IMAGERY – A Hazy Day in Malibu
Found myself in Malibu the other day and decided to pull out my camera and take a lazy stroll around The Adamson House property… here’s some of the stuff I saw. I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. :)
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IMAGERY – Compton Boulevard, circa 1885
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View of Compton Boulevard looking west from Alameda Boulevard in Compton, ca.1885
OUR FIRST 3-D POST!!! – Jack Laxer at the Getty
CLICK ON THE THREE THUMBNAILS BELOW TO VIEW ANIMATED GIFS. IF YOU’D RATHER VIEW THE IMAGES SIDE BY SIDE, WE’VE POSTED THEM AFTER THE JUMP.
WHAT: Photography in 3-D: Capturing the Built Environment, Photography by Jack Laxer
WHEN: Sunday, April 11, 2010, 3:30pm – 5:30pm
WHERE: Getty Center, Museum Lecture Hall
COST: Course fee $15 (includes 3-D glasses and parking); reservations required. Call (310) 440-7300
My grandmother owned a stereopticon, and as a child I was fascinated by it. I still have it, and it looks *just* like the contraption on the right. Basically, during the early days of photography the stereopticon was an invention that helped people of the late 19th century collect the sights of the world without leaving home… a magical machine displaying the most exotic wonders of the world in 3D so people could fantasize about being there in person. 3D may be all the rage when it comes to watching movies right now, but the art of 3D photography is still more amazing to me somehow.
The other day I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Jack Laxer who will be showing his master 3D/stereo photography of Modernist architecture at the Getty this Sunday (complete with 3D glasses provided!) . When he was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to feature some of his work on HiddenLA this week, I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it justice but I knew I was up to the challenge. Since I can’t exactly hand out stereopticans to all of you, I decided to try turning them into animated gifs… and it actually kinda works! Obviously the effect will be much better if you go to his Getty event and check out his work in person with 3D glasses on your face, but this’ll give you a taste. One warning though… before you click on the thumbnails below, just please be sure you aren’t epileptic. Oh, and just know if you haven’t had coffee yet, you probably won’t need any after viewing them. ;)
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IMAGERY – Easter Sunrise, 1938
1938 Easter Sunrise Services at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park
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Have a wonderful Sunday…
whether Jesus and bunnies are involved or not! :)
IMAGERY – Poor Mrs. Pauline Paulson
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On the glorious evening of March 10th, 1952, after watching her beloved film favorites depart the Hollywood Pantages Theater (where the 1952 Oscar ceremonies were held), 80-year-old grandmother Pauline Paulsen fell in between the rows of bleachers and was rushed to Hollywood Receiving Hospital. Ouch!!! Sure looks like Pauline is the star of the show in this shot! (more…)
IMAGERY – Barbecuing in Montrose, Feb. 22, 1913
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Photograph(s) of an aerial view of a promotional land sale barbeque in Montrose near Glendale, February 22, 1913. A group of automobiles and horse-drawn carriages are parked at the center of a clearing, while pedestrians walk around towards the barbeque tables pictured in the left distance where a small shack can be seen to the side of a dirt road, and in the right foreground, surrounded by temporary fence. A road lined by utility poles curves behind the gathering from the left of the frame towards the mountains in the background, with an even smaller second shack stands near piles of gravel. A sign near the dirt road reads “Montrose Holmes-Walton Realtor Co.”
Images ©USC Digital Library
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ESCAPE – I love Paris in the winter, when it drizzles.
I’m posting this a few days late due to a bad internet connection. I’m in Vienna now, but let’s just pretend I’m not…
I found myself wandering through Paris just *obsessed* with using my new camera… playing with the shutter speeds and apertures and all of the other little tricks. I can’t believe how far I walked in two days. For me, the weather was perfect… I was wearing three or four layers, but I was never uncomfortable. The sky was drizzling in a way that made all of the lights magically glow at night, but it never rained so much that I rushed indoors. There was ice on the ground, but not enough to slip on. All in all, they were perfect winter days and nights. I very literally took hundreds of photos, and I’ll spread some of the best over a couple of posts. Today I’ll post my favorite rainy night photos…
NOTE: Due to some problems with WordPress’ photo album feature, I moved these photos into a different album. Just click on the square image below to see eighteen pretty pictures.
IMAGERY – Traffic on the Cahuenga Pass, 1897
Welcome to the original 101 Freeway.
Photograph of two cyclists on the Cahuenga Pass, Los Angeles, circa 1897. The man to the right walks his bicycle on the unpaved road, looking at his companion riding to the left, on whose back is strapped a briefcase of some kind. The terrain surrounding them is comprised entirely of grassy hills. Caption on photoprint reads: “Cahuenga Pass — connecting Hollywood and San Fernando Valley — as it was in 1897.”
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IMAGERY – LA’s Whistling Birds of the 1920s
Prior to television, people found such fascinating ways to entertain themselves. I have never even *heard* of a Bird Whistling Chorus before, but I imagine it probably sounded something like like this. I so wish I could’ve watched these women perform… although probably not for more than ten minutes or so. (More photos after the jump. Click for larger views.)
Apparently someone didn’t get the telegram about wearing all white…
1923 – Photographic group portrait of America’s Bird Whistling Chorus in Los Angeles. Four rows of women in light-colored dresses sit facing the camera, with one woman in a dark-colored dress to the right of center. A woman in the front row holds a conductor’s baton. The group is posed in front of an indistinguishable background, possibly a stage. (more…)
IMAGERY – Fishing in Azusa, October 1930
I really love these photos. Click on the images for a larger view.
Photograph of Jewell Teegardin fishing on a rock above the falls and Beatrice Williams fishing in the foreground, Rainbow Angling Club, Azusa, October 1930. Both women can be seen wearing knee-high laced-up boots, breeches, and sleeveless collared shirts. They hold fishing poles and have baskets slung over their shoulders.
TONIGHT – Jazz Photography *Icon* Herman Leonard!
What: Mingling with 86-year old legendary jazz photographer Herman Leonard in person. Enjoy art and refreshments along with music provided by Joey Altruda and his Cocktail Crew.
When: Tonight (8/29), 8-11pm
Where: Reserve,
420 North Fairfax
Price: FREEEEE!
Details: AIGA/LA & Reserve present The Photography of Herman Leonard. Meet legendary jazz photographer and coolest guy in the world, Herman Leonard, at his solo exhibition.
“In the late 1940’s, Herman Leonard’s passion for jazz brought him to the swinging clubs of Broadway, 52nd Street and Harlem. With the camera as his free ticket, he photographed and developed friendships with some of the greats of jazz history including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and many more.
A year’s apprenticeship with Yasuf Karsh provided invaluable experience photographing the likes of Albert Einstein, Harry S. Truman and Clark Gable. In 1956 Leonard was chosen to be Marlon Brando’s personal photographer for an extensive research trip to the Far East. In the late 1950’s Leonard headed for Paris where he worked in fashion and advertising and served as the European photographer for Playboy Magazine.
FLASHBACK – A Day with The Doors
The following video “tells the story of Gary and Henry, two wild and crazy guys from the 60′s who designed albums covers for some of the biggest names in Rock and Roll… Gary and Henry discuss (with Ray Manzarek) how they came up with the infamous MORRISON HOTEL cover. They revisit the old hotel in downtown Los Angeles where they took the now classic shots of the doors in the hotel window. What’s amazing about this story is how different the world was back then. You can imagine today, taking a major rock and roll band to hotel with no advance notice and asking, “Hey mind if we take a few pictures?” Today, it would take months to set up the shoot and it would include bus loads of advertising people, reps from the record company, legal observers, and many many assistants. Ad to this, a full catering truck and security and you get the picture!”
See what The Morrison Hotel looks like today after the jump. Let’s just say I doubt you’ll be rushing there to book a room.
RIP – Julius Schulman, California Cool Photographer
Sometimes I’ll start researching an article and then realize someone else has already crafted the post I was about to do. This is one of those times, so rather than re-invent the wheel, let me just say that Flavorpill did a great post on late architectural photographer Julius Shulman this morning. Schulman, who passed away on July 15th at 98, masterfully framed the “California cool” lifestyle as modernism entered the Southland landscape. His photos make me want to sit on an avocado green divan and drink a martini. Yes, I know it’s 10am. Your point?
IMAGERY – The Car Next Door
Sometimes my little dog sits in my lap when I drive. Yeah, I know it’s not exactly an encouraged driving habit, but she knows if she stays very very still I’ll allow her to rest her face on the sill of the car window and stare at people. Lately, other drivers have started staring back at her and every once in a while I’ll hear baby talk coming from dog-loving drivers at stoplights (which of course she loves). Now I laugh and smile, but at first it felt awkward to me… as if there was some kind of social code being broken… like you aren’t *supposed* to acknowledge that you’re staring at other drivers while en route to wherever. With so much time spent in them, cars can be strangely personal, like an extension of someone’s private home.
VECTOR PORTRAITS is a collection of images by Andrew Bush, all taken between 1989 and 1997, that explore this exact unspoken code: “Andrew Bush (b. 1956) examines this tension between private and public in his remarkable series of photographs of individuals driving cars in and around Los Angeles—a city famous for its car culture. By attaching a camera to the passenger side window, Bush made these pictures while driving alongside his subjects—often traveling at 60 mph. Taking notes on the speed and direction he was going, Bush created extended captions for the images and called the series Vector Portraits.”
Besides the coffee table book, seems that some of the images may be available as prints if you like them.
FUN – Photo Walking Los Angeles
What: Worldwide Photo Walk
When: Saturday, July 18, 2009
Where: Various locations – Chinatown, Echo Park, Malibu, Venice, Venice Beach, Silverlake, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Downtown, Claremont, Laguna Beach and Palm Desert
Price: FREEEE!
Do you love taking photos but your camera’s just sitting on the shelf gathering dust? Feel like exploring town, bonding with your fellow shutterbugs, but don’t know where to go? Scott Kelby (of Photoshop fame) is hosting his 2nd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk on July 18th. Scott describes it as “…a social photography event where photographers get together, usually in a downtown area or trendy section of town, to walk around, shoot photos, and generally have fun with other photographers.” and you can see him explain the event himself on the tiny video on this page. For people who feel like entering their best photo of the day into a competition, he offers small prizes for the winners.
There is a 50 person limit on each walk and they’re filling up fast so hurry to register. If you’re late to the game but still want to go, my guess is that the very last location to fill up will be Palm Desert, solely because it’s mid-July in Palm Desert and most people don’t like watching their cameras melt in their hands.
Feel like conducting your OWN private photo walk? NOBODY’S STOPPING YOU! You could do that RIGHT NOW (unless you’re reading this at work, in which case I’d wait). Grab your camera. Dust it off. Go outside! Walk. Take photos. I’m willing to bet your photo walk will probably be more interesting than whatever you were doing.
EVENTS – The Close Up 6/16
EVENT LISTING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18th
A CONVERSATION WITH PENN & TELLER, presented by Writers Bloc
Where: Writers’ Guild Theater, 135 Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Time: 7:30 pm Price: One ticket is $20.00. Cash or personal checks accepted at the door. Please no credit cards. Online RSVP required.
“Penn & Teller, known for their magic and performance wizardry, are as fun to listen to as they are to watch. Their art is avant garde, the banter is provocative and funny. And now’s your chance to see Teller talk! In conversation with Eddie Goredetsky, writer for Late Night With David Letterman, SNL, Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half Men, and more. Eddie also wrote for Penn & Teller’s specials, Don’t Try This at Home, as well as Penn & Teller’s Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends.”
SUNDAY, JUNE 21th
FATHER’S DAY WITH CHARLIE CHAPLIN – THE KID
Where: Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N Fairfax Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90036
Time: 8pm; Price: $12 – Tickets can be reserved online
“In celebration of Father’s Day, The Cinefamily presents one of Chaplin’s most moving and beloved films. The Tramp adopts an abandoned baby he discovers in an alley, and raises him to become his sidekick in a variety of schemes and cons. A moving and hilarious film about paternal love, or as Chaplin’s first title says, “A picture with a smile, and perhaps a tear…” Children under 18 get in half price to this special “kiddie” matinee.” Dir. Charles Chaplin, 1921, 16mm, 68 min
