Hot Takes: March – May 2017

Cold Reminder: March 2017
A Layover: August 2017

Like, a bunch of plants and stuff, and Sophie, and my new normal life in Los Angeles, spread through a couple disposable cameras. The last two shots are the only ones taken in May.

Sophie, a long-haired white cat with striking black markings around her ears and eyes, stands confidently on the dark wooden floor of my living room. In the background, a film viewer and other equipment are visible near the wall.

sophia

Sophie lounges atop her beige cat tree, her fluffy white coat accented by her dark brown tail draped over the edge. Her piercing eyes and a heart-shaped tag on her collar stand out against the plain white wall behind her.

sophia

The exterior of Coffee Coffee in West Hollywood, featuring vibrant hand-painted wooden panels and light blue umbrellas over outdoor seating. A couple of patrons relax at colorful chairs and tables, while the signage for acupuncture and massage next door adds a local flair.

coffee coffee

A large building under construction with an intricate network of scaffolding covering the facade. The bright sunlight highlights the wooden planks and metal supports against the modern design of the structure, with glass windows visible between the scaffolding. A bustling intersection in West Hollywood lined with tall palm trees, mid-rise buildings, and colorful urban architecture. Cars fill the road under a clear blue sky, and a prominent traffic sign reads "Right Lane Must Turn Right." An abandoned parking lot in West Hollywood, its cracked asphalt overgrown with patches of grass. In the center, a broken palm frond and discarded shoe add an air of desolation, while a row of modern apartment buildings stands in the background. Another lively West Hollywood street scene, framed by tall, swaying palm trees and mid-century apartment buildings. Cars line both sides of the road as the bright California sun casts long shadows on the pavement.

Sophia and Julia, a talented artist, pose casually in my Weho apartment. Sophia is seated with one leg stretched out and the other bent, her soft curls framing her face, sitting on my computer chair at my desk, with the Grimes Art Angels poster on my Apple Mac Pro tower. Julia, an incredible artist, relaxes nearby. The litter box, a trash can, and a camera collection on a shelf are behind them.

sophia + julia

A close-up of Sophie, my white and black cat, sitting gracefully in my kitchen. She delicately eats from her pink and white food bowl placed on a cheerful yellow mat, framed by the vintage cabinetry and tiled floor of my cozy kitchen.

sophia

A pink strip mall in West Hollywood under a bright blue sky, with a prominent 7-Eleven sign at the forefront. The building houses a mix of businesses, including a nail salon and a therapy center, Karina's dry cleaners, and the old location of Ben Artikov income tax, with a row of parked cars completing the scene. A cluster of succulents and bright pink flowers covers the ground, with vibrant greenery spreading across the frame. The pink blooms stand out against the lush foliage, creating a vivid, colorful contrast. Disposable camera, Los Angeles. A white stone birdbath surrounded by dense green plants and ivy. The foliage includes succulents and various leafy shrubs, creating a serene and secluded garden scene. Bright flash in the dark. The same white stone birdbath is now more centered in the frame, surrounded by slightly different lighting and angles of green leaves, flowering vines, and succulents. The lighting accentuates the textures of the plants and the stone. A park sign reads "Poinsettia Park Welcomes You," surrounded by tall bird-of-paradise plants and wooden logs. Trees and open green spaces fill the background, giving a welcoming and natural ambiance. There are also a couple big rocks.

A small white dog stands on a terracotta porch next to a light blue door, with a tilted security sign reading "Armed Patrol" planted in the ground nearby. The surrounding area includes some sparse greenery and a simple clay-tiled entrance. Is the dog the armed patrol??

sign says “armed patrol” – clearly talking about him

A charming white stucco house with a tiled awning and an ornate metal gate. On the railing of the front porch, a bright orange cat rests, surrounded by potted plants and trimmed bushes in a tidy front yard.

cat

A park scene features a basketball court with surrounding trees and a well-maintained lawn. Tall palms and lush greenery frame the background, creating an open and inviting recreational space. A red-tiled courtyard with a single black streetlamp in the center, viewed through a wrought iron fence. The surrounding buildings have a warm, rustic style with clay-tiled roofs and muted beige walls. A cluster of yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, likely angel’s trumpets, grows alongside a mix of dense greenery, including spiky evergreen shrubs. A tall palm tree rises into the sky in the background, adding a tropical feel. A dynamically framed, slanted, close-up view of yellow angel’s trumpet flowers, with their delicate petals hanging downward. A tall palm tree stretches upward in the background, set against a clear blue sky, completing the sunny and vibrant scene. Los Angeles, flowers, 2017, disposable camera. A street view at the intersection of Fountain Avenue in West Hollywood, showing a crosswalk and multiple cars stopped at a red light, with lush green trees and modest residential buildings in the background under a slightly overcast sky. A cluster of homes in a hilly neighborhood near Berkeley Avenue, featuring a vibrant terracotta house with Mediterranean-style architecture in the foreground surrounded by palm trees and greenery, trash and recycle and compost bins lined up neatly along the curb, and additional houses ascending the hillside in the distance. The Silverlake Reservoir seen through a chain-link fence, showcasing a semi-dry waterbed with visible concrete embankments, sparse water, and tree-lined residential areas in the background under a clear blue sky. Silver Lake Reservoir Los Angeles 2017 water level on disposable camera. The entrance to Silverlake Meadows, framed by a paved pathway leading into a spacious grassy park with scattered groups of people enjoying the open area. The scene is bordered by trees and framed by a signboard near the fence at the entrance. A heavily wooded area viewed through a tall metal fence, capturing dense green plants and foliage illuminated by soft sunlight filtering through the trees. The ground is lush with grass, and the scene extends into a secluded space in the distance.

My fluffy white and brown cat Sophia sprawled out on my black office chair, set in front of my desk that holds a laptop, a keyboard, and a wooden cupboard filled with office supplies. A pink floral-patterned chair cover adds a bright pop of color to the space.

sophia

Marina standing in front of a realistic moon installation inside Griffith Observatory. Her curly hair, glasses, and a green and white dress add a touch of elegance. The moon's detailed craters and a nearby vintage telescope create a striking visual contrast.

marina + the moon

A wide-angle view of the Griffith Observatory, its white walls and iconic domes standing out under a bright blue sky. The foreground is filled with visitors walking through the grassy lawn, with the towering obelisk monument framing the scene on the right.

I stand beside Marina at Griffith Observatory, leaning slightly into the frame for a selfie. Marina’s bright red lipstick pops against her curly auburn hair, framing her face, and she wears a green-and-white patterned dress. I wear a blue Team Redzovic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team t-shirt, my face turned slightly toward Marina. Along the bottom of the photo, a subtle light leak burn transitions from an orange glow to a white streak, adding a vintage, textured effect to the otherwise crisp and sunny shot.

myself + marina + end of roll light leak

Marina stands confidently in front of the Griffith Observatory entrance, wearing a fitted black top and a flowy floral skirt. Her arms rest casually by her sides, and she holds a tote bag. Behind her, the architectural details of the observatory’s metallic structure dominate the frame, with a warm, reflective light bouncing off the golden hanging orbs that adorn the ceiling. On the far right side of the photo, a light leak burn, characteristic of an end-of-roll film glitch, dramatically distorts the image. The burnt section transitions from fiery orange hues to a washed-out white, partially obscuring the side.

marina + end of roll light leak (actually at the end of the lost camera)

The second photo captures the same scene as the previous one, with Marina standing in front of the Griffith Observatory’s impressive metallic entrance. But this time, all you can see is her shadow, as she's out of frame as the whole image is pushed to the left. This image is notably glitched due to an end-of-roll burn effect that takes up half of the frame. The distortion starts as a vivid orange-red burn along the right side of the photo and expands into a stark white void, creating a fragmented, surreal aesthetic.

marina’s shadow + end of roll light leak (actually at the end of the lost camera)

Fun times in Los Angeles, if somewhat aimless while I got used to my first year here. Sophia sure loved her home here in Weho, and I loved having her live with me. I miss her so much. And I miss Coffee Coffee, too, since it’s now long closed.

I loved taking pictures of all the lush vegetation and succulents and palms and angel’s trumpets and–so much greenery! Such paradise. So many colorful flowers, too.

I did think it was interesting to see how low Silver Lake Reservoir was in 2017. It’s a lot fuller now, but the water level sure was stark back then since the drought was going on.

My lovely friend Marina taking me to Griffith Observatory for the first time and showing me so many things was also so amazing. And those light leaks couldn’t have been at a better time.

Man, I love LA.

Cold Reminder: March 2017
A Layover: August 2017


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