People are so very interesting. And random connections are a little bit of a spark.
These four people were just walking down the street, tourists from out of town. … “Hello, do you mind if I take your picture?” So, they say, “Yes,” and just stand there and look at me for a moment. … Then I say, “Strike a pose. Put your cigarettes in your mouths.”
Today I was shooting some bonus shots during Gustavo Romero’s rehearsal for tonights performance with the San Diego Youth Symphony in the Copely Symphony Hall. Everyone worked very hard during the rehearsal, and we were treated to some wonderful music in a great hall that only contained about five people.
I love rehearsals. Rehearsals are the occasions where creativity takes place. Performances are another story because that is where people are performing for themselves, and an audience. Performances are what performers live for. But, I just love the moments of creativity, and the sparks of communication, the small conversations that can only exist during a rehearsal.
After the rehearsal, a few people gathered around Gustavo for the history books. 😉
This is really just a little taste of what will go into the Snapshots Music & Arts Foundation site. Today we shot Gustavo Romero as he was rehearsing. The Snapshots Music & Arts Foundation, is collecting incredible pieces of music, video, and still images of some fantastic musical artists.
This image is the group from the Snapshots Foundation, and Gustavo.
Link to the Snapshots Music & Arts Foundation.
Fallbrook California is the town in which I did most of my growing up. It was not a town really. It was, and I think it still is, just a friendly village. That is what the sign said on the way into town, “Fallbrook, the friendly village.”
People have told me that it has changed quite a bit since I lived there. I have heard reports from young people that say that they hate the town. … I don’t. I still love the memories of Fallbrook. These few images of the Memorial Day celebrations are from a couple years ago, and you can still see the kernel of the friendly village.
Politicians, fools, and the media, have turned us against each other; Left against Right, Rich against Poor, Religion against Religion. By dividing us, they conquer, subjugate, and control us, leaving us without any real voice, disenfranchised. …
We are capable of incredible power. But, we must use our power for good, and not to control others. Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. None of us have the right to force our beliefs upon another. None of us have the right to inhibit the development of another. None of us.
I take the pledge unifying all Americans, indivisible, before politicians in search of a vote, used the pledge to divide us.
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
With this pledge, we will all stand together. … Or we will surely, fail, together.
My father was a Marine. I was a Marine. We lived the Marine Corps life from the time I was born.
After growing to adulthood in the Military, I know it is a life I wish for all mankind. You will actively be taught new things. You will be given responsibilities way beyond of those of your non military peers. You will learn to love and honor your friends, your family, and life generally. And, you will protect those things you honor.
Some people think that the military types want, and even enjoy, war. Nothing could be further from the truth. The people in the military are much closer to having a friend die. They know it every day. The only people that feel this as hard as the militaries, are their parents, husbands, and wives. They also understand why they do what they do.
They honor us all.
Here sits David looking out to sea. His wife is in Reno.
We are having lunch, and speaking well of her.
This is the Ruby’s Diner at the Huntington Beach pier.
This is a great little group of very creative people, writers all.
This evening, I was thoroughly entertained by everyones writings. … Jill set some tasks and we followed through. I was totally surprised at the turns of the minds of creative people, how they bent the task to their choices.
So here is an image of some creative people.
And here is a sample. …
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Uncomfortable pause.
As I lay abed, wanting to say something to her, wanting to open my mouth and tell her. …
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Looking across the dark, at the green face of the analogue clock with its second sweep moving so slowly, I know the morning will bring pain. … If it ever gets here.
I smell her next to me. I feel her warmth.
Tick. Tick. tick.
Without thinking, as I start to slide into sleep, I reach to feel the small of her back.
Tick. Tick. Tick. …
Dammit!
Alone, still alone, and awake.
Moving through the house, I grab clothing permeated with the smell of her, just to hold it close to my face, and pretend the warmth of my breath is the warmth of her flesh, as I inhale memories of her.
Rummaging around in the kitchen, Coffee? She liked her coffee in the small cups with the pink roses, one sugar, and blonde. This cup has her lipstick still on it.
Looking through the music, I see her songs because she always was at this machine. I do not want to hear them, but do not want to throw them away.
Wandering, touching traces, naked still, back to bed.
Morning will surely come.
Tick. Tick. tick.
This is another image from the San Diego Fine Art Society’s Hollywood Glamour Ball.
In this image, the dancers are moving at a pace far beyond the pace of mere mortals. They are the Dancers. Twisting, spinning, jumping, moving, in ways most of us can only remember as a child.
Dancers lift the spirits by showing us what we could accomplish if only we tried. … I laugh a little at that statement, because it is not really true. We only imagine it is true. That concept of being able to dance is just like people thinking they are photographers because they have a good camera.
Dancing, and any other art, takes time, and dedication, and a gift of innate adeptness.
I used to live in Leucadia, Solona Beach, Del Mar, and a couple other places along the coast. One of the places I worked was “Beach And Town Liquor,” a store in Encinitas. So whenever I am coming from somewhere North, towards home in San Diego, I take the beach route, Pacific Coast Highway, old 101, just to look at my old haunts.
This evening I noticed a very pretty addition to Encinitas, next to the place where I used to work. The new place is The De Tour Salon, in Encinitas. I stopped and hauled out some camera gear and took a couple shots of Encinitas. This image is one of the Salon.
The Salon was using a different image that I shot that evening for their Facebook page.
I like to walk my dog in different places. Part of the reason my dog goes along with me on these walks, is to give me the excuse to go somewhere she has not been.
This day, I took her down to Tecolote Canyon, not far from our normal route, but off the normal path. I was following the sound of laughing, and voices in good humor. The sound was coming from a hidden area. When we moved between trees, and next to the creek, we found six young men drinking beer, and having a good time.
These three were up in the tree, drinking. I thought the light looked very cool, and I asked them whether, or not, I could shoot this image. They said yes.
So here we have three young men, standing in a tree, drinking beer.
A shower is always nice, be it a Surfers Shower, or a rain across the land.
The soothing water washes the sand and salt from the surfer. A gentle rain washes the settled dust, and grime from the plant leaves and streets. Rain feels good on the leaves of plants and on the flesh of mankind.
This young man, leaning against the post that supports the shower, is completely relaxed, content, in love with this moment in his life. The not cold, not hot, water courses through his hair, and down his wetsuit, creeping into all the nooks and crannies of his body.
I think I will go take a shower now, lean against the tile, and let the water warm and wash me clean.
Every once in a while, some friends and I go to dinner at the Lucky Star Seafood Restaurant, in San Diego, for dinner and a dance.
I do not know how often they have dancing, but we go on Fridays, and they have always had dancing on Fridays. …
This is just one picture of the most recent visit.
