Big box stores in China are a revelation. In how many different types of things can be found under one roof, in the routine of a typical shopper, in the way people spend their day. Kick off your shoes, read … Continue reading
Images of concert goers from last summer at Prospect Park and Central Park.
I had reservations this year. Almost none of the neighbors I hang with go on account that its too dangerous, waking at 3 am is strange and I went last year. J’ouvert, the before dusk until you can’t stand, West Indian folklore … Continue reading
I just made this epic tome of my images from Peru. I built it as a book dummy and portfolio piece. Its about 160 pages and is being printed on high quality, Ilford Pearl Lustre paper with archival end pages, an oatmeal colored linen cover with this cool, wrap around cover sheet. You can view it here and even order one though its damn expensive. My concept for the book was to show different vignettes and photo stories from my 9 months of travel in Peru in 2009 and have fun, colorful chapter breaks with grids of various cultural items. Some examples below.
Mamiya C330 from the bus in the South Eastern high desert plains of Peru.
In October I went to China to visit family and during my two-week trip there my mother and I ventured into the South Eastern province of Jianxi, a rural area full of farms, the city that originated blue painted porcelain ceramics to the world and of 1000 year old “postal roads”. These trails, in-which mail was delivered, meander thru and over lush mountain valley’s connecting isolated ancient villages. We did a 9 mile hike (uphill by mistake…sorry mom!.) and ended in Big Liking, one of a handful of hamlet style villages surrounding the small city of Wuyuan. I was struck by the architecture, the serenity, the simplicity, the human shit used for fertilizer. We walked around this tiny village and others nearby for two days and these are my images.
Graffiti carved in moss
Inside an 800 year old Hall.
The Postal Roads that we hiked on. We had come from 10 miles back up and over that valley.
Antique barber chair.
The middle room, open to the sky, of a typical home.
Shanghai train station.
Henry Gipson of Gip’s Place. (Watch a video of him playing guitar below)
I ventured to the deep south a little while back in search of rural juke joints. Project was a failure as I couldn’t locate what I was looking for but did spend some time with this amazing man in North East Alabama. A gravedigger who went on to own his own cemetery and still works everyday, he has also been a blues guitarist for the better part of 70 years and his musical history includes playing with John Lee Hooker in Detroit in the 1940′s. Here is an article about him.
Here is a small video of him playing.
Proud owner of a newly blessed car.
In my last trip to Peru I stumbled upon a ceremony where people came to have their vehicles blessed by a priest in the parking lot of a 200 year old church. The priest from the church was going car to car and showering cars, people, engines, tires and grandmas alike with holy water as well as blessings to ensure the people safe travel. The church, located up a mountain from San Salvador in a tiny enclave named Huanca, hosts the ceremony every year and the 200 or so people had driven from all around Southern Peru.
The 200 year old church which hosts the ceremony is an hour East of Cusco, the city in the South of Peru that one goes to before venturing on to Machu Picchu.
Elder Andean women celebrating the ceremony by passing cups of beer.
Firecrackers were ubiquitous in the church parking lot.
The priest of the church bestowed blessings and holy water on the cars, its parts in entirety (engine, interior, tires, etc..) and as well as all of the family members.
In a side building off of the parking lot where candles are lite for prayers or in memorium. (Note the car icons formed in wax in the lower center.)
A couple with their blessed car.
The priest blesses the photographer.
Taxis, personal vehicles and giant trucks were all part of the ceremony. (Note the womans hair tie)
Confetti, holy water and beer were poured onto the engine of this typical taxi of Southern Peru.
Entire families attended the ceremonies. (Note the man in the background at right pouring a beer onto the engine.)
The typical dress of Andean women mixes Andean and Spanish influences.
Here is some film images from my recent three week trip to Peru. These are all from Peru’s capital city of Lima. Pizarro founded the city in 1535 in the valleys of three conjoined rivers, hence the overcast and smoggy air quality as the surrounding desert mountains don’t let the air circulate out to the ocean. Its said to be a dangerous place but I really dig it. Its medieval, depressed, gritty and alive…much more then the more up-scale suburbs that most tourists and Limenos prefer.
