Los Angeles Times Festival Of Books

We lost the big store booth this year. No Borders or Barnes and Noble. That space was taken by the LA Times Pavilion which was out in nowhere's land in past years. Did we miss the big stores presence? No. The great assortment of writers were still there and just as approachable as ever. Sunday morning James Ellroy was at the Mystery Bookstore signing. A long line of his fans snaked down the center court. Royce Hall was closed to the festival. It was reported that the school wanted to much money. Budget crunch for the school and the La Times. Strangely we didn't miss it's use. The smaller panels were always more informative and entertaining anyway.

One thing that didn't change was those dreadfull Janss Steps. Any plans I made were based on minimizing climbing up or down those steps.

Ended up buying half a dozen books. One was Walker Evans CUBA. The book was discounted 75% off list price at the Getty booth. I paid $6.87. For the other five books the total was $70.

Here's a small group of photos from both days at the festival.

God those steps again!

Big crowds.

The lawn that borders the Janss Steps is always a good place to relax and read that just purchased book. Good place for photos too. The photo from yesterday of the young boy was also taken on this lawn.

These two young ladies were taking snap-shots of what they entered on the What Are You Reading wall. Ding? Shout.

James Ellroy greeting his many fans at the Mystery Bookstore booth.

The lady in the very short skirt just may be the woman that Tod Goldberg encountered while signing books at Mysterious Galaxy booth. There is a link below to Tod's account of the festival and the mystery of the short skirt.

Tod Goldberg with the creator of the popular TV show Burn Notice, Matt Nix. Tod is the author of the Burn Notice tie-in books. His first second Burn Notice book is The End Game. Down in the right corner is Bill Rabkin who has worked with Tod's brother, Lee Goldberg, and I guess still does. Bill writes the Psych tie-in books. His first Psych book was: Mind Over Magic. He has two more in the works. He has also written for that show. Hey I didn't notice that Mr Rabkin was trying to sneak into the picture. It's OK.

Bill Rabkin, Tod Goldberg and Tod's brother Lee Goldberg were all at the Mystery Bookstore booth signing books and just about anything else that was put in front of them.

Here's Tods's take on the festival. He does a MUCH better job of describing the weekend.

And here is Lee Goldberg's take on the festival.

Giada De Laurentiis at the Culinary Stage. It was very crowded. OK? I didn't have a Stinking Badge so what you see is it. Well not entirely. I did get a partial of Giada. Maybe later I'll post it.

That's it for this year.

LA Times Festival of Books -- Day Two

It's over. 364 days until the next one.

I think this picture tells it all. Will post more tomorrow. I'm tired.

Saw a lot. Listened to a few excellent panels. Spent a lot. Can't wait until next year so I can do it all over again.

LA Times Festival of Books -- Day One

Panel Subject was Humor and Race. I can tell you there was plently of humor during this panel's discussions. Great way to end the first day of the festival. From left: Tod Goldberg, panel moderator, Lalo Alcaraz, and Larry Wilmore. Missing from the photo is Christian Lander.

Earth Day Not, Trash Day Everyday!

I think for some it's f**k Earth Day and do it every day.

PS: We did pick up the trash after taking the photo. And the trash was as seen in the photo. No rearranging was done.

Today Is E A R T H D A Y

Another Example Of Rich Man Poor Man Inequity

As a photographer donating your work doesn't get the same respect from the IRS as an owner of a piece of art. Read more here.

LA Times Book Festival April 25 and 26

Get all the info on the LA Times Book Festival at their web site. Tickets will be available online at Ticketmaster on April 19, 2009.

I Can't Wait.

Is Film Dead?

Maybe not. Brian is a film student, from Chicago, who was in Laguna Beach for spring break with a couple of friends. One of his friends, not pictured, was using an instant camera. Fuji still makes the instant film. Brian wasn't using any form of digital. His camera is a real live motion picture film camera. It uses Super 16 format film. Super 16 is 16mm film with the sprockets eliminated on one side enabling wide format versus 16mm's square format.

Brian stated he was going up to LA on Sunday to have his film processed. The problem with film is not it's availability but getting it processed. Still photographers have this problem. Sure you can go to some quickie processor but you DO get what you pay for.

I was spending $12 per 36 exposure roll of Fujichrome. I took the film into an Irvine, CA film processor, who is one of the best around, and could get a 2 hour turnaround if needed. I was dropping off and picking up film almost everyday. The drive was one hour total and gasoline was and still is expensive.

Scanning the film into digital formal was another time consuming chore. Yes it got to be a chore because I really wanted to be out doing photography.

I finally concluded that it was getting to expensive to stay with film and I went with digital. Never looked back.

The process of going to a digital camera was made easier because I had already been using everything else associated with digital photography.

When all is said and done I love the freedom that digital gives you. I can carry my photo-lab, my laptop computer, everywhere I go if need be. Take a time sensitive photo and 10 minutes later it's on the web. That requirement hasn't been needed often but I'm still prepared for emergencies.

There's only one problem I do miss working in the darkroom and making black and white prints. It's still magic for me to see the picture slowly show when the print is in the developer. Magic.

There is no magic to digital.

Most Interesting Bookstores Of The World

This link combines two of my favorite activities: Photography and bookstores. Check it out. You will not be disappointed.

You Stay, I'll See You Back At The Hotel

Some would call it a curse. I say it's a good curse, a very good curse. Here's what David Burnett had to say about the good curse. It's soooo true.

In the digital photography age, we sometimes forget that great pictures are usually made by hard working, dedicated photographers who already see the world with a vision far apart from the rest of society. There is no question that few things are more tedious than for a non-photographer (you could insert "wife" or "daughter" here) to walk around any ole place with someone who can't help looking at the scene around them as if it were a photo op arranged by God and to be discovered on that stroll. We stop, we squint as we try and compose, we halt for a second to see if the light is right, if the shadow falls in the grooviest place. It's not exactly a simple meander, but one accented by all kinds of stops and starts, and often punctuated by "you can stay if you want, I'll see you back at the hotel."

David and his wife, Iris, have a blog called: We're Just Sayin. No photos - yet - but we do enjoy the conversations. Check it out for yourself.

David's quote is from this posting.

So You Want To Be A Professional Photographer

Be prepared to suffer.

Be prepared to spend years learning your craft.

Be prepared to hear "NO."

John Camp writting at The Online Photographer saids it very well.

Be prepared.

Good Morning

An OOPS For Epson

Epson sent an e-mail about a clearence sale. Clicked on the link and got garbage.

So I tried going to epson.com and once I selected USA up popped this error message.

IM Communication Error
error code = 200

Go figure. Epson isn't some small time outfit so what's up? You think they would test this stuff unless the entire site has been hit.

Latest News: The Epson site is now undergoing maintenance. I wonder why?

Where Is The Rest Of Her?

More of that woman-made stuff that shows up on our beaches after a storm.

So where is the rest of the hot babe that was wearing these glasses?

Is It Art Or Just A Tennis Ball On The Beach?

I've either been a wanta' be photographer, an amateur photographer, or a professional photographer all my life. From first breath. I mention this because I have also never considered photography an art. Some do and that's fine. I don't. That being said I have made some photographs that explain or show nothing of value and therefore I call it art.

So is the tennis ball on the beach nothing of value, therefore art, or is it part of a photoessay showing man-made objects where they don't belong? You and I will have to wait to see what develops.

Now you have to ask yourself: "Was this post necessary?" Probably not.

Post Note

The Inn With A View

Since the movie 'The Bucket List' I've though about what I would put on my list. One would be a night at the Madonna Inn. Ever since I was at Cal Poly in the 60's I've wanted to stay at least one night at this Inn.

As you can see from the photo above there were some great views at the Inn. I believe this ranch was part of the Madonna family properties.

Every room is different. My is called the The Traveler's Yacht. It could be called the Red Door. This was one crazy room and it was a delight to stay two nights in it.

Why was the room so crazy? Take a look for yourselves.

LIFE Goes To Google

LIFE Photo Archive Available On Google Image Search. This should be big news. Is it? I think it is. See for yourself.

The link to the Google anouncement at their offical blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/life-photo-archive-available-on-google.html

Or just go directly to the archive.

The link to the photos: http://images.google.com/hosted/life

Here's a tip from Google's blog: Add "source:life" to any Google image search and search only the LIFE photo archive.

An example: wwii source:life

In the end this is all about money. You have the option of purchasing a digital print of the photo.

A Quote I Like To Live By But Probably Fail At Some Level

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Trestles Beach

The battle continues. Not in Iraq. Not in Washington DC. No the battle continues over a tollway going through another park. This isn't the first time a highway has encroached a park. It's against California state law but they do it anyway.

They did it to Griffith Park in LA.

They did it to Buena Vista Park in Burbank.

Now they want to do it in San Onofre State Park.

Trestles Beach is within San Onofre State Park. It's in danger. No it is doomed. If McCain wins it is lost forever.