She Sings

Andy

Our Dog, Andy

Running in the Rain

Los Angeles -- Runners enjoy a steady stream of rain water along the LA River.

Clear View of The City

Los Angeles -- Another day of rain measuring over 2-1/2 inches. That doesn't seem like much but it is making a dent in our drought.

The city of Vernon is an industrial part of Los Angeles. For the most part, Vernon and the surrounding area is not considered much of a tourist's destination, but after a good downpour, somehow, the buildings seem to pop and come alive. I especially appreciate the background icons; centered, is the Hollywood sign, and just to the left is LA City Hall.

New Life at LA River

Los Angeles -- Nice to see water in the river again.

Big Storm Falls Short

Lake Arrowhead & Pasadena-- We were told by experts that this last storm could be the "biggest storm in 50 years...." It ended up producing less than 2-inches here in Pasadena and parts of Los Angeles.

Heroes of Sierra Madre

  

Sierra Madre -- Three Supers pose with pride. 

Staying Dry

Arcadia -- One way to keep rain out of your car. 

Shooting the Chevy SSR

Baldwin Park -- Back in 80s, I used to work as an editorial assistant for Hi-Torque Publications. Part of my job was to shoot motocross products and events, interview riders and write/shoot magazine articles on unique, Volkswagen. The magazine was called VW Action.

In 1984, I was fresh out of collage, and with a loan of $750, I purchased a Nikon FE2 and a lens. After reading through the entire user manual, I began cutting my teeth in the field. Fortunately, I had an office-full of world-class photographers to show me the ropes, as well as an unlimited supply of Kodak Kodachrome 64 and Tri-X 400 film to screw up on. Not all my shots were magazine-worthy--in fact, most were duds.

Eventually, I was able to wrap my mind around all the settings and what they did to make a good photo. I learned how to use light and when to "click" at the right time.

This last weekend, I had an opportunity to shoot a few images of a Chevy SSR. My client may be interested in selling his modern day hot rod, but moreover, simply wanted a few images of his customized ride.

Birdman of The Crown City

Pasadena -- He wears a crown of feathers, five of which he said he collected today.

I was stopped at a traffic light on my way home from work when I saw this gentleman walking his dog across the street. I put down the window, and yelled out to the smiling gent, "I love your hat--you've got quite a collection there!"

He stopped in his tracks and walked over to my car. The light was still red as I listened to his story. Then, the light turned green and I quickly asked if I could take his photo.

"Of course," he said without hesitation. "Oh, and my name is Duane; I work as a volunteer three days a week at City Hall and the Police department."

Commuters behind me knew what we were doing and displayed much-appreciated patience despite that the light had turned green some time earlier.

Olinda Oil Museum

Olinda -- "Where the heck is Olinda?" That's what I thought when I drove past a sign, pointing the way to the Olinda Oil Museum & Trail.

Olinda was once as booming oil town in the city of Brea, and was established in the1890s (which is old for us Southern Californians). At the time, the hillside was spotted with pumpjacks, drilling as far as 8,000 feet below the surface. The Olinda Oil Museum is part of a 12-acre preserve.

The Olinda Oil Well #1 (not pictured) was drilled in 1897 and is still in service. The Olinda Museum claims Old #1 is the longest continuously-running oil pump in Southern California. It was nothing to look at so I replaced it with another, more interesting rig on the left.

The car pictured above is a classic, Ford Model T, and is part of the museum. But that's a different subject for another time.

When The Circus is in Town

Los Angeles, Ca -- First class accommodations when traveling with the circus. Truly is the greatest show on earth.

I took this photo in the city of Commerce, a few miles east of downtown LA. It was a hot day and no breeze.

Escape from LA

California Desert -- I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.
--Henry David Thoreau

Creative Use of an iPhone

Pasadena, CA -- Maranatha High School Cheer girls take advantage of an iPhone in last-minute prep before the big game against arch rival, La Salle High School.

City Hall in Fall

Los Angeles -- Today we got a glimpse of autumn. Background building is City Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

If You're Happy and You Know It

Los Angeles -- Sometimes we "Angelinos" tend to wear our feelings. I took this photo during a recent Color Run at Dodger Stadium.

Another Color Run is coming up on October 25, 2014 in nearby Pomona. See you there?

Selfie

Pasadena -- One day my wife and I decided to do a photo shoot..., on ourselves. For a solid 30 minutes, we pulled out about every prop, gadget and outfit that we thought would make a good image. The photo may not be all that, but we had fun making it. If you look through all my photos on this blog, you will find a few shoots from our session.

Football Socks American Style

Pasadena -- Patriotism on the sidelines

Easy Way Down

Los Angeles -- There are those days when you would rather sit.

Paper, Prints and Polaroid

Los Angeles --  The other night I watched the documentary, Time Zero: The Last Year of Polaroid Film. The 2012 film talks about the end of an era and the artists that used Polaroid and lament it's eventual demise

After watching the film, I realized that I too miss the simplicity and genius of Polaroid film. Not just that it provides instant results, but that the photograph is tangible, much like the books that seem to lay dormant on my shelves.

Although I am a digital photographer and shoot tens of thousands of images a year, it is rare that I ever print an actual photograph anymore. I have a large screen in my office that projects beautiful images, but lost is the venerable (and sometimes) priceless piece of paper.

Drought In California

Death along Route 66

Freedom of Worship Here

Sierra Marde, CA -- In the wake of recent news about three missionaries imprisoned in North Korea for being Christians, and the two journalists beheaded for being not subscribing to the murderers' religion, I wanted to post this photo.

Pictured is a glimpse into America and our sweet freedom. Here, in a mostly non-religious suburb of Los Angeles, a Christian man is allowed to hold a Bible Study, in public. Pray that our leaders will continue to fight for our liberty, our freedom to worship as we wish--all religions included.

"It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."

--Patrick Henry (unconfirmed)

Fun With Bubbles

Here in Los Angeles (technically Anaheim), we have Disneyland -- the Happiest Place on Earth.

Within the walls of  the Magic Kingdom, we can all be kids, and it's encouraged. But there is another place where we can all enjoy a magic of a different kind--a wedding reception.

High School Football Season Begins

Pasadena -- I've never been a huge football fan. Oh sure, when the Superbowl comes around or rivals USC and UCLA battle it out on the field, I get into the game.

A few years ago, I started shooting for Maranatha High School in Pasadnea-- my nephew was on the football and baseball teams. He's since graduated from college, but now my 14-year old son is on the team and I am having a blast shooting the practices. His first scrimmage/game is Friday the 22nd. Go Minutemen!

My photos are at www.minutemenphoto.com

Memoirs of a Geisha

San Marino -- A few years back, I shot a series of photos with a friend at the Huntington Library, Japanese Gardens. She was made up and dressed as a geisha. Although the original prints went out as color, I recently experimented with Nik Software using the Analog Efex Pro2. This is the result.

The Huntington Library is a popular film location as in the 2005 motion picture, Memoirs of a Geisha.

Behind the Paper Veil

Pasadena -- My wife, Amber, who is also my best friend, photo art director and co-worship leader, decides to disguise herself behind a few paper towels. We won't tell what happened next....

Front Row Seat to a Sierra Storm

High Sierra -- My destination may be 280 miles from LA, but what the heck--it's only few hour's drive. This was my view as I watched storm clouds gather shortly after dinner near Lower Golden Trout Lake. That night a steady rain fell as I slept like a baby inside my 11-ounce, cuben fiber shelter. Okay, one pound if you count the titanium stakes and polychro ground sheet....

I shot this photo using a Canon Powershot Elph 110.

Big Ship in Giant Harbor

Los Angeles -- The photo above is the stern section of a container ship, the USAC Jilfar. I snapped the shot from a grassy area at Ports O Call Village. The huge ship passed by on-lookers as if it was a parade float. Most spectators watched in awe.

The mammoth, cargo vessel was built in 2014 with the length overall (LOA) of 984 ft. At first I thought this could be one of the new "mega ships," but after a quick wiki search, the Magleby Maersk wins with a LOA of 1,306 feet.

So, How's That Working For You?

Los Angeles

LA is Place of Discovery

Los Angeles -- One would think that a native-born Angelino would have visited the Griffith Park Observatory more than once in his lifetime. Back in the late 70s, we high schoolers used to run around the park at night looking for guards to chase us, but we ended up chasing each other more than anything. We used to also visit the nearby Greek Theater, climb the trees behind the last rows and watch bands like Peter, Paul and Mary perform.

Pictured above, a family watches a near 250-pound brass ball on a 40-foot cable, slowly swig from side to side, knocking over small pegs representing the current hour. What most people don't realize at first is that the giant pendulum is not turning, rather, the Earth is rotating causing the ball to appear to move.

Blue Boy

Orange County, CA -- Every once in a while, I pop a shot and discover a winning image. I took this photo at dear friend's wedding this weekend. By the way, I did not manipulate anything on this image other than adjusting exposure.

Lemon Drops from Heaven

Pasadena -- Twenty fourteen has been a good year for citrus. Our lemon tree is bursting with fruit--so much, we can't keep up with the yellow beauties falling onto the driveway each day. We now affectionately call them "lemon drops." Some days we have more than 15 Eureka lemons fall at a time. That makes enough lemonade for the whole neighborhood, plus a few for cooking....

The Happiest 5K

Los Angeles -- It's called "The Happiest 5K on the Planet," for good reason; you can't help but smile!

Held at Dodger Stadium, more than 15,000 runners, walkers and dancers gathered at 7am for the Zumba dance warm up, dancing to songs like, "Happy."

At 8am, the laid back, 5 kilometer run began. Participants passed through a series of five different colored gauntlets, covering the happy runners with a powdered splash of blue, pink, orange, purple and yellow before finishing through a tunnel of colored, swirling confetti.

The event ended with more dancing and throwing of rainbow powder. What a fun and clean way to kick off summer of 2014 -- LA style.

More fun photos at JohnTaylorsonPhoto.com

Girls Pose at Pink's

Hollywood, CA -- Girls put on their best face for a quick shot at Pink's Hot Dogs in Tinseltown.

Since 1939, Pink's sports some of the best hot dogs around. The venerable hot dog stand also attracts millions of out-of-town visitors. On a typical weekend, expect a wait of up to one hour, but ask anyone, and they will attest that the wait is well-worth the dog.

Blood Moon 2014

Pasadena, Ca -- I am not much of a night owl these days, but staying up to view the lunar eclipse, a Blood Moon at that, was well-worth the way I feel this morning. Extra cup of joe, please!

Stairway to Heaven

LA's Northern Big Brother -- The only way out was up, parole or a pardon.