Jason Baluyut
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jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Jason Baluyut
@jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
390 followers 200 following 980 posts
I like to write and photograph stuff. I might get political. No to cruelty and broken systems; yes to kindness, love, and openness to possibility. He/him. Also on Mastodon: @[email protected]
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jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Jason Baluyut @jasonbaluyut.bsky.social · Feb 15
Hello Bluesky! Hoping this is a place where I can share photos, geek out about music/literature/astronomy/other obsessions, and signal-boost like-minded folks trying to stay compassionate, sane, and human in these terrible times.

Here’s some blue sky from my neighborhood. See you around!
A streetlight and a flock of pigeons alighting on a building against a clear blue sky.
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Graffiti”

An old fire alarm call box in Red Hook. I don’t remember if I’ve shared this before, but “transphobes are shitheads” is always a message worth amplifying. 💗🏳️‍⚧️

#photography #streetphotography #graffiti #stickers #stickerart #brooklyn #nyc #pride
Photo of a vintage red fire alarm call box attached to a wooden pole on a street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. It’s plastered with overlapping stickers with various text and images. At the center is a rectangular sticker with all-caps white letters on a black background that reads, “TRANSPHOBES ARE SHITHEADS.”
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#DoorsDay
Happy Harvest Day from unceded Lenape land. I denounce this day’s historical whitewashing of genocide. But I’ll take today and every day as a chance to be grateful for life’s blessings, and a call to be kind and do better.

#nationaldayofmourning #photography #thanksgiving #brooklyn #nyc
Photo of a door at the top of a stoop in a brownstone building in Brooklyn, partly obscured by some branches with red berries in the foreground. The door has an arched top and decorative wood paneling. On the steps in front of it are a variety of large and small pumpkins. The image is in rich autumn tones of red, orange, and brown.
November 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
Resharing for #DoorsDay and #FotoVorschlag - “Graffiti”

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #door #graffiti #nyc
Photo of a high rectangular building entrance consisting of double doors with tall transom windows, framed in black and covered in graffiti. The doors have a grid of glass panels on their upper halves. The windows above are almost as tall as the doors themselves, and reflect the rows of windows of the building across the street (behind camera). The central window displays the number “23” in large red numerals. Text graffiti covers the lower doors and the narrow side panel to the right, as well as part of the upper windows; the text is mostly white with some red, though the most prominent graffiti is “Tomas” in large turquoise letters at the bottom of the doors. The doors are set in a light-colored building wall, with a handrail attached to the building wall at lower right.
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
mskellymhayes.bsky.social
Every year around this time, I ask folks to consider doing something in support of Native people. This year, please join me in supporting the Native Organizers Alliance as they build grassroots power, defend Native voting rights, and equip our people for collective struggle through skill-building.
Donate - Native Organizers Alliance
Supporting organizing and advocacy initiatives for Indigenous justice.
nativeorganizing.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
A giant #skeleton in my neighborhood, as seen on October 31 — and the day after. One version is, of course, a reminder of death and destruction; the other is a naked Halloween skeleton. #Unthanksgiving #NationalDayOfMourning

#photography #monochrome #halloween #thanksgiving #selectivecolor
Black and white photo of a giant Halloween skeleton in an apartment building’s front yard, appearing to reach out menacingly toward any passersby, a chain dangling from one wrist. It’s almost as tall as the tree behind it, which has a regular-sized skeleton draped over a lower branch. Photo of the same skeleton as the previous image, but dressed in a Pilgrim’s black hat and robes and holding an inflated balloon shaped like a turkey leg. The image is in black and white except for the brown turkey leg and the reddish ribbon around the hat.
November 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Farbe: Schwarz-Weiss / Keine sw-Bilder!”
Color: Black and white / no bw photos

An overcast London sky, on a trip many years ago.

#photography #monochrome #monochromeincolor #trees #tree #silhouette
Silhouette of a tree with short, stubby branches against a moody, overcast sky with other trees in the background. To my eye it looks like a Joshua tree, though I took this photo in London which is not part of their natural habitat. The image is a full-color photo but is in a monochrome palette of black, white and gray.
November 26, 2025 at 3:26 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Farbe: Schwarz-Weiss / Keine sw-Bilder!”
Color: Black and white / no bw photos

“I’M black and white! Look, look!”

My neighbor Merlin, excited for today’s theme.

#photography #cats #catsofbluesky
Photo of my cat neighbor Merlin sprawled on a floral-patterned carpet, tilting his head upside-down and showing off his belly. He has a white face with a black patch over his forehead and one eye, a black back and tail, and a white underside, legs, and paws.
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Farbe: Schwarz-Weiss / Keine sw-Bilder!”
(Color: Black and white / no bw photos)

A display at the Metropolitan Museum’s recent exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

#photography #museum #metmuseum #exhibition #fashion #nyc
A display of three identical, dark-toned male mannequins wearing different designer outfits in white or cream hues, against a black curtained backdrop. The only spot of color is provided by the blue shoes worn by the mannequin on the far left. Part of the Metropolitan Museum’s exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” about the history and current expressions of Black dandyism. Designer info from left to right, from the museum placards: 1. Bianca Saunders Ensemble, autumn/ winter 2024-25 Shirt of white cotton plain weave, trousers of black wool-silk twill 2. Maximilian Davis Ensemble, spring/summer 2021 Top of white cotton poplin, trouser of white cotton drill 3. Ib Kamara Ensemble, spring/summer 2023 Sleeveless jacket and trousers of cream wool twill
November 26, 2025 at 11:14 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Eisige Zeiten” (icy times) and a late entry for “Dinge mit Gesicht” (things with a face)

A photo from last winter that made me laugh. This grumpy car is clearly DONE with snow!

#photography #streetphotography #winter #wintervibes #snow #facesinthings #pareidolia #car #nyc
Photo of the front of a car parked on the side of a city street. It’s almost completely covered in a thin layer of snow, which contrasts with and highlights the windshield wipers, an indentation in the hood, and the front grill. These resemble facial features making a hilariously grumpy expression: the car seems to be glaring directly at the camera, with furrowed brows and gritted teeth.
November 25, 2025 at 11:53 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#AutumnVibes

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #autumn #autumncolors #autumnleaves #brooklyn #nyc
Photo of a yellow traffic light at the end of a long extended metal arm, in front of trees with yellow-gold leaves. An apartment building rises above the leaves at right frame. The sky above is a pale blue with wispy clouds.
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#AutumnVibes
#TextureTuesday

#photography #plants #autumn #autumnleaves #autumncolors
Photo of large, heart-shaped hosta leaves in their autumn colors (yellow, orange, rust) drooping onto a brick pavement among other fallen dried leaves.
November 25, 2025 at 1:34 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Eisige Zeiten” / Icy times

Central Park last January. It was so cold my fingers hurt from taking this shot.

#photography #urbanphotography #nyc #centralpark #winter #frozen #wintervibes
Photo of a large reflecting pool on an frigid winter day, its stone borders encrusted with snow, one of its corners stretching into the extreme foreground. Bits of debris lie scattered on its frozen blue surface, which reflects shadowy upside-down images of high-rise apartments in the background. The sky is a wintry blue with high wispy clouds, partly obscured by the silhouettes of leafless tree branches hanging down from top frame.
November 25, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
sundogplanets.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Found this cool interactive demo of the Bortle Scale: https://academo.org/demos/bortle-scale/

I am extremely grateful for my Bortle 4 skies. What does your sky look like?
Bortle Scale | Academo.org - Free, interactive, education.
Demonstrating how light pollution adversely affects our view of the night sky
academo.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
prisonculture.bsky.social
95% of authors are not making a living through book publishing. The public needs to understand this.
November 25, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
sirosenbaum.bsky.social
So a while back I was commissioned to do short bios of various rock stars, and they were just about universally total psychopaths, with the huge exception of Freddie Mercury. A lovely man who did good by his wife, his lovers, and his cats.
pinknews.bsky.social PinkNews @pinknews.bsky.social · 3d
Today (24 November) marks the passing of Freddie Mercury, lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen. He remains regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music.

📷 Getty
Freddie Mercury performing on stage with a quote from 'Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words' (2006) overlayed, stating his fearless attitude towards death.
November 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Dinge mit Gesicht”/ #FacesInThings

The Man in the #Moon. Most people see one particular face, but I’ve always tended to see a different one; I think the patterns created by the lunar “seas” allow for more than one possibility. Which face do you see?

#astrophotography #pareidolia
Photo of a waxing gibbous moon, nearly full, against a black sky. Crater details are visible, and the darker areas of the lunar maria create patterns that may resemble faces.
November 24, 2025 at 1:04 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“Dinge mit Gesicht” / Things with a face

Trinity Church in downtown Manhattan, looking shocked at the modern world.

#photography #urbanphotography #streetphotography #monochrome #blackandwhite #MonochromeMonday #architecture #nyc
Black and white photo of Trinity Church in NYC seen at a distance through a canyon of tall buildings, with pedestrians and street traffic in the foreground. The church steeple appears to be squeezed in by buildings on both sides, and the windows and a clock on its facade resemble a narrow face with an open-mouthed shocked expression.
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
erinbiba.bsky.social
I’ve thought about this a lot and it is not my place to say but I’ve always found these words to be neutered by the “phobic” - hate is not a phobia. Phobia implies something that is out of a person’s control. Hate is evil and insidious and shouldn’t be watered down by mental health implications.
lorak.bsky.social Lora Kolodny @lorak.bsky.social · 3d
good call @erinbiba.bsky.social and can we replace “transphobic” and “homophobic” with anti-Trans and anti-Gay?
erinbiba.bsky.social Erin Biba @erinbiba.bsky.social · 3d
Given the way that the term antisemitism has been corrupted and denatured by the right (and the left frankly) to meet their own ends I’m considering replacing the term in my own vernacular with anti-Jewish.
November 24, 2025 at 2:45 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
At my local mailing center, a little hometown pride.

#photography #nyc #brooklyn #art #stickers #stickerart
Photo of a collection of New York-themed stickers inside a cardboard box. Among the most notable: an illustration of a smiling bearded man in a suit and tie (Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani) under the text “Mam Daddy,” a heart-shaped sticker with a graphic of the Brooklyn Bridge, an illustrated cat lounging on a store shelf with the text “Bodega Baddie,” and a hand-drawn “I (Heart) NY” image with a smiley face on the heart.
November 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#FotoVorschlag
“CO2-Emission”

Wildfire smoke in Idaho.

#photography #minimalism #landscape #wildfire #smoke #haze
Photo of a conifer forest seen through wildfire smoke. The trees at bottom frame, closest to camera, are the clearest; subsequent “layers” of trees become more indistinct until they vanish into the haze. The tones are muted: a dark green for the nearer trees and an orange-tinged gray for the rest.
November 23, 2025 at 10:52 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#SilentSunday

#photography #streetphotography #nyc #color #colors #colorful
Photo of the interior of a New York subway train. A passenger — evidently a cotton candy vendor — sits and holds up a tall wooden staff covered with large transparent packets stuffed with cotton candy, in shades of yellow, blue, green, pink and purple. The packets hang down both sides of the stick and completely obscure the vendor except for one shoe and the hand holding the stick. Sunlight through the window behind the vendor (the train is traveling on a section aboveground) glows through the spaces between the stick and the packets, giving them the appearance of being lit from within.
November 23, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
animalphotorefs.bsky.social
GenAI has polluted image search results, especially for animal pics. It’s now basically impossible to find accurate art references.

Enter this: a repository of open-access, AI-free images of wild & exotic taxa. Artists creating *without AI* have blanket permission for derivative/transformative use.
Exotic Animal Photo Reference Repository
www.animal-photo-references.com
January 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
jasonbaluyut.bsky.social
#Caturday + #FotoVorschlag
“Bad (Badezimmer? Schlecht?)” / Bad or bathroom

Max liked to sit in the bathtub and beg me to turn on the water, then immediately ran away when I did so; apparently that was bad? I could never figure it out. Crazy goofy cat.❤️

#photography #cats #catsofmastodon
Photo of Max the handsome gray tabby cat sitting in a bathtub, behind a patterned beige curtain and just under the spout, looking at the camera with plaintive eyes. No, you couldn’t resist that look either.
November 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
theonion.com
62 Years Ago Today:
62 Years Ago Today:
November 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Jason Baluyut
jonathancohn.bsky.social
Google defaulting all Gmail users to a setting that enables Google to harvest all your emails into chatbot training is straight-up evil and invasive.

www.huffpost.com/entry/opt-ou...
If You Use Gmail, You're Going To Want To Turn Off This 1 Automatic Setting ASAP
Plus: a quick guide to the two-step process for opting out.
www.huffpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:16 AM