I reminisce, part 1

In 1991, 92, and 93 I spent many hours in the darkroom at Humboldt State University. My friends and I listened to mix tapes that we made for each other. In those days we would listen over a boom box so everyone got to hear our music. We were obsessed with Jonathan Richman. From memory a typical mix would have:

Jonathan Richman
Tom Waits
Hank Williams
King Missile
Daniel Johnston
Dolly Parton
Billy Childish
Holly Golightly/Headcoatees
The Louvin Brothers
Perez Prado
Johnny Cash
A Tribe Called Quest
Buddy Holly



Living in Humboldt County was perfect for us because we loved the rural and the old timey. We spent much of our free time shopping in the endless supply of thrift stores, junk stores and antique stores. We dressed like lumber jacks and farmers.

We would never go anywhere without our cameras. I had my Rollieflex and my Kodak Retina. Both were practically antiques. We were all fans of old cameras. Most of my friends used compact, folding, medium format cameras.

When I wasn't in the darkroom or out exploring with friends, I used to grab my fishing rod, sling my creel over my shoulder then wait on highway 101 with my thumb out. I imagine I looked just like my dad when he went fishing. It was his creel and often I was wearing his shirt after all. Sometimes I would stand there for what seemed like hours and other times the first car would pick me up. On a good day I would get all the way to Big Lagoon or Stone Lagoon in one ride. I would fish for coastal cutthroat trout. Sometimes I'd see river otters and osprey. Often a herd of Roosevelt Elk would be up to their knees in the water, grazing.