The other half of the Salton Sea trip is spent exploring & getting inspired to do something big… like swing off something, or have playing “Feats of Strength”.

This year a new (to us) burger joint was discovered… $2 beers, nice locals and a great old town kind of venue for some hearty burgers and newly defrosted fries.

Salvation Mountain is a must and much like a mecca for hundreds of college students, hippies, adventurists- The night is then spent back at the campsite telling stories, making hobo stew and laughing together until the larger hours of the morning… although this year the wind picked up so much that it chased many of us to our tents early.

Such a good trip and always necessary this time of year.

Until next trip, I leave you with these pictures.

(More images to come on Michelle’s Blog too I’m sure)

(Eric)

(Locals)

(Michelle Holding a fishbone?)

(The Ski Inn Entrance & Luke)

(Burger stop)

(The locals are friendly & so is their beer)

(Napoleon Dynamite scene?)

(Laura, Curtis,Dave, Lindye & Winn all enjoying the scene from the TV show ER)

(Colin flying around a pole)

(When no one is looking, thats when it gets crrrrazzzy!)

(Eric always finds something for all of us to swing on)

(so good)

(Salvation Mountain)

(Heather Trine behind Salvation Mountain)

(Eric Trine & his topsiders)

(Michelle Mosqueda)

(Colin, Scott & I pondering the finer things in life)

More images on Heather Trine’s Blog HERE

Stories about the trip & more intricacies Eric Trine HERE

This weekend was spent relaxing in a desolate cursed land in California’s Colorado desert. This is the kind of place you come to when you want adventure, danger, campfires, target practice with bows, sketchy burger joints, quality time with your closest friends and some gritty sand particles in your hair. The Salton Sea is 34 miles long and has remnants of what used to be a very booming vegas-esque vacation town (Frank Sinatra often visit the Salton Sea back in the day).

This trip has become an annual tradition among friends. Headed up by husband & wife duo Eric & Heather Trine. Whoever ends up coming on this trip is sure to get their money’s worth.

Per usual, I’ll use my pictures (And some Michelle took w/my camera) to tell the story of our trip.

Enjoy!

(Winn, Lindye ,Heather & I cutting up veggies for “Hobo Stew”)

(Michelle took this-Love it)

(I LOVE this scene)

(Dave Hill is a minor)

(Curtis & Laura made torches)

(Me slinging arrows into beer can targets)

(Jeantel)

(campfire)

(Jeantel)

(Eric doing his version of a tribal/cirque du soleil dance over a lit torch)

(Danny Simon & Eric Trine sword fighting in the woods with fire)

(Hobo stew being cooked on hot coals)

The shoot I did for OC Life alongside White Lilac Inc, Quail Bridal & Ceasar Pacheco is now online.

Click the link >HERE< to see more.

Just a teaser, infact I won’t post much from this until the magazine is released.(March 2010)

But a huge thank you to Sunny(White Lilac), Ceasar (Hair & Makeup) ,Michelle (Bridal Dresses) (& her intern),Audrey,Heather,Keslie, Nicole  (models) and my Intern. Great work everyone, thanks for putting so much effort into the quick, but memorable shoot.

Can’t wait to show you the rest.

To every elopement there is a huge party that follows. You’ve seen the elopement (Brazil Wedding) Now here’s the party!

Roebling Tea Room Brooklyn NY, Ira & Andrea host a celebration for the celebration of their recent wedding.

Being as though I was the best man, I didn’t shoot that much and being as though Ira was the groom, he literally only took 4 pictures… all of which I have no desire to post on my blog.

Sooooo with that said, here are images that I did take from an amazing celebration in the Tea Room.

(The taxi ride from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Eric & Heather Trine)

(Uncle Joe & Josiah talking politics & smack)

(Daniel & Seanne were highlights of the trip)

(Ira & Bob Covolo)

(The Trines)

(eTrine.com – samuellippke.com/blog – looseluggage.com)

(What better way to be released from photo duty…can’t wait to see his pictures in those cameras)

(Toasting his bride)

(Cutting the…do I really need to tell you what that is?)

(Dad Lippke ruling the toast section… never a dull moment with my Dad in the house)

(Mr. Codrington toasting)

(Josiah & Desiree getting classy)

(Dad talking with the Robinson’s)

(The Lovely Claudine Covolo & I)

(Siblings)

(The Lovely Audrey & Glory)

( My cousin Sarah & Mom)

(The best Sailor I know Jeremy (right) with his wife (& Maid of Honor) Virginia)

(Desiree & Heather wishing for a pizza…our dinner consisted of cocktails, some horderves and more cocktails)

(The Mom’s)

(Claudine & my favorite lighting)

(The Standard Hotel Sunset)

Alex was with all of her bridesmaids and some key family members getting ready at the Mondrian hotel off of sunset and Robert and his men were getting ready just blocks away at the Standard. Getting ready pictures at these two locations is like a dream for me, it allows my visual creativity to expand and then eventually explode into fragments on these photos.

After getting ready shots, we moved over to Boulavard 3 for the ceremony and then the reception. Never thought I would have photographed a wedding at a dance club, but it was perfect, unique and totally told a story of who was getting married. So perfect!

Alex and Robert own a dance studio in Signall hill (“Elevation Studios”) so a good portion of their friends were dancers, it made for some wildness on the dance floor, as well as a few dance offs that would steal the show at any other party.

Hope you enjoy these images. I LOVED shooting this wedding with some highlights including: Heather and Eric in attendance, Vern Moen shooting video (very talented videographer) Nicole Pietrini, Nic Leyba,Eric & Lauren Trickett,Jeantel, Meeting Linda and seeing Gary Jones, it was just a great evening and a perfect day.

(The Mondrian Hotel)

(Love this bottom image…wanted it to feel like a poster for an upcoming series.)

(Above: VErn Moen and Eric Trine converse about who will win the garter toss) (HIGHLIGHT: Magic trick garter toss…an actual DUCK???)

Congratulations Alex and Robert, I’m proud to know you and was honored to photograph you and your friends. Cheers!

Downtown Long Beach’s art district shut down its streets to vehicles and opened it up to some music craving residents and neighbors.

Buskerfest is a miniature musical festival with a number of bands participating to open for the headlining Cold War Kids.

Each person that attends gets 9 wooden nickles, each nickle is one vote and the band that recieves the most wooden nickles opens for the headlining band.

I put my wooden nickles on “Matt Death and the new intellectuals” They are amazing musicians and Matt Wignall (lead singer) is one of my favorite people in the world. Unfortunately they didn’t have enough votes and a band called “Pawn Shop Kings” ended up opening for the Cold War Kids for a great show. Here are some images from the whole night.

Highlights include: Shooting from the roof,biking with the guys, The Pike afterwards, Seeing E&H Trine,Dave Hill,Scott Henning,David Tosti,Matt Wignall, Colin, Alex Minjares ,Steve Sheldon, Nicoel and Tim, Caitlin Cutt and the rest of the Grace Brethren crew. I hope DTLB and the art district put on another one of these shows. Huge props to CWK’s for playing a free show.

(Matt Death and the New Intellectuals- Keslie and Bek blowing the cazoo’s)

(Evan Trine and his pretty girl – Matt Wignall rocking the megafone)

(Nathan Willet snaps an iPhone picture of the youngest Matt Death Member)

(The montage set: The Willett’s, a pair of legs,Crowd shot from the roof and Lindsey Jaggers along with Colin Dobrin.)

(Nicoel,Tim and the wooden Nickles)

(The faces of Long Beach- (Clockwise) Desiree Giatan, David Maust (& son) Danny Simon, Scott Henning all attended the festival.)

(Cold War Kids from the roof and on stage shot of Drummer Matt Aveiro)

(Crowd shot I think I might blow up huge, since I can see some familiar faces. Nathan Willett in Action, Pedals from the show.)

(LB Hipsters, Nathan Huesmann, Sam & Crystal, Alex at
The Pike)

See my Column on LBpost.com >HERE<

(Can you see Mike and Russell from LB post in the background of that shot? Coincidence!)

]]> http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/buskerfest-coldwarkids-streets-of-lb/feed 5 http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/heathers-birthday-vintage http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/heathers-birthday-vintage#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:47:19 +0000 admin http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/?p=1431

Old but good. Never seen before. I wish this captured the audio for the happybirthdayanthem. pretty sweet.

]]> http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/heathers-birthday-vintage/feed 0 http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/saturday-was-good http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/saturday-was-good#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:38:44 +0000 admin http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/?p=1332

(Saturday was good and a little wild!)

Like most people, I Woke up first.

Then went and bought a hat at Body O’ Soul. (see above)

Next; went and had breakfast in the park w/”We Love Long Beach” although when I finally got there (after waiting for Audrey to get ready) all the food was being packed up and tables were being broken down… so, I ate cold sausages and scrambled eggs… I call it “the breakfast of wannabe champions”.

Then off to shop for a nightstand. no luck… I needta go to 4th st.

Coffee bean for a beverage… tried to answer the Trivia Q of the day. What 3 movies were Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in together… Audrey and I got 2 right…(Sleepless in seattle and YOu’ve got mail) the third one I can’t even remember it…I had to google it on my iPhone 3G (that I just got)

Next up: Shopping for “OPERATION EASTER BASKET” I promised to make 10 baskets for under-served LB area youth.

Audrey and I had such a great time shopping for useful items to put in the baskets… chocolates, hygiene stuff, kites, jumpropes, dumptrucks and socks, ect…

Went to a taco joint for a late lunch…

Brought everything home and created baskets.

Wanna do it too? go here for more info: www.OperationEaster.com

(Audrey is amazing!)

(one of the 10 baskets)

(The Giving Project put on by CAT (Community Action Team)

A contest based on giving products and services to those in need.

I won last year!

I helped judge this year.

Amazing giving was done. Loved being apart of it!

Rode my fixie to chill with Dave Hill at the house… met with Eric and Heather Trine, Danny Simon, Sam Arthur and a few other slick peeps.

(Mr. Trine)

(Eric Trine) (This picture and a few more are featured on Eric’s BLOG)

(Dave Hill)

(Someone and their bad habits.)

(A picture of me? Thanks Eric for picking up the camera for this candid.)

(I finished the night sharing some of my favorite wine at Magic Lamp with my lovely lady.)

(She wasn’t impressed by my judging notes from “The Giving Project” or was she???)

]]> http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/saturday-was-good/feed 3 http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/salton-sea-camping http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/salton-sea-camping#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:00:55 +0000 admin http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/?p=1238

(Jonnie Russell and his stew)

Whats better then camping? Camping with a group of friends of course. (There are a few things better then camping with friends, but I’ll get into that in another post… hint copy and paste on the iPhone)

Highlights from this camping trip include but aren’t limited to:

10. Free Hot Showers!

9. “John Daniel’s”

8. Samuel’s Homemade guacamole and jalapenos

7.Shirtless Wood chopping sessions

6. Sleeping under the stars. (I slept above the picnic tables on the roof)

5.Sleeping through the park ranger’s “Put your hands where I can see them” Scare

4.The Scott & Gin night

3.My mummy bag protecting me from the harsh desert nights wind.

2.Counting the amount of 60′s glasses and vans

1. Hobostew making

Pictures as promised.

(Moonlight+Headlights)

(Chopping up ingredients for HoboStew)

(Onions and garlic 2 key ingredients)

(Nicole,Desiree and Heather)

(The men around the fire. Scott Henning,Dave Hill, Vern Moen and Danny Simon)

(Vern Moen)

(Perfect coals and our hobo stew)

(Danny Simon)

(The site)

(Taking it all in. Photo: Evan Trine)

(Leonard Knight and our crew)

(about 200,000 gallons of paint Leonard estimates)

Salvation mountain is what happens when a man (Leonard Knight) has a vision to bring a message to the whole world. “God is Love” shouts this painted mountain outside of Niland,California. The hillside is covered by hay bails and plywood molded into shapes and letters, then painted over hundreds of times with acrylic paint by Leonard and the occasional volunteer.

Visiting Leonard and his mountain was an amazing experience for myself and our group. So much passion, so much purpose and an extreme amount of clarity when it comes to his relationship with God. Leonard constantly gave thanks to God for the ability to keep doing what he loves. He also expressed amazement with having salvation mountain in a few “Worldwide Movies” one includes “Into the Wild” (which is STILL on my to watch list)

Here are images from Leonard’s impromptu tour.

(Jonnie Russell inside the hay bale and paint igloo)

(Sarah and Allison in front of Salvation Mountain)

(Quyen Trinh climbing the mountain)

(Our crew, with Eric Trine in the lead)

(At the top)

(The view)

(Scott Henning; probably imagining himself doing backflips off the cliff)

(The crew with Leonard Knight at his mountain)

(Desiree got a puzzle from Leonard)

(Jonnie,Noel,Desiree,Dave and Heather getting ready to leave the mountain)

Next post: Camping

(Eric Trine out for a stroll)

As you probably saw from my “teaser” post, I spent the weekend with a group of friends out in California’s most romantic dessert, more importantly the most envied spot of the olden days. The Salton Sea.

These pictures are a journey through this abandoned storm battered California Desert.

Shooting at this location was tough for me. I felt extremely cliche photographing something that has been photographed soooo many times before me. Never was it a goal of mine to photograph at this location, but as I began shooting I realized my goal: Not to photograph this desolate zone, but to document the interaction between human’s and this cursed land. And here my story begins.

(Jonnie Russell and Noel Sumner)

(Jonnie’s Boot and a salt preserved fish carcass.)

(Heather Trine,Desiree Giatan and Quyen Trinh)

(Scott Henning and Dave Hill try to escape a most certain splashing)

(Arrow Session)

(Jonathan Sklar making it happen on the make shift arrow range.)

(Chad Sheby and the Sheby dogs.)

(The Drunken bone head motocross guy post lame attempt to get out. Pre-Spilling gas in the pool.)

(Evan Trine got the “Bone Head Motocross Guy” on video I think)

(Eric Trine about to show off his vintage skate tricks, his wife heather (my best friend) looks on)

(I got the balls to jump in the 10′ pool with my camera to document these crazy Trine Brothers)

(Evan doing work.)

(a few 10 year old pro skaters took over the pool)

(Caught without the camera)

(next post: “Salvation Mountain”)

(Scott Henning everyone!)

I just got back from the Salton Sea.

It was a sweet. I was able to spend some good times with talented people such as Dave Hill, Scott Henning,Eric Trine, Heather Trine, Desiree Gaitan and Kevin Sheby.

The trip was good, I spent the drive with Scott and Dave, drinking redbull and talking relationships.

The campsight at the salton sea is pretty nice, but if you were alone it would be lame. The people I was with made it fun.

Here are some images from the trip. More to come tomorrow.

(Kevin  Sheby on Salvation Mountian)

(Leonard Knight giving us the simple words “God loves you, why complicate it”)

(Exploring at Salvation Mountain)

(The whole crew at Salvation Mountain with Leonard Knight.)

(Bow and Arrow Practice.)

(I’m shooting an arrow: Eric Trine Looks on. By:Jonnie Russell)

(Jessica Dobson)

I had the honor of photographing an AMAZING show by Deep Sea Diver tonight. The event was hosted by “We Love Long Beach” at the Art Theater on 4th st.

Let me tell you something. That place was PACKED with talent. Jessica Dobson (Owns you) Evan Trine drummer/Singer/Piano and rhythm. Heather Trine tapped like there was no waking up tomorrow. She made me proud! (not that I tap or anything) Nicole Pietrini guest starred in a song and a few other talented people who I should know their names, but I had never met them before… sooo…let me off the hook for a second here.

By the way, the Sartorialist should have been there. This crew knows how to dress. Amazing! (Mustaches,long hair,vests,plaid,boots,brilliant)

Here’s a few pictures to prove my point. The night was good. I’m tired. I’ll post a few more tomorrow and then TONS on facebook!

(Heather Trine Tap Dancing)

(Scott Jones of We Love Long Beach)

(Best Encore ever?)

(Gather around the mic for some back up vocals.)

Big thanks to Ivan Vejar for letting me borrow his 70-200 lens! ( I was tired from shooting DLBA all day, so I just grabbed my 28mm…Ivan saved me!)