...riding through Los Angeles

Passenger c.2010

Last week I revisited an old friend…the metro blue line. Public transportation usually is a pleasant experience when you don’t HAVE to use it. Since I had the luxury of time & personal space on my side, it was a nice ride. I rode it again to the central library, however this time I chose a window seat facing east. My eye immediately zeroed in on the window etchings.

What form of public transportation hasn’t been defaced? I used to see guys pull out their sharpened pens or box cutters on the 18 route and make their mark. I usually witnessed things like that in the back of the bus and other passengers never spoke up. The scratching on the windows and panels would make me twitch, much like nails to a chalkboard. Pointless behavior in my opinion…almost as pointless as taking public transportation for fun. Kidding.

A ride for old times sake

I remember permanently writing off public transportation the moment I drove my car off the lot back in 2004. For some reason I threw that thought out of my head and took the blue line today. It isn’t so dreadful when it’s a leisure ride, without timetables.

Blue Line c.2010

I sat by one of the doors. It was quite empty and that is a sight I’m definitely not used to. I pointed my camera at the door and left it on through all seven stops so I could capture whatever I wanted without wasting time. Through my peripheral vision I noticed people sitting close to me would intentionally walk to a further exit when their stop came up. I wondered if they didn’t walk into my frame because they were being nice or because they didn’t want me to have an image taken of them…I assumed the latter.

This is what I call familiar ...

Florence Station c.2010

Vernon Station c.2010

Crossing c.2010

Washington Station c.2010

San Pedro Station c.2010

Grand Station c.2010

Pico Station c.2010

Underground c.2010

7th/Metro Station c.2010

Making time to walk

Distractions. My home is full of them and I lack the discipline to keep electronics off especially after a long day at work and evening classes. I like to seclude myself in various places to read or write. My favorite spot is at the central library as I’ve mentioned in previous posts. I especially love the cubicles. I like reading in public places without feeling like I’m being watched. Its just a thing I have…Although this is as close to complete seclusion as I can, I do like to carry a portable window with me.

An unwelcome walk...

Digital reading for film project

There are many days when I wish I would have been an aspiring photographer during the days when having your picture taken was a rarity and a privilege. People seemed more willing to let a stranger capture their image…or so the history books have made it seem. Too often I’ve seen people dodge my path at the sight of my camera, whether it’s an SLR or a little point and shoot. I sense their uneasiness immediately. Some see me as a type of thief. No one has ever said that to me but that’s the vibe I often feel.

Recently, I was walking westward on 8th street, expanding my collection of payphones. There was one outside of a small liquor store that I came across and shot it. Immediately, I noticed the storeowner nervously come out to see what I was up to. Having captured what I wanted, I continued on with my walk. As I did this, I also noticed a customer step out behind me. I was about half a block down when I heard the heavyset customer exclaim, “We don’t like cameras”. I didn’t turn back, although I did think about how many photographers they’ve come across and felt photographers are only interested in the exploitation of the area and the people.

This wasn’t the first time I’ve been confronted by someone because I took a picture of a payphone near their store. On Washington and Central I took a picture of a payphone near an entrance to a salon and a nervous young Hispanic man came out and asked me if I had been sent over by someone. I said no and explained the objective of my project. He went on to tell me that his store had been vandalized continuously because he was gay. I apologized for causing any alarm and hoped his troubles would stop soon.

I’ve also been confronted by less understanding storeowners. On Broadway and 8th I took a picture of a payphone that was across the street from the Orpheum theatre. The phone wasn’t next to the convenience store entrance so I was surprised when I saw the storeowner come out to the street and attempt to cover my lens. He was an older man of Middle Eastern descent. He told me I wasn’t allowed to take a picture of his store. I calmly explained what I was doing and assured him that his store wasn’t in my frame, only the payphone. He didn’t care and told me not to shoot anymore. I said the phone was city property and he couldn’t tell me what to do. To his disapproval I quickly captured my picture anyway. He kept an eye on me as I walked down the block. Normally I’d be intimidated by such a confrontation, but honestly, not in my hometown.

I would love to know the specific reasons some of the storeowners have for hating the use of cameras near their stores. Then again if they’re confronting me then they’re probably not in a chatty mood. Either way, this is my ongoing project and it’ll take the actual disappearance of the payphones to get me to stop.

A walk around the world...

Hollywood, Ca c.2009

Outside of the Kodak Theatre, near Hollywood and Highland, the Oscar winners of the best picture award are chronologically listed on lit pillars. Looking at some of the film titles reminded me of the time when I went through a classic film phase in my late teens and made a silly little goal that I’d watch every “Best picture”. Well, that still hasn’t been accomplished but I would like to pick up where I left off. A film on that exclusive list is Jules Verne’s adaptation of Around the World in 80 days. Although I’ve never seen the film (either versions) I must say it is my favorite book of all time.

Film versions of classic literature are almost always different than their written counterparts and rarely get it right…if your definition of “right” means keeping the original story the same. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The curious case of Benjamin Button and The Count of Monte Cristo are a few of my exceptions in which I enjoyed the movie just as much as the book even if the original stories underwent some serious “Hollywood editing”. So why haven’t I seen Around the world in 80 days? I just don’t want to. I picked up the book at Borders one day and read it cover to cover in a very short time. I can’t remember the exact time but I do remember loving the charm of the story, and the way the contemporary technologies were written in. I even caught myself laughing out loud which is something I don’t do often while reading. I loved this book so much that I decided to take a train trip that follows a similar route through the western states as described in the book. The Amtrak California Zephyr definitely left me with a memorable experience. I would love to see more of this country by rail.

I can’t recommend a film I haven’t seen but I can definitely recommend this book for any lover of travel and history. As a matter of fact I’m going to dust off my copy and read it again…

A walk I should remember

I forgot, Los Angeles, Ca c.2010

The text in this image embodies what photography means to me and to so many other enthusiasts and professionals alike. I honestly cannot remember where I took this, but it obviously had enough of an impact that I had to take it home with me somehow.

Although I suspect it was taken at the Central Library, I can’t be certain. Not remembering where I walked isn’t very characteristic of me. “Citing your source” is something that was etched in my mind as an undergrad. I also have a freaky memory for the mundane things. Or maybe remembering the mundane things is just part of being a female.

Either way I can’t remember. But I do remember why I liked it so much. I credit the selected quote by Edward Steichen. I was a fan of Steichen before I even knew who he was. I remember checking out a book from the Central library popular culture in the 1930s when I was about 16 or 17 . There were several old Hollywood portraits I loved, especially one of George Gershwin at his piano smoking a cigar. I photocopied it and placed it in a sheet protector in my school binder.

George Gershwin, c. 1927 Edward Steichen

This particular book (which I also can’t remember the title of) and photography pretty much solidified my interest in history, which would later lead into a serious interest in photography. I didn’t know Steichen was to credit until I saw a traveling exhibit at LACMA back in 2008 titled ‘Vanity Fair Portraits’. This is where I saw and recognized so many of the photographs I had seen in that book nearly a decade ago, including that George Gershwin portrait that I had photocopied. By default, he already was one of my favorite studio portrait photographers. All it took was a single quote to remind me of that fact.

Premeditated walks

Most people that grow up in big cities are exposed to graffiti along with other forms of public defacing. I remember one of the reasons my family moved out of East LA in the late 90s was because the gang graffiti had leaked onto our block and a little too close for comfort. It wasn’t all bad. Some of which could be considered art was ugly and rushed, and other times it would consist of elaborate designs. It always got painted over, but it stayed up long enough where the neighborhood would have had a chance to see it.

During my time in the artists’ district in downtown, I noticed homemade stickers and spray painted stencils were the norm on street posts and signs. This didn’t bother me since I usually stop to read what the perpetrators want us to read. Most of them aren’t worth the time but like the occasional personalized license plate, some do make me laugh or chuckle or provoke thought.

Some of the things I've chosen to capture have deteriorated or got painted over. I guess the universal hope is that someone will notice your mark before it disappears.