the persistence of light…

Thursday 2.2.2012

The subject of these pictures is, in this sense, not tract homes or freeways but the source of all form, light. The Front Range is astonishing because it is overspread with light of such richness that banality is impossible. Even subdivision, which we hate for the obscenity of the speculator’s greed, are at certain times of day transformed to a dry, cold brilliance.

Towns, many now suggest, are intrusions of sacred landscapes, and who can deny it, looking at the squalor we have laid across America? But even as we see the harm of our work and determine to correct it, we also see that nothing can, in the last analysis, intrude. Nothing permanently diminishes the affirmation of the sun.

~Robert Adams

I always like to rewrite this quote for every new journal. It’s kind of a source of inspiration for me. Things are kinda busy round here, what with me trying to dapple in commercial photography and trying to balance a career that can satiate my own artistic needs. In between all this, I’m trying to figure out where I belong, or how my art is defined in the context of my life. I know that there is a standard of photo expertise that is expected in the field of commercial photography these days that I find difficult to get my hands around. With all the technological advances in the digital world, technicality and precision is often the wanted result. I find, however, that the most important, the most memorable photographs are the ones that captures the little nuances and details that are rarely caught or realized  during the experience. If my personal work can achieve this on some level, than I am satisfied.

…still trying to find my “photographic eye”

This temporary teaching gig has given me a sweet opportunity to get back into the dark room. I’ve been sneaking away the hours after school for some quality time in the darkroom to develop some of my own work. It’s damn good to use that camera again. The smell of darkroom chemicals still lingers slightly on my hands….I’ll be a bit busy in the next few weeks, but I’ll try my best not to neglect this dear blog of mine.

P.S. on a much lighter note. I’m going to the beach this weekend ya’ll!

spirit of the dragon

Monday 1.23.2012

Happy New Year! I think it’s become a favorite tradition of mine to go to temple at midnight on New Year’s eve to catch all the dragon dancing. This year, we managed to do a little “temple hopping” down in Chinatown and visited three places. The Teo Chew Temple down in Bellaire definitely put on an extravagant show this year, with three dragon dances and martial arts performances by the students of the temple. This dragon dance in particular (below) was so beautiful and mesmerizing to watch. It probably wasn’t a very good idea to stay up past 1AM last night knowing I had to teach at 6Am today. Still recovering from sleep deprivation as I write this post. Poo.

Cheers to a prosperous new year! Look at my mini dragon! Kawaii!

 

work hard, play hard

Friday 1.20.2012

Chinese New Years is approaching next Monday, which means it’s time to welcome the new spring. New spring, new opportunities. I’ve been swamped with so many things to do in the past few weeks, but things are slowly beginning to fall into place now. The new photography company I’m starting up with my friends is beginning to sprout its wings. A very small set of wings, but it’s good to know things are finally moving along. Baby steps…

I’ll be taking over a class for the next two months, teaching photography and digital graphics, so I’m pretty excited for that, too. Already, I’ve worn out my favorite pair of blue suede flats, so  I think I’ll break that strict no shopping diet just this once to invest in another comfy pair for work. It’s been a whirlwind this last week in particular, trying to transition into the classroom, but with all the technical hiccups out of the way, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for the next two weeks. Lots of multi-tasking, and lots of time and energy, but it’ll all be worth it. Can’t wait until March when I can take a week off to enjoy some mini vacays in Austin and maybe Salt Lake City.

new roses for the garden…

my favorite go-to earrings at the moment, a christmas gift from the sis…

lots of patterned dresses for work…

discovering new trails…

Monday 11.21.2011

During our adventures to gather twigs and berries for our Thanksgiving dinner last Saturday, we discovered a secluded trail. It was eeire and beautiful at the same time. There’s a  fork in the hiking trail where a small open field lies revealing patches of clover and small weeds. The only thing that might have been missing was a circle of toadstools. Now, that would have been magical. (images from our phones)

 

mad run

Sunday 10.30.2011

A quick run down Alabama Street to satisfy my craving for something sweet. I can always count on Petite Sweets to still be open after six on a Sunday. Then, a quick turn sown Shepard to pick up an issue of Lula, only to realize after getting home that I already had this issue in a different cover. Sigh. I’m losing my marbles. But the pretty flowers by the magazine shop provided a good photo op.

Crickets and skeletons

Monday 10.24.2011

*

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Met up with Andrew for lunch at Downhouse Friday afternoon. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, I blame him of course, but it was good hang out, grub, and grab some delicious gelato at our favorite spot, Cricket’s. It’s almost Halloween and I love how everyone is celebrating All Hallow’s Eve with little touches of gore and horrors here and there. I like to look at these photos and dwell on the fond memories of happier and healthier times before I caught a stomach virus the very same night. No more shrimp tacos for me.

* rasberry and coffee crunch for me

* Andrew’s best impersonation of me. I have slouching problems.

catching up….

Tuesday 9.27.2011

the last two weeks in Instagrams…

…new dress…I’m really into animals right now, and this print has little quirky giraffes and elephants to please me.

…birthday dinner at Chuys. The low  hubcap-filled ceiling is a little claustrophobic, but the Baja tacos were delicious and the company was pleasant.

…birthday cupcakes for Thomas

…Tuan’s homemade Italian zuppa.. so hearty and warm

…immersing ourselves in an art installation at Lawndale

…lovers….something I’m working on at the moment

changes…

Monday 9.19.2011

The first signs of autumn on my doorstep as I stepped out this morning.

A lot has been on my mind in the recent months. I’ve come to believe that mid mid-lif crisis do exist and perhaps more of us are experiencing this than we’d like to think. I like to blame it on having too many choices to pick from or too many high expectations to adhere to, but that doesn’t change the fact that I need to do something about it. This is a vague post. I’ve admitted several times I’m no great writer, but its difficult, you see, to express certain things the way I want to. It will be about two years now since I began this blog and I can’t tell you how amazingly therapeutic this blog has been to me. I’m still in awe that I’ve lasted this long and able to retain my small but loyal audience. Thanks guys, all five of you. :) I hope you are enjoying bits and pieces of my life still. … …. (Hila has written a pretty acute post on blogging here and the elmo keep quote really just about sums up how I feel about it)

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