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iPhone 4S at an effective 35mm — 1/15 sec, f/2.4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Me with Fr. Graham McDonnell
on the 54th anniversary of his ordination
( as we stare at an iPhone in the unconfident hands of a waitress )
I really don't care to use the iPhone camera, much less share the photos it produces, but when it's all you've got, it's all you've got. I occasionally have lunch with Roman Catholic priest Fr. Graham McDonnell (“Father Mac”), and as we were about to start our salads, he remembered that it was the anniversary of his ordination. 54 years.
During WWII he was in the US Navy as a radar repair engineer, then he spent nine years in seminary, and a year later, in 1960, came to Kyoto and has been here since.
He's been on my blog a couple of times, here and here.
At a spry 85 years old he's still going strong, so I'll have to remember to bring my good camera next year.
We were eating at a restaurant a minute's walk from his office, Grill Normandie (ノルマンディ), across from the Royal Hotel near Sanjo Ooike. He's been coming for much of the 52 years he's been here. It was my first time.
So, since we went ahead and took a picture to commemorate the event, I thought I'd try to photograph some of the food as well, but I really think it's a waste with a camera as bad as the iPhone, unless you apply all kinds of filters and such. But maybe I just don't know how to use it.
iPhone 4S at an effective 35mm — 1/20 sec, f/2.4, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Oddly Refreshing
Blend of apple, orange, and komatsuna (a spinach-like veggie)
iPhone 4S at an effective 35mm — 1/20 sec, f/2.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Hamburger Steak”
iPhone 4S at an effective 35mm — 1/20 sec, f/2.4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Breaded Suzuki
“Japanese sea bass” with tomato sauce
iPhone 4S at an effective 35mm — 1/500 sec, f/2.4, ISO 64 — map & image data — nearby photos
Unassuming
Entrance to Grill Normandie
iPhone 4S at an effective 35mm — 1/20 sec, f/2.4, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
French Vibe
in the entrance hall
I had planned to go back for lunch today with a real camera so I could do this post justice, but I didn't quite make it. I did, however, get far enough to snap some shots of an amazing flower I noticed on the street during that one-minute walk from his office...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/16, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Freaky Flower
Jeff, that “Freaky flower” is not so freaky if you know the legend behind it. It is called the “Passion Flower” and if you ask Father Mac about it, I bet he could explain it. It contains symbols of the passion of Christ…the nails, the crown, etc. You might find it interesting if you look it up. I tried planting some at St Mary’s, but there was too much shade.
What were those worms on the hamburger steak?? And that green drink looked atrocious. Hard to believe it could be refreshing. Looks more like an emetic.
Hello Jeffrey
Writing from france
These freaky flower is a “Passiflore” (Passiflora caerulea)
You can see somme other on my blog here
http://alphagard-photo.blogspot.fr/2012/05/dans-mon-jardinlespassiflores.html
May thanks for your magnificent blog
Bye
One of the ‘gifts’ of photography to the world of art was a liberation from realism. Since photography could get much closer to visual reality (with much less effort) than rendered imagery, artists could focus on things like abstraction, surrealism, symbolism, and a whole new pallet of possibilities. In a similar way, the cellphone camera —we all know it sucks. Grainy, low dynamic range, lousy UI/ergonomics etc.
However, the cellphone cam shots are decent enough for story telling. There is a wonderful unspoken story in that first photo. Anxiousness in your face (c’mon Garçon, don’t screw up this Kodak moment). Serenity in Fr. McDonnell’s face… (hey kid, at 85, do you think I’m gonna’ sweat a photo-bomb on that lipstick-case phone?). You’ve displayed gorgeous photos on this site more often than not but your poignant, honest and day-in-the-life introspective style is always consistent.
The food looks delicious. I can even see the fiber in the green juice. My apologies if those iPhone shots are way doctored up to look that good.
Maybe not the iPhone but it may be an interesting pursuit for you to force yourself to use a high-end point and shoot. Maybe a low-end P&S. Sometimes when I was in school my drawing teacher would force us to use a broken stick and ink to draw with. Or sometimes we had to try to render an old sneaker or figure with one continuous line. –Not as good as the usual suspects but definitely eye opening. Leaving those comfort zones will sharpen your work with both that cigarette case phone and that Nikon anti-tank weapon that you shoot with, as well. Thank you for your constant blog posts.
Found this blog while trying to locate an NCR article about Father Mc. I was a classmate of his at Columbia…and I remember him as a kind, gentle, witty man. Hive him my warmest regards. Wish you both God’s blessings.
Writing from University Place, Wa. (About 30 miles south of Seattle). Was thinking of Fr. Mac and what a gift he gave to those of us fortunate enough to be under his watch as missioners for YBU over the years. When I visited the Gesu in Rome and saw the shrine to Francis Xavier, I remembered the special commissioning ceremony Fr. Mac provided us, along with presenting each of us a medal of St. Francis Xavier as the patron of missionaries. What a blessed year that was with Fr. Mac! I’ll always be thankful for his generous spirit and sharp mind.
Blessings and gratitude,
Gilda Warden, EdD, RN-BC
I live in Saratoga Springs, New York. Father Graham McDonnell’s parents were godparents to my sister Maura in 1941. We visited him when he was stationed in Lakehurst, New Jersey around 1952. We then attended Father Mac’s ordination at Maryknoll in Ossining, New York in 1958. He wrote many articles for Maryknoll Magazine accompanied by great pictures of his Japan. He credited my father Thomas McColl who instructed him in the use of great photography.
You’ve displayed gorgeous photos on this site more often than not but your poignant, honest and day-in-the-life introspective style is always consistent.
Mary from Michigan.
RIP Fr. Mac. He died 3/30/22 in Kyoto at age 95
I was lucky enough to see him two weeks before he passed. He was asleep for most of the time I was there, but at one point he opened his eyes and they sparkled when he recognized me. I showed him that I was wearing the shamrock shirt he likes, and at the mention that it was St. Patrick’s day his face lit up in a smile. Lots of crying at his funeral. — Jeffrey