May 27, 2024
A quick drive from Los Angeles, the first operation missile base in the country sits decaying on top of a mountain. The base was one of 16 in California which were collectively known as the Ring of Steel. Following the fear of Russia’s nuclear proliferation during The Cold War, Read more…
It was time to get away. With a friend in Los Angeles, it was an easy decision. Finally utilizing my flight benefits to go somewhere other than Home, I was leaving DC for the West Coast. Getting Alfred Hitchcocky The cratered, isolated West As soon as I got to Thai Read more…
February 19, 2023
Traveling Route 66 you’ll see evidence of its faded glory–in physical form. The construction of Interstate 40 made it impossible to travel its entirety; it bypassed some of Route 66’s stops leaving them suspended in a dead road, leaving their roadside stops left to decay. To follow, some of that Read more…
Though I needed the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave Desert for a backdrop of a special photoshoot, I only stayed briefly. But these hours were my initiation into the road, an offering to wild time… time that exists outside the constructs of tedium–impractical, untainted, and because of these, unsustainable. Its Read more…
August 1, 2022
Feeling a bit like I was within a 5th grade unit of study on Westward Expansion, I walked through the train tunnels created for the Transcontinental Railroad, named after the Donner family, pioneers who wanted so badly to make it to the Golden west that they attempted to cross the Read more…
July 31, 2022
It was kind of a bummer to pass through Big Pine, Bishop, and Lee Vining, thriving stops with plenty of comforts abound, to arrive at the one-horse town of Bridgeport, California. It had little to offer me but an overpriced room with a shared bathroom, overpriced gas and absolutely no Read more…
Mono Lake Tufa State National Reserve marks the western border of the Great Basin, a region of contiguous endorheic watersheds, meaning those with no outlets to a river or ocean. The Eastern border is Utah’s Great Salt Lake. Because these waters are at a standstill, a whole range of different natural Read more…
Lancaster, California I passed through Lancaster on my way North from Los Angeles and made a pitstop at The Whole Wheatery, a health food store with a cafe (Natcheryl’s Cafe). They are a really great spot to stock up on vegan goodies! They have a slew of prepared food and Read more…
Ancient Bristlecone Pines are the oldest living organisms in the world. Yes, in the world! Located in the Inyo National Forest near California’s Eastern Sierras, catching a glimpse of them was a definite must for me as I passed through the amazing U.S. 395. To have the chance to walk Read more…
July 30, 2022
I was overwhelmed with the beauty of Alabama Hills. The images below capture some of it, but not the feel of the air, the scent, the feel that enveloped me. Unexpectedly, I was taken aback by this destination. I hope to return sooner than later. My rental car looking snazzy. Read more…
July 29, 2022
The Camarillo State Mental Hospital was a farm colony that operated from 1936 to 1997. Like many state hospitals active during that time across the country, farm work was considered part of patients’ treatment plans. While the hospital was redeveloped 2002, becoming the California State University Channel Islands, two of the farm Read more…
On my Los Angeles list was a stop at Apex Surplus, a “museum” (to me at least) of industry and histechnology (I made that up.) It was an odd excursion I guess, but I really like the look of vintage machinery. Though the coolest goodies are reserved for serving as Read more…
The gang back in LA. Really, going to LA feels like going to a friend’s house. There is a comfort and at-home-ness I have always felt there. So with all significant tourist attractions kinda already done, it is always about the amazing vegan food there! Just What I Kneaded in Read more…
July 28, 2022
You might have forgotten since I told you in 2018, but I have a thing for tiki bars. Real ones. Ones that opened long ago. There are two in Los Angeles and I was happy to have hit them both, along with a new one which, of course, was not Read more…
It is really difficult to capture the beauty of these trees with the camera. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try. During the beautiful blue hour I began shooting them and I continued until my hunger pangs won the battle. Meet Joshuas. It is when they are plentiful and layered Read more…
July 27, 2022
Looking at these shots from my evening at Joshua Tree National Park, I am grateful I pushed myself to darkness when my body was calling for a motel room. I had originally planned to camp near Mojave, where I spent the day in the sun. But the forecast for the Read more…
When you travel to the desert in the middle of the summer, it is a given that you will be on your own. While I do prefer solitude to most company, it is more about the Milky Way season for me. The desert is dark, free of artificial light of Read more…
July 4, 2021
I really wanted to do this cosplay-astro shoot, a genre I may have invented as I have never seen other pictures fitting it… though admittedly I haven’t looked very hard. I wanted to battle my friend, galactic style. And so a portion of my suitcase contained the costume for this Read more…
According to the handy digital thermometer at the visitor center at Death Valley National Park, the day would reach a high of 117 degrees F. Though during my previous visit to the park in 2017 the temperature maxed out at 124, tonight’s night time low–which I didn’t stay for previously–would Read more…
You would think that a waterpark in the Mojave Desert might have staying power–and it did from 1962 to 2002. During that time the renditions of the space, named Lake Dolores (after the manmade lake named after the owner’s wife), Rock–A–Hoola Waterpark (a version of the waterpark that blared Oldies from Read more…
July 3, 2021
As usual, I have to eat a lot in LA. This time I tried to put a dent in the tons of vegan fried chicken places I have been drooling over from afar. Starting with Uncool Burgers… on my list because I thought I could get an Atlas Monroe chicken Read more…
July 2, 2021
After a few nights roughing it, a self-care day in San Diego. It started with Split Bakehouse, an all-vegan bakery I was really looking forward to. It’s inside a food court in a mall, but the food court has a bunch of dediacted vegan eateries. That is vegan friendly! Take Read more…
In El Cajon, California is the remains of Marshal Scotty’s Playland Park. The amusement park opened in 1967 and enjoyed success until the 90’s. Since the owner was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1990 parts of the property has been used as a day camp, a go-cart raceway, and, Read more…
July 1, 2021
With a Milky Way twinkling vibrantly above, it is not difficult to capture a magical shot. But just down the dark path were the abandoned trains of the San Diego Railroad… so, astro-urbex it was. The contrast of the glowing beauty of our Universe and the lifeless decay of train Read more…
The Goat Canyon Trestle Hike is a 16-mile walk in the blazing sun along a stretch of tracks called “The Impossible Railroad.” The lure of which is outstanding scenic views, the remains of the world’s largest curved wooden train trestle and abandoned railcars memorializing its life as part of the Read more…
June 30, 2021
Last time I was in Borrego Springs in February of 2020, it was the trial of my then-new camera base. Since then I have discovered that the settings were way off when I did my night shoot, resulting in disappointing shots. This time, much more exciting and dynamic shots near Read more…