Conan O'Brien

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Tomorrow night, Conan O'Brien takes over the reigns of The Tonight Show. I was a die-hard Carson fan, so I never really got on board with Leno's style of comedy. But I am really looking forward to what Conan does with the earlier time slot.

The photo above was totally lucky on my part. I was on assignment in San Francisco and wandering around downtown when I saw a film crew setting up. A passerby said Conan O'Brien was shooting a bit so I decided to stick around.

Shortly after, this large lanky praying mantis-lookin' redhead dude came running out, turned a cable car around by hand, then ran off. It was Conan.

Completely random. I snapped one frame.

Godspeed Conan.

Made for Walkin'

Paul at Schatzlein Saddle Shop. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

We're heading back to Minnesota later this month to visit family. (The stoic Scandinavian branch of the family tree.) This portrait was taken on our last visit to Minneapolis just over a year ago. It's Paul from Schatzlein Saddle Shop, a family run business that recently celebrated it's 100 year anniversary. That's right, I said 100 years. Paul is third generation Schatzlein and he helped me fit and order a fine pair of handmade Lucchese Black Cherry Buffalo Classics.

I'll be wearing them when we visit him again on this trip.

Don't Crowd

L.A. Coliseum Tunnel (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Personal Work - Aaron

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

This is Aaron. I've known him for about 15 years now. We were co-workers together in the Navy's Marine Mammal Research Program circa '94. We worked for, by far, one of the worst bosses ever. It's true what they say, misery does indeed love company. We'd be stuck on a little 22 ft. Boston Whaler at sea for hours on end thinking of ways to push this contemptible loser overboard and make it look like an accident.

"I could hit a wake too hard," Aaron would say. "Bump! Splash! Half day!"

"The anchor line could wrap around his foot!" I'd respond. "To the bottom. Quickly."

In the end, the only thing that stopped us was the inevitable paperwork that would ensue. So instead we'd just laugh to ourselves and tell horribly inappropriate inside jokes to one another in front of John. (Who was too stupid to realize we were having fun at his expense.)

Aaron was driving through L.A. from San Diego a few weeks back and stopped by the studio to say hi. And thankfully, agreed to a portrait.

Thanks Aaron. Good times buddy.

Obama Rally

So when I heard that Barack Obama might fill up Key Arena here in Seattle, I decided to check it out myself.

I had some extra Portra 400 film to use up so I grabbed the Hasselblad and hopped on the #13 bus to "The Key." I arrived at 11am, when they were scheduled to open the gates--and got turned away. The Key filled up in 15 minutes. People had been camping in line since 6am that morning. So instead, I wandered around the arena grounds meeting and photographing people.

A few frames of the day.



I heard this gentleman long before I saw him. He had an unavoidable laugh, was pretty talkative and most of all very, very proud.



Schoolchildren arriving at the event.



Officer Blanco from the Senator's motorcade enjoying a fine cigar during some down time while waiting for the rally to conclude.



Change was in the air, and on the ground.

(All images © William Anthony)