New Years resolution.

This year I want to start making more stuff. My photography has faltered a bit over the last few years and I want to try to pick it up a little. Nothing major, just try to make it a habit again. So to that end I've been trying to plan some small projects and figure out different ways I can integrate my art making into my life.

One project, inspired by a couple of friends I correspond with occasionally, is to create a postcard once a month to send to people who want to get cool stuff in the mail. Not Art, really, but decorative I suppose. It will be photos for the most part, maybe some illustration if I get inspired, and I'll do it once a month. It will be something you can put up on your fridge if you feel inspired or decorate the interior of  your trashcan. For me it's a way to motivate myself to make things. Here's what it won't be: pix of my kid, or sunsets or kittehs or spam. Or of naked people, violence, blood or dungeon porn. That's all for me. Right now I've got a few months sort of pre-planned (trying to settle on paper) and I hope to get January's out just a little into February, then I'll hopefully send the next eleven out by the end of their respective month.

So, if you're interested in getting cool stuff in the mail, send me an email with your address and I'll put you on the list. If I have your address and you want to get one, let me know. I don't want to send them out willy nilly.

Devil's Gate Dam

I've driven past the dam, built in 1920, about a billion times and always wanted to take some pix. During the Station Fire I took one, but it was dark and I didn't really get to explore. I finally got the chance last Saturday when I walked around the park a but in the rain. Apparently there's a lot more to explore however, and I'm already antsy to go back.

I shot a roll of film while I was there as well, but I think it will be a while before that's developed. Will just have to wait and see on those.

A walk in the rain: The Hahamongna Watershed

I took a walk Saturday in the Hahamongna Watershed and around Devil's Gate Dam. The park sits at the top of the Arroyo, just beneath JPL. Though it was empty except for a few joggers while I was there it's apparently a popular place for horseback riding and dog walking. I only saw a fraction of the park because of the rain and am looking forward to checking it out again. Some of the pix I took:

Looking through old pix tonight...

and came across this portrait of my grandmother.

Walking along early one morning...

I never get the chance to walk around and shoot these days. Keeping up with a speeding toddler takes way more attention than I ever thought, lift the camera and focus and the boy is taking off through a parking lot or hailing a taxi to take him to the airport. So it was kind of a treat the other day when I had to drop off my wife's car at the break of dawn and found myself alone with some nice light. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera, just my phone.

I liked this yard though, or whatever it is. And the enormous AC. 

A few pix from Palm Springs...

Finally got my film developed. There were several rolls from our trip to Palm Springs in May (so long ago, what happened to the summer?).

This one is my favorite. It looks so stark. The strange texture along the top is something that happened during processing, maybe from the film being out of date. A happy accident I think. 

Officially Cabazon I think. Continuing my love affair with chain link fences.

And dinosaurs. 

There was some color as well but it is not I have a harder time digitizing that with my camera. The colors turn out all wonky. I may post it later though.

B & W

Jasmine outside our bedroom window. 

Variations on a theme, from Palm Springs.