EXPLORING THE SHADOW SIDE

Constructs of the Shadow

MORE STREET WORK

Laying Asphalt

I documented the crew that was improving our road last week. I used the pocket camera (Canon s100) for this series. I think I got some keepers.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Compacting New Pavement

YESTERDAY'S SUNRISE

Yesterday's Sunrise Over Fickle Hill and Klopp Lake

This is where I started yesterday's photography. It was helpful to start my work by doing landscapes before entering town to do architectural photography.

THE CORNER GROCERY

The Shell of the Former Corner Grocery Store at Alliance and Spear in Arcata

In the neighborhood where I grew up in East Bakersfield, there were four neighborhood grocery stores within a five or six block distance from our house. In those days, the nineteen-sixties, people from our class of neighborhoods frequented these stores. We had nearby supermarkets where our parents did the bulk of their shopping, but the corner store was something that all of us frequented. This was especially true for us kids. We took our allowances, and I took my lawn-mowing earnings and spent money in the small store on candy and soda pop. It is just what we did.

I think another reason these stores survived is that many of them offered charge accounts. One of my friend's mother often sent my friend and I to fetch some things for her, including cigarettes. The store clerk would write down the total on a card that was kept at the register. I suspect that charges accounted for a large part of their sales, and I am sure that they helped keep the store going.

Nowadays, I think the corner/neighborhood store was replaced with the newer style convenience store, and with the little stores in gas stations. I am uncertain as to what caused the demise of this store in Arcata. I think as of ten years ago it was still operating. It looks to me that it will not be restored. It looks like it is being allowed to decay, and I wonder how long before it becomes a hazard. I wish I knew its name.

I have been wanting to photograph this structure for quite some time, but I would only think of it whenever I drove by on some other errand. Last night when I went to bed I told myself to wake up at six. I repeated the command a couple of times, and at exactly six, I woke. So I went photographing in the dawn light.

ARCATA'S MINOR THEATER

The Minor Catching the First Rays of the Day

Lisa and I used to go to the movies here at least once a month. Nowadays, we may go once a year. When we first started going to the Minor during the eighties, we could buy a movie card. I think the card was good for six or ten admissions, and it provided a hefty discount. We oftentimes brought our own snacks, and even smuggled in our own popcorn. We were not alone as many of the other patrons were students. One of my art professors even brought his pillow.

The Minor often featured "art films". This is  where I first saw Rumble Fish, Repo Man, and The Man Facing East along with more established art films such as Dersu Uzala, and many others. Most showings were double features, and were often well paired.

The Arcata Theater was about a block away, and the card worked in both. I sometimes went to the midnight showings to see films such as Stop Making Sense. The Arcata usually showed more mainstream movies. It was here that I first saw/heard Koyaanisqatsi. I sat in my favorite seat, dead center and eight rows from the front. Movies like these were produced equally for the visual as well as the audio (music). The theater played the music loud enough, but not overly so. They really knew how to do it in a balanced manner.

The owners of both theaters were the same. They printed a monthly movie guide that was available in as holder at the ticket booths. I wish I had one now. They were very informative, and made it easy for me to decide on what to see. My tastes are more esoteric than Lisa's, and there were numerous occasions where I went alone, and that was fine.

I have fallen out of the habit of watching art films. We do get foreign films via Netflix, and sometimes we see really good ones,  but it feels haphazard. I think we need a source akin to the old Arcata/Minor movie guide.

ARCATA FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Predawn Photograph of the Arcata Presbyterian Church in Black and White

Predawn Photograph of the Arcata Presbyterian Church in Color

 

 

This is the home of the "Thursday Congregation" or of the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir. I rehearsed and sang in this church for the four years I was a member of the choir. The choir is very fortunate to be able to share this space.

PIZZA IN THE PREDAWN LIGHT

Arcata Pizza and Deli in the Predawn Light

I am working on my development procedures for images of predawn subjects. It is different than photographing predawn skies and clouds. It is similar to photographing in the fog with the exception that the sky often is the brightest element of the composition. I resist the urge to "lighten" up the subject because it can look artificial. I think as a composition, that this image works well.

EARLY MORNING ARCATA

The Arcata Theater at Sunrise

I took this back-lit  photograph yesterday morning. It was fun being out early. It is almost always an adventure, and yesterday was no exception. A nice but inquisitive street guy was talking to me while I was working in front of the Minor Theater. He had a dog, and it got into a skirmish with another persons dog. Words were said then yelled, and while all this was going on I just continued to photograph. After it all calmed down the guy apologized and went on his way.

MORE FICKLE HILL

On the Fence

I am playing around with a hand-held image. I think I need to go back and use a tripod.

Sunset on Fickle Hill

Da Boys in the Glow

I took this a couple hours ago. These Friesians are big and beautiful.

NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Yosemite Unlike Ansel Adams

 

I took this photograph when I was a teenager. It was a color slide taken with a Kodak. The slide is covered with fungus and this is what I came up with today. This was after Hal sent me a photo he took of me (see below).

Last Sunday