Sunday, February 27, 2011

Masterpiece

I couldn't wait to send this one out to my appreciative, doting fans. I spent half the night, well half an hour anyway, creating this masterpiece. Despite being pummeled by rotten tomatoes, I stand behind it 100%.
 

Pirates in Marin? Moooo!

We have all seen reports of Somali pirates seizing ships and holding them for ransom. Some of them get away with murder and/or large amounts of cash. Not so the hapless bunch that lost their way, sailed up the Corte Madera Creek, and finally got stuck in a flowerbed at #5 Redwood Drive, in the sleepy town of Ross, in Northern California. Kind of embarrassing, that!
 

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Setting Up

Almost half of San Francisco's MOMA was closed the other day, while new exhibits were being set up. Some museum-goers  were talking of half-price admissions.
 
Meanwhile your intrepid photographer found art outside the galleries. And, since I cannot tell a lie, I must admit that, at first glance, I thought I was looking at an installation. Perhaps I'm losing it.
 

Friday, February 25, 2011

Homeless

It breaks my heart to see people like this on our streets. This man was walking up Market Street last Monday. When I arrived in the States some fifty-seven years ago, you would see a few "winos" around railway-stations, but nothing like the number of homeless populating our streets today. Is this really necessary, in the richest country on earth?
 

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Is it Art?

When my eyes fell upon these Cable Car tracks in San Francisco the other day, I immediately recognized an abstract picture. So here it is (taken at Powell and Market Streets).
 
And now, reluctantly, to the blah-blah for one of San Francisco's most popular tourist attractions ~
 
San Francisco's cable cars are unique in that they are the only street railway in which the cars do not operate under their own power. Instead, the cars are propelled mechanically, by "gripping" a continuously moving steel cable which runs in a conduit underneath a slot between the rails. The cable, in turn, is kept in motion by an engine in a centrally-located powerhouse.
 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

No Wonder

No wonder people get sick on boats. Here is a picture of the Larkspur Ferry that carried Marti and me across the Bay the other day. I must confess I took the picture via the window of the waiting room, minutes before we boarded, but still ..............
 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Snow on Mount Diablo

The Bay Bridge, cranes at the Oakland Harbor, and snow-capped Mount Diablo. All seen yesterday from the Larkspur ferry.
 
For those not in the know ~ It rarely snows in the San Francisco Bay Area and, when it does, snow falls mainly on the East Bay's 3,849 ft Mount Diablo, and Marin County's 2,571 ft Mount Tamalpais. Folks whip out their cameras (some dust off their cross-country skis) and rush to the slopes, often to find the snow already melted.
 
This morning, on the Internet, I found a live web-cam pointed at Mount Diablo!!
 

Monday, February 21, 2011

Hans Travels to Beijing

Three cheers for Skype, one of the greatest inventions to come out of the computer revolution! Here is my friend Clover, skyping with me from Beijing last night. And if you look closely, you can see the famous photographer hisself, in the lower left-hand corner of the picture.
 

Sunday, February 20, 2011

How Do You Do?

These two just met and were checking each other out. The brown dog was a Ridgeback, the black one a Lab (I think). I took the picture at Crissy Field. There were dozens of dogs and their owners. Some were happily chasing balls into the water. Crissy Field is one of the few spots in San Francisco where dogs are allowed off leash (under owner's voice control).
 
I like dogs but I don't love them. Cats are more my thing. Dogs are told what to do, while cat-owners try to please their pets!
 

Friday, February 18, 2011

Found Art

Surprising though it may seem, there are some among you that are not aware of the fact that, in addition to being a photographer of little note, I am equally an artist of little note. Some of my work can be seen in galleries such as my living-room, bedroom, and even kitsch(en). A current exhibit, already viewed  by tens, has been on display since the early 1970's, and will continue until the end of the twenty-first century (higher-ups willing). Every so often a new piece is added to the collection, which I frequently admire in unabashed awe.
 
Most of the work is classified as objet trouvee ("found art" to the uneducated) school. And this is how today's masterpiece is best described. The piece of metal was found this morning, the artwork was created, without a break, between the hours of 4:16 and 5:12 PM.
 

Fairfax

Fairfax is probably the most fascinating city in Marin County. Through the years, it has somehow managed to retain a Hippie flavor. Whatever! (this is probably the in vogue expression of today that I hate the most).
 
How  did the naked, skinny little boy wind up at that corner. Is he on a cell-phone? Where is his mom? And is he in any way related to the legs in boots on the mural? I have no answers, only questions.
 
I did learn about Arbor Scientia though ~ It is a self-described communication training and promotional medical education agency dedicated to serving clients in the health care industry worldwide. I have no idea what that means. Or why the mural.
 
But I thought it was a juxtaposition that deserved being caught on pixels? Or whatever you catch images on these days. Ustabe film.
 

Fairfax

Fairfax is probably the most fascinating city in Marin County. Through the years, it has somehow managed to retain a Hippie flavor. Whatever! (this is probably the in vogue expression of today that I hate the most).
 
How  did the naked, skinny little boy wind up at that corner. Is he on a cell-phone? Where is his mom? And is he in any way related to the legs in boots on the mural? I have no answers, only questions.
 
I did learn about Arbor Scientia though ~ It is a self-described communication training and promotional medical education agency dedicated to serving clients in the health care industry worldwide. I have no idea what that means. Or why the mural.
 
But I thought it was a juxtaposition that deserved being caught on pixels? Or whatever you catch images on these days. Ustabe film.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Three Sisters Nails Salon

Here's your choice at the Three Sisters Nails Salon in San Rafael. I picked Passionate Pink for my nails.
 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Alaagy

Go to Ghana if you feel you really must. As for me, I drove to San Anselmo at eight this morning, there to photograph Alaagy (Salifu Mohammed), a Ghanaian painter, presently showing "Dance 'n' Rhythm" in the free Kimball Education Gallery at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Alaagy paints images that are born in his mind. He has not taken any art classes. He is 6'3" tall and wears dreadlocks which, unfortunately, he hid from my view. He is a bicycle racer and has three bicycles in his garage (spelled "studio"). And he is also a dog-walker. He believes that he is thirty-four years old, because that's what his passport says, but his mother has a different take. I don't know whom to believe.
 
Alaagy's work will be shown at the de Young through February 27th. You can also visit Alaagy at www.alaagyfineart.com
 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Opposites Attract

Who would have thought that my wooden manikin and my bronze Art Nouveau (1901) figurine would find each other! But find each other they did, yesterday (Valentine's Day), and they waltzed the night away. In fact they were still at it when I arose this morning. Obviously worthy of a picture!
 

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Times They Are a-Changin'

This morning's Marin Independent Journal's Front Page TOP STORY was  entitled NATIONAL CONDOM WEEK. I guess that gives me license to present the attached picture. I discovered the tasteful display at "Pleasures of the Heart, the elegant erotica shop", on my "2nd Fridays Art Walk", on 4th Street in San Rafael a couple of days ago.
 
Photo journalist sleuth that I am, I checked the Obama web site. It really exists. Satisfy your curiosity by visiting it.
 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Braid

A lotta time and work went into this braid.
 

Saturday, February 12, 2011

D Street San Rafael

This image greeted me as I stepped out of my car in San Rafael last night. Feel free to interpret it.
 

Friday, February 11, 2011

Phoenix Lake

Since I quit running I have totally neglected Phoenix Lake (bad boy). This morning I revisited this treasure, which is only minutes from home. Phoenix Lake is the most popular portal to the hundreds of trails on Mount Tamalpais. I encountered dozens of hikers, runners, and bicyclists. Many with dogs. Isn't anybody working?
 
Once again the Mountain served as a picturesque backdrop for my picture.
 

Gung Hei Fat Choy

I took this picture at the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant held at the Palace of Fine Arts just a few of hours ago. And here you see the new Queen, surrounded by her court.
 
FYI it's Chinese New Year and this is the Year of the Hare. The Hare symbolizes speed, strength, and kindness of heart.
 
What was I doing at the event? Well, I'm a true birder, and the word "bird" is  London slang for attractive female.  And has been known, occasionally. to be used in this country.
 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's ...............?

No tomfoolery today.
 
This strange fish-like shape showed up at the Ponds a couple of weeks ago. It couldn't be a tree-trunk since there are not trees growing along the shores. I saw it used as a resting-spot by Cormorants, and they are the artists that have left the tasteful decoration on the mystery thing.
 
Last Monday I finally cornered an LGVSD-employee and he gave me the answer. It's an under-water pipe that has popped up and will soon be popped down again. Duh!
 

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Staircase Revisited

Staircase leading to my humble abode.
 

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The New Must Out

This morning I took pictures pictures at a rally, held at San Quentin Prison, protesting expansion of Death Row, while community services to people with disabilities are being cut back.
 
I thought the microphones of the TV-networks tied together worthy of a photograph.
 
By the way, I hope I didn't mislead anyone with my story about Houhuayuan in my Daily E-mail yesterday. To dispel any doubt ~ the picture was taken from my kitchen window!
 

Monday, February 7, 2011

Houhuayuan

For a change of pace, here's a little information about Zhangjiajie, in China's Chengdu Province. This is where you will find Houhuayuan (Backyard Garden), a natural landscape of stone formations, interspersed with streams. A lovely spot that is included in some of the longer China tours.
 
Most of you know that I grew up in China, and have many pleasant recollections of my stay there, and of the three visits that I have paid that fascinating country.
 
中国 = China. The two characters mean Middle Earth.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Fashion Statement

More from my Market Street walk.
 
Obviously these two spent hours and hours planning outfits that matched. Their success is admirable and I congratulate them on their choices.
 
The patch on the young man's back says "Hines", the rest is too small to  read. What is the significance?
 
The young man is holding something in his left hand. I don't know what it is but I suspect it may be a cell-phone.
 

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Love Is In The Air

"There's a Starbucks just around the corner" he twittered. "Isn't it a little early for Valentine's Day?" she thought, as she hurried along.
 
But if you want to hear John Paul Young (never heard of him) in his 1978 hit, just click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNC0kIzM1Fo
 

Friday, February 4, 2011

Shadow

I took this one in front of the Ferry Building in San Francisco. A great spot for people watching. When you get to be my age, you wonder whether all that rushing about is/was really necessary/meaningful ?/!
 

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Portrait of Homeless Man

Here's another of my Market Street shots. Indeed I did ask the man for permission to take his picture. And I did give him a small handout.
 
You may ask why the "meow" on the sign. I didn't notice it until I had the picture on the monitor, but on another picture I discovered a couple of bowls on the ground. I guess the man had a cat, though it was not in evidence.
 
On the day I took the picture I saw an article in the San Francisco Examiner telling of a new San Francisco ordinance, prohibiting sitting or lying on city streets. Hmmm?
 
My main objective was to capture the man's expression.
 

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

San Quentin

I took this picture from the ferry on my way to San Francisco the other day. It shows prisoners in the exercise yard of San Quentin State Prison. Note the guard sitting at the top.
 
The prison was opened in 1852. It was not named after a Roman Catholic saint, but rather after the land on which it is located, which, in turn was named after a Coast Miwok warrior named Quentin.
 
Add the term "SQQ" to your wealth of knowledge. It stands for "San Quentin Quail", and refers to underage girls.
 

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Foggy Morning

The Ponds were pure magic this morning as the fog slowly lifted, allowing the sun to do it's number! And on this chilly morning, you could feel its welcome warmth. I better quit before I begin to wax poetic!