Comerica Park is almost as pretty as PNC Park... but not quite...

4.12.11

Post-cruise, we all piled back into the bus to head back from Louisiana to Michigan. This ride, as one may imagine, was a little calmer than the way down to New Orleans. I think we even watched Dancing with the Stars, which was weird considering our motley crew.

Upon arriving back in Detroit at 7 a.m. Tuesday, the 12th, I really can't remember what we did. All I know is that we ended up at a 1:00 Tiger game in the warm sunshine and there was both coffee and beer involved.

I'd like to note three things about this photo of Paws and child here:

1. I was more interested in Paws than that child (Aaron asked me if I wanted to get my picture taken with Paws, but I sheepishly declined).

2. A woman is pulling his tail (is that the same as pulling someone's leg?).

3. Aaron taught that kid how to stick her tongue out at people, much to her father's dismay.

4.12.11

Chris would be giving me shit if he didn't have any new stories to read on this blog, so I'm going to pick up now just about where I left off.

My morning coffee on the balcony. Probably one of my favorite things about that Kid Rock cruise, particularly right before a two-hour massage courtesy of KR/Carnival. That was for sure a good day.

I gotta go catch a helicopter. See you soon, dearest Alli Harvey.

Chris

In lieu of flowers, the loved ones of Chris kindly request donations be made to The Chris Hondros Fund. This fund will provide scholarships for aspiring photojournalists and raise awareness of issues surrounding conflict photography.

The Chris Hondros Fund

c/o Christina Piaia, Getty Images
75 Varick Street, 5th Floor

New York, New York 10013

Photo:

"Around three dozen journalists gathered for [Chris and Tim's] memorial service late on Thursday night at a small, tucked-away lecture room in the Tibesty Hotel in Benghazi, where their bodies were returned on a ship chartered by the International Organisation for Migration.

New York Times reporter CJ Chivers, wearing muddy hiking boots and a plaid shirt, acted as plainspoken MC and promised, as an Irishman, to celebrate the men’s life. The British and American special envoys to the opposition government, in suit and tie, made remarks honouring Hondros and Hetherington’s work.

Two cameras, like riderless horses, sat back-to-back on the table at the front. A large chalkboard served as backdrop. The hotel’s general manager and his ever-present son watched from the side. New York Times photographer Brian Denton read from Plato, and US envoy Christoper Stevens was handed a reading from the Book of Isaiah. Dusty, dirty photographers and reporters just off the same boat that carried the men’s bodies sat holding lighted candles. Even then, some continued to do their job, snapping images of the ceremony.

A reporter from the AFP news agency stepped forward to read from Gustave Mahler’s 9th Symphony, a selection for Hondros, who was known for his love of classical music.

“Often I think they’ve gone outside / Soon they will get back home again!/ The day is lovely. Don’t be anxious, / They’re only taking a long walk / …. They’ve only gone out before us, / And will not long to come home again. / We’ll catch up with them on yonder heights / In the sunshine / The day is fine on yonder heights.”"

(Photo and content courtesy of english.aljazeera.net)

There are way too many emails from the past four years that I would like to share. However, as much as I want everyone to know the way this man thought about everything - good, bad or wacky - I've decided that the email below from Afghanistan will have been enough to give you guys a sense of the Hondros brain. A little string of thoughts from a dude with a camera in a desert.*

His emails were always an important part of my own solo travel, as no matter how far we were from one another, the idea that we were both alone and far from home was enough to make it seem like you had a friend right beside you.

When he would be in a conflict zone and I would be at home, I would always wonder what it would be like to be shooting beside him.

3/20/10

Alli,

You gotta come to Afghanistan sometime, baby: first of all you could BE Afghan, for it's a land of Alli-ish women, all olive-skinned and green-eyed with just a hint of ethnic ambiguousness. You could easily stroll down the street in Kabul with an air of purpose in your step in some loose pants and a little headscarf and no one would be the wiser. (The camera, though--that fucks it up, as I've seen myself many times in my own attempted blending-in sessions around the world.)

Ah yes. There's definitely something alive about being here though; it makes me reflective and philosophical; been doing a lot of thinking. Not to mention my birthday, too. So I've been pondering the big issues: Love, Timing, Sex, even Death. I don't know if I've come to any grand conclusions, save some fairly obvious ones that still are important to remind oneself of periodically: Love is important. And Timing is important for love. And having a heart open to others is important, and that's part of both Love and Timing. And by the way, that Sex thing, is marvelous. (See all these original ideas and concepts I've reasoned my way to in the desert?) Seriously, something I've thought a lot about lately is how much better sensuous things are now than when I was 20ish: food, wine, sex, all that. Everyone likes sex of course but I think most 20ish people like it in a sort of rote or instictive way, and actually a lot of younger people I know seem to be able to go without for while if the circumstances call for it--I think it's because they don't truly appreciate it yet. I was like that back in the day, in retrospect. But the real thirst for it, the real sublime mental/physical pleasure and appreciation and true lust--that only gets stronger and better with time. It's beautiful and fascinating what the body can do, it's capacity for pleasure--nature and the conscious mind combining with functions of the body to create a real art. Lots of parallels with food in that too; I think that's why food can be so sensuous.

Anyway, so what's up back in the city? You still the belle of MSG? I have to photograph the chief-of-mission here (General McChrystal) tommorrow here in Kabul, and after that I'm a bit adrift; trying to put in for another Army embed but they're saying it might be April 1 until they can place me anywhere, in which case I'd probably just head home early. Though me being my usual brilliant self I scheduled those subletters I told you about until March 31, so I don't even know where I'd stay if I did come home--probably hang with friends a day or two and go see my mother down in NC, something like that.

Whenever it is, drinks when I get back, right? Come out to Dumbo again and we'll really do the hood right--we'll drink and be foolish and talk about life and all things important.

Chris

Photo: Chris and me at one of the famed Hondros/Heisler New Year's Eve parties (12.31.09)

*Amended 4/25/11

8/10/07

Alli,

Your Phillipines excursion with a film company sounds like a good plan...better that than schumucking away at some terrible newspaper someplace. The acting business and the photojournaIism business are more and more alike, lately...barriers to entry to both are increasingly low, so the fields are hopelessly overcrowded, leaving only a tiny minority of the super-motivated that will ever make it. I'd steer more toward commercial/portrait photography if I were you; photojournalism lately requires a massive commitment, too much, really, for what you get.

When do you leave?

Hondros

9/4/07

Alli,

So, how's your trip? You've been there for a bit now, right--how is it? You working yet?

I'm in Greece visiting my aunt and cousins at the moment. My aunt, my father's sister, was born and raised as a peasant in a rural Greek village and fled the horrors of the Greek civil war in the 1940s, and now, at 80, is the matriarch of a extended Greek family in Athens, with her grandchildren in their late 20s all speaking English, working as computer programmers and wearing the latest fashions. Quite a journey Greece has been on these last 50 years.

Don't forget my picture of you with the monkeys* or something. Here's one of me with my hipster Greek cousin, Kosta, in his parents' apartment in Athens--

Chris

*Haha, I never got to Bohol to take a photo with the Tarsier monkeys, but ended up with elephants in Thailand, so that's what I later sent Chris in lieu of his requested monkeys.

I think over the next few days, I will let Chris do most of the talking. Because, frankly, what he had to say was always intelligent, insightful and important... except for the time he was telling me about some wacko theory on how the U.S. should be divided into socio-political quadrants. That one, haha, I've never been too sure of, but who knows, maybe he's right. A hard man not to love, that Hondros.

The above photo (please drag and drop, as I've left it at its original resolution) and corresponding blurb from an email was sent to Melissa Franko (my very dear friend who introduced me to Chris in 2007) and myself on May 29th, 2008:

So what are Pittsburgh's two most notorious women doing this summer? Be sure to leave some time on the busy social calendar for a little New York jaunt together. I'm still in Iraq for a while, but I ought to be in the city most of the month of July. Come out and we'll hit the town.

I've been out with the Army for ten days, and this afternoon got back to my office/apartment here, totally dirty and exhausted. My Iraqi staff here saw I was beat and put on a pot of my favorite thick local coffee. But then, as if to welcome me home, a notably beautiful sunset spread over the horizon around five, and me and Muhannad went out to the balcony to check it out. He's not a bad photographer, Muhannad, and he shot this cool picture of me, attached. I really like it; it captures the romance of Baghdad, which (though I often deny it) most certainly--sometimes--exists.

Chris

The world lost two great photojournalists in Libya yesterday. One of them was very dear to me. Whilst I figure out how to eloquently write about Mr. Hondros, please take time to view some of his life and work:

Chris' website

Chris' Getty images

TIME's Memoriam

NYT's Hondros in Libya

NYT's Parting Glance

MSNBC's Memoriam

Why are you seeing photos of a sunrise and not more photos of Kid Rock at his final cruise ship performance?

This tiny dancer slept through the show. When I say slept, I'm sure you can deduce that that actually means passed out.

Whoops. Fortunately, I was only a guest on this cruise and just shooting for fun. Or else this wouldn't be funny at all. I mean it wasn't funny (to me) then. You can ask Aaron how this all unfolded and how angry I was at myself (and how hilarious he found it).

Watching the sun rise over the sea always makes such anger go away.

Hanging out in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico at 6:00 a.m., you tend to have a lot of thoughts run through your head. And sometimes, you just make shapes and animals out of the clouds.

I see a bunny in the top photo and Snoopy in the bottom!

When I got back onto the ship, I proceeded to have the solo dance party of my life out on the balcony of the room. Aaron was already back to work prepping for the next KR show and I was drunk, alone and had plenty of newly acquired Bon Jovi on my Blackberry. After all, I had five hours until the show!

I was Keeping the Faith, I was Living on a Prayer, I was Working for the Working Man, I was Having a Nice Day, I was In These Arms, I was on a Lost Highway, I was Wanted Dead or Alive.

You can even ask Aaron how it was going, as he for sure walked in on this unsuspecting, intoxicated, care-free dancer rocking out on the balcony. In fact, his account of this private dance party is probably much more entertaining than mine.

Don't ask how or why I grabbed my camera during this dance party, but this photo was definitely taken during it and for some reason, I kind of like it.

Yep. This is the only useable photo I took over the duration of our nine hours in Cozumel. I'm just not good at shooting drunk. I'm not. This frame should have been a wee bit to the left.

After taking this shot, Aaron and I ran into Kid Rock's manager and had a quick discussion about shooting Bob's show that night. I can't speak for anyone else, but I was far from sober. Always great for discussing business.

On a somewhat related note, it really is a genius idea to make people, coming back from a day of drinking double margaritas in crystal clear water in the sun, pass back through the duty-free shop to get back to the ship. As if it isn't bad enough that they offer you multiple tequila samples on your way off the ship into town...

Needless to say, I have a few bottles of really nice tequila now that are not available in the States. The way I see this is... I would have done it anyway? Añejo for everybody!

Jessica Wagner, long-time back-up vocalist for Kid Rock and lead singer of Envy, a NY-based band, is one of the most outrageously magnetic subjects I've photographed in a long time.

Jessica Wagner of Envy/Kid Rock's Chillin' the Most Cruise/Carnival's Triumph/Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico/4.7.11

The weather was kind to New York yesterday, so following brunch with some of humanity's finest, I decided to walk home from 29th and 3rd. When it's nice out, my preferred method of travel is by foot, so I was excited to embark on my first nice walk of spring.

Delighted to be on 3rd Ave. (a.k.a. Bowery - by far my favorite avenue in New York), I wanted to pay my friends at the Morrison Hotel Gallery a visit. Unsure of who would be working, I also was unaware of the current exhibition.

That being said, as often as good things happen in this city, I probably stumbled into one of my favorite moments on that walk.

Greeting me as I started to check out the work of Lynn Goldsmith (holy moly!), Rick started to catch me up on all the latest and greatest happenings at my favorite art gallery, until the phone rang.

I had been telling him about meeting Bob Gruen at the gallery a few years ago, so when he answered the phone, I was super surprised to hear:

"I have a photographer friend of mine here and she would love to meet you."

Rick walked back over to me and said:

"Can you wait 20 minutes? Lynn is heading this way."

Of course I can wait 20 minutes, 30 minutes, two days, Rick!

To make a long story short, I spent about an hour and a half just wandering with her and listening - even when she was speaking to someone else. We talked about her work, my work, other photographers, the state of the business, the mindset of shooting, grazing the tip of the iceberg of everything I would ever want to talk to her about. I even missed a dinner with one of my closest friends because I just wanted to listen to her talk.

Not yet an owner of one of her books, I purchased one on the spot and asked her to sign it. You have to understand that this is a big thing for me because I never, ever ask for signatures. I always try to pretend I'm not excited to meet someone I profoundly respect out of fear of being unprofessional, but lately I've realized that that's just stupid. This was probably the first time since I was a kid at Disney World that I asked someone to sign something and I am glad beyond words that I did.

Inside my book, Lynn wrote:

"For Alli, With hopes that you balance your life with love of work and love of people - May the gods of Rock and Roll appreciate you."

This will stay with me forever and for always.

Despite Saturday's sideways rain, I had an amazingly stellar weekend.

4.17.11

It's nice when you have to pack road cases... full of booze! Haha, good work, Aaron - a key part of this trip, for sure.

Kid Rock performing at the Sail Away show on 4.7.11.

Annnnd then this happened.

Kid Rock and band performing (lower left corner) on the lido deck as we cruise down the Mississippi on 4.7.11.

As you can imagine, it was a pretty awesome 18 hours spent in a tour bus, even though there were 14 of us on a bus that sleeps 12. I hadn't met any of KR's band (or their lovely wives) prior to this trip, but there's no better place to get to know people quickly.

When we arrived in NOLA on the morning of the 7th, I jumped out of the bus, pulled out my suitcase, grabbed a skirt and flip-flops and bolted down to the French Quarter to see if I could rustle up some beignets. Time was not in my favor, as when I finally arrived at Cafe Mondo, there was not enough time to wait in line and make it back before the bus left for the port.

I was bummed, but sometimes that's the way the beignet crumbles.

When we arrive at the port, who pops out of his SUV and into our bus? The one and only Rev Run. That was one heck of a morning surprise. He was shortly followed by an officer who, after jokingly being asked if he wanted a Jack and coke, wholeheartedly accepted. We all raised an eyebrow and then someone poured him the drink.

We all climbed out of the bus, grabbed our luggage and made our way to customs, only to find the rest of the crew and Bob just hanging out, waiting to board.

Photo: Pulling away from the port on Carnival's Triumph with New Orleans in the background - 4.7.11

To make a long story short, a production friend of mine whom I met last summer on the Kid Rock leg of the Bon Jovi tour gave me a ring at the end of March asking if I'd be available to join him as his guest on (ready for this?) Kid Rock's Chillin' the Most cruise to Cozumel at the beginning of April. He said, "Rock is taking care of everything, all you have to do is get to Detroit to meet the bus so we can all go down to New Orleans."

Would you have said no?

Seeing as I had just come back from SXSW, I hadn't really booked any work, so I decided it would be awesome to spend a few days in Detroit prior to taking the bus with the band, hence the photos below.

The photo above is a shot of the stateroom on the ship. Who knew they had balconies?!

http://francisandthelights.com/

Hey Guys! The first photo Francis has posted on his website is one of my photos from his New York Le Poisson Rouge show! I think he's so much fun, so if you couldn't tell, I'm very excited!

All you Coachella kids needs to check out his set on Saturday!

Michigan Central Station. Same design firms (Warren and Wetmore and Reed and Stern) as Grand Central Station in New York.

Built in 1913, it was the tallest train station in the world...

More to come on this incredible piece of history soon.

4.5.11