“There is no solitude in the world like that of the big city.” – Kathleen Norris 1931

You can find yourself in the city surrounded by millions, utterly alone. And yet, a moment later you can find yourself at one with all the world; connected to the thrilling pulse of life, connected to everything and everyone. The solitude and anonymity that the city offers can be both liberating and maddening.

Downtown Los Angeles one afternoon I was struck by the enormity of the buildings. Their glass facades gleaning and glistening in the sunlight. They seemed to undulate in the sky as I looked up at them. I imagined myself at the bottom of the ocean, looking up at the towering columns of kelp, illuminated by the bright blue ocean all around. These buildings make you feel small and yet they are oddly comforting; so large and silent, almost Zen like, watching and protecting like gods. There is something ancient about them as they silently and peacefully peer down at the madness below. Amidst the constantly changing street scene they are stable, solid and enduring. A calm washes over me as I gaze up. I try to imagine what they will look like two thousand years from now. Will travelers come from far and wide to speculate about what we did here? What were these giant monuments used for? Why were they built? Will they walk slowly around the crumbling frames, snapping photos, the way we walk around Stonehenge or the Colosseum? Or perhaps they will come with a small chisel as the Romantics did in the 18th century to break off a little piece of the crumbling shrine to take home with them. Will they know who we were and what these buildings were built for or will they imagine them to be a part of some ancient time telling system or grand burial site?

These are some of my photos from this Spring afternoon Downtown.