CamPhoLog

An Afternoon in an Alameda Antiques Store.

2008-12-20T20:19:00.000-08:00

Spent the afternoon in Alameda. And a good time in a huge antique store. Many items were stacked haphazardly and many items found themselves in very interesting arraignments. I could have hung out all day.

Christmas Ornaments

Mexican Ceramics

Pipes

Percolators

Blue Bells

Strange Arraignment

Player Piano Rolls

Rodebud

Irons

60's lamp

Ginko on Fire!

2008-12-20T20:05:00.000-08:00

The Ginkos in Oakland are in the middle of changing their colors and this very old Ginko was just amazing. Found it on Brush St and 5th heading towards Alameda.

Aura

2008-12-20T19:58:00.000-08:00

This is a new Aura, also found in Oakland today. Looks like hes changing it up a bit. This is what he used to tag. Found the bottom pic in Berkeley last year.

Udon in Oakland

2008-12-20T19:52:00.000-08:00

1st saw this lil guy in SF, in some pretty amazing places. I'm definitely a fan. Was happy to see him Oakland.

DONE

2008-12-20T19:47:00.000-08:00

Im done, hes done , were all done.

lite

2008-12-14T13:35:00.001-08:00

i still love deco

Yes we can.

2008-11-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

I’ve seen least three of these around the city, I'm sure there’s more. But I started to wonder if Shepard Fairey actually still goes out in the dark of night and still posts these himself, or is there a mad crew of Fairey worshipers that go out and do it for him and if so where do I sign up? And how cool is that? You start out as a renegade stencil artist and wind up king of all Urban art and people like Barack Obama hire you to create campaign posters for the most historic election in 100 years. It’s a gawd damned Cinderella story. *tear*

And I really REALLY love his work. Someone for the love of gawd buy me a print or two. PLeeeeease.

Vote!

2008-11-01T12:11:00.001-07:00

Love this one. Its just too easy to make fun of Palin. Sadly most of these I saw posted got pulled down within a few days. Next time post them on abandoned buildings guys.

Lady

2008-11-01T12:07:00.000-07:00

Found on the corner of 8th and Harrison, SF

The Grand Lake

2008-11-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

One of the last remaining independent movie theaters in area. Famous for their opinionated marquee, they're not just a neighborhood movie theater. Every month they hold everything from public meetings to local independent documentaries. We were there that night to watch one made by a co-worker.

Cycle City

2008-10-05T17:32:00.001-07:00

SF has a very close knit and proud cycling culture that I both adore and admire. But as a driver I naturally take issue with cyclists that want to use the roads, but not pay for them or follow their rules. Driving in SF is a never ending stress roller coaster, between the lost tourists, the buses, insane and double parked cabbies, delivery trucks, narrow and one way streets. We have cyclists cutting lanes, sitting in my blind spot using my car as a prop, going between cars, ignoring stop signs and light signals. It can put you over the edge on an off day. If I sound angry, I'm not. I am a little bitter but I understand their point of view, I just few more of them could take the time to understand mine. Then we could all hold hands and walk over the rainbow together.

Its been a long time since Ive been on a decent graffiti safari, I miss it.

Branded Proudly

2008-10-05T17:07:00.001-07:00

I love art cars as much as the next person, but.

As someone who shuns being branded in any form, I find this disturbing. I don't like most mainstream things because mainstream things are corporate things. I'm not a nutty anti-corporate hippie either. I do like corporations as a function of commerce, but when they seek to take over my allegiances, and enter my home life. I draw very thick line.

We see this car pretty often commuting with us to San Francisco on the 80 So fwy. I wonder what he does for a living. Probably not working for McDonald's; commuting almost 30 miles to San Francisco every day. But then I guess you never know with this economy.

The 12 Galexies Guy

2008-09-05T14:25:00.001-07:00

Real name Frank Chu, was spotted today outside 815 Buena vista. Frank is famous in San Francisco for always carrying a picket sign, that states "12 Galaxies" along with some other nonscence and picketing most SF fairs and events.

815 Buena Vista is the location of one of my companies facilities. We were having a grand reopening luncheon for the facility that has recently completed a 3 year overhaul and earthquake retrofit. We'd invited our hunky Mayor; Gavin Newsom who is apparently the subject of Franks picketing today.

Frank Ole'

Its all in the Name

2008-08-16T21:57:00.001-07:00

WTF?

A gallery's attempt to be provocative Maybe? Dunno I think that maybe the art should to the talking, but that could just be me.

I took a peek and they've have some pretty cool artists. Not anything that isn't a la mode anyway. But I love that kind of stuff anyway. Maybe thats why they need the name.

Going Home Early

2008-07-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

Today we had a transformer blow a few buildings down from my work. It just happened to be over the parking lot where we rent a space. The lines actually fell just one spot over from ours. For a while I thought my car was going to catch fire.

Luckily the SF FD are awesome showing up in minutes.

SF FD said our car would be fine so we hung out until PG&E could turn off power to the block. We evacuated the building because the lines were so close and we couldn't be sure if a surge was going to affect us. The funny part is we were actually thinking about playing hookie, we had a friend who was taking her kids to Discovery Kingdom today and wanted us to come along. Yeah were that dedicated.

June 20th 2008

2008-06-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

Married after over 20 years together.

My friends got married today. Married by another friend.

City Hall was all a buzz with marriages and the newly married. I choked up more than once. It was truly amazing. Ive never seen so many happy faces. I feel blessed to be a part of it.

What could possibly make a Renn Faire even better??

2008-06-20T23:02:00.001-07:00

PIRATES, PIRATES and MORE PIRATES !!!

Went to the pirate fair in Vallejo last weekend. Pirates are always a good time.

Me and My Girl .. . and a bunch of stinking pirates Yaaaarrrr!

Gotta say I loved all the coats & powdered wigs, I may have to have a sewing weekend soon. ;-)

May 15th 2008

2008-06-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

Whoo Hoo !! Its about time !!

Party in The Castro

Corporate Art I kind of Like

2008-06-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

I love the little surprises that pop up in my yard.

2008-06-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

Olympic Flame[war]

2008-04-09T16:45:00.001-07:00

I thought, wow the Olympic torch will be in town and only 3 blocks from where I work! Why don’t I take a long lunch and check it out. Well the long lunch turned into 2 1/2 hours and the Flame never passed us by. Instead they chucked the original plan and took a ferry around us and some alternate convoluted route thru the city. All the while a huge militarized police presence, complete with helicopters & bomb squad adequately announced the size of our fair cities collective cock. I’m disappointed. Not because we didn’t see some senior citizen hobble by with the Olympic flame, but because we cant stop treating each other with fear & disdain. Because they had thousands of police on the streets and couldn’t let a few hundred kids announce their anger over Chinas sad human rights record, (justifiably so) and a few thousand more cheer the spirit of the Olympic Flame. SF has the 2^nd biggest Chinese population outside of China; I heard the disappointment on the street. Yeah yeah Life goes on; it’s not that big a deal. But that was my huge waggling tax dollars treating my neighbors like a biohazard threat out there today; I’m allowed to be disappointed.

Yelling Free Tibet!! , China China !! Coming from across the street. I guess a baseball park was the appropriate place for this.

Hum, we should probably look like we have a plan.

Eye in the Sky.
Actually, there were so many Copters in the sky, it reminded me of Brave New World. In the future everyone has a personal helicopter. All at once fantastic and frightening.

I plan on taking this way too seriously. Really it was like he was meditating, not once did he look up to the crowd. What did he overcome to be selected as part of the relay? Agoraphobia?

Uh China, If you're listening, would you mind?

Free & Friends . . Someday

Ant Man !!

2008-03-18T17:08:00.001-07:00

We found this cute little guy across the street from our most fav and totally faboo vegan restaurant in SF. Cafe Gratitude SO yummo!

Car Sick

2008-03-18T13:42:00.001-07:00

Stay away from the Curry

Totally NOT staged, I promise. Just noticed it after we parked.

Overpass

2008-03-18T11:50:00.001-07:00

Sometimes really old ass camera phones takes really neat pics.

I like the way the colors bled up top.

The Peoples Toilet Gasket

2008-03-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

Readers Submission

2008-03-10T17:36:00.000-07:00

This one came to me from my Younger Sis; more popularly known to me as Lil Pal who knows I go ga ga over street art.

Now, if only I could turn this into a pyramid scheme.

Cycle Sex

2007-12-08T16:08:00.001-08:00

May not be suitable for viewers under the age of eighteen.

i am a man

2007-11-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

In a world of ambiguity this little guy quietly proclaims his masculinity behind a shadowed face and nondescript suit uniform. "I am a man" is reminder to never forget who your are.

Love it.

Art to the Masses

2007-10-31T13:19:00.001-07:00

I found this on Fwy 80 East, Just before the bridge.

I love it.

This nod to Goya; a man who also lived in a time of war, is just bad ass.

This is SOMA.

San Francisco has been undergoing a huge and obscene condo hi-rise boom in the last few years in the traditionally industrial SOMA district. While rent prices skyrocket the high-rises and gentrifiers pour in. Much of San Francisco’s cultural character has been pushed aside, or pushed out for well to do out of towners who are apparently the only ones who can afford the "affordable housing" that these mammoth domiciles provide.

I guess thats the way of the world these days, but it’s still sad.

Saturn devouring his own was alway one of my favorites.

In another life I would have been an art history teacher for sure.

irony not lost

2007-10-29T14:54:00.001-07:00

Across from my work place is the main Cal Train station for the area. Like in so many other cities the industrial center becomes the place where all of the lost and left out people live. The gentrification of these urban places ensures that the mad wandering masses will have no where to go but the burbs who's traditional answer to the unwanted is to the imprison them. This NIMBY attitude has always really bothered me. How can anyone one of us claim superior morality over anyone when even just one of us is lost? Maybe thats why despite the financial difficulties I work at a non-profit that serves a part of that community.

I found this discarded record of Peter and The Wolf on my way to lunch one day. Passing the train yard and several makeshift vehicle/homes as I walked.

irony not lost.

filling up

2007-10-29T14:33:00.001-07:00

Was in Santa Clara last weekend and had to get gas on the way back.

I got to thinking how much these stations are going to change in the next few years.

Diesel, Ethanol, Flex Fuel, Hydrogen, etc will be the end of the simple gas station as we know it.

food related

2007-10-29T14:25:00.001-07:00

Chinese food.

This artzy glob of hot mustard and sweet'n'Sour sauce is about to be a part of my wanton. Yum OhTaco here !!!
Whats that thing hanging out of the left side of that taco?? Its a taco right? Well, it is now.

baby kitty

2007-10-29T14:18:00.001-07:00

That my cat; baby kitty.

She hasn't been a baby for a real long time now, but I could never get used to calling her by her real name.

I like taking candid pictures of her, even tho she's very photogenic and will pose for me whenever I like.

I'm sure she appreciates it.

Hey Look! What is it?

2007-09-25T14:32:00.001-07:00

Don't know what kind of creature this was supposed to be, Serpent? Giraffe? Dragon?

I dub thee GIRAFFAGON !!

never drink & tag kids.

help me !

2007-09-25T14:26:00.001-07:00

EW !! Neat !! EW !!

nuff said

Grass Fire

2007-09-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

Its Fall, Its Cali, Its Fire Season.

Living in the northern outer rim of the Bay Area is Grass fire central.

In the foreground is the infamous naval ship graveyard. Its a sad toxic legacy we leave to our children yet I cant help but be amazed at their silent stalwart dignity and sheer mass. This pic really doesn't do them justice; they're huge!

Fairfield.

2007-09-10T17:37:00.001-07:00

We go to Fairfield quite a bit these days, Its all mono-culture malls, track housing and Air base brats. But its got a decent movie theater and a Barnes & Noble, so we go.

This neat wheel came from a flat bed, driven by a friendly Sikh man who smiled at me when he saw what I was up to.

Penny and a glass of grape juice

2007-09-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

Some times I really like the pics my lil 1.0mp camera phone takes. Thats Penny the great in the background, and my glass of concord grape juice in the foreground, YUM.

W o r d

2007-08-31T14:24:00.001-07:00

My attempt at Lunar Photography

2007-08-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

Last night; incase you were sleeping, there was a Lunar Eclipse.
I wanted to check it out, so I woke at 2:20 to see if I could catch any bit of it.

Armed with my trusty little camera I attempted to capture the moment.

Not exactly zine worthy, but considering I had a beast of a street light 50ft away and no other special equipment, I think it came out OK. I’m actually pretty proud I was able to pull this out of my lil camera, and it gave me a deeper understanding of what my little camera can actually accomplish.

And this is the challenge I had to get around to achieve my hazy little picture. (damn the street lights!)

Self Portrait

2007-08-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

I Found this about 5 inches above the side walk, next to a yummy Mexican food place near my work. Looks to me like this was made with lipstick.

In my imagination the creation scene for this one played out like this.

Its was about 3:30 on a Saturday night, Mystery lady and friends were drunk and stumbling down the street to their car after a night out at the clubs. Reaching for her keys she drops the contents of her purse out onto the sidewalk. As she tries to stop her stuff from falling she slips on her three inch heels and falls ass first to the ground. Laughing hysterically she sees her lipstick has broken. Still laughing she draws this little face on the wall near the ground where she fell and continues to laugh hysterically as she brings herself up off the ground.

-fin

They all don't have stories but I got to thinking as I waited for my yummy burrito the other day. :)

JFK

2007-08-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

John F Kennedy Not much more to say there, as far as Presidents go he was the Shizzle'. Too bad no one has come close since.

a rose by any other name

2007-08-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

I love me some Urban Art.

Standard tags bore me; I mean what’s so great about scratching your name all over town? How can you “claim” something that you obviously can’t defend? Plastering your name all over town is like a dog pissing on a fire hydrant. It’s a weak and temporary attempt to exert dominion over other people or things. It reveals the authors insecurity and weakness. Not my thing.

But throwing up a character, symbol, or spontaneous mural is much more creative and has much more of an ancient feel to me. Man has been drawing pictograms of his surroundings for hundreds of thousands of years, and to me Urban Art like this is just the continuation of this eternal human need.

Besides its public art, in a much more Marxist way and I appreciate the simple rebellion of it all. It makes the world like a giant people’s gallery; free to all. Whoo Hoo!

So, yeah you’ll probably be seeing a lot of this kind of stuff being posted here, I just love it.

btw

--I found this little guy on a newspaper box on Market Street in the Castro District in SF.

--=d

Engage!

2007-08-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

Whatz-it? Its a model of the Starship Enterprise that I made out of office supplies. Now you know what I do with eternity.

Inspired by my Sister, Ive started a Photo-Blog.

Im often shooting things that are weird or that interest me, and this is a place for me to post/examine/explore/track/ponder/feel/wonder/massage/taste/and log all ofthose things.

So it is written, so it shall be done.