Thursday, June 28, 2012

Commute, 10

It wasn't the first time I'd recognized one of Kevin McCollister's stark visions of night-time Los Angeles, but it was the first time I could place it, and the first time I had in my possession the day-time version.

Don't stop at one picture on Kevin's blog (as if you could). His is a wicked, daring eye, addicted to LA's particular brand of noir.

22 comments:

BaysideLife said...

Kevin's night-time photo is haunting. Your daytime version is inviting--and for someone who hasn't had breakfast yet, mouthwatering.

dive said...

Mouthwatering indeed!
A superb photo, Petrea; I love the shadow on the sidewalk and the car window framing it all.
And many thanks for showing me yet another excellent LA blog for me to bookmark and stalk.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Quite different during the day!.. Came across K's blog awhile ago.. I recognized a lot of the places he captured.. I love how he can capture the emotion in the faces of people he shoots... His photos evoke a lot of emotions...

Tanya Breese said...

oh these little places have the best food!

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Ever notice how much gum spit exists on LA city streets?

Jean Spitzer said...

Yuck, PA. And yes.

Fun to see a happy, day version of a dramatic noir subject.

Makes one aware of how crucial the photographer is.

Petrea Burchard said...

Kevin's most recent shot of the bridal mannequin is

well I sat here for a couple of minutes and tried to find the words. It's haunting, shocking, beautiful, horrible, one of his best, one of my favorites, I love it. His people shots, as Kalei mentions, show bravery in himself and his subjects.

He must walk through a lot of gum.

I agree, Jean, the photographer is crucial. Light, too, but I suppose that's the photographer's choice as well. If and how we choose to show a subject is telling.

Unknown said...

Tortas cubanas? Tortas hawaianas? Petrea, we need you to do some more research, please.

-K- said...

Thank you for the "plug," Petrea.

Day or night, I think both the character and the colors of places like El Jalapeno should be appreciated as being "real LA."

And thanks to everyone who is or will be visiting my blog today.

Anonymous said...

One week, you're going to make my day by cruising past the Pioneer Chicken stand on Alvarado

Donnie said...

You have a real knack for getting into the essence of places, Petrea. Your photos tell me who lives there or buys food there, so it might as well be a shot of people, too. I especially liked your "cabin" shot, with the chairs facing away from the unused dart board and the hand-made doors.

Petrea Burchard said...

Cliff, I really have to get on the road sooner and leave enough time. On the way home it's rush hour and if I stop I give the traffic time to get worse. (Now that I think about it, that means more stopping and more photos.)

I'm with you, K, this is "real L.A." L.A. is so diverse you can say that about so many different things. And you're welcome for the plug, I hope everyone visits your blog and appreciates your work.

JB, it's going to take some awful traffic to get me to take Alvarado.

Thanks, Donnie. You are allowed to come here any time and give me compliments.

Katie said...

Cool to be able to compare Kevin's night shot of El Jalapeno and your sunny one. Both photos are wonderful in their own way, and both make me want to try this taqueria (although I'll skip the tripa).

Petrea Burchard said...

I had to look that up, Katie, and yes, I'll skip it too.

Adele said...

Night or day - both photos make me want to visit (even while thinking of PA's always-refreshing perspective!).

Latino Heritage said...

Oh, if you ever enjoyed meat, tripa done well, can be a joy to experience. On the other hand, I had a sweet friend - actually eventually became our daughter's godfather - who visited my childhood home and started to have a bowl of menudo. He enjoyed the first couple of spoonfuls and then said, "I can't". And put down the spoon. Always appreciated the effort and the honest can't do it response.
But then this is written by a person who enjoys haggis.

Anonymous said...

Now you see, I would DEFINITELY go for the tripa. Tripe is one of the world's finest foods.

And you obviously don't know Zevon well enough..
"Well I'm sitting here playing Solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck"
and
"I pawned my Smith Corona
And went to see my man
He hangs out on Alvarado st
By the Pioneer Chicken stand"

Petrea Burchard said...

Adele, PA is always refreshing. My post is linking to hers today.

LH, I don't know what's in menudo and I don't want to know. That way I might like it just fine. I do have very strong taste buds so you never know.

JB, I know Zevon pretty well; I avoid neighborhoods where excitable boys hang out.

TheChieftess said...

Our best Mexican food is at a small spot called Jalapeno's!!! Fresh, cheap...but no margaritas!!! If you like beer, you're in luck!!!

Valladolid Daily Photo said...

Both yours like Kevin´s, are 2 really interesting blogs. Congrats!

Petrea Burchard said...

I like beer, Chieftess, but no margaritas? That's plain wrong.

Thank you, VDP!

TheChieftess said...

I generally go there for lunch so I don't miss them that much...but we don't go there for dinner for just that reason!!! New liquor licenses are hard to come by and extremely expensive...