Posts Tagged: oakland
Personal Photo Request
I was standing just in front of Oakland City Hall late in the afternoon, getting ready to decide whether I would march to the port during the Occupy Oakland event. Just then, an older gentleman approached me and asked me if would take his picture, and offered to pay me. He said, “I told my wife I was going to come down, and she didn’t believe me.” I replied that I would be happy to take his picture but that he didn’t have to pay me. He took a few steps toward the building and turned to me.
After I took the photograph, he again offered to pay, and again I declined. So, he said, “You’ve got a box of bananas coming.” I wasn’t sure what he meant, but asked him how I would get the pictures to him. He handed me a card with an email address on it. That’s when the box of bananas became clear. He is the owner of a produce company. The email on the card started with a woman’s name, which I inquired about. “That’s my wife,” he said with a grin. I said, “Well, won’t she be surprised?”
After Work
Painted Hearse, Oakland CA. April, 2011. (click image to enlarge)
These past few days I’ve been too engrossed in work to make it out to stroll the neighborhood. So I’ve only shot as far as the curb in front of my place of employment on my way back and forth to my own car. But I think there’s plenty of photography to be done right there: churches, hearses, lowriders, chinese hamburger-stirfry-donut shops–you name it.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Lines
Lines © 2010 neo serafimidis
Lines. Lots of them, from a year ago. As soon as I saw the challenge topic, I thought of this shot.
A few more lines.
After I posted this the first time, I turned around to leave the room and saw my old Stella sitting there: strings, grain, all lines.
What’s New is Old Again
Afternoon Edition 4. Oakland CA. April, 2011.
I am now on the fourth run of The Afternoon Edition, wherein I explore the environment around my place of employment. It looks like a very rich area for exploration, except there is an official warning to not venture into the neighborhood to our immediate West as there have been problems. Anyway, this shot uses a Lightroom preset downloaded from flickr friend underthewaves called Ultimate Vintage. It sure worked on this one.
Long Day
Stupid. That’s me. I spend all day being stupid at work, and then go to have dinner with dear friends where I really crank up the stupidity on topics ranging from perfect pitch to commodities markets. Display ignorance, too. The good thing about friends is that they forgive you, at least the first few dozen times.The upside is that when I left work this evening the light was reasonably nice and I decided to shoot a couple cars that are often parked nearby, such as this stylish hearse. Once I get settled a bit more and start making some progress at work, I’ll be ready to start exploring the neighborhood with camera.
And just for the heck of it, I’m going to create this post from within flickr’s share tool. I used to use it and didn’t like it that much, but it looks like maybe it has changed over the last couple years–which is like 14 in web years. So, maybe it will display properly.
And then, i’m going to review some regex concepts. And then I’m going to install Tiki Wiki on my laptop to see if it will work well at work as an in-house wiki, and then… I’m going to… get… my few hours… sleep… … before …. zzzzzzz
The Beautiful Gate
The Beautiful Gate Church, Oakland CA. (Click the photo to see it bigger.)
I rushed into work this morning, my second day on the job, hoping not to be late. And yet, just as I turned to go through the gate, I looked over my shoulder at the blinding morning light coming off the church across the street. I had no choice, but I took care of business as quickly as possible and hurried in. A study of changing light over time could be an interesting distraction.
Oh nothing, just some flowers
I know, the gallery display is still screwy. Just click the little images to see the big ones. I know, flowers. Very pedestrian. But damn, it was a beautiful morning. I loved that sun today. Even us goth industrialists like a flower every now and again.
Poppy
Poppy
Poppies in downtown Oakland
Three Days
Downtown Oakland
I suppose it is time for a countdown. I have but three days left of working in downtown. I have to say, I’m going to miss it. There is so much interesting stuff to photograph and I really did not take advantage of the situation. Coming across stuff like the face above the doorway is just a nice little serendipitous treat. I may have to get off a stop early at 19th St the rest of the week, just so I have some morning walking to do, and a chance to get in a few more shots.
Of course, there will be new things to see in my new neighborhood. If I can re-establish the habit of biking to work, then it will simply be whole new chapter of commute photography. The weather is finally looking up, so perhaps I’ll be able to start that soon.
Retrograde Commute part 2
Part 2 of Retrograde Commute has some of the different square approaches I’ve been exploring.
Macarthur Station, Oakland CA Retrograde Square #1
Macarthur Station, Oakland CA Retrograde Square #2
Macarthur Station, Oakland CA Retrograde Square #3
Macarthur Station, Oakland CA Retrograde Square #4
Retrograde Commute part 1
El Cerrito Plaza Station, El Cerrito CA.
I catch the BART in El Cerrito. Often, but completely accidentally, I find myself on the Fremont train to downtown Oakland. I say accidentally because it could just as easily be the San Francisco/Milbrae train. When it is the Fremont train, it waits at Macarthur Station for the SF train on the other line, so that people can transfer. And it waits to allow that train to pull out first. That leaves me with the views pictured below, which I am intrigued by. I’ve playing around with some different processing approaches. These are the full frame versions. The next post will present the square crop versions.
El Cerrito Plaza Station, El Cerrito CA.
Macarthur Station, Oakland CA.
Macarthur Station, Oakland CA.
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