San Diego Skyline

King Palm

Sign On San Diego: University Heights

San Diego is broken down into different neighborhoods, which for a city with nearly a million and half residents, goes a long way toward making it feel smaller than it really is. Many of these neighborhoods have signs distinguishing them. I've been wanting to go around and get photos of these different signs. So, a new series called Sign On San Diego, which is a local reference in itself, will be posted as I get pictures of these signs. I decided to start with the neighborhood sign nearest me. (Some will argue that The Boulevard sign is closer and it may be, but it doesn't depict a neighborhood and it's picture will make it on here soon.)

Castle Aflame

Things I See Everyday: My (Supposed) Terrorist Plot

So, I usually do not do two "Things I See Everyday" posts, but today was something special. I was driving home from work this evening and was going to pick up some food and knew I would be driving past this building I see most every evening. I see this building usually from the freeway and I think about how I like the white vertical lines contrasting with the black windows and the fact that it is well lit in the evening. Today I was on surface streets and I had my camera with me, so I decided to stop. I parked, got out, and snapped two shots immediately. I was moving around to find a better angle when I was approached by a security guard who informed me that "The owners don't want people taking pictures because of the 'political climate'". Anyone who knows the geography of San Diego will realize that this mediocre building in Mission Valley is a morale center for the public of San Diego. I spoke with him a little more and left, leaving unsaid the fact that I can go to Downtown San Diego and take pictures of "impressive and important" buildings all night long without being hassled by some security guy. Not to mention that on the other side of the bay is the largest Naval Base on the West Coast.

In short, I am flabbergasted by the self-aggrandizing things that people say to me in thinking of their importance to terrorists. About 5 months after September 11th, I was a manager for a movie theatre in my hometown in Central California. We were required to sell these pins for charity. I went into the theatre to give my spiel to the audience before the start of the film. The projectionist is supposed to turn the lights up for this, but had failed to do so. I left my bag at the front of the theatre and ran upstairs to do it myself. I was walking back downstairs when a lady was hysterically talking to one of my employees, who directed her to me. She was telling me how she got scared that I was a terrorist come to blow up this amazingly important theatre, wearing a name tag, suit and tie no less. I explained to her what I was doing and she felt so embarassed she bought like 10 pins. It's a small town that most people have never heard of and she thinks that is where the terrorists are going to strike. Right in the middle of a stupid Sunday matinee. Come on. I'm glad these people have a good amount of self esteem to think that they are so important with their mediocrity.

So, now you've had two long winded stories and I leave you with a mediocre picture to match. I think sometime I'll go back to that building and take my chances again. But, way to go security guy on making what probably would have been a less interesting final picture, (if I had been able to take more) that I was only taking to quell my nagging interest in the building, into a rant and now a mission to take that uninteresting photo I really wanted. Nice.

Things I See Everyday: The East Atrium

And To Think That I Never Liked Rye...

As The World Washes Away

Davy Jones Has Nothing On These Guys

Obstructed: The Neighbor's Bamboo

I'm starting a new series today entitled Obstructed. I find myself thinking about obstructions as I walk around. It might be something simple like a fence with flowers just poking over the top or a building that was so self-righteously placed to allow a few a great vista and the masses outside a great view of a building with hints around the edges that portent the beauty beyond. So, today's post will get a quick story about the bamboo...
When Cindi, Carly, and I were looking for apartments 3 years ago we fell in love with the tall, thick miniature bamboo grove that was growing on the neighbors property. A tenant next door left and a new one moved in. This new tenant had a problem with the bamboo and asked the landlord to remove it (she was afraid hobos or something would hide out in the bamboo, which would not be very practical, since I've been in there and it's thick, the leaves are surprisingly sharp, and there are little bamboo pikes of old bamboo ready to make your stay very uncomfortable). Anyways, so the landlord had someone cut it down. This was a very sad day for us, but noticed that this did not kill it. So, we watered it and brought it back to it's respendant glory of about 14 feet tall. This quick regrowth seemed to vex the landlord, so he cut it down again and then tried everything he could to kill the stuff. He even tried the industrial stuff they use to kill corn fields. Nothing worked. He would need a tractor to take this stuff out. He seems to have now contended himself with periodic choppings. This has been the progress since the last chop and it always brings a smile to mine and Cindi's faces when we see the bamboo reaching out over the fence to once again thwart all the efforts thrown against it.

Sometime Things Don't Go The Direction You Hope

Lightbox

Matt put me onto a link for a quick and cheap way to make a lightbox, so that was my project today and well, I'm very impressed with the results. You can't get bad light in this thing. I immediately got great results, in fact this was the first thing I shot. You can find the instructions for building the lightbox here. This is one shot from another day of photographing Cindi's work which is being sold here. Unfortunately I got a late start and most of the pictures aren't prepared to be posted yet, but in the next few days the new work (including a line of magnets) will make it's way on there.

Jewel Work

I might be a few days on having a real post, because I'm devoting my photo time to helping Cindi put her work up on a site where she's trying to sell her wares. It might be a day or two until she gets around to adding them to the site, it definitely won't be tonight, since she is already fast asleep. If you want to buy some of her stuff you can find it here and if you want you can see her blog of random stuff here

Pink Disaster

Out of all the flamingos I saw here this one was absolutely crazy. It was bedraggled and ran around squawking at everything and picking fights with the other flamingos. It was just a mess.

Inside Fern Canyon

Flying (and who's that guy?)

COME ON, #4!!!!!

This afternoon Cindi, Tim, Doug, Curtis, Ali and I went down to where the Surf meets the Turf down in Old Del Mar, (the Del Mar Race Track) to put some money down on the ponies and also because after the last race of the day there was a free concert by the Flaming Lips (which was amazing). We had an awesome afternoon (some horse pictures will soon turn up) winning and losing money, sharing tips and lucky horses, losing money on the sure bet and the long shot, learning how to read all of the stats and types of bets, spending a half hour brain storming on which horse would place where for each race and then yelling for a minute while it runs like that is going to change the race, and learning that #7 in the 7th race really is a smart bet (today at least)... So, here's Tim watching and yelling (not pictured) at #4 (and it probably lost to #5, which seemed to always be the case, gotta hope for a scratch on 5) I think we'll go again soon, especially since racing season is only like 6 weeks.

Germ City

Things I See Everyday: Bedside Lamp

Stare Down

Chiaroscuro

Brine Shrimp: You Put Your Head On It

Just Taking A Cruise

It's A Long Way Down

Overhead

Near the Tower

999 Happy Haunts

So, I Guess This is a Giraffe

Things I See Everyday: The Chuck's Cage

Reach for the Sky (For the Berkeley Pit)

RJ's Chair

I did the photography for my boss's wedding a couple months ago with my friend Tim. During the ceremony I was running all over the ceremony site next to the San Diego Bay trying to capture every moment of this very important occasion. I was walking by and realized that my friend RJ always brings his own chair, everywhere he goes. This isn't a great picture, and I've been slacking on my photo taking because I'm waiting on my new lens I ordered to come in, so I'm just kind of thowing old photos out there until I get some new work that I really feel stoked on. (Also, Dave is in town this week, so I might be pretty sporadic with the posts this week, so posting might slip my mind)

Check Please

Tony Candelaria: Air Traffic Controller (have a good trip, guys)

Ah, the Glory

Photographing Another Photographer

Quiet Moments: These Kids Are Going to the Vatican on Sunday

Things I See Everyday: Electricity in the North Wing

Waterfall Steps for My Father

Monkey!!!

Zoidberg Does

Sometimes the Power is Staggering

Swish Swash

Really?

OK, so the following picture is terrible, but I've been sitting on it since February. I kept seeing these signs when I visited Tony and Stef and well they made me laugh. I don't remember what these signs actually signify (something about curbs and maybe sewer grates) But to the non-Oregonian it looks to me like dudes riding bikes without front tires (stupid dudes). So, now this most disappointing picture is out of my way (man, it's not even in focus, but that's what happens when you try taking pictures while Tony is driving), but I just had to share the humor...maybe it's just me...

Stumbling Upon the Gullywhumper

Sometimes You Can Catch A Glimpse...

Things I See Everyday: The Smiling Face in the Hall

Roberto Lara: Crab Hunter

Another Day, Another Sunset

Quietly

And don't forget.... There are a lot more photos in the archives...

Stones and Sea