The Hands that Prepared it

Like the eyes, hands read like words but don't think to hide. I notice them. 

Fare-The-Well, My Bright Star

Boston. Who moves there? And more importantly, now that you're gone, who is gonna barge into my room and nag at me to gettoutta bed in the morning? Who’s gonna sit with me on the back porch surveyin’ the river community? Who’s gonna chill my coldies and speculate when our landlord will pull my “recycling” outta the bin to spit shine it and call me wasteful?

Who's going to run a marathon and make me clap a lot on a sunday?

Best thing is, I know I won’t miss the best stuff about you: the bold, truthful, hilarious commentary on any given dumb ass decision I make, or, having you around to say I did the right thing. 

I know that the ways you changed my life have only begun. It is no mistake that you are where the sun decides to rise again.

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3

Alyce, Senior Photographer at Rotary International is not only best boss ever and an amazing artist but she's made of solid gold from the inside out. We can travel together, work hard together, straight face an effed up situation together and we have similar eating habits.....perfect fit. I really couldn't be luckier to have landed this close to someone so rad. Respek.

I was happy to be torn away from my spreadsheet today to have a little studio fun. We just got the Mark IV's and they are incredible....especially with the 85mm 1.2. I shot the Mark IV at the USAG nationals in NYC and a wedding the same weekend. It's great for events....but this was the first time I'd seen studio work on them. Really nice. All photos by Alyce Henson.

Roots

John and Miriam Jean Doan (my namesake)

Friday nights with Gram and Gramp Doan. Gramp's a big fan of the Three Stooges, Sherlock Homes, Bride of Frankenstein and Red Skelton. He loves westerns too. He tries to watch new school flicks but  gets bored and falls asleep. However, "John Wayne," he claims, "I can understand every word he's saying."

Uncle Slick and Aunt Toad 

I like the aluminum foil touch. Toady took her teeth out for this one thinking it would be funny but ended up feeling a little embarrassed about it. That's ok. I'm proud of you toothless farmers and oil field workers.... fathomless billows of love.

FUNG WA

The exclusive last chance event to qualify for the USAG Nationals was held at Lucky Chengs this year in the lower level of a drag queen cabaret dinner joint in NYC. This venue was small, gritty and a challenge for arena style performers who usually play big.

A different kind of competition. A steamy basement show complete with rivulets of sweat sliding down the small of my back. Hot and friendly.

Playing small and tight is hard. It seems the purist does best here.

Björnica and fellow judges score close to the bone.

Hot Lixx Hulihan, where he belongs.....in lights. 

World Champion Hot Lixx Hulihan and 2009 National Champion from NYC, William Ocean do the Fung Wa half time show. I love this moment. Hot Lixx is just feeling it and Ocean is freaking out in the face. Ocean also did an amazing running in place bit. Spiritual.

 

Hot Lixx = smart, technically stacked and a true showman. A genyouine professional.

For example, the ironic air quoting. I'm grateful that air guitar has a rich enough history in the United States to warrant such a  theatrical exploration of how seriously we can take known futility. Nearly Shakespearean.

 

Super cute. Ocean was so in love with this performance. Dear Shreddy, you should do youtube videos for how to apply stage makeup. You looked like a million dollars.

This performance was a bad acid trip complete with a child like onlooker grasping for the discarded balloons as if falling for candy from a stranger.

Disoriente'

After traveling the country, true to form and often getting lost in translation, it's no small victory to be understood.

A picture is a secret of a secret. - Diane Arbus

Co-Founder of US Air Guitar Kriston Rucker at the Fillmore, New York at Irving Plaza.

Shreddy Mercury interviews at the press release before the National competition.

A comedian and his crew.  I accidentally sat in his chair. A woman with a clipboard tapped me on the shoulder and said "our talent is sitting there." He practiced a lot of questions into the camera over and over with slightly different affects. When the camera man pulled focus, and the talent stood up, I expected a well rehearsed: "How do you cope with being away from your wives and children?" ....but all that came out was "I actually don't have any questions." My air dick deflated. I think he was intimidated by all the other talent. 

Co-Founder Cedric Devitt gets on the level. "Air Guitar is a vessel, what you put in it, is up to you."

What goes up....

should eventually make it's way back to stage. ....

The Rockness Monster half time show.