cotton candy colors.

These two photographs appeared on the same roll of film as the Runyon photographs in my previous post and they stood out to me immediately. So, maybe it took me about 3 months to take 12 exposures on this roll of film using my plastic, imperfectly-perfect Diana camera (and 5 months before I actually saw the photographs!) As I explained in this post, it happens.. and it makes each photograph something really special.

In this fast-paced digital age, I find it pretty satisfying to have something that lets me slow down and wait patiently for the results. I guess it's somewhat similar to taking the time to cook a great meal from scratch. What helps you escape from our so often rushed culture we live in?

. . .

Before moving away from Los Angeles, I had to take the quintessential Venice sign picture (for no one else but me) and I love it! The cotton candy colors are utterly dreamy and reminiscent of a perfect summer day.

When I saw the ocean photograph, I sat with it for a few minutes, quietly remembering that day and why I took the picture.. September 29, 2010. The movers had come and gone. Our home of 4 1/2 years (the longest my husband and I had ever lived in a place together) was empty. After I made a couple of phone calls, I found him asleep on the floor in our empty bedroom. I nudged him awake and insisted he get in the car and let me drive him to the ocean to sleep on the sand. And that is how we spent our last afternoon as Angelenos. I took 2 photographs of the ocean, so I would remember the feeling of that day. As we packed up our blanket, we breathed in deep the ocean air and said goodbye for now.

runyon canyon bench series (post 8)

I had to refer back to the tiny purple notebook I carried along on my hikes to figure out when this roll of film was started: August 10th, 2010.. 5 months ago! In December, I finally mailed my exposed roll of film back to the photo lab I used to live down the street from. It was such a treat to see these photographs after many months and a life-changing move across country. Instead of taking photographs of the bench during those final weeks I lived and hiked in Los Angeles, I decided to discreetly leave behind envelopes containing a variety of triptychs (3 prints) from my Runyon Canyon Bench Series. I thought of it as the final phase of my project – giving back to my fellow hikers and lovers of this trail. So, each time I hiked, I lingered until the area cleared, if only for a second, so I could anonymously stick an envelope into a crevice for a lucky one to find. As simple as the act was… it made my heart so happy and full each and every time.

The note on the envelope says: “To whoever finds this: I hope you enjoy these photographs as much as I enjoy taking them.”

Runyon Canyon Hollywood California

I had my husband take the photo on the right on our last hike sometime near the very end of September. It is the only photograph in the series of myself on the bench and I am so thankful I have one!

Runyon Canyon Hollywood California

A favorite set of photographs from the series:

[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana film camera, August-September 2010]

Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series: Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 4 | Post 5 | Post 6 | Post 7

runyon canyon bench series (post 7)

There is no need to look for the bench in this next set of photographs. (Because I'm either sitting on it or walking away from it.) Each time I reach the peak of my hikes lately, I no longer feel the need to take a picture of the bench. Instead, I feel a strong pull to take a seat, breathe in the vast experience of these last few years living in Los Angeles... and exhale.

[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana film camera, july 2010]

Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series: Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 4 | Post 5 | Post 6

runyon canyon bench series (post 6)

There is another reason this project exists. I am hopelessly sentimental, so when I know I will miss something, I photograph it. It’s how I deal with change.. and change is not my favorite. It’s why I chose to start photographing this bench several months ago. I knew that change was upon us and here it is, peaking at me now from just around the corner. My husband and I have decided to move away from Los Angeles to West Michigan at the end of next month. We know it’s the right move to make, but it is just never a good time to say goodbye to the people and places you have grown to love. So, here is the next installment of my bench series and one of my last. I decided to see the bench in color again.  I love the soft focus, dreamy quality of photographs made with my plastic Diana film camera. They feel like memories from another time.

June 22, 2010 / June 24, 2010

June 29, 2010 

More to come...

[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana film camera, june 2010]

Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series: Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 4 | Post 5

runyon canyon bench series (post 5)

Thursday, June 10, 2010 9:36 am... (on left)he spoke passionately about the positive energy he feels at runyon canyon to a stranger new friend... i listened with a smile.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 9:46 am... (on right) big dogs chasing little dogs... too cute.

Friday, June 18, 2010 9:35 am... friends: swinging their legs, laughing loudly... nothing better.

[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana camera, june 2010]

Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series: Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 4

runyon canyon bench series (post 4)

One of the downfalls of shooting film over digital is the wait. And at the same time, that is one thing that I love about it. The time between taking this first photograph, shooting the rest of the roll, and finally seeing the results was about a month. Had there been no wait, I wouldn’t have looked at this first image 3 times (like a fool) trying to remember what it was I had photographed. But, more importantly, I wouldn’t have experienced the moment of surprise when I finally saw him. Do you see him hiding there? These things make me happy. Monday, May 24, 2010 10:12 am | 10:14 am

I'm pretty sure June is my favorite month in LA. Almost every morning is cool with a heavy blanket of clouds. They call it June Gloom, but to me, it's hardly gloomy. I love letting the breeze gently wake me in the morning and the quiet hikes at Runyon. I am in love with these photographs... so tranquil and dreamy. I can almost feel the cool air kissing my skin. These will forever remind me of what it feels like to stand atop Runyon Canyon in June.

Monday, June 7, 2010 9:50 am | 9:53 am

I have many more to share and will continue posting next week. It is also worth noting that my film scans have improved immensley since I switched labs. Thanks to Richard Photo Lab - my bench series just got better!

[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana camera, may/june 2010]

Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series: Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3