Interview With El Cerrito Photographer Larry Jones

Larry Jones, El Cerrito Photographer

Interview by Pam Fingado

1.  What inspired you to photograph The Albany Bulb?

I read an article about the Albany Bulb in the Berkeley Daily Planet when I first arrived in the Bay Area. Their description of the art, the homeless community, and the wild nature of the area appealed to me, and I started visiting and photographing on a regular basis.

2.  Do you have some interesting stories to share about The Bulb?

Yes. Here is one of them. In March 2008 while exploring the Bulb, I encountered a large memorial sculpture of five upright posts connected by cross members. Five pierced circular discs or saw blades were suspended between the uprights. Nailed on a nearby bench was a circular disc on which was printed “In Memory of Caulen White Owl.” Several months later I saw this sculpture for sale at a substantial price in a salvage store on San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley. I called the Albany Police since The Bulb is a public park, thinking the sculpture belonged to everyone. I explained the situation briefly to the police and was told an officer would contact me but this never happened.

3.  Can you tell us about your experiences while photographing The Bulb?

The area can be dangerous if you get off the main trails. There is exposed rebar, rusty metal, concrete rubble, etc. I have fallen on several occasions but suffered nothing worse than a scraped hand.

I have gotten to know a couple of residents of The Bulb, namely Mama Bear and Skrappy. It is very interesting to hear how they manage day by day. Skrappy is working to beautify his area by adding plants and building sculptures using scrap material. Mama Bear sponsors a “Hearts of The Bulb Initiative.” She and other residents paint hearts or make heart sculptures to parallel the Hearts of San Francisco initiative.

4.  What images do you find the most exciting to photograph and why?

The overall appearance of The Bulb is that of a cluttered, unkempt wilderness. I find it exciting to locate and photograph what I consider to be a quality work of art.

The Bulb is constantly changing. New art is painted over old. New sculptures appear and gradually degrade, often to be rebuilt in and altered manner.  Homeless encampments come and go. I find it exciting to document these changes.

5. What surprises have you encountered both professionally and personally while photographing?

When photographing people and events where things are in motion, I have been surprised how occasionally an unplanned element or combination of people and elements find their way into the frame yielding a pleasing result.

6.  Do you prefer using black & white or color photography and why?

I do not prefer one to the other. Some images work best in black & white and vice versa. Black & white works best to emphasize light and shadow and tonality. I always capture in color and convert to black & white when I feel this is indicated. Often I make a black & white and a color version of the same image.

7.  What type of camera do you use? What cameras have you used in the past. Do you have a favorite camera?

Currently I am primarily using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 camera. I also use a Pentax KIOD SLR and a Cannon Powershot G12. I have gradually upgraded to more powerful digital cameras starting with a 5-megapixel camera about ten years ago. Previously, I used a variety of film cameras and developed my film and printed in a darkroom. The Panasonic DMC-FZ150 is my favorite camera because it captures excellent images and is light and compact when traveling on BART and other public transportation that I normally utilize.

8.  Do you have any projects planned for the future?

I would like to do a book about the Albany Bulb perhaps after I have photographed there for ten years. This would be four and a half years from now. My goal would be to capture the different aspects of the area including the art, the homeless community, and nature interacting with and gradually reclaiming this former landfill.

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