Weston Beach Sightems

Rocks, Ocean - Point Lobos  2013

Pebbles - Point Lobos  2013

I spent some time wandering around Weston Beach, amongst the pebbles and tidepools.

Without a tripod!

Point Lobos: Iris and Stonecrop

Iris - Point Lobos  2013

Stonecrop - Point Lobos  2013

After spending the night in Monterey, I got to Point Lobos early in the morning when it was still overcast.

First up: a nice-looking iris just off the path. Then, these "stonecrop" plants, which have been the subject of many early black and white photographs. A favorite of Edward Weston.

Monterey Afternoon Flowers

Flowers, Wall - Monterey  2013

Flowers, Wall 2 - Monterey  2013

Seen during my stroll through the downtown section of Monterey.

As I've said before, there's a significant military presence in Monterey: the evening bugle call of "To the Color" can sometimes be heard in the distance. I heard it again this time and was immediately transported back to the U.S. Army Intelligence Training Center at Fort Holabird in the 60's. "To the Color" will do that! And so will "Twist and Shout."

Monterey Afternoon

Wall, Shadows - Monterey  2013

Tile, Windows, Shadows - Monterey  2013

I got in relatively late to Monterey. But I still had time for a nice little walk in the late afternoon. Very nice light!

Monday Horse Blogging

Tuffy Running 1 - Marin County  2013

Tuffy Running 2 - Marin County  2013

Tuffy, of course. Hali had taken him to the arena so he could cut loose (with a little encouragement).

Indian Paintbrush, Carmel Bay

Indian Paintbrush, Carmel Bay - Point Lobos  2013

Looking across Carmel Bay from Point Lobos towards the fabulous Pebble Beach area.

Pancake Machine

Pancake Machine - Monterey County  2013

Very disturbing.

The waffle machine at the Best Western in Monterey has been replaced by this pancake machine. It doesn't make sense, because, let's face it: pancakes are so not special.

Yes, yes. I made two batches, but that's beside the point.

San Francisco Sightems

Blue Wall - San Francisco  2013

Tree, Parking Lot - San Francisco  2013

Sightems seen while strolling around with Hanna.

Pasadena Art Exhibit

Seal (Samaras Video) - Pasadena  2013

Joe, Samaras Exhibit - Pasadena  2013

Joe and I went to see an interesting show at the Pasadena Armory last month. Getting to Pasadena was a treat; it's been years since I've gone on the Arroyo Seco (aka Pasadena) Freeway. Very scenic! Once in Pasadena we found a parking spot across the street, fed the meter (operating on a Sunday) and entered the gallery.

The main exhibit was a selection of photos by Connie Samaras titled "Tales of Tomorrow." Here's some background on the artist from her website:

Her ongoing interests include: the variable membrane between fiction and real world; political geographies and psychological dislocation in the everyday; speculative landscapes and architectural narratives; science fiction genres and future imaginaries; the legacy of U.S. social change movements in a shifting global economy; paradox and the political unconscious; desire, popular culture, feminist and queer theory; art as historical artifact, the aesthetics of time, and differing systems of cataloguing history.

Whoa. Heavy-duty stuff!

Anyway, it was just, I don't know, intriguing to see a group of photographs not being presented as a photography show. I asked the attendant if he knew what kind of camera Ms. Samaras used. He didn't, but he did know that she used film (not digital). I had heard that "Art" artists are almost exclusively using film; I guess that's correct. In this context, asking what kind of camera was used is maybe a borderline gauche question. You might as well ask Picasso what kind of brush he used!

Santa Barbara Flowers 2

Red Flowers - Santa Barbara  2013

Plants on Steps - Santa Barbara  2013

Don't know what kind of flowers these are. Yes, yes, I should use Google Image Search.

The steps, although having a handrail, don't appear to go anywhere, but they certainly serve as a nice backdrop for the succulents.

Santa Barbara Flowers 1

Agave & Sage - Santa Barbara 2013

Spanish Lavender - Santa Barbara  2013

I've made stopping off at the Santa Barbara Mission a regular feature of my return trips from L.A. heading up highway 101.

The interior of the mission (entrance fee required) is actually quite nice, although you can only visit a portion of the grounds. On this particular day, there was still enough of an overcast to give me some nice diffused light.

Monday Duck Blogging

Duck - Point Lobos  2013

He was standing next to the picturesque tide pools at Weston Beach in Point Lobos, protected from incoming waves by a rock wall. He seemed to be using the salt water as a kind of scrub, maybe for antiseptic purposes (?)

Bubbleheads

Bubblehead 1 - Los Angeles  2013

Bubblehead 2 - Los Angeles  2013

Bubblehead 3 - Los Angeles  2013

More obscure bus bench art in Los Angeles.

I was able to find this investigative piece, for what it's worth.

Corned Meats

Corned Meats - San Francisco  2013

Corned Meats - San Francisco  2013

On Bryant Street. Closer view seen earlier in a povi masima post.

L.A. Cow, L.A. Bird

Blue Cow - Los Angeles  2013

Tweet Tweet - Los Angeles  2013

Cow in front of Mendocino Farms sandwich place on Third St.

Bird spotted in an alley in back of Melrose Avenue.

Canter's

Canter's - Los Angeles  2013

Canter's - Los Angeles  2006

Two photographs . . . top one taken last month with an Olympus E-PL1. Bottom one taken in 2006 with a Sony R1.

From My Motel Window

Ambulance - Los Angeles  2013

Red Car - Los Angeles  2013

. . . overlooking Beverly Boulevard. Nice view of ambulances going by! And anonymous cars . . . a redhead in a red car.

Most mysterious happening was when a car pulled up just below and parked at 2:30 AM, rap music blasting. Four or five people got out. Hushed conversations lasting some time, then they all walked off.

They came back at 4:30 AM and drove off.

Censored

Censored Bench #1 - Los Angeles  2013

Censored Bench #2 - Los Angeles  2013

OK, so I have no idea what this is. Google is of no help, alas.

Monday Cat Blogging

Cat - Los Angeles  2013

Cat wasn't particularly interested in the photographer.

Dancer (Mural)

Dancer, Gas Station - Los Angeles  2013

Dancer, Self-Portrait - Los Angeles  2013

Seen near a gas station at the corner of Fairfax and Beverly. Top photo taken in the afternoon. Then a return early morning visit for the bottom photo.

Red Cars

Jaguar - Monterey  2013

BMW - Los Angeles  2013

Nice-lookin' cars!

Top: Jaguar in Monterey.

Bottom: BMW in Los Angeles.

St Moritz & Pinky's

St. Moritz - Los Angeles  2013

Pinky's Automotive - Los Angeles  2013

The latest in a long line of billboard shots.

Headless Sighting (Melrose Avenue #40)

Headless Sighting - Los Angeles  2013

Brains - Los Angeles  2013

Seen on Melrose Avenue: street art pasted onto utility boxes. I liked "Headless Sighting" the best, although the "Brains" poster was also very cool.

Also cool: the little "Department of Investigations" seal at the bottom of "Headless Sighting." Another headless photo seen on Flickr.

Department of Investigations - Los Angeles  2013

L.A. Alley

Alley, Daytime - Los Angeles  2013

Alley, Nighttime - Los Angeles  2013

This is the alley in back of my usual motel in Los Angeles, the Rodeway Inn on Beverly. I always request a room on the second floor, 'cause the floor squeaks, and I'd rather be the squeaker than the squeakee.

Mineral Redux

Mineral - Calaveras County  2013

Mineral Burger - Calaveras County  2013

Hali and Mike paid a return visit to Mineral, the gourmet vegetarian restaurant in Murphys. (Last year's report here.)

This time Mike made sure to get a reasonable exterior shot as well as a photo of their famous "burger." Excellent! (In spite of the restaurant's odd prediliction for serving only foreign wines. What's with that?)

Monday Cow Blogging

Cow - Marin County  2013

I had to stop for this cow standing amidst some nice spring flowers. Cow noticed the photographer!

Flowers - Murphys

Flowers - Calaveras County  2013

Poppies - Calaveras County  2013

Seen while walking the main street. Once again, had to manually focus on the poppies.