Little Tokyo 2013 New Year Performance

These images are from the dress rehearsal of "Kotohajime" a New Year's performance put together every year featuring multi-cultural performing arts. The above image is of a Korean Dancer.

The set design was put together by JACCC's Artistic Director Hirokazu Kosaka

Another image of the Korean dancer

I enjoy shooting the dress rehearsal because it comes with a different energy than when with an audience, and it allows for images with a higher contrast. In this image are the Modern Level III Dancers from the Colburn School's Trudl Zipper Dance Institute.

Another image of the Modern dancers.

Near the end of rehearsal I ran out of black and white so tried to capture a couple of images with color. This may be one of my favorite all-time color images, it features a fellow writer and friend.

At the end of the Kotohajime performance, Mr. Kosaka emerges and performs a purification rite by the shooting of the first arrow of the New Year, a Zen Archery tradition. Again, this is from the rehearsal so the archers are not in traditional clothing, so it almost seems like a moment is caught that was meant to stay secret.

At the end of the Kotohajime performance, over 500 roles of paper tape descend to the stage at the moment the New Year's arrow hits the target.

As I have had the honor and great pleasure of pulling the cord that releases the paper tape for nearly 7 years  I was able to capture these images right after they dropped in the performance.

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