HARBOR TRUCK

Chevy C/10 Truck photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed September 28, 2008 in San Pedro, CA

AMERICAN GIRLS

Hot Dog On A Stick Girls At The L.A. County Fair photo by Lydia Marcus

Photographed September 25, 2008 in Pomona, CA

ANTIQUATED THINKING

Just in front of the entrance of the L.A. County Fair, there was some kind of promotional tent set up. People were handing out cards that you would scan into their computer and possibly win some kind of prize. I had no idea who was sponsoring the tent (it was not really marked) or what prizes might be won. It reminded me of those booths that announce, "Win A 2008 Prius" (or fill in the blank for some kind of hot, desirable car). But after you sign up to win, you're just barraged with direct marketing spam, snail mail, (or even worse, direct marketing phone calls). I didn't sign up, but what really caught my eye was their banner proclaiming, "Change Your Lifestyle." They were probably intending it to come off as a slogan to connote moving on up the social and economic ladder, but to me the phrase is a LOADED one that connotes years of antiquated, anti Gay rhetoric. When I see the word lifestyle attached to anything, my feeling is no different than when I hear someone refer to an African-American or Black person as "Colored." It's just wrong. I embraced the word queer a long time ago before it was in vogue and it really was quite a profound personal and political statement. The whole idea was taking a word that had traditionally been used against gay people and reclaiming it and therefore devaluing it as something to be used against you. I also liked that queer encompassed all kinds of people (and places on the continuum) within the gay community because in my own case, I didn't fit into a particular niche in the community. And queer means different and outside the status quo and I have always liked being an individual and never worried about so-called "fitting in" so it suited me. But when I started self-describing as queer back in 1991 as a college student, I never thought I'd live to see the day that TV shows were going to be called "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" or "Queer as Folk" and people didn't blink an eye. Or that I'd drive down major thoroughfares in my city and see billboards and posters up on bus stands advertising them. So maybe there's a future where I can see the phrase "Change Your Lifestyle" and not cringe.

Change Your Lifestyle photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed September 25, 2008 in Pomona, CA

HOMEMADE

Photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed April 1, 2008 in Van Nuys, CA

FAIR FUN FOR ALL

I spent Sunday at the wonderful L.A. County Fair. Serena and I posed in as many of the kitschy wood cutouts as we could find. I shot a bunch of Polaroids, had a hot dog on a stick, and some unusually light creme fraise ice cream. Here is a "best of" from the day and night. The fairplex is so huge that I'm going back Thursday to see what I missed.






















See even more shots from the L.A. County Fair on my Flickr page.

FRESH EGGS & PIGS

Fresh Eggs & Pigs photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed June 22, 2007 in Lancaster, CA (near Edwards Air Force Base)

Peugeot 505 Turbo Diesel

Peugeot 505 Turbo Diesel photo by Lydia Marcus

Photographed July 6, 2008 in West Los Angeles, CA

INVITATION TO MY NEXT PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW

Hey Everyone,
I'm happy to announce that I have three pieces in another group photography show. The show opening is this Saturday, September 20, from 7-11pm (invite is attached). If you can make it, please stop by and say hi and check out the work. The three pieces I have up were all in the Julia Dean Galley show last October, so if you made it to that show, don't feel pressured to come to this one. One of the gallery's neighbors (#103 - the clothing shop) is having a huge sale that same night and will have 2 open bars, DJ's, and sale stuff going on in the store from 2-8pm. So all in all, the evening should have some festive atmosphere going on.



Gallery Info:
Untitled Gallery 1855 Industrial Street #109
Los Angeles, CA 90021
213.415.1822
http://www.untitledgallery.net

BUCOLIC NOVA

Chevy Nova SS photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed September 13, 2008 in Encino, CA

Nikon D80 / Nikon 50mm f/1.8 (shot at f/2.8)

IF TINA FEY RAN FOR VICE PRESIDENT...

...I'd actually be enthusiastic about voting in the next election. As it stands, I haven't got any enthusiasm or understanding of any of the candidates.

At least here's what we've all be waiting for - Tina Fey as Sarah Palin in the opening skit for this season's "Saturday Night Live." She and Amy Poehler (as Hilary Clinton) do not disappoint. I wish I could say the same about the actual candidates.



My favorite line was Tina saying, "What an amazing time we live in, to think that just two years ago I was a small town mayor of Alaska's Crystal Meth capitol and now I am just one heartbeat away from being President of the United States."

I can laugh now, I'll be crying either way come November.

FALL BECOMES US

The official date for the beginning of Fall this year may be September 22, but I can tell you that it's already begun - official or not. How do I know without consulting Fritz Coleman, Johnny Mountain, or Dallas Raines - basically it's a coolness in the night air that prevents me from wearing shorts in the evening anymore and the need to actually take a jacket out with me too. Drat, summer is gone and I spent the last two weeks of it as a sickie stuck at home with bed rest. Well in honor of Fall, here's a montage I made in 2006. Funny enough, these golden colors of Fall were captured in Los Angeles in December - the actual time our leaves were turning. The air may be cold in September, but apparently it takes awhile for our trees to catch on.

Fall Foliage montage by Lydia Marcus
Photographed December, 2008 in Encino, CA.

Camera: Leica Mini Zoom
Film: Kodak Ultra Color 400

MOSES COMES PREPARED

Well it's been almost two full weeks and I'm just getting over my sinus infection. Aside from the last few days where I made brief outings to the dog park with Lucy, I've pretty much been sticking to bed rest. I've been feeling pretty isolated and there's only so much TV you can watch. My Ex, S, was sweet enough to drop by and give me a get well card. It was so damn funny I thought I'd share it here. If you click on the image, it will open bigger (and easier to read) in a separate window.



The card is from the Jewish Card line and I just love their catchphrase, "Cards that warm the kishkes." Well it definitely warmed mine! :-)

MEN WITH LEAVES

At the Libbit Park in Encino, there's a pretty big problem with little bugs swarming your head (I've ingested a few, I know). People have realized that the bugs don't come near you when you stand under the trees so this had led to people actually taking branches off to use as bug protection. I've noticed that women will occasionally walk around with little branches, but the men have taken it up a notch turning it into full force survival gear worn around the head. Not only does this end up being a humorous take on fighting the bugs but it actually works!

Men With Leaves photos by Lydia Marcus
Photographed September, 2008 at the Libbit Park in Encino

MERCEDES 250C

Mercedes 250C photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed September 9, 2008 in Van Nuys, CA


Polaroid SLR 680 SE version on Flickr.

1979 GMC Sierra Grande Truck Polaroid Quadtych

1979 GMC Sierra Grande Truck Polaroid Quadtych by Lydia Marcus

Photographed August 23, 2008 in Woodland Hills, CA

To see more photos of this truck on my Flickr photostream go to:

1979 GMC Sierra Grande Triptych

1979 GMC Sierra Grande

HAPPY 87th BIRTHDAY DAD!

Fred Marcus photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed April 10, 2007 in Encino, CA

PIER TO HAPPINESS

This was the view of the Atlantic Ocean at twilight from the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada - one of the Florida Keys. The vision was total serenity and tranquility as there didn't seem to be a dividing line between where ocean met sky. When I look at this picture i'm instantly transported back to that magical moment and place. Ahhhhhhh what a relaxing view. This photo was shot with a Nikon D50 (my first digital SLR) with an extremely wide angle Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens (the only non-Nikon glass I own).

This photo has just made it to the final round of the Los Angeles Times Photo Contest - I'll know by the end of September if it's won anything.

This link
Pier To Happiness
takes you to the photo if you'd like to leave a comment on the L.A. Times site.

Pier To Happiness photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed August 25, 2006 in Islamorada, Florida

TREEHOUSE

Treehouse photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed August 23, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA