Riding Arizona TV

 

The date's been set, September 1st.  Now all I have to do is research locations, write a script, learn film making and pack all my gear onto my motorcycle.

1989 Honda VL1100C Shadow - My Summer Ride

 

 L.Y.B.L. Live Your Best Life. It's the only one you get. And be nice to people, after all, you're a "people" too. Today's moment of Zen.

I'm Making a Movie! ... What?

 Rumors abound regarding the crazy idea that I could be planning to write, film, edit and produce a "straight to DVD" adventure travel documentary tentatively set for release in November of 2027. Could just be a rumor.

More to follow...

Why I love Arizona

 

Out with Fuji, Back with Canon.

After a shortlived trist with Fuji's mirrorless X-E3 camera, I've returned, hat in hand, to my digital soulmate, the DSLR Canon. Tiny mirrorless cameras with tiny view finders just didn't do it for me. Felt like I was using a glorified cell phone. I needed the full DSLR experience. So...

I  bought the following rig. Canon 7d and a Canon EF-S 17-55 f 2.8 lens. I bought both body and lens on eBay in excellent condition for a Grand total of $615.  Never been happier.

I guess you can go home again.

Wow, New Post!

I haven't posted to this blog since 2016. Wow, has it been that long? Here's a quick pic from Balboa Park in San Diego and a few of my camera friends.

Movin' On

After making a few changes, including building my own teardrop trailer, I've finally found the right travel rig for me. Follow the link below to find out what I'm doing now.
VanTrippin.com

Wet Dog, Happy Dog

As the temperature rises here in the California desert, Rita, an energetic Golden Doodle seeks relief in the cool waters of the Coachella Canal.
This image was processed with Lightroom PS for tablets, one of many tablet editors I'm testing.

Spring is here!

Hooray, Spring is here!  A season of new beginnings, a time of unbridaled optimism, and of course a chance to photograph wild flowers. This shot of a sunflower opening with the morning sun was made at Nate's Butt Farm, ..sorry... Bate's Nut Farm in 2014.

Solar Cows

This solar array provides shade for milk cows off Hwy 78, ten miles east of Brawley, Ca.

Sun, Sand, and Snow?

Hotel del Coronado ice skaters enjoy the warm weather while skating. The hotel had several employees pushing sqwigees around the rink  to handle the melting ice.

Tomato Festival- Niland, Ca

These photos are some I took during the 2015 Tomato Festival Parade. Follow the link below for more.

After The Storm

A few of my latest Arizona sunsets. Almost makes all the rainy days (and nights) worth it.

Mardi Gras is coming!

Mardi Gras is celebrated all over the world and it's no different in Slab City. Tuesday, Feb. 12th will find most of us "Slabbers" workin' for beads.
The photo below is one I shot in New Orleans a couple of years ago. I've reprocessed it for a totally new look. For more Mardi Gras photos, check out other posts on this blog.

East Jesus

As the largest art installation in Slab City, East Jesus, an artist colony, begs to be discovered.  It’s a little off the beaten path but well worth the visit.  The ever-changing group that works here are completely self-contained, relying on the sun to power their existence.  The late Charles Russell created East Jesus in 2006 and described his vision in this way.
Wedged between the Chocolate Mountain Gunnery Range and the Salton Sea in southern California's exotic Imperial Valley, East Jesus is an experimental, comprehensive habitat and artwork comprising vernacular architecture, technophilia, common-sense environmentalism, desert survival and sculpture/assemblage using predominantly recycled, re-purposed or discarded materials, sublimating the unwanted and ugly into the purposefully beautiful. The main structure is built around a 27' fiberglass shipping container, extended by walls composed of junk (lockers, computers, refrigerators, microwave ovens, bookshelves, tool chests, shipping crates, TVs and other electronics) and recycled, re-used lumber and steel.

My First Book

Slab City- Then and Now is finally finished!

It's 40 pages and has lots of pictures from Slab City's past (as a military base) and pictures of the way it looks now.  Here's an excerpt.

From the moment you pass the first guard shack on your way into Slab City, it’s pretty clear that you’ve left conventionality behind. Ahead of you lies a place where rules are few and individuality reigns supreme.  No plumbing, no electricity, and no running water and yet hundreds of people call Slab City home for part of each year. 

Despite the primitive conditions, Slab City offers visitors and residents alike, many amenities without the ever-present oversight of local government.  Enclosed within its borders, Slab City has a church, a library, a restaurant, art exhibits, a music venue, internet café, radio station, mechanical repair, pet graveyard, golf course, and barbershop.

 

 

It's listed on eBay and will soon be available on Amazon in both a paperback format as well as an ebook download.  Here's my website address:  www.slabcitybook.com.

 

Thanks to everyone that helped me on this project.

 

Back to the Slabs

Well, another summer has come and gone and I find myself chasing the sun again.  I'm in Slab City for the winter, hanging out with friends I met last year.  Nightly fire ring conversations, crisp, cool mornings followed by sun packed afternoons are the norm here. If you're in the area, look me up. I'm at 200 Fred St. on the south end of the Slabs.

Church on Wheels

Not far from my property in Concho, Az, I found this. After asking questions of people in my area, I found out that this miniature church on wheels was a parade float built by the Mormons for local parade use. The wheels and tires are missing but the frame and most of the float remains.

Concho Morning Walk

Here are a few pics from my morning walk with maci.