Category: california

SANTA MONICA

The first thing one notices arriving in Santa Monica is that it is 20 degrees cooler than Los Angeles. Particularly right now where southern California is under a heat wave where temperatures have been 100 degrees and more. Yesterday the temperature difference was 30 degrees.

Note that the homeless individual is in the cocoon of his sleeping bag. I found a eerie resemblance between the sleeping bag and the trunk of the tree.

People watching on the Third Street Promenade is without end. Last year, while at the promenade, I probably walked past Whitey Bulger and never even knew it.

FARALLONES REPORT AND OTHER THINGS

The long awaited Farallones report is issued from US Sailing: READ HERE.

US Sailing’s report on the “Low Speed Chase” accident has been issued and it is a solid study. Read it and draw your own conclusions.

The rest of the photographs are my continuing exploration of downtown Los Angeles. So many tell me that there is no architecture in Los Angeles and no culture; that it is a completely hedonistic place. While it is probably true that the film industry and the stars dominate the headlines; there is the larger life  of the vast majority of people alongside.

HOLLYWOODLAND

I have often wondered about the complete story behind the now iconic sign “HOLLYWOOD”. It was a real estate developers sign, hollywoodland originally; the land was in fact at the head of Beechwood Canyon. Curiously, many of my friends in the east have told me that there was no such place as Beechwood Canyon.

As with anywhere, the history, is local, and here hollywood and film dominate significant history in the minds of most people.

THE SHADY SIDE OF THE STREET

I would like to have a career as a photographer. I tend to have broad interest which is reflected in my photography. But I have an particular interest in journalistic photography. I would like to tell you a story with my images, honestly, I would like to make a difference.

Yesterday, I went to a part of Los Angeles most of you will probably never go. Nor am I saying you should; but neither should we ignore it’s existence.During my brief visit there I was yelled at and threatened by the drug dealers who also patrol the area. The temperature in downtown Los Angeles was 96 degrees. Everyone had moved to the shady side of the street seeking relief from the heat.

Equally, life is full of surprises. In the midst of the human tragedy; I took the color photograph below. There is always hope.

FELIX TURNS ONE AND KATSINAS

The collection of Katsinas on exhibit at the Autry Museum is in fact part of the collection from the museum of the SouthWest ( the oldest museum in Los Angeles) started by Charles Lummis, an almost Harvard graduate. I am always so glad that the past is preserved in places such as this. I marvel at the elegant creativity of humanity.

The afternoon was Felix’s birthday party. He will not remember it except through these photos, but then what are grandparents for? People stayed around after the party until children were really too tired. My daughter-in-law decided to see if she still fit in the outfit she had used to perform in New York City some years before Felix came along.

 

 

EL CAMINO REAL

Every day, either I don’t quite know what to say; or there is so much happening (like the olympics) I have trouble choosing. The history of California, the United States, American Indians, Spain is combined in these fabulous examples of culture and history. I cannot help but be in awe of the Missions. Here is but two examples of the the 21 missions comprising the camino real.  San Miguel, virtually intact from the 18th century, and San Juan Bautista is restored so well that it is hard to distinguish old from new.

I am not certain how we as Americans react to the aspect of our history that is so tied to Spain and Mexico.

I feel the need to mention the Franciscan Nun, who is the guardian of San Miguel.