In Time for the Matinee

Pantages, West Hollywood, January 2012, YashicaMat EM, 80mm f3.5, Fujifilm Neopan ISO 100

Lets go to the Movies

Historic Fox Theater, Downtown Fullerton, January 2012, YashicaMat 124G, 80mm f3.5, Fujifilm Neopan ISO 100

This local theater is in the process of being restored. I shot this around the time construction was underway. Unfortunately, these two murals of iconic movie posters have since been removed. I hope they hire a local artist to recreate them. Such a tragedy.

Get Your Goat On

Mountain Goat Enclosure, LA Zoo Fall 2011. Canon Rebel XT, 50mm f1.8 lens, Ilford HP5+ ISO 400

It feels pretty weird when I look at some of my older pictures, such as this one. I can't believe it's been almost two years since I made this picture. I feel like it was just last fall! Is that what getting older is supposed to feel like?

Now That's a Bridge!

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Dec 2012, Lubitel 2, 75mm f4.5, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO + yellow Holga Filter

HTC One V Cellphone Camera via Instagram

Today's post is the only digital/analog comparison I've attempted thus far. I wasn't really trying to do it, but I just happened to shoot the same scene with both cameras. While I do like the coloring in the bottom one, I'll only be framing the one on top. It'll be in a REALLY big frame too.

Which one do you like out of the two?

Awards Sold Here!

Dolby Theater (formerly the Kodak Theater), Hollywood, Feb 2012, Lubitel 2, 75mm f4.5, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO

I Found the Real Farmville

Farmland adjecent to Mission Soledad - Soledad, CA, December 2012, Lubitel 2, 75mm f4.5, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO, Yellow Filter

Mission Soledad is smack dab in the middle of a huge farming area. I took this shot using a yellow filter to darken the sky and to make the clouds stand out a bit. Unfortunately, it looks like my thumb was trying to make itself seen in the bottom right corner. It's not too fun going to a place that has a dirt and rock parking lot just after a good rain. At the entrance there was a big mud pit that looked like I would get stuck unless I sped through it fast. Thankfully, I didn't get stuck.

A Pleasant Afternoon at the Theater

Sebastiani Theater, Sonoma, July 2012, Lubitel 2, 75mm f4.5, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO

This was at the very end of the historic El Camino Real. This was about a block away from the last mission which was off to the left here. I love seeing these old towns that have the look of being around before the 50's. Very cool area to check out if you visit the town.

Waiting....

Norwalk Metrolink Station, Norwalk CA Fall 2011. Pentax K1000, 50mm f1.7 lens, Ilford HP5+ ISO 400

This is one of my favorite looking train stations I've been to yet. Hopefully I will rectify that in a few weeks as I pass through at least 20 more on my trek back east. I took this one for my first photo class while I was waiting for the train to pick me up so I could get home. Unfortunately, I had no idea as to what I liked in an image back then and it lacks strong contrast.

Blurring Your Bridges

El Dorado Nature Trail, Long Beach, Fall 2012, Holga 120N 60mm Plastic Lens, f11, 1/Bulb, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO

I think I've posted this one before. This was a happy accident where I forgot to change the setting from Bulb back to the normal shutter speed.. That sounds like a cool photo project to have a series of 12 shots like this.

Let's Get Stone'd

Stone World Bistro, Escondido CA February 2012. Canon Rebel XT, 50mm f1.8 lens, Ilford HP5+ ISO 400

My defacto brochure photo. If you are a fan of Stone Brewing, this place is Mecca! Their restaurant is a bit on the pricey side, but there is a great deal of variety with their taps. This place also doubles as a distributor for many popular beers in So Cal, including Pliney the Elder.

Boat On

Cabrillo Marina / Hurricane Gulch, San Pedro, July 2012, Lubitel 2, 75mm f4.5, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO

I Walk the Path

Yorba Regional Park, Anaheim, August 2012
Holga 120N 60mm Plastic Lens, f8, 1/125, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO

This was the first time I used my Holga. Unfortunately the back plate of it fell off during a hike a couple months ago and has been retired.

Double Jump This!

Backside of the Hoover Dam, September 2011 - Pentax K1000 w/ SMC Pentax-m 50mm f1.7 Ilford HP5+ ISO 400

Nobody ever remembers the back side of the Hoover Dam. I think its the more interesting side. Unfortunately, we are stuck in drought mode here in the southwest, and as you can see, the water level is WAY down. This is probably the best shot I have ever done to show great detail in a dark area.

The title for this picture was the working title when I turned this in for a grade. I took this shot with the camera I bought for my first photo class. Not long after I took the shot above (around 10 minutes) the gears for the shutter advance froze up leaving me without a camera in Vegas except my crappy point and shoot. Well.... I know how to have fun damn near anywhere I go, so I made the best out of the rest of the trip.

Look Out Below!

The Bridge To Nowhere, San Gabriel Mountains, March 30th 2013, Rolleicord, 75mm f3.5, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO

Today's post was inspired by Bad Boy Chris, Probably the most extreme dude in Japan right now. In case you ever think about it, you help inspire your students to be better peoples, your blog inspires people, well at least 1 person, to be better. Don't let them jerk off kitty killers get ya down bro.

I've done this trail 3 times now, and it's getting easier and more fun every time. I bought a new/old camera a couple weeks ago and took it on this hike to test out a few shots. I was able to get another really good shot that I will post sometime soon. I walked it on Monday and it started raining on me about a mile and a half into it. I said to hell with it and kept on going. I was too big a chicken to jump off the bridge though. I don't think there is any amount of money that could get me to jump off, short of $10 million.

Learning in Style

Fullerton College Library, January 2012
YashicaMat 124G, 80mm f3.5, Fujifilm Neopan ISO 100

While learning how to use a twin lens camera, I did a big walk around Downtown Fullerton and decided to walk back to my car through the school. This is probably one of the best looking library's I've seen. But I think Cypress College looks better now.

Window's to the Future

Hollywood Blvd & Vine St. - Hollywood, Fall 2011 - Shot with Canon Rebel XT, Canon 50mm f1.8,  Kodak Tri-X 400 ISO

This one is an oldie but a goodie. I took this for my first photo class a couple years ago. I had a routine set. I would take the Metrolink up to Union Station, and then the Gold Line to Little Tokyo for lunch. I then would walk up 1st St to the Metro Red Line station to Hollywood. These windows are actually yellow And I just noticed the reflection in the bottom right corner I had never seen before. It came out excellent on my dark room print, too.

Walking the Path

Riding the Metro Gold Line - Pasedina, Fall 2011 - Shot with Canon Rebel XT, Canon 50mm f1.8,  Ilford hp5+ 400 ISO

I got on the train going in the opposite direction of where I wanted to go. I was heading to eat in Little Tokyo in Downtown LA. You can actually see the inside of the window. hmmmm...... This is the first time I noticed that. I musta cropped it out when I made the print.

Edit - Retarded me, forgot to post a title

Over the Tracks

Walkway over the tracks at Fullerton Train Station, January 2012
YashicaMat 124G, 80mm f3.5, Fujifilm Neopan ISO 100

This picture was shot on my first roll of film with a medium format camera. I had no clue what to expect and was very delighted that it came out so well.

Out on the Water

SS Lane Victory - Cabrillo Marina / Hurricane Gulch, San Pedro, July 2012, Lubitel 2, 75mm f4.5, Ilford HP5+ 400 ISO


I went out on the water with the 'rents in their boat. Oddly enough, this was the first time that I remember actually getting sea sick. Too bad I didn't blow chunks. I woulda taken a shot of that too.

Building of the Phil

Walt Disney Concert Hall - Downtown LA, Fall 2011 - Shot with Canon Rebel XT, Canon 50mm f1.8,  Ilford hp5+ 400 ISO, Also might have been pushed one stop to 800 ISO

This was an old scan from a school computer before I knew about blowing off dust and using an anti static cloth. The Disney Hall has to be one of my most favorite places to take pictures of. I think I've gone there at least 6 or 7 times to shoot pictures. A marvelously designed building and a joy to look at from up close and from a distance.