A Few Highlights...

Thinking Blank

Sitting at Starbucks, this morning, and everything seems oddly quiet. True there are people talking, music jamming and Navy aircraft overhead, but still, my mind feels still, almost blank. I took the long way around to get here- Scenic Highway, so conveniently named and no, I did not bring the camera. Perhaps I simply did not want to think about what shot to take, or where to stop for one. Enjoying the ride felt more appropriate...and now I am here. The silence I am experiencing seems frustrated: it is as if I am wanting to think of something or perhaps a few things, and yet I also want to feel peace in the silence. Neither exists, right now, alas, I keep writing.

The irony it seems, is that I keep waiting for something, but what I cannot be sure. It seems that this is simply my state of mind, despite the fact that there is no practical noun to be waiting for. Is it possible for the subconscious mind to merge itself into the conscience during moments of absolute awareness? Something to think about...

Big Brother Somewhere

Recently SNL did an astounding job poking fun at the census. Politics mandates that the Government gets to count us. Ironically, too, my friend LaDonna is making a quick $12 an hour to hound people for their information. Joy.


So what really are the numbers all about? And will city planning politicians take action when observing demographic discrepancies? The answer is: who knows?


But LaDonna did bring up an interesting point- at the end of the day, all the information requested is typically public record. And in the age of the internet; truly anyone could find out anything about you, if they really wanted.


It's true that I'm not a fan of the Government being able to hunt me down and invade my life but the concept itself got me thinking. How private is our society, really? From Social Networking to buying a car to filling out taxes, a piece of us is planted somewhere, somehow for someone else to see. And it does show that our “footprint” is implanted and it proves that each person is not truly invisible. Whether or not the reasons hold genuine intentions, the fact remains that each person is wanted for something, seen as someone, and is somewhere.


So the question remains, why not make a statement? Why not tell a story and make an impact?

High Tide

Tonight, we went out on the beach. It was muggy, but cloudy, and there was a perfect breeze sweeping across my face. I approached the water, half expecting there to be traces of oil or goop washing up to the shore, but I saw none and decided to step in. Brian, LaDonna and I walked along the coast line, taking pictures and pointing out the crashing waves. The tide was high, and the clouds threatened rain.

When we walked a little further, Brian pointed out that the sand was two different colors. Where waves has washed up, a created line of shells, broken sand-dollars and seaweed sat along the shore. Everything between the line and the where the water began seemed tinted: a beige-brown color of sorts. On the other side, the sands were white- even the wet sand. He noted that the darkened sand were traces of oil and had heard that it just may be the case. Neither LaDonna, nor I had thought of that, but it seemed to make sense.

After some time, sitting, talking and laughing by the waves, the clouds in the distance got bigger and were moving fast. “That” threat to rain was now on its way. As we packed our things and headed for the car, I couldn't help but be totally captivated by the magnificent sky. It was as if the clouds were each forming their own identity. Each cloud was thick, dark and rolling, moving: it almost looked fake, as if HDR or 3g effects had been applied for the scene. It was a conducted performance that demanded an audience. And it was fascinating. I pulled out the video camera in hopes to catch some of the flashes of lighting but instead only got sporadic horizontal flashes on the screen each time a bolt in the distance hit. Nevertheless, one could tell that this thundering display would only last a short time as I could see clear skies in another direction. The wind from the coming storm moved the waves faster and more violently. I didn't want to take my eyes off of the power shown of nature in front of me.

But in the end, we made a dash for the car and took off, but not without a little comic relief. As I was leaving, I noticed that the local television station had brought their truck and were ready for action when destruction came. Those silly storm chasers. A small adventure to be sure.

project homeless: jerry, a true blues man.

it seemed to be a rather uneventful day. but when i went to meet up with richie today, i found him sitting with a street friend we see often, the blues man. i joined them and jerry told us that he was trying to make it to the veteran's bunker some miles away. we bought him a wings plate and when he finished he pulled out his guitar and serenaded. from "my girl" to "stand by me" to "because he lives" to a number of old blues, he sang from the heart  and skillfully crawled the 5-string guitar. he didn't seem to mind that i had pulled out my camera phone. he even earned a buck from a random guy walking by the table. we sent him on his way with a little support. he had said that he had been sleeping on the steps of a church and somehow, still everyday he makes his way around the city, walking, taking a bus, riding a borrowed bike. i am amazed that with a benign tumor on his shoulder and arthritic concerns (off and on), he's able to trek and play continuously. there is something to be said for his determination to keep going every day. i wonder if could submit some of my footage to playing for change....it's a thought.

untamed focus media - finishing the website

finally, after 6 months of work and teeth pulling, i have a website up. it's paramount to a number of things that i want to accomplish in my life and i'm glad i have something to show for it. the past 3 weeks have been a crunch and many times i almost felt like i was back in college cramming the last of my term paper together in hopes for 'a.'  honestly, it's a breath of fresh air. i will continue to update the photo gallery and films as i shoot, travel and write. it's like another chapter of my adventure begins and i am thrilled. check it out if you haven't... http://untamedfocus.com and stay tuned for all that is to come.

eight days...

...until the official launch of the untamed focus media website. i know what you're thinking, "untamed...what?" it's been a little known secret for a long time, but when i started pursuing photography and film, and old dream of mine began to take shape and i am thrilled at the opportunity to spread my wings a little further. on june 1st, 2010: a gallery a photography, film projects in the making and way for you to contact me and be part.

project homeless: chapter 1- where they live...

recently, i went out on a photo-shoot near a local college. the first stop was underneath a bridge. as we were shooting on a set of stairs next to the bridge, we noticed that  on the other side, there was an abandoned chair. we decided that it might be interesting to get a few shots, but when we climbed up to where the chair sat, we found that it was accompanied by a sign, a bible and a few darts. further under the bridge against the cement ceiling were sleeping bags, luggage and left-over garbage. sadly, i figured that, at least two people lived there- homeless people who had probably left for the day to panhandle. their items were relatively concealed and it was probably an excellent place to keep out of the spring rain we've been getting. it got me thinking, though...the homeless don't always make it into the shelters on a nightly basis and they have to set up some where, how many more "homes" like these were there? where do they all go in the city of atlanta? more to come soon....

Captive in North Korea

Layers of Intensity

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo: a fascinating read, to be sure.  I read it in less than a week (which is a strong accomplishment, I think.). Larsson keeps your attention and is a hell of a writer, The fact is, I couldn't put it down and was a complete nerd for the course of about 5 days... 

To start --fairly quickly, I picked up three major layers to the story, (and a few sub layers I decided I was right about). The first, are his comments on the media and journalists themselves. He seems to find that media in general, or perhaps in his society is relatively weak and would rather contort old news, beat "a dead horse" or slander contenders than uncover serious mysteries, aka, the truth. The second layer: Corporate greed and their battle for reputation w/in a society. Finally, and the reoccurring, if not the most important theme: violence against women and sexuality. 

And it's all plotted around a murder mystery. 
First, I will discuss the latter. I have gone through numerous blogs, comments, articles, discussion boards on the nature of the author's motive behind the destructive events against main female characters in the book. 

There are some that believe Larsson is a sick sadist, trying to get twisted erotica out of his readers. Some believe that he is discussing the culture as it is: and then creates a strong heroine who knows how to get revenge. And still there are others state he's acting as an advocate, revealing the truth about violence against women in Swedish society, creating a raw picture of what actually occurs.

After reading several government, non-profit, studies and news websites -along w/ bios about the author- that discuss the statistics of rape and violence in Sweden; I am convinced that there is a mix of the latter two in Larsson's writing. 

First and foremost, he started his career as a Journalist/writer. He was known, even before that as a political voice against Nazism and extreme right-wing behaviors- to the point of death threats on his life. There are some that say his long-time girlfriend had a hand in the story itself, but that's not something we'll probably not ever find out for sure.

Nevertheless: as a journalist, myself, I read the story w/ investigative curiosity. And I think that his writing has that descriptive character.

It is believed that 6% of women in Sweden (if not more) are annually raped or experience extreme forms of violence. One article in the NY Times reported that in 1990, 14.000 rapes were reported and that shot up in 2003 to over 22,000~ and this is just what is reported! Some stats estimate that 1 in 3 women suffer rape in the country, and they are 3x as likely to experience violence than the rest of Western Europe, due to the belief that men can get away w/ it more. A Cambridge Study showed that Sweden's efforts to rehabilitate violent men did not meet it's goals roughly 7 years later (b/t 1999-2006). 

While there are few more things I could rattle off; I think you get the idea. The point is, I believe that Larsson was making a statement. And I think he's doing what journalists should do: tell the gory truth for better or worse. 

YES, there are a couple of scenes that absolutely made me uncomfortable reading, but I am of the belief that the media is weak and that exposing the truth, while it may be ugly, is important. I can't tell you how many pictures every day we sift through at work b/c the rules are ultimately "don't offend anybody." The fact remains, journalists aren't at all what they used to be...but nor is public reception. 

Needless to say: I speculate that Larsson's intention was to expose the fate of so many women in his own country, and while the book is still on it's way up in reviews (though it was published in 2005) and now that the film reached theaters in the last month- what attention the public, the UN and other organizations will divert to the problems in Sweden? Moreover, in the US: in our Judeo-Christian society: will more aid trips be taken to reach such women? Honestly, I can say that I don't know. 

But those women need someone to tell their story, and I'm glad that Larsson did so. I've seen several articles and "about author" pieces that note the book was originally to be called "Men Who Hate Women." Obviously not as catchy, but defines many of attitudes among characters in the book. It leaves the others complicated and searching.