wabash

I took this picture on Wabash st in east LA. I am afraid I could not let this
architectural oddity pass me by. I thought the add-ons to the initial structure
were really worth photographing. its two 4x5 b/w frames stitched together
in photoshop.

flower district

there used to be regulars that would spend time in the shade on the wall

inmo

side A



side B

found object at 4th and spring

two corners

two corners that have forever changed. both of these frames were taken around mid 2004.
its so different on both of these corners now,

the image below is 5th and broadway, now there is a rite aid drug store, and the building is gentryfied.




and this is 8th and broadway, also a new loft gentryfication job, with a necklace of biege planters and cute mini pines.



I suppose I should be thinking about reshooting these two corners, but now that they are glammed up they don't have the same appeal.

crack pipe of some sort

I was walking down San Pedro St, just having crossed 6th, and en-route to 5th, when I stepped over some neatly folded newspaper, I took a few more paces and then stopped. for some reason I had not stood on that folded piece of newspaper. my curiousity went on auto pilot. I went back and unwrapped the paper and this fucking filthy ass crack-pipe was all bundled up and still in one piece and now in my hands. good job I had my shoulder bag with me, unfortunatly I had to carry it with me for the rest of the afternoon, but, I got it back safe for a photograph.
I guess you just never know whats in a nicely folded piece of newspaper on the ground in the street.

9th & broadway

the images above are from 9th and broadway in downtown LA.
the building looks like it used to be a dept store, but its been sitting suspended like this for some time. the developers seem to be going through spurts on the gentrification of this building. personally I like it just the way it is.
I realize this block will change, but I enjoy it while I can.
the developers, in my opinion, always try and pretty up their investments, but rarely do I like the beige and planters.
I prefer the accumulation of artifacts and the build up of layers of grit and grime that occur over long periods of time. it tells me something about a place.

downtown LA portraits

a triptych of portraits made in downtown LA.

the way to the citadel

I came out of my place sometime ago, to come face to face with this van. it suddenly appeared from nowhere. no engine or drive train, and all the cardboard, dust and pin/ups still intact. somebody must have towed this thing over to my doorstep very very gently, not to disturb any of the artifacts.  I came out with my view camera and made these four views. the next day the thing was gone.