Paddling Nowhere in Hollywood

Paddling Nowhere in Hollywood is a faith-inspired comedic photograph featuring Kenny Fetzer, a character actor known for his expressive roles and improvisational humor. Shot on film in the mid-1990s, the image captures Kenny sitting in an inflatable raft on a Hollywood sidewalk, “rowing” past cars and the iconic Capitol Records building — a visual satire of feeling stuck, lost, or adrift in life.

The photograph took nearly a month to plan. Securing this specific street corner, the right timing, and a brief window of empty sidewalk in the middle of Hollywood was nothing short of a miracle. The final image came together with a sense of divine timing — a reminder that even in moments of confusion or wandering, God’s hand is still at work.

At the time, Richard had recently stepped away from police and photojournalistic work, believing for a season that God was calling him there. This photograph humorously marks the turning point: a symbolic moment of drifting before God redirected him toward his true vocation in the arts.

Blending humor, real-life storytelling, and classic documentary-style photography, this piece invites viewers to reflect on how we sometimes “paddle nowhere” before God brings us to where we are meant to be.