Water droplets look great on...

...fresh picked fruit, the side of a martini glass but never a 1940 Ford on display at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California.

The show, the granddaddy of hot rod shows as they say, featured hundreds of the country’s most innovative and radical street rods, customs and monster motorcycles. In attending the show today, despite the rain, we all had a blast enjoying the unparalleled horsepower, nostalgia, good friends and automotive fun at its best.

Hi-top Keds...

...birthdays celebrated outside, I Love Lucy reruns and hanging with your best friends on the block spelled childhood for me. Pictured at one of my birthdays is myself on the left. Judi Mazur, my brother Pete standing (never photographed without the hair looking just right), an unrecognized invited guest with the headband, Nancy, Bruce and Mickey Mazur! What's with the sour puss faces...we all look like junior detainees at Gitmo!

I can only hope I received new sneakers that year.

As a dad, some photos...

...never get old to revisit.

Four Dodgers and one Yankee...

...because Gene's allegiance is to the dreaded Bronx Bombers we positioned him on the end in the event we chose to crop him out.

From left to right; David "Super Dave" Wright, Nobe Kawano, Sy Sussman, myself and Gene Chino.

I had the sincere pleasure of a visit by my long time friends Dave, Sy and Nobe this past week. We spent the afternoon together reminiscing our Dodger days together. Nobe is well known throughout the baseball world as the long time Dodger club house and equipment manager since their arrival to Los Angeles over fifty years ago. In fact, this past spring the Dodgers, celebrating their fiftieth season in LA, arranged to have a spring training game against the Boston Red Sox at the Los Angeles Coliseum, home to the Dodgers prior to Dodger Stadium being built. It was at that special evening that the Dodgers recognized Nobe's loyal service to the club by introducing him to over one hundred thousand fans in attendance. In the 1980's Nobe handed off the clubhouse duties to Dave and he not only handled his business but as in Nobe's case gained the respect and friendship of the many greats that wore the uniform. Sy, a member of the famed William Morris Agency for many years was a loyal friend to the Dodger organization and often assisted the club with entertainment talent over the years.

We enjoyed a great lunch together along with many laughs and tales of the past. Before leaving town I asked them to stop and meet some special friends of mine, Gene and Janet. The fact that the Chinos are baseball fans as well was added value. They opened their home and their hearts to my three friends and for that I am so appreciative. We all hated to see the visit end but grateful for our friendships, both new and old, making for a memorable day. In closing, the best looking member of the group, Janet, is not pictured because she volunteered to take our photo...thank you.

:)

Respect at it's best...

Came across one of my images taken during the 84' Olympics at Dodger Stadium. It's one of my favorites from that experience. The reason why I took it was that I was impressed with the discipline of the Japanese style of play...after each inning of play as they came off the field, their manager would hold court at the top of the dugout for a few moments to critique their performance and discuss their upcoming at bats. Note that all players removed their caps out of respect for the manager and coaches.

Can you imagine that implemented today in MLB...yeah right!

Frosty's eclectic collection...

...of retro reminders of years past have been assembled and on display in his unique Temecula auto garage. His collection challenges the old saying, "The whole is often greater than the sum of all it's parts". Whether you view this impressive structure in it's entirety or single out it's intriging elements, it's just a plain and simple treat to visit. Decaled windows, vintage soda machines, neon signage, flying pigs, stamp machines or even a milkshake mixer to mention a few...he makes it all work.

Bat rack...

1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 1981.

Macro-state of mind...

Enjoying this photography career of mine I found myself looking back to self examine what influenced my shooting style. Without a doubt, it was my visual partner-in-crime, Sharon Amestoy. A lifetime friend, Sharon and I attended Brooks Institute together. Observing her appreciation of the often overlooked, no matter what assignment she took on, taught me that the simplest of elements spoke the most effective when communicating through the lens. If it is the graphic simplicity of red stitches on a ball describing the game of baseball, the iconic chrome bullets of a Cadillac bumper or anything else I tend to capture in a uncomplicated manner...I owe it largely to the early influence of my Oregonian friend. As they say, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

P.S. If you happen to like my choice of music, especially any inclusion of Bonnie Raitt...thank her as well. May all of you be blessed with a friend equal to Sharon in your own life.

:)

Just one element of the game...

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