Dreaming of Yesterday

More and more, as I drive around I see abandoned businesses, and places closed and for rent. They're everywhere. Only recently have I started to document this.

The recession we're in is of historic proportions and a long why from being over.

Digital cameras are everywhere now, allowing more and more people to give you a glimpse inside this recession, and some of those images are truly heartbreaking.

Sunrise Shots

Early morning is a great time to be out taking photos. Great light, not too many people around, and just a great way to start the day. I'm not out as often as I used to be.... I need to work on that.

Adrift no more

Lots of boats on the beach this year after our first Winter storm. I was lucky enough to make it out and photograph a few early in the morning this week before they were crushed and hauled off to the dump.

Can't cross

The winter storms and heavy rain have completely changed the beach, much to the surprise of many.

Above and Below

It doesn't take much to add a little interest to an image...

Leaving this wreck behind

Just seems to be the way things are going lately. Everywhere you look, something is falling apart.

I have no fear

When there's something you don't see everyday, chances are it's a good subject for a photograph.

No Overnight Camping

I would say the beach is all but gone which is an understatement. There is no beach.

This is what happens in Winter along the coast.

Falling Apart

There's a lot less beach after a week of storms than anyone expected...

Where did I go wrong?

The weather's been bad and I've been stuck inside working. I heard that there were more boats on the beach this year than usual, so I thought I'd check it out.... Ouch...

Blue Reflections

A still moment to reflect upon.

Sunset for the birds

When you get a little window of opportunity, take it...

Rainy Night

We've been getting a lot of rain lately. I thought I'd take advantage of it, and shoot a building or street and catch it so that the wet pavement would reflect the lights. It's a lot tougher shooting in the rain and keeping my equipment dry than I thought.

Amid the glory

A small break in the storm was all that was needed for Nature to show off her stuff... A small display of color and light...

Gathering Time

Just making the effort to capture the moment helps to bring it to life...

Reflecting Red

A little water and the right light make a nice combo to add some interest to an image. It was my good fortune to stumble upon this red bike parked right next to a puddle of water late in the afternoon. I had no choice but to take advantage of the situation.

I mean, really, how often do you run across a scene like this?

Getting a better view

To see things more clearly may be as simple as changing our point of view....

Walking around a subject lets you see things from several angles, often telling a different story, or changing our perception of what first drew us to the subject in the first place.

The future is a thing of the past

The beach is a great place to explore and photograph during the Winter... There aren't all that many people around, and you mostly have the cost to yourself....

Don't underestimate Nature. Pay close attention to the tides, and don't get into an area that you can't get out of before the ocean reclaims it, leaving you stranded at best...

When you have light

I've been feeling a little uninspired this week... that is until I started processing images I took last January that have been sitting on my hard drive, and until the activity on my flickr account topped 100,000.... Guess I've got to get busy again...

Light on water

The Winter beach was empty, leaving me alone to watch the sun work its magic as it set.

When magic fills the air

There are places and times that speak for themselves.

Jump for Joy

So, now I'm looking at an additional 5% pay cut in 6 months.... Let me Jump for joy!

2010 looks like it's stillborn.

If you live in a state besides California, do yourselves a favor, don't follow our example.... and don't welcome anyone from the anything but Golden State...

Light Painting

The other night a friend and I went out to do some sunset/night photography. Working with flash is an area I really want to improve in.

One of the things I wanted to try was light painting. What I learned was that I really need to bring a much brighter flashlight and/or do longer exposures.... or both.

In the case here, I thought it would be fun to walk through my exposure and pop the flash myself.

The results are more or less as I expected.

When the wheels are off

I liked the way this turned out. I reminded me of a scene out of a movie. I didn't know these people, so I had to grab a couple of quick shots... I'm still not sure about the title.

Wishing my days away

Don't you just love it when you're in the right place and everything just comes together?

Like thousands of voices

There are several places along the California Coast, where Monarch Butterfly stay for the Winter. One that I like is Ellwood in Goleta, where this shot was taken, and another up the coast near Pismo Beach. It's really a sight to see, and a challenge to photograph.

Another example of the beauty of Nature.

Sunset Waves

So, I've got this app called iVideoCamera. What it does is give my iPhone (2nd generation) the ability to shoot video at 10fps. Do I like it? You bet. It's got a higher res feature than what you see here, but really the iPhone isn't a high def recorder.

What I like about it is the ability to shoot short clips, and upload them on the fly to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Vimeo, email them or use ftp transfer....

Just another way of capturing a moment and sharing... and all for $0.99

Cool!

Flying in low

I wasn't sure I'd be able to catch this Pelican as it flew just over the top of the breaking waves, but luck was on my side.

A long way off

If there's an element that will lead your viewer through your image, use it.... Like this rock.

Summer Solstice Parade

I bet a lot of people could use a little Summer about now...

Fading Away

I've been wanting to change up my photography for longer than I care to mention. The problem is that I work all the time, so I've not had the chance to pursue much more than the same old, same old.

At the same time, I've been wanting to document all the closing businesses around town. They seem to crop up like weeds. It's looking like a ghost town. Bad Economy - I know.

Then it dawned on me to start putting these two things together in as simple a fashion as possible. How? Just by using the camera in my cellphone. I don't even have to get out of the car, just roll down the window and shoot while waiting for the light to change.

This project is starting to take on a life of its own... I'll see how it goes.

Dorothea Lange I'm not!

The flickr group is called The Great Recession.  Feel free to join and add your own images.

Small Discoveries

One small element in the right place can really make a composition.

Same old thing as yesterday

If today is any indication of how 2010 is going to be, it's going to be a long year... another endless uphill climb.

Chillin'

I don't make New Year's Resolutions.... those are a waste of time. However, I do set goals, and this year I'd like to work on portraits and using flash... We'll see how it goes.

Along the Coast

I haven't been on a road trip in ages, not even short one... So, it was nice to start off the new year with friends visiting one of my favorite places.

Running Colors

Before the lights came down, I thought it would be fun to take some out of focus shots and capture the color.

When I'm on my way

Out with the old, in with the new... and yet, nothing's changed...