The Eccentric Funk of the Venice Boardwalk. Wonderful turn-of-the-century and artsy architecture, and wonderful murals, like a giant Jim Morrison of the Doors mural.

The Venice Strand (Ocean Front walk) is the place on the Los Angeles coast to see and be seen. This beachfront sidewalk is lined with shops and restaurants, and all who use it are onstage. With street performers, bodybuilders, and beach bums, there’s hardly a dull day on the Strand. The Strand is for pedestrians; bicyclists and skaters are supposed to stick to the South Bay Bicycle Trail farther out on the beach.
The Strand begins west of the Rose Avenue parking lot. The heart of the activity is near Windward Avenue. Skaters and skateboarders gather amid throngs of people. Enormous bodybuilders work out at an outdoor gym called “Muscle Beach.”

Images are by date. A few are late 80's when I first moved to LA. Most were shot August, September 2007, when I spent a few days in a wonderful turn-of-the-century hotel in Westwood Village. I managed to go to Venice Beach 4 times. First time was a sunny, gorgeous and amazingly blue sky day. Second time was late at night to shoot a bit of neon. Third time with my daughter. For my last trip to Venice Beach I experienced the soft and invigorating 5:30am ocean-fog-chilled-breezes. Above me the swirling grey clouds were slowly giving way to the warming sunshine of a bright blue sky day. Being there early when few people were about was a very peaceful way to start the day. In a couple of hours, the sun energized me and the Boardwalk!
These images are in the order of the time they were shot - mostly.

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