Desolation at Dusk

The wind blows bits of paper around streets that are almost empty.  Most of the steel shutters are down already as the sun has set, but occasionally a late shop keep will pull one down with a chilling rattle.  It feels very "30 Days of Night" as though the streets will soon be filed with zombie vampire mutants who can't decide if they want to eat your brains or drink your blood or just growl and scare you.  It's terrifying and a little exhilarating.

I walk down a street that is completely deserted except for a lone resident (homeless person) setting up camp for the night.  He's talking loudly to himself which is not surprising.  Except as I walk past I see there is a women lying on the ground, supplying the fuel to this fire.  Jeez, can't a brother catch a break even when he's sleeping on half an inch of cardboard.

Finding a doorway that I hope leads to the roof of a parking structure on Olympic and Wall, I head up the stairs.  Typically the worst thing that can happen going on the roof of a garage to take pictures is that some over zealous security guard will tell me to leave, but it's a little thrilling none the less.  As I make it up to the roof, a parking attendant looks at me, and I pause, until he smiles.  From three floors up I see in the distance a six story parking garage that promises vision of grandeur over the Los Angeles skyline.  Except it looks so far away and the city is getting darker.  Man, is that a zombie or mutant on Olympic, it's hard to tell this high up.

I'm telling myself no, it's too far and too dark, but my body is not listening as I seem to be heading down Wall towards my next perch anyway.  When I get there a few residents are hanging around and somebody is picking up trash.   There is a half open gate by some stairs and I start to trudge up the six flights hoping that no one closes that gate behind me and I'm not stuck sleeping under a truck to keep warm.  I make it to the roof, breathing hard, and get some very nice shots of Santee and the downtown skyline. I don't stay too long and start to head home, getting more great shots of deserted streets and alleyways on my mile walk back home, making it just inside the doorway of the Huntington as I hear the howling of werewolves running down the street....