In May 2015, I will have lived in downtown Long Beach, California for 20 years. Hard to imagine, but true.
For the last 14 years I have lived just below the Chimera (they are sometimes called Gargoyles or Grotesques) atop the Villa Riviera. According to Wikipedia, these creatures "are said to frighten off and protect those that it guards, such as a church, from any evil or harmful spirits."
So, I have recently undertaken to collect some of the many photos I have made from the perspective of the chimera. I have printed several of them in large formats on canvas for sale. These prints range in size from 20"x30" to 40"x60" and are framed in black or white wood frames. (The image below has been printed and sold in 16x48 size for example.)
The views in these prints are expansive and mostly beautiful. But, of course, not everything on our city streets is what is always recognized as beautiful.
So, since the Chimera View includes some details that are less beautiful, and you know my photography always aims to accomplish something more than providing pretty pictures, I will make smaller prints of some of those details available as well. Many of these images are here on the web site in my "Long Beach" Gallery, so if you want prints from the web site, or some of the other things that can be made from them, you don't have to wait for the next show, or the book I want to make.
I want to end up with a book that has large views of the classically beautiful over-arching truth of the city I have called home for so long, and page details about the street scenes that are interesting, and possibly even beautiful in their own way.
Stay tuned for further information, or send me an email and I will include you in the list of those who receive periodic updates.
Since you are a blog reader, here is something you cannot see in other places, at least not yet: