Thomas Hawk Digital Connection

Hot Box Uncensored is a new dynamic group on Flickr where a group of photographers play a voting game on photographs. It’s a place to get uncensored feedback and criticism on your photos (some more valuable than others) while participating in a growing online photographic community. It’s only been around a few weeks now, but is one of Flickr’s most active groups and will already pass the 2,000 member mark sometime this afternoon.

In addition to the Flickr Group, there are plans to do books, magazines, videos, podcasts and possibly a major motion picture or photography related theme park at some point.

Today there is also a twitter account and blog where photos are posted along with articles on photography and interviews with prominent members of the group.

The first interview is up this morning with Marc Evans, aka Clearlight.

I’ve known Marc for a number of years now. He does lots of different kinds of photography but has specializes in neon photography and landscapes. Marc is one of the finest neon shooters shooting today and I’ve had the good fortune of both shooting and learning from him as I continue to shoot neon signs myself. He’s also something of a fast food historian with an seemingly infinite knowledge about the In-N-Out Hamburger franchise.

You can check out the interview over on the Hot Box blog here. And if you are so inclined come join us in the group here (but read the rules before you post a photo in the pool).

More interviews are coming so keep checking the blog and twitter account.

My friend Aurouze has a new album out. Check out the music here.

UPDATE: Due to the heavy rain scheduled for tonight we are cancelling this photowalk. We’ll reschedule Mare Island soon.

A group of us from the Hot Box Uncensored group on Flickr are going to be getting together on Sunday March 20th for an evening of shooting out on Mare Island in Vallejo. Sunset is approx 7:21pm that night, so we’ll plan on meeting at 6:30pm and then shoot the last hour or so of day light into the sunset and into the night. We’ll have a full moon that night so it should make for some fun night shooting. After we’re all done, for those who would like, we can go hit up a local bar in Vallejo somewhere there and catch up.

All are welcome from beginners to experts, bring your tripod if you have one.

You can follow this thread on Flickr to get more of the details as the meetup progresses.

A few photos of mine from previous outings to Mare Island below.

Department of
ARKANSAS STATE POLICE
Little Rock, Arkansas

December 19, 1955

Alan R. Templeton, Captain
Criminal Investigations Division
Arkansas State Police
Little Rock, Arkansas

Dear Captain Templeton:

On or about November 7, I was enroute to Dermott to attend to some business and about 2 o’clock I observed a 1950 or 1951 Ford with New York license, driven by a subject later identified as Robert Frank of New York City.

After stopping the car I noticed that he was shabbily dressed, needed a shave and a haircut, also a bath. Subject talked with a foreign accent. I talked to the subject a few minutes and looked into the car where I noticed it was heavily loaded with suitcases, trunks and a number of cameras.

Due to the fact that it was necessary for me to report to Dermott immediately, I placed the subject in the City Jail in McGehee until such time that I could return and check him out.

After returning from Dermott I questioned this subject. He was very uncooperative and had a tendency to be “smart-elecky” in answering questions. Present during the questioning was Trooper Buren Jackson and Officer Ernest Crook of the McGehee Police Department.

We were advised that a Mr. Mercer Woolf of McGehee, who had some experience in counter-intelligence work during World War II and could read and speak several foreign languages, would be available to assist us in checking out this subject. Subject had numerous papers in foreign langauges, including a passport that did not include his picture.

This officer investigated this subject due to the man’s appearance, the fact that he was a foreigner and had in his possession cameras and felt that the subject should be checked out as we are continually being advised to watch out for any persons illegally in this country possibly in the emply of some unfriendly foreign power and the possibility of Communist affiliations.

Subject was fingerprinted in the normal routine of police investigation; one card being sent to Arkansas State Police Headquarters and one card to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington.

Respectfully submitted,
Lieutenant R.E. Brown, Lieutenant
Comanding
Troop #5
ARKANSAS STATE POLICE
Warren, Arkansas

REB:dlg