My many apologizes for not keeping this blog up to date as much as I would like. The last six months has been really busy for me and I’ve let some of my personal projects take a back seat like this blog. Anyways, since 2015 just recently closed. I wanted to do an end of the year blog post about my favorite images I’ve made in 2015 and a few of my favorite books I’ve read in the past year.
Untitled, From the Sleep Project, 2015
The first image is from my Sleeping Project (link to the gallery) that I started last March. It was a daunting project, shot over six months, resulting in a selection of 55 images from a pool of six rolls. The image selected from this bodywork was the most surprising because the photograph has no movement what so ever. Giving the viewer a chance to interpret my actions from the day or night before I went to bed.
Marissa, Marin Headlands, June, 2015
On my birthday a few friends and I drove up to the Marin Headlands to explore the area and spend time in the greater outdoors. The image above is of my friend Marissa (website) when we were at the top of a very windy hill. Photographing the feeling of wind blowing across your body is a tricky thing to do because wind is invisible and has to photographic mass. However, Marissa’s expression captures the sense of freedom and relaxation as the air rushes across her skin.
Japantown, San Jose, July, 2015
Taken in San Jose Japantown, the image might not have ever happened because I almost didn’t notice her. In the late afternoon a few friends and I were walking back to our car to head home for the day. It when then across the street I saw in the corner of my eye an interesting fox mask and a woman wearing a beautiful yukata. I sprinted across a busy road and asked to take her photograph. The juxtaposition between the two faces is what draws me into the photograph every time I view it.
The next few images are taken from my trip through Europe (the images from that trip can be found in the gallery named The Wandering Days). I was torn between the two because they vary differently in terms of subject matter. However, the process in which the images were taken is very much the same. I took my time composing each shot allowing me to explore how the relationship between the subject and the image plane.
A welcome change to this year was that I had a couple of hours of personal time outside of work or the studio. It gave me a chance to relax, go out in the great outdoors, and epically the opportunity to read a couple of nice books. The two that stood out to me this year was by Lynsey Addario: It’s What I Do: a Photographer’s Life of Love and War (2015). Lynsey Addario is a conflict photographer, who has made images covering war and other subjects not talked about outside of western culture. While her memoir does cover her life in conflict zones and third world countries. The most touching and relatable parts of her story were when she was trying to strike a balance between her personal and professional life. The other book I liked this year was A Field Guide to Getting Lost (2005) by Rebecca Solnoit. While Addario’s book was about a photographer’s life, Solnoit wrote about the cultural and historical meaning of being lost. The book brought up themes about the meaning to be lost in the 21st century, religious or personal meanings of being lost, and the idea being lost mentally when we are physically found.
This year was a nice year for me personally. I was working more on things I cared about such as photography, photo history, personal relationships, and my physical well-being. I also had the opportunity to travel to Europe by myself. It gave me the opportunity to reflect about myself and my goals, meet new people, and visit a good friend. Professionally I toned it down but it allowed me to combine my creative and work life. Which I am grateful for all people in my life that have help foster me and force me to work harder and with a purpose.
Lastly, I hope 2016 turns out to be a better year than 2015. This year so far, I have a couple of projects with some wonderful creative artists and designers in the works. I received a new employment opportunity working as an educator in the STEAM field. Also I have a big spiritual journey thorough Utah planed. I’m hoping I can use this momentum and better myself when the end of 2016 comes around.
I hope 2015 was the same for you and I’m wishing you guys a great 2016.