All Things But None

Have you been? The Cathedral of Our Lady of our Angels. It's situated by the 101 Freeway in the heart of Los Angeles. I should've went inside yesterday... there's always a next time! In the morning I took the express bus to downtown LA and it was quite an excursion. I walked over 6 miles with a backpack on my back. I snapped enough photos to last me... a week! :-) I went on the net and found out that MoCA was closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but that didn't stop me from heading out by myself. It was a lovely day. The weather was warm and then it was cold. Clouds were gathering from time to time. There's one photo where the clouds were all dramatic above the Disney Concert Hall... I'll post other pictures later.

I took this photo from an overhead bridge on top of the 101 Freeway. I've gotten so used to driving my car around LA, it's amazing what one can find traveling on foot. I will definitely do this again visiting other parts of Los Angeles. This weekend is also the 2009 spring Brewery Art Walk. The area is an art 'colony' of sort where one can go in and see the artists' lofts and/or work area, along with all their art pieces being displayed. I'll try to head out there this Sunday. Come with!

Anyway, like my last 2 photos, click on the graphic and it'll pop up a full sized version. Actually, here 'full size' is 1286x854px, just about a third of the original 4288x2848px. It's nicer when it's big innit?

Lastly, thanks for all the kind, and encouraging from you all. I really appreciate it! :-) Have a great Thursday everybody. 'til tomorrow!

Well, I've decided to chuck my A Tee A Week photo project. Just not worth it. A novelty that lasted for 2 weeks. heh! I had a lot of fun on Wednesday when I was out exploring Los Angeles. Above is a photo of the Grand Central Market on Broadway. I've been there a few times and right above the market are some brand new artist lofts. I was at the market around noon and got a bit hungry and wanted to get something to eat, but most vendors only took cash, which I didn't have at the time. bleh! Directly across the street from the market is Angels Flight, the shortest railroad in the friggin' world! But it's currently closed at the moment. Renovation maybe?

The railroad is actually situated on part of Bunker Hill. So when you ascend to your destination on top [takes about a whoppin' 2 minutes max!], you'll find MoCA, and other grand office buildings. And from there, walk about 5 minutes, you'll then come across Walt Disney Concert Hall. Ah, too many links! Anyway, I'll post another photo up later. I need to go take my shower!

Be back in a toot! :-)

Am back. Again, 2 posts in a single day... I'm thinking that being away from work is doing me tremendous good! :-) This photo I especially love. I don't know why. It's taken on top of Bunker Hill. It looks way better when it's blown up. Oright, I had to downsize these photos for people who are using a 15" monitors. More photos to come!! Maybe early next week I'll be able to do some night photography.

Anyway, have a fantastic Friday everyone. Be glad! Be glad about what you have, and be glad about what you don't have, too! :-)

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Currently listening:
Explosions In The Sky - Your Hand In Mine [Strings]

I hope everyone had a great weekend. It's Monday morning here but not everywhere else. Some anticipates, some not so much. It's officially been a week since I left my job, but that seems so long ago! I haven't been as productive as I would like myself to me. I've been reading a lot though. Books on in-house production design, graphic design books and periodicals, anything on photography, anything on design basically. I also have been to Borders 3 times already in one week. One would think I know exactly what I want to do in life... but I don't. I remember back in my AOL days, in my profile I would put: "To be a good person." But that alone doesn't put bread on the table does it!

This morning I have a dentist appointment at 9am. I think after that, I'll drive out to the beach and scope out the area, so I could prepare for my excursion out later this week to practice night photography. Here's another photo from from last week's outing, taking from the Los Angeles Public Library! *durr* I love the hard edges from the different elements in the photo, yet sort of countered by the giant rounded pillars on the left side. There are about 6 [or 7, 2 more above where I was standing] floors in the entire building, and each floor carries different subjects of books and material. A swell place to visit. The gift shop is pretty amazing. I bought some nicknacks that included a bumper sticker that reads: "Reading is sexy!" Well it is, isn't it? :-)

I'll post another photo later. Right now I need to get ready for my appointment. Try not to be too blue because it's Monday! It's a great morning! Take care!

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Currently listening:
Thomas Otten - Dulciate

Ah, an above warm day today. Went to the dentist, then to the beach, followed by a trip to the grocery store. We're good on food for the rest of the week, if not two. So many email to reply to. Maybe I'll spend some time tonight.

The beach was nice. It's only a 10-mile trip one way. I didn't go in the water nor I took my shoes off. I just walked a bit and took pictures. I scoped out a couple of spots where I want to take some night photos. It'll be much, much cooler the next few nights. At any rate, this is a photo from the Bradbury Building off Broadway Avenue. I only snapped a few photographs because I tried walking in once before with a friend, and the security guy told us that no photos taken are allowed in the building. I'm thinking they most likely changed their policy since I just saw a bunch of photos of the building off Flickr! Hmm!

Today I did take some pictures of families basking in the sun. Oh right, and seagulls, too. I do have a Flickr Pro account that Bridie gave me as a gift, but I just don't use it anymore. Yes, I shall blame that on my shyness! :-)

I have two more photos to put up from my Los Angeles [Day] series and here's one of them. I got 'too close' to one of these buildings and the security guard there handed me a postcard which stated:

We are aware of and respect photographers' constitutional rights. We want to inform you that because of the national threat of terrorism we report any prolonged or suspicious activity to local law enforcement at their request. Additionally, we do not allow any photography or video taping on private property.

Kudos to them. At least he didn't tell me to 'erase' what I took. I was literally just walking by and then snapped this photo. This was right outside the LA MoCA museum. I think anyone could take this photo really, just point up and shoot! Anyway, I could be a terror at times, but never a terrorist.

Last night I was browsing online looking at various photography and gallery websites, etc., nice findings. To see what other photographers are doing as far as techniques and subject matter is immensely inspirational. In addition, checking out their websites to see what slideshow/portfolio programs they use can be quite educational as well. Also I was looking at job listings [finally you say!]... Alec sent me a site to government jobs and I found a particular entry that would fit my bill, but it's out in Washington, DC! bleh :-)

At any rate, we're heading out with a friend of ours to breakfast, and to have a looksie at the LA Times Festival of Books book fair. Should be interesting. Well, I should be back later to post my last [not final] photo of Los Angeles. Then I could start another project maybe next week! Hmm... what to do! What to do? Have a great day everyone.

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Currently listening:
Philip Glass - Opening

Here's the last photo from previous week. Boy that seems so long ago already. I gave it a silly name because I couldn't think of anything else. The view is right across from Chinatown and the 'desert' area that you see in the foreground was a huge, fenced-in vacant lot. I stuck my camera between the gates and snapped the photo. Directly in the center, you can make out the Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall. And yes, amazingly enough, it was that cloudy that day in Los Angeles.

I didn't follow the compositional rule of the Rule of Thirds, which is one of the most respected visual 'commandments' in painting and photography. It's not always good to follow. Don't you agree? I could've zoomed in closer, or cropped the photo more tightly, but I kind of like it the way it is. I tried blurring the pebbled foreground, but I somewhat prefer the 'roughness' in the bottom half. Overall it might looked a tad better without the title/white band. Seeing it in its original full size [4288 x 2848 pixels] makes me giddy! :-)

Goodness! Let me stop talking already! Now aren't you glad that I'm posting my own work rather than copy n' pasting someone else's writing? Okay, but maybe you aren't because I've been yappin' too much. I'm just excited. Enjoy this lovely day out everyone!

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Currently listening:
Philip Glass - Closing