Better than store bought...

So nice to see some creativity and handcraft costumes.  I am so sick of those store bought costumes.  The fun they must of had to bring all this together... priceless.

More Costume...

Crowds...

It was like this for dozens of blocks.... and it got worse at the parade started.  Wall to wall people.  Early estimate... 1 million people.

Costume...

It is Halloween after all.

Before the madness...

Color scheme today... Orange and Black.

More Dawg...

Just seems to fit.  Big pickup truck.  Big Dog.

Let the Celebration Begin !!!

How fitting that the parade will happen on Halloween Day.  Orange and Black is going to have a dual meaning!

Mom and Pop Stores...

Once upon a time when you needed something, you ran down to local grocery store, drug store, candy shop, hardware store, fish market, etc...

Typically, the owner ran the place with his or her family and a few employees.  People got to know each other and the shopping experience was also a social event.

Today, we go to the shopping center or mall and buy something that some giant big box conglomerate is pushing.

With the holidays coming up soon, do yourself a favor - or at least educate a young person - and visit a few mom and pop stores.  Who knows, you may find something unique or at least come back with an experience that is better than standing in line and be treated like cattle.

Let's Go Giants...

Giant...

To these little kids, the guy leading a group of them on a field trip must be a Giant.  Like the expression on the face of the little girl with the white jacket?

Contrast...

Comfort...

With all the traffic and people everywhere at the ballpark, this little guy was just sleeping away.

Media Madness...

Behind the scenes of ESPN

Let the Games Begin...

Game 1 versus the Detroit Tigers.... WE WIN!!

Baking Bread...

One thing about cooking or baking in general is that there's a lot of art and science involved along with a lot of human interaction to get the results.  No wonder real chefs get so much pleasure out of seeing people enjoy their creations.

Machines and the Human Interaction...

One thing I feel is missing in our world today is interaction.  We want the car to do something, we push a button and it's all done for us.  We want a photograph, point and shoot and 99.999% of the time, perfect.  Instant gratification with minimal interaction.

There is an entire generation out there who are missing the satisfaction of having to do something to get the end result.  They don't know or understand that satisfaction and gratification comes from knowledge, effort, heart and soul.  Sadly, I find it missing and quickly becoming a lost art or skill.

The image above is a sneak peek at a machine that once produced magic.  To make it work required knowledge, effort, heart and soul.

Boats at the Ready...

Spotlight - Highlight...

A bit of accidental lens flare.  Either a transporter beam or the bright light in the movie Ghost

Life at the Fountain...

Build it and they will come.

Slurp them noodles...

Come on human...

Time to wake up !!

Fun with a long lens...

There are just times where you can't get closer to your subject.  Considering how far away I was, this relatively inexpensive 300mm lens did a fine job.

It's a brand new day...

And this photographer must be nuts to wake up so early.

Cut Glass...

Take time and observe your surroundings.  This is a ceiling in a doctor's office

More Polaroid fun...

Just love shootin' this stuff.  The amount of time and effort of having to go to the basics.  Because the camera is so old school, you have to use your noggin in taking a photo.

One thing about having to...

go to work so early that you see the sunrise and to have such a wonderful sky to look at.

Desk Toys for Photographers...

This cameraholism is getting bad.  Now making toys with photo gear.

Times are a changin'...

This scene is repeated many times every single day at scenic locations.  This one being the foot of San Francisco's Lombard Street (The Crooked Street).  Notice how everyone is shooting with a cellphone.  Camera makers.... wake up !!

Working Table to Working Desk...

Another photo from the office of Bill Hewlett.  All the decisions that were made in this room.  One can only imagine what it would be like if their (Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard's) "HP Way" survived.

Weathering...

Just like seeing items that have been exposed to the elements change in appearance and character after many years.

Two Desks...

What Dave Packard looked at when he last sat in his chair.

The desk of Bill Hewlett.  Exactly as it was when he left the office.  Couldn't find out why there's all the small change on the desk mat.

Name Plates...

Offices today are full to cubicles.  Sometimes it pays to read those name plates attached to the wall.

Autumn Leaves...

Father and Son...

Probably the toughest....on the planet, except when it comes to the little one.

Bird Community...

Out back of the Boudin bakery, a flock of birds made these storage crates part of their community.

Plaster of Paris...

Hard to imagine that these figures once saw the light of day being made out of plaster of paris and chicken wire.  Thankfully there were some San Franciscans who thought it was important to save this structure from the 1912 Pan Pacific Exposition.  Molds were made from the original sculptures and today we all can enjoy the art from a century ago.

The Palace via Polaroid...

Your comments and feedback on this image would be appreciated !

Feeding the...

Illness, urge, desire, etc... this Polaroid that was last produced in 1960 has a new home.  Converted by a fellow cameraholic, Brian,  so it can use the current Polaroid like pack film from Fuji and after a bit of last minute "yankee ingenuity", she now works like a champ.

I once read an article and it said that there are a bunch of us who will not want to shoot what everyone else is shooting.  I guess I'm now part of that bunch.

Uber Cool...

There's actually a really sweet VW based on this Golf GTI.  Remember the VW Scirocco?  It still lives in most countries.  America is currently the least likely car market to buy a sports car.  That's why we don't get some of the most fun cars to drive.

Thinking about tomorrow...

Missing Heads and Just Add Faces...

Good to see stores are starting to use manequins once again.  So tired to the Walmart way of shopping.  (my BFF would understand this image)

The Value of the Erector Set...

Once upon a time, there were educational toys such as Lego and Erector sets.  You can't tell me these structural engineers didn't play with them as kids.  Today we have computer games where the objective is to kill, break the law and get points.  No wonder why the rest of the world is kicking our...