Californivacation: SoCal

The trip begins...or began. I took somewhere around 3000 pictures on my California trip in early November -what with 2 cameras--one of them with speeds of 4.5 pictures/second. So it's taking me a while to edit them since I took several versions of every photo and every angle of every beach pebble along the trip north.

I started in SoCal & after a friends' wedding a few friends and I headed to Laguna Beach--my 1st glmpse of the famous PCH (that's West Coast lingo for Pacific Coast Highway aka Highway 1).

 

Look at this crazy rubbery seaweed.

These trees were cool. Don't know what kind though.

A beautiful bird of paradise. That is one crazy plant.

 

That's all for Laguna Beach. It was pretty, but SoCal is not the place for me. More soon...je vous promets. 

Butterflies for My Favorite Toddlers

There are butterflies here--all over the place here. I thought they were a spring thing, but apparently not when you live near the beach and it never gets really cold.

I took this video for my favorite toddlers in China who probably aren't seeing too many of these brightly colored winged wonders.

P.S. I'm in love with my new iTouch. It's so multifunctional. I did worry that it was an unnecessary expense but not so. With all the interviews I've been doing lately, it's recording-sans-2-foot-long-head-phones has been crucial...plus I get to send butterflies to toddlers. Tell me that's unimportant.

Down on the Corner, Out in the Street

I've been experimenting with the 35mm lens on my Seagull. It has such a tiny aperture. I loves it. Here are pictures capitalizing on the 2 aperture and some I just liked. All photos taken with high saturation slide film, which I can't stop taking pictures with.

Downtown Biloxi. Went on a hot Sunday afternoon. Can you feel the heat?

Magnolia cone. Isn't it fascinating? Bright red seeds for a tall tree with white flowers. Gorgeous....this is a weird picture though.

Should I stay or should I go now?

Everyone has taken this picture but it's hard to resist a nice train track.

Very pleased with how this one turned out, especially since I got a red ant bite in the process. Marrr.

I want to hug this tree or takes it's picture over and over again. It's a big maple in front of the First Baptist Church and the trunk/roots are slowly flowing along the edge of the street. Took this on a dark, cloudy afternoon after it had rained so the grass pops.

This one could be more in focus but it's just so dreamy and there are two bugs in it. Bonus points if you can find them.

I always want to take a picture here so I have and I do.

More film photos when I can afford to get the stinkin' 'spensive slide film developed! Oh another reason to miss Shanghai and Elite photo!

Vestigages of Shanghai

A few last pics of Shanghai I just got developed. I'm sorely missing all the good places to take picture in the city on the sea.

 Yum...though I hardly ever ate these. I went in for the less fried more bready street foods.

 I can't remember exactly, but I think this guy asked me to take his picture.

 Not really in focus, but I like it anyway...so there.

 He didn't want me to take his picture...mwahahaha.

 Oh boy could this guy talk. He offered all kinds of advice about places I had to go and magazines I had to buy. Mostly I didn't understand what he was talking about, but I don't think I was alone in that.

Oh and all the people. That's my pengyou turned around there. I like how this pic captures the constant motion of the metro stations. I'm shocked it came out with this 100ISO film.

Dat's a Big Bird

This picture (in two edits) looks like winter, doesn't it? Nope, just a dead tree. I was walking home with my cameras and this huge hawk few overhead. It was gorgeous.

Hoods

A few more car pics....The old cars were just so pretty and had beautiful details. Why don't they make cars like this anymore?

Back to September

A few photos from September...

Can you believe this sky?

I didn't eat any of this, but it sounded pretty good.

I call this the New Ruin. It overlooks the beach near our apartment and has a ancient Greco-Roman feel nestled in the live oaks. I snuck up there one morning and took a few pics of it.

Why don't you come to your senses, shrimp boat?

I think this guy is cra' cra'. Rumor has it he is really wealthy. He rides his bike around town like this all the time and he's not selling any of those bags.

Mom and I solved a murder.

I love these beautiful birds.

And one more of Desperado...

Hot Rod Lincoln

Over 5000 classic cars were on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this week for a festival called Cruisin' the Coast. The cars were amazing...here's one vintage Lincoln I edited four ways.

Writing Up a Storm

I've been writing up a storm the past three weeks for the Sun Herald and I've been really thankful for all the work. I'm starting to get the hang of summing up events with less than 300 words.

I've gotten to meet an eclectic group of people...including phone interviews with an Olay spokeswoman and a martial arts stuntman...plus...

An 8k for breast cancer (the Spidey mask for the finish line)

A renowned songwriter (very down to earth)...

 

 A boy scout expo complete with catapult...

  A military mom who made a t-shirt quilt for her daughter...

An artwork unveiling...

 

A Greek night. (He's a real boy!) Opa!.. 

...complete with THE Greek Elvis 

Then there was an Elvis impersonator...

A pet blessing...

...on the beach.

This week has been all cars...

 ...cars to commemorate the fallen of 9/11

 

 Lovely veterans enjoying classic cars (I wanted to take them home)...

 

...a car that shoots fire

...and the man who made it do that

...a new blade-free LASIK surgery -- $2200/eye!

and back to cars, including ones with rat trap petals...

 

Phwew I'm wore out!