I’ve updated the Alley slide show - it now has several of my recent images. I’ve also added stories to some of my older images, including NOW (below). And I’ve re-ordered the images: newest first, down to the oldest. The oldest, incidentally, is Alley no. 1, shot in 1991.

Alleys & Fire Escapes, no. 97
NOW (2007, Los Angeles, CA, 1:30am)

Planning my first night venture into the bowels of L.A., I decide I want two people with me, as opposed to my regular one. When these contacts cancel at the last minute, I’m left to explore alone. Telling myself I’ll just look and not shoot, this plan quickly dies when I find this bridge, just east of downtown.
A group is huddled under it when I first arrive, so I decide to return. I come back and set up, only to find I have to retreat when I see a gang down the tracks heading my way. But there is just no way I’m going home without this image on film. I return once more, 30 minutes later and set up again. I do my light readings and start an exposure. My standard procedure, in order to compress time and get out fast, is to begin the long exposure and only then ponder whether I want to add my own lighting. I quickly see there is no shot unless I’m very active during the 15-minute exposure. I get my flash and filters ready, adding blue light under the bridge, then switching to a warm filter. At the end, I’m running around half-crazed, firing many bursts, especially on the pillars. In my adrenalin fury, I trip and land face first in the rubble, eating a mouthful of dust, while my flash hits the ground. I jump up. Luckily the flash still works. I finish my lighting and throw the gear in the van.