This will be my last post about Polo. Well at least until I attend another match. We had a great time seeing a match at the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio California during our last visit to the Palm Desert. Here are some images from the match.
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During our trip to California we had an opportunity to do something we always wanted to do. We went to the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio California and saw a match.
At halftime in the match spectators are invited out to the field to replace the divots, stretch and walk their dogs. We refrained thinking of all the horse poop tat was probably also spread out over the field.
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Halftime at The Polo Club
During our trip to California we had an opportunity to do something we always wanted to do. We went to the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio California and saw a match.
The sport is a lot like hockey on horses and of course like any sport there are rules and umpires. The umpires are also excellent horseback riders. After learning a little about the sport we saw play periodically stop and a foul was called. These required resetting the ball or maybe a penalty shot. The umpires use this clever tool to pick up the ball and move it to a different spot so they don’t have to dismount to get the ball.
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Polo Umpire
During our trip to California we had an opportunity to do something we always wanted to do. We went to the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio California and saw a match. I love horses and my riding years are most likely behind me. I can no longer attend horse racing which is a cruel sport to the horses. I was amazed by polo and will undoubtedly be posting many pictures. The synergy between the horse and rider is truly amazing and magical to watch. After the first half I became aware why.
These horses are ball hawks. They are undoubtedly trained to follow the ball and when they turn the rider better be ready. If the rider falls off the horse they do not stop the match. If the horse falls the match is halted. Nobody fell and after two hours it was mind boggling that none did.
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Ball Hawk
Of course I am not a Catholic or Christian for that matter but appreciate visiting ancient churches. Cathedrals in Europe are some of the most wonderful examples of architecture in the world. I also had a special interest in Stephansdom. Stephen is my middle name and Saint Stephen is one of my favorite Grateful Dead Songs.
In any case I was shocked to see the toll acid rain has taken on the cathedral when we visited in 2016. I was use to seeing this on other cathedrals in Europe but because of the colorful special roof of this edifice it was even more disheartening.
As you can see they are making progress in the restoration but like other ancient structures it is a constant battle.
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Acid Rain at Saint Stephens
Outside of St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) in Vienna the carriages wait for tourists. I saw a number of the drivers looking at their cellphones like this man. It occurred to me that in other times the men would probably gather together to share stories while they waited. There might have even be laughter or shouting as they shared the trials and tribulations of their jobs.
In our new society of isolation each man is alone with their virtual self and waiting for the world around them to deliver a fare. Forced isolation rather the sharing brotherhood with their fellow horsemen.
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Waiting in Isolation
From the Charles Bridge I looked up at Prague Castle thinking it might be large. I had no idea. We approached the castle and from the outside I just thought it was a huge building. Not until we were inside the fortifications did I begin to comprehend the size.
It is not just a castle. It is a city. There is a cathedral and two other churches. There are gardens and walks, restaurants and cafes and many shops. In ancient times many people lived inside the castle serving the Kings and Holy Roman Emperor. Now it is the seat of government and people work and live there serving the government and millions of visitors.
This is one of the many streets with small shops catering to tourists.
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Castle Street
We were in Prague for five days and The Charles Bridge was always crowded. I am sure early in the morning it is not as crowded and less crowded on week days but it is the Ponte Vecchio of Praha (Prague). The day we walked across the bridge we saw at least seven different street musicians or bands. This guy was singing the Peter Tosh song Get Up Stand Up which is kind of ironic since he never did stand up.
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Music on The Charles Bridge
Prague Castle is the largest and oldest castle in the world. It is actually not a castle but a complex of buildings including two cathedrals, the most famous being the St. Vitus Cathedral.The castle dates back to the early ninth century and is currently the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic. The castle was previously a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia.
Since it is the home of the Prime Minister; there is a strong police presence and the castle is still guarded by ceremonial guards as it has been since the 10th century.
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Guard at Prague Castle
Over the years I have developed my technique for photographing people without looking through the viewfinder. In the 1970’s I first became aware of The Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Although it really has nothing to do with the observer effect it does help to mathematically corroborate that principle. Simply stated the act of observing something changes that thing. I knew when I pointed my camera at people their behavior would change.
I thought to not have people react to me I had to photograph them in a stealth mode. First I employed telephoto lenses but since going digital I have began shooing without looking through the viewfinder. Wasting bits and pixels is a lot different than wasting film. I set the camera to a wide angle and select automatic focus and exposure. I get a lot of crap but then I also get shots like this one which make it all worthwhile. Next a mirror-less camera because people do react to the shutter noise if they are close enough.
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People of Prague #10
Imagery Photography 