Red

No color catches my eye as much as the color red does.  It's a color that carries a myriad of associations across different cultures.  For the Chinese, it's a color of good luck and happiness, in the Indian subcontinent, it's a color of purity, wealth and beauty; anger, passion and love in the West.

The contrast between the bluish-gray and bright red on this mural caught my eye...

Mission St., San Francisco, CA

Equipment: Lomo LC-A

Film: Agfa Vista, ASA 100

                                        

As red happens to be one of my favorite colors, a lot of my favorite things tend to be red such as....

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my favorite mary jane shoes

Equipment: Lomo LC-A

Film: Agfa Vista,  ASA 100

                                                        

Equipment: Lomo LC-A

Film: Agfa Vista, ASA 100

Interiors And Things

A corner of my room.

Equipment used: Pentax K1000

Film: Kodak TMax, ASA 100

I've always been interested in photographing interiors and people's favorite possession(s) or personal belongings as these reveal quite a bit about the person as much as his or her taste in music or movies do.  Most of the time, at least in homes that I've been in, there will always be an interesting spot or two that catch my eye.  The person's favorite possessions are usually found in this particular spot.  It's the spot that the homeowner gave more attention to compared to the other areas of his or her home. 

My favorite pair of shoes.

I've had these pair of red mary janes for 10 years now.  I used to wear them quite often during my early 20's.  Of course, I no longer wear them.   I'd look quite silly in them now.

I deliberately took the meter reading from the shadows and took it down to 2 (or 3) stops to achieve a high contrast look.   Re-learning photography is harder than I thought. 

A Part Of Myself In My Closet

My old studio in Los Angeles. 1999.

It's funny what a mundane activity, such as cleaning out your closet, can lead to.  As I was cleaning out my closet, my long forgotten black, vinyl artist's portfolio caught my eye.  I haven't seen the contents in nine years now.  I unzipped my porfolio and looked at all the artwork I've done such--photographs, pastel drawings, collages, etc.  Then, it came over me..... I hadn't created anything since 2000.  I haven't drawn nor photographed anything in the last 9 years now.  That hurt.  I've never been one to cry easily....but I found myself tearing up...

I spent the entire week trying to draw and paint.  I sat in cafes and parks during lunch break so I could sketch people and my surroundings.  As painful as it is to admit, my drawing and painting skills have gotten quite a bit rusty.  blank canvases that I once found challenging are now intimidating. I looked at my portfolio again.  I wasn't too bad of an artist.  I had potential.  I had let my talent go.  Without intending to sound melodramatic, this makes me cry just thinking about it. I've let go a part of myself that I've been missing these last 9 years without knowing it. Until now...

Mural in San Francisco. 2000.

This is one of the pieces I found in my old portfolio. This was taken 9 years ago.  I haven't returned to San Francisco since then so I'm not sure if this mural is still up.  I hope it still is.  Would any of you readers happen to know?  I don't remember what street this was on but it's very close to SF MoMa.

Anyway, so the purpose of this blog?  To share and record my quest to learn how to do the things I enjoy doing again, to conquer one blank canvas (or paper) at a time.