6th and skid C.2009 Los Angeles, CA

"My behavior was completely unpremeditated. The morning light was enough to get me going, without rhyme or reason. Was it really reasonable to love whatever I happened to see? I never asked myself that question. Nor do I regret it, because once you start taking your alarm clock apart you no longer know what time it is...

6th and skid C.2009 Los Angeles, CA

...For half a century I pounded the cobblestones, then asphalt, of Paris, wandering up and down the city. This activity required no special physical prowess, Paris not being Los Angeles, thank heavens, and traveling by foot not considered a sign of poverty here".~Robert Doisneau

6th and skid C.2009 Los Angeles, CA

Directions C.2009 Hollywood, CA

I was hesitant to post this picture. I was trying to reserve this little outlet of mine strictly to 35mm prints. After some thought, I’ve realized if these entries are about my findings while walking through this city, then I have to be ready to share what I’ve captured with whatever I have on me at that moment.

There’s no denying the advantages modern day technology. While there may be a fine line between technological usefulness and uselessness for certain things, I can appreciate the capabilities of our “essential” items, such as cameras and the Internet on mobile phones. Just yesterday one of these features helped me find the one public library in the entire city that had the book I wanted to check out; Istanbul to Cairo on a shoestring.

One of these features also allowed me to capture something that would break my three-month absence from this site.

Upon entrance into the Los Feliz Public library I noticed a piece of paper practically laminated over the center of a payphone.

“Not In Service
Please use the telephone at 2000 Hillhurst Av.
On the northeast corner of Finley Av.
2 blocks north of the library.”

Gutted payphones are becoming commonplace. That’s been my own observation since I started my mad hunt (or obsession) particularly in the last two years. However, this was the first time that I had seen a notice of any kind on a debunked phone. This was also the first time I had seen posted directions to the nearest working phone. I’ve seen notices on newspaper stands and mailboxes but never on a phone.

Why was this odd to me? Of the payphones that are out there in the streets of L.A., its usually quite obvious if they’re working or not… the phones are physically there or physically gone. In my fairly recent encounters with payphones, there hasn’t been a “middle ground”. The payphone at the Los Feliz library is an example of the middle ground.

In my quest to collect the city’s dying communication portal, I suppose its time to acknowledge my preexisting archived digital images…

60th floor C.2007 Los Angeles, CA

6^th and Hope. I first made my acquaintance with this area en route to Garfield High after my family moved out of East L.A. It was my connecting point from the Redline (our subway) to the Eastbound line 18. A very friendly homeless Vietnam Veteran was always at this corner. He had crutches and always greeted me with a smile every morning.

The bus stop was near the corner which also happened to be near rat infested bushes. The bushes would always rattle from their movement and it was incredibly gross. Because of this the buses seemed to take even longer to arrive in the mornings. Time really is relative.

The area around that bus stop has been renovated for several years now. Its all cleaned up with places to eat and all. The rats have relocated to the bushes around Pershing Square which is about a block down the street.

I think about the friendly Vietnam Vet from time to time. I hope he eventually relocated to a place he can call home.

Reflection C.2007 Los Angeles, CA

Every time I take a walk to the Central library in downtown, I love to walk through the plaza by the Library Tower. I remember the construction of the buildings surrounding the library. I really was quite young. My elementary school wasn’t too far from downtown (Boyle and Brooklyn) so I’d see the construction of the skyscrapers pretty often. Grandma worked at a sweatshop in the fashion district so spending some time afterschool on Broadway wasn’t uncommon. When the majority of the “newer” buildings were completed, I remember looking at pictures of New York City and thinking how boring our skyline still looked. My grandma expressed her recollections of when she first arrived to this city from El Salvador in the late 60’s. She imagined Los Angeles to be this grand metropolis and essentially expected to see the New York city skyline. She was bitterly disappointed. I could only imagine… some of the older skyscrapers were completed in the 70s, well after her arrival.

I didn’t really start exploring the immediate area around the Tower until I was in high school. I’d often go to the Central library and the tower happens to be across the street. Knowing the tallest building west of the Mississippi was on my way home from school seemed insanely cool to me at the time.

As I slowly became immersed in the world of photography, I often revisited my old pockets of solitude. I enjoy taking upward shots simply because this was the same point of view I had as a 7yr old, a 17yr old, and now as a 27 yr old. I always feel incredibly small whenever I get lost in thought while I look up. Yes, smaller than usual.

This shot was selected as a finalist in Photographer’s forum magazine in 2008. The sentimental value simply made this news even sweeter.

A penny for your thoughts C. 2008 Hollywood, CA

I rarely load color film into 35mm canon but I wasn’t in school and this was the easiest way to obtain processed negatives. I don’t normally like color film because I am not in control during the processing or development…or even the printer for that matter.

I was walking along Hollywood blvd one Sunday afternoon last fall when something caught my eye. As I waited at the corner of Hollywood and Highland, a homeless man came and stood right in front of me. Lost in thought, he seemed to be debating which corner he would be crossing. As he looked to his left, I noticed a penny hanging from his headband. Quietly, I lifted my camera, focused and snapped a shot. From the looks of it, he was definitely thinking about something completely different.

A walk through my own crossroads

Detour C.2009 Los Angeles, CA

I took a very long walk today. As I ended my journey 3 hours later, I was happy to have my camera as I passed by this. I'm sure this brings a smile to thousands of citizens...and I'm one of them. I couldn't help but smile ear to ear when I saw this up close.

One life simply isn't long enough to see the world, but you can sure as hell give it your best shot.

A walk through the metropol alley

Urban decay is fascinating and photogenic to me. Aside from the disappearing objects I love to photograph, there are other things I like to capture, such as rust, death, abandonment…on inanimate objects…for the time being.

Near my current residence, there are several walls covered in artistic graffiti. As a result, this attracts an annoying amount of photographers always using these walls as backdrops for ads, cd covers or mere additions to their portfolios.

One afternoon I took a stroll around these coveted walls and saw an interesting alley. On one side was a nice restaurant called the Metropol and on the other side was a fenced off abandoned building. Although the building was an interesting sight, the objects along the fence caught my attention.

There was a dead leaf on the loose gravel near the fence. The light hit the leaf in an interesting way and I liked the texture of it. The more interesting question to me was, where the FUCK did this leaf appear from?? There aren’t any trees nearby since it an alley. I took the picture. Most that see this don’t know that there isn’t a tree there.

It’s hanging at the freestyle photographic supplies gallery until 6/12/09. I should’ve titled it.

Untitled C.2009 Los Angeles, Ca

Right beside the leaf was a pole with a very rusted chain on it. Observing that this “alley” was also a diagonal single file parking lot, I wondered what the former purpose of this chain was. Clearly it hadn’t been touched in a very long time.

Never break the chain C.2009 Los Angeles, CA

At the end of the alley was one of my favorite finds; a cement covered railroad track. I’ve recently started collecting pictures of where the local railroad tracks suddenly disappear.

Urban coverup C.2009 Los Angeles, CA

A westbound walk through public storage

I was having a difficult day and walking always seems to help me blow off steam. I was on my way home from visiting my mother when I decided to do something I’ve always been curious to try…walk across Whittier Crossing, or better known as the 6^th street bridge. This bridge connects East Los Angeles to the industrial district of Downtown Los Angeles.

I’ve crossed this bridge hundreds of times, especially when it was part of my commute in high school. It always terrified me. Its quite old and I always had this fear that an earthquake would strike while I’m crossed it. Over the years I’d always see cyclists, the homeless, and other photographers walking on it. Much too often the entire bridge would be closed off due to filming a commercial or movie scene …which was never convenient.

One Sunday afternoon I parked my car near Whittier and Boyle, grabbed my camera and began my dreaded walk.I wasn’t interested in any landscape shots. Partly because I’m afraid of heights and partly because its been done to death. I looked down and around. I looked at the things drivers typically miss. Things joggers and cyclists might miss too.

I noticed severe cracks in the structure and a terrifying gap off to the side of one of the sightseeing “balconies”. The gap was so large that my foot could easily be lodged in. Before this state starts building ridiculous multimillion-dollar trains connecting LA to San Fran, shouldn’t we focus on repairing what we already have??

I was getting closer to the horrendous arches in the middle of the bridge. They’re a terrible gray color and an eye sore. The ugly matte texture is similar to that of the Eiffel tower, however unlike that Eiffel tower, the 6^th street bridge is just as ugly at night.

A westbound bound walk through public storage Series C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

A westbound bound walk through public storage Series C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

I’ve always hated it, but the arches are what make the bridge so recognizable. Upon gazing at the actual arch up close and admiring a city skyline in the shadows, I noticed something that astounded me. A blanket neatly folded inside one of the divisions of the arch. I zigzag in and out of the two arches and found more items. The gray arches, which make it so recognizable, had literally become public storage.

I can’t tell you why exactly, but I was blown away. Many of us have become used to the sight of random shopping carts filled with items that clearly belong to a homeless person. Many of us have become used to the sight of a person sleeping on a bench, sidewalk, or an alley…but there was something about seeing these items stored away in hopes of it not getting stolen that really struck me.

A westbound bound walk through public storage Series C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

A westbound bound walk through public storage Series C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

I would say its safe to assume that most people who drive by the bridge don’t really think twice about what they miss as they cross. Most probably look straight ahead at the end of the bridge with one eye on the skyline. One might even ask why on earth anyone would walk across that bridge? Maybe because some have to…

A walk...6 months later

40 years and 6 months later C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

"Some men see things as they are and say, 'Why'? I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not'?" ~R.F.K. 1968

The 40^th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination was on June 5, 2008. Fatally shot at the Ambassador hotel near downtown Los Angeles, a generic green city owned memorial sign is all that is left of that infamous site. One Sunday afternoon, around the date of the anniversary, I noticed somebody had taped a picture of him and tied a bouquet of flowers onto the metal post of the sign. It was a nice gesture and it clearly caught my eye as I drove eastbound along Wilshire Blvd. At that moment I wish I had my camera with me.

Months and months went by. I returned some weeks ago to see if any of it was still there. I assumed it wouldn’t be for obvious reasons (natural or man made causes). I drove, I parked, and I walked. Soon enough, I discovered it was all still there. The bouquet was nothing more than a delicate sun burnt fire hazard and the picture was curled and discolored from the sun and car exhaust.

It had been left alone. It wasn’t seen as an act of vandalism, littering, or any other city code violation. It wasn’t stolen or tampered with. I thought it was remarkable, that in this part of the city, something so lightweight and unsecured stayed in tact and untouched for so long.

A walk through street corner churches

Growing up in a strict Christian family, I learned various parts of the scriptures. Parts of the new testament made me wonder if modern "megaphone" preachers were purposefully not practicing what they preached. Their methods are very forceful, intimidating and the complete opposite of the speech methods of Jesus Christ. After all to be Christian is to be Christ like, yes?

Christlike? C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

Later that day I drove down to Hollywood and Highland and decided to walk around for awhile. That intersection is the tourist capital of the city. The highlands on one corner, ‘Ripley’s believe it or not’ museum adjacent to it and a huge store of Hollywood souvenirs across from that. That day I witnessed something very unusual. There were 4 people, one on each corner holding signs that warned people about the end of the world and to turn to Christ. Big yellow signs spoke for them selves so there wasn’t a need for megaphones and intimidation. I saw an independent news crew interview one of the men as I crossed the street. After they were through I spoke to him as well. He was from a small church in Arcadia and were there for about 6 hours. He said they stood there silently with their signs ready to answer any questions people may have for them.

I didn’t stick around to find out but I would assume this was a more effective way than yelling in a condescending manner. Either way, both men were able practice what they believe to be true. It’s a freedom most take for granted.

Competition Juxtapose series C. 2008 Hollywood, CA

Believe it or not Juxtapose series C.2008 Hollywood, CA

A walk through multiple roadblocks

Los Angeles isn’t a city that is synonymous with the act of walking. Geographically, this city is incredibly spread out and lacks an efficient public transportation system. We do have one, but it fails miserably in comparison to other metropolitan cities in this country and the world.

I’ve lived in some major pockets of Los Angeles throughout my life. I lived in Lincoln Heights, East Los Angeles and South L.A.. My family never owned a car while I was growing up and our only means of transportation were the available rails and buses.

Sunday bus schedule C.2007 Los Angeles, CA

We were completely at their mercy. Hour long waits were normal as were multiple transfers. 3 buses to get to my elementary school. I remember the lines too. The 18 westbound on whittier blvd, the 251 northbound on soto street, and the 68 westbound on Brooklyn Ave(Cesar Chavez). K- 6^th grade. Once we moved to Florence, I was set on not changing schools again. My commute consisted of the blue line to downtown, run to 6^th and hope to catch the 18 Eastbound to Garfield high school. It was during this time that I witnessed the demolition of a section of the convention center and the day to day construction of the staples center. I remember at age 16, wishing I had a camera to capture the daily progress.

Upon graduating from college, I decided I desperately needed a car to advance in this city and not merely survive in it. Upon finally saving up enough to buy a car, I never looked back. I figured I had paid my public transportation dues for a lifetime and kissed this city’s system goodbye.

Sunset on Hope C.2007 Los Angeles, CA

Then I came upon a turning point 4 years later in 2008. I had to readjust some of my big plans and had to pursue them in a different order. I was on a photoshoot for a class project in the desert one January weekend and my car simply gave out on the way home. I was immediately wiped out of any savings I had acquired in order to fix it. Not only that, I had to drop out of school in the evenings. I was back to the 4 hour daily commute and back to taking 3 buses to get to work.

The coverup C.2007 Cabazon, CA

I didn’t understand what the lesson was. I had paid my transit dues, I was finally at a place in my life where I could begin my photographic education and I was never unappreciative of my vehicle. But there I was again, spending more money on a daily basis because I was taking multi city transit lines.

During this month and a half period, a lifetime of bad metro memories flooded back. After working so hard I felt like I had taken a million steps back for several reasons. However, it was during this month and a half that I began to see things in a new light.

While walking and waiting, I began to pay attention to things that were disappearing before my eyes. Mailboxes, newspaper stands, and phone booths. I didn’t wonder why they were disappearing. Of course I knew. What I did wonder was just how “obsolete” theses objects were since I constantly witnessed people using them. I was walking more, and revisiting crevasses I hadn’t walked through in years.

Eventually I got out of that minor hole and began to execute an idea I put on the back burner for years as well as refine my ideas into my transportation “roots” What little things have I missed and ignored as I zoom through the streets of LA?

I began to notice phone booths more and more. I was able to put this idea into practice when I was able to go back to school once again. What started out as a simple typological study for a class project has evolved into a very personal project of mine.

Untitled series 1 of 500 C.2008 Los Angeles, CA

I understand the idea of photographing the decaying and the disappearing isn’t new and discovered other images of a similar nature after I had started. But my approach to this has been refined to the city of Los Angeles, and the avenues of my various commutes in my life. In this sense, it belongs to me.

Most importantly, my objective is to collect the disappearing through a disappearing medium, 35mm film. On several occasions I’ve been tempted to switch to the digital format on this project only because the access to develop and print film isn’t convenient at all and quite expensive. But I truly feel like I have to stick to my guns on this one. Plus black and white prints are simply richer than digital grayscale, and you cannot convince me otherwise.

Departure C.2007 Los Angeles, CA

Even though I feel a very special attachment to this horrid city, I’m only one of several million Los Angelenos and this is simply one person’s point of view.

A walk through the Pompidou

Pompidou C.2002 Paris, France

A Parisian reflection

I have fond memories of walking the streets of Paris alone. I spent a huge amount of my free time near Chatelet-Les Halles. Dozens of postcard shops, the Centre Pompidou, theatres, the mall and my favorite internet café were all in that area. With my student pass I’d go to the pompidou centre quite frequently.

One day I went up the futuristic looking escalators and noticed that there was an unlocked door that led to a balcony, with a shallow pond and abstract sculptures. I’ve noticed this spot before but the doors were always chained. I had a cheap little disposable camera (that didn’t even have a flash built in). I always wanted to take certain landscape shots in the city but I always felt embarrassed for taking “artistic shots” with a cheap camera. Even with my regular point and shoot. I’d always see students and tourists with their fancy long lens cameras. I didn’t envy them too much since I felt like I had used up my good luck just BEING there.

The sun was setting on that balcony and I couldn’t explain why, but I just loved how everything looked. The white pipes, the brown sculptures, the steel staircase, the people and the skyline all seemed to neutralize. Not one object seemed to overpower the other. (This isn’t the case from the outside of the museum)

I made sure noone around me could see me, and when I picked up my little camera I noticed the tiny Eiffel tower in the right corner. I felt like a fly on the wall. Quickly I snapped my shot and had no idea what it looked like. It wasn’t until months later that I developed that roll of film. That shot was one of my only artistic attempts of the entire trip. Better than none I suppose.

A walk through the Eiffel tower

Vertigo C. 2002 Paris, France

This isn’t an L.A. story but it definitely planted the seed that led me to pursue photography.

September 2002. It was my very first day in the city of lights and the skies were blue. From what I had heard, that doesn’t happen too often in the fall. Our group leader had advised us to meet in front of the Opera house in order to give us some pointers and suggestions on where to go. Several headed over to the latin quatier but I was dead set on being typical and see the Eiffel tower on my first day there. My roommate Tina accompanied me even though she had been there before. Once we were there I realized I forgot my camera. I didn’t want to lose any more time so I bought a Kodak advantix disposable camera at the Eiffel tower gift shop. 20 euros for 27 exposures. Damn.

The admission price between the elevator and the staircase was enough to give the climb an attempt. I was terrified. I’m already afraid of heights, and it didn’t help that I was climbing an open-air slanted staircase.

Once we made it to the first level I was blown away by the view. I could see the city as far as I could. As we walked to the other side, I made an uncharacteristic look down from the belly of the tower. There was something about the light going through the “lacy” designs of the tower’s edge that caught my attention as I briefly forgot that looking down from loopy heights gives me vertigo. There were three setting on my disposable camera. Full frame, some middle setting I cant remember, and panoramic. I set it to the middle setting and this is what I saw 5 months later when I had this developed.