Blue, Curious Eyes

Cedar, July 2013.

Cedar, July 2013

One person's trash is another's canvas.

After spending a few days helping a good friend on a cross town move into her new apartment in L.A, Jefri was able to swipe this light and bring it home to turn into functional art. The light was originally one of a pair but after the other light took a fall and broke it was no longer as appealing as a single light, so Jefri decided some color was in order. I couldn't have agreed more.

Fathers Day.

Frank Balogh, Florida, circa 1969.

Thanks Dad for helping share the stoke of surfing and all of the knowledge you've passed on to me.

GoProing

I've taken the GoPro out hiking with me twice now, and I'm totally sold on it. I've used it to shoot vistas, as a still camera, and on a head mount (think miner's lamp style) while rock climbing and going through dense undergrowth, and it's preformed flawlessly. I'm working on putting together a quick video with some of what I've shot thus far, but for now here's some screen shots of what I've shot. Click on them to enlarge, it's worth it.

Let the games begin

I am now the proud owner of a GoPro HD. Ever since first using these little guys on race cars while working for Skunk2 I wanted one for my own personal camera bag. My mind has been reeling with ideas far and wide, ranging from surfing/paipo riding footage, snorkeling, rock climbing, all the way to mounting this thing on my Jeep and go flying through some desert washes. I ordered it with the Surf Hero package, but along with the standard surf mount, I have another box of various wrist straps, head straps, and other mounting option. This really will prove to be nothing short of fun.

At the root of it all

Airstrips and shade rocks.

I'm happy to say that after a three hour car ride spent straddling a guitar and holding bongos, I'm officially safe and sound, back at home from a weekend camping in the Anza Borrego desert. The suitcase is unpacked, and my camp gear stashed for the next trip. For now I'm going to catch up on some rest and let my skin take a break from the relentless desert sun.

Great songwriting advice

I was having a hard time writing a piece of the song last night, and while thinking of ways to break through a wall of blandness, this randomly popped into my mind. I like it. It may become my new musical motto.

{fuck songs into submission.}

New toy for the bag

Yes! The time has come to add another tool to my bag of camera tricks. This is something I've been wanting for a few years now, and I'm pretty excited to have it arrive (tomorrow supposedly) and to get it in the water. It's summer and it's time for some fun.

Fuel for the fire

These are two things I'm pretty stoked to have in my possession at the moment (although Mr. Kerouac is only mine temporarily). Hoping for fresh thoughts to propel the ensuing music recording that will be done.

Welcoming the fall colors with open arms

Not really having seasons is something you must overcome when living in southern California. Being there my entire life I could only say that I had seen mere glimpses of seasons; a little rain and some cold in winter, a short bloom of green come spring, then heat until winter. Fall damn near doesn't exist some years. Being here in Colorado I'm just starting to get my first glimpses of what fall will be. These are from this mornings bike ride. I'm stoked thus far. Much more to come I'm sure.

New Terrain

Living so close to the Rocky Mountains has so many benefits. There is an endless supply of hiking and biking trails that range from the foothills to the 8,600ft peaks. I'm hoping to get more hiking in soon before it gets colder.

I want to fly

First light

I can honestly say that for the few brief moments that “first light” lasts, I cherish it all. It’s a daily reminder to how lucky we are to experience the wonders of the ocean and nature.

Pre dawn drives

I thrive off of leaving my house at 4:30am. There’s just something about being on the road nearly alone (except this is Southern California, so you’re never totally alone) before dawn. This was one of those mornings. I was southbound, going for some surf, and held the shutter wide when the glow of the sun starting peeking over the horizon line.

One year ago

Joshua Tree, November 2008

This is now

things for me are just kind of on auto pilot mode right now. and to be honest i hate it. i'm quite sick of the mundane and everyday. it looks like i may be transplanting to the east coast in the near future. how near, i can't say, because i'm not even sure. all i know is that it may happen. but even that hasn't shaken things up enough. i was going to fight tooth and nail to stay here in california, but now florida doesn't sound as bad. maybe a fresh start is a good thing. i'm not sure. seems i'm rarely sure of things. at least of things like this. there are things in my life i am whole-heartedly sure of. i'm sure that the city lights will always catch my stare. i'm sure that nothing beats driving at dawn with only a camera sitting in the passenger seat. i'm sure that coffee tastes better at night. i'm sure that the 101 should only be driven going north; coming south on it just depresses me. i need to be shaken. today feels like yesterday which feels like tomorrow which feels like 3 months ago. all days blend into each other. i want to tell stories and not need to think "Wait, was that this week or last week?". I want each day to be its own day. I'm tired of being fed up with monetary issues. It's rare i bleed this much into this blog, but I feel it keeps me honest and real. I don't want to be fake.

I love this place

I really do. This table in particular has many, many memories. Nights alone, nights with friends, seeing amazing bands play, hearing poets share their art. I’ve spent many nights in that red booth loving life.

Open your eyes

I’m normally not one for flower shots. You see them everywhere, all the time. Look in any card shop and I promise you 75% of the cards have some generic shot of flowers on them. I’m not saying that this is not a generic flower shot, it may be for all I care, but the point of this was something entirely different from just shooting a flower because it exists and it’s pretty. There’s an area behind my house up in the hills that is like a refuge for me. It’s beautiful. It’s empty. It’s quiet. And it’s enough to remind me that as California gets crammed to the brim of people everyday, there’s still hideaways to be found in your own backyard. This is one of those hideaways.

Warm Days

San O at sunset after a good surf. Nothing beats it during the summer for me.