Participant Photographer

Photography is such a dynamic form of expression. From a captured moment on a busy street corner, to something conceived in my mind, to a deeply personal feeling. Today it’s deeply personal This afternoon I set in motion a process that will take me to leaving behind one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Something I have nurtured and cared for over the last 22 years. A platform of joy and success, countless failures, and at times on the open seas, utter terror. I’ve had the most elated moments with her and at times the greatest frustration. She is the catalyst to some of my best memories and most cherished experiences. I have made money from her beauty and grace and spent countless more than I ever imagined on her care and upkeep. There is nothing more thrilling than the experience of being at the helm of this boat under full sail. I’m not sure who will take my place as her owner once she is gone, but I know in my heart I have done my best to care for her and in return she has given me the ride of my life. To Galatea. The Greek goddess of calm seas. Adieu.

I knew what I wanted to create immediately last night. A couple of texts, a quick phone call, an Amazon order and I was ready to go. My subject got home from school and we got busy. Sometimes I think the neighborhood kids dread my phone calls, but they play anyways.

Not far from where I live there are wind turbine ‘farms’. Not just a few. In fact, the numerous turbines in the Palm Springs area represent one of the country’s largest installations. However, there are controversies that surround these gigantic devices. Ranging from the lubricant involved to operate each machine, the number of birds who perish each year from the rotating blades, and the issue of recycling the ‘parts’, there are many conflicting ‘facts’. I am by no means an expert on all this. That being said, after I photographed the image you see here, and dove into post-production, I made a conscious choice to give the scene an eerie and somewhat futuristic feel. The implication is that there’s quite a lot to the story that may not be all rosy.  

I had a little vacation in Florida and took my phone, as one does, to find new things to capture. The city looks like most U.S. cities but has different botanical surroundings. I have always done a variety of subjects, so the Botanical gardens were easy to reacquaint with. I did not think about what other photographers had done before while shooting, but my visual memory muscle kicked in instinctively too well. While working on this image on the computer, I remembered prominent names like E.W., A.A., and a new guy I had recently been made aware of, Clyde Butcher, from Florida. I have not seen his Mangrove shots, but he must have many. For photographers, Pebble Beach by Carmel is what Mangroves is to Florida’s Wetlands.

Walking around downtown Las Vegas certain things are ubiquitous. Hustlers, tourists, and alcohol. Bars serving drinks are everywhere, even outside.    This one was empty, not even a bartender at the time. I could just imagine later in the evening there could be 3 people deep crowds trying to get a beer. But for now, all is calm.

Now days with all the music streaming services, a song is only a few moments away from being played and can become your very own personal concert. I prefer when I can, the magic of a live performance. The social experiences of the crowd connecting with the artists and the musicians playing off the crowd’s reaction, and not the exact same performance every time. This night did not disappoint. I was privileged to be invited to a live performance by “Radio Project One” at The House of Blues. The place was very dark, basically only the gelled spot lights from the stage gave any kind of illumination, which just added to the ambiance. I enjoy the contrast of the saturated color that the spots provided to the dark minimal detail in the crowd’s silhouette. Marcus, the lead guitarist and the rest of the boys sounded tight that night and the energy was high…and the music was loud….just perfect ! A few captures to record the moment. Not a lot of post processing on this one…not needed. This image is very close to how it felt to be there that night. A great performance…. a fun memory.

I shot this photo at a “Thank You” event hosted by the Joshua Tree Brewing Company and the JT Music Festival in Yucca Valley. The musician is Gabby. She is part of a family of musicians. Every time I run into them on the street or at an event, I’m thrilled. I’m so fond of all of them. The Morongo Basin is a fantastic place for artists in music, sculpture, writing, photography, and art forms that are being invented spontaneously.

Las Vegas is a place of fantastical amusement. This picture does not do justice to the sensory assault of being there. For the sake of haste, brevity will be the order today.

He got into the moonbounce to jump, but was quickly stilled and entranced…I imagine the colors, the light, and the wintry view out the window captivated him. Making me think how a scene framed by a window can be arresting in a different way than a whole 360 degree view outside. The outside looks different depending on the inside.

Another Santa Barbara find this week on a walkabout in downtown.

This little gem of a location is tucked off the main drag and comprises a small courtyard with several colorful buildings filled with eclectic workspaces for creative types. This vine seemed to follow the number one rule of not blocking the window, either by a gardener’s design or Mother Nature’s hand.

Either way, the effect is successful, and the chance to find some inspiration from this place is complete.