On the Road - Las Vegas, NV

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - NYC (Part 2)

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

While in NYC, I finally made my way down to the temporary WTC Memorial at Ground Zero.

So sad on so many levels.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - NYC (Part 1)

Home of Liz Lemon. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Just returned from a week-long trip to New York City to show the portfolio around town and tour a few studios. The following are a few frames of personal shots from around the city.

Christmas in NYC, especially with snow, is amazing. I look forward to returning.


Chelsea Market. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


The Standard Hotel from The Skyline. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Lone chair near The Skyline. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Prius with snow and sneakers. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Brooklyn. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Farewell Ryan & Julie

Goodbye, home. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

By pure providence, my trip to Seattle coincided with the departure of two of my best friends from the Emerald City. I met Ryan first, circa 2004, through the music community. Sometime thereafter Ryan began dating "The Girl Next Door." Literally. They were neighbors. They fell in love. Happily ever after, etc. Since then, they have been friends, confidants and double-date partners.

They lived in a small, 20s era courtyard apartment complex officially known as "The Taylor Court Apartments." Unofficially known by residents as "Ghetto Melrose Place" or just "Ghetto Melrose." Anyone who visited them or participated in their epic barbecues or annual Halloween Party can attest to the wonderful spirit at that place.

When Pamela and I left Seattle back in Summer '08, our very last stop before hitting the road for SoCal was Ghetto Melrose. And it was there that Ryan took the last photos of us as residents of the 206. The photos were beautiful, lyric.

Since I was present for their last day there as well, I took the photo above as payback. And though not nearly as artful as Ryan's, I think I captured the feeling quite well.


Progress looms. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Not unlike us, a few years back they became restless. They were changing. Seattle was changing. Some changes were subtle, some not. The seven story condo abomination built behind their building that brought nearly a year of construction noise and stole their late afternoon sunlight was an obvious one. And the last one.


Home Sweet Home 2.0. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

As of last week, they are residents where the nights are long, the stars bright: Texas. Austin specifically. I felt honored to be there as they said goodbye to the city that changed all of us. I know it was just as emotionally confusing as when we left. I was glad I could be there.

The Rainier beer tallboys and Ryan's incredible bbq fish sandwiches didn't exactly hurt either.

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 4)

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On a quiet, winding road alongside Lake Washington there is a small nondescript grassy park with a small lonely bench. A casual passerby may not even notice it. When I lived in Seattle I must have driven by it 20 times and never even saw it. That is, until one walks up to the bench to find it covered in scribbles and carvings written to "Kurt." That Kurt would be Kurt Cobain and that park sits adjacent to the house were he died 15 years ago.


"Sorry about the Guitar Hero thing." (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Officially, it's called Viretta Park. Informally, it's known as "Kurt's Park" and is the defacto Cobain memorial in Seattle. Every time I've visited it's a completely new bench, covered in messages like a guestbook. I've always been fascinated by the way people communicate indirectly like this. A long conversation taking place between people, separately, all drawn together by a single purpose or the emotions of loss.


Rest in Peace. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

I visited Kurt's Park this time with my 15 year old nephew. He's a huge Nirvana fan. It dawned on me as I photographed him at the park that he was born the year Kurt died. He's a physical reminder of the time that's gone by since that horrible day. As I watch this long-haired rebellious kid, who loves playing his guitar, wearing Converse sneaks with "Endorsement" written in Sharpie marker on the toes, I realize that Kurt really does live on.

Endless, Nameless.



Smoke offering. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 3)

Mudhony (sic). (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Grunge history in the throne room of Scott Colburn's recording studio/church in Ballard.

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 2)

Lake Union from the Space Needle. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Seattle, WA (Part 1)

Tall boy. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

A slab of meat.
A can of beer.
And thou.

On the Road - Manhattan

Dapper isn't Dead. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Chotskies. aka "tchotchkes." (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Times Square (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Don't Walk (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Avedon (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Tourist Dad (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - New York City

The Hot Seat (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - A Home Depot somewhere in MN

She found a bird nest. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Lino Lakes, MN

92º F. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Cambridge, MN

DinoMart (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Metrodome

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Robin: "Hey, I think the sun's out!"
Me: "How can you tell?"
Robin: "The circles in the ceiling just got brighter."

On the Road - Off MN Hwy 18

Make a huge wish. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Shakopee, MN

Ham. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - St. Paul, MN

Como Conservatory nymph. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Minneapolis, MN

Claes meets Morris (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Keenesburg, CO

The Duke. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

We drove right into a tornado warning/thunderstorm/hailfest enroute from Ft. Morgan to Denver. Knowing it would pass quickly, we pulled in to Rooster's Country Grill & Steakhouse off I-76 for some coffee and pie. Great place. Proof was right inside the front door.

On the Road - Aurora, CO

¡Olé! (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Nederland, CO

Right vs. Left. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Subtle political message?

On the Road - Gold Hill, CO

Fence at 8,300 ft. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Cody

1.5 years old. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Cody is the son of very good friends of ours in Colorado. He is also very easy to photograph. This morning, he stealthily stuffed half of his waffle between the sofa cushions while watching cartoons.

I like Cody.

On the Road - Boulder, CO

T&A 4 sale. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - San Diego, CA

Mom and Dad's house. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

This was, and still is, my favorite time of day.

On the Road - Torrey Pines State Beach

Overheard: "Yippee!!!" (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

We are pretty happy. We think we found our wedding location. (Hint: Just up a short road from here.)

On the Road - Tom, Randy and J.D.

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

This past weekend, I found myself on an Amtrak train from L.A to San Diego. I brought a book to read thinking it would be nice to just chill, not worry about I-5 traffic and watch the Pacific Ocean go by outside the right-hand windows. That scenario lasted from Union Station to Fullerton, the first stop, where Tom, Randy and J.D. got on board.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

I heard the three get on board (pretty hard to not hear them actually) and strike up conversation with a middle-aged woman who said she was a retired U.S. Marshall. During the conversation I saw one of the guys was wearing a tee shirt for the Funhouse, a punk venue in Seattle owned by friend Brian Foss of KEXP's Sonic Reducer show. When he walked by I asked him about it and we started talking about music, girlfriends, mutual friends in Seattle and everything in between. His name was Tom and he kind of looked like Jesus—holding a Bud Light.

Then Randy walked up and punched Tom in the side.

Randy is tattooed just about everywhere—arms, chest, knuckles, throat... uh... eyelid. And the stories written on his body didn't even come close to the one's he told me over the three beers he drank. Funny guy. Even funnier when he chose to wake up J.D., the third of the three who was asleep in his seat, by dropping trou and giving him a mushroom stamp. Of course, he did this while Tom recorded it on his cell phone, and before the conductor came through to check tickets.

J.D. woke up, then promptly punched Randy in the balls. While Randy squirmed around the center aisle, Tom walked up and poured beer down his ass crack.

I completely forgot about my book or the damn Pacific Ocean.

Once we got to San Diego, where by the way, they were to "see some chicks," I asked for a portrait of all three. They happily obliged, but not before asking a young lady passerby to join. She was all smiles. Something that happens a lot around these three guys I'd imagine.

If, against all odds you happen to find the card I gave you and see this, it was nice meeting you guys.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

On the Road - Las Vegas, NV (Part 3)

Pink Cadillac. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

The reason for our trip to Vegas was that one of Pamela's best friends from high school was getting married and getting married in a very Vegas kind of way. The ceremony took place at the Little White Wedding Chapel in the North part of the strip. It's a famous location of sorts. Joan Collins and Michael Jordan were married here, not to each other mind you, as well as other celebs.

I don't shoot many weddings. And I wasn't the official photographer for this one. Which is nice because it allowed me to roam and capture the spirit of the event from the perspective of a guest. A perspective not usually seen by the bride and groom and one I am very good at. ("Excuse me where is the champagne? Thank you very much.")

And no, they were not married by Elvis.

Best wishes to Stephanie and Mike.


Here comes the bride. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Tourist drive-by shooting. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Stephanie. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony