Unleashed! : Astoria Update

Some new photographs have come to light that update the previous entry on Astoria and Ostriches.  Some were taken before the invention of color photography and color TV. First, a contemporary picture of me showing early promise with en plein air painting at our house on Hoyt Avenue:

Painting the fence, probably 1949.

It is possible to have your unleashed dog with you when you do plein air painting:

This is not my dog.

Some early reckless behavior with rodents from the same period

Large and sturdy gloves prevent  some but not all accidental bites.  People who are afraid of dogs at Willard's Woods should use them too.  Lexington Town law (155-46) prohibits feeding wild animals, but this is Astoria.

The family archivist did not turn up any photographs of the ostrich "attack", but there are some other interesting snaps.  Here I am with my grandmother about to experience a thrilling show of some kind at the Northern Maine Fair in the middle 50's in Presque Isle, Maine. I look more stunned than thrilled (click to enlarge). 

This picture was not selected for inclusion in Frank's very influential book The Americans.

Finally, an actual picture of me getting mobbed by unleashed burros at the Catskill Game Farm.  No bites were suffered.  

The camera had a light leak, a sad loss but not as tragic as the one suffered by Capa with his D-Day pics.