Scraps
Sorry about missing last week, but I really needed the break. Hope everyone was able to sneak away for the long weekend. Today’s entry is light, thought I’d give you the usual updates on things that peaked my interest and also share some photos. I’m working on compiling another Photo-Mixtape and I always run into the issue of leftover pictures or scraps that are good but just don’t fit the theme or vibe. So here are a few fairly unremarkable photos that I’ve had to pass on but I thought were still worth sharing. And for good measure I threw in an absolutely incredible photo at the end I didn’t take but I feel everyone needs to see. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Took this one in Long Beach. That kid turned at just the right moment and bam! Leaving the beach as a kid was always rough.
Ikea parking lot on a dismal morning. Those cones were glowing though.
Can’t remember if this was at the Inglewood or Hollywood cemetery, either way palm trees in cemeteries will never make sense to me.
This is the one not by me: Photo by Tim Hursley, used in 1979 for the Museum of Modern Art architecture exhibit, “Transformations in Modern Architecture.” The image is of the Renaissance Center in Detroit, designed by the architect John Portman.
A quick preview for next week; I’ll be diving into Chris Rock’s oeuvre, specifically looking at all of the feature films he’s directed. His movies are some of my favorites, even when they’re rough around the edges, so I’m looking forward to re-watching. I’ve seen all the movies he’s directed except Top Five, which I only hear good things about. Not sure what the “take” will be, but I feel Chris Rock is one of our most enduring, and somehow the least problematic, comedy auteurs. I’ll unpack that a bit more in a week’s time. Until then stay safe, and for all my West Coast peeps (myself included) enjoy the apocalyptic skies.
Notable Movies Watched in August/September:
The Whistlers (2019) - Confusing yet enjoyable, stylish, dark, and despite its cryptic presentation it made me feel for everyone, also has a great last shot. Also also this movie has a very explicit sex scene in the beginning…I only bring up because I watched this on an airplane
Ali (2001) - This Will Smith performance is honestly good, like really good. I think the movie spends a little too much time with Malcolm X, especially since Spike kind of gave us the definitive look at this only a few years before. Doesn’t feel especially Michael Mann-y and a little to biopic-y as well, but really gets all the texture and emotions right
Notable Books Read in August/September:
I Can Make You Feel Good (2020) - Tyler Mitchell’s images are just so scrumptious and free its easy to get lost in them, I’m still not sure there is an emotional core though…but I like it, I think these images will come to define the latter 2010’s and our ideas of Black freeness and opulence (for better and worse)
…
eric
