Wed to your best friend,
Freed from persecution, suit;
Pro-Peepquality.
Creative Activism: Peepquality.
Reply
Category Archives: Philosophy
Photojournalism – Living in an Internet Cafe
Rooms in one of the Internet cafes come with a hanger, headphones, a computer and a television. (Shiho Fukada/Panos Pictures)
Photos can tell a lot about a person, environment, situation, etc. Several of them strung together can tell a powerful story. I just read through a heartbreaking story about “Living in an Internet Cafe” (visit the link for more photos) where people cannot afford to live in proper housing and find a resource that’s accessible so they can continue to survive and keep their job. Mind you, what they are paying is 1,920 yen or $21 a day. I feel compelled to help, but do not know what to do exactly. I thought by sharing the story at the very least could make people aware.
Meanwhile, help by making these special photojournalists by encouraging them – thank them for their work. Finding and gaining access to these stories can be very difficult and harrowing task. Mrs. Shiho Fukada, the Photojournalist of this story, has this to say as a result of this story:
One thing has become clear to me over time, especially in the current financial crisis. No matter the job, most of us no longer have job security. Our labor is replaceable.
I worry about America’s economy and the Global Economy. I worry about finding a job after I complete my thesis. I just hope things will be better in the future/longterm… Maybe I can help find a solution…? Not sure how, but maybe I’ll continue looking, thinking, problem solving, sharing…
Re-Discovering The Tree of Knowledge
To eat the apple or the grapes… hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…
After moving to Maryland, my wife introduced me to the “West Wing”, a TV series about DC Politics and Drama made between 2000 and 2006. It’s probably the best tv series that I’ve ever seen before and look forward to each episode with baited breath. It might also help that being in the DC area creates that special atmospheric feeling too. I noticed the president quoting much of the bible and it got me interested in re-reading the Bible again. Last time I did this, I was a child and it was required by the school system and church… The plan is to re-read it with an educated, adult mind and see where it takes me. Continue reading
New Home. New Ideas. Renewed Start.
I surprised Corinn by hacking our Tom Tom’s GPS with a few homemade lolz-splash-screens.
My wife recently got a promotion – something I discovered as soon as I came back from New Zealand this past summer. As a result, it required us to make a big decision to move down to North Bethesda, Maryland. I’m very proud of her and hope she continues finding the career path that she wants in life. Working in the wine business, as she does, definitely has its perks. Continue reading
3D Printing my Thesis (Beginning Research)
A moment in time – looking out into the ocean in New Zealand
Things have been nuts lately with the 1st annual Rochester Fringe Festival and the RIT School of Film and Animation Honor Show last month. They were both very wonderful and great to participate in, however, it took a great chunk of my focus away. As the dust has settles on those two fronts, it is now all about a new project – my thesis. The big one. The crazy, ridiculous thesis. Continue reading
Visiting RIT Artist: Chris Edwards
A pretty awesome, inspirational guy.
What a crazy weekend. As you’re reading this, I’m typing up a blog post while riding Greyhound an it’s testing my motion sickness, but I’m determined to get as much out of my head while I’m still booming with thoughts. Continue reading
Riding the Awesome Wave
It was official!
So I just got back from another year at TEDx Rochester, attending with fellow peer and talented Animator, Junran Mo (aka – Serina). As before when I attended last year, my brain swelled with ideas and inspiration. Infact, ANY TED talk will make you wish you were doing the same work or something like it. Or maybe you just get inspired to take a different direction in your career or life. It’s great and I have come out the both years consistently asking if I’m on the right path in life.
This year seems to be pretty unique in that the film I worked on last Spring at RIT, La Lune et Le Coq, has received positive recognition world-wide as well as in exhibitions like TEDx Rochester. This weekend made me grin from ear to ear as I was able to sit amongst two completely separate crowds for the first time to witness people actually enjoying my film outside of class screenings. Complete strangers who have no idea what kind of work went into making this short animation and enjoyed it in a different way than what a structured film program like RIT has built for screening student films. That was cool – way cool.
I’m hoping it circulates in more festivals and presentations that I’ve submitted to, but here’s the current short list that will hopefully continue to grow:
- TEDx Rochester (2011)
- Finger Lakes Film Festival (2011) – Best Animation
- Croq’Anime Festival (2011) – Best Animation by Public Vote
- International Student Film Festival Písek (2011)
- RIT SoFA Animation Selects 2007 to 2011 (2011)
- RIT SoFA Honors Show (2011)
Croq’Anime in Paris, France, called me up in front of a live audience to let me know that my film was Best Animation by Public Vote! This past weekend it scored a “Best Animation” at the Finger Lakes Film Festival in Geneva, NY and the trophy awarded was the best looking trophy I’ve ever had an opportunity to receive!
- We were not only awarded awesome trophies, but PBR hats that we could use to either keep our heads warm or to protect the trophies as well! (Myself, Bin Li & Junran “Serina” Mo)
- Makes me feel very lucky!
- The Award for the Best Looking Trophy goes to…
Mostly, this gives me the warm, fuzzy-feelings and reassures me that maybe I am on the right track in life. I don’t plan on doing comedy gags for the rest of my life, but I do want to tell stories that mean something to someone. Ones that question… Maybe ones that inspire? Maybe I go back to telling interactive stories in games? I very much enjoyed my work at the Emergent Media Center at Champlain College and wonder if I can continue that same work along with my passion for Animation… I definitely left a good job to pursue a childhood dream.
In all, I’m just really lucky to have my best friend in life to support me wholeheartedly and, naturally, I could not achieve the things I do without her.
My awesome wife, Corinn.
Random thought on Photography
A sunset over the Lake Champlain Valley.
As soon as the photographer snaps a photo, they’ve lost that experience forever.
Much like theater or any experience that is live, it cannot be experienced the same way ever again. As my wife has said to me, it’s ephemeral.
Marie and Justin dancing the afternoon away.
This is something I was pondering about after color-correcting photos of a wedding I recently did. My wife was with me at the time and I knew from previous weddings I shot at, that she wanted to experience the wedding with me. Another example would be sunsets and other opportunities where you’re waiting for that perfect shot.
Regardless if it’s romantic, journalistic or even fantastic, being behind the camera creates a situation where you remove yourself from that experience. And as soon as that shutter goes, you’ve lost that moment even though it’s been virtually captured.
Persistence in Improving and Inventing
Even though this video touches on the subject and personal advice of a musician, I believe Derek Sivers’ advice can work for just anyone in the arts or tech world. Very simple to understand and digestible. Persistence is improving and inventing vs Persistance in networking, pitching and pushing what is not working.
GIV IT 2011: A week in review
After a long and tiring journey, I finally compiled a video of the Governor’s Institute of Vermont: Information Technology for the students at GIV IT. There was about 100GB of footage captured using a Canon 5D Mark II with various lenses and digital photographs taken by Jim Reda, an avid photographer and great guy, as well as myself. I won’t go much into this, but I wanted to best represent the experience of the teens during the 9 day adventure and cover as much ground as possible without leaving too much behind.
Thanks to all of the campers, RA’s and Faculty for an awesome experience. I just hope I get asked back again to teach OR be the Special Expert in Residence as was my title this year. :o)