Notes on life and creativity
I’ve been trying to be out with my camera more this summer. There have been a few really bad heatwaves here in SoCal, so being outside has been a bit of a challenge. Still, I’m trying to continue posting here as opposed to only on social media platforms where the algorithms make you feel like you’re tap-dancing for attention. Please enjoy.
This technically happened the previous week, but on the Saturday before my birthday I went with a friend of mine to the newly reopened Bauer Pottery showroom in LA. It was conveniently located right next to Dodger Stadium, as we were also going the Dodgers vs. Red Sox game there.
Bauer Pottery is a huge part of LA history, operating DTLA from about 1895 until it shut down around 1961. The brand was revived again by new owners in 2000, recreating the original pieces inspired by the original designs and colors. I have a few of both the vintage and revived pieces. Collectors like myself note the Bauer is similar to Fiesta ware in both the colors and the ring ware patterns. I wanted to buy the entire store, but I’m keeping an out for their very adorable Bauer jack-o-lanterns they make in limited quantities each year.
With work being a tad slow during these last few weeks, I’ve been seeing friends and catching up with personal photo uploads. My friend, David, who runs the blog Good Things By David, was in town visiting his family. He has a penchant for donuts while traveling, so I told he has to stop by The Donut Man in Glendora. Another classic of LA County, The Donut Man has been a staple on Route 66 since 1971. There’s never not a line.
I also had a belated birthday dinner with my family in Orange County. I seem to have been all over SoCal these days. A martini shot as summer comes to its final leg.
It’s my birthday today. Entering my forties wasn’t the easiest thing. It wasn’t that I was getting older, it was that many things in my life that I had thought of as dependable and rock-solid turned out to be not so. Friends I thought were my ride-or-dies turned out to be not even “ride.” Okay, so I had to make some changes, and I did. Despite the world being a chaotic mess, I’ve managed to move forward in ways I never thought possible. Yes, I had to let a few friends go, but letting go is sometimes just what a friendship needs. A few have come back. Some have stayed gone. I move on…
While I definitely don’t have it all together, there are a few lessons I’ve learned at 42. These are, of course, general life lessons that I’m continuing to evolve with and not directed to any one person in particularly.
It’s not always obvious, but getting older is a blessing.
Honestly, my life is pretty darn good, overall. Still, life has pulled the rug out from underneath me quite a few times. You really can’t learn resilience unless you’ve been knocked down. Getting up, dusting off, and moving on is part of getting older. You can learn to see the blessing in that.
Don’t tell me, show me.
This has been one of the harder ones because I generally take people at their word. But these days, I watch what people do much more than what they say. Words have much more meaning when paired with action.
If they wanted to, they would.
That’s pretty much it. The next time you’re wondering why they haven’t called, texted, shown up… see above.
Stop chasing.
I’ve pretty much stopped chasing things, people, love, acceptance, approval, achievement. They might be worth working towards, but they’re not worth chasing after.
Every workout and healthy meal is with an eye towards my 65-year-old self.
I’m around older folks a lot, and as they all say: aging ain’t for sissies. Time is coming for all of us, and for me it’s all about healthy choices I make now and how they play out in 20 years. It’s a roll of the dice, and you want the odds in your favor.
Moisturizer and sunscreen. Every day.
Every day. Also, hydrate.
You don’t have to let your 13-year-old self dictate the rest of your life.
This one I hit me many years ago when an actor friend of mine said “I decided to do this when I was 13. What does the adult version of me want now?” I ask myself the same question when it comes to life choices, reactions, even my own body image issues. Is this the 13-year-old in me reacting? What does the adult me want?
I can’t make myself more miserable in order to make others happier.
This one can get complicated, but I’ve learned a few times (and the hard way) that some people will undermine your happiness because of their own dissatisfaction in life. Don’t let them. You can’t dim your own light thinking it’ll make someone else’s brighter.
Dedicate yourself to your own personal mission(s) and align yourself with those who share similar missions.
This is especially true for those of us that are ambitious, driven, productive. Instead of dedicating all your time and energy to one person, organization, or company, understand that things can and will change. None of us can do it all alone, but there are moments where you’ll have to adjust. Knowing where your true north is makes that adjustment much more clear.
Change often means people will say “what’s with you?” Nothing is “with” me, this is me.
Get ready for the cocked heads, cranked necks, and furrowed brows. Change comes with a variety of these looks.
Life is hard, but life is also beautiful. There is still a lot of good in the world.
It’s hard out there. It’s hard to see it, but there is a lot of good out there and it’s worth fighting for. Stop doom-scrolling and go for a walk. It takes mental clarity and balance to thrive when the world seems to be always on fire.
Eat more vegetables. And oats, oats are really good for you.
‘Nuff said.
Again, these are on the general side and don’t often apply across the board. I’m still learning as I go, and I’m grateful for another year in a decade that is being good to me.
It’s been the kind of week where the days feel unending and the is almost an excess of time. I was born in summer and I luxuriate in that strange moment in the afternoon/evening where time seems to suspend itself, and you realize the day is almost too long. I’m aware the days are actually becoming shorter, but it doesn’t seem so this time of year.
Southern California has had a prolonged heatwave paired with an excess of smog and bad air quality. This limits my outdoor activities, but I did manage to get in a few hikes between my lifting days. The chaparral foothills are dry and dusty. The creeks are down to mere trickles. I struggled a bit on one of my usual trails, I think due to the bad air. Most of the rest of the week I spent indoors with the AC going.
At the last minute, I got a call from a regular client of mine to photograph the ESPYS afterparty at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, on of my favorite LA historical establishments. The party was fun, a little chaotic as big events tend to be, and I ran into a few old friends that I didn’t know would be there. This is where I remind myself of how lucky I am that I still get to do this as my job. Afterwards, I snuck into the lobby to see the classic old ceiling and atmosphere.
The heat seems to have calmed a little bit. Off in the distance, I can still see smoke from a few wildfires. I have a lot of hope for my home state, and believe that we can pull through many future fire seasons as climate change worsens. What choice do we have?
On Saturday, my family had a pool party for my twin baby cousins turning 7. It was just us, cooking, playing in the pool. The kids continued to play wildly in the pool long after we were all worn out. Later, I came home and realized that someone tried to assassinate the former President. I’m grateful for those few hours I was unaware. I try to leave my underlying sense of dread about what is to come over the next few months off of this space, but I must acknowledge it. Again, I’m sure just about no one reads these words I write every week, but this blog is for an audience of myself primarily. I hope to look back in a year and feel at least somewhat more at ease about where our country is headed.
It’s a time of year where much of my client work slows down. I have to remind myself that being a solopreneur means that, besides the creative force, you’re every role in the company from CEO down to the janitor. A slow month means it’s time for things like inventory, accounting, equipment maintenance, training, etc..
Thankfully, I have plenty to do here at home, including my own birthday in a few weeks. I spent much of the week cleaning up from my mom’s big 70th birthday party, which became more of a long weekend of celebrations. Our neighbors came by throughout the weekend, which felt very fun and old-school neighborly.
For the fourth of July, my family decided last minute to attend Kaboom! at the Pomona Fairplex. Monster trucks, motocross, and fireworks. I photographed this event last year for the Fairplex, the same site the hosts the LA County Fair. I was hoping to work this one again, but I’m happy to see fellow photographers working. Plus, I’m rather happy with the shots I got last year (see above) and I don’t always like to get the same shots year after year.
Another decent use of a slower month is to explore projects and creative expression outside the realm of client work. It seems counterintuitive–why work on anything unless it’s for pay. For creativity’s sake that isn’t always the best approach. It’s good to take time to learn, explore, challenge yourself. And I’m someone who does many, many things. It can be a little frustrating, to be honest. I often find that I’m wandering a bit, camera in hand, with no real direction. I breathe and try to remember that this is part of the process.
Seeing the fireworks at the Fairplex reminds me of last year when I had to photograph a few events with fireworks, and how it was actually a skill I learned specifically for these events. Some examples below from Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
I’m generally anti-fireworks, but pro-learning new things.
Havin’ a heatwave… We’ve officially switched on the air conditioner for the summer. At some point, you admit that the warm breeze outside is never going to actually cool the house down, even after sunset. This week was spent taking care of business while hiding from the heat blast. My work tends to slow down this time of year, but I had a quick shoot day with the team at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. I’m always impressed by the amount of arts education programs they offer to the communities of Orange County. Yes, they’re most known for the touring musicals that play there, but they offer many many educational opportunities for kids, and fundraise non-stop for them.
The other thing I was busy with was a big birthday party for my Mom. Summer birthdays are notoriously difficult. (Mine is only a few weeks away!) So we were initially hesitant to plan a cocktail party for her. It’s always a crapshoot who is actually free to show up. What started as a small cocktail party turned into a catered dinner and a few pre- and post-gatherings with neighbors and friends. I can safely say I enjoy photographing events a lot more than I do planning and producing them. Still, it was a beautiful weekend and we had a ton of fun and food.
Heading into to July, I have my aforementioned birthday and probably more hiding from more oncoming heatwaves. I’m doing my best to keep my thirsty garden of herbs and tomatoes alive.