Here is a rare "double dose" of images courtesy of my "Ocean Blvd" series of photos and also courtesy of my brother Daniel's fine art. First I chose a selection of my latest "Ocean Blvd" photos taken at the northwest section of the street, which I didn't photograph back when I took the first 250 photos. (My memory stick only holds about 250 photos.)  Next, because tomorrow, August 18th is my little brother Daniel's birthday, I thought I'd share some of his paintings from 2003 and 2004, watercolor seaside landscapes of the real and fantasy area around where he lives in Humboldt County, California. Above is the "title card", styled like a 1930s post card, for my latest in production Internet Movie, "Greetings from Long Beach's Ocean Blvd.", a liesurely walk down Ocean Blvd set to music. Coming Soon to the Internet Near You! 

I mistakenly told my readers that the Wells Fargo building was the tallest skyscraper in Long Beach, and I was wrong. I knew it too, but didn't change the text in the caption of the photo (yet). The tallest building, as anyone in Long Beach can tell you, is One World Trade Center, which anchors the west side of Ocean Blvd. This shot was almost accidental. I didn't know the sign, which is also in the photo below, would like up so perfectly along the side of the building. The sign, as seen below, is actually near the curb and the building is in the background.

This shot shows more of the building, and the sign situated in front of it. In the video and in some of the photos, I attempted to shoot up from some of the flower pots at the bottom of this sign.

New condo construction on the west end of town, on the Ocean side of Ocean Blvd, right before you get to the Pike's parking garage. This tower is one of two identical high rises, and I show the color scheme more clearly in another photo below. I like the sun just peeking over the top of the building next to the palm tree.

This is an accidental shot. I didn't want to get the car speeding by, and have other photos of the lantana bush on the center divider, where I was standing, without the automobile. I thought this came out rather neatly however, and it does show that I'm pretty close to the oncoming traffic as I attempt to get a shot, with floral framing of the First Bank and Trust building with the reflection of the building across the street in it's windows.

Next to the new construction is the Sovereign Hotel, and another couple of hotels, including one called "The Blackwood" which are vintage high rises from the 30s. You can't see it in this shot, but there are fire escape stairs on the outside of these older buildings.

Here is the multicolored condo tower rising into the air. I count 23 stories, and I'm not even shooting the ground floor. I have lots of footage of the construction going around here in the movie. This tower is almost finished on the outside, and the one behind it is less finished.

Below is a series of paintings by my brother Daniel. Some of you might remember last year's Birthday Post for my brother, in which I presented the poem "Where Have You Gone, Bro?" Well, I finally got in touch with him, we had about a two hour conversation on the phone a week or two ago, and I asked him if he had any recent paintings he could send me. He emailed me with the images below. The originals are around 3300 pixels (about 21") wide. I resized them and if you click the image you will see the full size paintings in another window. These are pretty good, I'm sure you will agree. (Actually, they're fantastic) Go ahead, tell Daniel to paint more often. He does read this blog from time to time.

"Ahab", © 2003-2007, painted by Daniel C. Nyiri

"Frayed End", © 2003-2007,  painted by Daniel C. Nyiri

"Ocean View" © 2003-2007, painted by Daniel C. Nyiri

"Solitude", © 2003-2007, painted by Daniel C. Nyiri (This one is my favorite and is currently the background image on my computer at work.)

"Windswept", © 2003-2007, painted by Daniel C. Nyiri

"Within Stanley Park", © 2003-2007, painted by Daniel C. Nyiri

I only wish I could paint like my brother. He's the real talent in the family. I always just doodled. Happy Birthday, dear brother. We have to get together again real soon. (Possibly while gasoline is now down to a "respectable" (ha) $2.67 a gallon) If you're reading this, please join me in wishing my bro a happy 52nd birthday.