Gabriella Garcia-Pardo

Senior Thesis

2012-01-11T17:41:00.000-08:00

Just launched my kickstarter video to get funding for "Whose Wilderness Is It?"
I've only got 35 days to reach my goal of $3,000 and would really appreciate any help:

Here is the link as well: "Whose Wilderness Is it?"

My VIRGINS and I.

2012-01-06T14:18:00.000-08:00

WHERE IT ALL BEGINS

www.virginsband.com

Driving and biking around Florida for 2 weeks with these guys consisted of many late nights and afternoon awakenings. But again, all for the sake of great music and a good time - so I'm glad I got to be a part of it and am happy to call them friends. Every show got better and I'm excited to see where they go in the next few years.

I know we all took something different out of our little adventure and by the end it was sad to split up and move back to reality. But I'll be working on the short film this month, and hopefully finishing up before February. In the meantime, enjoy their album, RGB.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://virginsband.bandcamp.com/album/rgb"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;RGB by VIRGINS&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Shinn Estate

2012-01-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

For quite a bit of the time I spent interning at Group SJR, I was on edit duty. I helped cut together a few of their previously filmed projects, shot mainly by Chris New. It gave me time to research, learn and become proficient in a few different programs.

This is the only short that I mainly edited that has been released, the others will come out when the event/project is ready. Chris made some adjustments towards the end and tweaked the color correction (I've got a ways to go on my color correction).

The project helped introduce me to DualEyes and PluralEyes from singularsoftware.com and also up the experience of organizing footage photographed by someone else. Overall, it was great practice to get my editing going and I promise to keep improving.

12:15 Sunday

2011-12-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

One the most talented filmmakers I know (and one of my best friends)...is raising the funds he needs to complete his senior thesis "12:15 Sunday." If Taylor is making it, you can trust that it'll be great. Take a look at his pitch video, hear the story he's got to tell and see if you're interested. Any donation, no matter how small, is appreciated.

continued protesting

2011-12-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

VIRGINS, the band

2011-11-25T04:33:00.000-08:00

Took some shots for the VIRGINS press kit as we get ready for their upcoming winter bike tour from Miami to Savannah. I'll be working on their video team, putting together footage from our 2 weeks on the road as well as a short vlogs every few days throughout the tour.

Also check back for dates and venues if you find yourself on the east coast of Florida/ Georgia and want to hear some good music.
http://virginsband.com/

NYC Internship

2011-11-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

I'll be heading to New York this winter break to intern for a creative PR group called SJR in their video and photo department and am pretty excited. Pathetically enough though, it'll be my first actual winter, even if it's for less than a month.

Goodbye to Miami beach weather and hello NY cold!

The Fog

2011-11-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

Grabbed some stills from Toni Dammicci and Emily Brodowski's installation at Ogeechee Canal while I was working on a video for them. Just waiting for the score to come through and I'll post it as well.

It was a great project to walk around and explore, I came once for sunrise (brr) and back again for their opening reception, which is where these photos are from. Its absolutely massive and so much fun to walk through and explore.

If you're near Savannah, I definitely recommend that you check it out!

And of course the artists themselves, left to right (Emily and Toni).
Take a look at their site to see some of the other projects these two have concocted:
www.experiencecollective.com

Back to Cumberland

2011-11-10T12:39:00.000-08:00

Another weekend shooting on Cumberland for "Whose Wilderness Is It?"

We walked around 30 miles from Friday to Sunday and covered quite a bit of the island. We got some rain the first night and one of my boots sneaked out to play, leaving it wet the rest of the trip causing me to walk either barefoot or in flip flops. So yes, I came home with some lovely blisters.

Overall though, came out with more footage, a couple of interviews, sound files by Mike and some time back on the island to think.

That's what WWOOF is

2011-11-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ulwQSGe64Z4

Contest Video for the WWOOF Canada "WWOOF is" competition

Through my Rollei

2011-10-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

Scanning in my negatives from Canada, here's a little preview.

Jerry the Raccoon

2011-10-01T23:18:00.000-07:00

It's true, Laurie and I were suckers for this guy.

This horse

2011-09-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

We made our first horsecamping trip together, paired with another new friend - down one mountain, across a river and back up another mountain so we could see across to our little gypsy camp of trail riding (Okanagan Stables). Through adventuring mishaps, little sleep and long days of riding and it was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had.

A short stop in Texas and New Mexico

2011-09-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Telluride DSLR Film Festival

2011-09-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

"Whose Wilderness Is It?" will be screening in the Telluride DSLR Film Festival this October under the "Nature and Conservation" screenings along with some really great projects from groups such as the International League of Conservation Photographers and photographers Murray Fredericks and Pete McBride.

Check out the festival:

Part 1 - from the wide canada series

2011-09-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

Part 2

2011-09-17T23:15:00.000-07:00

Animal Friends - from the wide canada series

2011-09-11T20:25:00.001-07:00

Okanagan Stables

2011-09-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

Group Mentality Bike Tour!

2011-07-01T07:56:00.001-07:00

Support Group Mentality in their bike tour through south and central Florida!
Good music from good people.

You can donate through their kickstarter account:

Or at least check out their myspace:
www.myspace.com/groupmentality

If you feed a seagull.

2011-05-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

With loving the beach, I don't know how it took me so long to realize how amazing nosy bird shadows are

A visit with Jeanette

2011-05-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

August 2010

2011-05-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

My thoughts and memories are equally as scattered and organized as my indefinitely growing and waiting collection of pictures.

Savannah

2011-05-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

Might be starting a project with the Savannah Herald and a few local businesses.
Am also heading back to Cumberland soon, and am getting ready for a full weekend.

Cumberland Island Landscape

2011-04-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

My second visual essay, this one from my first weekend on Cumberland.
Also my first time camping alone - a large result of which was meeting some amazing people.

I'll be going back towards the end of May to keep working on a short documentary brought on by my environmental filmmaking class involving the horses and retained rights. If all goes well, I'll get it into the Grays Reef Film Festival this fall.
So wish me luck and let me know what you think!

Why the long face?

2011-04-25T20:10:00.001-07:00

I can't wait to spend two months outside and around horses.

Friends on Cumberland :)

2011-04-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

Birds

2011-04-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a collection of head-on birds.

Silver & Ink

2011-04-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

Those of you in Savannah should come downtown to the River Club on April 30th for the photography department's juried show.

Just got this framed for it!

Bees Please.

2011-04-10T20:57:00.001-07:00

Byron Bay Lighthouse

2011-03-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

To me.

2011-02-08T11:25:00.001-08:00

I am constantly falling in love with film, photography and life.
But sometimes I need to remind myself.

Jamie Bourgeois

2011-02-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

A visual essay for my Directing the Documentary class (which I love).
Jamie Bourgeois doing what she does best. Fibers, fashion, illustration, painting. She finds most of her inspiration through the natural world, particularly liken, bark, moss and moldy things. I focused on tying the place she goes for peace to where she does her work.
It included two sunrise trips to Skidaway Island and a few hours creeping in her workspace.

Definitely take a look at her blog as well: http://jamiebourgeois.blogspot.com/

The Basin.

2011-01-30T19:36:00.000-08:00

A possible photo essay for the Australian Traveller Magazine

Incomplete

2011-01-30T19:29:00.000-08:00

Digging through my computer I've found tons and tons of random documents. Applications to internships, scholarships and semi-research. I like to go through my handwritten journal, typed documents feel so formal and boring. Or even more painfully embarrassing to read.
I'm always one to think we're an accumulation of experiences, but what about the things you do that seem to erase themselves from your mind?
All the things you've done that are just...I don't know, there.

I found this start of a research paper about Education. Its two years old (and goes in and out of that "painfully embarrassing" state), I obviously didn't spend much time on it, so did it even do anything but sit tossed off to the side as typed scribbles?

Written words are meant to be read, right?
If there's no one to allocate meaning to it, not even the person who wrote it, the lines could float off the page for all it matters. It's almost meaningless.

Whatever, this was meant to be the start of a paper:
" Who are you? The teacher or the student?
Hopefully you're able to multitask.
From every individual, fleeting moment, and time spent in mere existence, you gain something. Whether you find it to be instrumental, painful, or seemingly unnecessary, it’s there. Knowledge is there for you to grab and mold in to whatever you can or choose to make of it.
What have I brought to Tanzania? What have I been able to give? Compared to what I’ve gained, it feels like nothing. Experiences have compiled themselves into my head, the children and teachers I’ve met have each left some kind of colored finger paint permanently on my mind. I’ve floated from school to school in the past month and a half: Step Up, Mrupanga Primary, Moshi Primary, Uwawayaki Daycare, Little Flower Daycare, Warm Up Daycare, Juvenile Detention Center, Watoto Rau, a special needs school and a secondary school to give an HIV/AIDS talk. Each of these centers are different, with their own personality and self; an individual heatbeat. When forced to, a leader will emerge and put into place whatever kind of order they can. And like every individual, go about in the way they can, whether successfully or wrought with struggle.
People are creatures of habit, habit and repetition. Without those, there's a sort of chaos, a lack of comfort. The schools that were the most effective had three major qualities: some form of a schedule, basic supplies, and teachers who command respect and love what they do.
Not only does a schedule aid in keeping order, it sets up a predictable pattern the students are able to prepare themselves for. Of course you don't want it to be repetitive to the point where it's dull, but consistent enough to provide a backbone for the school.
To teach you don't need a million resources. You don't need a nice classroom, or one at all really, to be cliche - the world is our classroom. "

After Dark.

2011-01-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

I do love the night.

JANUARY

2011-01-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

I came home to find my bed filled with mud specs, little grains and white hair. I wonder what 4-legged friend of mine, that could've been...
There's that philosophical struggle of finding the ideal way to live. Does it involve figuring out the "meaning of life," living a somewhat falsely pious role for a spot in the afterlife, or focusing on the here and now.
There are plenty who envy animals like Candy. She can just LIVE. Eat, breath, sleep,enjoy belly rubs, love and be loved. Get her fur dirty on whatever she likes - material things have no meaning . Possessions are small or insignificant.
If it itches, scratch it. If your hungry, eat. If your thirsty, drink.
No need to starve or engorge yourself to achieve a certain look. Attempt to gain more bones than any other dog on the street. Be the fastest runner, cutest beggar, or best tail wagger. No need to compare or question. What she does is just BE. Be who she is, act how she does.
Of course I'm curious, what human isn't? But I'm happy to accept the present without a reason. I don't "need" an explanation as to why I'm here. The point is that right NOW, I AM here. So I'll trust in that and be grateful. Not attributing it all to some higher power or being, neither to a scientific theory. Simply being happy that I am.
Does this make me shallow or lack intelligence? Self-righteous people suggest ignorance - "Ignorance is bliss." But I don't believe it's ignorance. I believe it's how I want to live. And I believe I should choose to live and think how I want....or more than want, how I do. (How "American" of me).
It's not about being right or wrong.
"Life's too short, so love the one you've got."
"Life is too brief to be unhappy."
The thought is far from original.

My thought's consensus?

I want to be more like my dog.

Bondi Drum Circle

2010-12-31T21:24:00.000-08:00

We watched the moonrise and stared down at the waves off the cliff edge. Gabe played his djembe for hours until his fingers turned into sausages again. Got to listen, dance and enjoy.

Jose Zarb and Retaw Boyce

2010-12-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

Helped a new friend Jose by taking photos for an album he was finishing with Retaw - a dedicated guitarist and talented violinist is a good combination.
I gave them a bunch of photos, they sorted through, and Retaw edited.

Don't mean to be site pitching again, but give them a listen if you get a chance.
Jose: http://www.jose.net.au/home.html
Retaw: http://www.retawboyce.com/

And I'd really recommend reading their "About Me" sections.

Place for People - The Wilderness Society

2010-12-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

This was my first little interview.
I got to speak to Belinda Fairbrother from The Wilderness Society (www.wilderness.org.au). They're a really awesome environmental advocacy group based in Australia. And have done amazing things for preservation and education.
The video is posted on the Place For People site and blog (http://placeforpeople.com/blog/), as I was working for them while in Sydney.
Check it out, sign up, become involved. It's a great platform to both raise awareness and join a cause.
Place For People site

P.S. better to watch in 720, it ended up compressed.

BBQ with the Giannitos

2010-12-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

When the weather started warming up, so did the bbq!
it was just a nice day with the Giannittos who were amazing enough to let us stay with them for our whole 2 1/2 months in Sydney.
The last picture makes me laugh every time...

Australian Traveller Magazine.

2010-12-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

I did my first online photo essay for my internship at the Australian Travellers Magazine.
You can click HERE to see the site!

Centennial Park (mostly Cockatoos)

2010-10-30T01:43:00.000-07:00

Love.

2010-10-30T01:27:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Palm Beach

2010-10-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

It was too cold to go in, but we walked around for hours. Across the beach, climbing on the rocks and the mini hike to the lighthouse. Look at the color of the sand!

And really exciting, one of these photos won $150 last week :D

Edit: After finishing the rest of our trip and exploring more of Australia & New Zealand. I can still say that this was one of my favorite places to be. The beach always makes me smile.

Delay

2010-10-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

Cat and Reno's girls had a campout with their friends.

Tents in backyards are still damn fun.

Sydney at Night

2010-09-25T02:58:00.000-07:00

Balgowlah

2010-09-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

Sunny Days

Step one: Getting there.

2010-09-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

Miami - LA - Sydney!

Scanned!

2010-09-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

Finally got some more negatives scanned in from my color "panorama" series...a month ago, and now I'm uploading.
Taken off of Skidaway Island in GA.

Better late than Never

2010-07-11T11:16:00.000-07:00

A night on Sobe.

Animality

2010-07-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Animal spotting at work!

These bees were all dead and seemed stiff, frozen in place. There was one pair that looked like they were reaching for each other or holding hands. It made me sad, but it also made me think of how we personify other species so we can attempt to relate to them. We have a hard time understanding anything too different from ourselves.

Dinner

2010-07-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Went to Los Ranchos with Gabe and his family.
They're prettyyy nice :)

Yeahhhhh

2010-07-10T16:17:00.001-07:00

This is a summarized version of my schedule for the past month.
Ahem.
Work. Sleep. Work. Watch a movie. Eat. Sleep. Edit. Don't sleep. Edit. Drive.
Random Event.
Sleep.
Repeat.

I feel guilty for neglecting my poor attempt at 365. Buttt here are some pictures I've dug up from the past 2 months.
There's some from the trip to LA.
It really was a great experience. They're editing the documentary now, so it'll be ready in August!!!

June 13, 2010

2010-06-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

My mother is beautiful.

365 Week 2

2010-06-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

Crazy first week with both jobs, so i don't quite remember the order of these.
I really should probably just be posting one a day, a list of weekly photos is kind of obnoxious isn't it?

Scale shot -
Dinner at my mom and I's favorite Thai restaurant!

4am staredown between me and a little frog.

Supposed to say MIAMI...

Cutest little girl at Adventure Camp
Week 1 Tennis Camp
One of the panoramas I did for MRA

back to Miami

2010-06-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Drove home from Savannah with Harrison Sunday.

Got in late, then Monday went to pick up my new lens!

100mm macro fun :)

Making pizza:

Candace Marie home and temporarily fluffy till she gets shaved :/

Happy to see and abuse Milo:

Color Technique

2010-05-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

Looking for a scanner to get all my negatives in, but until then I had a chance to scan in some prints from class!
Here are a couple from my natural lighting trek though skidaway at like 5 in the morning.

Project 365

2010-05-15T00:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm going to attempt it too.

Since I just got my new camera, there comes new inspiration.

So heerreee it goes. I'll try and upload once a week a photo or two for each day...you already know how this works

Haha, due to finals, and lack of a lens I had to skip some time week. But I'd already started these so I'll continue with what I can

May 11, 2010

Lighting prep for Legacy and CPS interviews

May 12, 2010

On the way to LA!

May 13, 2010

Crew photo at Legacy effects house after a rushed but amazing 5 hours

Why do I use insects to express frustration?

2009-12-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

December 3, 2009

If I was a bee, would I buzz around like the one I see down near the grass?
Would I be zooming in and our of flowers, pollinating, spreading seeds?
Protecting my hive and stinging into martyrdom?
Manly sounding activities.
Because I'm a girl, would I remain inside plopping out babies due to the reasoning that "women can't carry heavy things"
can't
can't
can't

First impressions and assumptions rely too much on quick glances at exteriors.
Or maybe it only matters when you aren't getting the assumption you'd like.
I learned a lot about working in a male dominated field this semester.
Facts I don't personally enjoy.

November 5, 2009

What would life be like as a flea?
It's another one of those automatic hate existences. Is it fair? Although why would someone love one who's entire existence consists of making another uncomfortable?
Is it fair that ones survival depends on making another itchy - scratching and biting? Is it fair to be hated for wanting to survive? Is it fair to hate another for doing something that harms you? Can both be fair at the same time?

Fairness is again, another subjective term
that is MIS and OVER used.

I don't have flea pictures, but these kittens had them.

Yay

2009-08-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.adcglobal.org/education/scholarships09/

Day hike on Kilimanjaro and stragglers from last post

2009-08-18T03:50:00.000-07:00

Good thing I dug up another journal entry about the day hike on Kilimanjaro, because 2 1/2 weeks ago feels like forever.

"August 2, 2009
Went on a day hike up Kilimanjaro yesterday, when we got back I was so tired I opened this up to write after dinner and just fell asleep. I'm almost falling asleep right now. The home base feels quiet but nice with almost everyone gone on the safari. Spending the weekend here to catch up with rest actually sounds nice to me.
So the hike! It was about 4 1/2 hours up. We made it more than half way up the highest mountain in Africa, so that was nice (thank you for that info high school geography). We saw black and white collabus (sp?) monkeys, blue monkeys (they're called that b/c their faces look so sad), and two hawks. Parts were a little rough and I was counting the minutes until lunch, a little more doesn't literally mean a little more. But the effort was so worth it to catch some of the amazing amazing views we got after passing base camp. I went a little picture happy this week - between the hike, just around and visiting Rau I filled up one camera with 488 and a few more on my other. Sad thing is I would've taken even more around if people didn't make me feel guilty about it.
They day before I met up with Harrison and we took a bus to Boma. I saw fields of dried up sunflowers and corn, some mountain views and I closed my eyes to just enjoy the wind on my face and in my unbrushed hair (I forgot my brush and I like it, it took me a while before I even noticed). We went to a market and were the only mzungus there. In Boma they paid a lot more attention to our whiteness than in Moshi, or maybe it was because it's a market and mzungu usually means money no matter where you are. We walked and saw some kids singing in a circle and playing soccer at their school. Before even getting there, two little girls took our hands and walked with us. I felt like I was in a petting zoo at some points, it was funny and I love how curious and forthright kids are with no stranger danger vibe. They liked to touch my hair and bracelets, feel my arms, stare, and smile. They said "good evening" and asked where we were from (common question here). One girl asked if our president was Barack Obama. I'm proud that he is.
It was a little overwhelming and great. At times I didn't know what to do besides laugh. I've been here almost exactly a week, will I react any differently after 5 more?
The ride back was even more interesting, I got to ride in the infamous daladala (dolla dolla bills y'all). It's the size of a regular van, seats for about fifteen (counting the front row with the driver). We had about 30 squished in at one point with the door open and a few guys hanging out. The little girl in front of me was so close that I could feel her sweater on my nose, while her friend was sitting on Harrison. I'm glad I went, hopefully safari in 3 weeks will work out then. I'm thinking being here will make me work on that patience issue of mine. Kids and TFT will need it (I mean that in a good way).

Visit to Rau Village

2009-08-08T00:22:00.000-07:00

Within my first week we went on a trip to Rau Village, a short ride away from Moshi, probably about a 45 min to 1 hour walk if I knew how to get back. Apparently white people are really entertaining to watch in the more rural areas and the kids love running up to us and saying "Mzungu" (white person/foreigner) as they wave or grab our hands to walk with us. Apparently it's not supposed to be an insult, but I feel like an attraction sometimes.
We went to visit some friends of Mama Grace, the old CCS house and one of the nurseries that a volunteer is teaching at.
Anyways I uploaded everything backwards, so it actually starts from the bottom to the top if you want to see them in order. I'll upload pictures from the hike on Kilimanjaro when I get the chance. It takes so much longer here...
The children are beautiful...yes I got more unnecessary headshots.

Impressions

2009-08-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

I decided to type up a random journal entry from my first few days to start my Tanzania photos and then I'll finish with another impression at the end. Cheesy? Probably. But hopefully it'll show what I've learned. And lookie you get to read my diary unedited and flawed in its purest form (except for an irrelevant piece from the end)

July 29, 2009
"It's weird thinking about the differences between here and home. The cars, the people, the pace and lifestyle, the attitudes, the electricity (it's out again), the colors (sometimes it feels like red dust is everywhere), the language, the beliefs, the money; but it's not uncomfortable. Humans are universal.
Volunteering feels greedy. Would I have paid this much if I wasn't going to get anything out of it? It was possible for me to get the money eventually, but would I have gone through the same amount of effort for something completely selfless? You eat to survive, you travel because you want to explore, you learn because you want to improve, you give gifts because making someone else happy makes you happy or simply because you feel it's expected. You help because you want to - deliver babies, feed the hungry, help someone who dropped something, invite someone who's been rejected. It's all so self-absorbed. That's survival though isn't it? It's your life alone isn't it? We do things for ourselves and if it benefits others, it's a plus. What determines your level of selfishness is how your greed relates to and effects these others. If your wants are to be kind and you're obsessed with interactions, then you're generously greedy. If you want more for yourself, you're seen as an asshole. Well, most fall in between don't we?
There is much more of an emphasis on relationships and others here though. Neighbors, family, friends it's a connected circle. You say hi to everyone, you can strike up a conversation with anyone; you know many of those around you. There's no need to struggle in order to remember the name of the person living next to you because most likely you shared something with them the previous day. Hellos can take long - introductions even longer. TFT - "Tanzanian Flexible Time" is a slack version of Mzungu time, with 12 starting at sunrise. Arriving at 1:30 (our time) can mean any time after that really. No real rushing too and from places (except as a student to school cause you'll get hit walking in late), you get there when you get there.
People people people. Is that something we lack in the US?
Most things here are run-down. I didn't really notice, well I mean it's an obvious first impression, but I guess it only requires a little time to become jaded. In the van on the way back from the nursery, I looked at the floor - the bare metal frame of the car, and I started to look into details again. The floors of our bedroom are peeling in sploches that are shaped like thrown paint or 2D corals. The butchers have their meat hanging in their glassless windows. The paint on the concrete walls is usually faded and chipping in large blocks. Clothes are worn in yet contrastingly full of bright colors and patterns. Only some of the children have bookbags, even less with a full equipment of notebooks and pencils. The animals seem tired and people simply move them around like lifeless objects. Not many people keep pets, and definitely for different reasons than our submissive obsession of making every animal a pet in the US. They keep cats if there are mice and dogs to guard the house.
The stories from the hospital stick in my mind. They say it's unimaginable and I hope to go before leaving {I visited a few days later} The have little anesthetics. The nurses slap the patients and tell them to toughen up if they wince or cry. They're never truly sterilized, windows open, dirt and dust flying in, even during surgery. It's rough. But isn't that the way life is? Have we made things too easy? People can complain about the most trivial things..."

Travel

2009-07-25T03:45:00.000-07:00

Leaving around sunset from Miami and flying East into the sunrise near England gave me plenty of sky to watch. I wrote 2 pages on how amazing it was, maybe I'll post it later.

I like spending time on my own, traveling by myself makes me feel more patient. Yes I feel a little lame for sitting in my hotel room and not exploring or socializing, but I'm tired of feeling like I should be doing more. I do what I do and that's fine with me. Besides this hotel room is super cool and the only thing that's close by is the airport. So people watching and sneak picturing I'm sure I'll do after a few hours of lazying and thinking.

Flickr

2009-07-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

www.flickr.com/photos/lifeography

Re-edited and dug through random old pictures in my trash file for fun, putting some of them up on my flickr instead of sleeping even though I have a 8 hour flight tomorrow. Smart.

Cleaning

2009-07-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

Deep-cleaned my house the other week, found bouncy balls, dust and a lot of cat hair.

Shots

2009-07-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

Got my yellow fever shot today. And prescriptions for more drugs which costs more money...oh joy.

One step closer to Tanzania. I leave in 3 weeks and I'm excited :)

Dominican Republic

2009-06-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

On my trip to Punta Cana I knew I wanted to start work on my documentary. So after some complications, I got my brother to grab a taxi with me and get dropped off at an average town that wasn't so touristy. I spent the majority of the time filming and am actually really excited about what I got. I tried switching off to take some pictures as well, but its hard to have your eye behind two different cameras, not wanting to miss a shot from either.

I'm learning, so whatever.

I loved it and I loved the kids. I wish I had a picture of how creative they got with a tire, but I filmed it instead. I might upload the others I have after, along with some footage...maybe?

Personal Website

2009-05-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

The beginning of my website :)

Rainy Savannah

2009-05-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

I miss mudpies.
I did not miss cold rain.

On Set

2009-05-13T16:36:00.001-07:00

I've been trying to get my butt on set more so I volunteered to help out on a few senior/ graduate projects. It's been fun and a lot of work, Lily's film "Rouge Noir" was great, amazing crew, but not so amazing time to shoot (between 11pm and 8am). I think I'm going to start a lot of set photography in the next few semesters, an excuse to get on set and play with my cameras at the same time...sounds like perfection to me :)

"Rouge Noir"

Here's a few from the Directing the Narrative project last weekend "Loved and Lost"

Lighting and Field.

2009-04-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

I need to get into lighting.

2009-04-13T19:34:00.001-07:00

I slack.

Zooifying it.

2009-03-22T20:06:00.001-07:00

After a few months from home, I've come to love Miami more and more :)
So for spring break I jumped at the chance to go back home for a little. I know in the next few years the freedom I'll have to go back and relax is going to shrink. A lot.
Anyways, here are a couple of my favorite pictures from a day at Metro Zoo.
There should be some more on my flickr, even though it didn't let me upload as many as I wanted cause there's a limit if you're not a paying member. And we ALL know just how cheap I am.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeography

After we got to feed them!

He doesn't have a horn because he rubs it against the coral rocks to mark his territory, so it keeps it filed down. And it's made out of the same stuff as finger nails...thank you zoo phone.

Intense claws you got there...

Took a while for his ears to get straight >.<

A good day with the homies :D

Skiing in Boone

2009-03-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Coming from the girl who's gotten a tan on Christmas, skiing was pretty damn exciting. Some nice firsts - first time skiing, first time really seeing snow, first time getting a sunglasses tan line that earned laughs and the name "ringo." Thanks guys.
But it was so amazing outside that I ended up in just my tanktop. My poor little rental locker got stuffed with the big jackets I assumed I would need, and I had to borrow sweat pants that were a men's XL.

Portaits

2009-02-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

To distract myself from my most recent menstrually-induced craving (cupcakes), I decided to update with some portraits I did for class. I'm working on different art forms and want to finish some up over spring break. I have so many lovely model possibilities at home that I'm planning on corrupting ;)

Still have a bunch left: dance, drama, photography, music, film (I kind of have one), crafts, carpentry, sculpture, printmaking, architecture, jewelry, illustration...please tell me one's I've left out, most things can be considered art so I'll be having fun. I find myself enjoying the portraits more than I thought I would, though commercial photography is definitely NOT my thing.

--- on that note. I got a patronizing look from a "fashion photographer" yesterday. I swear sometimes I feel like shouting "I'm not retarded!" First I got some interesting reactions for chancing it at art school, and then weird art kid reactions for not being quite artsy enough.

Oh life.

Jamie - "Painting"

Kelsi - "Dramatic Writing"

Chris - "Fashion"

Chris and Cameron :)

we met a few people that day in the park because of Cameron. The guy who owned the little dog spoke to her in German and said she would be a badass boxer...

Taylor - "Visual Effects"

I'll get a better picture up once I convert it to jpeg.

State Radio

2009-02-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

After a 4 1/2 hour drive through Georgia, watching Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and napping, I was ready for a good show. On my 2 1/2 year anniversary with Harrison, I got to see my favorite band (ironically enough for the past 2 1/2 years also). It was AMAZING, really it was the most fun I've ever had at a concert, and we met Chad and Mad Dog after the show. They were so nice and it just made me like them more. Anyways, enough blabbering of a silly fan, on to some pictures!

Chad Urmston!

-Opening Band-

Rebelution:

STATE RADIO:

"Mad Dog"

A following

Chuck Fay

Test Film

2009-02-11T19:02:00.001-08:00

I got my test film developed from the camera that Harrison gave me over the break. Most of the ones I liked were from the abandoned house (and again with the creepy baby..though I only got one cause of course it was my last exposure). I love the surprise of film and the depth of field is just ohhh yeeaahhh. I've been doing so much more digital lately, but when I finally learn color processing and get a slightly nicer budget... oh oh oh it will be exciting!

Sorry for the quality...I got lazy and just took a picture instead of scanning it, well lazy and I need a better program to crop them >.<

yeah, sorry you have to do the head tilt for this one...oops

what a lovely reflection of myself in these two...I should give a bs story of how I did it on purpose. It's worked for a few people in my photo foundations class, "I just want my work to reflect who I am" --- semi-convincing?

First Post

2009-02-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

Between homework, daydreaming...and I'll admit, napping, I figured I would start my own blog. I'm hopping this photo-journal will keep me working and hopefully provide interesting feedback. Not a place for the ridiculous things that run through my mind, but the ridiculous things that come out of my camera. I'll be experimenting plenty.

So post number one,

a couple adventures from the past week.

I'm such a creeper that I found this abandoned baby the most aesthetically appealing thing I found in the whole house...I ended up with over 15 pictures of it on 3 different cameras.

I've been getting over my obsession with time, I think. But this old abandoned clock was too much to pass up :)

Abandoned

It was a gorgeous day in the middle of nowhere.

It was chilly, but the mist was beautiful...my feet didn't like me after the expedition into the water though.
Watching the moon rise on the beach with some new friends.
The End.