Walt Disney Concert Hall

The front facade of Frank Gehry’s incomparable Walt Disney Concert Hall

It’s another snowy day here in Alpharetta. You have to remember that snow is a relative rarity here in the sunny South. So, one snow event two weeks ago today was unusual. Now, we are seeing it again. My mom grew up in the north Georgia mountains and she always said that if it snowed and the snow laid on the ground for three days before melting, then another snow would happen that winter. It sure seems that she was right!

So, on a snowy day it seems right to reflect back on a warm afternoon this past summer in Los Angeles. I’ve been posting about a trip that Lauren and I took to hang out in Southern California and to make a college visit or two. Along the way we had a chance to experience some of the charms of the area. High on both of our lists was a visit to Dodger Stadium. We had scored a couple of tickets to a game and had made our way downtown toward Chavez Ravine.

Since we were so close we had carved out some time to see Walt Disney Concert Hall. I suppose most people go there to experience a concert and hear beautiful music. Of course my attraction was to the exterior architecture. The concert hall is certainly a one of a kind structure and beautiful – at least to me. Having experienced some of Gaudi’s architecture earlier in the year in Barcelona, I would certainly classify Gehry’s work in the same category. Some people love Gehry’s work and some people hate it. I’m not architecture critic, but his work is certainly striking. I do know that I found myself engrossed in taking images of the hall. I wanted to soak in every angle and curve. To me, it was a bit of a photographer’s paradise.

Hopefully you enjoy the building as much as I did. Here are a couple of views of the structure. There’s more to come from SoCal. Stay tuned.

A detail of the panels of Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles

The Girls of Venice Beach

Spectators line the rail to watch the skaters at Venice Beach demonstrate their skills

I have heard of Venice Beach for most of my life, yet in all my visits to California I had never visited there. I had been told that it was an amazing place to people watch. And, I knew of Muscle Beach, of course. What I hadn’t expected was the sheer size of the park. So, as Lauren and I strolled the boardwalk and took in the sights it was a bit of sensory overload.

One unexpected treat was the large area devoted to blades and boards. There were a series of bowls where locals with a wide variety of skill levels were ripping – or stumbling – along to the delight of their friends and observers like us. There were even a couple of skaters being filmed and photographed. That was intriguing to me.

As we lined the rail of one bowl taking in the show a shot began to take birth in my mind’s eye. If I moved to the right location, I could capture the beach, the ocean, a bowl, a skater, all in one shot. Then, as I maneuvered to the right spot a group of four young ladies took their place at the rail. Now all I needed was a skater in the right location. After a few clicks, this image emerged. I wish I had been there with perfect light, some fluffy clouds in a blue sky, or a perfectly placed palm tree or two. Nevertheless, this image conveys the vibe and spirit of Venice Beach pretty well. Enjoy.