February 14, 2006

• PhotoPost: Pacific Coast Highway Series

  In 2004 I created the "Small Town America in Lost Angeles" series of photos for my Webshots Gallery. The photo series takes four folders and has roughly 400 photos online. I also took a photo series of Hollywood Boulevard. These series can be found among the folders on my Webshots Gallery. This year, I am planning a series on Pacific Coast Highway. Not only do I hope to get a lot of photos here in town and in Long Beach, Torrance, and the Beach Cities, but perhaps take some photos while driving up the coast with the top down when the weather gets better.

  

  Since those living in the North Eastern States suffered through a nor'easter that dropped more snow on Central Park in NYC than has been seen in over 40 years, and we had 80 degree weather and clear skies this past weekend, I began my photo series with some shots on Sunday. However, today I also took my camera to work, and by the time I got off, a cloud cover had formed, and it was quite overcast. Didn't stop me from snapping a few photos, however. Here is a Bob's Big Boy right off of PCH in Torrance. Bob's used to be a rather large restaurant chain in SoCal but they went out of business in the early 90s. I was quite surprised to see Carrow's "turn into" a Bob's and I haven't been in this restaurant yet, but wanted to snap a photo for the first in my Pacific Coast Highway Series. 

  

  Right up the street, also in Torrance, I shot this photo showing some of the hillside homes on the hill leading to the Palos Verdes peninsula. This was also on Sunday, and the weather was quite nice.

  

  Further up the street I got a photo of one of the now ubiquitous Walgreen's Drug stores, which now blanket the South Bay. The landscape changes quite often around here, and there used to be a complete shopping center here, which was torn down to create, you guessed it, another shopping center. The ocean is on the other side of the "hill", about 6 or 8 miles away.

  

  This was taken today, at lunch outside of one of the many apartment complexes in Long Beach, right off of PCH. I sometimes drive to work using Pacific Coast Highway. I liked the idea that they have a "For Rent" sign right on the name of the apartment complex, which looks like it needs a paint job.

  

  This is the exit lane for PCH on the 110 (Harbor) Freeway going southbound. Shot from the front window of my car as I slowed down. Torrance Airport has exactly one runway, but a lot of classic and antique planes are housed there, and the Torrance Air Show attracts a lot of people.

  

  Here is a row of new bikes for sale at California Harley Davidson about four blocks from where I live in Lomita. We have two east-west boulevards which go through town, Lomita Blvd, and PCH. California Harley has really expanded in the past five years, and now takes up almost a whole half block. That's a new silver 1300 in front.

  

  Just cause I like this bike, here is another view.

  

  We have a topless bar in Harbor City. I liked it's old name and paint job better. It used to be called the "Front View Cabaret". In order to get this photo, I'm across the street and crouching in the parking lot of the minimall with the azaleas right in front of the lens. I snapped about six photos before getting one without traffic. PCH is packed with cars most all the time.

  

  I'm always taking photos of phone booths. Here is one outside the 99cents store, called "Bargain 2000" across from the topless bar.

  

  The painting on the outside of Bill's Liquor, also in Harbor City, has been there for as far back as I can remember. Pat and I would buy our racing forms here if we were taking off for the track from Bob's (The Frat House) where I lived in the late 80s and early 90s before moving in with her.

  

  It was a mite overcast, and almost 4pm when I snapped this and the next photo showing some of the motel signs along PCH. There are lots of motels along the boulevard. They are constantly being remodeled, and bought and resold, and yet at night time their parking lots are always packed with autos. I've always thought it neat that Pacific Coast Highway is one of our "Main Streets", except when I need to get somewhere in a hurry. "Rush Hour" lasts nearly all day. More photos will be presented in this series thoughout the year. Next time I'll be photographing when it's a nicer day, but I've been planning this blog entry since last Friday, and wanted to show some of PCH.

  

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