I encountered this bizarre plant in Venice, California while out for a walk. The fairly large bush appeared ordinary enough, but the exotic blooms that covered it were remarkable. A little research informed me that the plant is known as Protea, a South African native; and there are a lot of varieties. A few of the species are able to be grown in the Southern California climate, such as this one, which had big flowers with a soft feathery rounded core.
This amazing plant, known as Pride of Madeira, features striking flowering stalks that bloom in the spring. It is native to the island of Madeira, near Portugal, though it is considered an invasive species in other parts of the world. All the flowers in my photo are from one shrub that was easily 12 feet high, captured on the coast of Santa Monica with my iPhone.
The Vasquez Rocks Natural Area served as a primal backdrop for a cave woman photo shoot. Although not a professional model, beautiful Vivica was perfect for the role due to her exotic appearance. I photographed this image circa 1992 on Fujichrome Velvia film.
The 2014 Culver City Car Show featured this hand-built custom hot rod with a surf theme, which attracted a lot of attention. It was originally created in 1964 by Barris Kustoms for Calvin Clark, the publisher of International Surfing Magazine. The vehicle was more than just an art car, as it was designed for actual street use. They don't make 'em like that anymore!
This surreal landscape with gigantic fish can be seen at the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin. There are many oversized fish statues on the grounds, but the main attraction is the enormous Muskie, which has an observation deck in its mouth! Muskie is short for Muskellunge, the largest member of the pike family, and native to North American lakes. This photo is from the year 2000, shot on Kodak gold film.
Thoroughbred horses head for the finish line at historical Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. The location is beautiful, with a picturesque backdrop of the San Gabriel mountain range. Numerous Hollywood movie and television productions have filmed there since the 1930s, due to its proximity to Los Angeles. This is an HDR iPhone photo, from 2015.
