Ruby & Lola

Ruby Montana (our hostess) and Lola (our host dog?) posed for us just as we left. :)

Ruby runs a place that's both very exciting and very chill at the same time, and I felt like I was in one of the middle-century road trip photo books I'm so fond of. After saying good-bye to Ruby and leaving her with some nice wine from Napa, we took off for our next stop, Vegas!

The Cabbie

This is another one from my class project. This guy was a natural -- he didn't require any posing at all. I asked B to hold the flash up as high as she could, and I liked the outcome.

I have an operating theory: I've basically never met a cabbie I wouldn't want a portrait of. Lots of character, lots of attitude -- might be a fun subject for a photo project.

Ritchie

My last assignment for my portrait class was to get three photos in Palm Springs and three from Las Vegas. Betsy was good enough to walk around downtown Palm Springs with me for an hour after dinner, and I had her hold my flash while I approached strangers to take their portrait. Palm Springs proved to be a very friendly, approachable place -- as it would turn out, almost no one turned me down. It's not clear if this is because of the civilizing aspect of B's presence, the fact that it's a pretty laid back place, or both. :)

Even Yiddish Cowgirls Sing the Blues

Our room at the Coral Sands.

Patriotic Pastries

Presented without comment; found in the Ralph's in Palm Springs.

Ruby's At Night

Shot after a long night out on the town in Palm Springs. Love the technicolor mood. :)

Lola in the Good Light

Ruby has an army of chihuahuas and chihuahua-like dogs at her place, any one of which is eager to sleep with you. Lola likes Betsy best, so ended up clambering into bed with us after our first night there.

For whatever reason, Betsy (bless her heart) is one of those people who seems to naturally get up early in the morning -- sometimes even at hours I go to bed. So, I heard her rustling around at 7am, and stared bleary-eyed and glass-less at the couch at the other side of the room, and saw Lola sitting in some particularly nice early-morning light. According to B, I snapped off an order: "Dog in good light; take picture now!", and then promptly went back to bed.

Sunbathing

We both did what we do best when we got to the Coral Sands -- Betsy sunbathed and read out by the pool, and I took a nap. When I woke up, this is what I saw. :)