Pricks of Brightness

One of the great (and sometimes not so great) things about LA is its vastness. Just one trip to the opposite side can make you feel like you're in a different city. One minute you're frolicking in alleyways near your apartment, and the next you're on the West side, splashing around in the ocean to escape the heat. After feeling (metaphorically and literally) landlocked for a while, it was indescribably calming to let the waves tickle our toes. Just standing there, unsure where the ocean began and the sky started, we reveled in this majestic sight until the sun set into the horizon.

Mountain Top

Craving a break from reality, we thought we would find clarity and peace while hiking at Eaton Canyon. Despite being in the midst of the tall trees and pretty waterfalls, we felt out of our element and out of sorts. After cooling off with some lavender honey ice cream, we picked up our bad habits of searching for another dingy and grimy corner of Los Angeles to romp around.  In all of its forbidden glory with its winding steep staircases and hidden alleyways, The Brewery became our new mountain to climb and explore. With a strict permit only policy, exploring and shooting required a great deal of stealth and cunningness. Like ninjas, we creeped and shot guerrilla style until we finally reached the top of our mountain. As always with a long hike, the view was definitely worth the climb. We were rewarded by a breathtaking view of Downtown LA and finally found peace in the decaying beauty around us.

In a Hopeless Place

It seems as if no matter where we go, the sun is always one step ahead of us, and our recent trip to Palm Desert was no exception. With nothing but blue skies and the open road ahead of us, we raced to Salvation Mountain just in time to catch the sunset. After what seemed like hours and hours of driving, we finally reached our destination in what seemed like a hopeless place. With its many bright colors and patterns, the mountain stands as a testament to what one man can create. Once we followed the yellow brick road to the top, we watched the sun fade into the horizon. As dusk settled in and the tourists filed out one by one, the mountain was just ours to rest on for a short while while we waited for the stars to peek out.

Go Outside

After getting our recurring fix of a good chicken sandwich and fries at The Kroft, we explored the Anaheim Packing District. Sitting on top of a railroad track, the packing house is a mecca of good food and drinks with a variety of vendors and restaurants. We had fun spending the afternoon in this cool space relaxing in a swinging bench, enjoying live music, and being surrounded by pretty plants. We paralleled the diversity of the food with our outfits--channeling Japanese and British vibes. After soaking up the last of the sun rays of the Fall afternoon, we continued the relaxed feel of the day with coffee, dinner, and a walk in the park.

Life in Color

After our weekend at the beach, we thought we would ease back into life in LA with a quick trip to Silver Lake. Chain link fenced views of the city skyline; street islands that make you feel like the center of the universe; and randomly glaring wall art are all part of the appeal of this quirky city that we love. $5 moscow mules at our favorite bar and vegetarian indian food made for an easy and perfect bookend to our usual sunset chase. Nostalgic of our past skulls phase, we had fun playing with and wearing this scarf especially when the wind and sun caught it.  This trip was just enough taste of the city for us before our upcoming trip to Las Vegas where instead of chasing sunsets, we'll be chasing floating lanterns and drinks. The weekends just never seem to come quick enough.

Fallin in California

We took a mental health day by getting out of the hustle and bustle of LA and retreating to the comfort of the beaches in Orange County. It just wouldn't be Fall in California without a beach day in the middle of October. We thought we'd be even more festive with some Oktoberfest beer which was just the icing on the cake for our relaxed afternoon. A baseball tee and gym shorts tied everything together since style was the least of our concerns that day. There's just something so reenergizing about a secluded beach, stolen kisses, and the sunset...at least until a huge, random, single wave crashes and soaks your clothes and towels. Thanks to quick reflexes and unisex clothes we were able to scrounge together decent enough change of clothing to enjoy some mediterranean food and bid the weekend goodbye.

Somewhere Only We Know

We spent the weekend chasing the sunset in empty parking lots and lonely alleys in Melrose. There's always something so beautiful in the simultaneous stillness and tension during the transition from day to night. It's a kind of chasing we'll never stop doing.

Sun Francisco

The word, lost, can mean so many things: no longer possessed, gone astray, ended in defeat, destroyed, etc; but intentionality can play a role in one's enjoyment of being lost. On this trip to SF, we found ourselves lost a few times. The first was during our trek to get clam chowder at Pier 39 wasn't so enjoyable; but the other times while exploring the Mission area, wandering aimlessly yet intentionally with our cameras, will be moments I will always look back on nostalgically. The quiet sunrise on our last morning there will be another one of those fond memories.