After our working lunch at Clark’s Ale House to discuss and take pictures for the Photo 101 lesson glass, squaredTuesday, by longtime friend Jim McKeever and I walked along South Salina Street toward his place of business, talking about this and that, like two guys on the far end of their 50s who’ve known each other since they were in their mid-20s can do.
At one corner he spied James across the street. We waited until the homeless man maneuvered his cart full of his earthly possessions safely to us so Jim could say hello, make sure the chilly man with the gap-toothed smile was OK, and introduce him to me. If you haven’t yet made your way to Irish Investigations, this piece that updates Jim’s periodic study into the fate of James’ journey to survive here is a good place to start.
Jim told James he had some sandwiches up in his offices to bring him later, and James shook his head to the affirmative. Then it was just three guys talking winter’s grip on spring for a short minute until James raced away.
Jim was convinced he hadn’t gotten the photo he wanted yet for his blog, so he was still working the angles. I was shooting him reflecting the situation outside the Galleries of Syracuse.
As I saw so many times when we shared the smallest two-person cubicle in the whole newsroom of the big daily, the man could do some serious thinking.
Before we got back on the streets of downtown, though, I shared one of my thoughts. Out of all the years we’ve known each other, good times and hard times and back again, I cannot recall one photograph of us together. He agreed.
I rectified that with this legacy shot, taken during a working lunch in Clark’s Ale House, on March 24, 2015, Bialczak and McKeever.
Have you ever discovered that there are no pictures of you and a friend you’ve known for 30-some years? Which shot of McKeever at photographic work do you like best, and why?I stayed back, but would you have gone in for the closeup instead?
So glad you linked back to this post, Mark. You two are fab friends to each other and good to others, like me. Grateful to know you both ❤
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I’m glad you had a chance to look back in on Jim and I, Angie McFly. He asked me about you during your recent break, FYI.
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Privileged to be connected ❤
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I’ve been following you and Jim on your photo adventures. It’s interesting to see how the two of you have interpreted the various assignments since you live in the same city. (This is the first picture I’ve seen of Jim.)
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Jim and I definitely see our city through different perspectives, Cat, and our friendship thrives perhaps because of that fact! Thanks for checking out both of our workshop endeavors. I’m glad you got the chance to see Mr. McKeever at least. 🙂 Me? I’m a ham who shows up often.
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Don’t be silly. I like seeing you and your family. 🙂
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Thank you, Cat. As I like seeing your … animal family!
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Great photos Mark. So nice to see your friend Jim.It sounds like you guys had a very fruitful and relaxing time.
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I was waiting for a photo of James. How sweet to bring him sandwiches! I like the first one of Jim better because of the lighting. You’re soon going to be another one of those people that are putting us professional photographers out of business, Mark. 😉 Yes, I do find that I have too few photos of some of my lifelong friends and me. I need to rectify that! 😀
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I did not want to spook the moment by taking out my camera phone while we were talking to James at the corner, pure and simple, Rachel. He is kind of skittish, I can tell.
Thanks for your kind words. And yes, do get those photos of you and your friends, finally and now. ❤
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Nice post, Mark. Nice to see you two still get together now and then.
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Thanks, Cushley. Nice to see you dropping by here. Too long, no see.
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Great photo of you and your friend.
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Awe. You’re bringing in the heart with these posts lately, Chum. Pullin’ heart strings, for sure. This was such a lovely tribute to your friendship. The photo of you two was a long time coming. Gorgeous! 🙂 Aw.
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Jim’s a good dude, Red. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words.
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The last photograph of the day was the BEST photograph of the day! 🙂
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Thank you, MBC. It will remain my most memorable, by far!
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Love this! I wouldn’t have gotten closer to Jim. I like that you included the backdrop of the photos very much. No previous photos of the two of you together – wow – glad you captured on yesterday – you guys look great! ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you, Diana! I was so happy to take our picture together. 🙂
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Did you use a selfie stick? Or did you get someone to take it for you?
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I used my arm that wasn’t holding the wine glass, stuck it out as far as I could reach!
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Wow, well done!
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My favorite shot of your friend, which you captured very well with a great perspective was the one which showed his shadow in the lines on the sidewalk shadows. The arched Galleries of Syracuse sure is a pretty building, Mark. I have made a big point in recent years of getting photos with my friends and when I can my family, too. We are all realizing time limits and we try to capture moment more often in photos. I am so glad you got yours. You are quite a pair and it would have been quite interesting to be a ‘fly on the wall,’ while you talked about new things and old, too. Mark, this is one of my favorites of your posts!
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Yes, Jim and I know each other before my dear wife Karen and his great girlfriend MG were around. She worked at the paper, too, and they knew each other as friends first just like Karen and I … Heck, we knew each other before our grown children were born, Robin. The fly would hear great stories. You are right.
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glad to see a shot of both of you, two bloggers who i enjoy very much )
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Thanks, Beth. We really do live in the same city! 🙂
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You guys are awesome.
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You’d fit in with us here in Syracuse, Roy.
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I consider that the greatest of compliments!
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I love the shot of the two of you together. And I’m enjoying your new theme as well. 🙂
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Thank you, Fannie. You should have seen Jim and I 30 years ago. Too bad we never thought to have our picture taken together then! 🙂
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Nice photo. I am a big fan of both of the blogs too!
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Thanks, Phil. Jim’s very important to Syracuse, to the cause that you work so hard to champion.
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Considering how few pictures of me now, I know there aren’t any as you describe.
I like the distance shot. Shows what he was trying to capture at the same time.
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Thanks, Sheena. I’d take a photo of you and I any day.
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You had me at working lunch at an ale house:). Even though I’m not a beer drinker . . . it just sounds so relaxing.
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I had the one glass of wine, Kay, and it sure helped my photo creativity as well as my relaxation!
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The pictures aren’t showing up on my iPad. Most of your photos I can see, but this post and another post yesterday, I wasn’t able to see the photos.
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Uh-oh. IDid you try shutting your iPad completely off and turning it back on instead of just letting it go to sleep. This has worked for me when I’ve had WordPress photo-seeing issues. Push the power button on the top left until you seen the apple appear. Let the screen go completely dark. Let it rest for a minute. Push the same button again to restart your iPad. Let me know if this works.
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Okay, I’ll do that! It didn’t do it with another post and photo.
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Sadly, I don’t think I have a friend that dates back that far unless you count FB acquaintances. I like the top shot because you captured the scenery as well as the photographer. Don’t think you would have been able to do that so well if you were any closer.
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Yes, Marissa, I hung back for the effect. I wonder if a shot of his face close up would have been revealing in a different way. Oh, well. When you move cross country, as you did, that takes a bite out of the friendship thing. I have now lived in Syracuse since 1983, so the years are adding up.
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Yes, definitely is hard to maintain friendships long distance. Now as a mother I am building friendships which are starting to accumulate in years but more like 1 or 2…not quite at the 30 marker yet!!
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The shot with your friend Jim is the best. It’s the essence of life…….. relationships. Enjoy the day Mark.
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Thanks, mica. You, too, down there in the heart of.
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Great post, Mark, and this inspires me to get a picture of me and my long time friend Ada, today.
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Shots with longtime friends are a great thing, Ann, for forever reflection. I hope someday to have a photograph of you and I together. Two versions: For our blogs we’ll figure out how to capture your portion of the image! Have a great day.
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Awesome, Mark! I prefer the photos of me where you’re as far away as possible with the camera! (For the record, that’s my THE Ohio State University hat, of the national championship variety). Thank you for the legacy shot, and for a very rewarding assignment. As you pointed out, we were probably the only Photo101 students in the world to team up on one.
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Thank you for pointing out the significance of that hat, my friend. 🙂
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