January 2019 Photography
Unsettled Skies: The thunderstorms rolled in just after dawn, one right after another. It was loud. It was heavy rain until late afternoon – the streets flooded – no one going anywhere. Then it was all over. The next set of storms is on the way, but that’s later. For now, the skies are simply odd. Step out the front door. Yes, odd. ~ Thursday, January 31, 2019
At the Coronet: Men at work – the Coronet Theater, 366 North La Cienega Boulevard, built in 1947 by Frieda Berkoff of the Russian dancing family, the Berkoffs. That first year, 1947, it was the world premiere of Bertolt Brecht’s “Galileo Galilei” here, and then the west coast premiere of Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth” – and now the Coronet is a music and comedy club. Apparently it needed cacti. Or it’s that this is just another strange Los Angeles neighborhood. ~ Wednesday, January 30, 2019
A Winter Afternoon: “Temperatures are set to drop to levels that parts of the United States haven’t seen in more than a decade. The days-long cold snap will drop temperatures below zero for more than eighty million people. Many major cities have the potential to set all-time record low temperatures in the coming days.” But that has nothing to do with Southern California. That has nothing to do with Venice Beach. This is winter out here. ~ Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Like It Says: There were those messages on the walls. “It’s not always black and white.” “Choose fun.” That was the double message in the street this day. ~ Monday, January 28, 2019
Winter Close-Ups: This is winter in Los Angeles – roses and Gazania and miniature Japanese iris in the brightest of bright sunshine. ~ Saturday, January 26, 2019
The Boat Yard: Marina Del Rey is North America’s largest man-made small-craft harbor and of course it has a boat yard, actually a yacht dealer and repair and maintenance operation called The Boat Yard. In the middle of a dark Los Angeles’ winter it’s a visual treat. Even for landlubbers. ~ Thursday, January 24, 2019
Transforming Fame: On a side street just off Fairfax near Wilshire Boulevard, a secular Last Supper, all about race and Hollywood and fame – Jesus is a black rock star and Judas is his white agent and the disciples are his posse. Hollywood is all about fame, but that’s fine. Hollywood is a strange place. The strange museums are just down the street. ~ Wednesday, January 23, 2019
At Angel’s Gate: Sometimes Hollywood and Los Angeles are too much and it’s time to drive down the harbor. Angel’s Gate Park and the Korean Peace Bell in San Pedro – with Catalina off in the distance – make everything all better. ~ Tuesday, January 22, 2019
The Shipping News: Winter at the Port of Los Angeles, snow-capped mountains in the distance and the working port below – with the gulls watching it all – the world passes through here. ~ Tuesday, January 22, 2019
On Vine Street: A bright winter afternoon on Vine Street in Hollywood, at Sunset and Vine of course – it’s the dance of light – it’s the dance of color. ~ Monday, January 21, 2019
Going Formal: The formal gardens at Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills, a gift from oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny to his son, Edward “Ned” Doheny, Jr., and his family, were completed in 1928. Edward Doheny made his fortune in the Teapot Dome Scandal and this may be the only good thing that came from the days of the Harding administration. But then Ned shot his wife here and then shot himself, and the family moved out – bad karma. Following the purchase of the estate by the city of Beverly Hills in 1965, the property became a city park in 1971, and of course Hollywood shoots a lot of movies here. The bad karma is gone. ~ Saturday, January 19, 2019
Late Sunshine: That was odd – a week of rain in Los Angeles – no sun at all – but that had to end. It all blew out to sea. The sun simply got here late, at the end of the week. It lit up the Wilshire District quite nicely. ~ Friday, January 18, 2019
Rainy Day Women: “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” – Bob Dylan – the opening track of his 1966 album “Blonde on Blonde” – initially released as a single in April 1966 – with the chorus “Everybody must get stoned” – and Melrose Avenue in the rain these days. The message is the same. ~ Thursday, January 17, 2019
Not Technicolor: A few days of heavy rain drains the color right out of Hollywood – Emerson College and the Technicolor building at Sunset-Gower Studios on Sunset Boulevard. Hollywood looks different. Hollywood looks mysterious again. ~ Thursday, January 17, 2019
Shades of Grey: Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles between rainstorms in the middle of winter – the Broad Museum and Disney Hall – a study in shades of grey. ~ Tuesday, January 15, 2019
The Face of the City: This is Los Angeles – its iconic City Hall – the lawmakers at the Superior Court building next door – the earthy women just down the street at the Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s all Los Angeles. ~ Tuesday, January 15, 2019
The Light Between Storms: Heavy rain overnight washed Los Angeles clean, and the gardens glow. But more rain is coming. ~ Saturday, January 12, 2019
Above It All: Hollywood is urban, but the wild is only a few feet away, just up Nichols Canyon and then across Mulholland Drive – another world above the city, on one side, and the San Fernando Valley on the other, with those mysterious mountains in the distance. It’s wild up there. ~ Friday, January 11, 2019
The Winter Sea: High Surf Warning, Low Clouds, Manhattan Beach, Thursday, January 10, 2019
Beverly Hills Light: Rich people are boring. The only good thing about Beverly Hills is the light. Rodeo Drive is kind of cool, without the people. ~ Wednesday, January 9, 2019
A Lake and Three Walls: Winter in Echo Park is odd. The geese and ducks at the lake start to strike odd poses and the local walls seem to talk. And the light is odd – translucent. And it’s quiet, oddly quiet – but nicely quiet. ~ Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Caught In the Rain: The week opened with a bit of winter rain – and a new horse running in that rain, and other mysteries. Rain is good. Mystery is good. ~ Monday, January 7, 2019
Quiet Time: Los Angeles was subdued – low skies – cold rain on the way soon – and the gardens were subdued too. It was quiet time. ~ Saturday, January 5, 2019
Locomotion: This is how people used to get to Hollywood – the Travel Town collection of restored steam locomotives on the other side of Griffith Park, the Burbank side, on Zoo Drive, not far from Warner Brothers and Disney. When the light is right it’s 1925 again and America is mighty again. ~ Friday, January 4, 2019
On Vine Street: There’s music on Vine Street in Hollywood at the Capitol Records Tower. And the light was good. ~ Thursday, January 3, 2019
Still Feeling Groovy: “Slow down, you move too fast. You got to make the morning last. Just kicking down the cobblestones, looking for fun and feelin’ groovy…” That was Simon and Garfunkel in 1966 and at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. This is the new Ed Massey piece at the Samy’s Camera building on Fairfax in Hollywood. It’s groovy in that sixties sort of way. And so are all the rock stars all along Guitar Row up on Sunset Boulevard. After more than fifty years everyone is still feelin’ groovy. ~ Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Fresh and Right: New Year’s Day in Malibu clears the head. Everything is fresh and right at the Adamson House on Pacific Coast Highway at the Malibu Lagoon, just north of the Malibu Pier – Stiles Oliver Clements, 1929 – built for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and her husband, Merritt Huntley Adamson, the daughter and son-in-law of last owners of the Malibu Spanish Land Grant. It’s now a museum that connects everything to the past, and then there’s the present – the winter sun on the endless silver Pacific – fresh and right for the New Year. It’s a good start. ~ Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Just Above Sunset 