fletcher’s blog

World Music Festival & SF Mime Troupe Preview

World Music Festival – El Cerrito – July 4th

Starting at 10:00 AM, the internationally acclaimed Red Hot Chachkas open the 13th Annual WorldOne Festival, in El Cerrito. The Festival is always great, with world class entertainment.
http://www.el-cerrito.org/recreation/4th_of_July.html
This mandala has been printed 9 feet by 9 feet, to be used as the stage backdrop.

(Click on image to see larger view)

San Francisco Mime Troupe

Last week the San Francisco Mime Troupe previewed their 2011 play, “2012 – The Musical”. It was a whole lot of fun and I was able to take a few good photos. These are some of the best; you can see more on my Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fletcher_oakes/sets/72157626957133021/

They will be opening this weekend at Dolores Park, playing Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the 4th. It’s going to be a great play this season. Check ’em out. As usual they’ll be putting on free performances all around the Bay, all summer, including in Richmond, in Nicholl Park, on July 24th.

Art, Events, Music, Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

Carnaval San Francisco 2011

Carnaval San Francisco is an annual event that has been taking place in the Mission District for over thirty years. It is a fun weekend with a giant festival and parade. I have been photographing the parade now for several years and I love it. Here are a few pictures from the parade, which is always the last Sunday in May.

(Click on images to see larger view)

Most of my images are straight ahead photograhs. However, the above two images have been worked on EXTENSIVELY in Photoshop.

Art, Events, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Catching Up – San Francisco Mime Troupe and More

Last year I had shoulder surgery early in July, which meant that I literally couldn’t pick up a camera for months. I wasn’t idle — not in my nature — but I couldn’t take new photos until about November. The weekend before my surgery I shot all day on July 3, 4, and 5. The 3rd and 5th, with the San Francisco Mime Troupe, and on the 4th, I shot the World One Festival, in El Cerrito.

Posibilidad

The San Francisco Mime Troupe performed the play, Posibilidad, last year. They’ve performed in the parks in and around San Francisco every Summer for the past 51 years. I was privileged to be able to work with them starting last May, shooting during rehearsals, up to, and including the first performances on Fourth of July weekend. Below are just a few of the photos that I took at rehearsals.

(Click on images to see larger view)

World One Festival

Last year was the 12th annual World One Festival. This is a great event, with exceptional music, with a real small town – home town feel to it. A lot of my Richmond neighbors show up, the music is fantastic, and the weather last year was beautiful. The festival chose to use my mandala on the left, printed on translucent fabric, six feet by six feet, as a backdrop for the music. I was very psyched. I took a lot of photos which can be seen on Flickr. On the right is a mandala made from photos of Balinese dancers that performed at the festival.

(Click on images to see larger views.)

Art, Events, Music, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Holiday greetings – Pride Photos

Season’s Greetings to one and all from Barbara, myself, and our dog Yulee.

(Click on image to see larger view)

************************

Gay Pride Parade 2010

2010 marked the 40th anniversary of the San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade. The event was held over the weekend of June 26 and 27, 2010. I got to the parade early and shot mostly during staging, my favorite part of the event. Below are some of my best photos from the day. You can see a whole lot more good ones on my Flickr page Check ’em out.

(Click on images to see larger views.)
Enhanced Portraits (part of a series)
Parade participant	Detail of harnessed woman

(Click on images to see larger view)

Friends sitting around before the parade

Dominatrix and slave

Detail of back of parade participant

Toot

Art, Events, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »