CantersI

If you live in Los Angeles, you've been here at least once...right? If you haven't I suggest going late at night, that's when the people watching is at its best. Post midnight movie is prime time.

 

Two words: Poppyseed Strudel

Lights, Camera, Chinatown

Foo Chow. I once wrote a short story that opens up on two characters finishing lunch at Foo Chow's while discussing plans for a bank robbery.

In case you were unaware, these are all pictures from Chinatown in Downtown Los Angeles.

I'd been meaning to come here to see what I could do with my camera loaded with 400 speed black and white film pushed 1 stop to 800.

I don't know if I actually captured the essence of night in Chinatown, but it was something I needed to do.

Oddly enough, this is one of my favorites from this roll of film.

I'm not meaning to sound hard on myself, but this is practically the same shot I took in Pittsburgh a couple years back...at least the same composition. I think I need to start to expand my subjects beyond lights, books and rusted out, old buildings to include people.

But with that said, oh how I love lights and how they show up on film.

If you haven't been to Chinatown lately, a lot (not all) of the old retail shops have been transferred into galleries. This is particularly true of the shops that are along Chung King Road, just west of N. Hill Street.

An alley along Chung King Road (L.A., CA)

Twin Lens Camera...Take 2

Bookstores seem to be gaining on neon lights as my latest subject matter...one day soon I may actually take pictures of the living. This photograph is from Stories in Echo Park.  If you like books, banter, coffee or friendly stray cats, you should go.

Also from Stories in Echo Park.

This one is from a used bookstore in Pasadena...I forgot the name of the store, but it's next to an Indian restaurant. And yes, I forgot the restaurant's name too. But it's on that one street in Pasadena...you know, that one.

The Last Book Store

Here, a couple of pictures from The Last Book Store in Downtown LA...if you haven't been there, you're missing out on a great experience.

A Walk Through Downtown

 400 speed film pushed to 800 but developed at 400.  Still leaves a lot of contrast but not as grainy or harsh.  I took this roll over the course of a few weeks while walking through and sometimes driving around Downtown LA.  The first photograph is from a sign hanging in Coles Original French Dip Sandwich.

Two from Union Station

A shot from the Highland Park Goldline Station.

5 from walking home one night through Downtown LA

Ah...2 from Tommy's Burger, but you probably knew that.

Los Angeles

120 film/twin lens camera

These pictures is not the first roll of 120 film I've shot using my Ricohflex Model VI camera, but it the first roll that I was able to develop successfully...whether the pictures are successful or not is another question, but from what I see, I look forward to experimenting more and even taking some portraits of friends with this camera.

A shot I took to experiment with color.  This hanging piece is from the reDiscover Center (www.rediscovercenter.org) where they use recycled material to make art.

Trying to play with depth of field...if I could do this one over, I'd set the focus a little further down the alley. Location: Behind Washington Blvd in Culver City.

Location: Sunset Blvd in Echo Park.

If ever I have to work late, it's good to know there's a place where I can lay my head for a quick nap before heading home.

Driving: Mid-Wilshire

I was heading to a meeting at http://paperorplastikcafe.com/ (if you haven't been there yet, I recommend you swing by) and decided to take pictures and drive...the only glitch, I pushed my 100 speed film two stops and shot it at 400, giving the film an even harder contrast...

On the drive home I was actually able to pull over and take a few shots.

The increased contrast makes the light sources hang on for dear life against the encroaching night.

LACMA's Courtyard..I would've gotten a better shot but the car in front of me stopped short so I had to settle for this angle.

315 W. 9th Street, Basement Level

What happens when you have your camera sitting at work loaded with 400 speed black and white film (but pushed to 800)?  You go down to the basement and take pictures of course.

This building was build in the 1920s. I suspect these urinals and certainly the tile were around when the building first opened.