Light In Our Darkess

With only two hours left in the day, I was finally able to reach my computer to post an image. However, it has been a hectic day, so let me explain just a bit. Photography is not something I consider myself to be overly passionate about, but it is something I care a great deal about. I always took photos of everything growing up, but they weren't good (although, like any kid, I thought I was a genius at the time). However, a community service trip to Tanzania the summer after my sophomore year of high school changed things. I began to concentrate on photography as a serious hobby, going to every website I could to get tips on aperture, shutter speed, photoshoot ideas, and photoshop shortcuts. However, I also began to concentrate heavily on film, it was what really got me excited (and still does), so I underestimated my love for photography for a while and got bored.

Senior year came around and I became good friends with a guy who loved music, film, and photography, as did I.... his amazingly artistic interest in photography re-sparked my interest. No matter how much I knew, he always challenged my knowledge and knew 10 times more than me. He encouraged me to see photography as I saw film: a lens through which to view the world outside of normality. I began to use photography to cope with my emotions surrounding common high school occurrences: issues with friends, feeling different, "the great college search", etc. Little did I know that the photography my friend got me re-interested in would be one of the devices I used (then and now) to cope with my despair after his death in May 2007. He had challenged me to challenge myself when I got bored of what I loved. His birthday also happened to be on December 10th. Instead of celebration, it's been a day of tears, yet I have confidence his artistic talents, rare and pure kindness, as well as his bare hugs live on in the lives he touched.

He is continually missed and loved.

"Goodnight Sweet Prince"

The Clock Tower

I promise the building itself isn't crooked... If you couldn't tell by my lack of updates, exams have started. 2 down and 2 to go so far. I took this image from Albert Park, the best place to take a break from the library when it's sunny. Sadly though, it's been cloudy/rainy over the past few days. Anyway, my updates will be sporadic until December 4th or so. My last exam is on Wednesday and on the 21st, my parents are coming to visit! I'm really excited to start traveling again and to see my parents, but I'll be less than enthusiastic when I have to leave the friends I've made here.

On a much more positive note, here is the like to Joey L, a 19 year old photographer who is better than most people twice his age: http://www.joeyl.com Enjoy!

Uni

Today's image isnt' that special, it just made me really excited. I took it in Albert Park, right off of campus and for the first time this semester, it actually looks like a campus! Yesterday was the last day of classes before semester, so everyone was taking advantage of the beautiful day and celebrating. I had the option of going on a hardcore tramp this weekend, but I just wasn't feeling it. So, instead I stayed in Auckland... and I don't regret it one bit. Last night I went to dinner with some kiwi friends and then ended up having one of the best nights yet. After dinner, we came over to my apartment, had some beers, and talked until 5am (hence the unltra late post today). In the group were kiwis, a german, a south african, and me (an American). We talked about tons of word issues mixed with some light hearted conversation... the kind of night I love. It was choice to hear everyone's points of view and the differences in our countries as well as our upbringins. It was an amazing way to the end the semester and start finals. Today, I woke up late, went to lunch at a sweet as burger joint with some friends and hung around K'Rd for a bit going through some vintage shops. I also managed to find a Colorado belt buckle to add to my collection (I mean, how could I really pass up finding a Colorado belt buckle in New Zealand??). Life is beyond good right now!

Spring Up

I apologize for not updating this past week. It has been a hard week for me, there has been a ton of work to do for class because this is the last week of class before exams and I found out some not quite so good news from home. As classes wind down, it's a bittersweet time. I am so happy to not have as much work now, but I actually loved some of my classes. I'm also excited to get back home to South Carolina and to uni in Colorado; I miss my friends, making films, and, as shallow as this may sound, my American brands (what's a vegetarian supposed to do without Amy's or Annie's?). However, part of me wants to throw everything out the window and move to this brilliant country and hang out with my kiwi friends till I graduate from uni (after all, I could call up Peter Jackson and maybe he'll let me make some films with him...). Well, I haven't been responding to anything anyone has sent me this week, but I've finally decided not to let my conflicting emotions drag down my last month or so in New Zealand - that would be pointless, let alone not so much fun. At any rate, I vented my frustrations by getting obsessed with a new TV show, writing a webseries, watching youtube, dancing the night away, and going around Albert Park to take a few photos - this is one of those photos. I liked it because you can see the Skytower, the landmark of Auckland, in the background but it's not the main focus. Anyway, tomorrow is my last day of classes - yikes!

To make up for my lack of updating, here are a few links to cool things I've found:
The New Civil Rights Movement - intersting article, I'd love to hear what you think about it.
World Animal Day Photos - great animal pictures, I'm really jealous of #30, that's never happened to me paddle boarding!
Alice - absolutely amazing editing, trust me, the 2:44 is worth it. (If you like it as much as me, check out this remix)
And finally, a friend of mine from CC has recorded an album and it's now avalible to download. It's really good and I'm not just saying that because Will's my friend. Several Girls Galore