SUMMER SOLSTICE

Today I visited Griffith Observatory to witness Summer Solstice from the vantage point of the Transit Corridor - think of it as Griffith's high tech version of Stonehenge.

Sunlight hits the Transit Corridor at 12:55pm on June 21, 2010 marking high noon and this year's Summer Solstice - the day the sun is at it's highest position all year long, also making it the longest day of the year.


This is the Transit Corridor. Laura Danly PhD (Curator of Education at Griffith Observatory) explained Summer Solstice and the Transit Corridor to observers and a cameraman from Channel 7 news.



"Like ancient monuments to the stars, the Griffith Observatory was built to create specific effects when the solar system is aligned for the solstices. On the summer solstice, for the Sun’s “local noon” appearance, at its highest position in the sky all year, the Sun’s projected image crosses the engraved meridian arc of the Gottlieb Transit Corridor on the west side of the Observatory. The solstice local noon occurs at 12:55 pm. The northernmost sunset and the end of the longest day of the year align with an engraved marker and stone line laid into pavement on the terrace. The solstice sunset occurs at 8:08 pm. For 2010, the Solstice is on a Monday when the Observatory is closed, but you can still enjoy the architectural phenomenon." (From http://golosangeles.about.com)

Some misc shots from Griffith:

A crow scares off a red tailed hawk infringing on it's territory in the sky above Griffith.



Greek Key and Arches at Griffith



The world famous Hollywood sign viewed from Griffith's front lawn.



Hikers enjoying a local trail below Griffith.



I have a thing for signage, especially those with icons or drawings. This sign in particular is very important in light of the terrible fires that engulfed Griffith Park in 2008.


Here's a link to a Wiki article about the Solstice.

Enjoy the summer! - Lydia Marcus :-)

Summer Solstice at the Transit Corridor, Griffith Observatory
© Lydia Marcus 2010 / www.lydiamarcus.com
Photographed June 21, 2010 at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, CA

Photographed using a Nikon D40 / Nikon 18-200mm VR lens.

EXTRA, EXTRA: THE DOGGIE NEWS

Cali goes nuts over squeaky toys - I'm convinced she's made up her own language based on squeaks! I bought this rubber chew toy at Cost Plus World Market over the holidays. I hadn't given it to Cali yet because I was nervous about how quickly she would chew through it but lately she seems to be taking it a bit easier on her chew toys as she matures. So today I debuted the Doggie News ("All the news that's fit to chew") and she went wild over it. Unfortunately the toy only lasted about 15 minutes before she's chewed the corner off and it no longer squeaked. At least I got a cute picture out of it!

Cali, 10 Months Old
Photo credit © Lydia Marcus 2010 / www.lydiamarcus.com
Photographed January 19, 2010 in Encino, CA

THE NEXT SIGN OF ARMAGEDDON

A fiery moon courtesy of all the fires raging in SoCal.

Photo credit: © Lydia Marcus 2009
Photographed September 1, 2009 in Encino, CA

EXPLORING THE MOTHER ROAD

This photo isn't of Route 66 (it's just a road in Lancaster leading to Edwards Air Force Base), but it's what I imagine the mythological Mother Road to look like in certain spots. This weekend I'll be on the road taking part in Cultural Mirages: Route 66 and the Mojave Desert - A Photography Workshop. The weather forecast is pretty grim - showers projected all through the weekend - but hopefully mother nature will provide some great clouds and dark skies, not just rain pour to sour the trip.

Photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed June 22, 2007 in Lancaster, CA

SANDRA LIVE!

Heading out tonight to the Orpheum Theater in Downtown Los Angeles to catch Sandra Bernhard do a 20th Anniversary version of her seminal off Broadway show and film "Without You I'm Nothing." I never got to see that show live so I'm pretty excited to get to see it tonight.

I was hired to shoot Sandra backstage and onstage during her Everything Bad & Beautiful Tour. The shot above is really my favorite digital capture from a New Year's Eve show in 2006. Joe's Pub was extremely dark and the lighting was very dim, but I was lucky to catch a moment where purple stagelights and that iconic mouth convened.

Sandra Bernhard Photo by Lydia Marcus
Photographed December 31, 2006 at Joe's Pub in NYC.

NO ON H8 PROTEST

Today the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center organized a news conference in front of the Los Angeles Mormon Temple in response to the Mormon church’s leading role in the deceptive advertising campaign for Prop 8. At the urging of church President Thomas Monson, Mormons contributed more than $15 million to fund the initiative that would repeal the right of same-sex couples to marry. It is unacceptable for the Utah-based Mormon Church, or any religious organization, to attempt to change the constitution of California to deny civil rights to any group of people. The event began as a news conference but turned into a full on rally/protest.

I attended this event as both a protester and photographer. It felt very empowering to be part of the protest. Even in my own family, the hate (and ignorance) on this issue has a place, as my own Dad voted Yes on 8.

Separate is not equal. Domestic Partnership is not the same as marriage. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans people are NOT second class citizens!

Here are some of my photos from the protest:







































Janice Dickinson showed up too - surprisingly solo without any camera crews or entourage - GO JANICE!




For a full set of images from this protest visit my Flickr page.

To keep up to date with protests sponsored by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center go to www.lagaycenter.org.

The Center has launched a new website, InvalidateProp8.org, where you can support efforts to invalidate the measure—and send a message to the Mormon church, which played a leading role in funding the Yes on 8 campaign of lies and distortions.

No On 8 Protest photos by Lydia Marcus
Photographed November 6, 2008 in Westwood, CA

FRESH EGGS & PIGS

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

MERCEDES 250C

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


Polaroid SLR 680 SE version on Flickr.

DOWNTOWN

Los Angeles Street & City Hall photo by Lydia Marcus. Photographed February 18, 2007.

BZZZZZZZZZZ

Chevy Van 10 photo by Lydia Marcus. Photographed March 10, 2007 in San Pedro, CA.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY 2008

Happy Fathers Day Dad!

Me and my Dad on our bikes in the front yard, sometime in 1977. I'm 7 years old, he's around 54 or 55. Taken with the family's Polaroid Super Shooter Plus. My Mom was probably the photographer. My Mom bought the bike at a garage sale, it was a purple Schwinn with monkey bars and a banana seat that was covered in a floral pattern.

A portrait of my Dad taken June 14, 2008 in Encino, CA at Libbit Park

BEIGE

A slice of old school Fairfax





Polaroids and digital images photographed May 10, 2008 and March 23, 2006 in Los Angeles

NARCISSIST