Stick it to 'em.

Tape Generations from johan rijpma on Vimeo.

This gave me chills. I love the simplicity and astounding movement that he was able to achieve. 

Déjà vu

Left:  "Approaching Shadow" by Fan Ho

Right:  Skateboarder Tod Swank photographed by J. Grant Brittain

One man's seasoning is another man's medium

It's so hot in our apartment, I think the salt from my sweat could be enough for Motoi Yamamoto to create another one of his Labyrinth installations. (TMI? Sorry, but it's the truth.) I can't imagine the amount of patience and concentration this guy possesses in order spend around fifty hours creating these salt mazes. I can't even draw a maze on paper without it looking like a pile of spaghetti.

At the end of an exhibit, Yamamoto allows visitors to take the salt and throw it into the sea as part of a project he calls "Return to Sea". I love how he lets the salt to return to it's original place, with the hope of it one day coming back to him:  "The form as the work disappears. However, this salt dissolves in seawater and will support the life of various creatures. Possibly the opportunity when we eat it may come. Of course it is the best joy for me if it can meet again as material of the works." 

I think it would be amazing to see one of these installations in person. More than that, just having the chance to obliterate the work would be a bit heartbreaking but way too entertaining.

Click here to go to Yamamoto's website

Just gotta fight your way through.

Wise words from Ira Glass

Everyone has those days -- the ones where you want to drop everything and move to a tropical island, spending the rest of your life drinking coconut juice and fishing for a living. Today, and almost every day since I graduated, is/was one of those days. I've been debating my options for a career path and have come to a decision where the most logical thing for me to do right now also happens to be the most boring. But I hope to continue to pursue a creative career in the meantime, even if it isn't top priority. I really don't want to give up on my dreams of being a photographer. This quote by Ira Glass has really inspired me to continue on the path I've worked so hard for, even if it means trudging through artistic slumps.

Watch this video that the above quote came from. 

The beginning of the end

The end of my college career, that is. My excitement level is through the roof! I've got a lot to post about and once I tackle these finals, this blog will get some much needed attention. For now, I'll leave you with some unreal embroidery by Maricor/Maricar. 

Makes me want to pull out all my mom's embroidery supplies and give it another go.

Watching you watch me

A year ago, I did a series where I photographed people on the street without their knowledge. It was one of the most entertaining and stressful projects I've ever done. I shot mostly out the car window because I was so afraid they would notice me. After a while I felt the need to get closer in order to see their faces, and resorted to shooting from my waist with my camera strap still hanging from my shoulder. (Creeper status? Maybe.) I loved being able to see that raw, uninhibited version of a person when they feel like no one is watching. This series by Moa Karlberg takes the fascination further with portraits of people who see their reflection in a one way mirror, all the while being photographed from the other side. 

Moa writes:  "The project ”Watching you watch me” is discovering how a photographer can get as close as possible to others, without acting illegal. I have taken portraits of people through a mirror, when they are totally unaware of the camera inside. This way I get shots of people watching themselves.

Since the pictures are taken in public spaces, I can publish them however I want to. At least in Sweden, where the laws are generous to journalists and artists. But in which forums and publications does the single individual feel insulted? “Watching you watch me” is an effort to create debate on laws and ethics within the photographer’s role."

What do you think? How do you feel about street photography in general?

Check out http://www.moakarlberg.com/ to see some of her other projects, which are all pretty powerful.

Subtlety

Years ago, I set up a deviantART account in order to get my photography, albeit amateur, "out there". Now, looking through those photos makes me cringe but I'm glad to see just how far I've come from over-editing a photo of the sky into what looks like a hallucinogenic nightmare. (Seriously though...what was I thinking?) I grew tired of the website after a couple years and abandoned it. About a week ago I decided to login to delete my profile and instead found myself browsing the site's photography section. I came across Lilyana Karadjova's gallery and loved what I saw. The chick really knows how to use light to her advantage. This picture is one that I keep coming back to - the understated elegance and simplicity get me every time.