C&H Photos

Old Snaps

2010-03-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

Photos taken for a photography class assignment a while ago. Walking down Main Street in Huntington Beach, I was able to find lots of different personalities that told interesting stories in one simple portrait.

- C.

No more drama.

2010-03-18T23:29:00.000-07:00

In conversation, talking about the weather normally means you're boring. I guess blogging about it is even worse. Sorry.

I just wanted to say, now that the stifling 80-degree spring weather is here, I truly miss the dramatic stormy skies of a few weeks back...

Spring Surfaces

2010-02-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

I was at my local stripmall the other day and was blown away that amidst the concrete and consumerism, nature was in full bloom.

New Year, New Hike

2010-01-05T15:15:00.001-08:00

My buddy Kevin and I hit the trails for 5 hours in the Santa Ana Mountains on New Year's Eve. Beautiful weather and nature at its finest. Good way to say adios to '09.

This little birdie didn't make it to 2010, but we hope he had a full life.

Rolling stone gathers no moss. Apparently, this stone went nowhere.

We always see mountain lion signs on all these SoCal hikes, so when we saw these fresh tracks in the mud, we freaked. But, with some googling, I found out these prints belonged to a dog versus a carnivorous cat.

-H.

One of those days.

2009-12-16T23:50:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it was one of those days -- a good one. Topped-off a good day by saying adios to the sun. You forget to do it sometimes, living in LA.

-H.

Fruits of My Labor

2009-12-13T01:00:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago, I risked my precious life to help my buddy, Brian, put up his simple Christmas lights. Last nite, I finally got to see them in all their glory.

Start.

Finish.

-H.

Air & Space

2009-12-07T23:17:00.001-08:00

Last Friday, I spent a few hours trying to get inspired for my latest freelance gig. Went to the California Science Center and pretended I was 7 years old. Wasn't too hard.

My inner geek was bummed that I didn't explore this major.

-H.

Opposite of Damnation

2009-12-02T00:34:00.000-08:00

My friends from Manhattan Beach trekked to Silver Lake to see their friend's band, FMvsAM. I applauded them for leaving their beachside bubble. So, I left my man-cave to rockout on a Tuesday night.

Behind the band was a sign screaming out S-A-L-V-A-T-I-O-N. I didn't get it until, I started to groove to the music. I was temporarily saved.

-H.

Zuma Canyon

2009-11-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

Did a great hike with friends through Zuma Canyon this weekend in Malibu. The pics below don't show the difficulty of the hike, which included boulder-climbing, bush-whacking and steep inclines. I have scratches, bruises and sore muscles as happy mementos.

This rare variety of pot only grows in this particular region.

-H.

Turkey Day

2009-11-27T19:57:00.000-08:00

My parents hate turkey, so we went out for Korean bbq instead. My mom gave me this Thanksgiving decor because she knows how much I love that big bird.

-H.

Track Work

2009-11-22T21:29:00.000-08:00

Last year, my marathon was harder and more painful than it should have been. This year, I've recruited my friend Gary to train me. Today we did some vomit-inducing, speedwork at the UCLA track.

I had a good hard run today. I thought In&Out was a fitting reward.

-H.

Thursday with Snoop

2009-11-20T19:58:00.001-08:00

Saw Mr. Snoop Doggy Dog last night. From what I recall, it was great.

We started here at the Golden Gopher for some gin and juice

(not really, more like Red Bull and vodkas).

Snoop played all the hits and seemed to be having a good time doing it. The air was thick with smoke if you know what I mean.

After the debauchery of the Snoop concert, I saw a neon sign in the distance that seemed to be calling out to me. Time for some hail marys.

- H.

Price Right. Timing Wrong.

2009-11-16T20:25:00.000-08:00

My friend and I went to CBS studios today to get into "The Price is Right." Problem was we didn't get there at the crack of dawn to beat the hardcore fanatics.

Entrance is on Fairfax right below Beverly. Just flash your i.d.

This was the afternoon crowd. They were 5 hours early.

These dudes were the gatekeepers. I wanted to slip them a twenty, but my desire to win the "Showcase Showdown" just wasn't there.

-H.

Creative Space

2009-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

I was deleting some old pics on my phone and came across some of my friend Kristina's apartment down the street here in Silver Lake. Apparently, she's still "working" on her place, but looks good to me.

Although, the cords could use some work.

-H.

10 Days in Venice

2009-11-11T22:26:00.000-08:00

My friends went on vacation again, so I got to watch their perfect dog and hangout on the canals. Here are some of the highlights.

I was having an apple as I looked out the window and saw this couple being photographed. Very random. It's this fact that makes moving to Venice so alluring to me. Someday.

-H.

Obsolete Art Gallery

2009-11-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Went to an art gallery called "Obsolete" on Main St. in Venice the other night. I thought it was just a random party, but it turned out to be a small political rally for California Attorney General hopeful, Kamala D. Harris.

She spoke on a ton of important issues about crime. Unfortunately, I was distracted with taking pics of the creepy/cool art on my phone.

- H.

An Exotic Trip

2009-11-02T19:46:00.000-08:00

I stepped into another culture for a few minutes as I went to the local Latino market. I felt like a fool snapping pics in a grocery store, but the packaging and variety of items were new and fascinating to me. I was a tourist in my own neighborhood.

They'll also help you bring all your Latin goods home. Muchas gracias.

-H.

Pumpkins, Ghouls, Etc.

2009-10-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

There are many good things about Halloween like afro wigs, naughty nurses, devil horns and dressed-up weiner dogs.

Yet, what I enjoy most is walking down typical neighborhoods and seeing humor and horror. The free candy is a plus, too.

-H.

Bizarre Bazaar

2009-10-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

Passing through the Chinatown bazaar is always a pleasure for me. I thrive on the unpredictable, randomness. I delight in the unbelievable lack of detail. I rejoice in the horrific knock-offs. I enjoy a good laugh.

Hmm, I'm sure if you paired one of these blouses with a good pair of jeans...

Rows and rows of women's shoes. And they have that 'bobe' brand that's so popular.

Your two year old would never suspect a fake until they choke on a loose Cookie Monster eyeball.

Next to the children's toys are the big boy toys.

Walt is turning in his grave. I can hear him screaming for the "E" now.

-H.

Lofty Dreams

2009-10-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

I was in downtown last week and loft boom is still going crazy. It's good to see more life down there. Cool architecture and history, but I'm not signing up anytime soon.

My dreams will be lived elsewhere.

-H.

Working with Mickey

2009-10-20T20:10:00.001-07:00

Had a "job" today. I say it in quotes because it didn't feel like a job at all. I went to Disneyland to hangout and explore a few areas so I can give the Disney Imagineers (imagination + engineers) some of my thoughts on improving the park.

Some of my friends rail against the Disney machine and its manufacturing of fun, but honestly after spending a full-day seeing their extreme attention to detail (from a designer's point of view), you can't walk away without being in awe. Their standards are inspiring.

As you enter the park, you go under a bridge and this tiny sign tells you exactly what to expect.

They allowed us behind this door to see "backstage." There was a no-picture policy, but I saw nothing scandalous. It looked like a movie lot, soundstage area. No one smoking, boozing or cavorting.

I found out in the New Orleans section of the park, there is a secret speakeasy called Club 33 where super exclusive members can go and have an alcoholic beverage. Don't even try to get up there.

You're not important enough.

I've always skipped the steamboat for the more exciting rides, but I guess I'm an old fart now because I enjoyed it. Felt like I was in a Tom Sawyer book. Wait...no one reads anymore.

This is Maggie the Cow.

I was impressed with Disneyland being rather progressive honoring Dia de los Muertos the 3-day Mexican holiday. But then again, it could also be the seasonal decoration for their Mexican restaurant. Whatever the case, Disneyland is wonderful.

-H.

Too Much

2009-10-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

I love dogs. I do. Yet, as I took a walk one evening in Hollywood, I was appalled by this insane building of over-indulgence. C'mon, now. Really?

You dog freaks can check it out at www.dpethotels.com.

At least, they have a fun tagline for a hotel: Sit. Stay.

-H.

What Rain?

2009-10-16T23:00:00.000-07:00

Summer has made an encore. The two days of cold temps and rain are a distant memory. I rearranged my schedule to play football on the beach, frolic in the ocean and bbq. It's mid-October. I guess there's an upside to global warming.

-H.

Night Rain

2009-10-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

Its been pouring the last few days. Last night I caught a few pics with my phone as the world went by.

-H.

Ventura? Yes, Ventura.

2009-10-10T22:45:00.000-07:00

Took a drive with a friend today. We went to Ventura because we found ourselves on the 101 North and Santa Barbara seemed too far away. I was pleasantly surprised with some quintessential California scenery.

- H.

Adventures in Griffith Park

2009-10-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

Out with summer, in with the fall. Today was sunny, yet cool. It was perfect hiking weather. My buddy Kevin and I tackled the endless trails in Griffith Park for 5 long hours. Most of it was spent trying to find our way back to the car, but it added to the adventure. Good day.

The hazy downtown looked futuristic as if it were a floating city.

The park truly has endless trails. We took these big paths, but found the narrow ones more fun.

We made it up behind the Hollywood Sign. I saw the Hollywood Reservoir for the first time in my 20-years in LA.

We got lost and found ourselves trespassing at "Camp Hollywoodland." Below you'll see a video on how we got out of these eerie, deserted grounds.

So much randomness out there. We stumbled upon a movie set that wasn't being used.

Boys will be boys.

- H.

Adios Summer

2009-10-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

With nighttime temperatures getting cooler and the sun sinking faster, my friends and I realized that the beach days of bodysurfing in the 70-degree waters are about to end. So we took time yesterday to say goodbye to summer with a memorable afternoon in Venice. Bring on fall.

-H.

Soap Box Fun

2009-09-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

Red Bull came to town yesterday to hold soap box races. The financial district streets were never more fun.

Comedian Paul Rodriguez warmed up the crowd at the starting line.

People were creative with their soap box themes.

These racers weren't really concerned with protective gear.

Two parachutists dropped into the crowd. Awesome.

Scaling the side of a building, the young kids clamored to get a better view. It was kind of a risky move, which made me realize that I'm old because young me would have been right on that ledge with a

Red Bull in each hand.

- H.

Fall in NYC

2009-09-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

Manhattan is already an amazing city, but add the perfect 75 degree fall weather with gentle breezes, then it becomes unbelievable. A recent trip stirred-up my old yearnings to leave California for this metropolitan paradise.

- H.

I Heart Wednesday

2009-09-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

Spending six days with 5-month old Wednesday not only made me instantly popular, but it also turned me into a crazy dog-person. I took a zillion pictures. I will only post 4.

Awake.

Asleep.

Awake.

Asleep.

- H.

My Future Neighborhood

2009-09-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

I've been d0g-sitting out on the Venice Canals and it's official: I'm absolutely in love with this neighborhood. I do see myself living near the ocean in this cool, laid-back community. Who knows, maybe someday, I can afford one of these beauties...

-H.

Beautiful Disaster

2009-08-30T22:22:00.000-07:00

It took up the sky with a quiet sadness.

That was my first thought when seeing it initially.

It bullied the everyday skies I looked up to from my driveway.

I knew the plume had come from the devastating wildfires.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help, but be in awe of it.

It was a paradox -- the smoke cloud was beautiful.

I hope they contain the fires soon.

In the meanwhile, I'll keep eyeing the visitor.

-H.

Happy Happy at the LACMA

2009-08-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

H summarized the day at the LACMA quite accurately, so here are more images of the day through my eyes.

- C.

Day at the Museum

2009-08-22T20:55:00.001-07:00

C&H went to LACMA this Saturday afternoon. After checking out an average American Art exhibit and an architecture themed collection, we were dazzled by 12 Contemporary Artists from Korea.

I half-expected to see super-duper, Asian-Asian work, but I was pleasantly surprised with the relatively race neutral art. It was visually stimulating and thought-provoking. The many young, hip Koreans viewing the show were probably swelling with pride. Rightfully so.

This Korean exhibit is only up until September 20, 2009. Go see it!

This is a close-up of one of the outdoor exhibits. The artist created a vine-like jungle made of colorful, cheap plastic cups, bowls, trays, lids, etc. The kids loved it (myself included).

In order to get to the exhibit, they made you go up, then go down. Kinda weird. But, I enjoyed the view of all the lines and color.

We couldn't take pictures inside, but the grounds of the museum are just as fascinating. I spotted this crazy looking flowery, palm-like plant. It felt over-sized and freakish. Cool.

This wasn't taken at the museum, but I saw it on Melrose. Seemed to capture the spirit of C&H today: two kids out exploring. Good day.

-H.

A Chance Encounter

2009-08-20T22:51:00.000-07:00

There's a restaurant in Silver Lake I often drive past only because it's near the freeway entrance. A couple of weeks ago, I found myself on foot walking past this oft-ignored place. Since I was there, I scoped it out.

It's called El Caserio and they specialize in Ecuadorean/Italian food. Interesting combo, no?

Luckily, I was by myself because I wouldn't want anyone watching me strain myself as I pulled open this big, heavy wooden door.

The first thing you notice after you've struggled with the door is the stain-glassed ceiling that is more impressive than this poor photo.

They have a fully-stocked bar that hosted no one, but myself. Most of the customers were having meals in the garden-like patio.

I was tempted to have a meal, but I opted for an appetizer of empanadas. I thought they'd be like the ones I had in Buenos Aires, but these were fried crispy and served with a spicy hot sauce.

I cannot end this post without making fun of the tacky and loud restaurant vehicle parked out front. It almost made me keep walking.

-H.

Bridge to Nowhere

2009-08-15T22:32:00.000-07:00

Another hike today. It was a repeat of the one from a few weeks back because last time we fell short of getting to the "Bridge to Nowhere." Today, we met our goal of seeing this bridge with no point.

The "Bridge to Nowhere" was built in 1936, but a huge flood wiped out the road they were trying to build for it. So, they abandoned the road project giving this bridge absolutely no purpose, thus the name.

There are areas of the hike where you have to walk across lots of rocks. Maybe I need to get real trail shoes instead of old sneaks because my feet hurt.

My feet were happy soaking in the surprisingly cold river water.

As I was researching the history of the bridge, I came across a website for a company that does legal bungee jumps off the sucker. Looks like something I might treat myself to for my b-day...

-H.

Get Out.

2009-08-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

It's August. I'm sorry to bring it to your attention, but summer is on its way out. I'm very proud of myself this sunny season, I think I took advantage of the beautiful weather. Nothing is more exemplary than a Reggae concert at the Hollywood Bowl on a perfect Sunday afternoon.

Friendly people, grooving music, homemade picnic foods w/wine. Sundays don't get any better.

- H.

Billy.

2009-08-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

Billy is my upstairs neighbor. He's 72 years old and has been living in the complex for over 30 years. Alone. It's a bit sad, but he keeps upbeat about it. He lives for the Dodgers, America and Jesus.

I try to visit him sometimes. Although, lately I've been neglecting him because he has the tendency to talk my ear off and I've been busy. On this day, I went up to help with his tv that was on the fritz.

This is how you'll find Billy 99% of the time -- in front of the tv in his folding chair, soda pop and snack.

I first thought Billy had a thing for horses since the biggest pieces in his apartment are of frolicking colts. Nope. Someone was throwing them out and he grabbed them.

Billy has curious knick-knacks all over his apartment. He doesn't understand why anybody would throw away such treasures.

Oh yeah, Billy likes Star Trek, too. Although, I think he's moved on to the Power Rangers because I've caught him watching it twice already. But, this poster is one of his prized possessions.

Billy has this bumper sticker scotch-taped up above his bed. I guess it's the reason he's always so resilient and buoyant about life.

Tell Billy to smile for the camera, this is his go-to pose.

Funny guy.

- H.

Picket Fences

2009-08-03T20:26:00.000-07:00

Long Beach has its nice parts and its not so nice parts. Belmont Heights is a quaint neighborhood in Long Beach where people ride around on their beach cruisers and live in adorable homes. Unlike the OC where all the houses are brand spanking new and formulaic, the nice thing about Long Beach is the individual character of each home.

Walking around, you realize that things don't have to be perfectly manicured to be admired. The crooked things somehow add more to the charm of the neighborhood.

Even the front doors and house numbers are distinctive.

But my favorite home was this one:

Filipinos on the run.

2009-08-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

If it weren't for the city signs, you would never know you were in "Historic Filipinotown." There are quite a few Filipinos in this small patch sandwiched near Echo Park and Downtown, but it's pretty covert.

Well, this weekend they were out in full force for a yearly festival. It was kicked-off with an early morning 5K where I joined my fellow brown-skinned, brothers and sisters for a run.

Jollibee is the McDonalds of the Philippines. The equivalent of the Big Mac is called ChickenJoy. I've had it and it is joyful.

I have to give props to my Pops who took most of the pics I'm displaying. Although I give the Canon PowerShot just as much credit. Damn good point-and-shoot.

-H.

Go Downtown.

2009-07-30T23:55:00.000-07:00

I was in Downtown LA last week having lunch with my mom who's on jury duty for five weeks. Despite the intense heat, I walked around the area by the courthouse and was pleasantly surprised by the great architecture, relaxing park areas and random statues. I recommend a stroll during the more temperate months.

I had to get a shot of the trash can because it was so high-tech. It was a solar-powered trash compactor. I tell ya, Downtown is hip.

- H.

Nothing but love!

2009-07-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

C is for Charlie. Charlie is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. You might be familiar with this breed because Queen Elizabeth owns several of them.

At first glance you wouldn't think these little guys had an ounce of athleticism in them, but because they have such short legs and a low center of gravity, they're super fast sprinters. Back in the old days they were actually sheep herders.

Here's Charlie's attempt at herding:

And here are the many faces of Charlie:

- C.

Adventure Weekend

2009-07-27T00:17:00.001-07:00

My buddies Kevin, Ryan and I are officially infected with hiking fever! Especially after our latest hike less than an hour from my doorstep.

We did a 4-hour jaunt through the East Fork Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains. The diversity of the trail allowed us to run, jump, climb like little 30-year old boys.

It's hard to believe the proximity of such natural beauty to the metropolis of LA.

The trail went to the "Bridge to Nowhere," but we had to get back so we never got to see this bridge. With all the make-shift, log bridges everywhere, we didn't feel like we missed out.

Along the river, we met a 21st century gold prospector panning for gold. Actually, we saw a lot of dudes looking for treasure. I repelled a short way down the side of the mountain with rope someone left behind for that purpose. Probably not the safest, but super fun.

We passed a sign signifying this was "Sheep Mountain." Whatever, right? Well, lo and behold, we looked across the river and staring us down was a Long Horn Sheep. It looked fierce with its horns.

We thought he was coming for us, but he just wanted a sip of water. Any closer, he would have had us screaming like little girls running for the hills. Adventure!

-H.

Working at the Carnival.

2009-07-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes work is like a carnival, literally. This week I had a photoshoot where the subject was a father and a boy enjoying some bumper car fun.

It's been awhile since I've been around these old-school bumper cars. When we wrapped, the whole crew jumped into the cars and went crazy. Not a bad day at work.

Two for one. We just needed one little boy, but he had a twin brother which was great when our main boy got all cranky.

- H.

Weekend in pictures.

2009-07-19T19:59:00.000-07:00

-C.

Things I Learned at the Fair.

2009-07-19T12:01:00.001-07:00

1. The Ferris Wheel never gets old as a "symbol" of the Fair.

2. I like being able to see cows. I hate seeing them caged up.

3. This is a good family event.

4. Puppies and kids are attracted to one another.

5. Closer you are to the wrestlers, funnier it is.

6. Exhilaration can be bought temporarily for $6.

Chuck E. Scary

2009-07-12T23:41:00.000-07:00

Has anyone been to Chuck E. Cheese lately? I went to my cousin's 2-year old son's b-day and it's kind of surreal. Maybe I'm just not in touch with my inner kid, but I snapped a few pics to plead my case...

It started wholesome and cute enough.

Then you start seeing lots of in your face, loud graphics everywhere.

Then you look to the stage and see the mechanical puppets. This is the stuff of horror movies.

And, here's the birthday boy drinking from a Chuck E. Cheese straw with a mask on it. Yikes.

-H.

Smell the Roses

2009-07-09T00:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I forced myself to take a moment and photograph this building and statue I've driven past endless times.

If I had a film camera, I probably wouldn't have wasted the film because this isn't necessarily my type of art. Luckily point-and-shoots are so darn easy. And for a brief moment of time, I brought to life something previously invisible to me.

Best of all, I quieted the constant chatter in my head for a few minutes to appreciate something of beauty.

-H.

The Fourth

2009-07-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

Spent the 4th of July with friends Javier and Gillian at Brian and Mary's in Venice. The weather cooperated beautifully. I forgot my camera so I stole Javier's iPhone. We ate, we drank, we went to a party and we gave two lovable labradors as much love as we could.

The Venice Canals along with the beach were picture perfect. The images portrayed in the movies and tv don't exaggerate by much.

Charlie (a female) is the endearing 5 yr old, while the very excitable 14 week old is Wednesday (also a female). The little pup is a seeing eye-dog in training. Both were disgustingly adorable.

Brian and Mary cooked up a spread that included amazing ribs, phenomenal potato salad and flawlessly sweet corn-on-the-cob.

Pure gluttony.

Spotted this kid at the party we attended. He had impossibly huge eyes and an appetite for cupcakes with frosting.

Lastly, I spotted this phrase on Venice Blvd. It made me stop for a second to ponder. Hope is a verb. It's an action. It's something we do, versus handed to us. Whether it's the hope to become a better basketball player or the hope for wild-eyed dreams to come true, I guess it's up to me to make it an action.

Hope everyone had a good Fourth.

- H.

More hiking!

2009-06-28T22:31:00.001-07:00

Okay, it might be a little too hot these days to do this hike unless you start at 6am. Still, this is a hike worth googling: Sandstone Peak. Besides all the amazing vistas, you'll be able to say you were at the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. Pretty cool.

- H.

5 Things NYC

2009-06-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

It was mostly business this trip, but I was able to snap a few pics on this rainy June day in Manhattan.

Terrific Tuesday

2009-06-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Pics that tell a story about nothing in particular but perhaps capture mood better than words would.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Where I'd love to be right now:

My comfy throw pillow:

Flowers from the Farmer's Market:

-C.

5 Sweet Things

2009-06-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

-C.

"Take another hike."

2009-06-13T23:05:00.001-07:00

It was hike #2 for my buddies Kevin, Ryan and me. This week we went on a 9-mile hike on the Santa Anita Big Loop Trail. We saw waterfalls, crossed creeks, climbed up peaks and dodged falling branches. The thick, soupy fog added to the excellent adventure.

We had a special guest this week: Coda!

-H.

5 Things...That Make Me Happy

2009-06-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, life gets overwhelming in the pursuit of "happiness". Going off of a previous post's theme of "5 things", I thought I would share a handful of images that help me lighten up.

If everyone forced themselves to find 5 things each day that make them smile or snap them out of the daily grind, maybe we'd all be in better moods!

- C

"Take a hike."

2009-06-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

At the risk of sounding like a tree-hugging, hippie, I'd like to say go back to nature. I went with friends on a great 3-hour hike near San Diego.

Los Penasquitos Canyon (meaning "little cliffs") is a nature reserve hidden in the backyard of an encroaching suburban development.

It was absolutely beautiful. Even more than that, life seemed to revert back to a simpler time – a time when the iCal schedules and excess spam didn't exist...

Saw this mellow-dude riding his horse with three dogs in tow. I thought to myself, someday I want to be this man. (Although, I'd probably wear a shirt or tank top.)

- H.

June Gloom

2009-06-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

The month of June in Southern California is called "June Gloom" because most days are overcast in the morning until the clouds burn off. When June Gloom hits, bright colors seem even more vibrant than before.

-C.

Sunday Walk

2009-06-02T22:59:00.001-07:00

I took a walk through Silverlake this past weekend. Normally, I run around the reservoir, but I thought I'd be good and rest my legs a little more from that torturous LA Marathon. It was a mild, cool Sunday, so I took a stroll.

This is my favorite view in Silverlake and I've taken way better pics looking down this hill, but I can't walk past this spot without photographing it.

I've walked past this older house many times, but today it finally caught my attention. It looked inviting.

I've gone past this newly constructed building many times and each time I've wanted to deface it because it took away the view from the house behind it. Assholes. But admittedly, it looked kinda cool from this angle.

I hear the damn coyotes from my bedroom at night sometimes. It's creepy. They sound like crying human babies. I've never seen a sign up before. I wonder if their numbers are growing.

How cute. Future guacamole.

-H.

Another piece of interestingness:

2009-05-31T23:28:00.000-07:00

This sign in the middle of the sidewalk in Long Beach made me wonder what on earth the concept of this store was.

-C.

Lazy Post

2009-05-30T23:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a lazy butt. I went through my iPhoto and scoured my Buenos Aires pics for images. It's been gray out lately and my desire to photograph has been zapped. Sorry, but enjoy...

-H.

Five Things (POST 1)

2009-05-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Five Things. Basically, I like to walk around a lot and just take snapshots of things I find interesting. There's no theme. But, I'll just post five things from the random pics I usually take. Below is the first in the series. It was taken in Silverlake on Riverside Drive towards Dodger Stadium a few Sundays back.

This is a sign that's been up for as long as I can remember in Silverlake. I don't think it's even a working business anymore. I love the texture of the background and the word itself.

There's this small plot of land surrounded by a chain-linked fence. The owner is probably like me and unable to throw anything away. I like this mannequin with the mustache.

Here's a the back of a signpost right outside the ever popular, hipster Cha-Cha Lounge. The first thing I noticed was the racist Asian face sticker, then the pale-faced Obama one with some kind of Russian/Polish type.

Oh, some clever artist put a phone booth in the middle of the sidewalk by the bank. Then they labeled it "Cell Phone." I'm still waiting to see someone try to be funny and make a call inside of it.

Lastly, this pic isn't reproducing well here on the web, but it's got such a great color combination. Don't think the building owner planned it, but over time the colors have faded into hues that I feel would make an interesting Nike sneaker.

- H.

Last Long Beach Post, Ever (I swear).

2009-05-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

My lazy-butt has only been taking pics during my lunch hours in Long Beach. I promise to start adding more variety. But, I give credit to the city of Long Beach for making the town photographable. At least, below 7th Street (local joke, ha-ha).

Very cool. They even have living fish in the lagoon!

- H.

The Offline World (Pt 2)

2009-05-10T23:13:00.000-07:00

"C" said it perfectly in her post. Cambria was a refreshing weekend away from being constantly connected. Here are more pics from that memorable trip.

- H.

Happy Mum's Day

2009-05-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

Thalia Street, Laguna Beach

2009-05-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

The Offline World

2009-04-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

After a rough week in cubicle land, I felt compelled to drive somewhere and break free from the confines of the text-ridden world of Twitter, email and instant messaging.

We often times become so engrossed in emailing, texting, chatting and tweeting that our senses can become dulled. This weekend candh ventured 250 miles north of LA to Cambria, a quaint little artists town along the coast. No texting, tweeting, emailing, chatting or web surfing allowed. Sometimes that's what it takes to be reminded that life is all about the small moments and rarely about any monumental, earth-shattering milestones.

- C.

Smashing Road Trip

2009-04-20T21:54:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, C&H went on a photo roadtrip to a lush, desert State Park called Anza Borrego. Only 2.5 hours away from LA, it was a fun excursion to shoot spring wild flowers in bloom. Turned out to be more memorable than planned.

The town of Borrego Springs was not as impressive as its inviting sign and mini park oasis

We drove miles along twisting roads with views of boulder-littered mounds and valleys.

We were able to photograph some flowers, but a freak catepillar infestation had wiped out most of the crop.

Caught off-guard by these rusted-metal elephant sculptures in the middle of nowhere.

As the sun began to set on the drive home, a distracted army captain didn't anticipate the sudden traffic jam. He slammed into our bumper and us into a Ford Explorer ahead. No worries. No injuries. No drama. Just a punctuation to an unforgettable road trip.

Piece of History

2009-04-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I'm not a big history guy, but a block down the street from work is a building that always captures my attention like a costume drama filled with pretty people.

The building is called the Villa Riviera and it's been around for over 80 years. It's impressive and I thought it was worth a few words...

The day I walked-by, a shiny new Porsche sat in front, making the building even cooler .

Most people probably don't notice these scary/weird ornamental things on the door.

Here's a pic I found of the Villa back in the day. I wonder if people would stop to take pictures of it during their lunch break, too. Probably not.

Jack Russell Clan

2009-03-23T23:23:00.000-07:00

Every day at approximately 11:30 am, if you happen to be walking by the Long Beach Convention Center, you'll see a man walking four sprightly Jack Russell terriers.And every day at this time you'll see the owner hurling tennis balls across a grassy field as his dogs sprint so quickly, they're able to catch a ball on the fly in the blink of an eye.

Proof:

They like to swim too:

The eldest of the bunch is Nanie (below) - she's 11 years old and is a grandmother to one of the four pups, and a mom to another of the four pups! She prefers to watch the other three chase after tennis balls.

Venice Canals

2009-03-20T20:49:00.001-07:00

The quieter part of Venice is tucked away from the beach scene in a maze of man-made canals that weave in and out of a quaint residential section. This area gets tons of foot traffic on the weekends. Unbeknownst to many, there are some neighborhood characters you'll see on the weekends. One of these characters is Rowboat Man.

This dude is notorious for rowing his little boat up and down the canals with a boombox blaring classic rock on the weekends. He always looks like he's getting an intense work out, but it's a little odd to be walking through this serene area only to hear him barreling down the canal in his rowboat. Then again, that's what makes Venice, Venice.

Bloomington, Illinois

2009-03-17T21:22:00.001-07:00

When work told me they needed me to go to Chicago for a couple of days, I didn't mind. Then, I found out they meant the Chicago airport. My meeting was 2 hours outside the city in Bloomington. Ugh.

No offense to all the folks who live in this little town, but there's not much there. Still, I made the most of it by taking an afternoon walk.

This is the tower I spotted from the cab to the hotel. It was my goal to walk here and take its picture. Goal attained.

This is the TGI Friday attached to the Double Tree Inn. The hotel lobby connected to the restaurant which allowed me to shun my coat and walk up to the bar in a t-shirt.

I was absolutely unprepared for the temperature. In my paranoid mind, I swore that during my 45 minute walk I had frostbitten my fingers and the tips of my ears.

I couldn't hold my head up because I was so cold. That's when I spotted this cool tree stump.

This wasn't the typical California sunset I was used to, but I still enjoyed it. Reminded me of a melancholy poem. Made me feel reflective and happy that I lived on the west coast.

Another year, another St. Patrick's Day parade

2009-03-16T21:58:00.001-07:00

LA has a river?

2009-03-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

Why yes, LA does have a river. It's no Amazon or Nile, but it snakes 51 miles through LA from the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach. I found it accidentally as I did an urban hike through Silverlake.

I've gone past this river a zillion times, but always assumed it was just a sewage passageway or something. Nope, despite having a concrete bed, it's teeming with vegetation and wildlife. Who knew?

Since I normally drive past these gates, I always missed them.

It's not pretty, but if you close your eyes the flowing water is quite calming.

In certain parts there are thick areas of bushy trees and there are a ton of ducks and storks.

There are train tracks weaving alongside the river with the occasional, lonesome train zipping by.

As I was walking past, I saw this guy reeling in a fish. He proudly showed it off for me. He said it was his first fish he caught on the river. His uncle told him to come out to this spot because last week he caught 40 fish! I was astonished and disgusted at the same time. Once again, who the hell knew?

Spring in the Air

2009-03-03T17:56:00.001-08:00

If you live in California, I highly recommend a visit to your local plant nursery. It is spring time!

Although, if you're in Bloomington, Illinois, like I am at this second, then you probably doubt vegetation or warmth or the sun exists.

So Californians, please take a few minutes. It's closer than driving out to nature. Everything is manicured and in neat, compact pots. Plus, it's surprisingly serene with the trickling water in all the fake fountains.

Flowers, flowers, flowers. Textures, textures, textures.

Garden humor.

Reggaefest 2009

2009-02-22T22:08:00.000-08:00

There's no better way to spend a Saturday than in hot-boxed arena with over 9 hours of reggae music. Once again, the Ragga Muffins Festival (or Bob Marley Festival) did not disappoint.

Its was day of food, drink, souvenirs and funny cigarettes. But, it was also a day for a group of people to groove and celebrate the spirit of reggae music. One love.

I didn't have my camera, but I had my cheap 2 mega-pixel phone.

Obama's face was on everything this year. I picked up this little canvas piece.

Until next year...

Strawberry Awesomeness

2009-02-19T21:42:00.001-08:00

I used to be allergic to strawberries. I would breakout in hives when forced to eat one. Recently, I found out that I no longer have that allergy. So now, I'm making up for lost time.

On the drive to work, I noticed a cute strawberry calling out to me.

I was taunted by this quaint shack with the large, red type screaming, "Sweet & Juicy." They've been stopping commuters every strawberry season for the last 8 years.

The farm is 85 miles away in Oxnard. They pick them in the evening, then drive them to the shack at the crack of dawn.

This is Cecelia. She sells the strawberries and attends Long Beach State. As soon as they sellout, (she says they always sellout) she gets to go hit the books.

This absolutely perfect strawberry was devoured

shortly after this photo was taken. Awesome.

Quintessential Cali

2009-02-10T17:25:00.000-08:00

It was only yesterday I was yapping about loving the rain. Well, I'm glad the dark clouds were replaced by the typical Southern California blue skies.

I didn't take my own advice of calling in sick to work, but I did take two long walks in the middle of my day to take pics and enjoy the weather.

I walked around Long Beach near the water. The LBC gets a bum rap sometimes, but there are picturesque spots if you take time to look.

Today was a good day.

It Never Rains in Southern California

2009-02-09T23:01:00.000-08:00

That's the title to the Tony!Toni!Tone! song back in 1990, remember?

(If you don't, please youtube the R&B classic. It's worth the 4 minutes.)

Despite what the song says, it's been raining on and off in LA and will continue all week. Some people complain about it and hole themselves away, but I love it. I wish it would rain for a month straight.

It's not that I'm a gloomy person and wish misery on everyone. I just feel most of us in Southern Cali have a tendency to take the sun and beautiful weather for granted.

Rain gives us spoiled, sunshine brats a chance to appreciate how good we truly have it. It's like that trite saying, "you don't know what you've got, until it's gone."

So when the sun comes back, give it the respect it deserves. Call-in sick.

Where is this?

2009-02-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

Reds, blues, yellows, fuschias. Chatter of foreign tongues. Festive, bustling crowds.

Vietnamese Tet Festival (celebration of Lunar New Year) in Westminster, CA.

The Paris of South America

2009-01-25T23:15:00.000-08:00

Sadly, it's been over 4 months since my Toyota Camry tv shoot in Buenos Aires and I still rifle through my pics. I was there for a total of 3 weeks in August and September of 2008. In that time, I was able to squeak out a cool commercial, but more importantly I was able to play a camera-loving tourist.

Below are a few pages from an indulgent 100-page iPhoto book I put together, yet still haven't printed. Hopefully, it'll end up on my coffee table soon.

The Orange Curtain

2009-01-20T22:23:00.001-08:00

Behind the Orange Curtain you'd never guess we're in the midst of a recession.

(Technically, this first pic is in Long Beach)

The Camp in Costa Mesa

Goldenrod Footbridge, Corona del Mar

Houses of Corona del Mar

-C.

Sport of the Future

2009-01-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

I've seen the sport of the future, and it requires low fixed costs and a love for being outside. Zero technology required.

There's this lawn bowling club in Newport Beach I drive by every day, and I thought I'd check it out. Seriously, there is something refreshing about simplified, pared down things in this day and age like the sport of lawn bowling. All you need is a large open space and these lawn bowling balls. And some friends. I stopped by the Newport Beach Lawn Bowling Club one day and made some new friends. Nicest bunch of people - it was a ridiculously sunny morning in the Orange Curtain, and these guys (clearly regulars there) were sipping cold beverages and unloading their lawn bowling balls over morning chitchat.

My new friend (up above) donned a shirt that matched the benches perfectly. He was kind enough to pose for me, and then gave me a newly issued, shiny $1 coin apparently just issued by the U.S. Mint fairly recently.

The sport is like a cross between croquet, bowling and golf (in the sense that you have to stand outside for a long time, and it takes a lot of patience). There were speakers playing music - going in I wasn't sure what I expected to hear, but was pleasantly surprised to hear the tunes of Duffy playing.

As you can see, it takes an easygoing, patient attitude to really enjoy it. If you're able to let go of the whole ADD/iPhone/Blackberry/technology-driven persona our generation has adopted, it looks like a fun experience.

Even the scoreboard is retro cool. -C

Creating Ads

2009-01-15T00:14:00.000-08:00

It's funny how when you do something for awhile it can become mundane and boring despite how interesting and enjoyable it really is. Creating ads for over 10 years has caused me to lose some perspective on how kinda cool it is.

I forget that other people might actually want to hear about the experience. Although, I think most people in LA are in the "biz" and are as jaded as I am. So, if you've been to a million shoots, go read another blog or smoke another joint because I'm about to talk shop.

The shoot was at the Caltrans building in downtown LA. It's an architectural beauty if you're into that geometric, futuristic urban design. It's a really popular place to shoot. They shot an Usher video there along with episodes of Alias, that Brangelina movie and a zillion different car ads. I highly recommend a walk-by.

(Between 1st & 2nd on Main St.)

So here's the RAV4 in all its mid-sized SUV glory. We plopped the sucker in front of the building and spent an entire Saturday from 8am to 8pm making love to it with the camera.

This is one of the assistants taking some shots of the fake cherry blossom branch which we would use later in the ad. Note the fake boulder in the foreground. Its shape was inviting and I was tempted to sit on it, but even my skinny butt would have caused it to collapse.

That's my photographer and extremely cool guy, Jeff Ludes. Despite being an "it" car photographer of the moment, he was so down-to-earth. I mean, look at him raking rocks. I was busy off-camera eating M&Ms and putting my order in for the Starbucks run.

Ta-daa.

Here's the final image. That's a stripped-in sky, lake and mountain. We wet down the ground to make it sexy. The cherry blossom leaves were meticulously placed to give you that random blown in the wind feeling. The hood, windows, tires, logo, etc were pieced together from a variety of shots.

So much energy to create this thing of beauty.

It's only vapid advertising, but I'm actually okay that

I spent a 12-hr Saturday doing work.

(You're welcome, Toyota.)

A Guest Appearance

2009-01-12T21:23:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, 80 degree weather made a guest appearance in LA. Down in the heart of Manhattan Beach, jogging strollers, volleyball players and beach bum dads were out in full force. As cliche as it all seems, I never get tired of views like the ones above.

The beach was filled with freestanding volleyball net posts, and this lone seagull caught my eye. He had the best view in the house.

The "C" of C&H