This is an out-take of a shoot for the Snapshots Foundation.
I am starting to get a little excited becaus the Snapshots Foundation is about to actually be born. I honestly do not know all the people involved with the entire project, but Jonathan Bewley has been working for a while to bring it to fruition.
Twenty-four hours from any now, every one of us could be homeless. The cause could be any of a thousand reasons, earthquake, bomb, oil pollution, whatever the reason, it is possible for every one of us to be faultless in our homelessness. In these unsettled times, the times of stress and financial hardship, people look for a way to make sense of their future. Will there be a roof over my head when I wake? Where will I live if there is not? Where will my next job be? Will there be a next job? In these times, some people turn to magic and faith because magic and faith explain the troubles by saying that it is the will of something greater than themselves.
In effect, those movements towards belief in a greater power, no matter what the power, absolve them of personal responsibility. It gives them a free pass in the world of reality. It does give comfort of a community, but no matter how many people believe, even if everyone believed simultaneously, the oil would still be gushing into the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.
We must use our brains, turn them on, instead of turning them off.
A few of my friends, and our dog partners, visited Fiesta Island. 😉 All of us had a very nice time in a beautiful section of San Diego.
My dog, Gypsy, and I go there quite often. We have a wonderful time there.
This is a link to a few more Gypsy images
I wanted to invite all of my friends that could make it, down to fiesta island with their dogs so we could do a giant dog shoot. (I will set a date for that soon)
But, June 26, I will be shooting pets for Citibank customers at …
Citibank
2240 Otay Lakes Road
Chula Vista, CA 91915-1003
Phone: 619-216-1251
You might want to check out those kinds of images as well. …
Furry Un-Dogs
Dogs … Really, dogs. 😉
Scales, Feathers, Amphibians, Other Pets
Pets and People, together 🙂
Come on down! 😉
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.
I really like the contrasts of smooth waters and clear skys with their gently colored hues, against the manmade power lines, cooling towers, all the hard equipment of the Vulcan Geothermal Power Plant, and all its hard colors.
This is the second image of the Vulcan Geothermal Plant that I have published on my blog. Earlier in the day, I also shot a close up view of the right side of this plant. <-Link
I really like this image. I also like the vertical version. … I think they should be hanging side by side on some wall somewhere.
High places are wonderful! … I think I might start a project, shooting from all the buildings I can. Does anyone have any connections to other penthouse owners?
That sounds like a good thing to do. 😉
I have a fun time with my niece when she chooses to go with me to the canyon to walk with my dog, Gypsy. We have a wonderful time down there. Gypsy chases lizards, never catches them, but she has fun. Lena runs ahead, then lags behind, continually looking, laughing, chattering away, having a great time. …
Me, I have a great time always. … But, I get to capture some images of the really good times.
I just love San Diego. This image includes the buildings of Santa Fe Train Station, One America Plaza, Advanced Equities Plaza, The Pinnacle Museum Tower, Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport, Harbor Club East, The Grande North at Santa Fe Place, among others.
This is a day that was supposed to be dominated by “June Gloom,” which generally means a low marine cloud that obscures the sun. … It turned out to be more like 90% of all the other days in San Diego, gorgeous.
One time, when this tree was maintained, it lived, and was beautiful.
As time goes, the humans that tended this tree died, moved on, found other interests, and so the tree was left in the desert where it had been placed by men. It was left to die. And so it died.
One weekday, I had a hair to drive to Gila Bend and see an old motel. I found this tree, and reveled in its continued beauty. But, it is, indeed, a shadow of itself.
Energy is something we all need. Energy, to get up in the morning, to grow, to harvest, to transport, to prepare the food we need to stay alive. We need energy to get back and forth to work. We need energy to move the water from its source to our mouths. There is a whole set of energy needs that are, without question, a requirement for life.
Then there is the set of energy requirements that are questionable. For me, I thought I could not get by without all my computers. Today I cut back to two computers. Elective travel, is another place I have cut back. Another place I can help is in being more creative in choosing my source of food. My friend, Randy, told me about a group of local growers that will deliver to a central location, once a week, a variety of food grown locally. Done! I will not buy vegetables that have to be transported long distances.
And there is the source of energy. I guess that now we all can agree that poking holes through our major food locations for oil, without a real failsafe policy is stupid. … But, I think that it should not be done at all. I support Solar, Wind, Geothermal, and Nuclear energy.
This is a link to a longer shot, across the salt flat that borders the plant. <-Link
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.
As I was driving down the east grade of Palomar Mountain with a couple friends and we saw this pink and yellow tinge way across the lake. Where is this? This sentence is linked to a map of the location.
I was so excited to see this place that I neglected to secure the car keys. … We looked around all over this set of hills, every location that I had laid down in the grass to shoot something. We looked for over and hour. I was about to call San Diego and have someone drive up the second set of keys. … Luckily, Jeffrey found the keys on the ground, right next to the driver’s door.
So, you should also take an eagle-eyed-friend along.
I have been watching the Garlic bloom outside the kitchen window. It has been blooming for a while, and I have been watching it, …
And, today was the day I wanted to capture. I do not know what to say about this image, really. To me, this is Garlic, Sweet Garlic. And I think it is beautiful.
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.
Jenivive and I went around and shot some images. There were so many images I enjoy out of the day.
I really love all the images we shot while clambering around on the huge stack of bailed hay. The color of her hair just takes my breath away.
I really look forward to our next chance to do something like this again.
Sometimes, when I am wandering around shooting images, a face just jumps out and says, “Howdy.” This face did just that. She looks so comfortable surrounded by suitors.
These images were shot for April Game, and the San Diego Fine Art Society, at the Hollywood Glamour Ball that was hosted at the Anthology in San Diego.
Early last month, I had the privilege of being a vendor at the Beverly Hills, Greystone Mansions version of the Concourse d’Elegance.
Needless to say, I had a great time in a beautiful venue.
This is an interesting image to me. … It evokes loneliness, and yet it is a colony of birds as well.
They are protected here in their lonely home on the lake. Land based predators cannot reach them through the shallows.
For me, sitting on the shore, they are unreachable, except by my long lens.
The other day, we had some food. … That is all it was, food, nothing special.
But, this little purple flower looks so good that I want to spin the stamens on a fork with the purple sauce dripping. … All the while eating the little yellow meatballs.
Oh heck! I think I forgot to eat lunch as I was editing images this afternoon.
The Salton Sea is a wonderful place to visit.
It has so many good memories for me and there are new memories. This image is just after sunset.
While capturing the image, the sea was very quiet, no wind, and still warm from the heat of the day. I could hear birds singing their evening songs as they were going to roost.
It is a good day.
