10 Months

There's this cliche about kids enjoying the box more than the expensive gift it holds.

Near Where the 405 Meets the 22

Unique LA: July 30-31

I'll be selling prints of trees, like this one here, the last weekend in July @ Unique LA.

It's a golden opportunity to own and display a two-dimensional ficus tree (photographed by me) inside your home; it's pretty much guaranteed not to damage the sidewalk in front of your home.

It's all going down at Barker Hangar in the Santa Monica airport, and if you're anywhere south of Lodi (not off the hook Berkley/Oakland), north of Tijuana or west of Chicago (that's right, St. Louis), I sincerely hope you'll stop by, say hi, hand me a pint, and buy a few prints.

If you simply can not make it to the show but also can't go on living without a B&W ficus tree in your rumpus room, send me an e-mail and we'll make sure you're hooked up.

The Moment Before the Moment

This Russian mammoth was grown from a seed we saved from a Russian mammoth that was grown from a seed we saved.

Frijoles Negros

Artifact, 12

I was preparing to photograph this bouquet when the 5-year-old who had arranged it earlier (the very same 5-year-old who, by this time at night, was supposed to have been in bed sleeping) appeared and insisted upon touching it up and restoring it to better reflect her initial design.

She's the stylist. I'm not. So of course I let her, before making her go back to bed.

Groomed

Happy Father's Day

"Mothers and fathers: Create forums in which your children can learn the beauty of the world through the arts, so that they can pass it on to their children. That's what my parents did for me."

D. Boon (We Jam Econo)

Artifact, 11

Laura Ingalls Wilder made this campfire.

Cable

Did I Show You This, Already?

Have a Drink on Me

http://oursouthbay.com/March-April-2011/Artful-Dining-in-Three-Acts/

Josh Beckman's Sea Nymph, Reverse View

Josh Beckman's Sea Nymph

I'm a little late in posting this image I shot, but it's of an installation by artist-friend Josh Beckman at Machine Project last fall. I don't have any words that can do it justice (that's why we have this photo blog, right?), but it was both fun and awe-inspiring, loved equally by our 5-year-old and her parents. You can find out a bit more about it here and here.

Artifact, 10

The octopus was a gift from a friend (purchased at this neat place) that inspired the creation of this little ocean habitat.

Artifact, 9

Village Green, Take 3

Southern California light. Ivy league landscape. Simple boxes for buildings.

Artifact, 8

The kid utilizing extra-long Doc Marten shoelaces tied together to recreate extra-long Rapunzel hair. On her imaginative process: "I see it in my brain." I wish I could see like that, but at least I get to witness it, try to capture a moment.

That's why I enjoy photographing architecture, design and art: I like witnessing—visually describing—others' creative process and resulting work, but not as much as I enjoy hanging out with this kid.

8 Months, Y'all

More Village Green

The Village Green

Angelenos, do you know about this place?

6th Ever Old Time Social, pt. 2

Artifact, 8

I guess it's meant to be grazing.

6th Ever Old Time Social

Eric J. and his banjo, fireside at the 6th Ever Old Time Social. OTS #7 won't be soon enough.

She Got 'Em

And she's rockin' 'em.

Sandbox Chillin'

Sweet, Sweet 7-Month Chub

Artifact, 7

This one is more than a year old, forever in preschool days, but I think it's among her finest work. It was meant to be a birthday cake.

Can't Get Enough of These Ants

http://www.amazon.com/Fascinations-ANTW1-AntWorks/dp/B0006FSEOI

Coordinated

We Have Ants

Am I Being too Wordy?

Artifact, 6

I'm not sure what this means, but I like it.

untitled

Interior Courtyard

This is the interior courtyard of the Italian Cultural Center in Westwood. Design by Robert E. Alexander.

SEVEN

Luigi Ontani

I'm going to be photographing a tableaux vivant by Italian artist Luigi Ontani tomorrow (4/20 @ 5pm) at the Hammer. If you're anywhere near Westwood, come check it out. You won't be disappointed.

These images are of some colorful drapey costumes that caught, and held, my eye during today's rehearsal session.

cicLAvia 4.11.2011

Bikes. Architecture. No cars. Friends. Public space. Bikes.

More, please.

Kale Chips

This is what it looked like moments after we harvested it and before we roasted it.

6

He's most impressed with the cut of your jib.

Low-Maintenance Veggies

Friends gave us radish seeds, we planted them, and now we have radishes. Veggies that aren't easily botched are the kind of veggies we like to grow here, and so radishes are now part of the regular rotation.

Recipe suggestions are hereby welcomed.

Compost Lesson #12

Lining of biodegradeable food container, after some months.

I am drawn to photography of deteriorating cities, but closer to home, I'm fascinated with how things break down in a backyard compost bin.

This post isn't a compost lesson, really, but maybe it is.

Kringelringel

This toy was a favorite of mine before I found out its playfully rhymey name.

I love the simplicity of Haba wooden toys.

Kids seem to, too.

Faerie Circle Cake

For a happy faerie birthday.

Bailar (2)

Bailar

Yo, Jay

We're Growing Radishes

Thanks, Hana!

Artifact, 5

Backstory: Random action-figure doll loses lower body (didn't witness the event myself, so I'm not sure how), and a mermaid-obsessed 5-year-old decides to do this.

5

Joyce Carol Oates and Me

The New Yorker published A Widow's Story by Joyce Carol Oates in the Dec. 13, 2010, issue about the sudden death of her husband, Raymond J. Smith, in 2008. It's a powerful, intensely sad essay. One of our great American writers doesn't need my nod, but I'll offer it up nonetheless.

Her words are accompanied by a striking full-page photo of the couple taken more than 40 years ago, and it reminded me that the first commercial photo I ever took was this shot of her, in about 1994. It was an editorial assignment for the now-defunct arts and entertainment weekly (so defunct it doesn't even show up when googled) L.A. Village View, for which I also copyedited at the time.

I was living in Venice, carless and nearly penniless at the time. I took a couple of busses to Dutton's in Brentwood, where Oates was to be promoting a new book. She was also being interviewed for the Village View, and I had to wait more than an hour while she was being interviewed before getting my three minutes to shoot photos. That meant no warm-up time for the subject. She was noticeably uncomfortable, but gracious and cooperative. She radiated, though not with any conventional beauty. Stereotypically bookish, she also possessed a bright and strong presence.

How did my less-than-auspicious leap into the photo fray conclude? I was paid $10 for the shot that ran in the paper. I was also reimbursed the cost of two rolls of Kodak Tmax 120 and processing. And I continued to copyedit the music section of the paper in exchange for a mediocre Thai dinner one night a week, picking up more $10 photo assignments whenever I could.