Anna

I almost always shoot on location. But I still like the controlled environment of the studio every now and then. The backdrops, the big banks of lights....or just the beautiful light that comes in through the windows.

What's your story?

“My friends say I take myself seriously....I may look organized and calm” but “I’m really zany, I have a lot of energy” I take after my mom who “…is an eccentric, free-spirit dedicated to her art.”

Anna is a voice-over artist and starting her own voice-over business in Los Angeles.

“I love technology. I’m an inner-geek”

Suki Ann 2

A few months ago I posted pictures of the newly born Suki Ann. Continuing the documentary of Suki's 1st year are these photographs of her at three months old.

Paul and the Cello

What's your story?

"I was visiting my aunts in LA, trying to escape the East Coast and feel sunny again. Most things I left in Maryland, but I took with me music. While we rented a cello out in LA, there was continuity to continuing to play.
Right now, I study music and religion in school, but whether or not I'll be working with either one directly, not sure just yet. In the meantime, on hot afternoons in So Cal, it's nice to play the cello and watch people walk by.
Study at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania."

Eugene

About 17 years go I adopted two cats. I’m not sure what I was thinking. I wasn’t particularly a cat person, I wasn’t even a pet person. I was mostly an irresponsible person. But a fellow photographer’s cat had kittens and so I picked out two. Two brothers. I’m not sure why I picked those two. Maybe it was because I’m a big black and white guy and the two boys were mostly shades of grey (and sepia). I didn't realize it at the time but they would become the constants in my life. My personal life would change, my professional life would change. I would change addresses (several times) and even cities. But they were always there, they would even come running to the door when i came home at whatever hour. I got two cats because I figured they would keep each other company (one of the few responsible things I did) when I wasn't home. Not too infrequently I would work a very long day and I was somewhat comforted knowing that they had each other. A vet commented that they would be buddies for a long time. And they were, to each other and to me. Eugene, the long-haired grey cat with the regal white mane had to be put down yesterday. We’re all going to miss him.

What's Your Story?

I had set up a photo studio in the dance studio of the Colburn Dance Institute which is located in Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles. I was waiting for the arrival of a couple of dancers when Atsuko sort of shuffled by. She was on her way home after a class where she was studying the Japanese Tea ceremony. She was wearing a beautiful kimono and she graciously agreed to be photographed. During the course of this little impromptu session she told me that when she was first learning to put on the kimono properly it took her over two hours just to tie the obi (sash). Now that she’s had practice, it only takes her 30 minutes. And in her own words:

“I am happy that I was able to share with people about a part of my culture through the Kimono….The kimono strikes body movement, and I have to watch my movement, but I believe it brings a beauty of the Kimono....

Anyway, I am happy that people can enjoy the Kimono, too.”

History

These photographs were taken in an area of Los Angeles that is often referred to as south central, in a little restaurant bar called The Town House. Another historic event happened not too far from here, one of the worst race riots in the history of the United States. But on this particular night, the scene was not unlike a baptist revival. I'm pretty sure there were people in this room that never believed that they would live to see the day that an African American would be elected president. Margaret Bush-Ware (the woman wearing the bracelets with her hands in front of her face), as an 11-year old girl, woke one morning to see a cross burning in the front yard of her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This night the tears were of unbridled joy. Of all the places I could have been on this night, I think this was nearly perfect.

43 Minutes

Some days I'm stuck behind my computer....actually that would be: often, I'm stuck behind my computer. Even when I shoot film, the film eventually is scanned and I have to work on the images on the computer. I'm basically doing what I used to do in the darkroom. Only now it's rare that I ruin my shirts. I'm not much for wild photoshop techniques, but I do spend a lot of time dodging, burning and working on the tones in the print. After a portrait session, I'll spend hours editing and working on the images until....until I can't stand it any longer! And I have to get out. These images were taken at the end of a long day indoors. I went out for walk. Out the driveway turn right, half a block turn right, snap a couple frames, a few more blocks, turn right...followed by a couple more rights. And 43 minutes later I'm back in my driveway.

Postcards

Here are a few shots from a recent trip to Santa Cruz where I was visiting my mom and sisters. Postcards or rather, quick sketches, something to help me remember.

Suki Ann

A while back I posted a few maternity pictures of Nobi. Well, Suki Ann was born just three days after that shoot. And these photographs were taken four weeks later.

L'Absurd

Sisyphus meets the stairs.

Beads, Beads, Beads

No, these are not beads. I did shoot this picture in the parking lot of a bead store. Took about 2 seconds. Get out of car, lift camera, focus, press shutter. Is this an earth shattering picture? No. Is it one of my favorites? No, not by a long shot. I just think it’s amazing what you can find 6 inches from the tops of your shoes.

Here’s a question I’ve been contemplating for about 15 years, ever since I saw a store in San Diego called, “Beads, Beads, Beads”: how does a store that only sells beads stay in business? Well, it’s obvious now: beads are beautiful and lots of people buy beads.

What's Your Story?

Pianist Michael Roberts was born in Sussex, England and started playing the piano when he was four. Later he became an accompanist for the Royal Ballet School in London. Today Michael’s home is Pasadena, California. He is the faculty and music coordinator for the Colburn Dance Institute in downtown Los Angeles as well as a faculty member of the American Ballet Theater summer intensives. There are several albums of his original compositions for dance and his music was featured in the documentary film, “Divertissements. Every Day Dancers”

Sepulveda Basin 2

A few more from the Sepulveda Basin.

Sepulveda Basin

LA River revisited. As you can see on the side rail of this blog is a book of my photographs of the Los Angeles River. Here are a few more excerpts from the book. These were shot in the Sepulveda Basin, upstream of Balboa. This is another area of the river that has a soft bottom and there are plenty of birds, like these Turkey vultures.

What's Your Story?

As I was on another walk in my neighborhood I passed a gentleman who greeted me with a big smile and friendly "Buenas dias". Without thinking I responded with a Buenos dias back and we took steps in opposite directions. I stopped and shouted back "wait wait"...and here, between my bad spanish and Roberto's broken english, we pieced together Roberto's story: Roberto was trained as a welder but is currently unemployed and is working as a day laborer. As I worked, he seemed very interested in my old mamiya twin lens reflex and he seemed to understand my little project. As we chatted he finally confessed that he was an artist. That his passion was painting and that he loved to paint large canvases. Since he was out of work he wasn't able to buy supplies for his art but he hoped that soon he would be back at the canvas.

Surrealists

I’m quite fortunate that I live in a town that is home to one of the finest museums in the country. I wanted to see Maillol’s Miniatures and Marcel Duchamp Redux at the Norton Simon Museum. The museum often offers live concerts (what more can one ask for?). Violinist Armen Anassian, cellist Garik Terzian and flautist Salpy Kerkonian performed works by Satie, Ravel and Debussy to celebrate the Duchamp exhibit. The music was beautiful and at times intense. I glanced to my left and noticed that just about everyone in the hall was riveted by the performance.

Maternity and Remodeling

As I walked up to the house I could hear the power tools, I could see the dust and debris and I could hear this really loud ranchero music...oh and it was about 100 degrees out.

Maternity and a complete remodel? Nesting instinct gone awry? I don't know.

I do know that contrary to what you might assume, Nobi was calm, peaceful and, of course, beautiful.