Madrid Madness

“Mad” not a word I use much anymore. “Annoyed,” “irritated” and “pissed” just somehow describe the mental state of anguish so much better. After all, only dogs get mad. That’s what I remember being told after I said “mad” when I was a kid.

After today, though, I’m intent on using that three letter word because it describes my reaction to a series of events that that has taken place over the last two days.

Before I go into it I need to come up with the lyrics of a song from the play Oliver!

Dear old gent passing by
Something nice takes his eye
Everything’s clear, attack the rear
Get in and pick-a-pocket or two.

I can say that being a photographer keeps my mind occupied, most of the time–so occupied that I’m not paying attention to what’s around me. At times, I’m even catatonic. With creative thoughts dancing in my head, I pay attention to nothing.

Before I know it, I’m surrounded by young lads. One lets me know to hold on to the bar above. I decline his request and a few moments later I’m bumped without realizing it. About an hour later when I’m shopping at El Corte Ingles I realize my wallet is missing. I become a dog with a rough growl, barking to my pals that I’ve been pickpocketed.

So what was I shopping for in El Corte Ingles? Why clothes to replace those that were in my missing baggage, which left my watch only yesterday.

You see,  fabulous British Air misplaced my baggage–a double whammy of misfortunes.

On the bright side, my iPhone remained in my other pocket, my guess is because it was unreachable to the thief.

Believe it or not this is the subway train I was robbed on. I took the picture moments before it happened–with my iPhone.

Stick ‘Em Up at Tamale Fest

Every year Indio, CA celebrates it’s tamales. Yes, that’s right a celebration of those pipin’ hot, savory corn wraps with delectable fillings, ranging from pumpkin and raisins to chicken and peas.

This gun totin’ guy, a mascot-of-sorts, walked around on stilts with a female friend. I asked him to point the gun at me to get this piece of serious art.

The Tamale Fest is one of the top ten food fests in the U.S. of A.  Over a hundred thousand people come to taste the Mexican treats, which are served from booths that line the streets.  If the tamales don’t satisfy you, the Mexican Folkloric dancing and  live entertainment will.

Just in case if you wanted to know the camera settings for this shot were f/4.5, 1/2500 sec, ISO 400 at 200 mm.

Acapulco Dream

There’s nothing better than the color of a tropical sky minutes after the sun has gone down.

The lights are turned on, the sea reflects, the palms are silhouetted against the sky.

This is Acapulco in all of its heavenly glory, looking like a paradise that’s merely an illusion.

To be sure, most of Acapulco is a drabby conglomerate of nondescript buildings among a  hum-drum chaos of humanity.

But…ahhh…the views of the coastline are thrilling. Setting your camera to a long shutter speed from the top of a building or a cruise ship in port gives you a stunning view of one of the most secluded coastlines in the world.

Panamanian Gold

It’s amazing how traditional Mexico can be. This woman is from Chiapas in Southern Mexico. She wears traditional garb.

Mexico certainly has style, but some people consider it overdone. Take the butterfly earrings in this photo. Most American woman wouldn’t wear something like this. Big hoops, maybe, but not gaudy butterflies.

If you click on the photo to see it enlarged, you’ll find that not all of it is sharp. The butterfly earrings are a bit soft. This isn’t a bad thing because the woman’s eyes are sharp, and when you’ve got the eyes sharp, you’ve got a good start to a compelling portrait.

When taking a portrait, you should always set the auto focus point on the eyes. The eyes tell a story of the inner self.  You look into them and go on a trip into the person’s soul.

Communism for Christmas

After viewing the much-talked-about-on-Twitter toy photos, I remembered that I had one of my own.

I’ve decided I want to add a little communism to the holidays, so I included these colorful icons of Chinese culture (to some at least).

First the outfits: There was a time in China where everyone had to wear the same thing, much like the blue clothing you see in the image.

These Mao soldiers are for sale everywhere in the Dongtai Lu Antiques Market in Shanghai. They photograph rather well.

Just in case if you wondered who Mao is–he’s the dictator who, in 1949, decalared the birth of the People’s Republic of China.

China has been communist ever since.

Lone Man in Paris Cafe

If you’ve ever been to Paris before and walked around the city, you’d know that there is a chain of cafes called Indiana.

What were they thinking when they named these cafes? Indiana’s got to be about the most boring state in the United States.

I could see, maybe naming it Louisiana, California, New York, Florida as at least those states are known for something. Many all over the world have heard of a Louisiana bayou, a New York State of mind, a California dream and a Florida sunshine tree. The only think Indiana has associated with it is the song Gary Indiana, and from what I’ve heard that’s not a pretty place.

Enough musings said: I really like this photo because, yes, of the name of the cafe (who’d think of Indiana while they’re in Paris) and those rosy red chairs.

Last, but not least,  is the lone man sitting in front of the cafe. His crossed legs top off the picture like  a cherry on an ice cream sundae.

The Juggler

Here’s a candid shot I took in Tapachula, Mexico in the state of Chiapas.

This city is 100 percent Mexico. Not many gringos here.

In order to take this pic I had to get out of my car to get a close-up shot.

I gave the kid a couple of dollars for his efforts.

I can make an educated guess that this kid’s parents made him go out and perform on the streets for money.

He didn’t seem all that happy, but then I wouldn’t if some big, strange gringo wanted to take my picture.

I can only imagine how I looked through his eyes.

Paris Restaurant

When I think of Chinese food, Paris isn’t the first thing that crosses my mind. What were these people thinking?

At any rate, I love signs and I have another blog called the Book of Signs.

It’s a pretty good collection of signs (mostly neon) that I’ve shot over the years.

Whenever I have a lot of time (which isn’t that often) I post a couple of sign pics there.

Please send me one of your sign pics and I’ll post it there (and give you credit for it).

Panama Canal Lock

Going through the Panama Canal ion a cruise ship is fascinating.   This is a lock where water entered to raise the ship, the MS Oosterdam, up one level to prepare it for entrance into the lake, which is above sea level on it’s way from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean.

You really can’t feel the boat rising, but you can see it. It looks like as if a ship is rising from under the ground. If there was one word to describe it, I’d say that word would be elevator. The canal works like an elevator, except instead of being pulled up or down, you’re pushed up and down by the water entering and leaving the locks.

It really is one of the world’s greatest technological marvels.

SAVE the Century Plaza

Here’s a beautiful image of the mid-century modern Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

New owners of the hotel want to demolish it according to Los Angeles Times blog.

Developers want to build a mini-city on the site, a 50 story building filled with the usual chain stores and expensive condos.

This has to be one of the most amazing hotels in the country. Today the Los Angeles City Council will help to decide the hotel’s fate, hoping to save the hotel by making it a historic landmark. The preservationists groups are advocating for saving the hotel. Today the National Trust for Historic Preservation put the hotel on it’s short list of places the United States that need to be preserved.

Please dear developers, don’t demolish the hotel. As a frequent guest there, it’s got to be one of the best designed mid-century  buildings on the planet.