february 12, 2007
happy
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what i forget in complaining about how crappy the weather is out here is that there's a whole legion of people who live and work outside in this weather. they're the army of one who keep new york moving from daybreak to last call. so here's to happy broken down trucks and pushing carts to keep the city that never sleeps, never sleeping.
february 11, 2007
how2: stencil cutting for royal suits
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to simplify the process for my "royal suits" tees, rather than having to create silkscreens (which is a time-consuming process), i'm creating stencils to print the shirts with. stencil making is an easy and straightforward process. once you have your design in hand, get yourself a thick-ish piece of cardboard (post office priority mail envelopes are a great, free option). attach your design to the cardboard (or draw directly on the cardboard) and then cut out your shapes. you now have a means with which to print tshirts, spread your message, and make a few dollars.
the two things i try to always have at hand are 1) a sharp razorblade and 2) a can of 3m super 77 spray adhesive. i once tried to use a cheap knock-off brand of spray adhesive for a project, and halfway through pasting pieces of paper to one another, i realized the early ones were coming apart. never again.
the two things i try to always have at hand are 1) a sharp razorblade and 2) a can of 3m super 77 spray adhesive. i once tried to use a cheap knock-off brand of spray adhesive for a project, and halfway through pasting pieces of paper to one another, i realized the early ones were coming apart. never again.
february 11, 2007
new york's eastside riverfront from the B train
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i must be in a visual metaphor mode right now, my mind trying to figure out why i'm subjecting its body to the rigors of east coast winter living. because this picture is totally like new york to me. it's this gorgeous, buzzing maze of people on this beautiful river's edge, and there's a palpable layer of dirt and dust and grime covering everything. you try not to notice it. in fact, as the months roll by somehow your mind does this mental trick where you hardly notice that the subway is dirty and the windows are dirty and basically everything is dirty. you really love the city. you enjoy taking the subway and reading as you ride to your destination. you like the crispness of the air in the winter and the savageness of the heat and humidity in the summer.
this is not a town for sissies. there should be big signs on the roadways into new york that read "go home now, sissies! unless you have lots of money."
this is not a town for sissies. there should be big signs on the roadways into new york that read "go home now, sissies! unless you have lots of money."
february 11, 2007
happy birthday aaron!
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indian food = yummy to the power of delicious. we went to vatan in nyc which has a $24 prix fixe all you can eat buffet. the food there is fantastic, though i get the sense that i'm not totally getting my $24 worth even though i stuffed myself silly. their rice pudding is two furry thumbs up in my estimation.
another indian favorite of mine is brick lane in the lower east side. i had an eggplant dish there that sent my tastebuds into a whirlwind of greatness. i felt like i had been transported to the land of oz, where all roads were paved with gold.
additional photography by lauren.
another indian favorite of mine is brick lane in the lower east side. i had an eggplant dish there that sent my tastebuds into a whirlwind of greatness. i felt like i had been transported to the land of oz, where all roads were paved with gold.
additional photography by lauren.
february 10, 2007
i realized..
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this encapsulates what it is like in new york right now. it's sunny, which is really nice. and it's also really cold, and sometimes there's a stiff wind, so at times it feels like you're looking death right in its grill. all at once, it's scary and brilliant and makes me wonder how people ever decided that this was the place they wanted to raise a family. i suppose it's like tradition or sociological silt that builds up over time, layer after layer defining the shape of things to come. until one day you're like, "son, this is how it's always been. this is how it always will be."
february 10, 2007
new tees by minwin coming up
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i'm headed to a convention in washington d.c. next week (katsucon), for which i'm creating my new "royal suits" line of tshirts. five brand spankin' new designs, how exciting! i'll be printing them up over the next few days. which is like not a lot of time at all. fingers crossed, kissing the sky, hope my karma is in good order..
for these designs, i tried to marry the interests of the anime con kids with my own graphic sensibilities. which is like some skulls, pirates, drugs and drinking, light and darkness, and a little bit of the matrix never hurt nobody.
for these designs, i tried to marry the interests of the anime con kids with my own graphic sensibilities. which is like some skulls, pirates, drugs and drinking, light and darkness, and a little bit of the matrix never hurt nobody.
february 8, 2007
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(a last few southern california photos before i switch over to new york mode. man, it is insanely cold out here..)
one of the things i really appreciate about photography is how it allows you to explore the awesomeness of seemingly mundane moments. these construction workers obviously have no idea how great the composition they've created is. everything from their posture to the huge cat bulldozer to the huge hole in the ground that they're looking into (what exactly is down there?) to the circles of the awaiting pipes to the colorful balloon in the back adds up to a whole lotta magic for me. even the ladder jutting out on the right side has a special kind of imaginative pull.
one of the things i really appreciate about photography is how it allows you to explore the awesomeness of seemingly mundane moments. these construction workers obviously have no idea how great the composition they've created is. everything from their posture to the huge cat bulldozer to the huge hole in the ground that they're looking into (what exactly is down there?) to the circles of the awaiting pipes to the colorful balloon in the back adds up to a whole lotta magic for me. even the ladder jutting out on the right side has a special kind of imaginative pull.
february 8, 2007
daily dose of graf. along the 10 freeway.
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what really gets me about the graffiti along this stretch of the 10 freeway (just east of the 405 interchange), is not the fact that it's covering up a nice mural which probably took a group of artists a long time to make--that's just par for the course in a city where people need to express themselves. rather, it's the fact that it's right along the 10 freeway. what, do taggers just walk along the freeway until they're like, "aha, here's where i'll put my piece?" or do they pull up in their cars, jump out and throw up their piece like hot grease? do people ever drive by and notice? or is it so far beyond the periphery of late night drivers? are we like zombies in the night, driving from a to b without barely thinking about how we get there or what we passed along the way?
february 8, 2007
my mom is like a rose
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it's always nice to leave on a pretty note, so here's my ode to all that's good for the soul. my soul at least. you're welcome to freeze your soul on the outback of humanity all you want.
my mom surely loves her roses. she's grown them as far back as i can remember. as we moved from house to house, she would invariably spend her spare time turning each new backyard into her vision of eden. or vietnam, as the case may be. it was always something different each time, cause i suppose everywhere's different. i never can understand how she manages it all, what with everything else she has to do like running a business and raising a family and paying bills and all. but she does. so i take this moment to enjoy a little bit of the love that she manages to call forth from earth.
my mom surely loves her roses. she's grown them as far back as i can remember. as we moved from house to house, she would invariably spend her spare time turning each new backyard into her vision of eden. or vietnam, as the case may be. it was always something different each time, cause i suppose everywhere's different. i never can understand how she manages it all, what with everything else she has to do like running a business and raising a family and paying bills and all. but she does. so i take this moment to enjoy a little bit of the love that she manages to call forth from earth.
february 6, 2007
here and gone
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is it wrong of me to revel in the fact that it's 70 degrees here in southern california? especially when things are like this in new york? i don't think so, considering i'm headed back to that icy hell for the next few weeks anyways. new york here i come, please be warm(er).
february 5, 2007
waiting for the bus
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what is it about a situation that makes me pull my camera and press that button? usually there's an interesting visual element or some interplay of light that catches my eye. or it just 'feels right'. in this photo i was drawn to the largeness of the white walls and the relationships of the people on the bench. the couple are just chatting informally and the woman on the right is expectantly waiting for the bus to arrive. nothing ground-breaking, but it all just worked for me. i also love the graffiti'd THC on the walls, which i hadn't initially noticed while taking the photo.
i also remember i was stopped at a red light and i happened to look out my window and thought to myself, what a perfect little moment! i remember feeling pretty shy and hesitant, so i waited for an opportune moment, hoping that the people on the bench wouldn't notice i was going to take their picture. how funny that the guy is looking right at me just as i clicked. caught red-handed! so much for stealth and shyness.
i also remember i was stopped at a red light and i happened to look out my window and thought to myself, what a perfect little moment! i remember feeling pretty shy and hesitant, so i waited for an opportune moment, hoping that the people on the bench wouldn't notice i was going to take their picture. how funny that the guy is looking right at me just as i clicked. caught red-handed! so much for stealth and shyness.
february 5, 2007
american tile inc
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here's another situation where something ineffable about the moment caught me. is it the color of the building and its huge hand-painted lettering? maybe its the skinny little tree and the skinny little no parking sign and the lonely bike and the shadows. whatever, i pushed the button and drove on.
february 5, 2007
sunset hues and mercedes blues
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what can i say? the colors hitting this car were just too good to pass up. i love how the orange sunset is reflected off the entire side of the car and how the palette of the environment is totally encapsulated in the palette of the car. not to mention the car is totally pimpin'. it's obviously the ride of a ridiculously rich middle eastern oil sheik. and isn't that lonely newspaper just the perfect final touch? maybe it's just me..