Sunday, October 17, 2010

Impossible Project Mac Arthur park


                  I woke up to a to a text that said” coffee and bring you camera: by Valerie Watson” 

I went down to the corner coffee spot and Valerie told me that there was something she had to show me at Mac Arthur Park. I had all ways want to shoot there but never have I was really excited but had no idea what I was in for.


We walked half way around the park and she said, “There he is!” There was a man standing there with the same kind of camera that I use. I could not believe it. As I walked up he noticed my camera  we hit it off. He could not speak English and I could not speak Spanish. I just handed him my camera he was stoked and so was I! 

This man has a business where he will shoot your picture for $5 dollars in Mac Arthur Park. Valerie can speak some Spanish I had  her ask questions for me. She told me he had been doing this for 20 years. I could only imagine the photos he has taken in that time. In the late 1980s this was one of the roughest areas of Los angles. 



                  
                                        

I noticed he did double exposures as well. I started freaking out and then he took my camera and just showed me how he did it. I was very honored that he did this. I love that he just shoots photos for the sake of doing it. I don’t think he has any interest in becoming famous. He is a true artist.



This is a  double exposure that he took with my camera.

I then had him shoot a photo of  Valerie and I so we could remember this moment.
                                   I love Alvarado st. It was like taking a vacation to Mexico. 


                                              A bird flying over the lake at Mac Arthur Park.


I want to come back here with my wet plate camera and dark room to shoot some day.



5 comments:

Minibike said...

So rad!

TeamMcDonough said...

Way cool. This reminded me of the times we would go to Tijuana as a child and seeing the photographers on the streets or in restaurants and do this. True artist for sure :)

christie griffin said...

great story

Sarah said...

Very cool story and photos!

Chris Stamey said...

That is so cool, Great story Ian.