A New Neighbor

Just a mile or so east of Venice beach, you’ll find a rapidly changing community that is starting to attract some very fun creative’s.  After walking many mornings to my local coffee shop, past the homemade soaps place, along Venice Blvd, I would always pass an empty store front with the hope that something fun would fill the gap.  Before long Earl’s Gourmet Grub filled the space and the community received exactly what I had hoped for.   Not only do they offer amazing sandwiches and spectacular hard to find goodies, the architecture is absolutely captivating.  Seriously, just try walking by and not looking in.  In a community that is full of new crepes restaurants and an amazing farmers market, Earl’s Gourmet Grub is helping to make my neighborhood grow.  The amount of creative liberty that I found in my new local spot was a perfect balance next to the tattoo parlor and custom bike shop, radical and energetic.  Designed by Freeland Buck Architects, Earl’s is receiving alls sorts of attention and I’m extremely excited to see grow.  Btw, the same owners started another new business down the way, recording studio/art gallery.  I love living here!

We Are Where We Live

Our homes tend to reflect something about our personality.  Have you ever taken a moment to look around your home and ask yourself “What does this say about me?”  Not just the pictures on the walls but those little things that communicate our habits, our emotions, and bring us happiness on a daily basis.  I have to say that it is a very unique perspective seeing a home through the eyes of a photographer.  We are welcomed into someone’s sanctuary and in a way have the responsibility to tell a visual story about a person.  If done correctly, the connection between the designer, the home, and the homeowner should be communicated in every shot.  This is how I see photographing homes.  The more I know about the homeowner, the better. It is for that reason that I always try to spend the time to get to know whose space I am photographing. As for this home, I could tell you several things about the homeowner from the beginning. First, she’s truly one of a kind and I mean that quite literally.  She’s highly vibrant in every facet of her life, has a strong and well-rounded love for many types cultures, and the single most important thing to her is welcoming her friends and loved ones into her home to stay for the weekend.  What a nice side of people to see, eh?

FORM Magazine, February 2010

Angeleno Magazine, March 2010

In Boom Lift Above “New York Street” Set

Orange County Business Journal 11/08

Cover of Environmental Design + Construction 10/08

Toy Bus

How many of you had a toy bus when you were a kid?  I did.  I had an entire set!  Somehow, seeing this huge blue machine balancing in mid air, reminded me of my toy bus.  For this shot, with my eye leading me through and around the room searching for that connection, I also had watch for work holes below me and entering buses……..behind me I think.  I have to say though, I think the most fun part was standing underneath the bus.  I think I lifted it a little.  So, do you see it?  Do you see a toy bus?  I hope so!!!

Dwell On It

LOHA hired me to shoot their new project Formosa 1140 in West Hollywood sunny California.  When I shoot very unique projects of this type, I’m constantly reminded of the architect’s relationship with their designs.  On this shoot, Lorcan O’Herlihy told me early on, “The trick behind photographing this building is to get the ambient lighting just right so that the colors stand out from each other.”  Boy was he right, and once I realized this, I knew how to capture this project.  The dusk shot from the street isn’t featured in the online Dwell, but I’ve included it here.  Thanks for the tip Lorcan!