About a month ago, Mason approached me in need of a space to work with his writing partner, Matthew — they’re working on a screenplay of Matthew’s novel.

Of course, yes; I was happy to help. Mase then had a follow-up request: would I mind documenting their working process?

This Picture Story was photographed on an iPhone 4, on a sweetly warm Saturday afternoon, and threaded between the photographs is a lovesong to the symbols and cycles that frame this deliciously rich life.

A sun stone, forever returning, it takes all I’ve got sometimes, but I can hold on.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I’m not going
to let anybody see
you.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pour whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he’s
in there.
there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to screw up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody’s asleep.
I say, I know that you’re there,
so don’t be
sad.
then I put him back,
but he’s singing a little
in there, I haven’t quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it’s nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don’t
weep, do
you?

—Charles Bukowski, 1920-1994

In 1986 I was 10, and Spike Lee’s first film was playing on the small big screen of the Waverly Twin. She’s Gotta Have It gave boy-me his first carnal exposure to jazz, photography, and women… Thanks, mom.

This Monday, I enjoyed the film in a proper cinema for the first time in 26 years — as my right hand intermittently photographed the screen. I had no idea what he was looking for, but I knew it didn’t require my forebrain, so I let it flow.

The sex scenes were skipped, as were many landmark moments. Odd, I thought.

Tuesday night was for red wine and a listening session with the film’s vinyl soundtrack, resident of my life since the late nineties courtesy Thatkidprolific. Reflection on the film’s qualities through recent sensation, Bill Lee’s absolutely classic score, and the 57 photographs on my phone spontaneously produced the Picture Story above.

There’s more I could say. A lot came up in the very quick, very light making of this.

But it would only belie the point: see what’s there.

See it simply… See it sweetly.