Plastic is My Bag: Adventures with the Holga Camera

Summer

2011-07-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

It is Summer in Los Angeles. Swimming pools look very inviting when the weather is hot.

I Love L.A.

2011-06-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

I have been photographing at Low Rider Car Shows for the past

several years, here in L.A. It is a real art form and lifestyle.

"Low Rider Lifestyle" San Fernando Valley High School

at the Low Rider Car Show, 2010

Low Rider Luncheon, San Fernando High School, CA

at LowRider Car Show, 2011
"I Love L.A." graffiti walls,Venice Beach, CA

Julia Dean's Silent Auction Last Night

2010-02-21T11:36:00.000-08:00

I helped out at Julia Dean's Silent Auction last night at the Steven Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles. Julia is raising money to fund documentary photography projects about child labor in the world. Wow, what a good cause. 108 well known photographers contributed images. I also helped Liv hang the show, on Wednesday and Thursday, so I was fortunate enough to see all the pictures ahead of time. Last night, i helped set up the place for the opening, which was a star studded V.I.P. event. After the doors opened, I sat at the bidding table with 3 other volunteers, and we helped people fill out their silent auction bids. I took some Flip Camera video...gotta figure out how to post...

2010-02-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

Attended the Grand Opening of the new Lomography Store in Los Angeles tonight. A big crowd, a gorgeous store in West Hollywood, mariachis, free liquor and tacos and tamales... it was amazing to see all the people so interested in toy cameras!
I saw some people that I knew..it was a fun evening. Also helped hang a show today, at the Steven Cohen Gallery, for Julia Dean's Silent Auction this weekend. It is a busy week.

Venice

2010-02-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

Above, 'Venice Graffiti Walls", part of my Urban Landscape series... I spent today working on getting my framed print ready to send to the Krapppy Kamera show in N.Y.C. Went to Bowhaus, in Culver City, to pick up a print I had made there. Fantastic customer service, great print- very happy. The print was my "Venice Boardwalk Panorama". Went to Venice to get it framed and matted and ready to ship. It has to be there by next Wednesday.
It is expensive to make, frame, and ship photos to exhibitions, but I am very glad to be in this show.

Around the Block

2010-02-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

I sometimes walk around my block or go out by my pool to take photos when I son't want to drive anywhere. The photo with the clouds was taken while on a walk aroudn the block. The pool photo is indeed by my apartment pool.. My block is not particularly picturesque, but I attempt to make pictures here, in all it's glory..

Life in Valley Village

2010-02-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

As I sit in my bedroom letting my hair dry after washing it.. I am distracted from my thoughts by a series of noises. It is Monday afternoon, a typical day at my apartment building... My room is on the courtyard (ala Melrose Place, some people say when they see the building) The "valley" in Valley Village refers to the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Valley Village is in between upscale Studio City and downscale North Hollywood, which is on the verge of gentrification. Noho,the Arts District, is the new nickname for North Hollywood.
My 2 cats are stretched out in the sun on the bed, soaking up the late afternoon warmth on this cool California day. Spoiled California cats.
As I try to sit and write this is the series of sounds I hear, some louder, some softer, with perhaps 2-20 seconds breaks in between sounds...

Kids talking in the courtyard
Truck beeping LOUDLY as it backs up
Helicopter overhead passes by
Airplane.. slowly fades into the distance
Someone putiing the key into a lock and opening a door
Airplane
kids
Someone honking a car horn 10 times
a voice
a knock
dog barking
small distant plane
guys talking in Spanish
The kids are quiet now.. must have gone inside..
10 seconds of quiet
helicopter close- rattling things in the room
Oh- it is Monday, time for the leaf blower guy...wave the white flag, give up any thought of quiet...
Time to shut the windows and give up listening for now.
I make some noise clacking the keyboard...
And on and on the sounds continue...a basketball bouncing, the sound of T.V.s and conversations through the walls...
Is it any wonder that I go to the beach where I can hear the soothing sound of waves?
Thank God-the ice cream truck did not come down the block today, with it's ear piercing nursery rhyme musak.
Attention to anything just creates more of it. When Kevin comes home, he can plug in his electric guitar or play his electric piano...usually he goes through the headphones, but not always. We make noise, too. Welcome to the neighborhood.

2010-02-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

2010-02-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite images. Part of my Urban Panoramas, I love the window of sky in the building and the abstract geometry of the photo. Love.

2010-02-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

Above, "Venice Beach Graffiti",
below, "At the Car Club Picnic"... These are two from my Urban
Color series...

My plans for 2010 include sorting my photos into series. This is quite a job, as I have many options of ways to sort my work. What am I saying? What story as I telling? How do I take the images and make a strong statement? Which of my stuff is my strongest? It is quite a process. I have my Malibu/Leo Carillo work, ocean black and white, ocean color, urban black and white, urban panorama, color and black and white... so many ways to go...

After picking the twenty for a series, I then will package and market the work. I suppose I will do at least two series or three in preparation for next's years portfolio reviews. This part of the process takes a lot longer than takling the pictures.

2010-02-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

"Birds in FLight, Venice Pier" was selected for an Alternative Photography Show at the Vermont PhotoPlace/Gallery in Vermont in the Fall of 2009. The juror was Blue Mitchell, editor of Diffusion Magazine.

2010-02-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

Venice Boardwalk Panorama appears below, in and A&I scan. Even further down, you will see an inferior scan that I had done previously. A good scan makes a big difference.

2010-02-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

News... I am happy to be included in the 12th Annual International Krappy Kamera Show at the Soho Photo Gallery in New York City. My image " Venice Boardwalk Panorama" was chosen.

2009

2010-01-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

2009 was a good year for my photography...

Shows and Publications

SHOWS AND PUBLICATIONS for 2009

"I Spy With My Plastic Eye", A&I, Hollywood, Dec. 3rd, '09- January 8th, 2010, a group exhibition of toycamera photographs

"Alternative Processes Show" at the Vermont Photography Workplace/ PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont, November 2009, " Birds in Flight, Venice CA" image, juried by Blue Mitchell, editor of Diffusion Magazine.

"Reflections" Show at the Vermont Photography Workplace/PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont, Oct.2009. "Swimming Pool"photograph.

"Portraits Show" at The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO, Fall 2009, juried by Mary Ellen Mark. "Birthday Party" photograph.

"Light Leaks" Magazine, "Birthday Party"photograph in "Childhood' issue, July 2009
"Black and White Magazine" July 2009 Portfolio Issue- Merit Award winner for my Holga panoramas of downtown Los Angeles

"Light Leaks" Magazine, "Sunset Boulevard Neon" in the "Road Trip" issue, June 2009
"Dirty/Pretty" Thirteen Los Angeles Photographers, Julia Dean Gallery, Venice, CA, March 21-May 22, 2009

"Members Only Show", Texas Photographic Society, Beaumont, TX, juried by Keith Carter, 2009, "Venice Boardwalk Panorama" image.

Julia Dean Photographic Workshops, Venice, CA, assisting, 2008-2009

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Beginning Again

2010-01-05T20:40:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010! I am updating my blog, which fell into disuse last year. It is a new year, and a good time to begin anew....

An Acute Case of Cubicle Claustrophobia

2008-10-14T16:05:00.001-07:00

I am currently in in a 2 person photography show that opened September 13th, 2008. It's a black and white Urban Landscape Show, with Michael Vinci at A Studio Gallery in Studio City, CA. I must say that I love the work that I had in the show and am proud of it, even amazed at the images. Having a show was a learning experience. I realized many things from having a show....

1.) I am an artist.
I studied art in school, dabbled at various forms of art throughout my busy child-rearing days... never fully tried to be an artist, or really thought of myself as one. I was a Mom, raising 3 children on my own, working to pay the bills... I often worked several flexible part-time jobs at at a time.. I worked as an assistant to many artists over the years.. At one job I put glazes on hand-painted earrings. I also worked for a potter who made hand-thrown lighting sconces and big pots... I spent time mixing clay and watching an expert potter throw pots as I carved shapes into the wet clay.. it was lovely, working in his funky workspace... I worked for a fabric artist. I hand painted huge pieces of fabric in a big,old building, along side some kooky artist types. That was fun.
I also worked at the Mall, did receptionist work, drove jeep tours -anything that I could find to do.. I tried to make a rule to take jobs that were at least a bit art-related, but that was not always possible.. I once bolted out of a temp. job that I took, because the cubicle was closing in on me, due to an acute case of telemarketing cubicle claustrophobia. I do have my limits.
I recall applying to one job as an artists' assistant where the lady told me in no uncertain terms, "you have so much experience-sounds like you should have your own art business"... She did not hire me. There is such a thing as being over-qualified, I guess.
So with this odd listing of work- and believe me I haven't even told you the half of it- how could I really be anything but an artist? In the family of extremely analytical types that I grew up in, artists were to be ridiculed.. (but I was supported in many ways, too , by my parents.) It is now that I am finally understanding who I am, though, and learning to embrace my artistic ways and myself. To be continued.....

2008-06-13T07:42:00.001-07:00

So much has happened since my last post...
Must post more often.

July has been a busy month.. spent with friends and family, visiting, going to the beach, traveling, having house guests.. taking Holgas, too..

Big news! I won first place in the Julia Dean Alternative Photography Show! I submitted a long color Holga panorama of the Venice Boardwalk. I am excited about the show- the opening is this Friday, August 1st. I have 3 photographs in the show.

Also, I have a photo published in Jpeg Magazine! It was "Chillin' at the Lowrider Picnic", a black and white Holga image of some homies at a Lowrider Picnic, for their theme "Street Fashion". I hope to get my issue in the mail today.

I have been photographing for so long with little feedback. Good feedback is fantastically encouraging at this point, although I know better than to take it too seriously. Still, it is nice to hear...

Venice Beach

2008-06-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Venice Beach- Multiple Exposure
Holga 400 Portra VC

I have been assisting at Julia Dean Photography Workshops in Venice, CA. It is a wonderful place to be involved with. Last weekend I assisted Aline Smithson with a Toy Camera Workshop. Aline is a great Toy Camera photographer, and a very supportive teacher. We showed everyone how to load their cameras, then went out on Venice Boardwalk to shoot. It was a typical Saturday there-the street musicians and artists, panhandlers and tourists were all out in full force, and our job was to photograph ... Although not taken that day, here is an example of my latest work at Venice Beach. I am doing multiple exposures and panoramas, and I'm super excited about this series. Will post more...

Mirror Lake and Tenaya Creek Rapids- Holgas

2008-05-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Yosemite View Lodge- Review

2008-05-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

We stayed at Yosemite View Lodge, in El Portal, just outside the boundaries of the Park. It is a large, beautiful motel complex overlooking the Merced River. Our room was on the third floor, and we had a great view from our balcony. As we opened the sliding glass doors to the balcony, we were astonished at the loud roar from the river below. It sounded like a like a jet taking off. You couldn't hold a conversation on that balcony, that's for sure. The view was spectacular, with the roaring rapids tumbling over boulders... At night it sounded like a real version of the "white noise" machine that I use every night back home in my noisy neighborhood, so I slept like a baby. We enjoyed the large room with fireplace and in-room jacuzzi and kitchenette. The motel complex had several restaurants- skip the fine dining one- in a word, gross.... The pizza restaurant is good, though. There is also a store next to the lobby, where you can get overpriced groceries, so bring some stuff from home. It was a pleasant twenty minute drive into Yosemite Village from the motel. Last year, we camped. This year, we stayed in motel. I much preferred not having to listen for bear footsteps in the night...

Photos from Yosemite View Lodge

2008-05-30T09:22:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos:
1.)Morning coffee cups (see the black Holga behind the gatorade?- what not to do- don't leave your Holga sitting in the sunlight- keep it in a bag so it doesn't get light leaks) with view of rapids from our balcony
2.) Hot tubs with butterflies next to the river
3.) Views of the Butterfly Migration
4,) Morning View from the Balcony- not bad...

Falls and Rainbows

2008-05-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

I took 7 rolls of color film and 11 rolls of Black and white film on my trip to Yosemite. Bear in mind that a Holga only delivers 12 images per roll, and that's if you're lucky! Not quite the unlimited extravagance of the digital camera..
I also took along a SLR Digital- the fabulous Digital Rebel XT with an 18-200 lens added on.. Pro camera snobs may scoff at the Rebel, but it is light years ahead of the Holga, in so many ways- like convenience, focus, etc., etc.... that I feel it is more than adequate. I still refer to it as my snapshot camera, and the Holga as my real camera. I just love the Holga, as limited and difficult as it may be in it's simple ways sometimes...

Out of Cellphone Range

2008-05-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention one of the best things about Yosemite- it's out of cellphone range. We had zero reception- we all kept checking for it.... no internet (gasp), no T.V., no news of any kind... how refreshing.

Springtime in Yosemite

2008-05-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

I just returned from Yosemite National Park. It was a perfect time to visit; after Mother's Day and before Memorial Day weekend.. The waterfalls were their apex, and the dogwood flowers were still in bloom. This year a huge migration of orange Painted Lady butterflies converged on El Portal, the little town where we stayed, just outside the Park. There was a sign on the highway there that said "SLOW- 25 m.p.h. : BUTTERFLY CROSSING". Butterflies massed on the boulders overlooking the Merced River, sunning and sipping water. They flitted all around us as we swam and hot tubbed by the River in the morning sun.
It was unseasonably warm this year, and the melting snow in the high country filled the waterfalls and the River with a tremendous amount of icy cold, frothing water. On the first night, I went to see the "moonbow" or lunar rainbow, at Lower Yosemite Falls. On full moon nights in the Spring, you can see a rainbow in the moonlight. I had read about this lunar rainbow online while planning the trip. I saw a website where scientists pinpointed the exact timing of the moonbows...: http://uweb.txstate.edu/%7Edo01/
I hadn't even heard of a lunar rainbow before.
Evidently others were aware of this phenomenon, because there was quite a scene developing as I approached the Falls. Heavy mist and cold, blowing spray made a rainstorm in the darkness. The white waterfalls were glowing as the rising moonlight filtered through the trees. Wet photographers vied for position with their tripods, their cameras covered with plastic bags. I did not attempt to photograph the elusive lunar rainbow - to me it was something to be witnessed rather than captured. As the moon rose, I began to make out the bright colors of the rainbow arching over the Falls. I couldn't help but think back to the Native Americans who had inhabited this Valley, and I wondered how they felt on these special nights.. I know that I felt lucky to be there- to witness this rare and sacred moment in Mother Nature's magnificent Yosemite Valley.
During the heat of the day, we rode rented bikes with fat tires around the Valley floor. We'd park the bikes and walk up shaded trails to thundering waterfalls. More rainbows! We gazed upon double rainbows. We even saw 360 degree rainbows at Bridal Veil Falls, so it was quite the rainbow fest. Truly, all that was missing was a unicorn sighting.
It was wonderful. I cooked hot dogs over a campfire, spent time with family members, dipped in mountain streams... and of course I took lots and lots of photos, most likely to the consternation of my companions, who were much too polite to complain.
I hope to get more Holgas for my Yosemite series. I have a fascination with dogwood flowers. They are an homage to Ansel Adams, who photographed the dogwood blossoms in Yosemite. I do like his dogwood and stream photographs. The dogwoods are so beautiful- delicate, white blossoms in dark woods by rushing streams. I prefer to photograph Yosemite's woods and streams, because the landmarks of Yosemite have already been photographed so much..

FIRST POST

2008-05-07T14:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Blog. This is my first post.

This is not about recycling grocery store bags, although I am all for that...

This is not about plastic surgery, although I do live in Los Angeles....

I photograph though the plastic lens of a plastic camera called the Holga.

I have been photographing with the Holga since the turn of the century.