I’m that guy that friends & loved ones hate traveling with. See…I like getting to events early to skip the traffic, long lines, and unavoidable parking woes that are typical of all things LA. I guess their opinion of me is understandable…I’m talkin’ REALLY early – as in, crack of dawn, before they’ve set up kinda’ early. So was the case last Saturday when we decided to go to the Frogtown Art Walk along the LA river in Elysian Valley. This biannual event is one of my favorite LA photo shoots. It’s eclectic, quirky, colorful, and ultimately-ridiculously-amazingly interesting. Trust me, it’s well worth the two year wait.
Although the Art Walk wouldn’t start until 4pm, my plan was to arrive at 2 and… well, that didn’t happen – I was over-ruled by the aforementioned friends and love ones. We did however leave in time to, IMHO, arrive just seconds before the very last parking space within several miles was nabbed by another driver – thus avoiding the, also aforementioned, unavoidable parking woes.
As it turned out, arriving a bit early was even more beneficial than I’d thought. I had enough time to stop in at La Colombe Coffee Roasters, grab a cup, and talk a little camera love with the barista who just happened to be a fellow Leica-phile. For me, a primo parking space, a good cupajoe, and a bit of camera chat are the perfect start to a great day of shooting!
There are a few things that make the Frogtown Art Walk particularly interesting for photographers. First there’re the people. The art walk seems to draw every type of person LA has to offer. It’s amazing that every couple of years a huge mishmash of styles, perspectives, & experiences converge on this small section of a little known area in this very large city. I just love capturing the diversity that defines LA.
2nd there’s the art. Of course, this is the primary reason we attend the festival. You’ll find all types of “art” as the choice of expression and media vary pretty widely. There’s painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry, and even quilting. You name it, it’s there. I’ve seen everything from a taxidermied baboon to a scary witch-like performance artist dragging a chain & a chair. Different, but still totally cool. Art will always be a matter of personal taste. So, of course, the reactions from the crowd range from “OMG! That’s amazing!” to “Hunh? What the Hell is that!” Everybody’s a critic. Right? But, from a photographic perspective, the visuals, colors and textures are well worth popping off a few frames.
Lastly, there’s the sheer excitement and anticipation of walking from venue to venue and being bombarded by different sights and sounds at each. There’s art and music everywhere! Ya’ just never really know what to expect. OK, sure, there’s a guide book, but why spoil the surprise?
In the end, it was a great day and I’m really looking forward to the 2020 edition. I wonder how early I’ll have to leave to get that last perfect parking space. 😉
I hope you enjoy the pics and thanks for visiting my site.
Reggie
Equipment Used:
- Leica M10
- Leica M6 TTL
- Leica Noctilux 50 .95
- Leica 35 Summicron
- Voigtlander 28 Ultron
Film Used in M6 TTL:
- Kodak Tmax P3200, rated at 3200, processed using Tmax developer
- Ultrafine Extreme 400, rated at 400, processed in Tmax developer
