Hooray for Hollywood

What's your dream? I read an article once about how there are certain places in the country, in the world, that photographers, despite their better judgment, just have to take photos of - iconic places that perhaps don't equate to amazing photos, or won't "sell" per se, but are the "been there, done that, seen it, taken the picture" type places. We are, despite the fact that everyone has one, compelled to snap the photo all the same.

I considered Hollywood to be one of those places for me. I had several aimless hours to drive around, get stuck in miles of traffic, climb the steep slopes from Griffith Park to about half way to the Hollywood sign, and then cruise around for a few hours looking for stars, street signs, images that spoke of "Hollywood" to me.

In the end, Hollywood was just a big city, derelict in some places, overcrowded with tourists in others, and generally just a collection of too many people in one place trying to do too many things. But it was cool.., for what it was, for what it wasn't, and for me to just be there - to say I've been to Hollywood. It might not have been my dream to go there, but it re-inspired me - everyone has a dream..and some come looking for it in the streets lined with stars. What's your dream?

Beneath the Smoke

This image was a case of being in the right place at the right time with the right equipment. I happened to be in Santa Barbara during the Jesusita fires just a few weeks ago - when they were evacuating the city I was with Jean and Bob, my very adventurous hosts, touring about, inhaling smoke and ash, and generally having the best time. The smoke was rolling down the mountain, along with people escaping from their homes with whatever they could carry in their vehicles. It was a very impactful moment for me and my first taste of true photo journalism. I am very glad I was there, I got some amazing images, and this image just won an award of merit in the 2009 "the View" Juried Landscape Competition at Rosewood Gallery in Kettering, OH. So every now and then I just manage to capture a moment worth savoring, worth remembering, and worth something a little more than usual.

The Art of Photography

this post has no pictures. it's purely reflection. just this once. I had a conversation today with someone I respect - an artist in his own right who owns a frame shop in Dayton (custom frame services if you must know!). Dave, the owner, is an artist and craftsman, and he understands that the heart of a photograph, a painting, a piece of art cannot fully be realized unless properly set off - ie framed in such a way as to display the soul, convey the message, get to the point. I knew this once. Before I came to Dayton, when I first began to frame my images for sale, I chose the mat and the finish that would complete the image - elevate it to the next level. Then somewhere along the way I lost my nerve. I began doing what sold best - black frame, white mat. Maybe off-white mat for a twist now and then. I got away from black mats, even though they made my super-colorful images pop off the surface...they just didn't sell well.

I think I have come full circle. I am now ready, with Dave's help, to begin to set the images in the way they were meant to be - in a way that shows them to their best potential. And this is important. Not because I want to promote my work, or Dave's. But because I have finally realized, maybe recognized again, that art is meant to breathe - to have life. And the only way to make my photography into art is to give it everything I've got - to give it life. And maybe no one will buy it. Or maybe someday, someone will see it, be wowed by the finished product and want to design a room around it, instead of hoping it matches their furniture. I want the art of my photography to speak to people so they buy it NOT because it works with their color scheme but because they can't walk away without it. It's time to get back to basics.

Thanks Dave - for helping me see again what I once knew about my art. And for recognizing out loud that my photography has a distinctive flavor and style that can be recognized as simply MINE and deserves to be treated with care.

Ventura CA

I'm getting much better at asking people to let me photograph them. Case in point was this day trip to Ventura. It was filled with skate boarders in clumps along the beach walk - another CA culture. There were a few that had a pretty unique look to them. So I finally just walked up and asked if I could take some photos. Keith and Neil were both totally willing to do tricks for me. Keith had a broken foot and was still willing. I got some amazing "air" shots that I am very excited about....so forgive the million and one images.

along the beach walk

The Varying Terrain of Southern California

One of the things I am most impressed with here in SoCal is the sheer variety of terrain to be found within an hour in any direction. From the gritty city lights of LA, to the beaches and surf colonies of the coast, to the high end resort and tourist destinations of SB and up into the more remote ranches and towns in the mountains - it's amazing. The mountains are vast and rugged, the landscape a combination of the lush and the arid, depending on how much water is at your disposal. The history - while not as old as the east coast cities that birthed America - certainly hold my attention...settlers with nothing but what they could hold on a horse or keep in a covered wagon rode mountain ranges more harsh and battled populations and animal varieties more dangerous than they had ever seen before - just to lay claim to new territory and start a new life. It was cool to be on El Camino Real and then on the old stagecoach routes, to know as much as we can know what route they, the people who settled the west, traveled to start over in remote locations.
































the suspension bridge












Solvang, 100 year old Dutch city in the mountains







Stage coach watering hole













The mission gardens










Back down the coast road to SB



















Back near SB - workers picking flowers in the fields






cool old gas station restuarant from the 20s - mostly behind barbed wire but I was able to hold the camera above me and get some photos.




Headed into Ojai. Was getting way too bright for photos so just snapping a few as I went.








Later in the day at the Thacher school...the whole reason for me being here in CA. I'll post more later from the horse competition on Saturday.

Santa Barbara

This was my first time in Santa Barbara and I was staying with the family of a friend (another WPPI conference connection for anyone who doubts the conference is worth attending!) and much to my surprise and delight they (Bob and Jean) were totally willing to tour me around the city for the day. And as a result of the fires burning above SB in the mountains, the whole city was filtered in this crazy light that I can only equate to what I've seen during a thunderstorm..only the color was more odd - orange. I kept the color tone in a lot of the photos for effect s you can see what I saw. But you can see that even places not directly burning are affected by this tragic disaster. They later evacuated much of the city as a result of the smoke. But yes, I was there with the camera. And here are the photos.


the harbor

the downtown area

the old mission

the mission

the court house

the city streets - check out that wind.

my hosts, Bob and Jean, sunset over Carpinteria Beach

Disney Land

the word of the day: balloons!

I'm still a kid at heart. Disney Land and Disney World have always fascinated me. I didn't go to Disney World for the first time until I was 21, Disney Land only several years ago as well. But I have been enthralled with the parks ever since: the system that Walt Disney created, the pure joy children and adults get from visiting, and the well oiled "machine" that makes such theme parks possible.I try to go as often as I can when we are in Florida so I can marvel at the fantasy lands that Walt created and dreamed well before his time. As for the CA version - since I "know people" - I got in for free! Can't beat that! thanks Jason!

a bad picture because the sun was directly overhead, but this is my friend Jason who I met at the WPPI conference for photography in Las Vegas in Feb of 09. we've kept in touch these few months and when I found out I was headed to SoCal I knew a visit was in order! And since he works for Disney, it all works out!

inside the Pirates of the Carribean ride - which btw is much better in DL than in DW!

the one that got away

big thunder mountain railroad. i love taking the camera on the coasters and snapping as I ride. you never know what might come out!

where adults can be kids again. and again.

california adventure

two of me courtesy of Jason, at my request. it's nice to have friends who know how to take photos!

cool late day shadows

no idea who he is, but loooooved this image

CA. nuff said

Huntington Beach and Corona del Mar

one of the coolest stories I'm seeing unfold is that of the surfer. and what I see i'm sure doesn't even scrape the surface that is this sub world. I am fascinated by this west coast culture of people who rise early and stay for the sunset just waiting for the break. And if I had more time I would seriously follow one of them for the day - just to say I did. Maybe even get on a board myself. ha! but even though this is a very stereotypical picture of southern california, it's not untrue. they really are everywhere. old, young, male, female...just waiting for the next great wave.

Sunset Beach, CA

I like to tell stories. Not the kind full of lies or half truths. And not the wordy, prolific, philosophical kind (though I do lean that way on occasion). I like to tell stories with more than words. To, with humor, poignancy and maybe a little tilt towards the unusual, show you something with more impact than words. I like to tell the true story, the story as I see it, with photos. I capture as I see it. I convey a sense of the moment. I try to help you feel like you're there, even if you'd be looking at something totally different if you were there with me. My choices of location are not always typical. My choices of subject matter are not always usual. But the message is the same. Here is a place. Here is a moment. What do you see?