Day 365 — Level Three

We've reached the top and the end of this blog 25' RADIUS. What a fun ride it has been. Above the kitchen sits the bedroom. Stanley Saitowitz designed the apartments to fit into the industrial warehouse environment of Dogpatch. The roof of the building is rounded and clad in grey zinc which makes for a magical cave-like atmosphere in the top room. On the left you can look down into the dining room (Days 16, 31, 124, 155 and 245) and the right looks down into the office area.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200mm) 1/100, f3.5, ISO 800, 18mm (This shot was a panorama of four vertical photos.)

Day 364 — Level Two

Level two is on the fourth floor of the building. Both level one and level two have their own entrances, which makes it function well as a live work loft. To the far left you can see the windows to the smaller balcony and next to that is my old plan press (Day 350). The dining table in front of the window was a frequent backdrop for my many still lives; see Days 6, 12, 14, 16, 19, 24, 31, 55, 56, 61, 99, 107, 124, 210, 212, 214, 216, 244, 246, 252 and 255. Behind the dark kitchen wall is another full bathroom. The only shot I took in that bathroom was Day 235. Through the kitchen you pass the spiral stairs and the office area on the left. There is a back door to an outside pathway at the rear of the apartment. The stainless steel utility bench in the center of the kitchen hosted many shots and offered up a great reflective surface for some shots on Days 20, 41, 60, 115, 118, 151, 190, 217 and 303. This level has a dark grey cement floor which has starred in almost half of the 25' RADIUS shots. Notice that the ceiling is lower over the kitchen because that is where the bedroom is situated. The spiral staircase runs through all three levels. This unique apartment was designed by Stanley Saitowitz. Tomorrow's final photo will be of level three — the bedroom.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200mm) 100 sec, f3.5, ISO 800, 18mm (This shot was a panorama of four vertical photos.)

Day 363 — Level One

Countdown to the end of 25' RADIUS. It's been a fun exercise that has taught me a lot. In the final three days of 2013 I shall show you an overview of the apartment space in which I shot all the images. The first level, the living room, begins on the third floor of the building which exists in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. In other people's apartments they have made this room their master bedroom. Behind me is a closet and full bath. There are only the two vertical windows which let light into the room. The other end of the apartment is a closed wall. The small balcony has been the subject of a number of photos such as Days 4, 13, 25, 37,  54 and 92. In mid summer the sun rises directly in front of these windows flooding the apartment with light. The balcony looks out over San Francisco Bay toward Oakland, but I resisted any landscape shots excepting the few shots of the sky on Days 76, 136 (the only full view from the balcony) and 203. The white curved chairs on the left played a role on Days 9 and 32. The Alessi bowl on the coffee table hosted Days 11, 18, 19, 48, 75, 82 and 273. I stood on the spiral staircase for today's shot and pointed the camera lens through the stairs to get this high view. The staircase played a role on Days 1, 47, 68, 79, 218 and 221. The African sculpture to the left was a player on Days 98, 275 and 346. The African mask plant (Days 276, 283, 308, 310 and 361) is at the back of the room on the low table with the holiday cards and next to the lamp on that same table is the other little African sculpture from Days 193, 211, 344, 346.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200) 1/15, f3.5, ISO 800, 18mm

Day 362 — Marco

This scallywag lives a few doors down and his Moms graciously allowed me to do a little shoot of him. He has a very polite and thoughtful disposition but his cheeky charm shines through in this photo. He's sporting a red Kaepernick 49ers jersey he got for Christmas. He also brought along one of his toy dragons. Marco is six and a half and I see a big future in those eyes. The remaining three days of my blog will consist of overall shots of the 25' RADIUS apartment; levels 1, 2 and 3 — 25' RADIUS runs vertically as well as horizontally.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/200, f3.5, ISO 200

Day 361 — Balancing Act

The African mask plant. Its characteristic leaf is more recognizable from above, however the side view offers a majestic, floating element that appealed to me. What you can't see are all the nearby holiday cards I used to flatten the other leaves out of the frame.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/200, f8, ISO 400

Day 360 — Home for the Holidays

My hand is below and Mikael's hand is coming down from above.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/1250, f2.8, ISO 400

Day 359 — What Time Is It?

Time to take a damn pill. Since my stroke on June 2nd I have additions to my daily intake. There are a few innocuous tablets above, like a Bayer aspirin, a D3, a multivitamin which we don't need now apparently, and a probiotic tablet, but the rest are hardcore and imperative for keeping me on the planet. I take them all at once with a kale and banana soy smoothie in the morning.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/320, f9, ISO 100

Day 358 — Split Lengthways

Running low on sideways light. Coincidently the silkscreen "Split Ring 2D" endures yet another split in the waning light across its face. It is by Melbourne sculptor Clement Meadmore who is more known for his steel monoliths.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/80, f4.5, ISO 100

Day 357 — Fibonacci Inspired Cups

This wasn't a difficult balancing act at all, the cups were very happy to sit this way.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/160, f5.6, ISO 100

Day 356 — Cueva de la Mano

My homage to prehistoric cave art — a selfie in my cave.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/125, f5.6, ISO 100

Day 355 — Better Late Than Never

White cups on a white table. I agonized over this morning's photo and embarrassingly enough took about 20 shots until I finally got this one. This was taken at the start of Winter in the US at 9:11am, shortest day of the year and the sun is at its most oblique angle to the apartment. That means that light and shadows come and go very quickly. It wasn't until I thought that I'd finished shooting the cups in the available light that I stood back and saw the dramatic shadows around my subject, adding invaluable direction and form.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/320, f5.6, ISO 100

Day 354 — Cutlery

Whenever the good cutlery makes an appearance you know that good times are not far off.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm 1.4) 1/100, f8, ISO 100

Day 353 — Enron

I'd longed to own an aboriginal painting, but that was the last thing I expected to find in the U.S. Thankfully the evil empire of Enron went Chapter 11 a few years ago and all their corporate status symbols from their lofty offices were released to the minions at my local auction house. The painting, Women's Corroboree at Lahamba, Northern Territory, Australia is by Kitty Pultara Naparrula. The native symbols of groups around fires could easily also represent the huddled elite in boardrooms at Enron.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 18-200) 1/2, f25, 22mm, ISO 100

Day 352 — Gourd's Truth

In the title I'm having a shot at the origin of a popular Aussie expression... "strewth" (an expression of surprise or dismay!) I used to use it often, but only just discovered it's derived from "God's truth", which makes sense because we often used to express it in a longer form "God strewth!" Now that I say it to myself, I can't believe I never put two and two together.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f8, ISO 100

Day 351 — Start Your Day With Coffee

I was drawn to the shadows on the sideboard and just plonked down the coffee pot for a point of interest.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/250, f5, ISO 100

Day 350 — The Old Plan Press

My old plan press and its 25 handles and drawers. This is where I store all my photo prints and collected artworks before framing.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f1.4, ISO 100

Day 349 — Holding the Light

This guy normally holds my fountain pen as seen on Day 153, but just for fun I lowered the desk lamp shade down to his clutches for this dramatic back lit shot.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/25, f16, ISO 100

Day 348 — Pierre

This is another pot by Jonathan Adler. It was the outrageous shape of this vase that first drew me to his work. It's a combination of three thrown forms into one sculptural masterpiece. He titles his "Couture" pieces after famous designers and this one is "Pierre" after Pierre Cardin. I have attempted to photograph it over a dozen times but this is the first time I feel that it is now ready for this blog.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/400, f6.3, ISO 100

Day 347 — Reflection on Reflection

I only just noticed this reflection of a reflection in the window. Again this is the photo of the Starlings on the wall in the dining room. They also appear on Days 185, 279 and 309.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/640, f8, ISO 100

Day 346 — Him and His Shadow

Buddies.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/400, f9, ISO 100

Day 345 — Shade

This broad band of shadow from the window provides a dramatic diagonal to the resulting image.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 100

Day 344 — Squatter

I found the perfect ledge to bear witness to the solemnity of this squatting figure. He also appears on Days 193 and 211.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 500mm, 1.4) 1/400, f9, ISO 100

Day 343 — A.M.

This is what time it is when the morning shadows are just so. The clock first appeared back on day 143. The Atomic Ball Clock is a clock that was designed by the American industrial and furniture designer, George Nelson in 1948 while George was Director of Design for the Herman Miller Inc. furniture company at the genesis of the atomic age. The bomb dropped on Hiroshima was at 8:16am.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/400, f9, ISO 100

Day 342 — Chillaxin

One last excursion out of the drawer for Dr Ted, relaxing under the shade of the Phalaenopsis.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/320, f8, ISO 100

Day 341 — The Sunbather

You've seen parts of my favorite plant before on Days 156 and 179, but not the whole megillah until now. It sits, pride of place on the center of the dining table, where it basks each day in the morning sun.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f8, ISO 100

Day 340 — Dr. Ted D. Bear, Psychiatrist

I was considering photographing a neat sock drawer, but couldn't find one; instead I found this fabulous little teddy bear staring up at me. He's less than 6 inches high and is riddled with character. My partner tells me that he is over 30 years old and is a toy psychiatrist.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/640, f8, ISO 100

Day 339 — Framed

As the shortest day of the year rapidly approaches, the extreme angle of the rising sun creates a crop of interesting framing opportunities in the kitchen.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/200, f8, ISO 100

Day 338 — Shrine

The top of this chair always reminds me of a Shinto Shrine. The chair has a curious history. It was produced for a window display at Gumps of San Francisco. It's a large chair, almost throne-like and obviously too fun to just throw away after the display had run its course.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/40, f6.3, ISO 100

Day 337 — Ringmaster

This monkey in a circus ring is actually a potato peeler on a CD box.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f6.3, ISO 100

Day 336 — Chubby Cheeks

This mask is very happy and is basking in a soft luminous light from below.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/80, f3.5, ISO 100

Day 335 — Wine Glass

A wine glass basking in a smattering of sunlight.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/800, f8, ISO 100

Day 334 — Furrowed Brow

It's the last day of November and here I sit plowing my furrowed brow for ideas for the last month of this blog — calling upon my inner Breton or Duchamp. Stay tuned!

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/60, f4, ISO 640

Day 333 — Motley Bouquet

The lilies are finally in the trash, but not before one last shot.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/320, f3.2, ISO 400

Day 332 — Thanksgiving Snake

Another pot by a member of the Martinez dynasty of potters. It features a serpent. Avanyu is the horned water serpent which is interpreted as the first rush of water coming down an arroyo after a thunderstorm, a symbol of thanksgiving for water and rain. The avanyu became a common motif throughout the Southwest. This pot was made by Maria Martinez's great grandson Marvin and his wife, Frances. This style of black-on-black ware from the pueblo of San Ildefonso is often made by two people; one to coil the pot and burnish it to a high gloss finish and the other to specialize in decorating the piece with a contrasting matt slip before a heavy reduction firing. Happy Thanksgiving!

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 100

Day 331 — Haute Couture

When I look closely at flowers I'm reminded where fashion designers get their inspiration. This resembles an extravagant collar on a classic dress.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f11, ISO 100

Day 330 — Ceci n'est pas un vase

A small homage to our great leader Marcel Duchamp. In my work you'll find many art references, particularly to Dada and Surrealism. Dada was my favorite subject at art college and I produce a website called Exquisite Corpse. It was my first entree to the machinations creating a webpage. Hmm, I just took a look at it and I see it could use some revamping. Nevertheless, it gets hundreds of hits each day from around the globe when young art students search for information about the Dadaists. You can also download a free pdf of André Breton's Manifesto of Surrealism. By the way, I am very pleased with this image today.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 100

Day 329 — Last Gasp!

In the tradition of the flower desiccation series appearing on Days 106, 108, 137, 234 and 271, here is this lily's last gasp.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/500, f8, ISO 100

Day 328 — Vase de Fleurs

Not entirely sure what produced the glow at the bottom of the vase, but I like the combined effect of the convergence of refractions and shadows in this photo.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/320, f8, ISO 100

Day 327 — Knuckleheads

Another hand shot with less recognizable reference points. Here the knuckles of both my hands are butted together; head-to-head. I love the abstraction of this shot.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/40, f3.5, ISO 100, + screw on closeup filter

Day 326 — Landscape

Playing with my hands.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/20, f8, ISO 100

Day 325 — Lily Lily Lily Lily, Stay

The title is a line from the song "Lily" by Pink Martini that was playing as I shot this, so the saga of the long dead lilies continues. We've had rain the past few days so I sat them on the balcony in this shot. Dry dead lilies sapping up drops of moisture.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/200, f4.5, ISO 100

Day 324 — Float

I am making good use of the perfect division between black and white that I discovered with the sideboard picture I took on Day 314. I laid the mask on it's side for this shot and then rearranged it to vertical for the final image. The extremely shallow depth of field floats this mask high above the background.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/250, f1.4, ISO 400

Day 323 — Thunder Thighs

I admire the human element that these candle holders project. I found these at Target a few decades ago when famous designers were consigned to make inexpensive unique products for the company. These gems were designed by Michael Graves of Alessi renown. They have opaque glass shades, but I preferred the human-like attributes of their bare bodies for this shot.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/80, f3.2, ISO 400

Day 322 — Dehydration

The slow transformation of these flowers is quite beautiful to witness.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f8, ISO 100

Day 321 — Playing with the Dead

Two lilies head to head. Coincidentally I am listening to Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/160, f11, ISO 100

Day 320 — Brother Redland Spots

This wacky hybrid phalaenopsis sports spots that appear out of focus, like ink on a blotter.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/400, f8, ISO 100

Day 319 — I Spoke Too Soon

I found another lily to photograph among the bunch of aging stems. I especially love the strong overarching curve featured in this bloom. I find that flowers have varying personalities even within one variety. The soft lighting of this shot is the result of a very cloudy day.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f3.2, ISO 100

Day 318 — Last of the Lilies

They gave their all for about a week, but now the lilies are beginning to brown on the edges. This is the last one of the bunch in pristine condition.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/125, f3.2, ISO 100

Day 317 — Elegance

This was taken in the same place as Day 314, I used the sideboard and wall to create a black and white background to 'pop' the lily.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/250, f10, ISO 100

Day 316 — Bulb Bake

This is how I prepare a garlic bulb for roasting in the oven. After half an hour of roasting the cloves easily squeeze out their buttery goodness for spreading on toast. As I type this the kitchen is filled with the intense aroma of garlic.

Nikon D7000 (Nikkor 50mm, 1.4) 1/60, f5, ISO 400