The passing of Art Haykin

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>Some people here will recognize the name <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=328400">Art Haykin</a>. He was an active photo.net member up to a few years ago. I received an email from a member of Art's family today announcing Art's passing on January 2nd, 2011.</p>

<p>I had many off topic emails with Art over the years, he was a smart guy. </p>

<p>

<p>Daniel,</p>

<p>That is very sad news, I was fortunate enough to have several off topic conversations with him over the years too. A true gentleman of Photo.Net.<br>

Condolences to his family and loved ones.</p>

<p>Scott.</p>

<p>I'm very saddened to hear that. Art offered a lot of thoughtful and useful feedback to PhotoNotes.org over the years. Thanks, Art!</p>

<p>That is terrible news. I loved his contributions on photo.net, for his knowledge and for his humor, and corresponded with him sometimes, although I hadn't for some time.</p>

<p>I wonder if this thread should be moved to another category, because I know it will be important to many all over photo.net.</p>

<p>Active member is somewhat of an understatement. For several years Art seemed to be the first one to respond to every single question asked in the general questions forum - and that was far and away the most active forum at the time. When that forum went away, Art seemed to loose interest, and I hadn't heard from him in a couple of years now. I often wondered what became of him.</p>

<p>Art was an interesting guy to talk to when he was around, with an encyclopedic knowledge of everything related to photography. Despite the fact that he appeared to be an integral component of the Photo.net site for several years, I think he once told us that he never owned a computer. I believe he used one of those Web TVs that were meant to give access to the Internet for folks without computers via a TV with basic web browsing capability. Those things never gained much popularity, and I have never though much of them, but if they gave us Art Haykin, the invention of the Web TV was not in vain!</p>

<p>Rest in peace, Art, and my condolences to his family.</p>

<p>I am going to move this to the Casual Conv forum and sticky it in the Unified Forum View so that mroe people will see it.</p>

<p>Art was a one of the oldest of the old school around here and I'm sure many of us are sorry to hear of his passing.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Some people here will recognize the name <a rel="nofollow" href="../photodb/user?user_id=328400">Art Haykin</a>. He was an active photo.net member up to a few years ago.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>And it should be noted that, even if Art hadn't posted much in recent years, he was still logging into his account and visiting us until just a few months ago.</p>

<p>Sorry to hear of Art's passing. He seemed always to have time and a friendly word for everyone. A comment which showed the respect in which he was held appeared when someone posted a tricky question to which no one had the answer. Unusually Art was absent from the conversation which meandered around looking for a definitive answer until someone posted, 'Where is Art Haykin when you need him?'</p>

<p>I'm very sorry to hear this. I'm especially sorry that last year I ignored that nudge in the back of my mind to e-mail Art and see how he was doing. I'd noticed that even though was no longer active on photo.net he continued to occasionally post to other sites on whatever topic suited his fancy.</p>

<p>He was consistently helpful and a voice of experience and good sense here. He had a gift for online communication that I lack - brevity. I still have a 2003 e-mail from Art on that subject. He probably wouldn't mind if I share part of it here:</p>

<blockquote>Lex<br /><br />I mean this in the MOST complimentary way: as a former English teacher,<br />I feel like a Hemingway to your Marcel Proust in that I tend towards<br />brevity while you take the time and effort to better delineate your<br />resposes. As I read all the better responses, I often find that others<br />will say essentially what I do, but in lengthier, more detailed<br />disquisitions.<br /><br />I seem to easily forget that with some puppies, you have to show them<br />the stick before you throw it.<br /> Oct. 1, 2003<br /></blockquote>

<p>After searching the archives for a post that might best exemplify Art's style, I hope this will do as well as any:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=328400">Art Haykin</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Hero" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/hero.gif" alt="" /></a>, Aug 28, 2003; 01:57 p.m.<br>

<strong>The English language and how to think rationally.</strong></p>

<hr />

<em>In reply to:</em>

<p><a href="../large-format-photography-forum/005rLK?start=10"><em>"What ELSE are you obsessed with?"</em></a> - photo.net Large Format forum</p>

</blockquote>

<p>On rare occasions his posts might seem uncharacteristically impatient. Apparently the pain of osteoarthritis gnawed away at his patience and he became less active here on photo.net. A poem he wrote appeared in 2009 that hinted at this struggle with physical pain. A riff on Richard Lovelace's <em>To Althea, From Prison</em> (1642), the poem reveals that Art retained his sense of humor and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humorism">humours</a>, in the classic sense of the term. It's too good to suffer the fate of merely vanishing into the ether, forgotten, in the event that <a href="http://kanajlo.multiply.com/journal/item/73/Todays_Guest_Poet_Art_Haykin">the site on which it's currently hosted</a> goes dormant.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>TO VICODIN, FROM SUFFERING<br /><br />When pain with unconfined pangs<br />Hovers within my bones,<br />And my divine VICODIN brings<br />To alleviate my moans.<br />When I lie writhing in despair<br />And crying for relief,<br />The wounded goose that flies the air<br />Knows no such abject grief.<br /><br />When nostrums, both trusted and touted,<br />Only bring added grief,<br />Our brow with furrows deeply routed<br />And stand in bas relief<br />And surcease is all we seek;<br />When hope and comfort seem beyond our reach,<br />The torture victim too weak to speak<br />Could not his agony to us teach.<br /><br />When, like committed slaves, I,<br />With hoarser voice shall shriek<br />The stabbing, piercing, seizury<br />And paddle up that creek;<br />When I voice aloud the misery of my lot,<br />How hapless hopeless and rotten is my fate,<br />No citizen in a hell so hot<br />Could know my piteous state.<br /><br />Downy beds do not for comfort make<br />Nor feathered pillows for sleep.<br />And elixirs simply cannot slake<br />The thirst for rest so deep<br />But VICODIN, a gift from God<br />Will, within an hour,<br />Separate, with trusty prod,<br />My pain and me and all its sorrow.<br /> <br />---Art Haykin, January 2009 ©</p>

</blockquote>

<p>And, Art... you were correct. I still can't seem to write concisely.</p>

<p>Very sad news. Art was a generous contributor to these pages. My condolences to his family and friends.</p>

<p>Art was most certainly old school, but he was assuredly very modern in his encouragement. I loved reading his comments on pictures and questions. Peace my friend.</p>

<p>Lex's wonderfully long answer made me think of the the times that Art provided appropriately strong replies. To someone who had been a photographer since something like 1955, and had begun yet another thread with a barrage of silly questions, Art provided the first answer:</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I simply can't believe you don't know the answers to these questions you raise.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>It was like fresh air. I don't think Art was being unkind. He was simply urging the OP to think about what he was asking. Art answered real questions with patience and kindness. When I had questions that didn't fit the photo.net model, he was willing to take the time to answer privately. I miss him.</p>

<p>Thank you Josh for letting us know that Art continued to log in, even when he stopped posting.</p>

<p>as soon as I saw this, I searched on his name and found some postings he had made on other forums<br>

this will give an idea of the man and how he was,<br>

try it</p>

<p>Art and I both had lab experience, and it was always fun to talk about "the way it was", with him. (We both had ran processors and printers in commercial labs). He was a gentlemen and will be missed. My condolences to his family.</p>

<p>May his soul rest in peace. Perhaps, with the permission of his family we could have link posted to his photo gallery?</p>

Just had the urge to see what Art was up to and stumbled on this page. I worked for Art in Los Angeles, 1968-70, at his highly regarded shop, Art's Photo. It was my first "real" job, and Art taught me about B&W processing and printing. We served local pros and "serious amateurs", and I learned a hell of a lot from him. We had big time arguments about philosophical subjects, but remained friends through it all. My friends would stop in to say hello and Art loved them all. They would frequently stay and talk/argue/debate with him while I went back to work. I still have the great Hamilton Railroad pocket watch he gave me as a holiday gift. I left LA in 1970, and we reconnected via the internet years later. One day he surprised me by responding to a question I posted on this site.

 

I can only wish him well on the continuing journey... He would have argued with me about THAT comment..