better late than later

.

third year pj core is already in full swing.
and our new instructors have really put on the pressure.

melina mara - washington post
tyrone turner - national geographic (husband of the fabulous susan sterner)
sandra eisner - first ever white house press association editor, msnbc website designer

each one of them was hired especially to teach our class of 11. lucky we are.



[first week's assignment]

one person photo story. 5 images.
by my own admission, i kind of bombed it.
i shadowed christopher for his assignment exploring identity.
it was a little too visually complicated for a 5 picture story.


joe elbert (longtime photo editor for the post) came to lecture for our first crit.
he liked this photo, but was sure that it was an entire accident. wonderful :]



this is a little mock up i made for my class to show each color stage.

if you're interested in seeing the final product of this endeavor contact artist: christopher cunetto.



will be posting again shortly.

ftpa

sometimes i
shoot 35; 36 times.



double exposures on expired fuji color press film.
elliott does portraits. i do crack.


throw your ____________________ if you're feeling my vibe.




rode my bike for the first time this spring
[groceries in the basket and everything]
POYi lectures made me want to be a photojournalist
[just a little bit]

pope has been all up in my space.. my block. my school. my paper
making me late whilst making moves.

rumor has it weezer is going red.. ::shakeshead::
this could be my summer heartbreak.





the weather's getting hotter and i feel too cool for school.

i'm already ready ready to fall asleep with the windows open..
listening to electrotones.
trying to recall exactly what it felt like to be painfully alone.






on repeat.

POSITIVE.

this is me a few weeks ago...
about to leave to shoot my aids story.
optimistic and fresh; feeling a little copaken kogan
excited for a worthwhile story about an hiv positive young man named jonathan.





this is jonathan's room.
he lives in the basement of a hospice house in adam's morgan called joseph's house
they take in terminally ill people with no other options of care.


my work, along with my class's, is now hung and ready to show.
my small class has attempted to tackle a global issue in a local context.
[through audio, video, text, and of course photography]

it's important.
beautiful.
attention worthy.
deep.
heartbreaking.
inspiring.
it's an awakening documented.
a contemplation begging to be explored.




--------------------------------------

POSITIVE:
living with hiv/aids in washington, d.c.
2nd year photojournalism show

thursday, april 10th [5:30-8 pm]
corcoran college of art + design. [white halls gallery]
free and open to the public
light refreshments will be served.

-----------------------------------------------------

and all these things shall be added unto you.

allelu


for a week
i didn't wake myself up
i stopped answering my phone
stopped moving
didn't press coffee
[yeah, that's the big one]


i just let it come to me
as it wanted
slowly
and
surely

and somehow that was enough.


beautiful things.
hymns.
lovely things.
both hands.

things i didn't see coming..
[in life.. heart.. face.. not just windclickblink]
.. but feel like i've been waiting for since forever.



and now that the week is over
i'm left standing face towards the sun
fully enjoying the spoils.
and when it sets..
i know i'll still be warm
from glowing residuals.



ahleh
yilew

alleluia

contact // contagion // chocolate chip cookies

midterm week is over.
death to janky pony tail
death to eating when not hungry
death to unfolded laundry
death to sleeping at school
death to constantly making moves

salute to hot showers
salute to selfish sleep
salute to stretching on hardwood floors
salute to grace and peace in abundance



i had to choose a hypothetical mentor for a recent project.
why i chose thomas struth.. i'm not so sure
i thought his museum series would be accessible to mimic being in dc
i thought he was smart
i thought it would be a fresh study.


claude monet, rouen cathedral harmony in blue, 1893
national gallery of art


yeah. i thought a lot of things.
i should have chosen someone simpler than struth,
somoene more similar to my style of shooting..
but that's alright.
it's over.. i've let it go.


frederic edwin church, niagara, 1857
corcoran gallery of art




spring break
dc ny now then when
whitney moma hirshhorn
shoot aids story
shoot color ramblings
shoot whatever
idk ohemgee callme

spring break.

if i had volcano boots

remember when everything was in black and white?
yeah.. i don't, either.


i've been thinking about james nachtwey, lately.
[his energy.. and his clothes]

i go through phases of dress
last winter it was tight pants and ridiculously large and embarrassing sweaters.
basketmaker.basketmaker.basketmaker.bunniessaycharge.1988koreanolympics

in the summer i was hunting for the perfection dress. weddings aand the beach.
thank you blue linen baby doll.

lately i've been wearing plain pants.. my disintegrating knock off keds and whatever.
conclusion: i need a uniform.
white dress shirt. black pants. bwpumas short white hair? yes? YES. RAYA?! O.o



because looking the same everyday is so satisfying.
because if that stays still something else will move
because the universe will know i'm trying
because internships are on the brain
because need less use less is beautiful

because
i'm sick of looking 12.
[that's not true]
dying my hair black wasn't enough
[back to shortshort?]
pigtails must die
[shit, but it feels soo right]
contacts for glasses
[i'm scared]
grow some heels
[then i'll get respect]
you think too much
[and you care, why?]



james nachtwey
his shirts are so white..
and his pants are slightly creased.
plain black backpack. shoes tied tight.
les sigh...
les lovely.

enough about me..

.. let's talk about you.
[psa to all the gentlemen out there]




prints are always richer than scans.. :T.


sometimes i feel like a girl..

and it's nice.

things sparkle just for me..
the wind loops my hair
and makes it smell like the woods.




my skin is moisturized
i am more badass in my subtleties than you know

and pink isn't such a stupid color after all.