Tag: photo diary

In search of lost lazy time part 2, end of summer

Well, we have surpassed the official dog days of summer. My photographer brain has started to notice the light shifting. And, of course, the sunsets arriving earlier and earlier here in Southern California. For the no one reading this, my aim was to reclaim my lazy time this summer. My version of “lazy” has evolved as I have gotten older. I am not sure I could manage being the type of lazy I was back in my teens and twenties. Ironically, people did not seem as lazy back then. I was known as an over-achiever with an intense work ethic. To me, I was lazy. And it seemed I had a wealth of time at my disposal…but you can read about all that in my last post.

So, was I able to reclaim my lazy summer? Somewhat, yes. Like most adults, I have to work. Being self employed, I can determine when and how that work happens. Plus, my work is seasonal, so July and August tend to be pretty dead months for me. Previously, I had laid out some steps to help reclaim some of my time. Let us see how I did…

Minimizing Obligations. This one was a challenge. Back in June, I was wrapping up weeks of work then scrambling to prepare to teach for a full week at Camp de Benneville Pines in the mountains for Camp Bravo, an intense but wonderful experience at theatre camp. Once that was over, I actually returned to de Benneville every week in July for an overnight to help photograph some of their youth camps. My family has a number of birthdays in July (including my own) so there was that, plus another trip down to our river house out in the desert–our family vacation for the summer. Once we were in August, things seemed to slow down. I found it was actually an effort to keep myself from too many obligations. I did find myself back up in the mountains once more for Lake Arrowhead Pride with some friends of mine. Plus there was a reunion of sorts back at my alma mater to celebrate the life of a professor and mentor of mine. There was plenty to do this summer.

Image description: A banner stretched between two flag poles reads “Camp Bravo.” On one flag pole is a Progress Pride flag, and on the other is a Trans Pride flag. Behind the banner is an American flag and a very tall pine trees.

Rising early. As much as I would have liked to say this worked, it never really has. I am a habitual night owl, but I will say I tend to wake up around the same time each of these days. With fewer work obligations, I found myself in the gym about three times a week, more than I ever have in the past. I am pretty happy with the results.

Tapping out. The ongoing effort. With the help and guidance of my therapist, I am highly conscious of just how much of the daily onslaught of terrible news I can manage. I think I am like many who feel a twinge of guilt if I stop looking. But if you stare at the chaos too long it will consume you. Then, you are no help to anyone. I have not tapped out completely, and as elections begin to ramp up once again, I hope my daily political and community efforts outweigh my doomscrolling.

I am unsure if I am able to give myself a satisfactory grade on this summer project, although I am pretty happy with how I did. The point was to be more present, spend time with family, and be able to appreciate more of what is around me. The last thing I wanted was to come crashing into September feeling spent, overwhelmed, and tired from the heat. I am tired from the heat, but I am not feeling spent. Also, I may need to spend a few posts recapping all the things I actually did do these last few months.

Image description: a selfie of Matt Lara with summer evening light hitting the trees behind him.

If there is an obvious downside to slowing down a bit, it would probably be that I did not feel as productive. For example, I wanted to spend more time on this blog, maybe to actually funnel some traffic on over here. Did not happen. I wanted to maybe learn canning. Did not happen. Still, I got plenty done. I built a raised garden bed and started some fall seeds for the extended heat of SoCal fall. The downside of lazy is you just will not achieve as much. The upside, you feel quite a bit more like yourself.

Weekly: Into 2025

It was a marathon of work, family, and holiday obligations at the end of last year. I’ve come to expect the rush of fall into the holidays, but I’d actually never had a busier fall season. I take none of it for granted, and thankfully I was able to wrap most of it up by mid-December so I could enjoy what I knew would be somewhat truncated holiday season. I barely had time to think about making any sort of content, including updating this blog. I’m currently re-thinking how I’ll approach this website as the year continues. I want this to continue to be a space away from social media algorithms and trends. Many years ago, I consciously chose not to be the guy that simply follows trends. I chose to be as much of the originator of my work as possible. (Even though it really has all been done before.) It’s a much harder path, but long-gaming it has proven to be worth it.

Once Christmas was over I did my usual which was to head out to the desert for New Years Eve with family. The desert, our little escape by the Colorado River in Arizona, is quiet, relaxing, with wide open skies. I enjoy the slower pace out there as much as I can. 

In fact, much of January and February is typically slower for me. I’m hoping to fill that time with much-needed home projects and decluttering.

There’s not much else for me to update here at the moment. I don’t really like recapping the what just happened. I don’t like taking time to reexamine my year and what made it good, bad, or in-between. I don’t have a “best of” list. I don’t feel like I do enough of anything to have a “best of” for anything. I’m an avid reader, but I don’t have stacks of books I can sort into my top ten. I have several fantastic photo clients, but I wouldn’t dare sort them into list. If anything, I’d prefer to stay more present this year. I’ll continue to share my thoughts, photos, and exploits here, but I’d like to spend much of this year fully engaged in the here and now.

See Matt Run: Concert at Mattei’s Tavern

I try to keep this as a space for my thoughts, my ongoings, my projects. A space away from social media algorithms. I try also not to just make this a running list of what I’ve been up to that week, although I’ll admit that is often what I’m on here about. October through December becomes a mixed bag of things. This is when work picks ups steam just in time for the holidays. I actually love the holidays. I love the hustle and the to-do of it all. I love how my small Los Angeles town goes a bit nuts over Halloween and goes all out with the decorations. I usually like to photograph that, so stay tuned…

A few weeks ago, I got called to do photograph an event at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos. It is a historical hotel just north of Santa Barbara, originally built in 1886. The event ended up being a mix of things, but mainly featured a concert performed by Kate Hudson and her band. I wasn’t aware that Kate Hudson could sing or write music, but as is usually the case with these gigs, I love being able to be a part of something interesting and new.

While fun, the shoot day ended up being rather long and exhausting. I slept poorly the night before and was awakened by an earthquake. I had to hit the road very early to make the two-and-a-half hour drive, which was actually pleasant. I worked with a video team to capture several aspects of the day while an October heat wave kept up relentlessly that day. Much of the day revolved around Kate and when she’d arrive for soundcheck and then her performance.

Having grown up around the TV and film industries, I’ve met famous people and have been able to work with a few. From my experience, you never know what to actually expect. Celebrities are regular people with a lot of pressure on them, so it can be a mixed bag. I had been told that Kate was actually great, easygoing, and really fun to work with. I kept an open mind. When she did arrive and perform later that night, the process was easy and fun. I was able to get some really nice shots…in fact, a few of these shots were featured in this Harpers Bazaar article the next day.

By the way, Kate Hudson happens to be quite a great singer/songwriter. Her band was fantastic. I particularly liked her song “Glorious.”

After a very long day in the heat, I had to scramble to get the above shots to her for approval. This wasn’t exactly ideal, since I like to take time for such things. But again, Kate was really awesome to work with and made the extra effort worth it. I’m not someone who makes it a point to fawn over celebrities, but when someone exudes actual star qualities it makes you feel uplifted, like you want to keep doing better work. I hope to have some of those qualities myself.

August 4 – Planting basil, OC County Fair, summer cooking

These long, hot summer days. No matter how much prepare, I sweat through my clothes and off the serums and sunscreen I paid decent money for. In my house, we’re frugal with the AC. So for a few days, when the heat wasn’t quite as brutal, we flung all the windows open and enjoyed the warm breeze for what it was. Eventually, though, I gave in as the days once again became unbearable. And, no matter how careful I am, at least once mosquito manages to get inside the house and wreak havoc on my ankles.

A project: I managed to assemble the beautiful cedar garden planter I got for my birthday. It only took a few dozen bolts, nuts, and some patience. I was able to get it done in an hour. The next day, I filled it with soil and different varieties of basil, which are hanging in alright in their sunny spot. I worry they might perish if I happen to leave down. The risk one takes in garden. Vigilance is key, but so is being willing to walk away when needed.

Slightly related to gardening, I visited the Orange County Fair with my dad and my brother. I hadn’t been in ages, and didn’t remember quite what it was like. And since I had gotten so used to working the LA County Fair, I was surprised to see just how small the OC Fair is in comparison. The Pomona Fairplex is truly a giant and nearly impossible to take in all in one day. I’m partial to the LA Fair, but I will say the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa make for an easier walking experience.

Cooking:

I’m trying to remember to take more photos of what I’ve been cooking at home lately.

Here is a vegan potpie. Very simple, no recipe, but full of vegetables I had in the freezer and topped with a drop biscuit recipe from The Joy of Vegan Baking. (This book is a staple in my kitchen, especially during holiday baking.)

Everything tastes better in vintage blue cornflower Corningware.

Right around now is where I can sense the light changing, even though I know we’re in for a few more months of intense California heat. I feel it, too, as I begin to gear up or what is normally by busy season in event photography.

Photo Walk: Olvera Street and Union Station

An impromptu day trip to Olvera Street in DTLA for people watching and street photography. 

Took the train into Union Station, which is classic Los Angeles in Mission Moderne style—a blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival, and Art Deco architecture.

I grew up thinking Olvera Street was the preserved remnants of a small Mexican village, but learned recently it was actually saved from demolition and built as a tribute to Mexican culture that had existed here before urbanization. 

Still, Olvera Street features some deep history of LA, including the Avila Adobe (the oldest house in Los Angeles), the oldest living grape vines in Los Angeles, and a stone pathway marking one of the founding water channels of the Pueblo de Los Angeles.

Mexican vendors selling toys, decor, music, games, clothing, and food are are meshed together in this small, cramped street. I wanted to order the famous taquitos from Cielito Lindo, but being vegan the only menu option seemed to be a Soyrizo and potato burrito. It sounded delicious but my appetite wasn’t quite ready for it.

I caught some dancing in the nearby Plaza de Los Angeles (the oldest plaza in California)  where I couldn’t help but feel the sheer joy of seeing people simply dancing in the streets. I’ve been coming to Olvera Street since childhood, and it was good to feel this place once again.

Photo Diary: January Windstorm Aftermath

The first month of the year has been eventful in many ways. For me it hasn’t been very eventful photographically. I’ve had jobs cancel due to pandemic worries. I’ve found myself once again preoccupied with household chores and projects that somehow never got finished during the actual lockdowns. The camera has been down.

Last night, however, the Santa Ana winds came through–hard. I was born and raised here in Southern California, and never have I experienced winds like these. Gusts of over 60 mph blasting through my quiet little suburban enclave nestled up against the Angeles National Forest. I didn’t sleep well as I witnessed helplessly the winds tear apart my backyard, moving furniture and toppling pottery. I’ve always taken comfort in knowing that on the hillside below our home are very old and very tall trees that protect us from the elements. Imagine my shock when I looked out the window during the storm to see that several had fallen into a neighbor’s property, damaging their fence and crushing their patio.

In the morning, all seemed to be still as I woke up from a few hours of sleep. I photographed the fallen trees above.

Today meant a lot of clean up and some rest. I heard crews around town cleaning up the destruction from last night. Later on I stopped by an old park that I often photograph. Several large old pines fell in the winds, completely uprooted. Several folks stopped to see the massive roots shoved above ground.