El Galeon The Sailing Ships of Spain

I recently attended a celebration of the 450th anniversary of the founding of St Augustine Florida with my photography group. There were no bands or fireworks but the big attraction was a working replica on the 16th Century sailing ship El Galeon. These were the ships the Spanish used to bring in provisions and haul off gold and other materials from the new world. The ships were fast and carried big guns to defend themselves from pirates or other countries that might try to take their treasures. As usual, click each photo for a better view. 

The El Galeon was representative of the sailing ships of the era. The Galeon was a scaled down version of the Carrack ships which were primarily fighting ships. The smaller size of the Galeon  allowed it to serve a dual purpose of transport and fighting ship.

Despite the history of the ship type, what really fascinated me were the various knots required to work the sails and swiftly move the ship from port to port. Sailor's knots were an essential for any crewman worth his wages. Knowing the knots allowed the ship to effectively use the wind at a time when there were no machines and understanding how to manipulate the elements was a major achievement. There were 40 basic knots that every sailor needed to learn. You might sign on as a cabin boy and begin your training that way, or learn the skill to pass the time during long voyages as a form of entertainment. Sailors learned to use knots to make almost anything that could be held together by the knots. 

Ropes were the glue that held the sails in place, allowed sailors to climb the mast, secured the cannons, in addition to allowing men to move heavy treasure with the use of various pulleys. Ropes did it all and knowing how to tie the knots to make it happen gave a sailor a trade.

The Galeon was a narrow ship, so close quarters were the rule of the day. The Captain and Senior Officers  were part of a cast system that allowed them small creature comforts that were better than the rest of the crew. But, after so many days at sea, you have to wonder if it really mattered. They too were subject to knowledge about knots. Their very lives might depend upon it.

This map show the areas of exploration and dates. circling the State was a major undertaking and it becomes apparent the Spanish were actively involved, through various expositions, in the exploration of Florida from 1513 until 1565. Their skill at sailing the fast ships gave them an early foothold in the new world.

You truly had to admire the bravery of these men because the work was hard, conditions were quite rough, and if you made a mistake in the knot making skills needed to move the ship, the chances were good that you would not return to friends and family. It seems amazing now that something as simple as learning to tie a knot was a major factor in  creating what we now know as St. Augustine and the United States.

The little Church Down The Lane

Moving to the South I have always been drawn to churches that seem to be everywhere (the call it the Bible Belt for a reason). During a film project I passed a street I've gone down a number of times, and this time allowed myself to look around; and there hidden in plain sight was this little church oasis right in the middle of a busy area. As usual, click each photo for a better view. 

The church is very near the San Marco area which is a great hang out section of town, but sits back off the street so it is easy to miss as you hurry some place else. I wondered what was the history of the church because it is a quite old Craftman style structure that deserved to be preserved.

What I discovered it is that it was one of the early Episcopal churches in the area and the Rotary Club resisted the forces that wanted to tear it down. They paid to have the church transported by barge over to the current location along with the pastor's house that sits next to it.

The two sit next to each other as symbols of a bygone era of dignified simplicity. The feel you get from the location almost reminds you of New England and Sleep Hollow. Can Ichabod Crane be far behind?

The church from different views, takes you back in time. I say back in time because churches today almost appear to be in an arms race with each attempting to become bigger than the next. Here is this modest little structure that seems to have so much grace. 

Even the bell atop the structure reminds you of  an English village or an old West town. I thought the tiny bit of moss added the perfect little touch of  time long ago.

Either way, the church and it's surrounding grounds offer an island of solitude from the world rushing by just outside it's gates. You can stop and ponder what might have happened within it's walls in addition to the people who graced it's doors years ago. 

I have written before about creating relaxation islands where you can take a moment to leave the worries of the day behind. This is a perfect example of such a site and being so close to a highly traveled area makes it a great place to take your lunch and float back in time.

Tennis, Laura Mvula, And The Need To Go Outside

It seems the month of June has been consumed with Tennis. First came the French Open (Roland Garros for French readers) which seemed to slide right into Wimbledon. As a result, tennis, the heat, and a film competition I entered, have left little time for photography adventures.

But I am here to testify that spending time inside watching a little ball fly back and forth does have a payoff, despite the fact my heart was broken when Nadal was eliminated in the first round of the English drama. ESPN had this catchy little tune that periodically plays after commercials or before play, and after hearing it a number of times as I entered or left the room it finally got my attention.

The catchy little tune was sung by the lovely Laura Mvula, who has this  haunting voice which channels Nina Simone and made me want to know more about her music. The catchy tune I was drawn to is her single "Green Garden" and it truly highlights her musical depth.

She is a breath of fresh air in an era of manufactured singing stars who depend more on controversy or wardrobe choices to promote what should be their vocal gifts. I have been blown away by the complicated simplicity of the sound she is able to produce.

And so, as I sit here held hostage by the little ball; I thought I would give you a chance to go outside to a green garden to experience the real deal: a voice that cannot be ignored!

Mad Men And Their Cars

I recently watched seasons I, II, and III of the series Mad Men, broken down by all the buzz to finally see what friends have at times gone into great detail to describe. Watching a few episodes I instantly understood the attraction, despite the cringe factor regarding the treatment of women, a sense of a time of innocence where we didn't know everything about everything; and a feeling of boundless optimism of bigger and better days ahead. Couple that with the inner turmoil of the lead character, Don Draper, and it is compelling TV.

 

Last weekend I attended a car show with my photography group and all that I described was apparent when you looked at the cars of that era. Below are a few that illustrate that sense of "the sky is the limit" optimism. As usual, click each photo for a better view.

The Chevrolet Bel-Air was the forerunner of the era in that it was a "full size" car, chrome was everywhere, and it boasted the luxury of an automatic transmission and the option of power steering. Just riding in it gave the feel of  having arrived because there was now less work involved in driving.

We jump a few years to the Cadillac Coupe de Ville which truly embodies the Man Men mindset. It is huge and could almost be considered a land yacht. The long sharp tail fins with dual bullet tail lights telegraphed a shark like "top of the food chain" image. I could see Don Draper wanting one as part of his list of things he thought he needed to live the life he thought he wanted. He was not alone in that feeling because it represented 37% of all  Cadillacs sold in it's first series year.

And, what the Coupe de Ville said on its own the convertible seemed to scream. It was the height of excess piled upon excess to let those around you know that the "big dog" had arrived ready to play, either himself or his wife as proxy. 

Not to be outdone, Ford decided to enter the arena with their luxury model Thunderbird. While not a land yacht, it provided the luxury image only with a sleek and nimble feel. The Coupe de Ville might telegraph money, but the Thunderbird said: "Money that was cool!"

Didn't want the moneyed Thunderbird image? Along came muscle cars like the Mustang that spoke power for the common man. They were sleek with big  engines that roared when you stepped on the gas. Driving was not only for the moneyed class but also hinted at a different kind of power, the power of the streets! If you have ever watched Steve McQueen in the classic "Bullitt" car chase sequence, you  realize the person driving one of these muscle cars had no desire to sit behind a desk. The Mad Men world was gradually changing as the country finally drifted into the 70's.  

And, with the 70's came the realization that things were not limitless. The Mad men would go on, only now in a different form. Gas shortages reinforced the concept that there were excesses and order had to be restored. In restoring that order, the new car of the era was the Volkswagen. It was not flashy, but rather small and simple. Gone were the long fins and miles of chrome. The people's car of Germany was now one of the most popular in America, based on its humble simplicity and ease of operation.

The Good in Man

Russians have mastered the immediate sense of the dash cam for obvious reasons: when there is a dispute regarding who did what in traffic. A lot of time and effort goes into outwitting the "evil doers", but the following video illustrates that the dashcam can also be used to view the good in man. Thought I would share it with you.