Photographs of Occupy Orange County Irvine’s camp

California, Orange County, People, Photography
A man holds a "Jobs not cuts" sign and flashes the peace sign behind the "Occupy Orange County in Unity with Occupy Wall St." sign at the encampment at Irvine, CA. (Marc C. Perkins)
A man holds a "Jobs not cuts" sign and flashes the peace sign behind the "Occupy Orange County in Unity with Occupy Wall St." sign at the Occupy Orange County encampment at Irvine, CA.

The Occupy Wall Street movement began about a month and a half ago, and since then has spread a cities worldwide, including Irvine and Santa Ana right here in Orange County.  Regular readers of this blog will know that my photographic genre can best be described as cat pictures biological macro photography: I take pictures of spiders, mice, plants, and other such things.

A man walks in front of the bright orange "Occupy Orange County - in unity with Occupy Wall Street" banner while holding a sign with a newspaper boy holding a paper with a graphical "No greed" written on it. (Marc C. Perkins)
Tom walks in front of the bright orange "Occupy Orange County - in unity with Occupy Wall Street" banner while holding a sign with a newspaper boy holding a paper with a graphical "No greed" written on it.

Over the weekend I decided to try my hand at some documentary street photography, and headed down to the Occupy Orange County – Irvine camp to see what was going on.

On Sunday evening there weren't many folks holding signs; the tents were taking care of the task for them. (Marc C. Perkins)
On Sunday evening at Occupy Orange County there weren't many folks holding signs; the tents were taking care of the task for them.

The camp was fairly quiet on Sunday around sunset, so I focused on documenting the environment, including the sea of tents that has popped up.

The sun sets on a Sunday afternoon at Occupy Orange County. (Marc C. Perkins)
The sun sets on a Sunday afternoon at Occupy Orange County.

But what people really think of for the Occupy movement is people holding signs; I came back on Monday evening at rush hour and found many more folks out and about with signs:

Rik sits with his dog Mischa at the Occupy Orange County camp in Irvine, CA while holding a "We are the 99 percent" sign alongside a road. (Marc C. Perkins)
Rik sits with his dog Mischa at the Occupy Orange County camp in Irvine, CA while holding a "We are the 99 percent" sign alongside a road.
Laurel stands on a corner holding a yellow "We are the 99%" sign at the Occupy Orange County Irvine camp. I took this on Halloween, hence the costume. (Marc C. Perkins)
Laurel stands on a corner holding a yellow "We are the 99%" sign at the Occupy Orange County Irvine camp. I took this on Halloween, hence the costume.
A man holds a sign reading "I spent 8 yeras in the U.S. Marines and all I got was this lousy economy". Taken at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp on Halloween. (Marc C. Perkins)
A man holds a sign reading "I spent 8 yeras in the U.S. Marines and all I got was this lousy economy". Taken at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp on Halloween.

The folks at the camp were incredibly friendly.  Even though they were being hurled insults by the dozens at times, they just waved back and called out “I love you!”, as though an old friend had just driven by.

Two Occupy Orange County protesters hold signs on the corner of Harvard and Alton in Irvine, CA. (Marc C. Perkins)
Two Occupy Orange County protesters hold signs on the corner of Harvard and Alton in Irvine, CA on Sunday evening.
A number of people gather on a Monday evening at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp. Signs read "People before Profit$", "50% of the USA is now low income $25,000 a year or less", "You are the 99% so honk!!", "Banks you got yours give us ours!" (Marc C. Perkins)
A number of people gather on a Monday evening at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp. Signs read "People before Profit$", "50% of the USA is now low income $25,000 a year or less", "You are the 99% so honk!!", "Banks you got yours give us ours!"

Everyone at the camp was happy to see someone with a camera (often mistaking me for a journalist, admittedly), and all freely gave permission to have their pictures taken.  From the photographic side of things, it was a pleasing technical challenge, as most of the protesters were either standing with their backs to the sun or had sunlit backgrounds, so I got to play with my light balancing skills.

A woman flashes the peace sign whiel holding a "People Before Profit$" sign at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp. (Marc C. Perkins)
A woman flashes the peace sign whiel holding a "People Before Profit$" sign at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp.
A woman holds a sign reading "50% of hte USA is now low income $25,000 a year or less" while standing at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp. The background is the Irvine Civic Center building near sunset. (Marc C. Perkins)
A woman holds a sign reading "50% of the USA is now low income $25,000 a year or less" while standing at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp. The background is the Irvine Civic Center building near sunset.

Occupy Orange County’s Irvine camp has a permission from the City Council to camp at the location for at least the next week, so scenes like this should continue:

Tents and protesters seen in front of the Irvine Civic Center at the Occupy Orange County encampment in Irvine, CA. (Marc C. Perkins)
Tents and protesters seen in front of the Irvine Civic Center at the Occupy Orange County encampment in Irvine, CA.

Fellow photographers: As this was my first attempt at street photography in a very long time, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

More pictures

To see more pictures from the two days, head to my Occupy Orange County – Oct 30 and 31 gallery or click on the thumbnails below.

A sea of tents at Occupy Orange County, including one labeled "Free your mind" "A" and "Occupy Together". (Marc C. Perkins) The sunset illuminates clouds in a brilliant orange over the tops of tents at Occupy Orange County in Irvine, CA. (Marc C. Perkins) A man in a pirate costume and a woman (Carina?) set up a "Meow" cardboard cutout at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp. (Marc C. Perkins) A long exposure shot taken at dusk shows just the ghost of a man in a hat holding a sign next to an empty lawn chair at Occupy Orange County - Irvine. (Marc C. Perkins) A man holds a sign reading "Citibank - Bankruptcy is our game â�¦ game on!! Citi. Live -Richly- Poorly" at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp. (Marc C. Perkins) Carina inks in a new sign on Halloween at the Occupy Orange County - Irvine camp. (Marc C. Perkins)

Getting There

Occupy Orange County – Irvine: Their camp is located at the corner of Harvard and Alton in Irvine, CA; the Occupy Orange County website has driving directions and parking information.

One thought on “Photographs of Occupy Orange County Irvine’s camp”

  1. Pingback: Highlights from Occupy Orange County’s November 5 March | Marc Perkins Photography

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