Jason Wilder

Infinitely Curious and Mildly Amused

links I like/endorse

Doyers
gonechester
greenwood books
nts
popwars
spiritualized
sun ra arkestra
vernacular social club
wayofm

  • honkbal

    baseball
    béisbol
    bàngqiú
    honkbal
    yakyū
    yagu

    Been enjoying spring training and highlights from the World Baseball Classic. Had to get a free trial to a streaming service watch the semi-finals of the WBC, as I felt I was missing out on some great games. The atmosphere of these games feel electric. Kiké Hernández was right, they do seem bigger than World Series games. Well, some of them.

    I’m also a season ticket holder, again, to the local AAA team after the past few years of having a press pass. This is, of course, to go watch the games and to continue to work on my baseball photo project. This year I plan on putting ten plus years of baseball photos into something tangible. I guess the best word would be prototypes. Last year I was pretty much on the IL all season, so I am anxious to get started again.

    One of the benefits of not having a photo pass and bringing what I can carry in? Well, I could say the same old tired tropes about one camera, one lens, and to not overthink and plan and blah blah blah. Photographer influencers are the worst. Anyways, I can now get autographs again. That was against the rules of having a press pass. My job’s hours did not allow me to be at the stadium during the times I could engage personally with the players. There’s a key portion of the chaos I started that has an autograph format.

    Saw Father Mother Sister Brother recently. Three vignettes about family and how families interact with each other, with an awesome, believable cast that played their roles so well, I not once after the initial introduction think about their real names or other movies/shows they are in. Mubi has a sweet essay about the movie.

    img_8775

    I pay rent in this building. I have started taking photos of the various signs the property manager leaves around the building. It’s a lot of fun seeing these littered around the building when you have company. Having the photos makes for great memories. Ugh.

    I got jealous of the guys who made the movie Grand Theft Hamlet. So much so that I want to watch it again. It’s wonderful that blokes like that exist and do stuff like this. Winter in Sokcho was a bleak beautiful cold film. An Art House Lost in Translation. Did I mention I watched Sinners too? I’d watch that again. It was so good. Weapons was a great turn down the lights with popcorn movie, extra butter. My kind of horror. Conan O’Brien spoofing it on Oscar night was the chef’s kiss. Watching Three Days of the Condor with cousin Eric. Seeing movies at the Dryden rules. The only other theater worth going to is the Little. Booo to every other theater in our area.

    Been enjoying this Jason Samosa guy. Someone thoughtfully presenting on Jacques Vallee will always draw me in. Maybe when I’m older and not moving around much, I will read Vallee’s Forbidden Science journals.

    I want to draw, paint and make a lego diorama (in no particular order) of this scene from the I Want To Believe poster. This is a Top 10 photo for me. Yes, ever. I wonder how much it would cost to get good at drawing vs. painting vs. lego this diorama. Which would be the most expensive (supplies, training). My guess lego would be the most expensive. I’d bet on myself making a frame worthy oil painting before I get the room, money and time for the lego.

  • my brain’s liner notes

    I thought via my radio show I would learn what genre of music most defines space more than others. Some might argue space rock. Some might argue ambient. Some might argue disco. Some might argue jazz. Some might argue prog. It’s hard denying any one genre more than the other. I really do think funk, though, is the natural music of the universe and very other worldly..

    On the bright side, I found out very quickly that not only was I not the expert I thought I was of space related music. This is the most fun I’ve had with music since my early 2000s music blog.

    Working from home this week, I was able to listen to two or three records a day. On in the background. Registering enough to make me happy but not distracting to my work. It’s the ideal setup for me. I also have a view of the Kodak tower and the ballpark. I can see planes flying by on their way to the airport. Cars on the interlope float in the distance. As does the train.

    I’m surrounded by my books, music, art and art supplies. If I need a short break that stimulates me, I have it here. Our cats too. All my distractions at work involve modern technology. I’m more analog, and happy, at home.

    I enjoyed this PBS special about the history of funk music.

    I, of course, saw this Sun Ra doc as it aired.

    Anyways, all of this is just to distract me from the unsettling world we live in. Printing photos, making a zine, some collage … all while listening to music. Refreshing my browser every so often, seeing if we are overtly at war with Iran. Reading foreign press because the media here reads like government press releases from everyone you hated in high school.

  • reptilians

    I can’t tell if these are crocodiles or alligators but I do recognize an idiot walking among them. I also see a baby on the railing.

    I’ve started writing liner notes for albums I own that came with no liner notes. I have a bunch of 4×5 and 5×7 photos that were test prints or prints that didn’t sell. I just flip them over and write while listening to an album. I know I get excited when I see someone’s name written in the liner notes or cover of a record. Surely other people like this too right? Anyways, my records will end up somewhere after I am gone. Hope whoever finds it likes it.

    I have made photos for a couple local band’s record covers. After the idea and the shot, it was left to the band and whoever made the decisions about the cover. The above cover was shot at the Bug Jar on a very cold close to Christmas morning back sometime in 2010. I love how there’s life going on behind Casey. I also love how she’s holding her glass. A stylistic decision she naturally chose instead of gripping it or holding it like a cup of coffee. Well after the fact, I do wonder if she had her purse and some stuff on the bar that would have made the photo better.

    Adding liner notes to my vinyl collection made me think of the idea of creating a cheap service doing cover art for indie bands. Give me $50, let me listen to your music and I’ll make something for your cover. Could be a photograph, a collage, found photos, a drawing, a painting, etc. I’m tired of AI covers, sad font decisions and lack of originality in album covers. I’m not saying I could do it better or maybe I am. If you are doing a physical release, fork over an extra $50 and I will make photos for your liner notes. Or if you ask nicely, I’d do it for free.

    Been rewatching Twin Peaks with Beth, who hasn’t seen it. That’s been dominating my tv habit lately. I did see Winter in Sokcho. Here’s a review I sent my cousin:

    It was very subtly shot.  Lots of blues.  Themes and tropes were done in a way that both humanizes and makes the characters more interesting.

    I gave it 4/5 on Mubi. Anyways, it’s the type of movie I love. Full of impactful nuances by both the cameras and actors. In all of these types of movies, you want a sequel. In the movie an artist moves into town at a local boarding hotel to draw/write his next book. He doesn’t know how long it will be. He just knows he likes to poker around for inspiration. That reminded me of one of my favorite recent-ish photobooks:

    Dogbreathe by Matthew Genttempo.

    Blake Andrews introduced the book in his review:

    Matthew Genitempo’s method has always relied on intuition. He approaches photo projects with no clear finish line in mind. Instead he settles in somewhere and pokes around, secure in the faith that his gut will lead him to photographs. Gradually he learns the lay of the land and meets a few locals. One thing leads to another. Acquaintances string together, rhythms flex, and passing moments deepen into portrait sessions. After a while he’s got a book.

    Tonight I listened to Kath Bloom and Velvet Underground while writing this post and looking at Dogbreathe.

    I also had weird ideas. One was to record a roaming tv show on VHS and ask random people questions. The whole episode will be talking to people about that question.

    For instance, a sample question would be: “What do you do with all your Christmas cards?”

    I’d roam anywhere and ask anyone and everyone that question and keep trying to talk to them until they walk away. If I see kids or a young couple about to get married, I’d rephrase the question. “What do you think you will do with all your Christmas cards?

    Another idea I had was to recreate found photos. Try to recreate as close as possible the photo but in real life. Models would have to be hired to stand, or in this case, lay in pose. I found his online obituary. Someone wrote:

    With our deepest sympathy. You all are in our prayers. Find comfort he is in a better place now.

  • Seen on Walks

    Back in 2015 around my 40th birthday I was contacted by someone for a show of my candid street photography. I was very excited seeing as how it would have been a solo show in a pop up gallery of sorts that was just a gallery, not a coffee shop or another additional business with some space on their walls. It would also be, technically, my first time exhibiting.

    There was room for 200, give or take, 8×10 photos I made from 2001 to 2015. I made this playlist as a mixtape for the show. Each photo would have a title that was the song on the mix.

    Anyways, as with most things for photographers, it was too good to be true and the show didn’t happen. The playlist still exists, though, minus some songs that are no longer streaming. I doubt I will ever get a solo show in the future as I’m no longer on social media peddling my photos and my id. That’s all ok, though, because keeping up appearances on social media is exhausting and bad for your health.

    Looking at photos that were going to be in the show is like seeing a past that does not exist anymore. I have mixed feelings about all of that. One of the more sad feelings is that I’ll not be able to make the same type photos again in Rochester. Most so called street photography done in this area are pretty landscapes with minimal people and with almost nothing that says anything about the human condition or the times we are living in. Or they are posed. That’s not a complaint, just an observation, and a reminder of the reality photographers face in smaller towns.

    Now that I’m ten years older, I have different photographic goals that I am ironing out due to a burst of inspiration from the movies I’ve been watching and the news I’ve been reading. I’m itching to get back out there and try to make something of meaning, despite the dangerous reality we all face at the moment in our country.

    https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/seen-on-walks/pl.u-LdbqqeBTqqqyxW

  • My Hermès Handbag!

    Working on my studio loft. It’s giving me an outlet to move around and not read the news. Gonna make it nicer/comfortable and start having people over to look and talk about music, art, and collecting or play chess on the floor with the cool rug I picked out.

    After getting it settled, I have to organize my found photography collection. I also have zines/books in progress. Add that organizing my collage source material. I going to have to cull and sell some of that.

    I’m already tired of winter. You’d never know I am a North Country native. We got mail saying the landlord didn’t pay their RGE bill.

    Been digging this band:

    I’m seeing a lot of AI art on album covers. Pretty gross.

  • speaking of, no spoilers

    The Mastermind at Dryden was pretty damn good. Glad I had a previous viewing at home. Allowed me to view the fringes of the screen and enjoy the crowd’s reactions to certain scenes. It’s a beautifully shot and executed film. A film student read her essay about the movie beforehand. It made me appreciate the Mastermind even more.

    Next up is Peter Hujar’s Day. Love a good dialogue so let’s hope this one lives up to its expectations.

    Speaking of talkies, we watched Or, Something the other night. The “subway takes guy” co-wrote and co-stars in it. I’ve seen clips of the subway takes and it all seems pretty interesting. Great dialogue, had a Jarmusch / Linklater vibe. Gave it four out of five stars on Mubi. Wicked ending. Made me want to write something.

    Speaking of wicked endings, we finally watched Bugonia. Loved this movie. Would give it a five out of five. Jesse Plemons is so damn intense. Emma Stone surprised me with how she portrayed her character. I truly was asking myself “is she or isn’t she” (an alien) all movie.

    Finally, Die My Love took two days to watch. I needed a break. It was intense. It’s like an American Midwest Betty Blue. Jennifer Lawrence has a way of reeling you in when the script is right and that script (based off a book) was very right.

    Jennifer Lawrence could have played Stone’s role in Bugonia but Stone would not have done what Lawrence did to make this movie a great movie. Four out of five stars on Mubi.

    Next up for movies are:
    Bird: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/bird
    Winter in Sokcho: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/winter-in-sokcho
    River of Grass: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/river-of-grass
    Detective (rewatch): https://mubi.com/en/us/films/detective
    Grand Theft Hamlet: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/grand-theft-hamlet

  • mubi

    We recently ditched Criterion for Mubi. Nothing against Criterion but I wanted to mix it up and Mubi has the kind of movies I’m craving. Plus Mubi has some 80s Godard films I wanted to rewatch. So, here’s some reviews of the movies I watched the past week or so.

    The Mastermind

    Inspired by French new wave heist films, but in America. In 1970. Living legend of cosmic jazz, Rob Mazurek, did the score. What little dialogue was poignant. Beautifully shot, written, and dressed. Every detail put into this movie is impressive. This is also coming to the Dryden on January 7th. See it.

    Christmas, Again

    Finally a moving Christmas movie without corny dialogue and ideology. The ending is sad too. Portrays the existentialism this time of the year of over thinking beaten down loners like me.

    Invention

    Kind of a low budget, but not terrible, after midnight movie on a community television station. If these things existed anymore. It’s about paranoia, conspiracy theories, science break thoughs and the human condition wrapped into one movie.

    Fragments for Venus

    I will not attempt to try to find words for the deeper meaning of this film, but what I understood of it makes me want to watch it again. I can relate to the two main characters, two black women, in a personality way, especially the second woman to be shown. I love how quiet observers can be worthy of artistic representation instead of the doers.

    Shithouse

    I wish I had a movie like this in my formative years.

    Louder Than You Think

    This is about Pavement’s first drummer, Gary Young. This is a very sweet bio pick about the drummer and a natural accompaniment to the movie Pavements.

    Moor Mother: Jazz Codes

    All emotions potentially possible in this short that has a sweet cosmic/spiritual jazz soundtrack.

    Two Days, Two Nights

    To keep her job a woman has a weekend to convince her coworkers to forgo a bonus so she can stayed employed. I really enjoyed the ending.

    Festen

    Like watching a family movie of a disturbing rich family where everyone gathers for the patriarch’s 60th birthday. Never had the opportunity to get into the Dogme 95 movement so this is my first introduction.

    Not Mubi stuff:

    Stranger Things. The Christmas and New Year Eves finales were entertaining. I feel if you nitpick it you probably are a blast at parties.

    Frankenstein. Guillermo del Toro usually does not do much for me but I liked this one. Nature vs nurture. Be careful what we create and how we treat it because it could not lead to an undesirable ending.

  • citypop

    2025. Final blog post of the year.

    I didn’t beat the bar in 2025. Maybe next year?

    I didn’t make many photos in 2025. I’d say it was 75% low sprain muscle type injuries to my leg and now my arm. I tried but pain in both situations wasn’t ideal. The other 25% was just stuff, like work and other welcome and unwelcome distractions. Focusing on the positive, I (and Beth) did a lot camping and reading, sometimes both at the same time. Lots of chess too. The ChessUp board is my favorite toy.

    Plans for more photo work in 2026 for sure.

    Most of the books I read were political and philosophy based. Although the Kurt Cobain and Jeff Buckley notebook books were an inspiring and a lesson in self awareness. The Neko Case and Replacements biographies were eye opening. I doubt you really want my thoughts on the Letterists, Situationists and Existentialists; probably a good thing.

    Really digging 60s – 70s American soul and funk music this year. That and 80s – 90s Japanese citypop. Right now I am watching a YouTube video of a DJ sweating through his bucket hat while playing some Japanese citypop at some bar in Seattle. I wish we had stuff like that here.

  • mystery train

    Mystery Train Records. Gloucester, MA.

  • zen garden sky

    Collage by me. Other working titles: “raking clouds” & “sky work.”

    Thinking about projects I’ve started and how little energy I have to do them lately. Capitalism is tiring.

    Thinking a lot about chess and how it’s the one activity that maintains my attention.

    Thinking about the lack of any vinyl listening bars in Rochester.

    Thinking about how we have a chess club in town but it’s not that inviting and comfortable to play at.

    Thinking about vinyl listening bars that are also chess clubs.