My primary reason for visiting my sister and brother-in-law, Emily and Gorsha Paramonov, in Los Angeles at this time was to attend the Opening Gala of the Beauty Culture exhibition at The Annenberg Space for Photography. Last autumn I had been surprised to receive an email inviting me to submit an image from Falling Into Place, my series of self portraits, for inclusion in the exhibit. So on Thursday evening, May 19, 2011, we three walked -- I scooted -- into a glittering world of iconic photographers, famous fashion models and designers, Hollywood celebrities, Los Angeles movers and shakers, and a bevy of Beautiful People. It was a surreal and amazing experience. Happily, I discovered my photographer buddy Carl Bower and his wife Terri among the crowds. Carl also had work in the show.

These images take you through the evening as I saw it from the seat of my scooter. You also see a couple of photos -- the first taken by my sister Emily Paramonova, and the second by Carl Bower -- of me grinning from ear-to-ear. It really WAS lots of fun! You will see an ABC-TV news team interviewing Tyen, Lauren Greenfield and Melvin Sokolsky, three of the four featured photographers. Then I'll take you through the exhibition space as it filled with people. That includes not just prints on the wall but the inner circle with two 7x14 foot screens that continuously showed Lauren Greenfield's documentary film that was commissioned for Beauty Culture, and the digital portion of the exhibit in which Carl's and my images appeared. And there was also the party tent where drinks, delicious Wolfgang Puck hors d'oeuvres, and a brief presentation of the featured photographers occurred. There was also a surprise performance by a burlesque queen. Only in Los Angeles!

Oh my, it was a night to remember...