern Canada—southern Ontario, Quebec, and even parts of southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and creeping into eastern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia—down through the U.S. East and central states. They’re in the Midwest, Great Plains (Nebraska, Kansas), the Northeast, the Southeast—basically, anywhere with the right mix of trees and insects. They’re picky about habitat, though. Open deciduous woodlands, forest edges, riverbanks, orchards, city parks, and leafy suburban neighborhoods are prime. But deep, dense forest? Not their thing. They like some breathing room and a good view. Migration Spring is their cue: April–May, flocks start heading north, back to their breeding grounds. Late summer and early fall (July–August onw...

Three Worlds, One Moment 2022 By Scholz and Zeno This photo is basically what it feels like to live right now. I’m holding a phone with this clean picture of a plane taking off — bright sky, sharp colors, everything smooth and intentional. That’s the “inside the device” world: simple, clear, and kind of perfect in a way real life never is. But then behind it, the mirror isn’t giving me one clean reflection. It’s cutting the room into pieces — angles, shards, bits of chairs, color splashes, random objects that weren’t supposed to matter but suddenly do. It’s like the present moment is broken up into fragments, and I’m supposed to make sense of it all even though it doesn’t line up neatly. That’s the tension of the whole thing: the phone world is moving — the plane is literally going somewhere — while the real world behind it is just sitting there, paused, like it doesn’t care whether I’m paying attention or not. My body’s here, but my mind is following the plane. It’s weird how t...

CITIZEN CANADA PRESENTS 🔴 “BUY, BELIEVE, OBEY: THE ACID-AGE CHILDHOOD EDITION” America once feared the future. Not with nuance. Not with science. But with filmstrips. And so, in classrooms across the 1960s and 70s, the lights dimmed, projectors hummed, and government filmmakers rolled out their latest cinematic crusade: Technicolor terror designed to stop kids from even looking at a sugar cube. The message? Drugs were everywhere. Your friends were probably on them. And if you even thought about LSD, your brain would become a lava lamp with legs. Not education. Not health literacy. But spectacle. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 🧧 “Reefer Madness Reloaded (Kids Edition)” The government’s greatest cinematic hits: orange-tinted hallucination montages, fast cuts, sweaty close-ups, and the eternal warning: “This is your brain… on vibes.” These films didn’t teach danger — they taught aesthetics. 🪙 “When Bureaucrats Discovered Psychedelia” Behind the scenes: grey-suited civil servants ...

  Jeff Wall is a highly influential figure in conceptual and staged photography , often considered one of the most important photographers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Here’s a structured explanation: 1. Background Born: September 29, 1946, in Vancouver, Canada. Studied art history and painting at the University of British Columbia. Influenced by painting, cinema, and documentary photography. 2. Style and Approach Staged Photography: Unlike traditional documentary photographers, Wall often constructs scenes carefully , sometimes over weeks, blending fiction and reality. Tableau Form: His photographs are often large-scale, backlit transparencies presented like cinematic stills, resembling paintings in composition and scale. Conceptual Focus: Every image is designed to explore ideas —social, political, historical, or everyday life—rather than just capture moments. Mix of Documentary and Fiction: Even when referencing real events or social...

  The Preset-Focus Trick — a short blog post (pros, cons, example cameras) By Ed Scholz — on “the decisive moment” and mechanical readiness Photography’s “decisive moment” is partly skill, partly timing, partly luck — and partly equipment choices that let you be ready without being fake. One technical shortcut people use is preset focus (sometimes “Preset Focus/Zoom”): register a focus distance (and optionally a zoom position) to a button, then recall it instantly when something enters that distance. Below I run through what that feature actually buys you, the tradeoffs, example Sony bodies that have it, and a deep dive on the most economical Sony that offers the feature. What preset focus actually does (short) You can register up to several focus-distance/zoom combinations to custom buttons; later a single press jumps the lens to that saved focus distance (and zoom) so the camera is instantly “pre-ready” for subjects at predictable spots. This is great for: repeatable stree...