Introduction

01.01.2009

Over the years, people who I’m so fortunate to having met and known – are very interesting. I hunt for that illusive yet passionate fires inside each person (or group). The subtle moments of an entire being sparkle sparsely through series of actions, reactions, thoughts, concentrations, and acceptance. Those sparks in a person are what I look for.

For many, many years, the majority of my photographs has been mostly around musicians. I still do love that dimension of this particular human quality. I enjoy all my own trials and errors photographing, in an attempt to preserve (my interpretation of) something important, but such intangible as vibes, and feelings – of the people that are my subjects.

But to diversify, this year I set out to explore my other interest of the sport fighters. This was natural because the other  commitment I made to be within this community learning and training (for fun). And so I include them as parallel stories going on all around me.

Of course, there are other sub-projects going on throughout along sides and in between, deserving series of its own. Some personalities I met along the way, some certain objects I find, or just pure composition exercises. I will post them here, too. 

For tool preference, I love to use film. In the age of digital, I prefer to walk the hybrid line where I digitize my film. I do enjoy working with the variations and controls in all points of the process, from start to finish. But I’m not limited to it. Sometimes a digital camera will do, or even a video camera. I’m very inclusive if it helps telling the story.

How can I afford to do it? Up until recently, I held a full time job which gave me the resources to spend on shooting. Time wise it was limited. I find that it’s important to do my best and ’show up’. But one of the consequences was that 55% of the unprocessed shot film piled up to be over a hundred rolls. As luck would turn, I got laid off in October. I suddenly found myself with a lot of time and now a sense of necessity to get my hands wet and develop these film myself. I gave myself until the end of the year to finish it. After weeks and weeks of obsessively going at it, I finally can put them all here. This was a year of my life, the way I saw it.

I’m looking forward to improve, grow, and share all.
Thanks for taking the time with me.

Peak