Disposed Of: August 2017

Parking Lot Alex: August 2017
Pacific Exposure: Late January 2018

Moving on, moving out, taking two steps backwards and one step forwards. Disposable camera throughout the month, plus 6 from the 35mm Petri camera. Sigh.

Sophia, a white and brown long-haired cat, sprawled comfortably across a glass-top desk. The desk includes a red pillow on the chair below, and the scene is set in our WeHo apartment. Sophia’s fur catches the light, with her alert eyes reflecting the camera flash. A white wall and desk lamp complete the minimalistic scene.

sophia

Sophia lounging on a gray sectional couch with Katie seated beside her. Katie wears a white graphic t-shirt and black shorts, holding her hand to her face. The room features warm accents, including a patterned rug, red placemats on a wooden coffee table, and a black iron wine rack end table with an incense display on top. This is our WeHo apartment.

sophia + katie

A view of Katie and Sophia from behind as they sit on the couch. The living room features a television on a wooden stand, a stereo system, and the black wine rack end table topped with a decorative incense vase. Beyond the sliding glass door, the patio includes lush potted plants and views of surrounding trees, creating a mix of indoor and outdoor comfort.

katie + sophia

Andria standing at the Xtox-Tropico plant store surrounded by lush greenery. She wears a white sleeveless top, blue denim shorts, and dark sunglasses. Andria holds an iced coffee in one hand and a hot coffee in the other, with a camera strap slung over her shoulder. The vibrant green plants in the background, combined with natural lighting, create a fresh, botanical atmosphere.

andria (see layover for more)

Marina sitting outdoors at a café called Coffee Coffee on Fairfax in West Hollywood. She wears a light olive-green shirt dress with her curly red hair framing her face, accented by dark glasses. Marina holds an iced coffee in her hand while sitting on a light turquoise metal chair at a matching table. The background includes soft greenery and blurred urban elements like a billboard and street trees, suggesting a sunny day in Los Angeles.

marina (35mm petri camera)

Marina again at Coffee Coffee in West Hollywood, seated in profile with her head turned slightly toward the left, eyes closed. She continues to hold the same iced coffee with a straw visible in the cup. Her black leggings feature a snake print design. The soft outdoor light highlights her glasses and features. The background includes foliage and subtle hints of urban West Hollywood streets.

marina (35mm petri camera)

Marina sitting in front of a bright turquoise-painted wooden fence at Coffee Coffee. She holds an iced coffee in one hand, her snake-print leggings and olive-green dress standing out against the vibrant backdrop. Her curly hair catches the sunlight, and the soft shadows of the fence slats add texture to the scene.

marina (disposable camera)

Marina again in front of the turquoise fence, this time with a billboard partially visible in the background above her. She sits casually, looking off to the side with a thoughtful expression, her features highlighted by the sun. The contrasting bright and muted tones make this urban West Hollywood moment striking.

marina (disposable camera)

Marina on a sunny day, seated against a teal fence and holding an iced coffee cup. Her curly hair is tousled by the breeze, and the details of her outfit—a sage-green dress and snake-patterned leggings—are captured in natural light.

marina (35mm petri camera)

Marina seated outdoors, captured with a 35mm Petri film camera. She wears a sage-green dress and black leggings featuring snake designs, holding an iced coffee in a clear cup with a straw.

marina (35mm petri camera)

Close-up of Marina smiling softly, her curly auburn hair illuminated by sunlight. She wears glasses and a sage-green button-up dress, with a textured pale teal wooden fence as a backdrop.

marina (35mm petri camera)

Marina reflected in a cracked street mirror in West Hollywood, standing confidently under a tree with lush green foliage. Her silhouette dominates the reflection, framed by palm trees, a parked white car, and a suburban Los Angeles street in the background.

marina (35mm petri camera)

Marina reflected in a street mirror, with a secondary reflection of me crouching in the corner holding the disposable camera. The flash from the camera creates a bright spot in the otherwise detailed view of suburban West Hollywood, with tree-lined streets, a white car, and vibrant greenery.

me + marina (disposable camera from here on out)

A creative shot of Marina reflected in a broken street mirror in West Hollywood. The reflection captures her standing confidently in her olive-green dress and snake-print leggings, framed by the tree-lined residential street and parked cars in the background. The cracked mirror adds a fragmented, artistic quality to the photo. A close-up of Marina, framed by lush greenery and a bright blue Los Angeles sky. Her olive-green dress complements the natural backdrop, while her bold red lipstick and glasses draw attention to her expressive face. The trees surrounding her create a natural canopy, adding depth and dimension to the composition. Marina standing boldly beneath a tree in West Hollywood, captured from a low angle. Her striking silhouette is accentuated by the flowing sage-green dress she wears. The backdrop includes large trees and a sunny Los Angeles neighborhood, with a soft focus on the surrounding architecture.

Interior of our West Hollywood apartment as we pack and prepare to move out. The living room features a gray couch with red throw pillows, bubble wrap, a massive bag of packing peanuts, and packed moving boxes. Furniture such as an end table with a decorative metal wine rack and a wooden shelf are scattered among the items.

moving out

Another angle of the living room as we move out, showing the same gray couch, red cushion pillows, and packed boxes. The rug is tied up, and items like lamps, a side table, and loose household belongings are visible. Sliding doors open onto a patio lined with greenery. The door to our apartment, painted a pale blue with the number "5" displayed prominently. The door is framed by a black railing, and a simple brown doormat sits at the entrance. The stucco walls and subtle wear suggest the character of the building. Paved back walkway behind our apartment in West Hollywood, lined with tall, dense cypress trees on one side and the offwhite stucco of the building on the other. A single red potted plant sits in the sunlight at the end of the path, along with a black empty pot next to it, with the peak of a neighboring house visible over the fence. The now-empty living room in our West Hollywood apartment. A yellowed old wall-mounted air conditioning unit is to the left on the wall, while vertical blinds cover a sliding glass door on the right. The room has dark brown hardwood floors and minimal wall outlets visible near the floor. The lighting is even and natural, with no furniture remaining. A small galley kitchen in our West Hollywood apartment, featuring white cabinetry and a pink-tiled countertop. A stainless steel sink is situated below a large window that overlooks lush green trees outside. A white refrigerator is on the left, with a built-in oven and stovetop visible on the right. The floor is a light cream-colored linoleum. The bedroom in our West Hollywood apartment, now empty. The room has dark brown hardwood floors, a large window with vertical blinds partially drawn revealing foliage outside, and a double closet with both doors open. Inside the closet are a single wooden shelf and hanging rail. The walls are painted white. A compact bathroom with white tiled walls and a sliding glass shower door. The sink is set into a white vanity with a chrome faucet and silver knobs. Above the sink, a mirrored medicine cabinet reflects the white walls. A small glass shelf is mounted to the right, and the toilet is positioned beside the shower. The flooring is cream-colored linoleum. A view from the narrow hallway into the living room of the apartment, showing a cracked-open door - the front entrance. On the left side of the hallway are built-in storage cupboards (Sophia's favorite hiding spots) with simple paneling. The floor is dark brown hardwood, and the walls are painted white, creating a clean and minimal aesthetic. An outdoor paved area behind the apartment building, showing a raised, fenced-in patio area surrounded by a black metal railing. Neighboring stairs and a second-floor landing are visible beyond the patio. To the left, tall green trees provide shade, while a few potted plants sit on the concrete surface. A long, narrow paved side pathway between two buildings, leading to the front gate and the street. The walls of the buildings are painted light beige, and small windows face the path. The ground is smooth concrete, with patches of light and shadow created by the afternoon sun. A glimpse of the street and parked cars is visible at the far end. The front façade of 1015 N Vista Street, viewed from across the road. The building is painted white with light gray accents, featuring two levels of windows. There are trash bins to the side, a sloped driveway down to below the building to the gated garage, and shrubs in front of the rest of the building. A few parked cars, including a silver sedan, are in the foreground, and tall green trees frame the scene on the left.

A final image with a dramatic light leak on the right, casting a bright orange and white streak over the photo. The view shows the hallway of the apartment, with white walls and dark brown hardwood floors. A door to the bedroom is open, and the faint outlines of wall-mounted controls and light switches are visible on the left.

goodbye

I love that I got a light leak on my last photo, because it really is the end of an era in so many ways. One last flash here and then things got a whole lot different in my life. Moving out of the WeHo apartment and seeing Katie and Sophia return to Illinois while I ended up… wherever… was a pretty jarring change for me. This place will always hold a special place in my heart.

I was also clearly very inspired by Marina on our walk around West Hollywood, including the now-closed Coffee Coffee shop on Fairfax. It was nice to get some sun and see friends before this big change.

Parking Lot Alex: August 2017
Pacific Exposure: Late January 2018