The musical bucket list....

I'm a music junkie. I have been for years. I used to be a pirate DJ and then a Net DJ. I have a huge music collection that fills a whole entire room. Music seems to keep me feeling young.

So last night I had a chance to see one of my favorite bands that I have been enjoying for almost 30 years although never having the chance to see them live. They are the Psychedelic Furs and they delivered.

Since they were on their 30th anniversary tour, they performed 2 sets last night. Set 1 to highlight their album Talk Tak Talk from 1981 and then onto Set 2 which was a mix of all their past hits.

Awesome show and I woke up today feeling young again. Mission accomplished.
Lens: Kaimal Mark II  Film: Blanko

Signs + Structures = Stuff I Like

Today I was thinking about the things I most enjoy taking pictures of. Babies and flowers don't really do much for me. Not much of a NASCAR or basketball fan so sporting events are out of the question. People who look like they are having too much fun have limited to zero interest to me.

I think I am more interested in the voyeuristic and weird stuff, or maybe I'm just bored with the usual. I am starting to realize I like angles and structures. I like signs and the type of graffiti which actually brings a positive outcome to a blighted area. I like palms and intense sunsets mostly because these are daily  occurrences where I reside. Animals or things that are animalistic appeal to me. Dark coudy skies are a bonus.

Taking Hipstamatic photos seems to have challenged me to dig a little deeper and venture a bit father into areas I would normally have no reason to be. Today I ran across a combination of sign and structure which both appealed to me. Two of my favorites combined into one photo.
Lens: Jimmy  Film: Pistil  Flash: Off

Los Angeles at Night

Shot in downtown Los Angeles. Lens: Kaimal Mark II  Film: Alfred Infrared  Flash: Off

Road trip payoff

From Union Station to Olvera Street and then downtown after dark. Los Angeles never lacks photo appeal.
This photo was taken in the tunnel of Union Station.
Lens: Tejas  Film: Blanko Noir  Flash: Off

Road trip Saturday

Heading to Los Angeles the city of angels. Not looking for angels, hopefully just some really nice photo opportunities.

Hipstamatcrack

TV on the Radio

I was shocked and saddened to learn today that Gerard Smith who was the bassist for one of my favorite bands had passed away from lung cancer at the way too young age of 36. I have plans to see the band perform live here in San Diego next week. It will be only their second performance since his passing.
I'm expecting an emotional performance.

RIP Gerard Smith

TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me (Davd letterman performance)

San Diego Spring Break tourism reaches new levels.

The City of San Diego is happy to report a surge in Spring Break tourism this year which is possibly due to the drop off of college crazed kids venturing south of the border into Mexico for a week of sun, fun and tequilla. Escalating drug wars south of the border have left many partiers staying put on U.S. soil and sand.

Local hotel occupancy is nearly 100% leaving many to seek an alternative to room rate price gouging for the few rooms still unfilled. Jeremy Bartz vacationing from Reno, Nevada and seen in this photo, was quoted as saying  "I aint spending no hundred dollars when I can just as well enjoy this soft comfy planter to rest my head and this nice firm piece of concrete for additional back support".

Other budget minded vacationers have been seen sleeping in trash bins, unlocked cars and even gas station bathrooms. Spring Break continues for another week and it will be interesting to see if this trend continues to grow.

Chicano Park, San Diego

A Tale of two cities.

San Diego is a gold mine for the Hipstamatic fan. I used to live in a much smaller city which consisted of smoggy skies, a pattern of strip malls and a river which rarely held any water. Visual appeal rated a near zero. San Diego is quite the opposite. Just when you start thinking you have seen everything interesting, something else seems to pop up that you just know is going to look really good with the Hipstamatic.

Chicano Park was the "pop up" last week.

iPhone 4 adventures

Yesterday was spent with a trip around town which started in Mission Beach and then downtown and finally up to University Heights where this photo was taken. I love the new phone.

iPhone 4 - Day 2

This is the first pic posted on the blog with the new camera. After looking at the downloads this evening I don't know why I didn't upgrade months ago. The quality difference between the 3G and iPhone 4 is like night and day. Or maybe just like "kinda of blurry and really clear". This was the Star of India located on the San Diego watefront.

Trump Powers

I'm neither a Republican or a Democrat, but the idea of Donald Trump running for President intriques me.    Afghanistan..."You're Fired".

New phone. Last photo from the 3G.

I finally took the plunge and now I am the owner of an iPhone 4.  I was tired of low resolution photos from the 2MP camera on the 3G. Taking closeups of flowers and such was nearly impossible due to the poor quality. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to head out for awhile and give the new phone a try out. The 3G is gone now, but I did manage to take one final photo.

Bikers and Trolleys

San Diego Trolley Tour revenue is down 21% this year which appears to be a result of the decision by the local biker gangs throughout the county to form a cooperative offering guided tours and public transportation to the visitors of San Diego. Tourists from Arizona and Nevada seem to be the biggest fans of the new service and love the idea of sharing a Harley with a real life biker, while enjoying the city sights. The bikers are also pleased with the added revenue stream saying it will now allow them the opportunity to purchase more guns, drugs, alcohol and stuffed animals for the yearly Teddy Bear Run.

San Diego's social and economic order.

Living in San Diego isn't easy. Being one of the most expensive cities in the United States it's not uncommon for somebody to have to work two or even three jobs just to make ends meet. Somehow though everything starts to blend. The homeless with their meager belongings blending with the working class who get up every morning at 6 to do the grind all over again, who blend with the rich golf cart society who seem to never be working. I can't think of any other city in the US that I would rather be living my life. Obviously I'm not alone in liking this place.

Today I snapped this picture which seemed to combine all three elements of the San Diego ladder into one photo. You've got the homeless guy, working man's van and the golf cart elite all in one photograph. Lately some of the golf cart elite have been disguising themselves as security guards when they venture out into public with their golf carts. This way they feel they won't be harassed from the people who are less than fortunate roaming the streets. So far the tactic seems to be working.

The seals at the La Jolla Childrens Pool

The seals at the La Jolla Childrens Pool

The seals at the La Jolla Childrens Pool

Ok...so I lied.

Either because of laziness or cash flow issues, the 3G is still around for a little longer. The Hipstamatic World blog is a place for photos and thoughts that might not actually make it to the website or Facebook fanpage. Yesterday it was decided that I would be spending the afternoon walking around La Jolla with my girlfriend, giving me a chance to add to my Hipstamatic stock of photos. Eventually we eneded up at the La Jolla Childrens Pool to spend some time watching the seals. I really doubt any of these slumbering lazy tubs of beauty have any idea that their future on this beautiful strip of beach is currently being debated in the courts. You see, there is a small minority of people who think the beach should only be for the kids and that the seals should be forced to move somewhere else.
I can't even imagine the courts allowing this to happen, but it may happen. This would be a travesty. Human greed and selfishness forcing nature to move on. San Diego county has many places for children to enjoy. Why is this little piece so important to the childrens well being? Actually I would think the children have much more to gain by having a chance to witness such wild beauty right before their eyes. Even if the wild beauty spends most of day sleeping, scratching, pooping and farting.

The current state of the La Jolla Childrens Pool should be left to the seals. Kicking them to the ocean's curb is wrong. Hopefully you can share some of the beauty through these photos.

This is how it all started

This was the first Hipstamatic photo ever taken with my 3G. I wasn't even sure what I was doing, but when I saw the photo the only thing I could think was "cool". I then spent the next two hours snapping photos of just about every living and non living thing in my house. The photo was simply titled Dog Toy.

Hipstamatic World is on the web.

The Hipstamatic World website features many photos not found here or on the Facebook page. Enjoy the galleries and if you are not a fan of the music you can just click your mouse over the music bars to pause the sound.
Check out Hipstamatic World on the web at   http://www.hipstamaticworld.com/

Saying goodbye to the 3G

A stork looking thing.  Coronado, California.

Saying goodbye to the 3G

Cactus Balls

Saying goodbye to the 3G

Balboa Park, San Diego

This blog came in third.

Hipstamatic World is coming together in parts. Partly based on how much time and how much money I have to put into it. Sadly time is clearly the leader of the two.
The first three parts have now been completed with part 4 on the horizon.
Part 1...Facebook page up and running 
Part 2...website finally launched  
Part 3...blog finally going
Part 4...big news still in planning stages & hopefully just about ready to announce
Part 5...fame, fortune and travel opportunties - fortune hopefully being more than free bowling coupons and Target gift cards.

So after months of behind the scenes stuff, it's finally starting to feel like this thing is actually going somewhere. 
And what better way to celebrate....by going out saying a well deserved goodbye to the old 3G phone. It's time to move on my friend. Here are a few shots taken today from the final 3G adventure.