happy 2009!

I was going to buck a habit of the last few years and come up with some New Year's resolutions this go 'round. I haven't made that kind of list in ages, which is shocking since I'm a compulsive list maker otherwise. I feel like I write the same thing over and over though, and all I'm left with is guilt and disappointment. So I'll simply state this is my resolution... Try Harder. Oh, and maybe buy a new phone.

Have a safe and happy New Year everyone!

getting lost

Get your own - Open publication

This is basically impossible to see here, but if you click on the booklet or follow this link you can see the full view. The photos are from a recent trip to Odessa and back to Austin. Just as on previous visits to the oil town I practically peed my pants in excitement from the frozen in time feel of the buildings and scenery. I'm not totally selfish however and I don't entirely rejoice at the seeming economical plight of the city. I'm pretty sure my giddy fascination and enthusiasm is lost on most locals.

After randomly cruising the streets before heading back to Austin, I managed to get lost on the way as I turned onto the lonesome Texas highways. I'd like to believe I have a good sense of direction, but that's often proven wrong. Getting lost is no problem. I like the surprises that I stumble upon and the sense that I have nowhere to be and am discovering something new. It became a different story once darkness presented itself and fatigue set in. But all the while I tried to keep in mind that worse things could happen:

Run out of gas

Hit a deer

Hit a herd of deer

Hit a herd of cattle

Get a ticket

Be kidnapped by a cult of horny toothless men with designs on acquiring a sex slave

So there is a silver lining within a silver lining. Final thoughts however... someone needs to step up efforts to invent the time machine, West Texas sunsets are beautiful, and I am convinced that I am the owner of the unluckiest pair of underwear in the world. I know that might be superstitious hooey, but their track record speaks for itself. The end.

Photos can also be seen on Flickr.

a place for the rejected

If you have any photos that you deem unworthy for the scrapbook, picture frame, or website because they are blurry, too dark, or just plain horrible, well there is now a home for them. On Deleted Images they are happy to accept your woeful discards and put them on display for all to see. I know photographs don't have feelings but something about this makes me glad for the "unloved" images out there.

[ link to Deleted Images ]

what would bass do

In the above video Bhilmers proposes, via a jazzy graphic example, what the world would have been like if famed graphic designer Saul Bass had gotten his mitts on the opening to Star Wars. If Mr. Bass were still alive I think he'd approve (or at least be flattered).

[ link to YouTube ]

photographer's eviction

Legendary photographer Editta Sherman is being forced to leave her New York loft of 58 years, along with other residents. She by the way is 96 years old. Now I'm not sure how rent control works, and do understand that Carnegie Hall (where she lives above) would like to expand, but ejecting someone after inhabiting a place for over half a century just seems wrong. Happy Holidays Editta.

[ Editta's Myspace ]
[ CNN Story ]
[ photo by Bebeto Matthews ]

and happy holidays

Hope everybody has a happy and safe holiday!

[ photos by recovering lazyholic ]

merry christmas

Polaroid video by SX-Manipulator

home for the holidays

For some reason I have LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali" rattling around in my head. I'm not from California though, so damn... not appropriate I guess. Well, I am going home for the holidays, which has the word "going" in it but that's where the similarities end. I'm from small town Texas, a land called San Marcos with Outlet stores as far as the eye can see and a substancial amount of under aged binge drinkers. Geeze. Ok, the holidays have clearly stripped me of a cordial and clear train of thought.

This is a good time however to go on a JPG Magazine tangent. The above photo is up for vote in the House theme. I titled it "Heart's Permanent Residence" and if you haven't figured out where that is that would be my parent's house. I'm not going to twist your arm but give the picture some props if you feel like it.

HOUSE MUSIC:
LL Cool J [ Going Back to Cali ]
Madness [ Our House ]
Motley Crue [ Home Sweet Home ]
They Might Be Giants [ Birdhouse in Your Soul ]
Simon & Garfunkel [ Homeward Bound ]
Yo La Tengo [ I Feel Like Going Home ]

june 17th

Every year on the same day Argentine photographer Diego Goldberg takes a picture of himself and his family. The project started in 1976 with just he and his wife and in the last 30+ years has gone on to include three sons. This sort of series has been done before and since, regardless it's interesting to see the transformations over time. How much do you think his kids hated this at one point though?

This video is in Spanish but that doesn't really matter... you'll get the gist of it. However if you can understand what they are saying maybe you can let me know why the narrator is wearing those gloves. Please.



[ Video via YouTube ]
[ Diego Goldberg ]

blue genie art bazaar

Alrighty, so we're down to the wire. Today is the last day for any Christmas shopping. It is also the last day for Austin's Blue Genie Art Bazaar... tons of vendors featuring local artwork/jewelry/photography. Get to it!

[ Blue Genie Art Bazaar ]