From this weekend's trip to Southern California.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Jurassic Technology
I have returned from Los Angeles, land of locusts, images to follow. Excursions included a trip to the Antelope Valley poppy fields, where most of my picture taking was done, and generally tooling around Old Pasadena, shooting store fronts and signage. Took in the readymades exhibit at the Norton Simon. Duchamp and Schwitters together again at last.
Later in the trip, I visited some of my old haunts in West Hollywood. Be sure to try the Enchildas Howard at El Coyote. El Coyote has been on Beverly Blvd. as long as I can remember, and has an odd connection to the Manson family.
Later I was introduced to the The Museum Of Jurassic Technology. An ongoing art project located on Venice Blvd. in Culver City. A hard place to describe.
I'll be back later with pictures. Post processing awaits.
I have returned from Los Angeles, land of locusts, images to follow. Excursions included a trip to the Antelope Valley poppy fields, where most of my picture taking was done, and generally tooling around Old Pasadena, shooting store fronts and signage. Took in the readymades exhibit at the Norton Simon. Duchamp and Schwitters together again at last.
Later in the trip, I visited some of my old haunts in West Hollywood. Be sure to try the Enchildas Howard at El Coyote. El Coyote has been on Beverly Blvd. as long as I can remember, and has an odd connection to the Manson family.
Later I was introduced to the The Museum Of Jurassic Technology. An ongoing art project located on Venice Blvd. in Culver City. A hard place to describe.
I'll be back later with pictures. Post processing awaits.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Bucky
Could it be the next Buckminster Fuller?
I'll be in LA for the next few days, communing with assorted chums and enjoying some wining, dining, noshing and photographing.
Stay tuned...
Could it be the next Buckminster Fuller?
I'll be in LA for the next few days, communing with assorted chums and enjoying some wining, dining, noshing and photographing.
Stay tuned...
dali.ppt
Slate.com provides a slideshow presentation, reassessing the life and works of Salvador Dali. Entitled Artist or kitsch-meister?, Slate's art critic Lee Siegel, definitely comes down on the side of artist. While Dali's later life as self promoter and caricature, often overshadow the importance of his earlier work, he remains an important figure in 20th century visual arts. The presentation glosses over his collaboration with Buñuel, but alas, not everyone is as obsessed with the work of Don Luis as myself.
Slate.com provides a slideshow presentation, reassessing the life and works of Salvador Dali. Entitled Artist or kitsch-meister?, Slate's art critic Lee Siegel, definitely comes down on the side of artist. While Dali's later life as self promoter and caricature, often overshadow the importance of his earlier work, he remains an important figure in 20th century visual arts. The presentation glosses over his collaboration with Buñuel, but alas, not everyone is as obsessed with the work of Don Luis as myself.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
False Memory Syndrome
I took this photo some time back. The people in it aren't real, they are some kind of cardboard cutout advertisment. I honestly couldn't tell you anymore, what in the picture was real, what was a reflection, and what was a photo of a photo.
How very post-modern of me.
Category: Photos
I took this photo some time back. The people in it aren't real, they are some kind of cardboard cutout advertisment. I honestly couldn't tell you anymore, what in the picture was real, what was a reflection, and what was a photo of a photo.
How very post-modern of me.
Category: Photos
Monday, March 07, 2005
Friday, March 04, 2005
Lost Highway
Category: Photos
Lost Highway
(Hank Williams)
I'm a rollin' stone all alone and lost
For a life of sin i have paid the cost
When i walk by all the people say
Just another guy on the lost highway
Just a deck of cards and a jug of wine
And a woman's lies makes a life like mine
All the day we met, i went astray
I started rolling down this lost highway
I was just a lad, nearly twenty two
Neither good nor bad, just a kid like you
And now i'm lost, too late to pray
Lord i paid a cost, on the lost highway
Now boy's don't start to ramblin' round
On this road of sin are you sorrow bound
Take my advice or you'll curse the day
You started rollin' down that lost highway
Lost highway
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Fun and Games
Lot's of entertaining stuff for the list addicted among us at About Last Night recently.
Terry Teachout reviews the AFI's list of the top 100 American Films, and cops to the 30 he has not gotten around to. There were actually none that I hadn't seen at least a portion of, but I will admit to 4 that I can't remember having ever seen in their entirety.
ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
MODERN TIMES (1936)
Our Girl then shares her list of the first five movie quotes that pop into your head? Must be from different movies. Here's mine.
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." (Godfather 3)
"Hitler... there was a painter! He could paint an entire apartment in ONE afternoon! TWO coats!" (The Producers)
"I want you to hold it between your knees." (Five Easy Pieces)
"Plastics." (The Graduate)
"I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one." (Apocalypse Now)
Lastly, Terry shares, Ten Things I've Done That You Probably Haven't. Also a fun game, but it would take me longer than I have to come up with them, and several might be things I'd rather not fess up to.
Lot's of entertaining stuff for the list addicted among us at About Last Night recently.
Terry Teachout reviews the AFI's list of the top 100 American Films, and cops to the 30 he has not gotten around to. There were actually none that I hadn't seen at least a portion of, but I will admit to 4 that I can't remember having ever seen in their entirety.
ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
MODERN TIMES (1936)
Our Girl then shares her list of the first five movie quotes that pop into your head? Must be from different movies. Here's mine.
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." (Godfather 3)
"Hitler... there was a painter! He could paint an entire apartment in ONE afternoon! TWO coats!" (The Producers)
"I want you to hold it between your knees." (Five Easy Pieces)
"Plastics." (The Graduate)
"I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one." (Apocalypse Now)
Lastly, Terry shares, Ten Things I've Done That You Probably Haven't. Also a fun game, but it would take me longer than I have to come up with them, and several might be things I'd rather not fess up to.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Go West, Young Man
Blogger, writer, musician, Ken Layne has yet another project, Highways West. A blog on traveling the highways and byways of the Western US, and he has a most useful blogroll of travel links along his sidebar.
I myself made much use of 395.com (which sadly seems to be off line at the moment) a couple of years ago when planning a trip along the Eastern Sierra. Should you plan a trip to the less traveled side of the Sierras, let me recommend, Bodie, Bishop (where parts of the noir classic Out of the Past take place, Lone Pine, Mono Lake, Mammoth, and a stop at Manzanar.
The ghost town of Bodie, California
Blogger, writer, musician, Ken Layne has yet another project, Highways West. A blog on traveling the highways and byways of the Western US, and he has a most useful blogroll of travel links along his sidebar.
I myself made much use of 395.com (which sadly seems to be off line at the moment) a couple of years ago when planning a trip along the Eastern Sierra. Should you plan a trip to the less traveled side of the Sierras, let me recommend, Bodie, Bishop (where parts of the noir classic Out of the Past take place, Lone Pine, Mono Lake, Mammoth, and a stop at Manzanar.
The ghost town of Bodie, California
Monday, February 28, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
Dock at Parkway Lake
Reposting of a shot taken a couple of months ago at Parkway Lake, in South San Jose.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Elsewhere
The New York Times has a roundup of 8 megapixel prosumer cameras. These lie somewhere between Digital SLRs and Point and Shoots, offering large LCD screens, decent optics and powerful zooms. Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus and Canon all have compelling offerings.
Apple may be poised to buy Tivo. Or at least that is how the headline at SFGate.com reads. Further reading seems to cast doubt on the likelihood of the acquisition. I'm a big Tivo fan, but it is pretty obvious that subscription services like this have a hard row to hoe.
Speaking of Apple. The Cupertino computer manufacturer just introduced 30 and 60 gb iPod Photos, which allow for storage of image files as well as music. In terms of size these are becoming interesting storage devices, along with there traditional use as a music player. Now when they can display Raw images on the thing, I may just add it to my wish list.
While we're in elsewhere mode, pal George had some interesting photography links recently. All photographers should print out the Rights of Photographers document. I myself have been questioned on several occasions by overzealous security guards.
Arts and Letters Daily has a good roundup of links to tributes and essays on the late Hunter S. Thompson.
And finally, just so you won't be disappointed, and remembering our motto here, "A day without a photograph, is like a day without orange juice."
Rolling Hills in Napa Valley
The New York Times has a roundup of 8 megapixel prosumer cameras. These lie somewhere between Digital SLRs and Point and Shoots, offering large LCD screens, decent optics and powerful zooms. Konica Minolta, Nikon, Olympus and Canon all have compelling offerings.
Apple may be poised to buy Tivo. Or at least that is how the headline at SFGate.com reads. Further reading seems to cast doubt on the likelihood of the acquisition. I'm a big Tivo fan, but it is pretty obvious that subscription services like this have a hard row to hoe.
Speaking of Apple. The Cupertino computer manufacturer just introduced 30 and 60 gb iPod Photos, which allow for storage of image files as well as music. In terms of size these are becoming interesting storage devices, along with there traditional use as a music player. Now when they can display Raw images on the thing, I may just add it to my wish list.
While we're in elsewhere mode, pal George had some interesting photography links recently. All photographers should print out the Rights of Photographers document. I myself have been questioned on several occasions by overzealous security guards.
Arts and Letters Daily has a good roundup of links to tributes and essays on the late Hunter S. Thompson.
And finally, just so you won't be disappointed, and remembering our motto here, "A day without a photograph, is like a day without orange juice."
Rolling Hills in Napa Valley
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Farewell Doctor
I've been away on business for a couple of days, so was not able to comment on the passing of Hunter Thompson. Others have eulogized Thompson better than I could ever hope to. I was shocked and bummed by his death, but not surprised that he would choose his own time in the way he did. I'll miss his keen eye. No one could cut to the dark underbelly of American culture like Thompson.
A couple of my own Vegas pics from a less savage journey. R.I.P.
I've been away on business for a couple of days, so was not able to comment on the passing of Hunter Thompson. Others have eulogized Thompson better than I could ever hope to. I was shocked and bummed by his death, but not surprised that he would choose his own time in the way he did. I'll miss his keen eye. No one could cut to the dark underbelly of American culture like Thompson.A couple of my own Vegas pics from a less savage journey. R.I.P.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Celebrity Wines
I was away yesterday attending to family business, so this link is already a day old. Imagine my surprise when I began my morning news and blog rounds only to find that the subject of my most recent post, Niebaum Coppola, has merited the attention of Slate's wine critic, Mike Steinberger.
Mike takes a look at a number of celebrity vintners and shows a fondness for Coppola's 2002 Cabernet Franc, but is less pleased with the pricey 2001 Rubicon. And stay away from any wine with Elvis in the name... but I think you knew that.
He gives a fair bit of credit to Coppola for starting the celebrity wine trend,
Read the whole thing here.
Category: Wine
I was away yesterday attending to family business, so this link is already a day old. Imagine my surprise when I began my morning news and blog rounds only to find that the subject of my most recent post, Niebaum Coppola, has merited the attention of Slate's wine critic, Mike Steinberger.
Mike takes a look at a number of celebrity vintners and shows a fondness for Coppola's 2002 Cabernet Franc, but is less pleased with the pricey 2001 Rubicon. And stay away from any wine with Elvis in the name... but I think you knew that.
He gives a fair bit of credit to Coppola for starting the celebrity wine trend,
Without question, the dean of celebrity winemakers is Francis Ford Coppola, though "celebrity winemaker" is the last label he'd ever want and the last one that should ever be applied to him. A wine buff from his childhood days on Long Island, Coppola jumped into the wine business in 1975, using his earnings from the first Godfather to purchase most of Napa Valley's legendary Inglenook estate. He has been one of the seminal figures in the valley's rise to international acclaim, and though the Niebaum-Coppola wines have been overshadowed in recent years by all the hoopla surrounding the so-called "cult cabernets," they still command a dedicated following.He fails to mention one of the celebrity wineries that also has entertained a good reputation came along only 2 years later in 1977, is the Smothers winery, now called Remick Ridge in Sonoma.
Read the whole thing here.
Category: Wine
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Niebaum Coppola
In 1975, film director Francis Ford Coppola purchased the Niebaum estate, former home to the Inglenook Winery, with the idea of making a bit of wine in the basement, like his grandfather had. Today it is a fairly major wine producer.
One of the joys of visiting the estate, besides for the scenic beauty and a decent tasting room, is that Francis has created a small museum featuring some wonderful memorabilia from his movie career.
The Niebaum Estate
The desk from the Godfather.
A Tucker, from the film Tucker: The Man and His Dream.
Category: Photos
In 1975, film director Francis Ford Coppola purchased the Niebaum estate, former home to the Inglenook Winery, with the idea of making a bit of wine in the basement, like his grandfather had. Today it is a fairly major wine producer.
One of the joys of visiting the estate, besides for the scenic beauty and a decent tasting room, is that Francis has created a small museum featuring some wonderful memorabilia from his movie career.
The Niebaum Estate
The desk from the Godfather.
A Tucker, from the film Tucker: The Man and His Dream.
Category: Photos
Critic
Terry Teachout manages to delight me and enrage me in a single day. First he posts a rather scathing piece on the late Arthur Miller, of whom I must confess a certain fondness that goes back to college scene studies. But then Terry posts my favorite exchange from Waiting for Godot.
Critic, indeed!
Category: Culture
Terry Teachout manages to delight me and enrage me in a single day. First he posts a rather scathing piece on the late Arthur Miller, of whom I must confess a certain fondness that goes back to college scene studies. But then Terry posts my favorite exchange from Waiting for Godot.
Critic, indeed!
Category: Culture
Monday, February 14, 2005
Children's Discovery Museum
This past weekend was a full one that included celebrating the 8th birthday of my grand -nephew, a trip to the Napa wine country for an early St. Valentine's day, and learning of the death of my Wife's Grandmother.
Here are a couple of snapshots from the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, California. A great place for little kids, where they can run free to play inside of real fire trucks and ambulances, make giant soap bubbles, and generally explore. If Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, this is the noisiest. I swear I've been to Dead concerts that had a lower decibel reading. But the kids had a great time.
Children's Discovery Museum
Chinese Dancers performed
Later this week I'll be sharing some pictures from the Napa Valley. We visited the towns of St. Helena and Calistoga, stopped by Niebaum Coppola (where I purchased a Carneros Valley Pinot which will accompany me to LA in March), and had a wonderful lunch at Tra Vigne. The weather was overcast, so the photographic opportunities were limited, but I feel it is worth sharing just to give an idea of the beauty of California's wine country.
And a final personal note. My wife's grandmother was 95 and a kick in the pants until her last few days. She passed away peacefully on Sunday morning. We'll miss you Mary.
Category: Photos
This past weekend was a full one that included celebrating the 8th birthday of my grand -nephew, a trip to the Napa wine country for an early St. Valentine's day, and learning of the death of my Wife's Grandmother.
Here are a couple of snapshots from the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, California. A great place for little kids, where they can run free to play inside of real fire trucks and ambulances, make giant soap bubbles, and generally explore. If Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, this is the noisiest. I swear I've been to Dead concerts that had a lower decibel reading. But the kids had a great time.
Children's Discovery Museum
Chinese Dancers performed
Later this week I'll be sharing some pictures from the Napa Valley. We visited the towns of St. Helena and Calistoga, stopped by Niebaum Coppola (where I purchased a Carneros Valley Pinot which will accompany me to LA in March), and had a wonderful lunch at Tra Vigne. The weather was overcast, so the photographic opportunities were limited, but I feel it is worth sharing just to give an idea of the beauty of California's wine country.
And a final personal note. My wife's grandmother was 95 and a kick in the pants until her last few days. She passed away peacefully on Sunday morning. We'll miss you Mary.
Category: Photos
Friday, February 11, 2005
Death of a Playwright
Author of "Death of a Salesman", "The Crucible" and "All My Sons", Arthur Miller, died today at the age of 89.
You can read more about Miller's life here.
Author of "Death of a Salesman", "The Crucible" and "All My Sons", Arthur Miller, died today at the age of 89.
You can read more about Miller's life here.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Why a Duck?
Another one from Uvas Canyon.
Ok, it's not really a viaduct, but you get the point. And if there is anyone who is not familar with the classic Marx Brothers routine, a fair bit of Googling finally turned up a transcript.
Why a duck?Category: Photos
Hammer [Groucho Marx]: ... Now here is a little peninsula, and here is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.
Chico [Chico Marx]: Why a duck?
Hammer: I'm all right. How are you? I say here is a little peninsula, and here's a viaduct leading over to the mainland.
Chico: All right. Why a duck?
Hammer: I'm not playing Ask-Me-Another. I say, that's a viaduct.
Chico: All right. Why a duck? Why a-- why a duck? Why-a-no-chicken?
Hammer: Well, I don't know why-a-no-chicken. I'm a stranger here myself. All I know is that it's a viaduct. You try to cross over there on a chicken, and you'll find out why a duck.
Chico: I no go someplace, I just--
Hammer: It's deep water, that's why a duck. It's deep water.
Chico: That's-why-a-duck.
Hammer: Look, rube. Suppose you were out horseback riding and you came to that stream and wanted to ford over there, you couldn't make it. It's too deep.
Chico: But what do you want with a Ford when you got a horse?
Hammer: Well, I'm sorry the matter ever came up. All I know is that it's a viaduct.
Chico: Now look ... all righta ... I catcha on to why a horse, why a chicken, why a this, why a that. I no catch on to why a duck.
Hammer: Well, I was only fooling. I was only fooling. They're going to build a tunnel in the morning. Now, is that clear to you?
Chico: Yes, everything excepta why a duck.
--The Cocoanuts
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Granuja Falls
Taken at Uvas Canyon near Morgan Hill, California. A hidden treasure just 10 or 15 miles south of San Jose. There is a great loop trail that takes you along a series of small waterfalls.
Category: Photos
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Get Thee to DPReview
If you have any interest in Digital Photography or purchasing a camera in the near future, this is a great time to stop by DPReview.com and see what's new. PMA (Photo Marketer's Association tradeshow) starts on February 20th, so lots of new cameras are being announced between now and then.
Category: Photography
If you have any interest in Digital Photography or purchasing a camera in the near future, this is a great time to stop by DPReview.com and see what's new. PMA (Photo Marketer's Association tradeshow) starts on February 20th, so lots of new cameras are being announced between now and then.
Category: Photography
Monday, February 07, 2005
The Gigapixel Camera
Now this puts my measly 8 megapixels to shame.
A small exerpt from the Wired.com article to give you some idea of what we are talking about here when we say 4 gigapixel...
Category: Photography
Now this puts my measly 8 megapixels to shame.
A small exerpt from the Wired.com article to give you some idea of what we are talking about here when we say 4 gigapixel...
Armed with a self-designed camera he crafted from parts of spy planes and nuclear reactors, Flint is crisscrossing America, taking thousands of pictures of cities, monuments and national parks.Read more about the Gigapixel Project.
Weighing more than 100 pounds, Flint's camera captures images at 4 gigapixels -- a resolution high enough to photograph four football fields and capture every single blade of grass. When printed at maximum resolution, the images are as big as billboards, but render the finest detail.
A photograph of a San Diego beach shows a paraglider swooping over bluffs. Zoom in on some tiny dots on the cliff, and a group of people with binoculars and telephoto lenses can be seen. Follow their gaze, and you'll see naked sunbathers on the beach.
"We might have to add fig leaves in Photoshop, it's that good," said Flint.
Category: Photography
Friday, February 04, 2005
Reflections in a Lake
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Yosemite
Monday, January 31, 2005
Friday, January 28, 2005
Crocodile Rock
This is actually San Gregorio Beach just north of Pigeon Point, but friend Bridget dubbed it Crocodile Rock.
Category: Photos
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Pigeon Point
More in the recycled category...
Travelling up Highway 1 from Santa Cruz towards Half Moon Bay, you pass Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
This image was uploaded from Flickr. I've blogged previously about new ways to share photos, and Flickr.com seems to be at the cutting edge. I'm not too certain about their business plan, but the concept is very cool. My flickr page can be found here.
Category: Photos
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Recycling
Work prohibits extensive photo-excursions or verbose postings, so I'm sharing a few of my favorite pieces, yet again.
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 100 - f/16 @ 1/50 sec - 17-40 L
Category: Photos
Work prohibits extensive photo-excursions or verbose postings, so I'm sharing a few of my favorite pieces, yet again.
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 100 - f/16 @ 1/50 sec - 17-40 L
Category: Photos
Monday, January 24, 2005
Friday, January 21, 2005
Absorbent, Yellow and Porous
I guess Spongebob Squarepants is the new Tinky Winky.
And CNN's Quick Vote of the day proves the adage that people will mostly choose the funny answer, as 69% pick the 3rd option.
Category: Culture
I guess Spongebob Squarepants is the new Tinky Winky.
And CNN's Quick Vote of the day proves the adage that people will mostly choose the funny answer, as 69% pick the 3rd option.
Quick Vote
SpongeBob SquarePants is:
- Promoting the acceptance of homosexuality
- Promoting tolerance and diversity
- Absorbent, yellow and porous
Category: Culture
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Digital Rights
Another interesting photography post at the 2 Blowhards written by Michael with the help of correspondent Bryan Castaneda. They pose some interesting questions on the subject of rights management in a digital age. To summarize, should a wedding photographer (in this example) be required to supply a customer with digital files on CD.
I come down on the side of not. These are negatives, whether digital or film it doesn't matter.
The comments section of Michael's posting has an interesting ongoing debate.
Category:Photography
Another interesting photography post at the 2 Blowhards written by Michael with the help of correspondent Bryan Castaneda. They pose some interesting questions on the subject of rights management in a digital age. To summarize, should a wedding photographer (in this example) be required to supply a customer with digital files on CD.
I come down on the side of not. These are negatives, whether digital or film it doesn't matter.
The comments section of Michael's posting has an interesting ongoing debate.
Category:Photography
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Walking Man
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 100 - f/8 @ 1/50 sec - 70-200 f4 L
From Santa Rosa, near the location of the previous post. Somewhat oversharpened for effect.
Category:Photography
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Canon EOS 20D - ISO 100 - f/8 @ 1/50 sec - 70-200 f4 L
From Santa Rosa, near the location of the previous post. Somewhat oversharpened for effect.
Category:Photography
What is this link? I'm making use of Technorati's tags. Learn more about them here. Or start tagging your own posts here.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Monday, January 17, 2005
Miscellany
Wired on top photo-sharing sites.
I also recently discovered a neat little set of php scripts to host your own galleries. It is called Minigal (as in Mini Gallery, not tiny woman), and can be downloaded from here. If you want to see some galleries created with these scripts, I have some at futurballa.com. You can view them here.
In a moment of serendipity, Michael Blowhard is also posting some photography links this morning.
Here is another from Santa Rosa. Also taken at Railroad Square, near the ever popular Charlie Brown & Snoopy statue.
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 100 - f/11 @ 1/80 sec - 70-200 f4 L
Photography
Wired on top photo-sharing sites.
I also recently discovered a neat little set of php scripts to host your own galleries. It is called Minigal (as in Mini Gallery, not tiny woman), and can be downloaded from here. If you want to see some galleries created with these scripts, I have some at futurballa.com. You can view them here.
In a moment of serendipity, Michael Blowhard is also posting some photography links this morning.
Here is another from Santa Rosa. Also taken at Railroad Square, near the ever popular Charlie Brown & Snoopy statue.
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 100 - f/11 @ 1/80 sec - 70-200 f4 L
Photography
Friday, January 14, 2005
More From Santa Rosa
A big thank you to Our Girl in Chicago for her kind link, and welcome to our visitors from About Last Night.
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 800 - f/4 @ 1/125 sec - 70-200 f4 L
Hotel Oliver, Santa Rosa
Took a liking to this faded sign while walking around Santa Rosa. A bit of Googling (as I like to know the background of things I'm posting) led to this site, with some great pictures of old hotel signs in Northern California. Unfortunately, Google didn't spit up any useful historical information.
A big thank you to Our Girl in Chicago for her kind link, and welcome to our visitors from About Last Night.
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 800 - f/4 @ 1/125 sec - 70-200 f4 L
Hotel Oliver, Santa Rosa
Took a liking to this faded sign while walking around Santa Rosa. A bit of Googling (as I like to know the background of things I'm posting) led to this site, with some great pictures of old hotel signs in Northern California. Unfortunately, Google didn't spit up any useful historical information.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Good Grief, Charlie Brown
I spent yesterday in Santa Rosa, California on business. Got there a bit late in the day, Tuesday evening, and had meetings to attend all day Wednesday, so there was not a lot of time for photography. I did manage to take a walk before dusk around a bit of the city's old downtown area and try out my new Canon lens, 70-200 f4 L.
Santa Rosa was home to the late Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts. This statue is located at Railroad Square.
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 100 - f/4 @ 1/60 sec - 70-200 f4 L
I spent yesterday in Santa Rosa, California on business. Got there a bit late in the day, Tuesday evening, and had meetings to attend all day Wednesday, so there was not a lot of time for photography. I did manage to take a walk before dusk around a bit of the city's old downtown area and try out my new Canon lens, 70-200 f4 L.
Santa Rosa was home to the late Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts. This statue is located at Railroad Square.
Canon EOS 20D - ISO 100 - f/4 @ 1/60 sec - 70-200 f4 L
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Monday, January 10, 2005
Crucifix in a Deathand
One of my favorite poems by Charles Bukowski, something of an ode to Los Angeles, place of my birth and partially under water at the moment. I thought it appropriate. There is a connection to the song lyric posted last week (Carmelita). No prizes, but bragging rights to anyone who knows it.
One of my favorite poems by Charles Bukowski, something of an ode to Los Angeles, place of my birth and partially under water at the moment. I thought it appropriate. There is a connection to the song lyric posted last week (Carmelita). No prizes, but bragging rights to anyone who knows it.
crucifix in a deathhand
yes, they begin out in a willow, I think
the starch mountains begin out in the willow
and keep right on going without regard for
pumas and nectarines
somehow these mountains are like
an old woman with a bad memory and
a shopping basket.
we are in a basin. that is the
idea. down in the sand and the alleys,
this land punched-in, cuffed-out, divided,
held like a crucifix in a deathhand,
this land bought, resold, bought again and
sold again, the wars long over,
the Spaniards all the way back in Spain
down in the thimble again, and now
real estaters, subdividers, landlords, freeway
engineers arguing. this is their land and
I walk on it, live on it a little while
near Hollywook here I see young men in rooms
listening to glazed recordings
and I think too of old men sick of music
sick of everything, and death like suicide
I think is sometimes voluntary, and to get your
hold on the land here it is best to return to the
Grand Central Market, see the old Mexican women,
the poor . . . I am sure you have seen these same women
many years before
arguing
with the same young Japanese clerks
witty, knowledgeable and golden
among their soaring store of oranges, apples
avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers
and you know how these look, they do look good
as if you could eat them all
light a cigar and smoke away the bad world.
then it's best to go back to the bars, the same bars
wooden, stale, merciless, green
with the young policeman walking through
scared and looking for trouble,
and the beer is still bad
it has an edge that already mixes with vomit and
decay, and you've got to be strong in the shadows
to ignore it, to ignore the poor and to ignore yourself
and the shopping bag between your legs
down there feeling good with its avocados and
oranges and fresh fish and wine bottles, who needs
a Fort Lauderdale winter?
25 years ago there used to be a whore there
with a film over one eye, who was too fat
and made little silver bells out of cigarette
tinfoil. the sun seemed warmer then
although this was probably not
true, and you take your shopping bag
outside and walk along the street
and the green beer hangs there
just above your stomach like
a short and shameful shawl, and
you look around and no longer
see any
old men.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Carmelita
All of this Carmel stuff inspired me to post one of my favorite Warren Zevon Lyrics.
Carmelita
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
The county won't give me no more methadone
And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I pawned my Smith Corona
And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
By the Pioneer chicken stand
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
All of this Carmel stuff inspired me to post one of my favorite Warren Zevon Lyrics.
Carmelita
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
The county won't give me no more methadone
And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I pawned my Smith Corona
And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
By the Pioneer chicken stand
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Bunuel on DVD
There has long been a shortage of the work of Luis Bunuel available on DVD. Up until now, only a couple of his later works, That Obscure Object of Desire and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, along with a couple of mid-career classics, Diary of a Chambermaid and Belle de Jour can be found. His Spanish language films, many of which he was grinding out in Mexico while in exile, such as Viridiana, Simon of the Desert, Nazarin and The Exterminating Angel have been sadly missing from DVD.
Happily, his two earliest films are now available on DVD. In collaboration with Salvador Dali, Don Luis created some of the most enduring cinematic imagery ever devised in Un Chien Andalou and L'Age D'Or. A full description can be read at the Onion AV Club, here. Hopefully more will follow. It is long overdue that Bunuel's complete oeuvre be made available.
There has long been a shortage of the work of Luis Bunuel available on DVD. Up until now, only a couple of his later works, That Obscure Object of Desire and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, along with a couple of mid-career classics, Diary of a Chambermaid and Belle de Jour can be found. His Spanish language films, many of which he was grinding out in Mexico while in exile, such as Viridiana, Simon of the Desert, Nazarin and The Exterminating Angel have been sadly missing from DVD.
Happily, his two earliest films are now available on DVD. In collaboration with Salvador Dali, Don Luis created some of the most enduring cinematic imagery ever devised in Un Chien Andalou and L'Age D'Or. A full description can be read at the Onion AV Club, here. Hopefully more will follow. It is long overdue that Bunuel's complete oeuvre be made available.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
In a continuing series...
Yet another from what turned out to be a fairly productive trip to Carmel.
I had hoped to make a photo excursion during the Christmas break, but inclement weather hindered my plans. So I hope you will make do with a few more from this particular journey, and let's hope for better weather in Northern California.
Yet another from what turned out to be a fairly productive trip to Carmel.
I had hoped to make a photo excursion during the Christmas break, but inclement weather hindered my plans. So I hope you will make do with a few more from this particular journey, and let's hope for better weather in Northern California.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Junipero Serra and Mission Carmel
Graveyard beside the Chapel
San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo Mission
Mission Carmel is particularly significant in the history of California because Padre Serra, the man credited with the founding of the California Missions, ended his days at Mission Carmel. He is buried next to the main altar.
A bit of the history of the Carmel Mission can be found here.
Graveyard beside the Chapel
San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo Mission
Mission Carmel is particularly significant in the history of California because Padre Serra, the man credited with the founding of the California Missions, ended his days at Mission Carmel. He is buried next to the main altar.
A bit of the history of the Carmel Mission can be found here.
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