Monday, May 31, 2010

Ford GT




I took these for my friend Ed, the owner of the GT. The car was in a big, two story high warehouse with bad lighting, shadows, racks of tools and parts, a bunch of other cars and temps around 95 degrees. I used 100' ropes hung from rafters, walls and ladders to create a black tent, using black felt, and a single 150 watt light on a stand. These images are pretty much right from the camera, as shot, except for some lens dust I had to clean. I framed both in 2" square, matte black frames, double matted with non-glare museum quality glass. They hang in Ed's office.

Portrait of Bruce



Bruce is a friend of 20 years. He spends most of his time creating beautiful homes, and day-dreams a lot. I took this picture at his place, after one of his family's luxurious feasts. We were all full and dazed. Bruce was dreaming. We were sitting together and I was fortunate to have my camera, and clicked this image. The background is from an image I took while traveling in China, and I think represents how Bruce might dream.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Courtyard addition to a small gable roof house.


This addition completely enveloped a small 1950's inner city bungalow. All that remained was the small gable end on the left side. The owners wanted to use every available square foot of build-able space on a small lot, and include a pool, spa studio, roof deck and garage accessed from a back alley. The idea was to create a modern, personal resort, for what they referred to as a "permanent vacation". The final configuration did not include the spa as shown, but separated it on a slightly elevated stone paved platform, just off the bedroom. It was 7' square when complete and a much better fit than the one shown.

Not Paying Attention



In the great scene of things it doesn't pay to be distracted by standards of beauty other than your own. This is the only way to find out what you can do, and what you are made of.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Red Sweet Pepper



ummmmmmm

Tomatoes


Yellow TAXI, Fargo Yellow Pear,Gold Nugget Cherry, Golden Delight.
We're gathering dozens daily, helping feed our neighbors and friends. These are delicious. Lettuce, cucumbers, peas, beans, Swiss chard, beets and carrots have been producing for the last 6-8 weeks. Peppers are almost ready, baby bok choy too, and Asian greens. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Hubbard squash and onions are coming along, and we're on to a new crop of bush beans. Basel runs rampant and soon I'll plant arugula. The Tiger melons didn't make it, but I'll give them another try in late summer. No one can tell me they can't grow an urban garden anywhere there's sun and water. I did this with junk boxes, old fence sections, buckets and milk cartons. We haven't eaten supermarket vegetables in months.
PS: Broccoli greens are really good sauteed in olive oil, garlic, with a little salt and pepper. There's no need to toss out thinned plants - they love being eaten!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Baby Red Sweet Peppers


These will blush to soft orange-red, at about 5" long.

Jimmy Nardelo Peppers


Close to ready

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Bright Summer Day

Monday, May 17, 2010

Monday, May 10, 2010

Self Portrait as a Pancake


Zen principal No. 768b, becoming one with your surroundings. In this case, breakfast at friends.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Images for a Collector


















Saturday, May 1, 2010

One afternoon in the Blueridge


This view is very close to the farm, and one of many reasons I love this place.

An economy of words



The article linked to "AN ECONOMY OF WORDS" by Russell Cole is worth reading. It may, or may not resonate with some of your feelings regarding our own economic conditions, and reassure you others are carrying the same burden.

This image Pressure-Containment-Escape speaks about what is real and what is forced. Eventually forced, pressurized containment will no longer withstand the pressure it creates. Although the interim results may be catastrophic, the end result will be, like vaporised clouds, equilibrium.

It's senseless to put ourselves under pressure, for any reason, when life itself, with a mind of its own, provides perfect solutions to whatever our concerns may be. The world, although many would argue to the contrary, is not against us, but only reacts to the unreasonable, unrealistic as well as enlightened pressures we bring to bear upon its soul.

Just as the cloud above moves without resistance, so too can we. If by a simple choice we accept our own phenomenology, life itself will show us who, and what we are. This response is inevitable, as inevitable as the chaos resulting from other of our less enlightened choices