Grant Leary of Crespi High has a future as a golfer _ and photographer.
After winning the Southern Section individual title last week with a 66, Leary went on to practice his other fun endeavor — photography. He was shooting photos for the school yearbook at Crespi’s Southern Section Division 1 baseball playoff game.
Asked to set up a photo of himself, he brought out an iron, put one of his unused tees in his mouth and posed with a smile.
Only a junior, Leary won the tournament at Temecula Creek Country Club. He went to the final hole tied. He faced a seven-foot putt for a par but wasn’t aware of its importance.
“I knew it was a very big putt,” he said. “I didn’t know if it was for a tie or the win.”
Grant Leary of Crespi is your Southern Section individual golf champion. He also knows how to take photos for the school yearbook so maybe he’ll offer putting lessons, too. pic.twitter.com/xPg2B2fhac
I am a photo fellow at the L.A. Times, and recently spent three days photographing for the Motel California project at the Skyview Los Alamos. What immediately struck me was how tucked away in the hills the motel was, even with its close proximity to the freeway. While only two hours away from L.A., I felt like I was in a totally different place.
The motel turns 100. Explore the state’s best roadside havens — and the coolest stops along the way.
I captured the iconic yellow “Motel” sign by the pool, the turquoise Moke shuttle, and lots of unique fixtures. Having three days to photograph an assignment is rare in daily news, so I felt lucky to be able to spend more time in certain spots of the property and reshoot in different lighting situations. Good light is critical to making a good photo, so I made the most of golden hour during my visit. All of the pops of orange, yellow and teal around the property complemented warm light well. I loved that most of the plants were succulents and cactuses, giving the place a desert feel on the Central Coast. When I look at all the photos as a whole, I feel the sense of calm and warmth I experienced while I was there.
— Juliana Yamada, photography fellow
Ramsey 29 motel in Twentynine Palms. Owner Ashton Ramsey took over a motor lodge that dates to the 1940s.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Rocky details at the Pearl. (Megan Morello / For The Times)
Decorative brick from the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree. (David Fouts / For The Times)
The Atomic Bombshell Room at the Trixie Motel.
(David Fouts / For The Times)
Rooms 13 and 14 at the Skyview Motel.
(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
The Skylark Hotel sign in Palm Springs.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Alamo Motel sign in Los Alamos, from left.Peach Tree Inn sign in San Luis Obispo.Motel Capri sign in San Francisco.(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
The Skyview Motel sign, from left.The River Lodge sign in Paso Robles.The Pacific Motel sign in Cayucos.(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times; Jacob Tovar / For The Times)
The Mojave Sands Motel sign.
(David Fouts / For The Times)
The Sea & Sand Inn’s no vacancy/vacancy sign in Santa Cruz.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
The Surfrider Malibu as seen from the Pacific Coast Highway.
(Al Seib / For The Times)
The entrance to the Norman restaurant at the Skyview Motel.
The pool viewed through decorative pool-side furnishings at the Skyview Motel. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
Wallpaper inside the Trixie Motel.
(David Fouts / For The Times)
The toilet paper at the Hotel Wren is marked with its initials. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Folded toilet paper at the Skyview Motel. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
A view of a room inside the Ramsey 29 motel in Twentynine Palms.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
A detail of a patio pillow at The Pearl Hotel. (Megan Morello / For The Times)
A detail of the shower handle in a room at the River Lodge. (Jacob Tovar / For The Times)
A room inside the Crystal Pier Hotel in Pacific Beach, San Diego.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
The Wigwam Motel buildings in San Bernardino.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
A room at the Skylark Hotel.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
The Hotel del Sol is a boutique hotel in San Francisco aiming to rise above its roots as a budget motel.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
A room at Glen Oaks Hotel in Big Sur.
(Nic Coury / For The Times)
Situated on Market Street, Beck’s has a front-row seat to the main artery of San Francisco. The motel still offers free on-site parking, with a walkable location that provides ample access to public transportation, including the historic F-Market line.
(Megan Bayley / For The Times)
A decorative room at the Madonna Inn.
(Nic Coury / For The Times)
Old-school keys from the Hacienda del Sol, from left, in Borrego Springs, the Skylark Hotel in Riverside and Glen Oaks Resort Adobe Motor Lodge.(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
A gathering space at the Haley Hotel in Santa Barbara.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
A view of an outdoor space connected to a room at the Pearl Hotel.
(Megan Morello / For The Times)
A detail of a bedroom door at the Mojave Sands Motel. (David Fouts / For The Times)
Two robes hang in a room at the Surfrider Malibu. (Al Seib / For The Times)
Happy guests at restaurant-bar Ponyboy at the Pearl Hotel in San Diego.
(Megan Morello / For The Times)
Cocktails served at the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs. (David Fouts / For The Times)
The cocktails at Ponyboy at the Pearl Hotel in San Diego. (Megan Morello / For The Times)
A guest’s dog wanders near the pool area of the Pearl in San Diego. (Megan Morello / For The Times)
A rabbit hops away at the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree. (David Fouts / For The Times)
The outdoor shower at the Skyview Motel. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
A wooden outdoor patio chair at the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree. (David Fouts / For The Times)
The Surfrider Malibu is located across Pacific Coast Highway from the Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach, famous for its surfing, and is close to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
(Al Seib / For The Times)
A view of the pool from inside the property at the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs.
(David Fouts / For The Times)
The pool at the Skyview Motel is seen through a window at the Norman restaurant.
(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
Pool-side textures on the grounds of the Pearl Hotel. (Megan Morello / For The Times)
The pool steps at the Trixie Motel. (David Fouts / For The Times)
It was Jasmine Benjamin’s friend, the gallerist Jeffrey Deitch, who persuaded her she needed to make a book about L.A. style. From her early days going to shows and working the door at parties to her many years hustling as a stylist, Benjamin knew everyone — designers, skaters, musicians. She was fluent in the visual language that made up the city, knew its subcultures and neighborhoods like the back of her hand. In the intro to her new book, “City of Angels: A Book About L.A. Style,” Benjamin writes: “What happens in Los Angeles does not stay in Los Angeles,” referencing the immeasurable and often uncredited influence L.A. has had on fashion and culture around the world. Benjamin cites Alessandro Michele’s Gucci and Hedi Slimane’s Celine as just two of the many fashion houses who have drawn from L.A. culture in the last few years alone. Alongside a map of L.A. designed by artist Sickid that includes La Cita and the Troubadour, “City of Angels” features a foreword by British Vogue editor Chioma Nnadi: “I have Jasmine Benjamin to thank for opening my eyes to the city. … Standing in the middle of the crowd at a small music festival on the Eastside, and I couldn’t help but stop and stare: the kids here dressed with so much verve, pulling from a smorgasbord of sartorial references — skate, surf, goth, you name it. I was totally spellbound.”
Pia Davis and Autumn Randolph of No Sesso.
Sonya Sombreuil of Come Tees.
It was important to Benjamin that “City of Angels” be captured through her lens, marking her debut as a first-time photographer. She shot 124 photographs of L.A. icons in front of meaningful locations — from Tropical Juice in Highland Park to the Jewelry District — inspired by the format of old Japanese street-style shots in Fruits magazine. Flipping through “City of Angels” feels like going through the ultimate L.A. yearbook, where everybody wins “best dressed.” Part of the excitement is spotting how many people you know, charting L.A.’s creative communities as an interconnected web. There is a feeling that arises seeing this patchwork of faces in print: These are the artists, designers, musicians of our time — from Barrington Darius to Sonya Sombreuil, from YG to Isabelle Albuquerque, Pia Davis and Autumn Randolph to Lee Spielman, Lauren Halsey to Guadalupe Rosales. The list goes on.
With “City of Angels” the world is invited to understand that L.A. style has never just been about the clothes. It’s about the way people move here, the way they contribute to the city and each other.
Julissa James: I saw Jay 305 after the Vogue piece on your book came out. He was holding court at Canyon Coffee and was like, “Did you see my picture in Vogue?” He was so excited.
Jasmine Benjamin: I love that you just said that. There are so many reasons why I wanted to do this book, but that’s one of the reasons: For someone to uplift these people and this point of view. Everyone in L.A. knows Jay 305. He’s the flyest. He has so much charisma. He’s super around the way. I didn’t tell Vogue to pick him, but of course they picked him.
JJ: How did this book come about? I know that you are a collector of books and coffee-table books in general. I’m wondering, were you looking at your collection thinking, “Something like this is missing.”
JB: I am a lover of books and media because I came up before social media, so magazines were the most important thing. That’s how you figure out who’s at the parties — you look at a magazine. So archiving is important, but I do have to always make sure that I highlight Jeffrey Deitch, because he’s my friend, and he is the one who put this in my ear. He was just like, “You should do a book. You’re really smart, you have great taste and you have the most diverse group of communities that you know in L.A. that really represent L.A. You should do a book about L.A. style.”
JJ: I know that so many people featured in the book came from a natural connection. Can you tell me a little bit about your history and background in L.A., and how you got to know so many of these people in creative circles?
JB: I moved to L.A. in 2002 to go to FIDM. I had a roommate and my roommate’s cousin was friends with this girl. Literally, the first place they ever took me to was Leimert Park with [filmmaker and artist] Kahlil Joseph and his girlfriend. It was to a party called “Juju.” That’s back in 2002 or 2003. I was so lucky to have the first point be a local thing, and not just get caught up in the craziness of the Hollywood industry. Then I was interning in Interscope Records and going to shows. Then I was working the door at these speakeasies that were really important back then, called Temple Bar and Zanzibar. Everybody was there — Flying Lotus, Miguel, Thundercat, J*Davey, all those people. But they were babies! I was a baby.
JJ: How did you go about casting?
JB: I did start with putting an Excel sheet together of every single person that I thought should be in it, whether I knew them or not. Getting my Virgo moon and rising in gear. From that, I’d be like, “OK, who’s missing? What cultures am I not getting? Who do I know in those places, and what are the cultures that I want represented that I think are Los Angeles?” The first time I did it, I probably had 80 people I wrote down. The book is 124 [people].
JJ: What strikes me also — I know it’s a book about L.A. style, and the subject is front and center — but it also almost feels like an archive of the city.
JB: This is my first book, so I had an intention of what I wanted it to be from the beginning, but at the end, when I was putting it all together, I was like, “You know what? The book really is about the style, the people and the places.” A lot of these places that I shoot at with people, they mean something to me too. I also felt like I had to do this because I don’t know how long the regional style is going to stay with us because of the internet. Also people were dying, like Spanto. He’s been a friend of mine for many years. The urgency was just [building] more and more because of all the things that were happening in Los Angeles. I had to capture L.A. the way that I see L.A., the way I experience it, and how I love it, forever.
Lauren London.
Spoety.
Nathaniel Santos.
Duckwrth.
JJ: You talked about regional L.A. style. If you had to put some words to what that is, what would they be?
JB: I would always say classics and workwear — because that style, those two things, exist literally in every type of different subculture. They’re wearing it in their own way. When I say classics I mean white tees, dress shoes, denim. Dickies forever, canvas shoes. Those things are part of Los Angeles [style] no matter your age, economic background, race or gender.
JJ: You put together this book over the course of years. Are there any specific stories or interactions you had while making the book that stand out in your memory?
2Tone, left, and Spanto of Born X Raised.
JB: When I look at the photos, I can remember almost everything that happened that day. Definitely taking Spanto and Alex [2Tone]’s photo at the park, because it was just a normal day with Spanto. Nobody loves L.A. more than Spanto. I remember when I took the photo, I was still really early on taking photos, and I didn’t have my memory card in the camera. I only got one photo. They were like, ‘Well, we’re gonna be down the street at Alex’s, so you can just go home and get your memory card’ — because I lived close by — and I went and took more photos. But guess what ended up being the photo? The first photo. Another really great one was talking to YG — he is so enthusiastic and very intelligent and well-studied when it comes to Los Angeles style. I also loved talking to the [Polio] twins. I’ve known them for so many years, from shopping at Opening Ceremony or parties. When I came to their neighborhood, they were like, “We can’t believe you came to our neighborhood.” And I was like, “This is the whole point of the book!” They were just so kind to me. Barrington Darius on the block his entire family grew up on in Watts for almost 70 years. Even Jesse Jo Stark. Jesse’s a part of the conversation — L.A. girl, fashion royalty. Now we’re just friends forever.
JJ: Why do we need a book like this in the world?
JB: It’s way overdue. L.A. needs its own visual survey of what people look like that live here, not just work here.
Jesse Jo Stark.
Laura Harrier.
Daniela Barraza a.k.a. Dani.
Drewbyrd.
Boo Johnson.
Sandy Kim.
Annahstasia Enuke.
Andrew Dryden and Joseph Quinones of Departamento.
A photographer and photo agency filed a lawsuit against Jennifer Lopez alleging copyright infringement after the actor and singer allegedly posted copyrighted photos of herself from a pre-Golden Globes party to social media.
In the complaint, filed Saturday in federal court, photographer Edwin Blanco accuses Lopez of posting photos of her arriving and departing from the January event on Instagram and X without permission. Backgrid USA, a news and photo agency, filed a twin suit related to the same photographs, which the company and Blanco co-own, according to court documents.
The photos, which as of Tuesday remained on her Instagram and X with no visible watermark, show her in white fur coat and slip dress, clutching a Chanel purse. The post on Instagram is captioned “Weekend Glamour.”
A representative for Lopez did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Tuesday.
The lawsuit alleges that the “Let’s Get Loud” singer posted the photos to market designers she wore at the event. Blanco and Backgrid did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. But in a statement to Billboard, attorney Peter Perkowski, who represents Blanco and Backgrid, claims that Lopez’s use was “commercial in nature.”
“For example, Ms. Lopez used the images to spotlight the designer of her clothing and jewelry,” he told Billboard. “Leveraging the publicity from the event to promote her fashion affiliations and brand partnerships.”
He also told the outlet that both parties had “fruitful discussions” in the weeks after the photos were posted, with Lopez’s team orally agreeing to a monetary settlement. But when the papers arrived, Perkowski says she didn’t sign them and has not yet paid the agreed sum.
Backgrid and Blanco are seeking statutory damages up to $150,000 for each photo used as well as a jury trial, according to the lawsuit.
Lopez faced legal action in 2019 and 2020 for allegedly sharing photos of her taken by others. In 2020, her production company Nuyorican Productions was also sued for $40 million by a woman who inspired Lopez’s character in the film “Hustlers.”
VICTORIA Beckham has publicly sent her love to Brooklyn Beckham amid the family’s feud.
The 51-year-old Spice Girl and fashion designer has expressed her love for her eldest son despite rumours of a rift.
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Victoria Beckham shared a sweet tribute to her sonCredit: Instagram
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David Beckham recently celebrated his 50th birthday and Victoria recently celebrated her 51stCredit: Getty
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Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz did not attend David’s 50th birthday bashCredit: Getty
She said “we love you so much” alongside a snap of the family, with Brooklyn seen front and centre in the photograph.
In the snap, Brooklyn could be seen beaming beside his two brothers, his sister, and his grandparents.
Cruz was stood next to Romeo who was standing beside their grandma Jackie and their granddad, with Harper then standing as her brother Brooklyn put his arm around her.
“We both love you all so much,” she penned alongside the snap.
Read More about the Beckhams
Victoria then tagged her mum Jackie Adams, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.
But the blame is being levelled at Nicola, which has upset Brooklyn, according to a source.
Posh and Becks’ plan to make Harper Beckham a star
David and Victoria Beckham are reportedly planning to help their daughter Harper become a star. The couple, who have already seen their sons Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz venture into the public eye, are said to be keen on guiding their youngest child into the limelight. Harper, who is 13 years old, has already shown a keen interest in fashion and beauty, much like her mother, Victoria.
Victoria, a former Spice Girl turned fashion designer, and David, an ex-footballer, believe that Harper has the potential to make a significant impact in the entertainment industry. They are allegedly exploring various opportunities for her, including social media ventures and brand collaborations. The Beckhams are known for their savvy business acumen and are reportedly ensuring that Harper’s foray into stardom is carefully managed.
The couple’s decision to support Harper’s ambitions comes as no surprise, considering their own successful careers and the prominence of their family in the media. With her parents’ guidance and the resources at their disposal, Harper could very well follow in their footsteps and carve out her own niche in the world of fashion and entertainment.
They said: “She has never told him what to do and has been nothing but supportive — she’s a loyal wife.”
Brooklyn and Nicola also missed an intimate evening earlier this month at the family’s £10million Cotswolds mansion.
The dinner was attended by Victoria, Romeo, Cruz, and his girlfriend Jackie.
Kim was absent, as were Brooklyn and Nicola.
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Brooklyn is married to Bates Motel actress Nicola PeltzCredit: AFP
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Romeo is dating Kim – who previously dated BrooklynCredit: Getty
May 16 (UPI) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday night that DHS and the Secret Service are investigating a since-deleted picture former FBI Director James Comey published online as a threat targeting President Donald Trump.
“Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump,” she said online. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”
Comey had published the now-deleted photo to Instagram. It showed shells on a beach arranged to form the numerals “86 47.”
“Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” Comey had written in the caption.
The number 86 is widely used code in restaurants and the hospitality industry meaning an item is either sold out, no longer available or should be removed from a dish. The Merriam-Webster dictionary says it is slag meaning to eject, dismiss or remove.
The number 47 suggests Trump, who is the 47th president of the United States.
The president’s eldest child, Donald Trump Jr., published a screenshot of the deleted post to his X account, describing the image as “James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered.”
In a follow-up post on Instagram, Comey explained that he had assumed the shells conveyed a political statement but not one suggesting violence.
“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” he said. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement that the FBI is aware of the post “directed at President Trump” and is in contact with the Secret Service.
“Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support,” he said.
UPI has contacted the Secret Service for comment.
Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, also described the image on X as Comey issuing “a call to action to murder the President of the United States.”
In an interview with Fox News, Gabbard said Comey should be jailed for it.
“I’m very concerned for the president’s life,” she said. “And James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this.”
Comey served as director of the FBI from 2013 until he was fired by Trump during his first term in 2017, during which his office investigated Russian interference into the 2016 election and Hillary Clinton‘s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.
U.S. and UCLA gymnast Jordan Chiles is a two-time Olympian and three-time NCAA individual champion.
She looks completely comfortable in her own skin as she’s performing a floor routine to music by empowering artists like Beyoncé and proudly displaying the more than 20 “amazing art pieces” she has tattooed on her body.
For much of Chiles’ life, however, the body that helped propel her to athletic greatness made her feel “ugly” and self-conscious. But when she first saw photos of herself as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, “I literally started bawling my eyes out,” Chiles recently told People magazine.
U.S. and UCLA gymnast Jordan Chiles appears on the cover of the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, on newsstands beginning May 17. The portrait was shot in Boca Raton, Fla., on Nov. 4.
(Ben Horton /Sports Illustrated / Contour by Getty Images)
Chiles said her mother, Gina, reacted similarly.
“My mom actually cried a few times from some of the photos because she’s been there literally every single moment of my life,” Chiles said, “so I think it was more of her realizing how beautiful her daughter is and what I’ve gone through.
“She was there when I would cry and be like, ‘Mom, they’re saying this. They’re saying that.’ Or I would look at myself in the mirror and call myself ugly almost every day. I think it was just really cool for her to know that I get this opportunity and that I get the ability to embrace who Jordan is.”
Chiles was a member of the U.S. Olympic squads that won team silver at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and team gold at the Paris Games last summer. Chiles was also awarded her first individual Olympic medal, a bronze in the floor exercise, in Paris but it was taken away because of a technicality.
When the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue hits newsstands on Saturday, Chiles will be one of four models appearing on her own cover (Olivia Dunne, Salma Hayek Pinault and Lauren Chan are the others). As opposed to how she felt looking at her own reflection years ago, Chiles said she is “in awe” after seeing herself on the front of the iconic magazine.
“I’ve embraced every single aspect of who I am and I’ve embraced the amazing body that I have,” Chiles said.