May 15th 2011

Photo of the day: This lady just looked so determined I'm happy she never noticed me stop suddenly and take a photo of her. Venice Beach California (baaaah blogger won't take my fixed version *cry*)

Today was so wonderful for me. We visited my two favorite places in LA Venice beach and Griffith Observatory. I went to these places four years ago and Ive missed them ever since. 

Venice beach is my #1 favorite place in LA. It's such a clusterfuck of cultures, fashion, ideals, art, music you name it. There are stands upon stands with people just trying to make a living off of whatever they can create or pull together that a tourist would enjoy. There's smells of wonderful food, different kinds of music, people shouting about the wonders of medical marijuana (i guess it just became legal here? *shrug*) and so many magical outfits. Sadly I never found where the free wall was there (where people can tag legally) we tried to find it but I couldn't remember where it was. Oh well it still was an extremely enjoyable time.

That evening after a hot meal with my mother the three of us headed to Griffith, my second favorite place in LA. There have been a good number of film scenes made here including a scene in Transformers. The view at sunset here is just amazing plus the building itself Ive always enjoyed. My mother for my 20th birthday (this June) gave me her Canon AE-1. My jaw dropped, Ive heard a few of my photo major friends wishing they had this camera. I'm almost ashamed to have it, I feel like someone who's never rode a horse and yet they get a purebred stallion for their birthday. It's just a huge push to stop dicking around and actually LEARN how to do photography. 

Other Photos I enjoyed:

 I don't like the composition but this is where I got my top hat I wore for ages four years ago. Didn't realize the guy posed when I took it.

 What's more intimidating? A cop on a car that you see normally or a A FUCKING HORSE. They rode right between Beej and I as we were munching on magical gyros and falafel wraps. Saw cops on foot, car, horse, bike and ugly scooter thing today in the same block radius... kinda overkill haha.

 Hahaha artsy cropping! Once again didn't look at how my photos turned out till I got home.

Hey look! I played with long exposures for once! It just got so pretty when the sun set and I was glad there was a stable place to place my camera to take this.

May 14th 2011

Photo of the day: Some beach in Ventura California

Today was a very laid back day (i only took four photos). We went to where Beej would of gone to school pretty much after this trip. His plans changed and when we saw the school we realized it was for the better. After driving through the adorable town of Ventura California once we got to his school we were surrounded by oil rigs instead of the forest we went through. There was only one building and it said No trespassing so we didn't even bother to look any further. Intead we wandered thrift stores such as once called Child Abuse Thrift Store. We still laugh about this name. It's so crazy, it's like naming a store "beat your kid" or something. Sadly we didn't find anything interesting but I did have an amazing "Rhino Vanilla" Chai that tasted like drinking a vanilla ice creme cone.
Other than that it was a day of editing photos, relaxing and enjoying being under a roof instead of our car or tent.

Sadly no other photos were to my liking. :(

May 13th 2011

 

Photo of the day: Every Friday I plan on taking a self portrait even though I'm taking them throughout the week. 

After four years I have finally returned to LA to visit my mother and my pets. Sadly one of my cats passed away this year and it hasn't felt right being in the house without her. Yet I was trilled to see my dog and my other cat even more thrilled that after four years they recognized me.  It was also nice to see my mother she's doing a lot better than last time I saw her, she's in a better living place than four years ago. 

Beej and I went to the Hollywood strip so he could "walk the stars" I only took one picture of Frank Sinatra's star then was too busy creeping on people with my camera. I never feel comfortable taking pictures of complete strangers so it was a little awkward at first, yet the more the day wore on it began a game to me. I'm trying to keep a library in my head of people I want to draw later, it's somewhat hard to sit and sketch on the schedule were keeping.

Ive been to the Hollywood strip before so just as I thought in Vegas, the movies really do make these places shinier than they are. Both seemed dim and run down to me. Still fun to people watch though.

 Beej walked into this photo right as I was taking it. Didn't realize how funny it was till I got home to edit.

 Ant People

 Creepin on the lady reading... fuck yeah

This guy was the only one to catch me taking photos.

May 12 2011

 

Photo of the Day: Eastern side of Zion National Park Utah.. oh so different from the western end. More desert. 

Twilight City gonna set my soul. It's gonna set my soul on fire. Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn. So get those stakes up high. There's a thousand pretty women waiting out there. They're all waiting, they'll never make air. And I'm just the devil with a lung to spare, so Viva Las Vegas Viva Las Vegas Viva Las Vegas. How I wish that there were more. Than the 24 hours in the day. Even if I ran out of speed, boy. I wouldn't sleep a minute of the way. Oh that blackjack and poker and the roulette wheel. I'll poach your money lost on every deal. All you need is sonar and nerves of steel, so. Viva Las Vegas. Viva Las Vegas. Viva Las Vegas. Viva Las Vegas. Where the neon signs flash your name. The one-arm bandits cash in. All soap's down the drain. Viva Las Vegas. Turning day into nighttime. Turning night into daytime. If you see it once. You'll never be the same again. Gotta keep on running. Gonna have me some money. If it costs me my very last dime. If I wind up broke. Then I'll always remember that. I had a swingin' time. Oh, I'm gonna give it everything I've got. Lady Luck's with me, the dice stay hot. Got coke up my nose to dry away the snot, so. Viva Las Vegas Viva Las Vegas Viva Las Vegas Viva, viva Las Vega.

If anyone gets this I'll give you a cookie. 

Eastern Rim of Zion. Best way to end our Zion adventure. We slept in the car in LA after Las Vegas it takes so long to find a spot that the cops won't find you. Not a good idea at 4 in the morning when you have to be up by 8. 

Other favorite photos: 

I SAT HERE

This canyon was our last stop in Zion. We were to hike about 10 more miles that day but decided this was the best place to say a farewell.

Creepin on Beej

Most of the photos were blurry in Vegas but I enjoyed this one.

May 11th 2011

 

Photo of the Day: Wild Cat canyon trail in Western Zion National Park Utah.

Hoooooly shit this place is amazing. After waking up late being so snuggly and warm in our sleeping bags we had a breakfast of coffee, cigarettes, and pb and J's with trail mix in them we set off to Western Zion. We had planned that we were going to see the subway even though the upper half of it was closed. (Look up Zion subway on google and see why we were so determined) Yet right when we hit the trail we ran into a guy who obviously had been in Zion more than once, he told us that without gear it was an awful idea to try the Subway. Also they saved five people who were unprepared in the Subway just the day before. Yet still determined we decided to check it out none the less.

Another flaw from hot forest service guy. (I still love you oh so much Lewis both Beej and I agreed he was a cutie though.... yet he was an ASSHOLE) He told us to follow Wild Cat canyon trail to get to the subway. This trail was so magical, I swear we went from desert to marshy plains to mountain forest.

Once we arrived to the actual beginning of Wild Cat Canyon we realized that the experienced guy was right. In front of us was a raging flooded river. We stood there for a good ten minutes debating on crossing to the point where we had our shoes off, pants rolled up and ready to go when my conscience started buzzing loudly how strong the current was, how cold it was, and that we would have to turn back and go through it all over again. 

We headed back up the trail and rested where the roads parted. This is when we realized someone had scratched in "Subway" and a arrow pointing in the other direction from where we ventured. Hah so the forest service dick was 100% wrong on everything. 

Yet we then remembered that the experienced guy mentioned to try to go to North Gate Peaks instead of the Subway. It was sunset but North Gate was only a mile hike. This was the best desicion, North Gate peaks was so incredibly amazing. Due to it being sunset we didn't do it but right when you think the trail ends it actually goes to the left you just have to look for it. (in case anyone goes there) 

Other favorite photos: 

 Damn you flooded river... or more Damn you conscience kicking in

 So funny to stumble upon this after our hike I'm surprised we didn't notice it yet I'm almost glad. Wildcat Canyon was really nice.

 North Gate Peaks.... Go there at sunset. It's amazing.

Did I ever mention I have an awful fear of falling? (not of heights i can look down yet i can stand at the very edge so this was not easy to take haha)

May 10th 2011

Photo of the day: Beej was using sand for a lighting effect and I caught him in the act. Turned out pretty cool

HOLY COW IVE BEEN LAZY! Sorry guys haha I'm still doing this blog. I will be updating my Flickr a lot faster than this. http://www.flickr.com/photos/imaghost365/ Yet not all the photos I post on this blog will be on my flickr.
After our stay in the hotel that I personally think was priced too high for what we got. (hah so stingy) We headed to Lower Antelope Canyon. When I think Canyon I normally think of this vast space such as Yellowstone. This place completely changed that view for me. I didn't even realize we were at the canyon when we pulled up. Everything is a good ten feet underground and it's almost completely flat on top. Since the canyon isn't owned by a state park and by the local Indian reservation there was a 50 dollar fee for a maximum of two hours of photos.
Something to know if you ever go there (You really should it is such an amazing place) you need to have a DSLR and a tripod in order to get the photo pass where you don't need a tour guide. (You will have to have some long exposures for good photos... i didn't use the tripod and it got frustrating at times)
The place is so magical the rocks were so smooth in the canyon. You have to climb these really thin ladders down into the lower parts some of the ladders were unnecessary but that made it all more hilarious.
Once we finished our two hour photo adventure in Antelope we continued on to Zion National Park Utah. Every place we go has taken my breath away but this one took the cake thus far. The mountains towering over us right as we drove in were so fantastic. Right as we arrived it started hailing but luckily once we got to where we were to sign in for our permits the sun returned and shrouded the mountain peaks in a beautiful mist.
A huge word of advise if you ever go to Zion and have to talk to a ranger in the Backpacking table. If you ever get a handsome guy with long brown hair, green eyes and great facial features? DON'T LISTEN TO A WORD THAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH.
First off he told us that the overnight backwoods camping isn't the best in Zion. Then he told us the places we want to go if he were us he would find one place to stay and drive to them. But what was the best is where he recommended us to stay, he told us of two places. The first one was a free RV park that when we arrived I swore someone was going to shoot us with the looks we got driving into that mud hole of a campground. Then the second spot and I quote "Just jump the fence at highway marker 24" yet when we arrived at mile marker 24 there was a HUGE no trespassing sign and we would have to park our car on the road. In Minneapolis? I would of done it in a heartbeat, but when one is living out of the car and has most of everything we need in it we had to play it safe.
Thus our two hours of driving trying to find a cheap place to camp began. We finally settled on a RV park that had tent camping by a river. It was actually a really nice comfy place to stay. That might of been also cause I had a new sleeping bag that actually zipped.

Other Photos I liked:

Since I'm still learning with Fstops I played with them a lot in this canyon. Got some fun effects. 

 This was one of the three tour guides that passed us with their group while we were down there. They would play on their wooden flutes for... effect? He was really friendly though, one of the three that could play without squeaking ever so often.

 

I really felt like I was on another planet here.  

Beej and I saw this mountain peak three or four different times, each time in a different weather; sunny, rain, sunset, fog

Monday May, 9th

Picture of the day: Window Arch, Arches National Park Utah

Today was amazing. We drove into Utah around midnight and arrived at Arches around 2amish. Oddly enough the park was open twenty four hours yet you had to pay a 10 dollar fee in a tollbooth that opens at 8am?
Just out of pure curiosity we decided to drive into Arches even though it was pitch black. This was just about the most creepiest experience I have ever been through. We had no idea what was around us as we drove in. We parked the car at a lookout so Beej could take night photos with his super awesome camera. That is when we saw the HUGE looming shapes of rocks around us. The feeling of power was overwhelming. It is hard to describe the eerie fear that crept through my body looking at the huge shadows surrounding us. It did not help at all that when we stopped a second time we heard a noise that an animal could not make right behind us (a horror movie like scratching. I was waiting for a metal hook in the door or somethin.) That is when we decided to leave and come back at sunrise.
After a wonderful hours rest in the cramped mini cooper behind a hotel we woke up around 5 and went back to Arches.
If anyone decides to go to Utah for a trip I HIGHLY recommend checking out this park. I don't know how the camp sites are (I think after that night of errieness i would piss myself being in a tent out there) but the trails were amazing. Since it was so early in the morning we were pretty much one of the first people in the park. At first the park looks like everything is visible from car. That is oh so very wrong. I recommend going out to Devil's Garden near the end of the park. Though it was raining when we set out on the trail the views were breathtaking.
Funny enough along the way we ran into a hiker who was from Thunder Bay Canada and has been to GrandMarais several times... small world I guess. We didn't get back to the car until around 11ish and even backtracking I felt as if I had never seen the trail before. Every corner was a brand new discovery of arches, landscapes and stones.
This park is defiantly on my list of places to return to.
After arches we began our drive to our next hiking spot, Antelope Canyon Arizona. It was a semi long drive but oh so wonderful. We drove through the amazing Monument Valley. Before we approached Beej told me it feels like you're on Mars. He was right. The colors of the rocks were jaw dropping I'm surprised Monument Valley isn't a real park. You get to see a lot of interesting farm animals and people though.
Since we have been plowing so fast on this trip with such little sleep tonight we are resting in a hotel near Antelope Canyon in the town of Page. Such a strange little town, so extremely spread out. I'm excited to sleep on a mattress though since it will probably be the last time in quite awhile. (the room was a little pricier than we had hopes for and not really worth it)
I don't know when I will have internet next. We had to fork over 2 bucks to use this one in the hotel room. Thus my posts sadly will probably be three or four at a time.
After the Canyon we plan on backpacking in Zion National Park Utah for roughly five days. So prepare for some massive post attacks in the future!

P.S. Saw some tumbleweed today which was awesome. Monument Valley is known for the old westerns that were filmed in it. So I HAD to see a tumbleweed while there. Most of them were stuck to the fences on the side of the road which was disappointing but one escaped.

Dumbass tumbleweed stuck in the fences. :(

The Trail in Devil's Garden, Arches National Park, Utah

This photo is for Lewis cause these guys were all over Arches. Thought instantly of him. :)

The breath taking view. I would post more but I'm too pooped for more editing.