Endeavor, Killer of Trees

I'm pretty sure these ficus trees on a traffic island on Crenshaw, a little south of Slauson, are among those endangered by the pending Endeavor trip to the California Science Center. I shot this photo in January, 2010.

Sad Garden

I usually try to show garden triumphs here, but for a bit of a change—maybe even a touch of honesty—here's the current state of affairs. Work has been busy. So too everything else. The garden is neglected, mostly dead. But by my count fall—our favorite garden season here in Picfair Village—is a mere 19 days away. Let the preparations begin.

Pigpen

Rain Boots

Metro/ Sam Erenberg

Orange Line, Roscoe station: tile mosiac by Sam Erenberg
(photo appears courtesy of Metro)

Untitled

Metro, Ken Gozales-Day & Me

I'm photographing art and architecture along Metro's new Orange Line in the Valley throughout August, and here's an image from the first day of shooting, which, mercifully, was not too hot. Landscape photo and tile mosaic by the incredibly talented Ken Gonzales-Day. (You owe it to yourself to check out his Hang Trees.) This photo that I shot appears courtesy of Metro. (And a huge thanks to the inspiring Alan Nakagawa.)

The Knowledges, contd.

Came across this at Mt. Wilson, while wandering through the Knowledges. If you know anything about it, I'd like to hear it.

May Your Day Be as Good as This Was

Artifact # 17: Last Day of Art Camp

Which one is my kid's? That'd be beside the point.

Hammer VBB, pt. 2

Fossilized dinosaur poop holding up books. Hands-down the most minimal setup I saw at the VBB. If you can ID the artists responsible, please let me know.

Hammer Venice Beach Biennial

Our whole family had a blast visiting the Hammer's Venice Beach Biennial yesterday, and I scored this cheery addition to the Pelican case that holds my lenses thanks to artists Alexis Smith and Scott Grieger. 

22 Months

I Couldn't Not Photograph This Thing

 (Out-of-towners: primer here.) What I enjoyed most was the barren, negative space around it, but from my grounded position, I didn't see any way to make a picture of that.

I Dislike Nature Photography More Than You Do,

but when we grow it, we photograph it. If my calculations are correct—and there's no reason to assume they are—this Russian mammoth sunflower is from the fourth generation of saved seeds here at our Picfair Village compound.

The Knowledges: Gabie Strong

Part of an installation by artist and friend Gabie Strong at Mt. Wilson last weekend. Gabie's site is here.

The Knowledges

On our way to see The Knowledges at Mt. Wilson. More on that to come.

In the Office

Grateful to say this was my office today.

Swift Lee Office Stairway

I don't know the cat's name. More about SLO here.

LA Green Grounds (dot org)

They do amazing work. I hope you'll follow the link and read up about them. I shot a time-lapse of one of their garden Dig-Ins. Watch it here.

Artifact #16: Vanity

A visit to the decorative arts/furniture galleries at the Getty Center (here's one of her favorites) sparked the kid's creative impulse. This is her new vanity.

West Covina Cypress

When In Rome, contd.

The interior courtyard of the Italian Cultural Center in Westwood. Design by Robert E. Alexander. I love courtyards.

When In Rome

A little more than a year ago, I photographed a group exhibition of Italian artists put together by Nero, and the catalog with my photos just arrived in the mail. It was a fun job in a lot of ways: I was surrounded by beautiful people speaking Italian; most of the show took place at the Italian Cultural Institue of Los Angeles, which inhabits a fine building with a splendid interior courtyard; though most of my work involved lighting and photographing traditional installations, I actually did some full-on running in order to capture a performance piece that made its way from the courtyard of the Hammer Museum over to the ICI's building a couple of blocks away, and then back; finally, in addition to the excellent visual art, wonderful Balinese music accompanied the performance pitcured here. Lots of photos to share from the catalog, so please check back later this week. (Top: The cover—with which I had absolutely nothing to do. Below: A spread of a photo I shot of a performance/installation/tableaux by Italian artist Luigi Ontani.)

6 Years. 21 Months. Love.

Retna

Retna + El Mac

I love the collaborations of these two, and was fortunate enough to get up in a lift to hang out for a bit with Retna—a gracious host and fellow Fairfax High alum—as he did some painting across the street from LACMA in the late night/early morning hours. I only had my phone when I went up in the vertiginous lift, so this photo is what it is.

Yesterday

At the Hammer.

West L.A. Cypress Wall

Barry McGee @ PRISM, contd.

Another install photo I shot of the current Barry McGee show at PRISM.

Artichoke Number One

Artichoke is my new favorite backyard crop. Pictured here is the first we ever grew.

Barry McGee @ PRISM

More recent work, this time for PRISM: an installation photo of the Barry McGee show that's up through the end of June and well worth a visit.

Recently, for the Hammer Museum

Tour of California, 2012

Busy. Too busy to make it downtown this morning to see the finale of this year's TOC. Not too busy to head out with the family and shake our cowbells for a brief moment. This is seconds after the start of the final stage of the race. The peloton rolled by in a flash, and were gone. Mt. Baldy next year?

20 Months; In the Footsteps of the Minutemen

My, how time is flying. This kid joined me on an outing to photograph a friend's gallery installation of work that focussed on Cold War landscapes, physical and aural, and included references to SST bands, including the Minutemen. The gallery that featured this friend's work is in San Pedro; and I really can't visit San Pedro without thinking about the Minutemen. I don't know that that has any bearing on this photo of a kid, but that's some of the backstory. As always, there's plenty more backstory, but you don't need it.

19 Months

CicLAvia Prep

Tuning the bike in anticipation of some car-free L.A. streets.

Backyard Economics

Kitchen gardens usually don't make economic sense. That's been my experience, at least. I put more money into mine than I save by growing my own food. Still worthwhile, of course, but don't get into it to save money. The exception: salad greens. And, as with most vegetables you can grow at home, the quality of homegrown is dramatically better than anything Whole Foods or your local farmer's market has to offer.

Severe, Called Mother [found object]

Breathe. Appreciate that for which you are fortunate. Repeat.

Fun Floor by SLO

It's looking more and more like the Swift Lee Office blog around here, which is fine with me. They've been keeping me busy, and I've no complaints.

Coopitecture

Shot for Leslie Paugh Interior Designer.

Dutch Oven

I've been baking.

In Las Flores Canyon, Mailbu

This is another image from this Swift Lee Office project that I shot earlier this month.

See Previous

They usually grab one berry at a time.

Front Yard Biodiversity

I wasn't going to get my camera out for the cedar waxwings; thought I'd just watch them. But they've been right outside our living room window for three weeks, and it didn't take much effort. So, excuse the nature photography. I didn't even have to get dressed to take these.

For the Sartorially Inclined Flahute

"The Road to Roubaix" by Launderette. Can't wait to put it on and step out with my lady.

Swift Lee Office, Colorfully

swiftleeoffice.com

18 Months

NECA for SLO

Nueva Esperanza Charter Academy photographed for Swift Lee Office.

Simplicity

I love simplicity. This little stool is more simply beautiful than these photos show. Design and fabrication by Bruce Bolander.