Watch out for that.....

....tree.  No, he didn't walk into the tree.
We've all become slaves to our electronic doodads.  I'm just as guilty.

My Neighborhood...

As I traveled about... this white cat was walking down the street if as though it owned it.  Stopped at each business and doorway and gave it a once over.  Nothing phased this cat.  People, cars, guy with a camera.

Business Names....

It's at least creative.  Looked inside and it was just your normal everyday art gallery.  Silly me, I actually expected to see something around "Live Worms".

Close up...

Zeiss Makro-Planar f/2 50mm

Say what you will about...

San Francisco Bay Area and the State of California.  But there are times where things are just damn pretty.

A Neighborhood and a bit of history...

People tend to forget while visiting area's of San Francisco, or in fact any town, that a lot of areas where the tourists visit are actually neighborhoods.

I know that for some tourists, they see people of different ethnic groups or races and either think they are just an attraction or are foreigners living in a certain part of town.  Certainly there are immigrants who live in those areas but there are also Americans living there to.

During World War II, our country.... rounded up American Citizens just because they were of Japanese ancestry and forced them to sell of their belongings and carted them off to what we like to call "relocation" centers.  Let's tell the truth.... Concentration Camps.  Racists in our country, to this day,  will try to paint a different picture of history.

But the truth is.... Presidential Executive Order 9066 was a racist.  It took President Ford in 1976 to finally rescind the order.  President Carter to sign legislation to formally establish a commission to investigate Executive Order 9066 and President Reagan to sign the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 which took the findings from the commission from the Carter Administration which concluded that Executive Order 9066 was indeed, "... based on racial prejudice, war hysteria and failure of political leadership."

Japantown in San Francisco once was a vibrant area of about 30 square blocks.  Today, only about 8 blocks remain.  Recently two statues were placed that is attempting to educate people that this area is not only a tourist destination but a neighborhood and a historical area as well.

We are a unique country where Americans - the true meaning - are made up of people of many races and ethnic groups living together and proud to be an American.

So the next time you encounter someone different than yourself, don't think they are a foreigner, recent immigrant.... not really an "American".  Because chances are.... you too fall into the definition of the word - American.

Remember the words George Santayana (of Spain),"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it"

How to react...

Walking around Marina Greens in San Francisco early one mooning, I noticed that the tide was out and to see what the area looks like, I stumbled on this one single bottle sitting there.

Everything else in the area as clean and looking like a scene of low tide.... I don't know if I should get upset that people are so lazy as to just leave the bottle versus taking it with them.  How would you feel seeing this?  Just wondering if I'm just too sensitive to this stuff.

Remember those "B" movies....

This is perhaps a stretch..... Do you remember those 1950's horror films.
Attack of the...., Them, The Blob, etc....

For some reason, the low fog and how these tree branches made me think..... "Attack of the Wild Tree Limbs.  See the Ferry Building be eaten by these wild limbs."   Ok... I told you it was a stretch.

On a nice sunny day.....

... jog, ride a bike, take the dog for a walk, stretch out and have some coffee, take the baby out on a stroller.

One Man's junk...

... is another man's treasure.  At the very least, recycling at it's artistic.

Your neighborhood coffee shop...

This scene can easily be repeated (no pun intended) countless times around the world.
A little story here.

Long before Starbucks, there was a small coffee shop in Berkeley called Peet's.  Yes, there was a man named Alfred Peet who moved to America in the 1940's.  Coming from Holland, he was shocked at the poor quality coffee that was served in America and decided to bring the art of coffee making to us.

There's a short history of Peet's on their website.

The back story here is that three individuals from Seattle learned of this coffee store.  One of them got hired on at Peet's and learned the business.  You got.... this is how Starbucks was born.

So if someone were to tell you that Starbucks is the end all of coffee, tell them the tale of Peet's.

Jump for joy ....

I can't wait for winter to be over with.  These two visitors to San Francisco were having a blast.  At least they were being creative with their pictures.  The word JOY comes to mind.

Just add water...

This little guy is all set to go.... now if only the tide would come way in.

A Lazy afternoon...

Man on the bench.... catching a few winks.  Swan in the water.... catching a few winks.  This author.... drinking 5 Hour Energy.... what is wrong here??

How many more...

While sitting for an hour to get a table, I was just fascinated with this young lady behind the counter.  People dead ahead, to her right and left, restaurant staff all around her.... everyone asking questions and yet.... she kept it together.

Color or Black and White??

A poll question.  Which one do you like better and why?
Your comments will be most appreciated.

Our Pets trust us...

Just a reminder to everyone.... although the weather has been on the cold side and we all love to bring our pets with us, remember that too many accidents have occurred when pets were left in a closed vehicle.  This little one wasn't by itself too long before the owner came out from the store.  Just remember how hot a vehicle can get!

The Palace is open once again...

After months of renovation, the Palace of Fine Arts is once again fully open to the public.

Built for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, this jewel is the last remaining series of structures of a massive complex that was built.

The structure was actually made out of chicken wire and plaster.  When the exposition closed, the entire complex was destroyed to build what is now known as the Marina District.

A complete history is available at http://www.exploratorium.edu/palace/index.html

Time for my closeup....

Recently, the amount of wild life in the Bay Area that have been shot has increased.  Criminologists and Psychologists have said that individuals who perform senseless killing or harming of wildlife typically will progress to killing people next.  May those sick people get their just rewards.... these are God's creatures as well.

You only need a small space...

This thing is only about 2 feet deep and maybe 6 feet wide.  It's not larger than a telephone closet that a small office may have.  It's actually a newsstand that's been there for generations.  It even has an address number.

Going down?...

Another film shot.  Mundane I know.  But if you like this stuff, the smoothness of the contrast changes and the amount of detail.  It's amazing how we hate "noise" in our images but when it comes to film, it becomes wonderful "film grain". 

I got it mom....

Consumerism.  Not really, this little girl couldn't wait to go through her mom's bag.

Lion in the Winter....

There is something special about film.  The amount of grain and how an image is rendered.  The smoothness of the slight changes in shades.  It's been decades since I last shot film.... and I know why, it costs a lot.  Anyway, special thanks to the gang at Camera West for allowing me to shoot film on a Leica M7.

2010....

It's been an interesting year.  I hope everyone has enjoyed the photo's posted on this site and look forward to trying to provide more interesting images for 2011.  Everyone, please be safe out there and remember to try to live each day to the fullest.  Peace and Love to all.

Kabuto...

There are days out there where you feel the need to put on a helmet.....

Leica Glass...

I've been a good boy in terms of keeping away from doing too much technical stuff on this site.  However, there is something really special about Leica lenses.  This image is just a small fraction of the original (cropped).  If you look really closely in the big bubble next to the yellow flower, you can see me taking the picture.  By the way..... ISO 1000, f/8 at 1/180s, 35mm Summilux ASPH II.

Finally, this shopping thing is over...

It's finally over.... for now anyway.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that you didn't go overboard on things.

More with the funny hat....

Funny hats do work.... a couple of friends trying out the new look.

There's Hope, part 2...

Early on in this blog site back in May 2010,  I had a piece titled "There's Hope..." (please take a look by going to the bottom and click on May).  Kids on a field trip being fascinated with nature.

Typically or unfortunately, I find kids of all ages acting out and raising hell.  What happened to kids being viewed as a reflection of their parents??  That's for another day.

I was so surprised to see these two kids, while waiting for their dad who was having a photography issue being taken care of, actually picked up the current issue of LFI magazine, found a place to sit and actually shared reading and looking at the wonderful photographs.

On their present course... these two may actually make it and become good citizens.

My Friends and Comrades....

It was silly hat day.... as you can tell, there's someone next to me (but I need to get permission before posting.... as Paul Harvey would say "the rest of the story".  This kinda stern look is also to announce my other web site located at:  " http://www.stevefoonimages.smugmug.com ".

The Smugmug site has some of the same images plus some others.  All the Galleries on my site are open and you can order prints from the site (every little bit helps !!).  Feel free to look around.  The "Client" galleries are, unfortunately password protected.

Enjoy and your feedback is always welcomed.

WEB SITES ARE:
http://stevefoonphotography.blogspot.com
http://www.stevefoonimages.smugmug.com

MY GALLERY in Germany along with a lot of other great works:
http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/lfigallery (click on "To the LFI Gallery" and search on "Steve Foon Images")

Getting closer....

Tic-Tock.... Christmas is fast approaching. With the madness that usually happens as we get closer to Xmas day, please take time to remember the deeper meaning behind this time of year - no matter what faith you follow.  Peace and Love to all !!

How do you know you're in the home of a bowler?

Tell tale sign..... by the way, it's not my tree.

These were the voyages...

Knobs, dials, indicators, lights, bells, etc... you can't help but be mesmerized with it all.  Imagine what it was like when this Aircraft Carrier was fully functional.  I think Mr.Scott would have been happy here.

Boat Parking....

Just something about a quiet morning, still weather and boats in the water.

So do you come here often??

Just something I saw while walking around...  Didn't bother to look at the price tag.  Can only imagine how much they would cost.  Just cute though.

Hey... feed me too !!

This seagull had enough and was being vocal...

This is how it starts...

This boy taking a picture of his mom and sister could very well catch the disease called "Cameraholism".
You never can tell.... he too may fall in love with this art form.

Graffiti....

There's graffiti and there's Graffiti art.
Someone took time and effort to create this on a construction site.
I ran into a photographer who has come up with really amazing images of ultra wide close ups of graffiti that is just fantastic.... hope to provide you his link soon.

Next Time You See A Little Old Lady....

Walking around North Beach early in the morning, the sound of people and music.  Over in Washington Square these ladies and a whole bunch more were practicing Tai Chi.  Don't let those fans fool you.  The moves they were making is just like watching some martial arts film.

Smarter than you think...

This bird actually walked into my frame lines, stopped, struck this pose, and walked off as soon as the shutter and mirror made it's noise.  Bird brains.... I think not.

Want some head???

If you were thinking something else when reading the title.... shame on you!
During the Giants parade, a local Jamba Juice had this table outside.  A few ladies jumped on top of that table to get above the crowd.  This Giants fan offered his head to this lady to put her hand on so she can maintain her balance.

Above all the rest...

How this guy ever got to the top of the Walk/Don't Walk lights, I'll never know.

You can always tell...

No matter what it is.  Whenever you see someone who knows what they are doing, they stand out.  This couple had an audience and everyone was in awe of how well they were skating.

Serving the City...

"I'm on duty.... gotta check out those crazy SF drivers"

"C'mon human.... that camera guy has an apple for me"