SueBee Arts

Photos in this gallery are a sampling of the abundant, beautiful plants and flowers on the grounds at the San Juan Capistrano Mission, described in my other article. ~SueBee (photos by SueBee)

Surprising that growing up in Southern California, I’d never been inside the gates at Mission San Juan Capistrano. I suppose, even though mom took my brother and me to all the museums and sights in the Los Angeles area each summer vacation, driving any further would have been out of the question for a day […]

How many years has this little box been calling out for donations? Certainly not as long as the walls it’s attached to, but clearly more years than the door and wreath to the left. How many coins or bills have been stashed within? Which hands put them there, which hands removed them? Historical sites always […]

Pomegranates! Papayas! Fresh cut roses! Mops, brooms! Is there anything more fun than wandering through small, neighborhood markets? Particularly ethnic markets… those with items for sale that aren’t on your weekly shopping list; from cultures or countries other than your own; where the packaging is in a language you don’t understand?! Today’s Foto Fix is […]

Having spent this past Sunday afternoon enjoying the sunshine and clear blue skies in San Juan Capistrano, exploring the historic Mission grounds, you might well imagine I was in photographer’s heaven. While sorting through several hundred pictures and organizing into an enticing article, I’ve decided to make these adorable little birds landing at the fountain […]

What could be better than a gorgeous Southern California beach…. until you toss in a few historic beach cottages, an on-the-sand restaurant, cocktail bar, museum, and gift shop! It’s all discretely tucked away at Crystal Cove State Park, along Pacific Coast Highway (better known as PCH) south of Corona del Mar, north of Laguna Beach. I’d […]

Today’s Foto Fix was taken at Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach with an Instamatic. I don’t know the kids in the picture, photo quality is rather poor, but I like the shot regardless! ~SueBee (photo by SueBee)

The Huntington Library is home to an amazing museum, and several stunning gardens. I posted about the museum previously, but thought I’d share some pics from one of the gardens. Out of the 14 different gardens, my favorite is the Desert. Featuring over 5,000 species, I could snap pics here all day long! Below are some […]

The Pavilion for Japanese Art at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) is a serene, calming place. Muted colors, natural light filtering in, rounded architecture, walkways leading naturally from one exhibit to the next. A great variety of really interesting sculptures, glassware, artwork. An exhibit near the front entrance fascinated Kat and me more than […]

Black and white photography can be stunning. The subject speaks in a way that oftentimes color doesn’t allow to be expressed, the color distracting from the image. Some of the most famous pictures, those of Ansel Adams for example, were shot in BW. I haven’t used much BW film over the years, except when I […]

As I wandered along the clifftop pathway, above one of my favorite Pacific Ocean hideaways, I grew fascinated, watching these art students gathered around their teacher. I’d personally taken up the brush just over a year ago, having my first go at painting, using acrylics and an inexpensive, small canvas I’d bought at a local […]

Reducing the size of a city scene to miniature is kinda fun – everything takes on a toy-like appearance. When Kat and I were at The Grove, 3rd and Fairfax on the west side of Los Angeles, we decided to play with the Nikon’s settings. A few days later, after perusing the instruction manual, we realized […]

“L, is for the way you look at me…O is for the only one I see…V is very, very extraordinary…E is even more than anyone that you adore…and LOVE…” ~Nat King Cole’s ‘L.O.V.E’ song Found this awesome vintage sign in a flee market type shop in Hollywood…had to snap a pic! ~Kat (pic by Kat)

California, nicknamed The Golden State, could have been named for this golden sun, soon to be sliding gracefully into the Pacific Ocean. Today’s “Foto Fix” was taken off the coast of Corona Del Mar, from one of my favorite clifftop outlooks, and just down the street from my favorite tavern. By the way, that’s Catalina […]

Who needs Walden Pond? I’ve got Oak Glen Preserve within an hour’s drive. I’m hooked on that place… completely and utterly addicted. We Southern Californians often hear how others are envious of our weather with its near-continual sunshine and mild temps. People move here in droves after watching the Rose Parade each New Year’s Day, after […]

As I carefully got into eye-level position on the moist (wet, muddy, cold) Fullerton Arboretum ground, a few thoughts went through my head…. I must be nuts, I look ridiculous, I hope no one walks by, I hope I can get back up. Too late for any of that, I scooted into various angles, hoping […]

Spectacular colors, using the sunset filter on my Nikon, looking west from rooftop of the parking structure at The Grove, 3rd and Fairfax. I find these photos reminiscent of Arizona’s seguaro cactus silhouetted against the setting sun. Since acquiring my first “real camera” last Christmas, a Nikon D5100 with turbo lens, I’ll tell you, reviewing […]

Colorful ethnic costumes fascinate me; I’m drawn to them. That’s not surprising, considering I spent a decade designing and making custom Irish Dance costumes for girls all over the US and Canada. I guess you could say I have a personal connection! The costumes in the gallery below were worn during the recent Dia de […]

Courage, guts, and a “you won’t beat me” attitude came to my mind while watching this seagull hold his ground (sand) as a “giant” wave loomed behind him, the first of several that he outsmarted. Yeah, maybe he was clever enough, or had experience enough, to know where the wave would crash and that he’d be safe, […]

Grand ideas for a Los Angeles that never came to fruition,  whether for lack of money, support, or the occasional morbid reason, are numerous. I lucked out in viewing the ‘Never Built Los Angeles‘ exhibit at the A + D Museum on Wilshire (across from LACMA) during its final showing last week. I’d never been […]