Mary's Market, Sierra Madre

And just to show I don't hate color photography:



Shot these this morning for a work project -- a photo essay for the Metro blog on life in the Foothill cities of the San Gabriel Valley. Mary's Market has been there since 1922 so I went for the retro look when processing with Google NIK's Analog Efex 2. I'll probably change my mind three minutes from now and go for a different look. Or no look.

In any case, I like the third pic the best -- it has the strongest subject. The second image is sort of interesting, showing the diner in all its slapdash/casual glory. 

Perhaps this one below is better, albeit very cluttered. What makes the image interesting is that the real subject -- the busboy looking directly at me -- is the real subject. But he's small in the frame and there's perhaps a little too much other stuff to distract the eye. 

The other thing I like about this image and the others: it's hard to tell what year they were taken. The most obvious clue is the attire -- it sort of looks contemporary. And, of course, the fact that the photos look like digital trying to imitate film, at least to the trained eye. 


Anyway, what a great place -- and one of those diner-type places you have to go looking for to find. 

Looking forward to finishing up the essay. Shooting all kinds of things and processing with a lot of different looks. And gaining a new appreciation for the Foothill Cities.

--S.H.

Another Alamitos Bay kayak

Only 85 degrees in Long Beach this afternoon. Let's face it: El Nino was a big lie.

Anyway, good times with the birdies.

All my galleries are here. Questions about hiring me to shoot something or want to buy a print of digital license? Email me.

--S.H.

The above photos are ©Steve Hymon and may not be used elsewhere without my advanced written permission. All rights reserved.

Radio controlled airplanes

Shot these for work yesterday at the RAC field in Irwindale -- the one you can see from the southbound 605 freeway. Not easy! Small, fast moving objects (some of these can easily fly over 100 miles per hour), safety restrictions on where you can shoot from and, therefore, people whose back is toward you. 

I shot a lot and managed to squeeze out a few decent frames. The top two are my favorites -- I'm trying to decide on which framing is better. The top photo provides less information to viewers. The shot with more of the flier hints that it's probably a radio controlled airplane. I think I like the top one better -- let the viewer figure it out! 

I'll probably pick one or two shots for a photo essay that I'm working on about the San Gabriel Valley Foothill cities to be served by the new Gold Line extension to Azusa. The entire essay will be posted on the work blog in a couple weeks -- I still have a bunch of things I need to shoot. 

All my galleries are here. Questions about hiring me to shoot something or want to buy a print of digital license? Email me.

--S.H.