Create A Void

My buddies from Riverside came out and played the legendary venue Chain Reaction over the weekend. Quite literally "HEAVY" rockers to the core. This band sparks positive hype to the crowds. While against the fights that most commonly occur at Hardcore shows, Create a Void pushes a good time with good shows. While running the Hardcore Stomp, these fast paced rhythms shake the stage. If your in Southern California keeps your eyes and ears open, because this band definitely puts on an entertaining show. Create A Void's first full length has just been finished being recorded. The band will soon begin a full West Coast Tour.

I tried some lower shutter speeds for the show as to capture more light streaks. I've shot these guys a few times and I'm just getting the idea of shooting live shows. Half the battle is getting through the crowd! Check www.myspace.com/createavoid for more photography I've done of the band.

Recent Endeavors

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Hollywood Forever hosted the 10th anniversary of The Day of the Dead Festival near Santa Monica Blvd. and Gower St. It was really overwhelming walking past all of the shrines. Very touching. The performances were all out of this world and who ever did the costuming/wardrobe deserves a huge hug. Just incredible. Here are a few pictures I took and to see the rest I'll be posting a slide show on Youtube coming up shortly.

Annenberg Space for Photography

(Teru Kuwayama will focus on the ill-defined region now known as “the central front” in the war on terror. This region includes the failing states of Afghanistan and Pakistan and the conflicted border regions shared by Pakistan with Afghanistan and India. The photographs were made between 2002 and 2009 in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and Pakistan and Indian administered Kashmir.)

Teru and the space completely blew me away. The Annenberg Space is located on top a roof in Century City brilliantly surrounded by over powering high rises. When I first walked into the space I was fluttered instantly by some of the most compelling images I have ever seen in person. Starting with a brilliant portrait of President Obama. The exhibit is filled with American politics and international affairs. Following the snake like walls, curving around into a room of about 75 chairs. I took a seat until Teru was introduced to the crowd. Truely this was a treat. A treat which was so generously given to photography fans alike. My favorite thing Teru spoke about was that an embedded photographer doesn't get to witness Afghanistan or Pakistan. They get to witness Marines in Afghanistan or Pakistan. "There just isn't any connection with the land, when most people imagine arriving, they think of RPG's going off as soon as the plane touches down. Men in turbans going to all costs to destroy you. They forget that this is a beautfiul place in the world with beautiful people."

Teru took it upon himself to fall off the grid and make his own travel arrangments. If they were not correctly executed, he and his brilliant images would have ended up gone for ever. Very few images of his are digital. He even (for some reason or another) toted around a large Poloroid through deserts and what happends to be the largest land locked glacier in the world. (Tajikistan) Really this guy is just incredible. Started as a moody, dark art photographer and documented one of the most important and diverse regions in the world today.

longing for portraits.

An end to the beginning

It's funny to me that a place like Urban Outfitters finds it hip and La Super Cool to sell cameras. These cameras I might add are double in price compared to any camera store who carries a Holga or Diana F+. Just look at Amazon and the prices are 2/3 that of The U.O. I'm sorry to hate because I find your sales to be regularly unbelievable, However you have out done yourself once more. To all you kids with the creative nitch, don't buy your supplies at retail clothing store. Especially one that flashes judgment the second your little toe peeks through the door.

In this blog you won't always finding me complaining or talking bullshit. I'm a photography student new to L.A. who wants to share the photographs taken as well as the ones I find to be interesting or hillarious....

A friend I haven't seen in years just came through town with his hardcore band Attila. Forever for the party, this band puts on a pretty damn good show. Keeping the crowd sweeping on there feet, nobody would stand still. The show especially hit a good level when they played the energy ridden song "beligerance". Hardcore/Metal isn't my thing anymore, but I'll give it up. Keep rocking the States and good luck in Europe you fuckers. Only compliments are coming from this guy.