European Street Vendors

By Ken Parks, Examiner.com writer/photographer

When you dress like an American tourist, when you have an American hair style, and when you open the American mouth, they know there's a good possibility of ripping you off. They are the street vendors of Europe. And they can identify an American tourist in no time.

I had been warned by my Italian friend, Dino, “When you are in the tourist areas of Florence be careful of the street vendors. Be very careful.”

Dino was right. Most anywhere I had gone on my own to visit Florence, Rome, and other areas that have their tourist traps, the street vendors were plentiful. And with my looks of “stupido americano,” I appeared to be good prey.

In Rome, there were the two small restaurants that tried to overcharge for the meal and mostly the Coca Cola, the equivalent of $8.00 for a can of coke. Each time, I challenged the bill and was told, “Oh scusi, scusi!”

In the Piazza della Republica, a tourist area of Florence, There are some permanent booths for street vendors. I approached one during midday and did not want to spend the time and tourist cost in a restaurant. I approached the vendor, “Perfavore, chips e Coca-Cola.” He reached to the left for a can of coke and a small container of Pringles.

“Grazie” and gave him twenty Euros. I always state the amount of money handed over, “Venti.”

He gave the change back, and I immediately realized I had been ripped off by a factor of five Euros. Scusi me. Quanta costano per chips e Coca Cola? Meaning – Excuse me. How much does it cost for chips and Coca-Cola?

He gazed at me for a moment and said, “Heh?

I repeated the question, and he gave me this puzzled look as if he didn't understand.

Frustrated, I questioned him, “Capisto Carabinieri? Okay?” Meaning - Do you understand military police? Okay?

The overly anxious street vendor quickly understood , jumped out of the back side of his booth, ran to the front side and eagerly gave me the five Euros. Obviously he was afraid I would report him to the Italian military police.

In Italy, it is very common for the polizia or Carabinieri to believe a tourists claims over that of a street vendor and would make an arrest, causing the street vendor to lose his license to ever sell again. It's always a good practice to know enough of the language and the culture to be at peace, especially dealing with the street vendors.

My Classic Voigtlander Bessamatic

By Ken Parks, November 24, 2010
Photographer/writer Examiner.com

“Bessy” was my first 35mm camera, and the years of creating artful images bring tears of joy. She was my first camera and there will always be a special place in my heart over the time we shared.

During the summer of 1966, I was introduced to her at Groton Camera store, a place my Dad and I often frequented. She was used but in good condition. I was interested in her streamlined and modern looks, ahead of its time as compared to the bulky Canons and Nikons. My Dad noticed that I had my eye set on this wonderful camera. He must have known that I felt disappointed with the acceptance of not being able to purchase such a newly and relatively modern camera.

In the next moment my Dad had asked the camera store owner to bring the camera out from the glassed in display case. I thought it was a tease to let me hold the camera and feel her smooth shutter release, wind the gears of the film advance and view through her single eye. Time transcended slowly like a mist over a morning lake as I handed the camera back for her grand position in the display. I walked away while my Dad continued his common chatting with the owner. I expressed my desire to learn photography with a wonderful camera, but felt that this was beyond my reach.

My Dad went into negotiation mode with the owner. He was relentless and used his Bronx street debating skills to reduce the price. My Dad turned to me upon the agreed upon price and said, “I'll match dollar for dollar of what you pay. You're just going to have to work for it.” The camera was placed on-hold and I felt a stream of determination.

I was only a sixth grader and had to figure out how to make $65.00 within 90 days. My Dad pointed out that I can establish an entrepreneur approach to my challenge. He suggested that I go door-to-door and sell my services... mowing lawns and doing yard work. I landed several customers within the Field Crest Estates and mowing lawns became my summer business. I worked long hours, sometime cutting up to six lawns per weekend. Each job was $5.00. One has to remember that this was 1966 and minimum wage was less than a dollar per hour. I earned my wages with sweat and determination to purchase her. She was a Voigtlander Bessamatic with a 50mm f/2.8 lens. The camera was German engineered and built, a pleasure to shoot.

Towards the end of the summer, I had accumulated over $65.00 and I made the final payment. I named my newly purchased camera “Bessy.” All along my Dad had a secret. He had purchased the model above the Bessamatic, the Ultramatic and a few lenses that fit both cameras. It was his intention to be my mentor and share the same lenses.

My Dad loved German built cameras, having previously acquired two Rolleis, a Speedgraphic with Linhof lens and a Bolex 16mm movie camera. This was his first German 35mm camera system. The system was enlarged with the acquisition of the famous Zoomar 36-82, f/2.8 lens, the first production zoom lens for any 35mm camera. And a Voigtlander 300mm lens. The Japanese soon copied its lens characteristics. My Dad had a disdain for Japanese photographic equipment ad often referred to them as being inferior to the German quality camera ad lenses.

My Dad always wanted to have a Hasselblad, a medium format camera, but this was well beyond his fiancial resources. The Hasselblad 500 C/M including the lens, backpack, and viewfinder was equivalent to purchasing a new medium sedan of its time.

My Dad had built a lens stock to hold the 300mm lens. I used this setup to shoot sports such as football, track, baseball, and tennis while in High School. I was one of the High School photographers and went on to become photographic editor for the college yearbook staff.

My Dad passed away in my Senior year and I felt such a void, not having a mentor. Eventually I retired old “Bessy” and caved to the new developments of photographic equipment. The Japanese had matched or excelled in technical advancements beyond the Germans. By 1976 and after shooting for nearly 10 years with “Bessy,” It was time to make a change. Olympus had produced a top notch camera system. The Olympus OM-2 had become my new darling and a joy to shoot.

Although many changes have taken place in the technical advancement into the age of digital photography... every so often, I bring “Bessy” out, adjust the lens aperture and shutter speeds, engage the shutter release and remember all the wonderful times we shared together. She's still my first love.

Weathered Truck

Photo and article by:
Ken "Max" Parks, Photographer/Writer Examiner.com

Johns Creek - Last year, the image "Weathered Truck" was exhibited and won a local photography award.

"I found this old truck in the middle of a stripped out corn field on my way to Cleveland, GA. I had to get a few photos of it."

Ken determined the best time to shoot this scene was on an early Sunday morning.

"It was an interesting shoot as the dark clouds appeared with a ray of sunlight, I must have taken over 150 photos and then made my selection.

Ken has become quite adept in the use of Photoshop CS5, a professional post-production application and used the software to enhance the dark clouds and allow the ray of sunshine to be a bit more noticeable.

Post-production has been key in Ken's artistic talents. Recently, he shot a Bridal Model session. One of the models complained, "I'm 40-years old and I'm thinking about getting out of the business. The younger girls are getting the jobs and I can't compete against that."

Ken reassured her, "You look fantastic! Heck, Cheryl Tiegs is over 60-years old and is still modeling. I tell you what... I'll make you look like you're 25-years old."

After the session, Ken sent her only his 2 best shots. Natalie replied, "Ken, these are fantastic photos. You have wonderful talent."

There were 3 other bridal models at the session. One of the models had tattoos on her fingers. Ken used Photoshop CS5 to get rid of the tattoos. "I don't understand why someone so attractive would submit themselves to adding a permanent etching on their skin. For me, as a photographer, this is a turnoff, a major distraction."

Other photographers, not as keen as Ken when it comes to post-production, allowed the tattoos to be shown.

The "Weathered Truck" image, when first introduced to other photographers, their reaction was "WOW!" This is the exclamation that Ken tries to get from those who view his artistic images.

"My Dad" and first photography mentor always told me, 'You never show your average to good work, but only your best.' And, I've always kept his advice as a standard."

Ken admits, "That has been the case in all of my photography sessions. I may shoot over 500 images and only a handful will make it to post-production selection. Then only one to three would be submitted for viewing. 'Weathered Truck' was the only image of the 150 I shot on an early Sunday morning that was worthy to be shown."

ILLEGAL Speeding Tickets

Ken Parks, Examiner Reporter/Photographer

Johns Creek – The Johns Creek Police Department personnel are using a speed detection device that is illegal. This was recently discovered in subpoenaed documents for a trial in the Johns Creek Municipal Court.

The discovered documents, Certification of Accuracy and Calibration (COA) and the ProLaser III Log, show that the speed detection device has not been calibrated for accuracy in the time span required by Georgia law. And the out-of date document shows that the technician who performed the testing and calibration was not certified by the Georgia Department of Public Safety (GDPS)

The Johns Creek PD ProLaser III Log shows that one of the police officers had issued 77 citations for speeding with the speed detection device in question from August 16 through October 12, 2010. On one particular day, the same police officer issued 16 citations.

In the trial before Judge Donald Schaefer, these documents were not revealed because the defendant was found “not guilty” through a legal technicality. The prosecution allowed the police officer to testify that he had used the questionable speed detection device to record the defendant going 62 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. The defendant, representing himself, objected, “The prosecution has failed to establish proper foundation.”

Both the police officer and the defendant were asked to approach the bench. The Judge, with the reading and request by the defendant, determined that Georgia Code OCGA § 40-14-17 and case law was applicable. A certified copy of all approved speed detection devices through GDPS was required to be submitted as evidence prior to the police officer's testimony. The defendant also pointed out to the Judge that because of the failure to establish proper foundation, the testimony of the police officer was inadmissible. This was also based upon several case laws through Georgia Appellate Courts. Consequently, there was no legal evidence to show that the defendant was speeding

The defendant was found “not guilty.”

Under OCGA § 40-14-4, the speed detection device, once placed in service, must be annually tested for accuracy and calibration. The COA shows that the date of certification of the ProLaser III was June 16, 2009 and the technician was not certified by the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

All 88 citations issued from August 16 through October 12, 2010 are considered illegal in a court of law, most of which were issued by one particular police officer.

BTW, the defendant Pro se is the author of this blog, Ken Parks. And this is one of many cases that he has won as Pro se or representing himself. Some people have stated, "Ken, you've missed your calling. You should have been a lawyer."