just gave it a workout. can’t tell you how many times it’s saved my hide (not to mention broken the truth to me). when was the last time you sat down + had a conversation with yours? you even know where it is?

mexico was good. here’s a few quickies.

+ while we’re abroad, here’s a spot of fine french filmmaking as well, la blogoteque. their off kilter style has produced an array of ‘take away’ shows with stark results. they’ve filmed Sufjan Stevens playing on top of a church, Arcade Fire in an elevator, Sigur Ros in a restaurant, Phoenix in front of the Eiffel Tower to mention a few.

more inspiration.

in an industry as fickle + funny as this visual media environment we work in i’d like to send a large heart felt thank you to you + everyone who has helped make this year what it’s been. everything i’ve had the pleasure of collaborating on that has been just that – much more then one person.

so to you fine reader, art buyer, phone caller, promo printer, portfolio deliverer, photo editor, creative director, person at front desk, taxi driver, plane flyer, seat neighbor, baggage handler, camera operator, sound technician, craft server, multi tasker, busy producer, video editor, talented model, hero assistant + everyone else – this love’s for you (courtesy of my oldest son).

i’m a huge believer in keeping things as real as possible regardless how crazy this ride called life throws one’s way. it’s amazing the egos + totally wacked elements that make their way into photography, visual media + our lives in general but it’s simplest terms it’s mostly bullshit. i’ve always tried to maintain ties to roots + though always throwing new things never letting go of that core ‘me’.

this might be something i learned early in life from my parents who were always there for me, solid as rocks regardless if i wore different colored shoe laces or dyed my hair. it might be from some generous elder who offered me the insight that if i made up my mind ahead of time, even for things i’m only vaguely expecting, it will make my actions that much firmer. it might be from little league baseball where i learned to think before each play, “what will i do if the ball comes to me”. it might be something i learned from a japanese professor in college who told me prior to my first trip abroad that i wouldn’t come back the same person.

in essence i think it’s a bit of all of this. it’s about finding that core of who you are, what you believe in + making a decision that those ‘roots’ won’t ever change. you’re ideals, positions, etc will vary constantly but those roots that are you are there to stay. this works for me in all my wanderings + adventures – both the fun kind + the life kind.

with that in mind it’s been fun for me to see to be reminded about lately. like with the latest issue of Kootenay Mountain Culture magazine with my name in the contributing photographer’s credits. and seeing snowboard photography icon trevor graves bringing out his old school snowboard images on facebook. and in the vein of this obvious root connection to the snow, the story on jarem frye in this month’s outside. i shot with jarem + a crew of amputee boarders a few years ago on mt hood + learned + was inspired. so here’s to staying true + staying yourself.