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ALL-AMERICAN ROADS

When America’s best scenic drives are discussed, a few always make the list. US Hwy 1 on the Pacific Coast is an obvious choice, as is Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana. As amazing as these roads are, over 20 more are considered “All-American Roads” (see below), and one in particular stands out above all the rest as being both uniquely uncrowded and spectacular. Continue reading “”

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FAVORITE ALBUMS

Compiling a personal list of favorite albums can be challenging. From the first song to the last – not many records hang together as a whole.

This is one of the supposed advantages of downloading singles. You get to hear just the “good stuff”. Unfortunately, the good stuff tends to change with time, and this practice tends to ignore the concept of the well-crafted thematic album that can transport you to a another place. Continue reading “”

PART I. RANDY’S PHOTO TIPS – THE FIFTH ELEMENT IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Over the next three months, I’ll be posting once a month about creativity and photography. Here’s the first installment:

There are many ways to look at photography. Like music, one can see it as an expressive art form that captures an always-changing continuum. If you break down a photograph into only four elements you will probably come up with something like this: light, form, line and color. The corresponding elements in nature are: fire, air, earth and water, like the points of a compass. Going further, the elements of man reveal another quad: heart, mind, body and soul. There is also a fifth element to consider – that of transition, moment, space and consciousness. Continue reading “”

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ENJOYING TURNTABLES AND VINYL WITHOUT OBSESSING

Record Store Day is this Saturday. In preparation, here are a couple of good articles in The New York Times and the LA Weekly on enjoying the advantages of vinyl records without going crazy. There are lots of options for turntables, cartridges, and phono stages now that make spinning wax very easy. Collecting near mint first pressing original LPs, or tracking down the best sounding records? Well, you can go a little nuts doing that! Continue reading “”

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OUTLAW 356 AND 911 : BLACK AND SILVER

Once again, Excellence magazine has chosen to feature some remarkable Porsches. This month’s issue (#201) includes a black 1958 Porsche 356A sunroof coupe that became a Willhoit GT special and a silver 1972 Porsche 911 hot rod that returned to the street after many years as a race car.

I was fortunate to have covered both of these California cars in photographs and words. Each owner, Dick Moran and Chris Messano, is a true enthusiast intent on fulfilling their aspirations. Thanks, guys, for being who you are… Continue reading “”

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KID CHARLEMAGNE

Three dozen years ago, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan were putting the finishing touches on one of their lesser known albums – The Royal Scam. It’s a “fusion of a funk rhythm and jazz harmonies with rock and roll instrumentals and lyrical style” according to Wikpedia.

Of particular note is the track, “Kid Charlemagne”. On this song, guitarist Larry Carlton incorporated a jazz-inflected electric solo. It’s become famous for its difficulty to play and also for the finger-tapped hammer-on technique implemented near the end. This effect was not widely used until Van Halen’s first album was released two years later. Continue reading “”

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F.A. “BUTZI” PORSCHE (1935-2012)

It is with saddened heart that I report the passing of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in Salzburg, Austria today at the age of 76.

He was the first son of Ferry Porsche, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, and probably best known for leading the design/styling team for the iconic Porsche 911 sports car. Continue reading “”

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SCOTLAND

Magical moments are something we photographers live for. They are one of those times when we feel most alive.

This was one of those moments. My wife, Andrea, and I were touring Scotland and realized that the following evening would provide a full moon at dusk and a high tide reflection of the Eilean Donan Castle lit by the western sky in a nearby bay. It’s something that happens maybe once a year IF you are lucky and the weather is clear. Continue reading “”

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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

It’s only the first day of Spring, but never too early to be thinking about where to go. By mid-April flowering dogwood trees and early morning fog combine to produce wonderful scenes in a national park that deserves to be savored slowly. Straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a traveling photographer’s delight. Continue reading “”

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BOB DYLAN

Fifty years ago today, Bob Dylan released his debut album on Columbia Records. Billboard said at the time, “Dylan, when he finds his own style, could win a big following.”

Like many of Dylan’s early albums, including Freewheelin’, you want to hear this in mono. The stereo records of this title are hard panned 2 track mixes with the guitar in one channel and vocals in the other. Sony recently put out a Dylan mono LP and CD box set that sounds great. Continue reading “”