Southern California Autumn

I was laying on the grass the other day, and this is what I saw.

Some of my favorites from Zion

Irving Penn: Small Trades Exhibit

I went to this exhibit a few weeks ago at the The Getty. Probably one of the largest photo exhibits I have ever been to. Portraits of working citizens from New York, London, and France.

Link to a video from NY Times.

Kohjiro Kinno

Kojo came to my photo class to speak about his photo career. He is an assistant photographer to a staff photographer of Sport Illustrated, Robert Beck. These guys travel all over the world to shoot events, like the Beijing Olympics, and take portraits of athletes.

Kojo quotes:

His ultimate goal would be to put his work in a fine art galleries.

He wishes he traveled more before he started working full time.

He likes to shoot weddings. It is a change of pace and everyone is happy. And you actually can earn some money.

You just can't quit.

Never say no.

With working with so much equipment, simplifying photography on his personal projects is his inspiration.

The Adventurers of Zion

Zion Preview

Anywhere I Lay My Head...

I am going to Zion National Park this weekend. It is one of my favorite places in America. I recreated a slideshow from the photos I took last year.

School Kills Creativity

I Don't Wanna Grow Up

When we are all lost, what do we do? We all look at the night sky for answers.
-Tom Waits

When Im lyin in my bed at night
I dont wanna grow up
Nothin ever seems to turn out right
I dont wanna grow up
How do you move in a world of fog
Thats always changing things
Makes me wish that I could be a dog
When I see the price that you pay
I dont wanna grow up
I dont ever wanna be that way
I dont wanna grow up

Seems like folks turn into things
That theyd never want
The only thing to live for
Is today...
Im gonna put a hole in my tv set
I dont wanna grow up
Open up the medicine chest
And I dont wanna grow up
I dont wanna have to shout it out
I dont want my hair to fall out
I dont wanna be filled with doubt
I dont wanna be a good boy scout
I dont wanna have to learn to count
I dont wanna have the biggest amount
I dont wanna grow up

Well when I see my parents fight
I dont wanna grow up
They all go out and drinking all night
And I dont wanna grow up
Id rather stay here in my room
Nothin out there but sad and gloom
I dont wanna live in a big old tomb
On grand street

When I see the 5 oclock news
I dont wanna grow up
Comb their hair and shine their shoes
I dont wanna grow up
Stay around in my old hometown
I dont wanna put no money down
I dont wanna get me a big old loan
Work them fingers to the bone
I dont wanna float a broom
Fall in love and get married then boom
How the hell did I get here so soon
I dont wanna grow u

Smoke Signals

Driving around north LA fires. Maybe some Indians got lost.

The beginning of editing Russia.

I am ever so grateful for all of my friends in Russia that took me into their homes and hung out with me. I even met a curator who wanted to bring me back and host a gallery of my images.

Personal Work

Always make time for personal work.
-Cliff Lester, Photographer & Teacher

Russia Photos before I leave.

Michael Jr. And The Road Less Traveled

Jerry Seinfeld once said the road less traveled, is less traveled for a reason. It takes a bold person to walk down the road less traveled.

Our Culture is Changing Before Our Eyes

Our communication technology has been changing so fast everyday. We are used to a fast pace service through our various communication devices (internet, email, texting, twitter and facebook) to get answers back within several moments. And the efficiency of our communication is getting much more accurate. As if we need to rely and service and answers NOW! This fast pace communication has spoiled us.

Also, our culture is currently experiencing a deflating economy. Some people compare it to the 80s, some people compare it to the Great Depression of the 30s. Neither of these times had the incredibly fast communication technology we have today.
We were spoiled by the high rising economy. It was a time of feast, not it is a time of famine. Get used to it. Now prices are lower and people are staying home a lot more. In my opinion, this is the way it should be because this is how the rest of the world lives. Did we really believe ourselves when owning and pouring all of your money into other rental homes was really going to make you a lot of money? Our culture got ahead of itself, and now we are learning how to survive in a slower and more realistic time.

I went to Costco the other day, and I got annoyed by everyone there. Everyone was on their phones going down each aisle asking who ever they were talking to if they needed more stuff for dirt cheap. We lived in a time where we were used to buying what ever we want. Professional consumers, if you will call it.

It is different now, communication is faster than ever, and the economy is slower than ever. We have to learn to slow down, and it is ok to live a slower lifestyle. Hey, maybe you can call (or twitter) an old friend and hang out with some good old fashion regular coffee.

Rickey Henderson is Officially in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Rickey Henderson has been one of my favorite athletes. I really respect people put their hearts into their work and career, regardless of the money.

It is not about being the best, it is about doing your best. No one said hard work was easy, but if you work hard enough at what you love, you will truly be recognized for your efforts.

Orphans

I am going back to the Motherland next week


Here is my first Russian slideshow on my blog. I don't really have any excuses, except I am lame.
I am going back to Russia for the third time. But this trip is kind of a real vacation. Meet some friends that I have made on the way.
Tea, chocolate, and trains.

Edit for TOM DAVIS and the support of positive influence of orphans in my life.
I am changing the title of the blog post to 'Orphans' to counter the web traffic searching for the horror movie, Orphans.

Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life...
A life should not be thrown away to let a government raise it. A child should have every opportunity as any other kid to grow up in a loving home. I will not disappear like my father did to me.

Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power.

I drove by the San Diego museums, and saw that there is a Richard Avedon exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art.

Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power traces Avedon’s interest in and fascination with American politics through 200 portraits created from the 1950s until the photographer’s death in 2004. During his six-decade career, Richard Avedon was arguably the most important American fashion photographer and portraitist. This exhibition traces Avedon’s fascination with the forces behind American democracy. Together, these photographs represent both an historical group portrait. SDMA is hosting the only West Coast viewing of the exhibition, on view during a season of unprecedented political change and focus on those who lead us. Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power is organized by the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C

San Fran City Scapes

There is spray paint graffiti everywhere.

4th of July

Welcome to the neighborhood...on Independence Day...

Scared: A Novel on the Edge of The World

Tom Davis is the CEO of Children's Hopechest, and he wrote a book called Scared, A Novel on the Edge of the World.

I got an email from Children's Hopechest, advertising a free PDF download of the book if I emailed three people. Since I went to Russia twice before with the aid of Hopechest to visit orphanages, I figured I would help Tom out.
After reading the first chapter, I was beyond impressed. This book is for everyone: photographers, world travelers, people who want to make a difference, and people who don't want to make a difference and stay in their comfortable lives.

Tom & Children's Hopechest are really great people. They give everything they got to make unfortunate kids smile and give them opportunities to have a better life, something we all take for granted. Buy or download this book. Believe me, I wouldn't tell you to read something that was a waste of time.

A rebel commander yelled something just outside the door.
Another shot, and the guard who had just spoken fell dead right on top of me. His blood flowed over my neck and right arm, staining my band of brothers ring crimson. The screaming intensified, people ran, yelled, and died.I scooted against the wall, huddled next to Mike as shots continued to shriek overhead. Plaster exploded and covered us. We tried to make ourselves invisible, curling into the fetal position, wrapping our arms over our heads. A bullet whined by my ear, missing by centimeters. I crawled facedown to the other side of the room, trying to get out of the line of fire.
Then a sudden, deafening silence.

Nobody moved for what seemed like hours. Fear paralyzed me, and the silence thickened, punctuated by an occasional moan or a sob. We waited and waited, wondering when it would be safe to stand, wondering if it would ever be safe.

Finally, I gazed out the window, my eyes searching for rebel soldiers in the yellow-orange gloom of smoke. No figures or
movement.
“I’m going out,” I whispered to Mike.
He didn’t respond
“Hey, listen. Let’s go, man.”
I elbowed him in the ribs.
“Mike!” I grabbed his jacket to turn him toward me. There was
a pinpoint crimson stain on the front of his light blue shirt. His eyes
stared through me.
I was frozen for a moment, not knowing what to do. Then I pulled my camera out of my bag. I picked up Mike’s gear and slung
it around my neck...

Scared - A Novel on the Edge of the World from Children's HopeChest on Vimeo.

Once a celebrated and award-winning photojournalist, Stuart Daniels is reeling from debt, a broken marriage, and crippling depression. The source of Stuart’s grief is his most famous photo, a snapshot of brutality in the dangerous Congo. This haunting image indicts him as a passive witness to gross injustice.

Stuart is given one last chance to redeem his career: a make-or-break assignment covering the AIDS crisis in a small African country. It is here that Stuart meets Adanna, a young orphan fighting for her life in a community ravaged by tragedy and disease. Now what seemed like a chance encounter will forever change their lives.

About the Author
Tom Davis is the accomplished author of Red Letters and Fields of the Fatherless. He also serves as a trainer in leadership development. He holds a Business and Pastoral Ministry degree from Dallas Baptist University and a Master's Degree in Theology from The Criswell College. He is the president of Children's HopeChest, a Christian-based child advocacy organization helping orphans in Eastern Europe and Africa. Tom and his wife, Emily, have five children.

San Succulent

Blue

At Jason's house, I woke up with this guy on my chest everyday. His name is Blue, and likes to jump out of second story windows.




Blue had this rad skull collar.

San Francisco, Day 1

Went to San Fran a few weeks ago. Finally got some time to edit some more images.

These images are details of Jason's house.

Michael Jackson Tribute Firework Show at Dodger Stadium 6/26/09

Last Friday, my friend Scott had some extra tickets to the Dodger game, and he had never been to Dodger stadium before. (He lives DOWN THE STREET...) He wanted to take me because the Dodgers are my favorite team. I had never been to a Friday night game since they started having fireworks after the game. (I am more of a Monday through Thursday fan). I had no idea that they would play a tribute firework show for Michael Jackson. Usually, firework shows are played to classical music, but hearing Jackson songs to fireworks made it the most AWESOME firework show ever! And they let everyone on the field.



This video is the finale of the show. If you have a short attention span for youtube (like me), the last 30 seconds are EXPLOSIVE...