Lost Camera: September – December 2016

Runyon: October 2016
ROC & RIT: February 2017

I took some photos with a disposable camera in late 2016 but then lost the camera and didn’t find it and get it developed until May 10th 2017. But here they are!

An underexposed image with a grainy texture. The frame is dominated by abstract hues of green and gray, with faint hints of light creating an ambiguous yet intriguing composition. Disposable camera fun.

A white and brown long-haired cat, Sophia, sitting inside a white cubby of a TV stand. To the right is a Nintendo Wii U, and to the left, a pink plastic milk crate holds records. On top of the stand is a pink and purple cat hairbrush. Behind the stand is a glimpse of a bookshelf. The dark brown hardwood floor is visible at the bottom.

sophia

Los Angeles City Hall captured against a clear blue sky. The towering white building features intricate art deco architecture, flanked by lush green trees in Grand Park. Surrounding buildings frame the shot, emphasizing the iconic structure's prominence. Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles, with vibrant green lawns and numerous bright pink chairs and tables scattered under shady trees. Groups of people sit and relax in the park, with modern office buildings rising in the background. A wide view of the fountains at Grand Park in DTLA. Jets of water arc up from the ground, with children and adults playing in the shallow pool below. The backdrop features a tiered fountain, palm trees, and the imposing architecture of the Department of Water and Power building. Overlooking a busy Los Angeles street in the financial district. Tall modern office buildings with reflective glass rise on either side of the road, while smaller trees line the sidewalks. Cars and buses navigate the bustling intersection below.

Sophia, our white and brown cat, sprawled on a bed covered with a mix of beige and dark brown bedding. She holds a small toy mouse in her front paws, which we affectionately nicknamed her "smellyfriend." The dim lighting gives the scene a cozy atmosphere.

sophia and her smellyfriend

Katie standing behind a grated metal gate door, illuminated by a bright camera flash. Her face is partially visible through the crisscross pattern of the gate. A purple and green notice and dark background contrast against the steel mesh.

katie

Sophia sitting on a cushion atop a folding chair in our West Hollywood living room. She gazes toward the dimly lit room featuring a gray couch, a standing lamp, vertical blinds covering a sliding door, and a pink crate holding records near the TV stand. A red candle and other electronics are visible on the stand, while a framed picture hangs on the wall.

sophia

A similar view of Sophia in the living room, but this time with the flash. Harsh shadows outline the furniture, and the bright flash highlights the details of the gray couch, standing lamp, pink crate, and vertical blinds. Sophia's fur catches the light, adding contrast to the scene.

sophia

The flash illuminates a dense cluster of trees at night, with muted greens, tans, and reddish-orange tones dominating the composition. A wire fence is faintly visible behind the foliage, creating a vignetted effect where the colors bleed softly into the surrounding darkness. The washed-out hues give the photo a surreal, textured quality.

Sophia, a white and brown long-haired cat, is perched on a cushioned folding chair. The cushion features a patchwork design in earthy tones of brown, red, and green, slightly frayed with visible tufts of cat hair. To the side sits a Mac Pro computer tower with its signature metallic sheen. Behind her, a wooden piece of furniture holds a glass vase with incense sticks. A white cord trails from the desk, all in our WeHo apartment.

sophia

The intersection of Gardner Street and a busy WeHo thoroughfare during golden hour. Tall palm trees line the street, their silhouettes stretched dramatically by the setting sun. Cars fill the road, and on the left, vines climb up a residential building. A wide view of Runyon Canyon, capturing a dusty valley surrounded by towering palm trees. The winding dirt trail in the foreground is bordered by a wooden railing. Two hikers walk up the incline—one in a dark t-shirt with shorts and the other in light athletic wear. The backdrop reveals rolling hills in warm, golden tones as the late afternoon sun highlights the dry Los Angeles terrain. A gently sloping road in Hollywood just south of Runyon Canyon, framed by mid-century apartment buildings and lush greenery. Cars are parked neatly along both sides of the street, and the view extends downhill toward a hazy horizon. Distant palm trees dot the skyline.

The Los Angeles Film School building stands prominently against a dark backdrop. Spotlights shine down from above, creating reflective streaks on the smooth surface of the building's entrance. The school's name is partially visible in faint lettering, and the muted lighting adds a cinematic mood to the photo.

los angeles film school

A television screen displays a Mario Kart 8 game in progress. Isabelle, a character from the Animal Crossing series, is the main racer in view, driving a small go-kart on a vibrant track with blue skies and detailed surroundings. The game HUD shows "9th" place, and the colorful graphics contrast against the darkened apartment living room. I'm the one playing; Katie would be in first place.

mario kart ehhhh

Beyond a chain-link fence, a striking thorn-covered tree trunk is visible. The vibrant pink flowers of a bougainvillea vine punctuate the scene, partially obscuring the parking lot behind. Parked cars and the roof of the CBS parking lot structure are faintly visible, with a sense of layered texture created by the mix of natural and urban elements. A vandalized "Do Not Enter" sign in a Los Angeles parking lot has been spray-painted to read "Do Not Fucking Enter." To the left, a mural on a building features dynamic orange and white illustrations of abstract humanoid figures with elongated limbs and bold outlines. The street is framed by palm trees and utility poles in the background, capturing a gritty yet artistic LA vibe. A clear blue sky over Los Angeles with a thin white airplane contrail slicing diagonally through the frame. The skyline is bordered by tall, thin palm trees in the distance, interspersed with the lush greenery of suburban yards. A weathered utility pole with visible wiring adds an urban element to this serene snapshot. A wide view of Los Angeles from Runyon Canyon. In the foreground, green bushes frame the scene, while the sprawling urban landscape stretches out beneath a clear sky. Downtown Los Angeles' skyline is visible in the center, with distant mountains forming a hazy backdrop. The cityscape includes residential neighborhoods and high-rise buildings. A hiking trail in Runyon Canyon with steps reinforced by wooden beams to combat erosion. The path climbs a dry hillside dotted with sparse shrubs and bushes. Several people hike up the trail, some wearing athletic clothing and carrying water bottles. The hilltop is faintly visible at the top of the frame, with a few hikers already at the summit. A view of Runyon Canyon during sunset. The trail winds through the hills, with dry vegetation on either side. The light creates a warm glow over the landscape, while the horizon shows a distant city skyline, likely Century City, and a faint glimpse of the Pacific Ocean further out. The golden hour lighting adds depth to the natural and urban scenery. A quirky building in West Hollywood with a playful rooftop display featuring life-size statues of a cow and geese. The facade is a mix of gray and beige tones, with large rectangular windows. Overhead, a clear blue sky and palm trees in the background contribute to the sunny Southern California atmosphere. The cow statue stands prominently over the entrance, marked with the words "MOO MOO."

A white picket fence with a black-and-white tuxedo cat peering through the slats. The cat’s head is slightly tilted, and its green eyes are striking against the shadows. Behind the fence, there’s a small garden with lush greenery and a wooden planter. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating a mix of light and shadow on the fence.

cat

A blurry photo taken in Chicago, capturing abstract silhouettes of large buildings against a dimly lit sky. The light seems to seep through the gaps, creating a faint gradient effect. The image is grainy and unclear, evoking an atmospheric, almost ghostly impression of the city.

this is in chicago on my first work trip back (google/client content summit)

My friend Ashley posing in front of Beatrix coffee shop in Chicago. She is dressed warmly in a belted white winter coat with a faux-fur hood, a beige knit scarf, and a dark gray beanie. Her blonde hair peeks out beneath the hat, and she’s holding up a peace sign with her right hand. Ashley’s bright red lipstick stands out against her light complexion. The coffee shop has a modern wooden facade, and a red taxi is parked on the street behind her.

ashley (chicago)

An interior shot of an airport terminal in Chicago, decorated for the holiday season. The ceiling is adorned with illuminated ornaments, including starburst-like designs and hanging baubles. Check-in kiosks glow with blue light, and travelers are seen milling around the terminal. Overhead signs display flight information, and the scene captures the bustling yet festive atmosphere of holiday travel.

airport (chicago)

I don’t even know how or why I lost this camera or what my thoughts were in using it. I suppose I was enjoying downtown, and this was probably the first time I ever went to downtown Los Angeles, which is where I live now at the time of writing this. Runyon, of course, is a given for any Angelino; I have a whole other album just of that, too.

I do always enjoy seeing our old Weho apartment. So lived in. So much Sophia. And her smellyfriend, of course. And you know that I was the one playing Mario Kart, because if Katie had been the racer, she’d only ever be in first place.

Returning to Chicago, this must have been my first time back, and it was just a quick drop in for work. Seeing Ashley, a friend and former coworker (with an amazing cat herself), made it extra fun. Thank goodness this camera wasn’t lost forever.

Runyon: October 2016
ROC & RIT: February 2017