Plein-Air Painting

Using the winter rains as her medium, Mother Nature paints pictures that invite passersby to pause for reflection. Christine Perez McGhee strolls along the Venice pier, studying the shades of gray swirled together on the cloudy horizon. A puddle reflects lithe palm trees along Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Another pool of rainwater, along Broadway, turns downtown L.A. upside-down.

Visionary

For many Angelenos, it’s all about seeing and being seen. A giant pair of eyes watches Tracy Durose, left, and Vicki Sawin in the Rampage clothing store in Sherman Oaks Fashion Square. Rolando Corzo, a football player for Poly High in Sun Valley, seems focused on distant thoughts while riding the bus to a game.

Reach for the Sky

Excitement starts deep inside and sends the whole body reaching upward. Young cheerleaders Jennifer Larson, Lacie Warren and Cindy Martinez let their spirit soar during practice at an after-school program in Garden Grove. The Nifty After Fifty Dancers put a big flourish on their performance at the Orange County Fair. And Moses the dog launches himself after a tossed stick during a backyard social event in Newport Beach.

I Get a Kick Out of You

Practice makes perfect for a kickboxer at the L.A. Boxing Club. Imagine the room, silent except for the thump-thump-thwack as his feet make contact with the bag. Mighty Ducks left wing Jeremy Stevenson, right, gets his kicks playing hockey, though that sometimes means a nasty midair collision with the likes of San Jose Sharks left wing Andrei Nazarov. A ceramic sculpture by Bardene Allen kicks up its heels as it is wheeled into a Newport Beach exhibit.