Happy Holidays

Artifact, 4

"The flag of the fairy country."

Griffith Park Hike

Goodbye, Tokyo 7-7

When I took this photo about 5 or 6 years ago, it wasn't a stretch to anticipate that such a gem wouldn't last long in a fancified Culver City. I found the story put best in an L.A. Weekly blog post here.
We still, thankfully, have the Grand Casino.
Just over the first "7" is the True Value logo, where Stellar Hardware used to be. They had free popcorn and coffee, neither of which ever appealed to me, but also a competent, helpful staff, and they charged a reasonably low fee for fixing a screen. Good business. I don't believe in mourning for places that have gone out of business, but Main Street and its alley are poorer without these two.

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Culver City

on a recent evening

Monument

3 Months

The Carrot Seed

By Ruth Krauss and Crocket Johnson is a must-read.

Otra Vez

It's been a bit repetitive here lately, but that's because the garden's been supplying some good material. Hope you don't mind.

Root Down

Our modest garden has offered up some satisfying root vegetables lately. These beets were roasted and enjoyed on Thanksgiving, and we've also had a decent carrot harvest this winter.

Grateful

I'm thankful, first and foremost, for the people in my life. If you didn't end up here by googling "ficus" or "compost" you're most likely on that list. And I'm grateful for that.
Also, I'm grateful to be healthy enough to ride a bicycle and enjoy that activity so completely. And to be able to eat pretty much whatever I want whenever I want, which I try hard not to take for granted.
I'm thankful for the space and weather to grow our little garden (see carrots in previous post).
I'm thankful, of course, for this moment.
Did I mention family and friends already?

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Carota!

His Little Pants

have little pockets.

Ivan

likes your style.

Predock_Frane Architects

A couple of images I shot for Predock-Frane Architects, from their Habitat 15 project. Lots of connected spaces and beautiful natural light. Thanks, Noé and Michael.

Beet roots or beet greens?

Home. Grown.

Artifact, part 3 or so

"A girl under the sea, with a flower and ribbons in her hair. Her tent is on the sand."

Always

up for a bath.

Love Lies Bleeding

Did you know this? Otherwise known as Amaranthus caudatus.

SoCal Cross, Griffith Park

Kids rides aside, this is what the action looked like. Guys, and girls, riding hard, dismounting, and then running hard. And then riding hard again.

Adam Craig Sandbagging

Actually, it's Adam Craig being a swell guy, participating in the kids race today during the SoCal Cross event in Griffith Park. He's faster than all of your friends combined, and something tells me his sponsors aren't making him do this.

The girl in the foreground rode a masterful heat and pedaled on to win her division, as did the boy in full pro kit to Craig's right.

You shoulda been there.

Early, Early Morning

Yeah

Artifact, continued

I'm fascinated with the arrangements and, well, still lifes my daughter creates. They give me a lot of joy. And, I've taken some photos of them in an informal series I'm calling Artifact.

In this one, she's made a bed—a recurring theme—for Tink, when she comes to visit.

(As for the new Blogger template I'm trying out—not digging it. Time-permitting, it'll change soon.)

Blue and Black Cause I Likes to Chill

... and yellow and pink when it's time to get ill!

6 Weeks

Doin' What Babies Do

Soarin'

cicLAvia 2010 (gonna be more, ya know)

Car-free streets are my kinda streets.

Thick as Thieves

Sleep Deprivation

Beautifully personified.

One Week

Big Sister

UCLA Views, pt. 2

Hospital Views, UCLA

I already had the camera out, taking photos of the new family member and all, and then these views got my attention.

Day 5

He's in the House

ohntitle

Mr. Narrator

this is Bob Dylan to me

New Work, Old Stairway

Thee Orpheum

This picture is a scan from a 4x5 Polaroid. I wish I could remember the year I shot this. Maybe 2001? I do remember that I shot it using a cheap Cambo studio camera and my one lens at the time, a Schneider 90mm f8. I had set this shot up one time prior, and after paying for parking and getting everything on my camera in order, bubble levels leveled, Polaroids and film holders carefully arrayed, a FedEx truck parked dead center in my shot. And then it began to rain.

Rivers and Such

A friend just showed me a supremely worthwhile book on the L.A. River: The Ulysses Guide to the Los Angeles River. I only saw this book briefly, but it seems to transcend visually.
So much photography has been made focusing on the river, most of it dull. And repetitive.
For years I worked on a project of photos of La Ballona Creek. Most of the work is, well, also dull. But I think the important work is the work. And so the mistakes and crap have their own value. Here's one of the stronger images I shot, excerpted from an overall weak collection.
At least I put the hours and thought and effort in. I'm proud of that, if not so much the resulting pictures.
The bike path on La Ballona is the reason I spent a l0t of time out there. And the herons. It's well worth a visit.

Naturally

NHM dot ORG

A Few Berries Left

When the berries are gone, so are the cedar waxwings. Enjoying the show while we can.

Celebrated Summer

Cedar Waxwings: red in, red out

Poop's red, too. Car wash time.

And cont'd.

A snapshot of the view from our bedroom window.

Cedar Waxwings, cont'd.

Return of the Cedar Waxwings

They're back!

It's been two years since they last turned the trees in front of our home into their temporary mess hall. They have a way of dropping-diving-gliding that's mesmerizingly graceful, and they're a lot more cautious and quick than the rowdy house sparrows that live all around us. More welcome, too.