Photographing Rosa

© 2014 Rob Castro

Rosa:  Just make sure you photoshop out my wrinkles.

Juzno:  Will do.  But that will cost extra.

Rosa:  No problem.  Also, I look good on this side.  Make sure you get my good side.

Juzno:  Already did.

Rosa:  How much will I owe you?

Juzno:  Give me a second while I check the pricing on the new camera lens.


Gallery http://www.justanobserver.com

Still life with tea (amended)

Addendum:

My work Still life with Tea is the visual star of Redbubble's recent blog post.  

http://blog.redbubble.com/2014/05/open-discussion-whats-your-first-step-in-your-creative-process/

Thanks to all for encouragement and support. SDG.

Rob:  Care to have tea?

Juzno:  Yes, yes.  I would love it.  The image of the tea cup brings back so many memories.  I just can't remember what they are.

Rob:  One time I drew a picture of the devil and this was at a parochial school.  It drew the attention of the other kids but it got me in trouble with the nuns.  From then, I knew my calling was to be an artist.

Juzno:  What does it mean when somebody reads the tea leaves?

Rob:  Not quite sure.  I think there are people who prefer milk with their tea.

Juzno:  You know this dialog is not making sense.

Rob:  I agree.  Let us switch to Bob Dylan.  Miles Davis is starting to freak me out.

Juzno:  Wait I would like hear My Funny Valentine.

Rob:  This better be good.  I don't want to miss Perry Mason.

Juzno:  You know this dialog is not making sense.

(Almost) Summer in the City

© 2014 Rob Castro

Pam:  Do you think it's okay to leave our car here?

Steve:  Sure thing, babe.  This place is the second safest place in the world.

Pam:  Where is the the first safest place?

Steve:  I heard it's somewhere in Israel.  Gaza maybe.

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This was taken somewhere in New York some time ago.  Noho or someplace.  About the same time of the year.  I remember getting lost in this area.  But it was warm and sunny and nice.  Just like it is right now here in Southern California where I live.  I just checked the weather in New York today and it's a nice 86 degrees F.  (Or for non-Americans, it's 30 degrees C.)  Although it's going to cool down a bit in the next few days.

Hope you are enjoying this Memorial Day just as we are here.  Cheers.

Gallery http://www.justanobserver.com

First Chino at Night

© 2014 Rob Castro

This is one of the photos I've taken that was used in our church website.  Maybe our church doesn't really look like this at night.  But then I'm an artist so I rendered it the way I want it to look like.  I expect that some people will not like it.  I know I can't please everyone.  If I even tried, I would please no one - including myself.  I'm just glad that the church can use the photo.  Even so that the Lord has allowed me to use the gifts he has given me for kingdom service.  I am just a photographer.

More church photos to come.


http://www.chinourc.org
Gallery http://www.justanobserver.com

Spain Morocco Portugal 2014

Just wanted to share snapshots from our Spain Portugal Morocco tour.  The video is best viewed in 1080 HD format.  Hope you enjoy.  

The Existential Moment of Señor Hugo in Selling Ice Cream

"You are not to take my... (oh well)"

Postcards from Lisbon

© 2014 Rob Castro
Lisbon, Portugal

Tourist:  Why are you taking pictures of the postcards?

Juzno:  It's the fastest way to take photos of the city.  You get most of the great views in one shot.  It's also the cheapest.

Tourist:  For sure, you are a cheapskate.

Juzno:  Yes, I know.

Just another day

© 2014 Rob Castro

Our tour director insisted that we go with a local guide in Old Medina at Fes.  The story goes that one man went by himself and got lost.  Five years later, they found him with three wives and a four children.  He is now a happily married man.

This was one of our guides.  Didn't catch his name but he took care of us.  Maybe I'll just call him Amir.  He looks like an amir.  He made sure that we wouldn't step on the donkey's pooh that were ubiquitous all over the alley ways.   Okay I exaggerate.  But he's a good man. For him it was just another day.  For us, it meant a lot.

Taken at Old Medina at Fes.

Blog http://www.juzno.com
Gallery http://www.justanobserver.com

How to haggle with a Moroccan

© 2014 Rob Castro

Our tour guide took us to the famous Berber Pharmacy in Marrakech.  The ladies in our group had a blast shopping for argan oil and cosmetics.  After a few minutes, I decided to saunter off outside and there I met Mahmoud, a Moroccan jewelry vendor.

Mahmoud:  Nice jewelries.  Cheap.  Please buy.

Juzno:  Sorry, I don't wear jewelries.

Mahmoud:  Nice jewelries.  Cheap.  Please buy.  Real cheap.  I make you a good deal.

Juzno:  Tell you what, I'll take your picture and pay you.  Okay?

Mahmoud:  Okay.  You sure you don't want to buy jewelries?

Juzno:  No.  [Click. Click.]  Here's five dirhams.

Mahmoud:  You took two photos.  You owe me ten  dirhams.

Juzno:  I told you I was going to pay you.  I didn't say how much.  You just agreed.

Mahmoud:  You wanna buy nice jewelries?