Week 10 of 52

Week 10. It is getting more difficult to sustain the momentum of shooting and the photographic eye. I must admit, when I start shooting I lose myself in it. I just need to cut out the time to do it.

The theme for the MCP 52 Project this week is Childhood Toys and my is Structure. I realized that many of my childhood toys are not sold any more, Jacks and the plastic bags from the dry cleaners, both choke hazards. I also didn't remember having that many toys as a child. I usually played with my brother and his toys, like the toy plastic soldiers and G.I. Joes. As a child we made tents and terrain with blankets, Cowboys and Indians, mud pies, played the tree house and had tea parties with imaginary friends. Since children aren't in the immediate family I was going to buy something to stage a shot. That's when I realized I work with children!

One visit to the Pre School Classroom and found many toys. So I mad a little trip to Train Town. Toy Train Town is the Childhood Toys and the Structure of play is my structure. Preschool is place where children learn through playing.

The Here is the photo I submitted this week for the 52 Project. You may see the other in this series at my 52 Project flickr site.

Week 9 of 52

Wow!, I posted on facebook and flickr last week but not here. That messy because I referenced this blog for more details. Sorry followers. Here is Week 9 of 52.

The MCP 52 Project's theme for Week 9 was Express Yourself and as a reminder, my is Structure. These are the hands of a co-worker who is a very talented artist who expresses himself through his drawing of automobiles. He has a habit of going home after work, a 10 our day, get a beer, puts on a CD and draws. That's his structure. That's what he does to unwind.

Because I was down to the wire with time and needed to shoot something, he obliged me when I asked. I don't feel this photos does justice to the concept or his hands. This is what happens when I wait to the last minute to do things. Hopefully I will be able to redeem his shoot. You can see the other photos in this series at http://tinyurl.com/kim-sP52flickr

Week 8 of 52

Week 8 was rough. I only shot one day this week, the last day Friday and boy was it raining. I love shooting in the rain. I hope you enjoy this. It's not my best effort. My theme for this year, 2011 is structure and this week's theme for the MCP Project is A View from Here. The structure is the pattern of poles, rubbish cans and doors. The View from Here is a look out on to the tree. Let me know what you think.

Daddy's 90th Birthday

This was a full week eventhough it was only a four day work week, Presidents' Day off. I returned to work from being out will for four and half days, and needless to say, all of my work was waiting for me. Also, this week was my father's 90th birthday, monumental for sure. My brother, just back from a tour of duty in Iraq wanted to be here for our dad on his special day, so he and his daughter flew in on Thursday. My dad and I have not seen either of them since mother's funeral last year this time.

All that said, my dad had the best birthday ever, he just wish mother could have been here. He said, "I met this milestone before Mother. It's the only one I have, with her birthday before mine. I wish she were here." It was a special night and reminds me of all the blessings and riches we can some times take for granted.

This is a picture of my dad circa 1960. Happy Birthday Daddy!

Week 7 of 52

The past week was challenging for me because I was hit by a flu, like I haven't seen for some time. A flu with no fever, who knew? Anyway, I'm feeling a little defeated because I didn't do as much shooting last week. I met some fellow shutterbugs at the Greystone Mansion and Park in Beverly Hills, a place I've never been. I was feeling so poorly, those shots may not see the light of day. But on my way back from the doctor it was raining, a rare event here in LA, I decided to visit a huge sundial in Culver City Park. Because it was raining, there was no sun to cast a shadow, but the lighting was good.

This sculpture, sundial, work of art, Homage to La Ballona Creek, has always intrigued me. So I thought I'd visit it on this rainy day. The MCP: Project 52 theme for the week is "From the heart" and again my year long theme is Structure. I saw this as a combination of the both themes. "From the heart" is the gift of time that can only be given from the heart. Time is one of the few things that cannot be replaced. The sculpture has in several languages the saying "Time is a river." The dedication plaque says that it is a homage to La Ballona Creek a nearby water feature. Showing our connection to Nature by the daily movement of the sun tracked with the sundial. The passage of time, day to night, structure.

you can see my other shots at my flickr site Photography 2011. I hope you enjoy them and please leave comments.

Week 6 of 52

Week 6 MCP 52 theme - Words, for me - Structure.
This is an old hotel sign for the Californian Hotel. I don't know where that was or if it even existed. I do know that this sign sits behind a fence near the Mulholland Fountain across from Griffith Park. I saw this sign once and just loved it. Something about the words just floating there attached to nothing. I think about what it has been through and seen as it sits watching as time passes. But that's me.

The early morning light shows its age, its beauty, its craftsmanship with gentle and harsh light. This is the shot I chose for this week. I have a series of photos I've posted of the sign. Please visit the filckr Photography in 2011 site and see.

Week 5 of 52

This week, Week 5 of the 52 Project, I decided to try and follow the Theme of the Flickr Group I am following, MCP 52 Project. The theme for Week 5 was Muse. My muse comes often whenever I can empty mind and focus on something beyond me. This sunset, like many others, takes me out of myself and into the beauty that is nature, creation, God.

This was taken from Palisades Park in Santa Monica, CA where sunsets, like this one, are often breath taking.

The MCP Group's theme was Muse and my theme is Structure. The Muse is the beauty of the sunset and the structure is the repetition of day into night, sunset into sunrise. Please enjoy my photos as much as I enjoy sharing them with you. You can see my photos in my Photography 2011 Group on Flickr. If you'd like to share please join the group.