Colin Leiker
Photos of the etching process at Kala Arts Berkeley, CA. Artwork by Emilio Domingo, printing by Ben Engle, Black and White photos by Colin Leiker.
New Orleans
Earlier this year, I got to spend my first weekend ever in New Orleans, LA. I didn't even get to scratch the surface, but it became my most favorite city I've visited in a long time. Here are some photos I made with my trusty rangefinder. Can't wait to get back.
Eel River
Made a trip to Eel River with the homie Emilio and friends. I had never been swimming this far north in California before. The campsite was right on the river and made for some great day hikes to different swimming holes. Awesome trip, highly recommend. – Tim
photos by Tim Gatto
Michael Brown – Oakland
Last November 25th, like a lot of frustrated Americans, I headed to my downtown to show support for Michael Brown and other young black men that have recently lost their lives at the hands of the police. In the weeks to come, protests escalated and of course there were looters just looking to get into a crowd, but the overall environment that I witnessed was extremely peaceful. I was very proud to walk with the city of Oakland that night and am glad that many people showed up to demonstrate rather than to sit silent. – Tim
photos by Tim Gatto
Eastern Sierra motorbike trip
The middle of August 2014, some friends and I took a few days off of work and took the bikes out to the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada range. We met up on Friday morning the 15th in Dublin, being that all of us were from all over the Bay area. We crossed the Sierras that afternoon via hwy 88 and Carson pass. Descending the east side we set our sights on making it to the ghost town of Bodie by mid afternoon, then a supply run in Mammoth Lakes and settle that evening at the campground on Convict Lake. After a fairly cold night sleeping on the black top next to my bike (I almost always refuse to bring any kind of shelter to save weight, hassle of repacking and for a little shit talking rights) we crossed hwy 395 and headed a bit east to one of the regions hot spring fed tubs. Locals have built make shift hot tubs around the valley and rigged piping and mixing valves to regulate temperature and levels. Pretty amazing experience, I can't wait to get back out there in the winter with clear crisp air and some snow on the ground. After the bath, we pulled the triggers and shot south to the Alabama Hills outside of Lone Pine, CA. We toured the hills on foot with a clear view of Mt. Whitney looming above us, and the heat of 100 degrees in direct sunlight searing our skin. As we left the hills we headed back north with a destination of the Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest and camping in the White Mountains that night. Problems arose for me and my rear tire on the ascent of hwy 168 when had a tire puncture and became stranded with no cell service and tourists un willing to stop or even offer help. The other 4 in the group continued on to the camp as I dealt with the tire. A nice local man with a rock crawler jeep stopped and had air onboard which I used to inflate my tire with a half ass repair I had performed with tire plugs. I returned to Big Pine below and performed a more permanent 3/4 ass repair then with much consideration and hesitation, I decided to head back up the mountains and attempt to join the group. I made it and after well earned beers, and a nice fire we packed it in for the night. The next morning scoped out the oldest trees in the world for a few minutes and then started the trek down the mountain and back north to the 395 / 89 junction. A quick ride by view of Mono Lake and we were at the junction by 2pm. Scaling the Sierra with Silver Lake as the next stop on our journey, we made excellent time while I finally regained some confidence in the ability of my rear tire to retain air pressure. A 2 hour stop over at one of the guys' bosses USFS cabin and he gave a speedy boat ride. After saying good bye we then quickly found ourselves on the mormon emigrant trail descending upon Placerville and the final night's place of reprieve from the road. Monday morning was bitter sweet, after spending a month of my life on a motorcycle in 2011, these "smaller" trips never seem near long enough. We had a final breakfast meal together and split, 3 of us down 5o to the east bay and the other two toward the south bay. - George
395 south.
Bodie, CA.
Convict Lake, CA.
Pukley's Pool, near Convict Lake, CA.
Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA.
The original way to navigate.
Camping in the White Mountains.
Sunrise on the White Mountains.
395 and 89 junction. Topaz, CA.
100 degrees in the Alabama Hills.
Tire repair, Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Looking east to the Sierras from the White Mountains.
"Got that Bodie lean" Bodie, CA.
Bodie, CA.
Boardwalk to Pukley's pool.
Group photo via timer and a well placed fence post. Diamond Springs, CA.
Photos by George Baker
RIP SQUAT
photo by Tim Gatto
photo by Tim Gatto
New Years Crab Hunt
Finally getting to the photos I've neglected this year. Starting with New Years Day in Oakland Chinatown. This guy really wanted to show the white boy what they had behind the counter. A bunch more photos to come. –Tim
photo by Tim Gatto
Blaise Chatelain
photos by Blaise Chatelain
Lost Coast
This past October, a group of us headed up to the Lost Coast, Northern California. We arrived late at night and took a shuttle two hours north to the trailhead. We didn't get there until 1am, but decided to hike the first few miles at night.
hiking at night ended up being one of the coolest parts of the trip.
Crashed the first night at this light house
Then headed down the coast. The terrain changed here and there, but it's all coast for 26 miles.
Any trip to the Lost Coast has to be planned around the tides to avoid being trapped in, "impassable at high tide" sections. Here's what it looks like trying to get around the tide.
Sat here after the long first day and watched whales breaching. No hip outdoorsy wear here, just wore my old shit, sorry.
George over-did-it on the hike and spent some time throwing up on this scenic bluff.
The last time we came to the Lost Coast, the weather was much different. Battling storms, waves and allowing for some more interesting photography. This trip felt like a vacation at the beach by comparison.
Light fog on the last morning out. Really happy all I had left was Black and white. Great Trip.
Photos by Tim Gatto
Summer Daze
Just about every year, we find ourselves heading up to Sonoma for this guys birthday. It always seems to be a good one. Special thanks to Walgreens and my washer/dryer for making a few of these photos extra moody. Some photos from one of the best days this summer.
photos by Tim Gatto
bens▲n
photos by ✞bens▲n
New Legs
photos by New Legs
Oakland Sun.
photos from around Oakland
no cars in front of my favorite house
and one from Sonoma.
photos by Tim Gatto
Jazmin Jones
photos by Jazmin Jones
Oakland Sun.
Photos from around town.
photos by Tim Gatto
Oakland Sun
Other photos from Oakland over the last couple of weeks. A day late.
Oakland crew
Cannon Dill mural downtown
beautiful lake Merritt
fog
photos by Tim Gatto
iRot
If you live in Oakland you can't help but notice the graffiti that covers most of the city. Since moving here, I cannot ignore that my landscape changes week by week. It has helped me pay attention to the politics that surround graffiti but also appreciate the art. Everyday on the way to work I bike by an oil change place that is always covered in graffiti. The roll up doors get painted over each week, and so do most of the walls, except for a spray character by iRot. The oil change guys sit in front of the wall in the perfect morning light, smoking and waiting for customers. For all of the reasons above, and out of fear that the character might get painted over, I have desperately wanted to take a photo.
I shoot mostly normal length lens cameras and am without anything telephoto, so I knew that I'd have to get pretty close in order to get the shot. My first attempt at getting the photo, I crusied in and asked a question about prices and snapped a quick photo with my point and shoot and rode off. Only 1/4 guys saw me, so I was pretty happy about that. When I got home that day I found out that my "trusty" p&s, had a broken film advance, and my roll didn't even take. I was bummed.
Determined to get the photo, I loaded some slide film in my more reliable point and shoot, and waited for a perfectly sunny morning. One came last week, and I pulled up to the place to a not-so busy staff. I up and asked them if I could take a photo of the crow. They looked at me weird, said sure, and moved out of the shot. I snapped the photo, but really wanted them in it. So, I asked them why they kept the crow but kept nothing else. The guys sat down, and told me that they kept it because they really liked it. I took another shot and can now bike to work without stressing. —Tim
photos by Tim Gatto
wow that sucks. don't do this to houses.
photos by Tim Gatto