Polaroid E81301

Found this picture in an antique store in Minden, NV. It cost me a cool 25 cents. Actually there was a stack of pictures of people posing with their new cars ranging anywhere from the 40's to the 70's. Being not only a photo nerd but a car nerd enthusiast as well, I don't know as much as I want or need to about cars yet to be anything more than just an enthusiast, I of course was nothing more than excited to buy as many of these as possible. Photos have a funny power that way. To some they are priceless and could never be gotten rid of. While others think nothing more of them and would sell a gem for a quarter. I guess the later is good for me seeing as how I only spent about 4 dollars that day, and got a bunch of gems.

Cliff Diving

Way back in around 1994, a life time ago I know, my brother-in-law took us to place up in Running Springs simply called "The Water Hole". To get to it we had to take a short hike through the forest. Once we got to where the water cut through the mountain we had another short hike down a rock face. Seriously not that extreme, no ropes or pulleys or anything of such, I mean some people did it in their flip-flops. My favorite part though was that first time we got there and Jeff walks to the edge of the cliff face and said, "There it is." My brother and I walked over and looked down. What we saw was this great stream with a pool large enough for us to swim in, a ton of plants and trees and of course cliffs for us to jump off of into the water. This place soon became our new favorite get away from the smog below. We brought friends, and our friends brought friends. It became a pretty regular spot for many years.

When I took my first photography class this was one of the first places I went to. I mean everyone has to get that slow shutter picture of running water right. But what has really stuck with me all these years was that first look down. It all just seemed so vast and full of potential. We all found out later that the locals referred to this spot as "Deep Creek." Which seemed to be a bit misleading because it wasn't really that deep. Every time we jumped in off the cliffs we would hit the sandy bottom. Not too mention that the actual area we had to jump into was surrounded by rocks and was maybe 10' x 10'. To this day though, we all still refer to it as simply "The Water Hole".

The Ramones Are Dead...

Now that I have had some time to kind of cool down from the Vans Warped Tour I photographed back on Aug 11, (both from the heat and the painful realization that this show ain't what it use to be) I can finally talk about it.

Joey Cape said it best, "The Ramones Are Dead". Well not completely in the physical sense Marky is still around, but as far as the old days of punk are considered this carton of eggs has expired. Sure some people will say that happened a long time ago, but i jumped on this ship back in the early ninties when Bad Religion and Pennywise where the captains. And yes both are still around. Bad Religion is putting out a new album and Pennywise has gone through a line up change, but still around.

I've been going to this circus called Warped since '96 or '97. I've been lucky enough to have photographed it since 2006. And I've seen the decline in not only the quality of bands but also the side shows and booths. I mean come on really? A tent promoting Hannah Montana? I almost vomited all over the hipster in cutoff neon green jeans and ripped up American Apparel t-shirt who was all of about 15 walking by me. I didn't mostly because i had a good breakfast and didn't want to waste it on someone who most likely didn't even know who The Casualties are.

It wasn't all bad. I did get to photograph The Casualties again, and at least one person besides me in the audience knew who they were. I consider that a win. Jello Biafra was there dong the Green Jello gig. After his first song he says the crowd, "Do any of you know who I am?" Most of the kids just laughed, signaling that no they did not. Both Jello and The Casualties where not on the Main Stage. Some how I thought this is important to point out.

Face to Face was my highlight of the day. They played a great set and was one of my most fun experiences photographing a band. It took me back to when my brothers and I saw them New Years Eve at SOMA in San Diego in '98 into '99. That was a great show and was a great thing to recapture. Given how unhappy I had been most of the day. Dropkick Murphys too was a really great set. I had a blast photographing for those first three songs. My favorite part with the Murphys was when Scruffy Wallace would drink his Miller High Life between and during songs. Very San Berdu. I think we connected.

My other main complaint was the level of disrespect that went on in the photo pit. I have never been around so many damn photographing assholes. Pushing, elbowing and even sticking their cameras right in your way. I know this is a common practise at many major news events. I've heard plenty of stories about that. But I have never had this problem before at any concert I have photographed. Good news for me though I'm not some poser there using an iphone, and I punch back. I also have really long monkey arms so when someone put there camera in front of mine, I turned and looked at them as I reach my camera out futher. They moved away. Good choice. Oh and the fat guy who not only tried to push me around but also did the same to my wife, I hope his ribs have healed up by now. Well not really but he got the point to, and by point I mean my elbows are pretty hard.

So to wrap up not enough good bands, too many hipsters, asshole photogs oh and The Ramones Are Dead...