Category: Uncategorized

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I LIKE FILM AGAIN, lets explore analog again

I Like Film Again
I Like Film Again

I like film again. And I want to share my analog exploration with you. In fact, I used to (40 years ago) work in photography during the days of analog. And eventually (like everyone else) began shooting digital.

A few years back I took some photo classes. And this process brought me back to analog. Working with analog photography helped changed my entire photographic approach.

First I was reluctant to get back in the darkroom. And for a few years, I asked experts if they thought it was worth doing. In fact all of the experts agreed. Analog was an important component of all photography.

Of course, this took quite some time to happen. After rolls of film I began to see results. And not just 35mm, also 120mm and 4×5. As you may already know path is not cheap.

If you would like to see how the analog process affected my photography check out my skateboarding account on Instagram.

So if you are looking to improve your photos. Or maybe you have writer’s block? Then film, might be a good thing for your art.

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Does Disneyland Star Wars Land go to the Darkside?

Does Disneyland Star Wars Land fail?
Does Disneyland Star Wars Land fail?

Does Disneyland Star Wars Land go to the Darkside? Well, it did not do it for me or my 12-year-old son. In anticipation of visiting the new Star Wars land, I was hoping to have that Pirates of the Caribbean feeling. You know, when you emerge from the cave and see the pirate ship battling the fort? I’m sorry to say it didn’t happen for Apollo (my son) or me.

So what do I remember from my first visit to the new Star Wars land? Disney workers sweeping the ground while wearing Star Wars costumes. All kinds of food that seemed to be both familiar and from outer space, but did not hit the mark for my taste buds. And finally the ever ending opportunity to purchase Star Wars objects.

Why did Star Wars Land not appeal to me? It did not contain the spirit of Star Wars. And It seemed more geared for the parents than the kids. Finally it was so obviously not made by Walt Disney.

Would I visit Galaxy’s Edge again? Maybe to take pictures. And to give it a second chance. After all I was raised on Disneyland and Star Wars.

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Skateboard photographer Ray Zimmerman podcast

skateboard photographer
skateboard photographer Ray Zimmerman podcast

Skateboard photographer Ray Zimmerman is a misleading title, because Ray is photographer. In the first place he has made his living as a photographer his entire life. In the second place just have a look at his photography.

I first met Ray Zimmerman at Punkers pool ( a boutique made for skateboarding backyard pool) in Huntington Beach. I was shooting an add for someone (cant remember who). When I showed up to the pool there was Ray Zimmerman shooting. I froze in my tracks. I did not feel worthy. He said a friendly hello and said dont worry Ill be done in a few minutes. And after his shoot he came over to me and started to talk photography. He even showed me a flash hack that changed my photography. After this chance meeting with Ray my skateboard photography approach changed forever.

I had a long chat with Ray at the last Girls Combi Contest. And I asked him to do a podcast with me. I hope you get something out of our photography conversation that you can use in your own photography.

Skateboard Photographer Ray Zimmerman podcast

If you like skateboarding you might also check out my podcasts with

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The song “Home” Lyric Video

Home Lyric Video

Joey Grijalva and I wrote the song “Home” in 1992. The song lived on the album also named “Home” by our band Shoot The Moon. In fact Joey Grijalva and I wrote the entire Home album in a single evening.

If you owned a home studio in 1992 you could make a recording like this.

The Musicians

The musicians on Home are as follows, Joey Grijalva on guitars and vocals, Ken Hada, drums, keyboards, and backing vocals, John Horne Bass, and Julie Van Duren on backing vocals.

Joey Grijalva used a Carvin DC 135 through a Korg A3 for most of the rhythm guitar parts

John Horne used a Tobias Killer B bass plugged directly into the Studiomaster.

Ken Hada (me) used a Slingerland Maple drumset, with a DW wood snare drum. Ken hada used an assortment of Zildjian and Paiste cymbals.

For more information about how Shoot The Moon recorded their songs check out the Moon Studio section of this website.

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old skateboarders passing on the baton, Skatelab RIP

I read on facebook that Skatelab skate park in Simi Valley is going to be shut down.

The first thing I want to say is that I have only visited this park a few times. And during my first visit  to Skatelab I felt that unmistakable old school skatepark feeling. If you never hung out at one of the old school skateparks you wouldn’t understand. As a matter of fact I used to get the same feeling when I localized and worked at Skatopia Skatepark (in Buena Park California back in the late 1970’s). And as im writing this post I realize that the old school feeling has nothing to do with the skateboard museum or even the park itself. Interstingly I cannot really pinpoint why the place made me feel like I was in a old school skatepark. Maybe its the person or people who made that place?

Mixed feelings about Skatelabs closure

Surprisingly, I am both sad and happy that Skatelab is closing. The reasons I am sad are probably obvious. Whereas the  reason I am happy is less obvious. It has a little to do with old skateboarders passing on the baton.

Why i’m happy about the closure

So I am happy about the closure in more of a changing of the guard sense. Which is to say  (in my opinion) old skaters and old skater culture have hindered skateboarding to some level. Look around, old skate dudes run a lot of the companies and events and in my opinion it drag them down. I for one am curious to see what things new skateboarders will come up with. For me skateboard events, products and skateparks could use a fresh perspective. I believe the younger generation will find something exciting or interesting for skateboarding. So will the old skateboarding generation hand down control to the young? My guess would be no.

Skatelab is an important part of skateboarding history

In closing, to be clear I do not think that Skatelab has held back the progression of skateboarding. I mean what I say in more of a symbolic sense. And in a perfect world the place would be preserved in an even more museum like environment. But sadly old school skateboarding history like Jazz (another American invention) will probably slip into a slumber and ultimately fade away, And maybe thats the natural way of things?







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Is this Stranger Things for is this Stephen King?

I just finished watching season 2 of “Stranger Things”. I liked it but I have to wonder if the reason I liked it is because it reminds me of “It”, “Stand By Me”, “Firestarter”, “The Wolves of Calla”, and “The Talisman”. The pace of the story, the characters, and even the way some of the character look, all felt like a Stephen King book or production. Don’t get me wrong thats a nice place to start but it would have been nice to experience something beyond the original creators intentions. Will I watch Stranger Things 3? Yes because aside from the rehashed stories I really like the actors in these productions.