Archive for November, 2008

Liliane Arizmendi

I picked up Liliane an hour after dropping another Giovanni off at the airport, trading one couchsurfer for another. The vibrant girl from Mexico was visiting for the first time since childhood. I quickly bonded with her after discovering series of similarities and character traits we both posses. As we joked on multiple occasions, it was like having an old friend over for a visit. Our common photography interest is only a small thread. Our thought exchanges include various philosophical, psychological and sociological ponders.

In only regretted that she came to stay with me at a very strange time. There was a lot going on that kept me from being able to take around the city fully. She was more than understanding, sticking by my side like a trooper in all situations. She’s incredibly insightful and doesn’t take much for her to ‘get it’, any of what I was thinking or trying to say. It is a rare and lucky connection.

Since she left me, we still keep in constant contact obsessing about pursuing our endeavors, so we can soon meet again, in a number of possible countries, for more crazy good times.

Liliane Arizmendi III

Marcia is awesome. And I don’t say that in the genetic… ‘awesome’ to fill a space, awesome – wholeness, terrific, amazing, wonderful.

I met Marcia at Krav Maga. We both have been going there for some time before we started to partner up for classes. Her smile and kind nature makes it easy for anyone claim her a friend. Massage therapist by trade, you wouldn’t be able to guess that she can be a mean boxing partner.

Giovanni Del Brenna – Venice Beach, CA

When I went crying aloud out to some of my closest friends – “Giovanni is a better photographer than me” I meant that in so many fundamental ways.

Giovanni Del Brenna came to Los Angeles for a few weeks to finalize his “City” photography project. He started it some years ago already having done the other typical cities around the world. Hosting him actually required me to put on the heaviest of all thinking caps. What I had to consider were 1. What IS the essence of Los Angeles, 2. What are the visual representations?,  3. What are the daily strategies in ‘covering’ this massive city, 4. How am I going to cover him while he’s covering the city?, and 5. How can we not kill each other for having to be in such close proximity in so many days?

As usual, I winged it for my part. The rest I just rode along with his schedule, whichever he decided upon. Watching his process was just incredible for me. It’s hard to explain. He’s like me but opposite? We notice the similar things – shapes, forms, functions, lights, situations – but we may frame them differently. His approach is much more direct and definite. The finalization process was even more prominently different. He decisively allocated shot rolls of film, or image files to specific destinations and purposes. He… was a model of a functional photographer. Also, to note, he has ALL my dream cameras – the professional ones – Leica, Xpan, D3, completely ready for any unexpected assignments of any forms. Needless to say, I learned so much.

We ended up all over the place around mostly locally known landmarks. He actually did introduce me to The Ring in Santa Monica (apparently it’s world famous – a local spot I was entirely ignorant of.) I took him to some of my pre-planned events of a TFA fight, which we co-shot, and catching my favorite standup comedian Doug Stanhope one night. He got to meet all of my favorite friends, the fight girls at that TFA, Mike Watt when he joined for a radio recording in San Pedro, Nels Cline when he played a duo gig with David Sarno in Downtown LA….

We got along really well, surprising for the strong headed photo persons that we each are. Gio, I think, ended up looking after my interest a bit. When I had 2 other couchsurfers come stay and share the space, I noticed him being a little protective, mildly questioning if it was my best interest to help out everyone. But there was one occasion he might have went too far – that was when he tried to explained to me the logic of Rubik’s Cube. At that point, I had to call him on it — Mr. former mechanical engineer turned photographer that he was…

Parting with him after about a month (he went to Las Vegas for a week in between when I went to San Francisco) was a little sad. This is one down side of ‘couchsurfing’ is that inevitable departure of the new friend. Surely what I should focus on that little new marker on a map where Metz is in France, where Gio and his family live. Glancing at the global map with increase warmth of the imagined friendly human person residing in another part of the world, does give one the optimism of how the world can somehow become one through friendship networking.

Gio reviews images at the Democrat official party, Century City, CA

Gio in the mix

Gio at TWFPS - San Pedro, CA

Gio watches Doug Stanhope after show

Gio at the driver seat

Gio and fellow couchsurfer Chris

Doug Stanhope at Alex’s Bar – Long Beach, CA 

Going into a comedy show half way over is not recommended. Nearly getting ran over while crossing the street to go to the comedy club is even more not encouraged. Coming from another event a couple of miles away in Long Beach, couchsurfer photographer Giovanni and I raised to make it to the -highly anticipated on my part- Stanhope’s show. Once parked, the Italian with me just decided to dash across the street, still trying to convince me until this day that he was way clear of any danger, but the screeching sound of tires and the burning smoke from a car breaking in a dramatic gesture to avoid an accident … suggested a different impression. No one got hurt.

Safely arrived to the other side, we then rushed into the club. Stanhope was already in the middle of his abortion bit. In all, probably just about 20 minutes of him we caught. This was the first show after our monumental election. I was highly interested on what spoof Stanhope had to say about it. Remind me not to go in late to see Stanhope, please? Whoever? I don’t get the full picture other wise…

Doug

Doug

Doug

more Doug

Doug after show

Diego Bautista

TOTAL FIGHTING ALLIANCE or TFA held the 13th event in Long Beach on the 15th.

handwrapping

hand wrapping - Marcus Kowal and Jeremy Umphries

Junior Merkel

Jamie Walsh

Diego Bautista

Julio Sotomayor

Marcus Kowal

David Talbert

Junior Merkel warming up

Chris Cully

Ring Card Girl

Raphael Davis

Brandon Quaid

Junior Merkel

Chris Cully

in the ring

Jeremy Umphries's victory