Please don't litter

Because even the smallest piece of trash could change our ecosystem. Today, my dad sent me a few links of photographer, Chris Jordan's work. Jordan has been documenting the world and it's irresponsible and over-indulging aftermath in traveling exhibitions depicting global mass consumption and pollution. In the past decade, Jordan has captured the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and chronicled the outcome of many albatross chicks throughout Midway Atoll. Maybe we will think twice about what we eat and where we leave our garbage if we catch a closer glimpse at the damage that our cultures are capable of creating.

An unaltered image of a baby albatross on Midway Atoll. Photograph by Chris Jordan.

Beauty in the Shadows

My beloved and reknown professor, Susan Waters-Eller from MICA, recently returned from an Artists' Residency at Rocheforte-en-Terre. During her time there, Susan captured the serenity and eery history of the topiary gardens. Her most recent post reminded me of some of my past sightings.

When I was on a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, I got a chance to visit the vast lava fields between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Every now and then, if one was perceptive, they could catch a little flower or plant growing up between the cracks of a desolate looking plain. No matter how destructive or unnatural a location is, I've noticed that nature and beauty always triumph in the end.

Illustration by Susan Waters-Eller in Brittany, France

*Calibration

Hello my pickles and friends.

It has been a while and many bloggable events have come and

gone. Sometimes I miss out on them and sometimes it's just better to let them rest in our memories. Whatever the case, sorry for the absence and delay.

At the moment, the house is clean, the kitten is clean and the island looks like it may cleanse itself after a few muggy days of vog. Spring cleaning is over and summer may begin.

Interestingly, as much as I have mocked the idea of master photographers and the like, I was recently given the opportunity to switch from one career to the other while staying diligently in the arts. I, Yumi Virginia Vong, am now an apprentice master wedding photographer. A few months ago, I claimed the email address of masterphotographer@me.com through Apple's MobileMe accounts and sure enough, it predicted my future.

Step 1 complete. Time to initiate Step 2: complete training in a different field, learn more about people and how they respond to life and apply to Step 3.

I've got the bike. Now, ride!

It's been awhile...

... more time than I've wanted between posts, but I think I'm beginning to come across my quarter-life crisis. Now is the time. The symptoms are: lack of focus, interests in vintage jewelry and ethnic housewares, cases of synesthesia and loss of appetite.

Wikipedia states that, "the quarterlife crisis (QLC) is a term applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the early twenties to the early thirties," and of course, Wikipedia knows best. I believe my case is a slight variation, as I haven't recently experienced a major change, but have instead returned to the usual flit and flanter of my post-collegiate life.

In any case, here are a few items that I have found that will be added to the "Note to self" category/I want:

1. World Peace

2. Time to fly

3. Good Luck

4. Wisdom

5. Courage

Target® just may be the answer to all of our requests.

Local International Post Production

Yesterday, I had the honor of joining some of Hawai‘i's finest and most experienced key grips, sound technicians and producers in a daylong photo and video shoot for a German TV show. The locals, otherwise nicknamed the "A-Team", were some of the most efficient and productive people that I have met recently. Los Angeles' Jerry Avenaim, who has shot faces like Halle Berry, Tom Greene, Eva Mendez and Donald Trump, was also on the set and kept the show running with his world-class directing. It was so refreshing getting out of the office and behind the scenes to be the visual artist on a set. Although I would love to do something like this full time, I doubt I have the stamina to work nonstop with a production crew!

"Magic Yumi" waiting for the tethered shots in post production's Village Blackout tent

Masters of Photography

A good deal of last night was spent discussing the idea of what a Master Photographer could and should be. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a "master" can be anyone from a religious leader to a significant figure of the past, but is often known as an individual of consummate skill who is qualified to teach. Can one honestly be a self-proclaimed master? How many years of knowledge and experience entitle someone to advertise the title, let alone the image of maturity?

Despite the doubt and confusion, I believe many Masters live among us. The ones that understand that the last stroke of paint and the final edit still do not make them the best. The people that continue progressing after they have proved a point to their professors and clients. The proof is sometimes in the work, but mainly in the passion. Here is a list of a few of the humble Masters that I have come across along the way.

Stephanie McCrea

Osamu Kobayashi

Noah Pfarr

Dana Deininger

Kim Herbst

Brendan Coyle

Shaun Martin

Jason Pastrana

Johnny Robles

Michael Tyler

Garrett Guidera

Ben Keating