May 2009
José Galvez
May 29, 2009
For over 40 years, Tucson native José Galvez has documented Latino culture in the US. While working at the Arizona Daily Star José seemed to always focus his lens on the barrios of Tucson.
In 1984, he was on a team of reporters and photographers that won a Pulitzer Prize for meritorious public service for the Los Angeles Times series "Southern California's Latino Community." Since he left the Los Angeles Times in 1992 he has continued to document Latino life in the US , was one of several photo editors for the book Americanos: Latino Life in the United States and published his first solo book, Vatos in 2000.
In 2004, José and his family moved to North Carolina where he continues to photograph Latino migration to the southern US.
Richard on Avenida Cesar Chavez
May 27, 2009
I first met Richard while shooting on Av Cesar Chavez. He was collecting cans and bottles to sell. We ran into each other a few days later in front of Nuestra Señora de Soledad Catholic Church.
Richard told me that he had been homeless for a week. He said that he had a argument with his wife and decided to live on the streets instead of staying. He shaves regularly in the church's restroom because it is the only public restroom in the area. The small mirror he carried had broken the morning before so he used the chrome plumbing on the toilet as a mirror.
I have driven down the street many times since sometimes wondering where he is and if he ever got off the street.
On Assignment in Downtown L.A. - Photography Workshop
May 26, 2009
On Assignment in Downtown L.A. : A One Day Seminar - Advanced Level
Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 7:00am - 4:30 pm
Sponsored by: Leica
The one day seminar for advanced shooters is designed to teach on location shooting on a tight deadline. The photographers will use public transportation to get to various locations between Koreatown and downtown LA. Work will be edited by The Perfect Exposure Gallery owner Armando Arorizo, then reviewed and shared during the class meeting later the same day. The seminar will be held rain or shine.
Johnny Martinez' Bike - Avenida Cesar Chavez
May 22, 2009
I was at the City of Angels Tattoo shop a few years ago taking some photos when Johnny Martinez asked if I wanted to see the bike he built and customized.
We walked over to Norma's Beauty Salon on Avenida Cesar Chavez where his mom worked and shot it in the salon.
Lowrider Bike from Dennison's
May 21, 2009
Years ago I shot this photo of a guy on his lowrider style bike leaving Dennison's Schwinn in East LA. The shop, having opened in 1941, is said to be the oldest family owned bike shop in LA.
Below are some pics of the inside from a website I ran into but will be down shortly. Miguel who ran the website let me use them. You can contact him at miguel@schwinndreams.com.
62nd Annual Memorial Day Ceremony & 24 Hour Vigil
May 19, 2009
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4696 and American Legion Post 804 of East Los Angeles is having it's 62nd Annual Memorial Day Ceremony & 24 Hour Vigil. The vigil starts at 10 am on Sunday May 24th, 2009 and the Memorial Day ceremony starts at 10am on May 25, 2009 at the Mexican American All Wars Memorial at Cinco Puntos (Lorena St. and Avenida Cesar Chavez).
Photo taken several years ago at a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Mexican American All Wars Memorial at Cinco Puntos.
Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles
May 11, 2009
In 1998 I was teaching a photo class at Self-Help Graphics and took the students on a field trip to the Calvary Cemetery in East LA. Before meeting the group I took a walk through the ornate All Souls Chapel built in 1902. There I followed a family that was shooting a young family member's First Holy Communion photos. The photo appeared in Americanos: Latino Life in the United States published in 1999.
Jae Bueno's Lowrider Culture
May 07, 2009
Jae Bueno was born in Boyle Heights and raised in East LA and the San Gabriel Valley. His love for custom cars started when he was very young. As a kid he painted his Hot Wheels and BMX bikes.
Bueno started casually taking photos since high school to document car shows he attended as well as graffiti and cars he built. Bueno started contributing to Lowrider, Girls of Lowrider, DUB and Heavy Hitters Magazine on a regular basis since he bought my first DSLR in 2006.
Beautiful cars and family values keeps him shooting the lowrider culture. "Lowriding isn't what it was in the 80's. It is all family oriented now and the quaility of the cars has improved so much. To me lowriders or custom cars in general are a excellent subject to shoot. "
Taking photos has become a family affair in the Bueno home. His wife Stephanie sometimes works as a second shooter on his shoots. My son Julian, who uses a uses a point his big sister gave him, also take photos and has a page on Bueno's blog.
Sacred Memories: Cross-Cultural Celebrations of Day of the Dead
May 06, 2009
Call for Submissions -
Sacred Memories: Cross-Cultural Celebrations of Day of the Dead
From October 19 to November 27, 2009, El Pueblo Historical Monument will present Sacred Memories: Cross-Cultural Celebrations of Day of the Dead. Sacred Memories follows El Pueblo’s acclaimed 2007 exhibition which explored celebrations that venerate the departed including Dia de los Muertos, first observed by the indigenous people of Latin America, China’s Qingming, and other rituals practiced in United States, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Artists are asked to submit for consideration two and three-dimensional work (including ofrendas/altars) that examines rituals honoring the deceased and/or pays tribute to departed ancestors.
For more information, please call Mariann Gatto (213)
485-8432 or email
mariann.gatto@lacity.org.
Los Angeles Times Street Scenes
May 04, 2009
At 4:30 am the bakers at El Gallo Bakery in East Los Angeles start baking fresh bread. It has been nearly a year since the Los Angeles Times Street Scenes were shot. Five Latino shooters, 4 photographers and one editor, shot 5 of the 14 neighborhoods.
I shot Avenida Cesar Chavez in East Los Angeles
Carlos Chavez shot Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood
Genaro Molina shot the Boardwalk in Venice
Michael Robinson-Chavez shot Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles
Karen Tapia shot the Orange Plaza in Orange
May Day 2006 & 2007
May 01, 2009
Los Angeles May Day marches in 2006 and 2007 brought large peaceful crowds to demand better treatment of undocumented immigrant workers and an end to raids and deportations.
Police estimated a midday downtown LA march to City Hall on May 1, 2006 at 250,000. More than 400,000 marched four miles down Wilshire Boulevard later in the day. Organizers estimated that the crowds were nearly one million. On May 1, 2007 100,000 demonstrators marched up Broadway to a mass rally at Los Angeles City Hall.
