Eterno Dia PhotographyFrom Sea to Stars: A Weekend In The City of Angels
Posted on May 10, 2020
Back in September, we spent a whirlwind three days in California. Shawn turned 40 and as part of his gift I got him tickets to a double bill concert of Ben Folds and Cake, two of his favorite artists, playing at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. I wanted him to have a very special memory of his 40th year, so I booked the Los Angeles part of be bands’ tour. We took a long weekend and flew down to Southern California, a favorite destination of mine, despite the smog, traffic and general discord happening in America at the time.
Our concert didn’t start until the evening on our first full day, so we had the morning and afternoon free. As a landlocked Canadian, my priority was to get to a beach and Santa Monica seemed like a good option, if a bit touristy. I’d never been there but of course I knew of the iconic pier and carnival located there. We headed out from Glendale with our rented Kia Soul and her trusty GPS with WiFi. With traffic, it took about an hour to drive and we found parking just off the pacific coast highway. The famous Santa Monica pier was fairly far off in the distance from our parking spot, but we found bathrooms and water stations right away, which was great. As we made our way to the pier, we admired the cute beach houses and pretty landscaping and watched the bikers and joggers passing us by. The pier was busy; we’d passed some kind of street festival up on Ocean Avenue on our way down to the beach, so lots of people were filtering down over the pedestrian bridge. The day was so smoggy that for a while it was hard to tell if it was just overcast, but the smog did keep the heat down a bit and there was a nice ocean breeze to keep us comfortable.
At the start of the pier, there’s a small aquarium that we didn’t go into just due to time constraints. It’s dedicated to education about the bay and how to conserve and protect it. I sort of wish I’d stopped in, as it was a very reasonable entrance fee as well, so if you have time, stop to check it out. We made our way along the pier, looking at potential spots for lunch, checked out the amusement park and some of the souvenir shops.
A smoggy morning at Santa Monica Pier
There were lots of musicians and painters busking along the pier and a number of people were fishing off the side. Below us, beach goers splashed in the waves. We found some historical markers, artifacts and information about the pier and Route 66, which I was unaware we were on, at the far end of the pier. We found a cute, three-story restaurant with a rooftop patio for lunch and people watched and just took in being by the ocean. After lunch, we headed over the pedestrian bridge up to Ocean Avenue to check out what the festival was and have a quick look around. We checked out some of the cool architecture along the ave and made our way back to the car once we’d had our fill.
With time on our side, I was itching to check out the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and Hollywood, where my husband had never been before. We headed from Santa Monica to Hollywood. We parked and just started walking Hollywood Blvd down the Walk of Fame. 
We passed all of the hundreds of tour operators, the Hollywood Church of Scientology, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, and we investigated the stars on the sidewalks. We kept our sightseeing efficient as we got to the TCL Chinese theatre to look at all the hand and footprints of celebrities. If we’d had more time, we could have entertained ourselves for the entire day. There are private tours, group tours and self directed tours, if you enjoy ogling celebrities homes. I’m not sure how many of the tour groups are legit though, and a lot of the information we saw advertised was for celebrities that were big 20 years ago – maybe more fun for mom and dad than the kids….
After a whirlwind tour of Hollywood, we saved enough time to make it to Griffith Observatory. I hadn’t really done any research on it- I only knew that it had great views, and a telescope, which unfortunately I wouldn’t be able to look through, as we had the concert to go to that evening. We drove back to LA and navigated our route to the observatory. Parking was a bit nightmarish; the only parking left was parallel parking up along the winding, desert hillsides headed up to the observatory. It is metered pay parking for $10/hr. We decided two hours was about all the time we had to look before heading back to Glendale to get ready for the concert.
We hurried hiked from the car up to the observatory. It looked a hundred miles away but was probably about a kilometre from where we parked, which I definitely felt, hiking uphill in the afternoon California heat. The smog from the morning was dissipating, so it was starting to get warm (keep your sunscreen handy and bring some bottled water).
We explored Griffith Observatory (admission is free!), which was quite remarkable with numerous space exhibits, huge planetary displays, and of course a theatre named in Leonard Nimoy’s honor. We could have spent hours learning about the Tesla Coil, tides, moon phases, seasons, spectroscopy and looking through the camera obscura that peers over the city, but we only had time for a brief walk through.
We headed outside to the garden and outdoor area to take in some stunning landscapes of the city before leaving to head to the concert. This is a place I could have spent a full day (and evening) at. There is so much to learn here; they have star parties, theatre presentations and educational events and the outdoor views are stunning. I can only imagine they’re also stunning at night. Griffith Observatory is a must see when in LA and I was sad to have not had enough time to take it all in.
The Greek Theatre. I’d seen it in movies and I knew it had been designed in the style of an ancient Greek theatre. This was one of the most magical nights. The sun began to set as we got to our seats but the air was still pleasant and warm. As it got darker and the opening band was playing, I was actually pretty overcome with how gorgeous the venue was; crickets were chirping, the forest and hills around us were lit beautifully. Off in the distance where the moon was rising, the city lights were twinkling in the dusk and planes were landing and taking off at the distant airport. The whole atmosphere was just beautiful and I had a few moments of being taken aback at how perfect everything was in that moment. The bands were phenomenal and only added to how great the experience was. At the end of the concert, we did have to walk a ways down from the venue to find a taxi (I know, I know, but we don’t UBER) to get back to our little motel in Glendale…
Ben Folds at The Greek Theatre
On our final morning, we went for breakfast at Foxy’s in Glendale, which had a lot of greasy breakfasts to choose from (so much cheese) but a super gorgeous little patio. After breakfast we walked across the street to find The Americana at Brand, a shopping complex we’d heard was nearby, but hadn’t seen yet. We walked down a little alleyway, and a bit like walking through Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, we emerged in a gorgeous shopping plaza with stunning garden areas, cobblestone streets and adorable boutique shops. Only a few coffee places were open this early, but there were gardeners and maintenance workers cleaning the streets, stringing up lights and busying themselves with tasks. It was so quiet, peaceful and fresh.
Breakfast at Foxy’s
We’d scheduled in just enough time to head to Playa del Rey on the way to the airport before flying home. We parked and found a little lagoon, and then made our way to the beach. While we were headed through the burning sand to get to the ocean, I head distinct “borking”. I looked towards a rough concrete pier in the water where the “bork” had come from and watched a sea lion dive under the water! I was thrilled, as was my husband. He’d read that sea lions could often be spotted here, which I didn’t know. He didn’t tell me in advance, as he was afraid I’d be disappointed if I didn’t see one, so he was happy that I’d been surprised by the treat of seeing a sea lion in the wild. We continued to hear them bark as we made our way to a cute cafe, Playa Provisions, for lunch. We had a nice, healthy meal here before finally having to make our way to the airport and head home.
Three days wasn’t nearly enough time to spend in Cali, but we certainly did make the most of our time. At the time, we couldn’t have foreseen the coming pandemic events and this was our last trip, at least internationally for the time being. Even though LA is crowded and has issues with homelessness, poverty and pollution, there’s just something about it that I love. We made great memories in the City of Angels for Shawn’s milestone birthday and California will always have my heart. TTFN. ‘Til we meet again.
– L
Donny Smith
Posted on June 2, 2013
I recently had the pleasure of meeting and doing a photo shoot for Donny Smith. Donny is a fantastically talented musician based in Red Deer. The shoot itself was quite different from any other I’ve done as I got lost in the music while he was singing. Donny has a beautiful sound and plays drums, guitar and sings all at the same time! I spent the afternoon with him doing head shots and the evening photographing him at a gig.
Here is Donny’s bio:
Donny’s musical training began at Cambrian College in Sudbury Ontario. He completed three semesters where he majored in classical percussion. He continued with his training at Humber College in Toronto where he studied Jazz, also training as percussion major.
After college Donny worked as a drummer/percussionist for Carnival Cruise Lines for 10 years. His career with Carnival saw Donny playing production shows, cocktail parties and backing up various Acts that had engagements on the ships. The majority of his time spent with Carnival Cruise Lines was as the manager of a rock band, where he also played drums and sang.
Donny has experience playing rock, funk, Latin, country, jazz, blues and pop and is open to trying most music styles. He also plays hand drums, acoustic guitar and sings. As a soloist the show is catered to small-medium bars, restaurants, outdoor patios, private parties and festivals.
The future will see Donny collaborating with other musicians in order to cater to bigger venues while continuing to produce and improve on his quality solo performance.
I highly encourage you to stop by his website, and if you’re in Red Deer, you should check out one of his shows. Heck, you should plan a trip to see Donny!
You can find more on Donny at www.donnysmithmusic.com and you can reach him at solo@donnysmithmusic.com or 403-598-3472.
No Recording Devices Allowed
Posted on September 18, 2012
As a shutterbug, the worst thing in the world for me to read is: No photography or recoding devices allowed at this event.
This was once again the case for me on my recent trip to Sin City. I was lucky enough to see Garth Brooks live at the Wynn Theatre. But there they were. On the ticket, plastered in the hallways of the theatre, posted on the doors. The Words. There was no way I was getting a camera into this place.
Not long ago I encountered the same problem. I saw Ben Folds at the Winspear Centre in Edmonton. “No Recoding of Any Kind”. Here in Edmonton, people don’t take the “no recording” sign so seriously. I didn’t bring my camera, because I am pretty law abiding and fearful of consequences. But here, before Ben even come out on stage, in my mind I was planning shots, rueing my lack of camera. I actually felt anxious about the great shots I was missing. A young man sitting in front of me, a rule breaker, a rebel, pulled out his camera, and as soon as Ben came out, he started photographing away. I hated the young man for being so brave and ballsy. And I also envied him. He got the shots I didn’t. It didn’t take long for security to come threaten him and he did put away his camera.
But even while the concert went on, I couldn’t stop thinking about his photos. About how he would remember this day so clearly because of his photos. I hemmed and hawed about whether to approach him, and whether I needed photos. Finally during intermission I introduced myself and asked him if he would please send me some photos. He agreed, and to his word, three days later, I received three beautiful photos of Ben. But even at the concert, I knew my attention was elsewhere and I was not getting the full experience, because of my camera anxiety.
Now back to Garth. So I’m sitting in the audience waiting for the show to begin. This is Vegas. I’m not going to risk snapping photos here. The mob works here. They’ll break my legs. Or worse – my camera. So I decided. This was out of my hands. I’m going to have to let the camera go, and enjoy “this” moment.
Garth came out. I was overcome with emotion. He told stories, he sang. I laughed, I cried. And for that moment, I forgot about my camera. It was Garth, the audience and me. I didn’t have to worry about the terrible lighting, or my shutter speed not being correct. I didn’t have to get upset that I was missing something while composing my shot. It was actually really freeing. I only have one photograph for this entry, one from a billboard . And the image I have in my head of the concert is already a bit foggy and dreamlike, but maybe this time it’s ok that my mind can remember Garth the way it wants to remember it. Maybe the glow we add in our minds is sometimes better than reality. Maybe that’s why I like to add the glow in photoshop. 😉
Thanks for reading, and please stop by again.
Leslie
U2 vs. the Point and Shoot
Posted on June 8, 2011
Looking back, I’ve always had an interest in photography. I was compelled to document occasions, band trips and vacations so I could look back on those times fondly. I’ve used a variety of photography media in my time. I started out with a 35mm film camera and in high school I took a few photography classes. I learned to process film in the darkroom. I remember the days when you had to use your 24 shots carefully, and never knew what you were getting until you got the film processed.
When I finally got around to the point and shoot revolution, I ended up with my Dad’s used Kodak. I loved the notion of the point and shoot. Being able to erase the bad photos – the ones with your eyes shut or you face hanging open mid-sentence like a drunken celebrity – was a great advancement. I loved the idea, but I never liked how my photos came out with my point and shoot. I was bothered by the slight delay and was disappointed that I couldn’t capture the exact moment. No matter how still I held it, I couldn’t get a decent night or evening shot.
I found my point and shoot so frustrating.
It wasn’t until a few years ago when I really started to get more serious about photography that I started looking into the DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras. When I learned that with a shutter you didn’t get the point and shoot lag, I was sold. Since then I have been in love. I feel like I have so much control over the DSLR than I never had with the point and shoot. Not long after I got the DSLR, I took a point and shoot course to learn how to use it better. I actually found the course assisted me far more with the DSLR than the point and shoot. And don’t get me wrong. I have put a lot of work into understanding how my DSLR works. It has great auto features, but I almost always shoot in manual. I like the challenge, but also the absolute control. The variables are all mine.
Now this doesn’t mean that my DSLR doesn’t have any downsides. It’s not always practical (or safe, depending on where you vacation) to lug it around. It’s heavy and awkward. You throw a second lens, spare battery, and flash in a bag, and you’re going to need a pain-killer at the end of your day. Not to mention the seemingly limitless photos you can take. While it’s nice to not waste film, I have wasted many hours of my life sorting through hundreds of unnecessary and un-thought out shots. And finally, you just can’t get your DSLR into every place you’d like; for example, a U2 concert.
I along with 65,000 others attended the June 1stconcert in Edmonton. Professional cameras and recording devices were not allowed. Now, I only have a “beginner’s model” DSLR, but I wasn’t going to take the chance of having that
baby confiscated or molested by rowdy fans. I was also reluctant to bring my newest point and shoot, a middle of the road Nikon (which I also like far less than my DSLR). So I dragged out the old Kodak thinking that it wouldn’t be the worst thing if they confiscated it.
I’m at the concert of a lifetime and rather than enjoy it to the fullest, I am in photographer mode. Mourning the lack of DSLR, thinking about the possibilities I would have had with my telephoto lens and a higher ISO, wishing I could have at least gotten a tripod in the door (I feel that point and shoots deceive people, advertising that they can take decent night shot. You need a tripod).
Then the kicker: my memory card fails. The internal memory on the Kodak had 30 photos. So now I’m going old school. I have to make the best of 30 shots. I did my best to hold her steady. I zoomed as hard as I could. I attempted to get the shot the instant the moment happened. And unlike film, I had the chance to erase the bad photos and try again, which took more of my attention from the concert. In the end, I feel the point and shoot failed me. After studying the manual, after taking a point and shoot class, even with a new point and shoot, I still would choose my DSLR in a heartbeat. That’s not to say I won’t use my new Nikon point and shoot. I keep it with me almost all the time so that if
I’m at work or out and about, and I see an amazing opportunity, I’ll have the shot. I got a few half decent shots of the concert that I’m sure I will look back on fondly, but I think I ought to strive for a media pass so I can bring my DSLR the next time U2 comes to visit.
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