The Ed Column

2011 In Pictures Part II

efcarrasco — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:07:18 +0000

Of course, outside of my freelancing realm, I actually take photos for fun. Whether it’s capturing the protests in front of the Fullerton Police Department or a day at the park, I enjoy covering what needs to be covered and finding fascinating stuff. Here’s a few things I’ve captured in 2011:

2011 In Pictures From My LA Weekly/OC Weekly Work

efcarrasco — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:39:39 +0000

What a year! The year 2011 has had its ups and downs, but I was very blessed to work as a freelance photographer for OC Weekly, LA Weekly and other publications. Here’s a sampling of some stories/events I’ve covered in this interesting year. Thank you to all the editors who have worked with me since August and a special thanks to the hundreds of people–from presidential candidates to protesters–I’ve had a pleasure to photograph.

Ed Carrasco/LA Weekly

Ed Carrasco/OC Weekly

Ed Carrasco/LA Weekly

Ed Carrasco/OC Weekly

Good Tidings

efcarrasco — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:35:54 +0000

This has been a fascinating year for me (more on my year in review posts). I know I’ve been largely absent from the blogosphere, but my Facebook page and Twitter are always available. However, I feel I need to return to the blogosphere because there’s a lot of things you can’t say in just 140 characters.

That said, The Ed Column is now a temporary site for Ed Carrasco Photography. I am aiming to have a website dedicated to my photography and the like sometime in the next year, but for now this will suffice. While my Flickr and Facebook pages will focus on galleries, this blog site will focus on a select few and I’ll have my two cents on them.

I hope you’ve got your presents ready!

Sleeping in Airports

efcarrasco — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:37:55 +0000

I don’t know what brought me to sleep inside Vancouver International Airport. It could be that my flight landed at 11:30pm and didn’t get out of customs until almost midnight. It could be that I didn’t want to spend money on a room after midnight. Nevertheless, I found space in the quiet confines of the International Terminal and attempted a good night’s sleep.

If you must sleep at an airport for the evening because hotels are unaffordable and filled up, here are some things to consider:

1) Make sure that airport workers don’t give a crap-At Vancouver’s airport for instance, many security guards and CBSA agents (their equivalent of Homeland Security) mill around throughout the evening and no one seemed to care whether anyone was snoring or camping in the benches.

2) If you value peace and quiet, avoid families with young children-Not that I have anything against children, but some children either cry a lot or just don’t stop talking and talking and talking and talking.

3) Use a pillow-Did you think the airport workers will give you some for free?

4) Earplugs are your best friend-Seriously. It sure beats having to listen to a cleaning machine circle around your bench at three in the morning.

5) Cover your eyes-Those lights at the airport are really, really not conducive to sleep.

If you follow these instructions, I’m sure the chances of waking up cranky will lessen. That’s my advice, but I’m sure this Sleeping in Airports site will give you more tips.

“Make this a good day…”

efcarrasco — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:30:37 +0000

I hope everyone has a good day, courtesy of K-Pop singer IU (It’s her birthday today). Next time you guys invite me to a noraebang, I WILL sing this song!

“Sometimes It Lasts In Love/But Sometimes It Hurts Instead”

efcarrasco — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:26:24 +0000

First time in years I haven’t do anything family-related for Easter. However, I did celebrate my uncle’s 60th birthday last night, so if you think that counts, by all means do.

That said, the weather is overcast and it showered this morning. Not quite the picture perfect Easter Sunday weather. It’s good to stay at home and just relax. Relaxation also could mean reflection and this song below–”Someone Like You” by Adele–is great to reflect on this day. While everyone is praising “Rolling in the Deep,” I personally think this song is one of her stronger songs.

What Does Bureaucracy Look Like?

efcarrasco — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:52:11 +0000

Jan Banning seems to know the answer in his gallery aptly titled “Bureaucratics.” The photos depict countless bureaucrats in eight different countries. Here’s a smidgen of these people you love to sneer at:

Photo courtesy of Jan Banning.

Congratulations Los Angeles Times

efcarrasco — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:42:39 +0000

Today is a great day in the journalism world. The Los Angeles Times (the newspaper for my region) won two Pulitzer Prizes–the coveted public service award for uncovering corruption in the city of Bell and the feature photography award for its series on gang violence. Although the photography award deserves attention, my main focus will be on the public service award.

For those who don’t know about the Bell scandal, to sum it up in a few sentences, it largely involves a city manager named Robert Rizzo (could be related to Rizzo the Rat?), who, after years of scheming and little oversight, managed to earn about $1 million (including benefits). Salary alone is around $800,000. Keep in mind that Bell is a largely working class city with a small tax base and roughly 36,000 people. The question that many ask: Was it worth it?

To sum it up, the authorities caught Rizzo and his gang of city employees and council members (nearly of the part-time council members at the time earned in excess of $100,000), arrested them and are now awaiting trial. The outrageous scandal in this small suburb of Los Angeles prompted more questions about the salaries’ of local government officials and employees and encouraged more news outlets to look into local government. The actions of the journalists at the Los Angeles Times prompted more openness in local government as cities, counties and other local government organizations in California are required to post salaries by orders of the State Controller.

The Los Angeles Times’ Pulitzer Prize win is obviously good news for the aging paper, which has seen cutbacks in its staff and an ownership gone amok. It’s also good for local government transparency. At a recent Artesia city council meeting that I covered for Cerritos-Artesia Patch, the mayor is holding town hall meetings to encourage discussion and to dispel the image that all cities are like Bell. Good for Artesia!

However, challenges still remain at the venerable paper. Does the success of the paper in the investigation front mean more investment in the paper? Will keeping politicians accountable for their actions slow down after Bell? I hope that we can find the answers to these questions. Until then, the Los Angeles Times should be feted for uncovering this corruption and waste in Southern California.

If I Were At Coachella

efcarrasco — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:55:39 +0000

Another year. Another Coachella. While some of you are enjoying the brutal sun and sweat, I’m typing this from an air-conditioned Starbucks at an undisclosed location. I couldn’t possibly list all the bands at Coachella that I’d like to see this year, but here’s a sampling:

Coachella 2012 better not disappoint me. By that time I’ll have a ton of money saved (and possibly a hotel with a pool!). That is, unless a wedding or some breaking news comes up. Enjoy it you Coachellans!

Thank You KCRW: Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – “Come Undone”

efcarrasco — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:46:48 +0000

Well, it looks like NPR and PBS will not face the ax for the rest of 2011. However, the battle for 2012 still looms ahead, so it’s important that people know some things about these wonderful institutions. This regular feature will be less about “SAVE NPR AND PBS” and more about the great things I’ve learned or listened to by tuning into KCRW, one of two local NPR stations in the Los Angeles/Orange County area (the other is KPCC).

Here’s a great tune that I stumbled upon as I was listening to Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW recently. I love the haunting piano melody, the crackling voice of Isobel Campbell and the deep, husky baritones of Mark Lanegan . This song is called “Come Undone” (not related to the Duran Duran song).