Not A Starving Artist

zen-archy:

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go // TS Eliot

I know its not like me to write rant-ish post up here, however I feel compeled to expressed the idea that we should all as equal inhabitants of this place called Earth treat each other with respect and love.

Its a Monday Tuesday (and now I realize I can’t keep track of the days), and it appears that I still have a terrible case of the “Mondays.” A few of my pals shared two graphically horrific YouTube videos that seriously made my blood boil, then scream out some form of banshee rage.  (I’m not going to link the videos here, there will be no negativity on this blog.  Plus, I’m sure you all more than capable of googling them yourselves.) Somewhere in Europe two drunk kids thought it would be a swell idea to duct tape a firework to a German Shepherd’s mouth and blow it face off. And somewhere in Chicago, IL seven youngsters thought it was fair to ambush one Asian person.  

Regardless of who is right and who is wrong. This is not cool at all. 

I don’t understand why in a world where our differences makes us each unique and beautiful do people decide to spread hate among one another. I am deeply disappointed and sad that as a global community we can’t put aside our issues and celebrate our lives together. I strongly feel that this is where us, the creatives, come into play.  

Let’s face it. We are creatives, and we are just friggin’ weird as heck. Whether your craft is photography, music, graphics, cinema, etc… we hold the responsibility to create a platform/space that can unite individuals from all extremes on some basic form of human understanding. At least this is what I want viewers to get from my images. In the realm of photography, I am most passionate with creating portraits. If I can capture an individual in a way that others are able to peer into the subject’s life and persona with a kind openness, then I’ve done my job. Can push myself to take this to a larger scale one day? I hope so.

Maybe I’m a sap, but I want people feeling good after seeing my images. Maybe after that —that good feeling will spread to another person, then another and start a chain reaction or some sort.

—

End of Rant.

Where have I been these days? It appears that I do not have presence in the world these days except within the online spectrum.

(Pause on blogging: thank you all for showing your support by “liking” and “following” me)

Afternoon, quick updates at the start of 2012. Let’s begin with the un-obvious ones:

I had the opportunity late 2011 to work on a couple of video project with the lovely Michelle Phan. No, by work I don’t not mean filming or dping. It was a blessing to work on these two films because of the others involved on the project. To be surrounded amongst equally creative individuals who aim to go beyond expectations can motivate the heck out of you and remind you to keep looking at the bigger picture.

Check out the videos below!

NewMediaRockstars, ok I’ve been name dropping this one everywhere. NMR’s mission is to empower, inspire, and promote the independent new media community. That is quite a bold statement.  In this startup I am the Chief of Creative, CCO.  Fancy title = huge responsibilities. My job is to establish the visual branding of the company, company culture, check quality control, etc…. oh yea produce epic photo shoots!  Pretty much anything and everything related to what you see and read on the webpage needs to be approved by me.  @#*(% I have a lot of work ahead of me. Believe me when I say I feel under pressure. I feel like I just been handed a big chunk of unexpected responsibility, but you know what? Regardless of whether or not I’m ready to lead, I know that I can and will rise in this situation.  All I can say is stay tuned. 

And of course I’m constantly shooting (I really want to stop saying shooting after the shooting incident) and editing.

With NMR as my primary project, I really have to train myself to focus and be highly selective with outside projects I take on. I feel that 2012 is the year when I have to and will need to push for more produced content. By produced I don’t necessarily mean having more finances funding each project (though that would quite lovely). What I’m saying is that with the photo projects I do take on I want to invest more time into developing the concept/theme of the shoot, build a stronger team around me, and overall just invest more time and energy to make stronger unique images. Anyone can pick up a camera and button smash until a happy accident appears. What I want to get at the end of the day is an image that is different. No, at this point I cannot directly define what different is or means.  And yes, I do realize everything has been done before and nothing is original.  However, I strongly believe that the connection I make among my subject, my team, and the project will generate images that will resonate with others.

In 2011 I was wearing several caps that unintentionally distracted me from fully focusing on purely photography. I’m going to make 2012 different. There’s no doubt that in my mind that I am going to fall on my face multiple times throughout the year, but I will get back up. This is my year and I’m going to take it.

Won’t you join me the pursuit of dreams?

12fv:

Vancouver Sun

TO JACK SCOTT, VANCOUVER SUN

October 1, 1958 57 Perry Street New York City

Sir,

I got a hell of a kick reading the piece Time magazine did this week on The Sun. In addition to wishing you the best of luck, I’d also like to offer my services.

Since I haven’t seen a copy of the “new” Sun yet, I’ll have to make this a tentative offer. I stepped into a dung-hole the last time I took a job with a paper I didn’t know anything about (see enclosed clippings) and I’m not quite ready to go charging up another blind alley.

By the time you get this letter, I’ll have gotten hold of some of the recent issues of The Sun. Unless it looks totally worthless, I’ll let my offer stand. And don’t think that my arrogance is unintentional: it’s just that I’d rather offend you now than after I started working for you.

I didn’t make myself clear to the last man I worked for until after I took the job. It was as if the Marquis de Sade had suddenly found himself working for Billy Graham. The man despised me, of course, and I had nothing but contempt for him and everything he stood for. If you asked him, he’d tell you that I’m “not very likable, (that I) hate people, (that I) just want to be left alone, and (that I) feel too superior to mingle with the average person.” (That’s a direct quote from a memo he sent to the publisher.)

Nothing beats having good references.

 Of course if you asked some of the other people I’ve worked for, you’d get a different set of answers.

If you’re interested enough to answer this letter, I’ll be glad to furnish you with a list of references — including the lad I work for now.

The enclosed clippings should give you a rough idea of who I am. It’s a year old, however, and I’ve changed a bit since it was written. I’ve taken some writing courses from Columbia in my spare time, learned a hell of a lot about the newspaper business, and developed a healthy contempt for journalism as a profession.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s a damned shame that a field as potentially dynamic and vital as journalism should be overrun with dullards, bums, and hacks, hag-ridden with myopia, apathy, and complacence, and generally stuck in a bog of stagnant mediocrity. If this is what you’re trying to get The Sun away from, then I think I’d like to work for you.

Most of my experience has been in sports writing, but I can write everything from warmongering propaganda to learned book reviews.

I can work 25 hours a day if necessary, live on any reasonable salary, and don’t give a black damn for job security, office politics, or adverse public relations.

I would rather be on the dole than work for a paper I was ashamed of.

It’s a long way from here to British Columbia, but I think I’d enjoy the trip.

If you think you can use me, drop me a line.

If not, good luck anyway.

Sincerely, Hunter S. Thompson

(Source: chrisgayomali)

Sometimes we just need

jatecson:

via - www.craigandkarl.com

(Source: trinadafilipina)