Vintage Trouble street portraits

For the last several years I've been documenting the work of Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas as he produces great portraits of passers-by on the streets on Downtown LA. From time to time, he also sketches someone not-so-anonymous, and in this case, was drawing portraits of the members of the terrific blues band Vintage Trouble. Nalle is now using this image as his Facebook profile pic.

I caught these images of lead guitarist Nalle Colt and drummer Richard Danielson while they waited their turn to be drawn by Vargas.

Vargas at the September Art Walk

I've recently been working with the local Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas. Vargas does mixed-media portraits as well as fine art. Here he's seen at the Downtown Comedy Club in LA, as part of the monthly Art Walk, doing on-the-spot portraits in front of a sometimes distracted audience.

Happy Santa Daze!

Some folks feel that it just isn't Christmas until someone is wearing a Santa hat. Well, here ya go.

Portraits of LA project - 3

This is first-time small business owner José González in front of his place on South Broadway in downtown Los Angeles (May 2010).

Image Details:  Nikon D70s w/Nikkor 18-55 f3.4-4.5 DX AF

Portraits of LA - 2

A photographer friend of mine emailed me to say that while he liked the portrait I posted yesterday, he thought the picture might benefit from a little cropping, to bring the subject into tighter focus. After a little reflection, I find I agree with him, so here's the edited result. (Note that I applied a hint of dodging around the subject's head to help separate him from the dark background.)



Tip o'the hat to Marc PoKempner.

Broadway people

In their infinite mystery, thousands of people walk the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Where do they come from? Where are they going? Who are they, really? I don't know the answers to these questions, but I do know that to them, I too am just another stranger passing by.