Project 365: September 2006 Archives

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September 30, 2006

Runway

This is the 'active' runway at Chena Hot Springs. In Alaska, every house has one (or
two) cars, and a boat. Every second house has a plane, and every clearing that's
half the length of this one is technically a runway. It's really the last frontier...

Posted by hriday at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)

September 29, 2006

Eskimo Family

The center of town is marked by this waterfall/sculpture. It's a nice one, of a
family of eskimoes and their dog. I tried to get creative with the waterfall, and
this is the best of the shots. It's not spectacular, but then, I was holding
the camera by hand. I forgot to take my tripod over there...

Posted by hriday at 06:14 PM | Comments (0)

September 28, 2006

You've got Mail

I found these mailboxes lined up and ready to be photographed when we were
driving to Chena Hot Springs. They were all decked up, and the spot was
rather picturesque even without them.

Alaska really is a beautiful place...

Posted by hriday at 10:38 PM | Comments (0)

September 27, 2006

Sunset on the banks of the Chena

I took this shot from my hotel window. I think I did a decent job, considering I don't
have any talent behind the camera. The sunsets here are rather pretty, and the
landscape is unparalleled.

Posted by hriday at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)

September 26, 2006

Alaskan Pipeline

This is the famous Alaskan Pipeline. And yeah, parts of this line is now shutdown
due to gross incompetence of the Oil Company that runs it. It's an impressive
feat though, and was completed in less than 2 years. The pipeline is part elevated
as the oil in it is between 50 and 70 degrees C. This could thaw the permafrost
and make the pipeline unstable otherwise.

It runs around 800 miles from end to end.

Posted by hriday at 05:58 PM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2006

Capt. Barnette

This chap stepped out of a steamer over a hundred years ago, to set up a shop.
And now, the place is a big city. Actually, lots of cities in the West coast have a
similar story. But Fairbanks is no where as big a city as anything else. Then again,
it's in Alaska, while the others were in Continental US.

Posted by hriday at 11:07 PM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2006

Price of an Elephant

This one isn't Banksy's. However, an unknown graffiti artist worked on this after
all the hype surrounding the exhibition and the elephant. I thought it was a
rather funny piece, and justified it's inclusion into this week's theme.

Posted by hriday at 04:46 PM | Comments (0)

September 23, 2006

The Help

This is a rather famous work of Banksy. It originally appeared on a wall in England,
and subsequently, Banksy clarified that the portrait was of a Hispanic cleaning lady in a
Los Angeles hotel he stayed at.

Posted by hriday at 06:48 PM | Comments (0)

September 22, 2006

Gay Army?

One more indication that the army has gone gay. Just to clarify, it's the US
army. Coz I say it is... :)

PS: I have no issues with Gays. Some of my best friends are gays. My former boss was
gay too and we had a very good rapport.

Posted by hriday at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)

September 21, 2006

Pop

This is a cool one. I like the kid's attitude. What we need in the world today :) Some
humour. Also portrays the world situation. 'Security' for no particular reason...

This is painted on an old swat van, by the way.

Posted by hriday at 10:43 PM | Comments (0)

September 20, 2006

Media

I like this picture because I think it accurately portrays what the media does today.
It's rather obscene I think. Banksy is a very good artist coz he can portray an
emotion that's felt by several people very creatively, and everyone instantly
identifies with it.

Posted by hriday at 09:11 PM | Comments (0)

September 19, 2006

Poverty

The idea of painting an elephant with the same colours of the wallpaper was Banksy's
way of telling the world that we have a huge problem of poverty on our hands,
but we fail to see it. Similar to having an elephant in our living room, and yet, not
realising it.

Animal rights activists were outraged, but screw them. I've seen enough elephants
to know that the elephant is totally comfortable. And the paint does not harm it.
Very good natured chap I must say.

Posted by hriday at 11:25 PM | Comments (0)

September 18, 2006

HMV

This was one of the best works at Banksy's exhibition last weekend. What a
beautiful pun on HMV. I suppose it's RCA to the Americans...

It feels like the dog has about had it with it's master :)

Posted by hriday at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)

September 17, 2006

Uninviting Stairway

This stairway is far nearer to our house that we'd want it. As you may have guessed,
it was not as dark as the picture suggests. I dropped out saturation a great deal to
get this effect. Anyway, often enough, there's a great rumbling from within that
darkness, and it does get spooky...

Posted by hriday at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)

September 16, 2006

Possum

This chap lives in that space between the junk you see behind and the wall. The
picture is taken from our garage, so I suppose he's our neighbour :)
Very nice temperament this chap has. When we move out of our apartment, I am
going to miss this chap. And he loves being photographed :)

Posted by hriday at 11:33 PM | Comments (0)

September 15, 2006

Shantanu

This bird decided to settle on the neighbour's BMW one day, and Rash just couldn't
leave it there. So, she went there and stroked it and ran back home to set up a
box for it. By the time I went to go and get it, it had split. Good thing I took a shot
before that.

Oh, by the way, his name is Shantanu, according to Rash.

Posted by hriday at 11:04 PM | Comments (0)

September 14, 2006

Night Vision

I took this shot just outside the house, in the next building's lawn. This eeric
green light so does look it's from outer space ! It's actually the colour of the
lamp they have there.

Posted by hriday at 11:56 PM | Comments (0)

September 13, 2006

Neighbourhood Cow

This chap gazes upon Overland Blvd all day. At night, they lock him up in the
Texas Ribs joint that he advertises for. It's apparently a good place, and fairly
popular, but I have never gone there. So, it's one place to hit some day I
guess. Don't know though...

Posted by hriday at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)

September 12, 2006

Lamp ?

This 'thing' sits on the curb near our house. It looks like it was meant to be a
lamp post, but the head doesnt' seen to be transparent. I think that in the
years before I even got here, it was a beautiful lamp, and now, it's just
an artifact that survived all the changes of the neighbourhood.

Posted by hriday at 11:25 PM | Comments (0)

September 11, 2006

Poop

This week, we ran out of quick ideas. So, I walked around my block for
some divine inspiration. None came. So, I think it's going to be a really
boring week of posts. Atleast 6 of the days, coz today's isn't so bad.

As you can see, we have splendid neighbours...

Posted by hriday at 11:02 PM | Comments (0)

September 10, 2006

Little India Village

This structure is at the end of India Town. It has a rather popular restaurant
there, though Rash and I haven't hit it yet. Other than that, I am not really
sure what's there. I don't think people bother going to this place anyway,
and it's claim to fame is it's name, and nothing else.

Posted by hriday at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)

September 09, 2006

Pioneer

India town in Los Angeles, is mostly on this street. It's like the Mecca for all Indians,
and during Diwali they shutdown the street for a few days and have a fair here,
with some street performances, and lots of food stalls and stuff. It's a rather ok
time, and you get good bhel puri kind of stuff during that period.

Posted by hriday at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)

September 08, 2006

Pope Music

Hah. Here's an example of entertainment, India style. Nice large Ganesha adorning
the entertainment center :) Honestly, I have no idea what the store is all about, but
the front of it seemed interesting enough to take a shot.

Posted by hriday at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)

September 07, 2006

Cathay

Right in the middle of the India town is the Cathay Bank. I mean seriously,
how odd can things get? Oh, maybe it's China's way of sticking it to us...

Posted by hriday at 10:34 PM | Comments (2)

September 06, 2006

Bhindi

No, really. No photoshop tricks. I have no idea why on earth they chose a name like
that. Were there no other names???

Posted by hriday at 11:38 PM | Comments (0)

September 05, 2006

Vasantha Bhavan

This is where we go to satisfy our dosa urges. They do serve rather good dosas,
but the service is usually utter crap. Who cares. As long as the food's good.
And oh, never ofter the coffee. It's filter coffee alright, but they seem to have this
urge to pour a whole bottle of milk in it.

Posted by hriday at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)

September 04, 2006

Artesia

There have been several demands for this theme, so we present Artesia, LA's
version of little India. There are a few stores, run by Gujju's and Punjabi's
and a few restaurants there. I think every Indian that lives in LA comes there
at some point or the other.

Posted by hriday at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)

September 03, 2006

Open Season

Rash took this shot. I have not done anything to the pictuer except a little sharpening.
She took a dozen shots over two days to get this one. It's rather nice.

We were contemplating on whether to go for this movie in the theatre or not, and finally
decided to exhibit fiscal prudence...