chase the light

Ben Gunsberger

Ben came from Australia to work at PDI/DreamWorks. A newspaper back home was doing an article on Shrek and he needed photos to send to them. So we shot some in the lobby and out front. He’s quite purple for some reason.

Point Bonita Lighthouse

Point Bonita Lighthouse

I took Mike out hiking to Point Bonita Lighthouse. He complained the whole time. So much for having fun! Ya bastard curmudgeon! It’s only open about 3 hours a day, but fortunately we hit it at the right time. A typically cold and windy day in the Marin headlands. Lot’s of seals down on the beaches. Then we headed over to the “Bay Model“. It’s a giant working re-creation of the bay with working tides and currents. Ugly model, but interesting.

When advertising goes awry. Some genius thought it would be a good idea to promote IBM’s new Linux servers [LINK] by stenciling cute little symbols on the sidewalks. They also thought Haight/Ashbury would be a good place for this?! They didn’t take into account they’d be dealing with San Franciscan’s who immediately displayed their feelings. I like that they picked blue to paint out the symbols. The report showed up in the papers and IBM got slapped and had to have all the sidewalks cleaned of their taggings. Less than a week later a traditional billboard went up on Hwy 101 in Silicon Valley.

Gladstone’s

Kathleen Cohen introduced me to Gladstone’s and we now seem to have lunches there a lot. It’s a beach thing. Sit outdoors, have the sea bass, pay the expensive bill, take your food home in a foil shaped animal and enjoy yourself. Always the best of times.

The day after the layoffs from PDI, I flew down to L.A. to go to a Steamboat Software Bar-b-que and Charlie’s 30th birthday. Also to start looking for a job. No need to lollygag. [LINK] Charlie decapites a bunny pinata that doesn’t even move. Talk about shooting fish in a barrel. It’s a strong PG-13, so watch the kids. Lot’s ‘o meat.

Sunday Morning Golden Gate Park

Sunday Morning Golden Gate Park

I walked over to Haight street and had breakfast at Squat and Gooble, but on my way back I took short cut through the park. I came across this area that I’d never been to before. The oldest children’s park in the nation. You learn something new everyday. It’s actually behind me, because it’s not considered appropriate to shoot photos at playgrounds while kids are there. Especially if you’re a guy and by yourself. It looks a little creepy. Then as I go over to the Museum area an orchestra was playing. Ah… Sunday mornings are for relaxing. Let’s listen in…

Elevation – Beautiful Day – Until The End Of The World – New Year’s Day – Kite – New York – I Will Follow – Sunday Bloody Sunday / Get Up Stand Up – Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of – In A Little While – Angel Of Harlem – Stay (Faraway, So Close!) – All I Want Is You – Where The Streets Have No Name – Mysterious Ways – The Fly

Encores: Bullet The Blue Sky – With Or Without You – Pride (In The Name Of Love) – One – Walk On / Hallelujah

‘Kite’ make its debut and Stay’ shows up as the first ‘Zooropa’ song ever performed on North American soil.

My Office Stuff

1. The Rocket of Peace. 2. My Nokia phone which is basically a Walkie Talkie. 3. Stevie Nicks – Belladonna 4. Email interface machine 5. The blinkie phone call dinosaur alerter. 6. Skater stickers. 7. The metal dog/wolf/hyena/buffalo thingy. 8. Another skater sticker. 9. The Happy Face. 10. Real Skateboards patch. 11. Much love note. 12. “You’re my Star” lamp. 13. Duck candle (about to meet their maker). 14. Coffee Bean thermos. 15. Koo Koo Roo menu. 16. Top Secret Recipes Book (home of the sicilian sub rosa). 17. Barcelona guidebook.

Sunset On Xulu

Sunset On Xulu

On the roof of the Xulu.com Entertainment, Inc. building in SOMA. Friend Eric is doing some visualization for this entertainment venue company. I went for a visit after work and played some of the games and took in some of the sights from the roof. I even got to meet Iain McCaig. He’s a concept artist for the current Star Wars films. He’s also the illustrator of one of my favorite album covers. Jethro Tull’s “Broadsword and the Beast”. [LINK] The sunset was so colorful it was kinda scary. City Hall doesn’t deserve such a backdrop.

I flew down to L.A. to do my taxes and see a friends band “Anyone” at the House of Blues Anaheim. On the way home I was fortunate to have been on a brand new Southwest Airlines airplane. The windows were spotless, and the clouds were amazing that day.

Pacifica Beach

There are 13 years between these photos. I went on a road trip with my friends to Pacifica in 1988, and here I am revisiting it. It’s the first time I’ve been back here since school, and it’s weird to think that I don’t know any of them now. Friends change, sunsets don’t.

The Mister and Missus

These mallard ducks started hanging out on the back door of PDI. The male always keeps an eye out while the female sleeps. What a nice guy.

Montara Beach, Half Moon Bay

I went home sick from work today, so I took the coast home. I spent more time playing around than actually resting. Oh well, it made me feel better. I love the layers along this eroded beach, Montara State Beach. Not a very good nude beach apparently.

Stow Lake

Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. Out on my nightly walk.

I won the big prize at the Oscar Party! I won $100 for picking the most winners. I rarely lose this game.

The Lighting team from Shrek had our own wrap party. Probably to console each other that we actually did a good job. We probably didn’t mean some of the things we said to each other during production either.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

What’s great about this photo is that it’s only 10 minutes from my house. I love that you can lie in photography. The fog has started to roll in, but the sun is still poking through. What you can’t hear or see is a cargo ship blowing its horn as it comes through the fog towards the bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge

How many times can you shoot this photograph? Apparently a lot. [LINK] Here’s my version. No better, no worse. It’s a little cooler out than it looks. In the middle of Fort Point there’s this big black cannon. It’s almost impossible to take a photo of it with no one in the picture. It took me over 20 minutes. There’s always someone in front of it for some reason. Damn Boy Scouts, always in the way, runnin’ all over, makin’ noise…

A wrap party PDI/DreamWorks style. In the parking lot. They really now how to splurge on us after having sweated through two years of work. Factoid: The Shrek Crew Jackets… don’t say crew on them. Thanks a lot.