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.