Posts Tagged ‘day of decision’

Lovely people, Day of Decision, and Olvera Street

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Excuse the terrible scan, I was too lazy to rescan this frame. Went to A&I to get the roll of Porta 160 NC featured in the last post developed. They instituted a $20 minimum. :|

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Graduation time at my college. I didn't attend any of the actual ceremonies, but was on campus when everything was being set up.

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Random self portrait using my boa's cage. Came out interesting, was simply curious what it'd look like.

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My mural on my wall.

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My cousin was in her school's dance team, which had a performance at my college. They had a mini red carpet thing outside the doors to the theater, with members of the dance team parodying crazed fan girls. I think I was the only one that made a photo of them. Love the expressions (and the eye contact).

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At Union Station. We were going to try and see this exhibit thing for a film my Mom's friend worked on. The wait was way too long...

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...so we had lunch at Olvera St. instead (after spending close to an hour trying to find parking).

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In a backyard.

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Her backyard:

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Frontyard

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Found myself at a lovely house with lovely people.

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Made my summicron flair.

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Spilt candle.

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Doorway.

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And, now, Day of Decision coverage. (Day CA supreme court ruled to uphold prop 8, stating marriage is only between a man and a woman... for anyone that doesn't/didn't know). People met up in west hollywood earlier in the day. They then marched from weho to hollywood and highland. I made the decision to go too late and I didn't want to try and find parking over in weho so I just took the subway to hollywood and highland, which is where I was assuming a lot of "action" would be.

I took a stroll down highland because I was early, still.

Every corner had at least 3 cop cars at it. This is the first I encountered. Were at least 10 cops in a lil meeting.

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Smiling protesters.

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Zombie protesters?

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I guess I'll just post everything. To show that I'm not perfect and I make mistakes and yea..

Damn tv cameras and their little headlights messin' up my exposure.

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This is Sister Unity. Makeup looks infinitely better in color and in person.

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Some more sisters.

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Her name is Sister Mary Fucking Poppins.

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Horsies! (and a dinosaur, and mcdonalds..)

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Hey, it reads correctly this time around.

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I'm not sure I understand the pose. Is it supposed to be more intimidating when you hold your belt?

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Sister's passed out "weapons of free speech" (chalk).

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I want this frame mural sized.

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I quite enjoy this frame.

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The marchers arrive! (again, stupid tv cameras overexposing the person's face. :|)

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Attached to a shopping cart were speakers. She was leading a chant: "I said what do we want? Equal rights! When do we want it? Now!"

Never heard her stop. I applaud her stamina.

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Lt. Dan Choi. I was too busy trying to frame the lady holding up her hands in the shape of a heart to pay attention to what part of Dan Choi I captured. Would have preferred to see more of his face, but oh well. Live and learn..

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That's quite a bit of people.

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Ran down to the street again once I saw that people were beginning to move.

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I marched with them for a little, just so I can say I was part of the actual march. But I turned around after a little bit so I could catch the subway home.

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Buying my ticket I discovered that the terminals are powered by Windows 2000.

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Here you can see my ridiculous hair (grows way too fast).

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At the grove. Inspired by a HCB shot. I'll just flat out say my rendition sucks and I'll have to try again.

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With a lovely lady.

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Talking animatedly about... (I'll give you a quarter if you guess correctly).

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Empty street.

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Farmer's market. I keep surprising myself when people don't notice I've taken their photo.

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This lady did look at me, but she looked away a moment later. (the fiber print of this frame looks infinitely better, i underexposed the shot by like 3 stops, but was able to print it well, scan just sucks).

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Hip shot that's terrible. She transfixed me but I was a coward and didn't do her justice.

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In step.

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My cousin was here from Sacramento for like <1 hour.

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Replacing the switch in the bathroom. It sparked a couple times because my mom didn't turn off the power.

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Photos of black cats don't work! At least, somewhat candid, non-posed or lit shots don't. I still take them. =/

When there's a ladder out, he loves to sit atop it.

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He somehow managed to get up inside the closet.

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Candlelight.

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Oh, hey, it's Brian Aubert (of the Silversun Pickups).

Ran into him at a listening party for the release of Sonic Youth's new album (which is amazing, btw). Coincidentally, I was listening to them when I drove there. There being Origami Vinyl in Echo Park.

I took this at f/1.4. It's horribly overexposed, but I was able to recover it in PS as well as make a very nice print of it.

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I took one at a smaller aperture once I realized my mistake, but I like the first one I took much more.

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Then I had a picture taken with him.

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Found my first dead bird on the street. I've seen them in many other people's photo blogs but never encountered one myself, until now.

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Overgrown squash plants.

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Teddy and Scamper.

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We (well, my mom per my suggestion) made tofu lasagna. The tofu was pressed (to get rid of water) then marinated in spaghetti sauce. It was delicious.

The tofu's under all that, I swear. :p

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This wasn't when I showed her Dustin Lance Black's naughty pictures, but let's just say it is.

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I honestly have no clue why I took this frame.

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I thought this was hilarious. The text on the back of the van says, "Esteban! Thanks God 4 Ur Graduation!"

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Thought the light was cool.

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Sunset. Really underexposed it (with regards to what I wanted it to look like) but I like the look of this.

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Her eye was red, so she was inspecting it. I'll leave it at that.

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Scamper!

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And I got a haircut. This time really short.

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Attempted to split my reflection up. Didn't quite work.

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I should stop taking self portraits.

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Sheku (art store guy in love with my leica) took this.

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And, Sheku himself:

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This cafe had a nice feel to it.

(and the caramel macchiato I bought was perfect)

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Oh. MJ died.

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Cops are assholes.

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On the way to the lovely house to spend time with lovely people again I encountered a Delorean.

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Even had its own flux capacitor.

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Party was for her 18th birthday. She's, uh, actually not in this shot.

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Sister took this one. I think she said she wanted to focus on the two in the back.

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Chillaxin

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Parasol

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Wine and nice conversation.

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Asparagus doused in olive oil and sprinkled with lemon.

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It was amazing.

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Birdy.

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Table.

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Preparing a platter full of treats (including chocolate éclairs to die for).

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The award for best dressed goes to...

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Outside.

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I may or may not have an obsession with taking pictures of people while they're eating.

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Beer pong without the beer and with raspberries and blackberries instead.

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Inspecting our present.

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It's a bunny.

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(the bunny was not harmed)

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Mother and daughter.

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Last self I promise!

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We ended up in the kitchen and began digging into this grapefruit ice thing. It was so good.

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Ok, I lied.

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Shit on my car's windshield.

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Probably would have looked infinitely better in color. I did take almost 2 rolls of color film at the place where I was heading (college of the canyons).

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Olvera street again.

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An old fire station.

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My shoes.

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Really wish I hadn't underexposed this one :(

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Food was delicious.

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Her eyes were striking.

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Unused space.

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I really don't like how HP5 scans. I know I can print all of the above (olvera st. shots) just fine, but the scans look horrible. =/

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Had to do it...

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Unintended, but I like it.

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And, I'll end this (think this is my longest post to date [149 photos]) with the first portrait I've taken of someone in a subway that I'm ok with.

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Good night.