Photo - Carson ugly # 31

I’ve had a long running photography project of over 30 photos documenting the urban decay and ugliness in the city of Carson. It’s called the Carson Ugly Project. I’ve been shooting this type of photo since I started by blog nearly eight years ago. I wander around on my lunch hour and shoot urban ugly. It’s what I do. This photo is a great example. Two layers of barbered wire protect a black river and then on to an ugly refinery. It’s ugly and I love it, but others do not see it with my eyes.

My peaceful and meaningless hobby is threatened by the jackbooted thugs known affectionately as the Long Beach Police department. Police Chief Jim McDonnell is detaining street photographers for taking photos “with no apparent esthetic value.”

McDonnell spoke for a follow-up story on a June 30 incident in which Sander Roscoe Wolff, a Long Beach resident and regular contributor to Long Beach Post, was detained by Officer Asif Kahn for taking pictures of a North Long Beach refinery.

"If an officer sees someone taking pictures of something like a refinery," says McDonnell, "it is incumbent upon the officer to make contact with the individual." McDonnell went on to say that whether said contact becomes detainment depends on the circumstances the officer encounters.

Source: Police Chief Confirms Detaining Photographers Within Departmental Policy

I’ve been stopped twice by Los Angles County Sheriffs for taking photos. Once for shooting a flag draped oil refinery and another time for shooting a nasty black river. Both times I was questioned about my activities and allowed to continue without much pain. They were just doing their job in a post 911 high risk area. I’m ok with that, but I’m not so sure I would be happy with a cop looking at my photos and judging their ascetic value. Take a look at the photo above. I shot it because I love the way it looks. I love the ugly. I’m not so sure a cop or anybody else would understand.

This is my turf. I’m going to continue shooting.

Technorati Tags: Photography,Urban Ugly,Carson Ugly

Photography, Urban Ugly, Carson Ugly

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Carson Ugly #30 - The Dead End

I shot this at the end of an ugly street in an ugly city, near an ugly oil refinery. Oh, and did I mention I shot it with an ugly model? Thanks Brad :).

I go photodriving at lunch some times. In Carson, it is not hard to find something desperately ugly that calls to me. This shot was at the end of a residential street.  You can feel the despair. Who wants to live 100 yards from an oil yard?

Technorati tags: Photography, Carson, Carson Ugly

Carson Ugly # 29 - Artificial Kidney

This thing about Carson is that it is full of these old businesses that gave up hope a long time ago. Would you go here for any kind of help? Ever?

Technorati tags: Photography, Carson Ugly, Signs

Carson Ugly #28 - The faker and the politico

I am not a fan of Carson California. The city is ugly, mean, corrupt, and full of blowhard politicians. I work in the ugliest city in America.  I normally roam the city with my camera. Today I present am embarrassing city made video instead. Watch as Mayor Jim Dear calls for a Doctor after a political opponent, Vera Robles Dewitt, whacks Commissioner Jan Schaeferon on the back of the head with a sheath of papers. Schaeferon falls to the ground in what can only be described as an amateurish attempt to exaggerate the incident and her injury. Mayor Dear first calls for a doctor, a recess, and then for the arrest of Vera Robles Dewitt. It's local politics at its worst - and a classic Carson Ugly post.

I've met Dear and Schaeferon - they are truly local nimrods. Neither will not survive the next election.

Technorati tags: Carson Ugly, Jim Dear, Politics, Youtube

Carson Ugly #27: Nicole Williamson

Sometimes Carson is ugly for how it looks. Sometimes Carson is ugly because of what happens to the people who live there. A few weeks ago, a gas station attendant named Eduardo Roco, whom I've known in passing for four years, was murdered on his last day at work before retirement. Three boys killed him, along with Esther Arteaga, who was starting her first day. I’ve tried to take a pictures of the flowers on display near the place of their death. But, I can’t. I’m afraid I would not make a good journalist. I cannot take the picture. It makes me sad.

A few days later, I drove by a ubiquitous Nicole Williamson sign. I've seen them in the city since her murder in November of 2003. She was young woman, killed while talking to a friend in a car. It is unlikely they will ever find the young man who killed Nicole... and that is why I take Carson ugly pictures.

Carson Ugly #26 - Bovine Love

The Carson natives decorated the area around Calis Park with signs of their love and apprcieation for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department. The graffiti covered every wall an open space in view, including the barbque. Four different cops drove by during my lunch hour to check out the tribute. They could feel the love. Carson must be the best damn city in the country.

This was most likely the work of the bloods gang "Calas Park Loks" - but everyone knows this is my park! Fat old white dudes rule.

Technorati Tags: Carson Ugly, Carson, Graffiti, photography, hdr, street photography, LA photobloggers

Carson Ugly #25 - The cup fence

I caught this on the way to work this morning. Bright sunlight, the cool shade of a bridge, and the ugliness that is Carson. It makes for a good picture of another ugly subject. It was the highpoint of my day. Especially considering it's 1:51 in the morning, I've been sick for the last 10 hours. I have no hope feeling better soon.

Carson Ugly #24 - homeless woman

My instincts are always to help. Sometimes the help is unwanted. Like Tuesday Morning when I shot this picture. I had just purchased a quick meal for breakfast and was pulling out of a parking lot when I saw her. I snapped a picture and immediately felt like crap. I pulled over a little ways up the street and walked back with my breakfast in hand. She yelled at me to stay away. I could sense mental illness. It was depressing.

...400 feet away is Carson City Hall.

I posted another pick to My Blind Eye.

Technorati Tags: Photography, Street Photography, LA Photobloggers, Carson Ugly

Carson Ugly #23 - The dragon car

A tip of the hat to my friend and coworker Mark. He spotted this monstrosity on Sepulveda in Carson a few days back. What can I say, this car is so Carson.

Technorati Tags: Carson ugly, Carson, Photography

Carson Ugly # 23 - Little red door

This photo is yet another reason why Carson is an ugly city, unregulated construction. This door is so narrow that a normal man must turn sideways to squeeze through. Once inside… well let’s just say it take a brave man to use the facilities.

The shot is from a Chinese restaurant – I ate there once in 01. It was not a good idea.

Technorati Tags: Carson, Carson ugly, Street photography

Carson Ugly # 22 - Get that man a level

We find ourselves in Carson yet again. This time, we notice a brand new sign, in a brand new commercial development, stuck in the ground at a very odd angle. Of course, in Carson, there are no standards for how one places a sign – just pick a spot and pluck it down.

The Carson Ugly index is located here.

I've put a Carson Ugly bonus picture here.

Technorati Tags: Carson, LA Photobloggers, Carson ugly, signage, Chevron

Carson Ugly # 21 - The weeds of Spring

It has been a while since I’ve posted a Carson Ugly photography. Since its now Spring, I thought it would be a good idea to see what new and interesting atrocities are visible in America’s ugliest city. This weed caught my eye, or maybe it was the off color warning sign. Either way, it is in Carson and in keeping with the theme – ugly. By the end of summer, the weed will cover the sign. Only a traffic accident will cause the city to trim it.

One gets the sense that Carson borrowed stuff from other cities. Or maybe they hang out around the dump when Torrance upgrades.

The Carson Ugly index is located here.

Technorati Tags: Carson, LA Photobloggers, Carson ugly

Carson Ugly # 20 - The Grocery Store

This is the last installment on the Carson Ugly project. It has been a fun six months documenting the ugliness of Carson one picture at a time. I could continue the journey, and perhaps I will, but for now, I am ending the project at 20 pictures.


© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

This is an abandoned building in the heart of Carson. It has been abandoned for at least eight years, maybe longer. I have driven past place hundreds of times without much of a thought, and then today my friend Brad pointed it out to me as I passed. He instinctively knew it was Carson Ugly, he was right. This place is unimaginative and grim, a perfect fit for Carson.


© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

This wooden beam was in what was once the parking lot of the grocery store above. Recent rains had surrounded it with a new growth of grass. The parking lot is desolate. It is about two acres in size and is surrounded by a rundown chain link fence, which is open in several areas. The place just begs for a good murder, and is most likely a good place to score some drugs after dark. Why would Carson have a place like this one block from the civic center? I am sure they have a good reason, right?


© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

I ran into “Bud” while taking pictures today. He used to work at this abandoned grocery store. He said, “In its day, it was quite nice, and had a good selection of fruit”, then he started to ramble about the Korean war, gambling, and how he did not need to beg for a living because he made good money collecting bottles and cans. -- I went back to work and doubled my 401k deduction.

Carson Ugly # 19: Main Street

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

Have some pride.

This picture is slightly over exposed. Sorry, it was raining, windy, and I was in a standing in a deceptively dangerous public library parking lot. It was the best I could do under the circumstances. It is still a good picture. Carson is an ugly place.

Carson Ugly #18 - The Ladder

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

This picture bothers me. I cannot figure out what they were thinking when they built this cage around a telephone pole. At first, I thought maybe the pole was valuable. Then I noticed that it was protected by a curb that would keep cars away, plus its location is kind of out of the way, so only a bad driver would hit it. Then I thought it might be to keep people from climbing the fence. Of course, then I noticed it is shaped more like a latter. Then I thought, maybe it is a decoration, a bad decoration, but a decoration nonetheless.

I could not figure it out, and it bothered me, so I called the property manager. He told me to mind my own friggen business. With a little coaxing, because I was really super nice and said please a lot, he said he never could figure it out either. He suggested I call the City. What City you might ask? Why CARSON of course! – They did not know either.

So I let it set until I could come up with a good explanation, then gave up. This is Carson Ugly #18. I am calling it "The Ladder" (because that's what I think it's used for).

*** Update ***

A friend tells me this is just a bad contracting job. They should have bricked in the alcove. Duh, and it’s kind of my point. Only in Carson would a contractor be able to get away with this kind of crap in a public space.

What is the Carson Ugly Project?

I am an amateur photographer. I love taking pictures. I have taken pictures as a hobby ever since I was in High School. It is how I prefer to express myself.. I take my Nikon D70 with me everywhere I go. I tend to shoot weird stuff. A friend suggested I start doing photo projects based on some of my interests. I agreed and selected the City of Carson as my first subject.

I had a chance to meet the new Mayor of Carson, Jim Dear, a few weeks ago. He was upbeat about his city’s future. I wish I could share his enthusiasm. Carson is just plain ugly, even with the Home Depot Center, and all the redevelopment.

I think Carson is one of the ugliest cities in the country. I have traveled a great deal and besides maybe Chicago Heights or Newark, I have not run into an uglier city. Even Watts and Compton are more attractive. I started a 20-picture project to capture how ugly Carson really is. The pictures are indexed below.

The Carson Ugly series so far:

#1 - The Train Tracks
#2 - The Carson Can Man
#3 - The Gate
#4 - The Tree in a box
#5 - Wilmington Ave & 223rd
#6 - Political Postings
#7 - Fat woman sleeping on a bench
#8 - The Carson River
#9 - The Tarp Fence
#10 - The Park
#11 - Project 1202
#12 - Mullet Man
#13 - The Couch
#14 - The Mobile Home Gate
#15 - No Trespassing
#16 - Gray and Bleak
#17 - Shopping Carts

Carson Ugly # 17 - Shopping Carts

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

My wife recently told me I was a lazy photographer. I was not happy. With her bitter message ringing in my ears a few days ago, I walked half a mile to these shoot shopping carts. Lazy my ass... (Well, maybe a little)

Carson continues to amaze me with its ugliness and neglect. This dumping site greets me every morning on my drive in. It never goes away. I may be only one cart, or it may be several, but it is always there, greeting visitors and cheering up my day.

While I was shooting this picture, which is at an entrance to the 405 freeway, a trucker asked me "how much". I hope he did not think I was a Carson hooker. That would really drive down Carson's image.

Carson Ugly # 16 - Gray and Bleak

© Copyright 2004 Mojoey

Carson is involved in endless redevelopment. Carson has some of the last large patches of open land in Los Angeles. However, no amount of redevelopment can make something this industrial-ugly look better; it is gray and bleak of the sunniest days.

Carson Ugly # 15 - No Trespassing

Carson Ugly © Copyright 2004 Mojoey

I can just hear the thinking behind this one, I'm 100 yards away from Carson City Hall, I've got a can of white paint and a piece of old tin, I think I'm going to paint me a no trespassing sign. Yep, that’s what I'm going to do. Oh, and then I'm going to leave it up for two years, yep, that's what I'm going to do.

Carson Ugly # 14 - The Mobile Home Gate

Carson Ugly © Copyright 2004 Mojoey

Carson is busy with urban renewal. This project replaces 50-year-old mobile homes with new high-density homes. It is supposed to make the area look better. We shall see in a year or two.