It's been a long time . . .

. . . and I don't have much to say except I wish I was shooting more and working less.

Just to make a post, I'm putting up some shots from the Camera Committee Hummingbird Photo Workshop presented by my friend Allan Der.

I didn't do very well with pre-focus and anticipate exercise of it. But these folks made some remarkable images. Check them out on the Meetup page.

Here is my best shot. Don't look too closely unless you are wondering how not to capture a hummingbird in flight.

Thanks to Allan, there are more good photos out there.

The Rock is Perched in New Dress

The view to north. Doesn't the Rock look like a catalog model, hip-cocked and left leg extended to emphasize the elegant lines of the gown?

The view from Fairfax and Sixth Street, through the trench.

I was surprised to see a green cloak (a parachute maybe) settled on Michael Heizer's Rock this morning. Viewed from the Broad (looking north to Park La Brea), it's fairly elegant, draping nicely and pooling about the base.  From the West, it looks a bit shabby.

Nice color, though.

In what I assume is its ultimate position, I begin to see the levitation effect. I can't wait for the big reveal!

The west end of the concrete trench seems to be finished, and the red transporter and gantry equipment has been reduced to one trailer load of stuff (glimpsed behind the Rock above. Heavy equipment still dots the yard and the trench.

Rainy Day at the Getty Villa

I visited the Getty Villa today for the first time since it re-opened. 

I don't know why it has taken me so long! Here is a link to these details photos and their parent frames.



Rock of a Different Color

Touring Red Rock Canyon State Park with Bob and Carole was enlightening.

You have driven through the park many times on Highway 14 as you make your way to greater adventures up Highway 395, headed for Mt. Whitney, Mammoth, Trona Pinnacles, Death Valley. Maybe you have driven into the campground to use the bathroom. Maybe you even thought you'd visit...some day.

For me that day turned into three this weekend. It was great.

You can see this formation from Highway 14. It might be called the Temple of Heliopolis

Turk's Turban

Ancient Petroglyphs in Last Chase Canyon

Orion and Taurus over Ricardo Campground

Thanks to Red Rock Canyon-enthusiast Bob for introducing me to this wonderful "neighborhood" park.  Thanks to Carole for facilitating the great outing and for getting up before dawn, motivating me to go out and capture the Turban pictures.

The Rock Waits.

Now that Michael Heizer's rock has arrived in the backyard at LACMA, the museum can finish the preparation of the installation site. I didn't get it. I thought the site was ready for the rock, but when I saw it roll in I realized that they had to roll over the west end of the trench.

The rock waits.

So now the rock waits for the setting to be completed.  This is the view from a hole in the fence on Sixth Street. The red structure behind is a gantry that will somehow magically lift the rock and very gently settle into place over the concrete foundation.
That's engineering magic. If I was 14 years old and watching this process, I'd like to think I would pay more attention to my math and science classes and major in engineering instead of english.

Midnight on the Street With a Big Rock

Call me crazy.  I don't care.  I walked the Rock home last night.

We connected about 10:30 at Exposition and Figueroa and then made our way to Sixth and Fairfax. It took all night.

Making the turn from Adams to Western

Passng by the historic Los Altos Apartments.

Rock Escort



You meet the nicest people

This evening, Nan and I left work a little early trying to meet Jerry and Kay in Cerritos in time to catch a little evening light on Michael Heizer's big rock en route to LACMA.  Clouds on the horizon made a muddy sunset but we had a good time visiting the rock anyway.

It was so fun because of the people we met. A large crowd of curious locals and dedicated rock gawkers lined South Street just east of Palo Verde Avenue. It was all very orderly and so friendly. It was obvious that many people stopped on their way home from work. Some walked from the immediate neighborhood (many brought their dogs).  Others apparently had picked up the kids and driven over. Everyone had a camera or video recorder or smart phone.

LACMA had several red-shirted volunteers there answering questions and interacting with visitors. They all seemed to be having fun, too. [At dinner, Nan, Jerry, Kay and I agreed that the volunteers should have been handing out pebbles from the quarry, like they hand out fabric swatches at Christo installations. Maybe next time.]

With street traffic reduced to one lane in each direction, you would think drivers would be annoyed or irate. But many of them crept along snapping pix over the steering wheel and leaning out to ask questions. No honking horns, no rude hand gestures.

It seems that the big rock travels with a surplus of good will.  I hope that good will lingers around the installation on Sixth Street!