NO/LA roadtrip adventure (final part and INDEX)

As a reference for those who've joined the party late, here's an index

with links to the other parts of the story.<P>

 

<a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0070Vg">Part

One: Chapters 1 & 2: trip to NO, out with Dennis and John, Maple Leaf

Bar</a><P>

<a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0072V5">Part

Two: Chapter 3 (part one): French Quarter with Dennis Couvillion</a><P>

<a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0074vO">Part

Three: Chapters 3 & 4: more French Quarter and St. Charles</a><P>

<a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007G4l">Part

Four: Chapters 5 & 6: birthday party in Houma, reunion in Houston</a><P>

<a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007LV6">Part

Five: Chapters 7, 8, & 9: from TX, to Grand Canyon, and on to LA</a><P>

Part Six: Chapters 10, 11, 12, & 13: Venice Beach, Hollywood with

Michelle, and departure<P>

 

Unless otherwise noted, full-frame b&w shots were made with an M3 and

50 DR-Summicron or 35 Summicron on Ilford FP4+. All are flatbed scans

of prints.<P>

 

<b>Chapter Ten: Night on the Pier</b><P>

While I was driving back from Joshua Tree to LA, Sarah and Greg both

caught a nap (sleeping off the beer). By the time we got back to

Greg's place in Torrance, they were refreshed enough to go out again,

so we headed just down the road to the Redondo Beach Pier. Seemed to

be a popular fishing spot, even at one in the morning.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lafisher01.jpg"><br>

<i>the efficient way to fish (50 Summilux, HP5+, EI 1000)</i></center><P>

 

<b>Chapter Eleven: Venice Beach</b><P>

The next day, I slept in while Greg and Sarah went to church, then we

later met up to head over to Venice Beach to meet one of Sarah's

friends (and for me to do some sightseeing/photographing). There was

a solid haze when we first arrived, but after having some coffee, it

had mostly dissipated, leaving me with that oddly even though bright

west coast light.<P>

 

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/laessence01.jpg"><br>

<i>essence of Venice Beach</i></center><P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/ladrums01.jpg"><br>

<i>hippie drum family</i></center><P>

The rollerblading guitar player hit me up for a donation, but I wasn't

carrying much, so I gave him a quarter and a good guitar pick. Got a

couple shots of him, but nothing very compelling. I couldn't pass up

the lighting at the Muscle Beach outdoor gym, though.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lamuscle01.jpg"><br>

<i>muscle beach (Pentax 645, 35mm/f3.5, Delta 100)</i></center><P>

We hit a few of the more generic tourist areas during the course of

the day, but the generic tourists looked like generic tourists, so I

didn't photograph too many of them. I did get in contact with an old

friend of mine from Nashville, Michelle, who had been moved out there

a few years before by her company (she was a songwriter with Warner

Chapel). She was as happy to hear from me as I was to talk to her,

and we arranged to meet in her neck of the woods the next day.<P>

<b>Chapter Twelve: Hollywood with Michelle</b><P>

Sarah was kind enough to let me borrow her car for my last full day in

the LA area, and I dropped her off at the library before heading to

Hollywood for lunch with Michelle. Driving in LA certainly isn't one

of my favorite activities, but it's really no worse than Atlanta (just

bigger). I was right on time to join Michelle for coffee and lunch at

a Urth cafe on Melrose (pretty much the same thing we used to do at my

usual neighborhood cafe, Fido, fack in Nashville).<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lamichelle02.jpg"><br>

<i>Michelle!!!(75 Summilux)</i></center><P>

Spent most of the lunch just grinning like a fool because it was so

nice to be spending time with her again, but she didn't seem to mind.

After lunch, we ran by Samy's Cameras (the place is HUGE!) so she

could pick up some pics from a guy who works there (and I replinished

my nearly depleted film supply). After that, we went over to

Hollywood Blvd. to walk around and do some shooting. I would have

prefered doing that at night, but she had to be back in the studio by

then. So I settled for a few daytime pics of the neighborhood.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lacorner01.jpg"><br>

<i>Hollywood Blvd.</i></center><P>

I was a bit distracted from straight-up street shooting, though. Such

is life . . . <P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lamichelle01.jpg"><br>

<i>fronting some LA attitude</i></center><P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/laladder01.jpg"><br>

<i>don't know how that hole got there</i></center><P>

Took the long way home through town during rush hour--the scenic route

was far more interesting than sitting in traffic on the freeway.

Spent a quiet evening having dinner, visiting the cafe, and hanging

out with Sarah and Greg before my return.<P>

 

<b>Chapter Thirteen: Leaving Los Angeles</b><P>

The next day, Sarah and I (Greg was at work) had lunch and did a final

bit of sightseeing near LAX before I headed east. I was looking

forward to sleeping in my own bed again and seeing friends back in

Nashville, but I was sorry the adventure was coming to end.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lasurf01.jpg"><br>

<i>beach at the end of LAX runway</i></center><P>

I didn't get any greif going through security, though it did take some

time to have my film hand checked. No one hassled me for

photographing in the airport, either; maybe it was just because I only

fired off a few frames.<P>

<center><img src="http://mikedixonphotography.com/lalax01.jpg"><br>

<i>waiting to board the flight back to Nashville(HP5+)</i></center><P>

Hope you've enjoyed the tale. To the best of my knowledge, it's a

true and accurate account. I'll be heading out of the country again

soon, so it may be a while before I can provide photographic results

of my further exploits . . .

Mike,

 

You did well bringing your essay together, I was going to suggest as much.

 

Steve

Dear Mike,

I have enjoyed viewing all 12 chapters of you road trip. Nice photography. I'm jealous that I can't "hit the road" for a serious shoot. For what it is worth, I believe most of your color work would be better viewed in black and white. It is my humble opinion that the only time I shoot color is when the subject of the photo is color itself. On most other ocasions I find color a distraction from the subject. Of course there are a couple of shooters, like Alex Webb,

that make color work for street work. I think you should stick almost exclusively with B+W. Also I have found it difficult,and long ago gave up the practice, of carrying 2 cameras one loaded with color and

one with B+W; its to hard to "see" both ways simultaneously. What do you think? One other question:do you find that your most successful and serious photography is accomplished when shooting alone? I almost always shoot by myself; in 23 years of shooting I have only found 2 people with whom I can work well. Thanks for the great shots!

Hey Mike,<p>

 

Did you go to <a href="http://www.beeradvocate.com/beerfly/user_reviews/3899/high/0">Naja's</a> on the boardwalk at the Redondo Beach Pier? "777 Beers of the World"!!! That's a lot of different types of beer. Makes you wonder how old that Thai Singha is that you're drinking ;)<p>

 

Regards,<p>

 

Steve

"Beach at the end of LAX runway" is terrific!

Cool story and pix, Mike. I've enjoyed your journey.

Nice work, Mike. By the way, I grew up about two blocks from your studio -- at 1919 Linden Ave., and we just sold my parents' house at 1909 18th Ave. three months ago. My first experiments with photography were wandering around that area with a Speed Graphic in 1972. Small world, eh?

Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed.

This should be put into the 'Travel' photo-essays section, so we can access it easily.

 

Very inspirational ... thanks Mike !!

 

Ron

Truly an excellent adventure, Mike. Thanks for taking us along (and not making us carry your luggage, or chip in for gas).

Thanks for all the comments.

 

I didn't make it to Naja's on the pier, though it looks like a good

place if you're in the mood. To be honest, after my excesses in

Louisiana, I wasn't doing very much drinking in the West.

 

Typically, when I'm out shooting for myself, I just carry a single

body and lens, meter, an extra roll or two of film, and

(occasionally) a second lens in my pocket. On the other hand, if

I'm going to be out exploring a lot, I'll carry a second body (with

second lens mounted on it). It provides me with significantly

more options in case I do see something that should be in color

without adding a lot of bulk and weight to what I have to carry. In

general, I'd agree my b&w documentary stuff tends to be

stronger, but my color work won't improve if I don't work at it.

 

As far as shooting alone or with people, in some sense, having

other people around is a neccessity for my kind of shooting--

they're the subject. I regularly shoot when I'm out with friends--

they're accustomed to it by now. In the sense of going shooting

with other photographers, it generally doesn't make much

difference to the quality of my work. If I'm drawn into the subject, I

kind of tune out whoever's with me until I have the shot.