Chair At Roy’s Motel
Roy’s Motel along old Route 66 in Amboy California. From one of my photo excursions.
Photo Excursion Old Downtowns
A photo excursion on May 29th. Scenes and places we would often overlook, like a cleaners that many decades ago was the police station. This is the second half of this excursion exploring through old downtown areas. I have been doing photo excursions for a few years now. Others who have joined with me have been successful in their art of photography, painting and printing their works. This series shot on my Fujifilm X-T3 and XF16-55mm F2.8 lens.
Photo Excursion
A photo excursion on May 29th. Scenes and places we would often overlook. I have been doing photo excursions for a few years now. Others who have joined with me have been successful in their art of photography, painting and printing their works. This series shot on my Fujifilm X-T3 and XF16-55mm F2.8 lens.
Photo Excursion Post Shelter In Place
My buddy Dennis Johnson and myself cancelled a photo excursion that was scheduled for the day the Shelter In Place went into effect back in March. And here on the day it was lifting we did do a photo excursion. Photographs here on my Blog this coming week. We were both shooting Fujifilm X-Series cameras.
Photo Excursion Success
Congratulations to my friend Dennis Johnson. From our photo excursion to Yermo a few months ago…
“Thank you to American Society of Railway Artists and The Railroad Tourist for posting my recent painting, “Yermo”. The painting of several box cars, inspired by a photo excursion to the Union Pacific Rail Yard in Yermo, CA in February. Painting specifications: Acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 48″.”
Art Out West
Once Upon A Time At The Salton Sea
The Salton Sea was once one of the biggest attractions in the country. A billboard at the road in to Bombay Beach.
Selfie At The Daggett Garage
My attempt at a selfie on a photo excursion last week.
At the Dagget Garage built in the 1880’s in the Borax area as a locomotive repair roundhouse. Moved by a 20-mule-team to the Waterloo Mill and Mine in 1896. Then moved to it’s current location in Daggett California in 1912.
Served as an auto repair shop on old Route 66 until World War II when it became a mess hall for troops guarding nearby railroad bridges.
The Lonely Windsock
This time of year, let’s give a moment of thought to the lonely abandoned windsocks who stand guard doing their duty, day and night, and without any acknowledgement. Let’s raise a glass!
Adult Superstore
On photo excursions we keep an eye out for old abandoned signs, unusual times gone past buildings and other oddities of Americana. Heading towards Tucson, the sun setting, we pulled off the freeway in the middle of nowhere to photograph an old restaurant sign and such. Darkness and an unmarked rough road and what is there on the way… The “Lion’s Den Adult Superstore for women, men and couples!”. On the edge of the Picacho Peak State Park with a Civil War battlefield. I guess unique to Arizona perhaps? Note the Saguaro Cactus all over the hillside.
The Bandit Queen
The “Bandit Queen” Pearl Hart… “Used her feminine wiles with both prisoners and guards alike, pardoned after 3 years.” My kind of woman! Poster at the Yuma Territorial Prison on a photo excursion.
“Of All The Gin Joints…”
“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Sadly only a photo on the wall and not actually at the counter. On a photo excursion and stopping for food at Lutes Casino in Yuma Arizona.
EVF At JTNP
No that is not some term used when astronauts maneuver in outer space. I am talking about the electronic viewfinder on the Fujifilm X-T2 camera I used yesterday in Joshua Tree National Park. However through the viewfinder on this camera, outer space would look incredible!
As a photographer, viewfinders have always been one of my very big important factors I consider in cameras. I really do not like looking on the back of screens, you can’t see them in bright sun anyway. I do not like sub-frame tiny viewfinders. And I have not been enthusiastic about electronic viewfinders. Although I have two Fujifilm X-T1’s and an X30.
Well the viewfinder on this X-T2 just blows me away every time I look through it. Big and bright, color and contrast are breathtaking. There is no blackout or lag at all when you are shooting even in high speed at 11 frames per second. So for that alone, I am very sold on this Fujifilm X Series camera. Most important however is the image quality which is also just incredible. Thank You Fujifilm! In my personal “viewfinder” this is a really important camera.
Spa And Cactus
Desert Hot Springs, known for little spas and boutique hotels, some really nice, some not so much. A small town, founded in 1941, nearby the much larger resort city of Palm Springs. Built by tourism coming for the natural mineral hot springs and then by real estate speculation. Having seen good times and bad times, there is still a mix of the times gone in signs of the past, if you just take the time and go look. From a photography excursion just yesterday.
Rude
Don’t you just hate it when people leave their car blocking the pumps when they go to the restroom. From a Death Valley excursion, photographed with a Hasselblad digital camera.
Sky Chief
Exploring and photographing around Death Valley. A Sky Chief gas pump, a premium fuel invented as high octane and introduced by Texaco in 1938.
Here in Keeler on the East shore of what was the great Owens Lake. Population in 2010 was 66. Back in the 1870’s a steamship carried ore across the lake which today is non-existent. In the 1920’s The City of Los Angeles bled the lake of it’s water leaving behind alkali dust storms driving away the people and their lives.
So Much To See
A three day trip planned around specific places that were on my must see list. The Amargosa Opera House at Death Valley Junction. The created home and stage of ballet dancer, Marta Becket. Now 92 years old and once upon a time, her only audience was that which she herself painted upon the walls. Today also a hotel and cafe, an experience I wanted to see first hand and will now never forget. I will go back yet again.
The Comforts Of Home
Just did a three day road trip exploring the wonders of nature. So nice to find all the comforts of home in the middle of nowhere. Too fun! Actually I have one friend who was not there who I expect will know exactly where this is. What do you think? Anyone else?
Oil Can!
I kept waiting for him to ask if I had an oil can. Didn’t, so I shot a photo and went to lunch.
Summit Inn, Sad
The news reports from the huge Bluecut Fire are nothing but sad. Also sad is the loss of the Summit Inn, a roadside Route 66 stop with it’s roots going back to 1928. Myself and friends stopped there just back in November on one of our photo excursions. Reminds me to get out and see more of the world, even when it is close by.
Summit Inn on November 14, 2015
Photo Shoot Vehicle
How about this for a photo excursion vehicle! Plenty of room for lots of gear, wardrobe changing or just a few guys out on a Route 66. Maybe the rest of the time I could be an Uber driver with it!
Nobody Does It Like Me!
Nobody shoots photographs like I do in Palm Springs… Nobody! Not even close! Ok it does help that I have the likes of the gorgeous Sherry Goggin in front of my cameras. But you get the idea I am sure!
December is a great month for shooting out here, the weather is great. Although we do have something like 350 days of Sun during the year. So whether it is your magazine features, fashion stories, advertising or maybe your own portfolio. From shoe fashions on beautiful women to fast moving airplanes or even a travel story. Just send me a note to SecondFocus@mac.com and we can chat about it.
Note that I shoot nothing but the finest of equipment. Hasselblad medium format digital and Broncolor lighting. For more portability and faster action I am now shooting the superb FujiFilm X-Series cameras and lenses.
I also have the finest makeup artists available and all kinds of shoot locations from desert to gyms. Just let me know and we can talk about it. And again, my e-mail is SecondFocus@mac.com. Look forward to hearing from you soon! Thanks!
Veterans Day
The World War II Submarine USS Pampanito as I shot this photograph the other day from the deck of the Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien in San Francisco. Another perspective of Veterans Day and history that should not be forgotten. Whether it was the right war, the wrong war, the right mission or the wrong mission, sitting behind a desk, under the water, on horseback, in the air, responding to a natural disaster or any number of special times in a far off land, the members of our armed services go when ordered and do their best. So on Veterans Day they all, past and present, deserve our honor.
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