Writing the next installment?...

Takin' a break...

Find a bench (which is a rare item in San Francisco), a little container of food, some sort of communication/music device and a good book.

Head Up - Head Down...

Models...

Perhaps it's time again to start shooting models.

Cool kid...

This kid or this kid's mom... has a sense of style.  Check out them coolrays, wrap around sweater and knowing how to have the right amount of fold of the cap.

Keeping Warm - Some nice things...

There's nothing nicer or warmer (warms the cockles of the heart) to taking a walk with a special person.

Jelly Belly...

Certain things in this world just seem right.  Jelly Belly is one of them for me.  Take your ordinary Jelly Bean.  Create flavors that are as close to what that flavor should be.  Get a US President to help indirectly endorse the product.  Charge $9.00 a pound.  Bingo... a success story.

A Barn alone...

I pass this barn every once in a while during my drives on a backroad.  Considering I shot this through the window while driving... I can't complain too much about image quality.  Couldn't decide.... color or black and white.

What's wrong with this photo...

Will someone please take that damn "VALLEY FORD" license plate frame and placard off of this Mercedes.  I can't see someone spending a lot of money on a car to just tell the world they bought it used from a Ford Dealer Used Car lot who would even put a very cheap looking license plate frame on a nice vehicle.

Whoa...

I know this may offend my female audience... sorry, but this dude had the classic expression and response.

USS Taurus...

Be it known that she served me well.  Although it's the same size as a Ford Expedition and at 4200 pounds.... no fly weight.  I have to admit, she ran flawless for two years and her next owner actually will have a good car with only 35,000 miles on it.  I called it "The Aircraft Carrier, Cargo Ship, The Tank, etc..." I will sort of miss her.

Ethnic wear...

 One of the wonderful things about living in an area that is diverse is that you see and experience the differences of the world.  As this lady walked down the street... no one really took notice.

DoDe Do Do...

Just goin' for a ride.

Items in a window...

Window displays once played a very important role with any establishment.  Retails stores use to take pride with their displays with the idea that it may bring in customers.  Like everything else, window displays are now a secondary thought or have gone away entirely.

In the case of the photo, the window space is being used to display items as an artistic expression.  Having nothing to do with antiques or the sale of furnishings.  I asked the owner about the display and she told me that since the space was not being used, she just thought it would be nice to have something pretty for people to look at.  So refreshing to see that it's not always about money.

Busted again...

A few months ago, a friend of mine decided she wanted new shoes.  As she looked around, I planted myself on one of those stools.  Doing what most shooters would do, out came the camera.  Since this particular camera had a deadly silent shutter, I figured - what the heck.  Unfortunately, this camera with the deadly silent shutter also has some controls and software that is just buggy.  Being the typical guy, an attractive young lady walked into my line of sight and I pressed the shutter.  Silent... yes.  The built in flash.... not silent and fired.  Fortunately, no one seemed to noticed who did it as I quickly acted like I was playing with the buttons on the camera.

Coffee fix...

 Many years ago, standing in line to get a cup of coffee was unheard of.  People went to a cafe or perhaps a local donut / pastry shop and typically sat down and enjoyed their coffee.  Today, we stand in line and being impatient.  As you can tell... guilty as charged.  Photo courtesy of guest photographer "L"

Flower Power...

Beyond the sheer beauty of flowers... they are powerful.  The joy and enjoyment they bring.  The ability of flowers to communicate for us humans.  To express happiness, joy and deep feelings.  Don't let the world of today with all it's complexities take you away from the beauty that nature brings.  Take time to smell the roses (or any flower).

Focus 2...

Back in mid December, I did a post titled "Focus" of a good friend focused on the work at hand.  Not only people but animals can also have this focused attention.

Real or Robot...

Sitting down in the early morning having a cup of coffee and doing what some "shooters" might do - play with our gear, I captured this image.  I'm not trying to be mean, but the result of this little boy looks so much like those toy wind up dolls.

My tag line "Capturing Life and Light" is what I try to do.  In the process of capturing some life with the light coming into the cafe, I caught life that looked artificial.

By the way.... please go to "http://stevefoonphotography.blogspot.com" to see my postings all in one place.  The email you receive is good but the best effect (in my opinion) comes from the blog site.

Who needs GPS...

So what is so interesting about a person looking at a map?

An earlier conversation this evening came up about phonographs and records.  It reminded me of a friend's daughter who was so fascinated when her mom pulled out some LP's (that stands for Long Playing - a term used to describe a version of vinyl records) and played it on a phonograph.

Scary because I also know that there are people who never used a Walkman or thinks that a CD is ancient technology.

The point to all this?
It won't be long before a scene such as this is going to be a thing of the past.
Man... am I getting old.

Yum...

Name the animals you see in the photo.

Big Paint Job...

Paint job...

I should have taken time with taking these shots.  Normally car art isn't something that turns me on... but this one... WOW.  The layers of paint and clear to get this effect.  This is one paint job I would die if I got a rock ding.  I would kill if someone were to give me a door ding.

Humph...

I'm open to any suggestions to what to make of this photo.  I titled it "humph" just because their expressions seem like people who are just sitting and saying "humph" with a big sigh.

Meet in the Middle...

One going left.  One going right.  One wearing Black.  One wearing White.

Protection...

One heck of a sign.  Fire hydrants, water main cut-offs, orange cones.
Can you imagine the level of protection if there were really $100,000 there?
Ok... picture day.

Coffee Tables...

Next to the kitchen or dining room table, a coffee table just invites people and things.  Can you imagine the stories a coffee table could tell.

The Cannery...

What's so interesting about a photo of an empty courtyard?
This is a picture of The Cannery in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.  At one time, this converted "cannery" was a center of attention for tourists and locals.  Great little local stores, good food (pretty good French restaurant that also played jazz music) and some good entertainment was the standard fare.  Today, it's a ghost town.  Empty stores, restaurants and hardly anyone there.  This place is a shadow of what it once was and it's a crying shame.

Resistance...

The only difference is that I want mine with a black interior.  European delivery.... one day soon.

Just couldn't resist...

Nothing really new or very original here.  Just that I saw the opportunity when the stream of water was at the right angle in relation to the person.  I couldn't resist and phrases such as, "steady stream" or "no obstructions" came to mind.

Generations...

Have You Driven a Ford (con't)... Examples of SIMPLE

I just have to admit it... "I'm getting too old".  I rather read a book versus a tablet.  I enjoy writing on paper with a fountain / calligraphy pen.  I love old movies.  I like film versus digital (only if my budget and patience can force me back to film).

Have You Driven a Ford...

Lately (for those of you who know the old 80's Ford commercials)... cars have been loaded with tons of computer stuff.  That should have clued me in when this Ford Focus has a DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission).  For you non-car folks.... a DCT is essentially a manual transmission where a computer controls the gear selection and clutch activity.

Well, this Ford drove like a dream for 105 miles before the DCT started to chatter like someone learning how to drive a manual transmission car.

Credit to Ford for getting back to the dealer ASAP.  Today they checked all the calibrations and download the latest firmware (sounds too much like any computer thing for me).  Now I have to drive it hard for a few days for the damn computer to learn how to work with me behind the wheel.

Although things are better.... the chatter is still slightly there.... just like a problem that is about to come out.

Where am I going with this??  Why can't we just have things SIMPLE.

Another Ending and Another Loss...

On the late night news a few days ago, a story about a local San Francisco grocery store closing down came as a shock.  I know that most people would say.... "what's the big deal, stores and business close down every day".  To an extent this is very true.

However, this one hits home on a personal note as well as a piece of history.  Not just San Francisco history but American history.  Not just the fact that this store stayed in business for 105 years.  Not just the fact that this is one of the very few businesses in a neighborhood that took the brunt of a racist executive order during World War II.

Photo two contains the story to which I hope you will be able to read.

The personal note comes from my childhood and the recent fact that with a very special person in my life paid this store a visit a few months ago.  Little did I realize that the purchase of some nick-nack-snack that she wanted would be my very last time that I would step foot inside this store.

I know that things change and that nothing lasts forever.  Just that it seems so much of the fabric that makes this country great is going away.

To the Good Life...

You never know what you will find...

Walking the streets this morning, I came across this street drawing.  Some artist took the time to draw this - I assume from the day before.  I hope that some people were nice enough to leave some money behind for the artist when he/she was there.

Happy New Year...

Two wonderful things to do this New Year.  May everyone have a fantastic 2012.