Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Wilshire Blvd. and Highland Ave.

You never know what you are gonna see on Wilshire Blvd.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

International Tiger Day

Good news on the 3rd annual International Tiger Day, July 29, 2013.
The Sumatran tiger population is on the rise according to the Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservancy. Around 350 wild Sumatran tigers exist in Indonesia, and that represents about 10% of the world's wild tiger population.
I was lucky enough to photograph this Sumatran tiger at the Taman Safari in Bogor, Indonesia earlier this year.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013
Sumatran tiger.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Pasadena City Hall

No trip to Pasadena is complete without seeing the City Hall Building.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013
Click on image to see larger.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Two Mayors

Was reflecting on the very different experiences of photographing two mayors of Compton for the LA Weekly.
The first cover shoot was of Mayor Omar Bradley back in May of 2001. Set up a photo shoot for inside the Mayor's office at Compton City Hall. He didn't say much to me, just sat down at his desk and crossed his hands in front of him. Seated inside the office were several ministers and friends of the mayor. They were chanting some terse religious verses from the bible, mostly from revelations I think, through out the shoot. Shot about 2 rolls of 120 film, 24 images, and took off. When I processed the film, there was one shot that stood out and it was picked for the cover. The image became very controversial, because it looked as if the Compton city seal had made a set of horns on the mayor's head.
12 years fast forward. I was assigned by the LA Weekly once again to cover the newest mayor of Compton, Aja Brown. We met at a fancy new Starbucks in Compton. We all, Mayor Aja Brown the writer Patrick Range McDonald and myself, sat outside in the afternoon sun under a huge umbrella and sipped coffee drinks. I photographed her between questions from Patrick, and the cover image was picked from that shoot. The umbrella cast a perfect light on Mayor Brown, and the open look of the background was perfect.
Will be interesting to see what is in store for the city of Compton under Mayor Brown's leadership.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013
Mayor Aja Brown 2013.

Mayor Omar Bradley 2001

Monday, July 22, 2013

Super Sunset

Waiting for the super moon and found a super sunset. Wilshire Blvd in Hancock Park.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013


Dead Palm

A palm stump on 3rd Street in Los Angeles decorated by the artist "Love Annie."

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013
Happy Monday.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Rosa Parks Freeway


Trayon Martin protest march on Crenshaw Ave over the 10 "Rosa Parks" freeway today in to South Los Angeles. The march was peaceful and did not attempt to make it's way on to the freeway, unlike last week's march.

Video by Ted Soqui films © 2013

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Trayvon Martin Protest in Beverly Hills

Around two-hundred protesters took to the streets of Beverly Hills and marched to Rodeo Drive this afternoon.
They held a rally at Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Blvd. calling for locals to 'put down their champagne glasses' in honor of Trayvon Martin. The march then headed back to a park on La Cienega and called it a night.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013
Justice for Trayvon in BH.

Rally at Wilshire Blvd. and Rodeo Drive.

Wine and afternoon tiramisu interrupted.

Rollin' down Wilshire Blvd.

Wilshire Blvd. And Canon Drive.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Trayvon Martin Protest in LA Day 3

Day three of protest in response to the Trayvon Martin murder verdict in Florida. A crowd of two-hundred plus people marched around downtown and briefly made a stop in front of LAPD headquarters. LAPD had a high profile presence and no trouble was reported in connection with the march.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013
Rally in front of LA City Hall.

LAPD headquarters.

Rally at LA City Hall.

Rally at LA City Hall.

LAPD yellow taping LA City Hall.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Metro Driver 75292

I was shooting the protest and rallies in South Central LA in response to the Trayvon Martin murder verdicts today. Several of my colleagues and I decided to follow the march down Crenshaw Ave. lead by some young and rowdy kids. 
We found ourselves miles away from Leimert park, our starting point, and decided to head back. 
All of a sudden an Angel from above, Metro Driver 75292 saw us and told us to get aboard the bus. 
We did and thanked her for saving us a long walk.
God bless Metro driver 75292, we did.


Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013
MTA driver 75292

Another Day of Protest on Crenshaw

Another day of protest in response to the verdict in the Trayvon Martin murder case in Los Angeles. The protest began at Leimert Park after a prayer vigil, lead by Najee Ali.
The march took off SB on Crenshaw Ave, it was mostly peaceful except for the lead group of demonstrators who jumped on cars and attacked a couple of businesses on Crenshaw Ave.

photos by Ted Soqui © 2013
Masked protester at Leimert Park.

Comedy and tragedy at Leimert Park.

Protesters jumping on cars on Crenshaw Ave.

A business getting attacked on Crenshaw Ave.

Protesters on Crenshaw Ave.

Leimert Park vigil.

Protester on Crenshaw Ave.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Trayvon Martin Protest in the Crenshaw District

Thousands of people protested in reaction to the verdict in the Trayvon Martin shooting case. People marched up and down Crenshaw Blvd. until several groups spun off and headed to destinations through out the city.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013
Protesting on the 'Shaw.

Young protester.

Fist in the air on the 'Shaw.

Marching up the 'Shaw.

The "Ladies of the City."

Trayvon Martin Protest in Los Angeles

Images from the Trayvon Protest march in South Los Angeles today. The 10 freeway was briefly shut down due to protesters entering the freeway.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013
LAPD officers block the entrance to the 10 freeway.

A protester was arrested in the mid-city area.

A man angry at LAPD is held back by his friend.

LAPD officer en guard in the mid-city.

LAPD officer holding the line in the mid-city.

Protesters marching up Western Ave in Koreatown.

10 freeway was shut down by protesters.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Gray Day in Downtown

A gray day in downtown Los Angeles.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2013
Antonio Aguilar statue.

Union Station.

Arts district.

Hall of Justice Building.

Criminal Courthouse Building.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

110 Freeway Shut Down

Was driving on the 110 SB for an assignment in Compton yesterday, when I noticed the other side of the 110 freeway had no cars on it.
There was a car-to-car shooting on the 110 NB earlier in the day, so the CHP decided top shut down a long section of the freeway and look for evidence. The back-up went for miles as commuters attempted to navigate their ways around the traffic nightmare.
I snapped this image quickly from my car and wasn't looking forward to the return trip.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2013
The 110 NB cleared for miles and miles.