Thoughts on Ken Rockwell

[Raos]

What do people here think about Ken Rockwell? I ask because he seems to be a very well respected photographer, but I find that a lot of what I read on his site contradicts things I have read here. I know that a lot of photography is personal preference so I do not think that one answer is necessarily right and the other is wrong. A lot just depends. I am just curious what people think about him here though.

 

[Aye-non Oh-non Imus]

If you were to do a SEARCH with "Rockwell" as the keyword in Titles only, you'll find 18 threads dating back to 2004. Some of it is quite an entertaining read. I doubt, very much, the attitudes have changed after 7 years. Love him or hate him or laugh at him.

 

[Raos]

Thanks and sorry for not searching first. I broke the cardinal rule of forum posting.

 

[Derrel]

HIs site is like a large,expansive,authentic Chinese restaurant menu: it has some stuff you really,really want,and will like very much, like Mandarin chicken, pan fried noodles, and sesame beef; it also has some stuff you mighty be repulsed by, like chicken feet in sweet glaze, or pickled pigs' feet.

 

[Raos]

So I see you have a thing against feet

 

[Derrel]

Well, I tell you what...my neighbors run a Chinese restaurant. Mr. Wu's mother often comes over and babysits their son, who is 8 years old and often comes by to hang out with my son. So, one night the elderly Mrs. Wu shows up with a plate of glazed chicken feet....like 6 of them...dewclaws and all....big, herkin' rooster feet...expertly covered in a sweet, orange glaze...her grandson screamed out, "Yeah! chicken feet!".
She offered me the plate, and by gesture I refused, and pointed at her grandson and said, "He really wants them!" and with that, they headed home with the plate of glazed chicken feet...a short while later my little son said, "Oh, dad, just thinking about those chicken feet makes my stomach feel kinda' weird." True story.

 

[The_Traveler]

Well, I tell you what...my neighbors run a Chinese restaurant. Mr. Wu's mother often comes over and babysits their son, who is 8 years old and often comes by to hang out with my son. So, one night the elderly Mrs. Wu shows up with a plate of glazed chicken feet....like 6 of them...dewclaws and all....big, herkin' rooster feet...expertly covered in a sweet, orange glaze...her grandson screamed out, "Yeah! chicken feet!".
She offered me the plate, and by gesture I refused, and pointed at her grandson and said, "He really wants them!" and with that, they headed home with the plate of glazed chicken feet...a short while later my little son said, "Oh, dad, just thinking about those chicken feet makes my stomach feel kinda' weird." True story.

I know you realize that is your own Western prejudices. You eat eggs and look where they come from.

 

[Mike_E]

Well, I tell you what...my neighbors run a Chinese restaurant. Mr. Wu's mother often comes over and babysits their son, who is 8 years old and often comes by to hang out with my son. So, one night the elderly Mrs. Wu shows up with a plate of glazed chicken feet....like 6 of them...dewclaws and all....big, herkin' rooster feet...expertly covered in a sweet, orange glaze...her grandson screamed out, "Yeah! chicken feet!".
She offered me the plate, and by gesture I refused, and pointed at her grandson and said, "He really wants them!" and with that, they headed home with the plate of glazed chicken feet...a short while later my little son said, "Oh, dad, just thinking about those chicken feet makes my stomach feel kinda' weird." True story.

I know you realize that is your own Western prejudices. You eat eggs and look where they come from.

Yes, but we don't eat the shells. LOLOLOL

 

[The_Traveler]

Some surprising treats - wok-fried crickets and ants (ants rather sweet), dog (tastes like cat), monkey (under duress, very stringy), cobra (sort of fishy chicken taste), silk-worm wine (think of tequila), completely unknown veggies, fruits and lots of mystery meat I didn't inquire too closely about. Rather enlightening.

 

[The_Traveler]

But remember that oral sex probably sounded icky when you heard about it the first time.
And look how that turned out.

 

[Derrel]

Yes, Lew, I realize where eggs come from. Eggs are a recognized food all around the world, in basically every culture where birds exist as a food supply, and where birds are lacking, the eggs of fish, and turtles, are often eaten. However, in the USA, we typically do not eat the feet, beaks, bills, gonads, or eyeballs of many animals. Can I ship you a crate of duck bills and chicken beaks, oh, enlightened Traveler? Or maybe a case of sheep testicles from the upcoming lamb castrating season?

 

[fwellers]

Some surprising treats - wok-fried crickets and ants (ants rather sweet), dog (tastes like cat), monkey (under duress, very stringy), cobra (sort of fishy chicken taste), silk-worm wine (think of tequila), completely unknown veggies, fruits and lots of mystery meat I didn't inquire too closely about. Rather enlightening.

I've had bbq dog in the phillipines. Very tasty white meat ! They used to serve it on a stick.
I've had monkey too over there. Didn't like it at all. Very fatty and just tasted bad to me.
I ate balut over there too. That's some pretty nasty stuff, it's something you do on a dare when you're half in the bag from SanMiguel beer. ))

 

[The_Traveler]

However, in the USA, we typically do not eat the feet, beaks, bills, gonads, or eyeballs of many animals. Can I ship you a crate of duck bills and chicken beaks, oh, enlightened Traveler? Or maybe a case of sheep testicles from the upcoming lamb castrating season?

We, Americans I mean, tend to go on as if the way we do things is the right way and everyone else is somehow silly or with strange tastes.
That behavior makes us seem provincial to non-Americans and Americans tend to be rather defensive about it.

I'm somewhat enlightened about some things and working on others.
I don't care much for duck bills or chicken beaks or chicken feet for that matter. But if you want to send me some sheep's testicles packed in dry ice I'd be happy to try to find a recipe.

 

[CCericola]

Who is Ken Rockwell?

 

[1holegrouper]

What do people here think about Ken Rockwell? I ask because he seems to be a very well respected photographer, but I find that a lot of what I read on his site contradicts things I have read here. I know that a lot of photography is personal preference so I do not think that one answer is necessarily right and the other is wrong. A lot just depends. I am just curious what people think about him here though.

I love his site. Its funny yet important that he caveats himself- as the latest camera he seems to review is often called "the absolute best ____ camera", lol. I guess that is like most of us though.