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13/05/2005: "JACK EDEN surfing photographer"
AT ROCKDALE having lunch today - surfing photo legend Jack Eden with long time camera technician Peter Grbavac at Cafe d'Or the noted spaghetti and coffee arcade eatery downstairs from PGI camera repair centre.
Peter can fix any camera, even the new digitals, but it all comes at a price. Sometimes cameras are throw aways these days. Jack Eden is a surfing photographer that has material dating waaaay back. His large black and white surf prints have been selling more copies than any other photographer. Other surfing veteran cameraman have been unlucky archiving material - some being lost in fires, others having faded due to hasty film processing in the old days when fun was more a priority than darkroom sweat and tears.
I had business in the city today and needed signatures from friends on a document. But who to contact. Dr Mark Spencer was having a day off - the dentistry closed, Neil Fletcher has departed his camera store business, my accountant has retired from the city, Ron and Valerie Taylor were back home at Roseville with the ABC TV film crew recording an episode of Talking Heads so I hopped a train to Rockdale on the chance Peter Grbavac was there.....which he was, and kindly provided the signature witness required - then back to the city for movies and a takeaway.
I chose The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon. He's developed into an interesting actor and in this role he's sticking his popularity neck on the line a bit. The story is slow but the music is outstanding - sort of jazz with an afro beat. All works well except the final song.
The second movie XXX 2 is a silly James Bond-type action thing for ghetto style kids.
The City of Sydney has good value with cheap $10 CD's and similar priced DVD movies. Some are $5 but the titles are ancient. I found Summer City - Mel's first film by Phil Avalon - a prolific producer and actor himself that is consistant with efforts in 35mm over many years, but yet to strike real gold.
An interesting day in the city....great when your time is not regulated by parking or appointments. Talks with government people - a former diplomat from Malaysia who was born in India, an Egyptian lady who recomended a diving holiday in The Red Sea, and others. It's autumn in Sydney - the calm sunny days have been replaced by a taste of the winter not far away.
My Acer Aspire 2020 notebook computer seems to have blown it's main board - but is fortunately still under warranty. Will take more than two weeks for repairs. Not a good sign. I wonder how it happened? Power surge?
