Il specchio

Northern red

finally settled for now

So sorry once again for the delay in posting, life has been crazy the last couples of weeks. I still really miss Italy and have been trying to force a reality check to get my life sorted out in LA. I got a job this past week at a boutique in Pacific Palisades working at their new men's store. I am really excited about the opportunity, designers, and co-workers; everyone seemed so nice and open there. Life is definitely a little more sweet, but hard at the same time, when you have to fully support yourself and routines. I am going to my friend Taylor's going away party tonight in the Silverlake/Korea Town area with a bunch of friends. He is moving to Singapore to work with MTV Asia for a couple months as a tryout period. The past 2 weeks have been so busy and packed full of things to do that I haven't figured out what to do with myself the past few days because I have had no schedule. I did end up eating at Ago's in Beverly Hills the other day for lunch, which was amazing! The ambiance and food was second to none in Los Angeles. Finally, it's really weird that school is starting again on Monday at LMU because it's the final straw in my realization that I am not in school anymore. It's one of the most bitter sweet experiences because I loved LMU and most of the people there, but I have also been ready to move on for about a year now. I am really anxious, in a good way, of the coming weeks and months.
A presto.

Terminator salvation

Back

So I haven't posted since I came home from Italy at the end of June.  I moved into my friend Erik's apartment in Westchester the day after I got back, and I've been loving it.  The weather has been absolutely amazing and I've been going to the beach or just exploring a lot.  I have a bunch of interviews set up this week for potential jobs, especially in Culver City.  I am really looking forward to moving into the next phase of my life, whatever kind of job I find myself in.  I waited in line on July 11th, at 6am, with Erik and JP to get iPhone 3G phones.  It is everything the original iPhone was, but thinner, black, faster, and more amazing with the Applications that are available for the phones.  We also saw Dark Knight on Friday afternoon in IMAX and it was freakin' amazing!  Christian Bale and Heath ledger rock the shit in the film.  It is really great, both as an action movie and a drama.  I will try to keep everyone updated on what's going on with me at least once or twice a week with a couple photos.    

A clockwork orange under 2 shadows

America the beautiful

Progressive obliviousness (continued)

Progressive obliviousness

So some of these pictures have been posted already, but I wanted to show the 6 photos I decided on for my final project.  I really like all of these pictures and I am trying to speak to the pursuit of the "perfect" photograph through posing and positioning of both the photographer and the photographie.

 

Dragging heels

New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills.

A shadow is cast

Spotlight

Closing sky

Swallow this

Schedule

This week is pretty crazy, schedule wise, because we had 2 Art History classes yesterday and an extra long Photography class today (9-2 instead of 9-12).  We have Art History again tomorrow and then we're leaving for Pietrasanta and Cinque Terre on Thursday at 8:30am.  It is kind of a double edged sword for me because the Pitti Uomo fashion show starts tomorrow in Florence and runs through Sunday.  We get back from our excursion on Sunday night so I won't be able to go to the show, but I'll take some console in lying on the beach and eating pesto anything by the beach.  Last night, the program director and four of us went to this little enoteca (wine bar) that is just west of the Ponte Vecchio on the river.  You pay €5 for a glass of wine and then the owner brings out these huge platters of pecorino cheeses, prosciutto, olives, and bread.  It was awesome and we all had a really great conversation for about an hour.  I love little private restaurants like this where you can just sit and soak up the goodness of life and the culture.  Speaking of the program, for my final project for Photography, I am doing a series of photos of tourists taking pictures at famous sites.  I have 5 that I am extremely pleased with at the moment, but I want a little more geographical diversity so I am going to try to take the final 1 or 2 photos during the upcoming excursion.  I am exploring this idea because I have found it extremely comical to watch people look at a statue or bridge and immediately lift their camera to their eye to capture a memory of it.  Unfortunately, most of the people don't bother digesting or experiencing what they're photographing once they have their memory stored safely away on their memory cards.  I am trying to portray this idea of memory making as opposed to memory through visceral experience in my final pieces.  I also have to finish my accordion book project by next Thursday.  Basically, it is a little accordion fold out book we had to make from scratch with 6 sleeves that will contain a photo and a "captured" or "found" object that relates to the photo.  I am doing half of the photos about stereotypes that Americans have for Italians that are fallacies, and the other 4 about more contemporary stereotypes that one experiences in Italy, that are positive and usually applicable.  The weather here was beautiful in the late afternoon yesterday and this morning.  I hope it holds up for the beach on Sunday.  A presto.    

Beautiful dog shit

Bob dole is out of focus

Smooched rain

San lorenzo shopping

3 friends and me went shopping in the outdoor market at San Lorenzo this morning.  It was really interesting and  stressful because there are so many shoppers and vendors who act like they desperately need your business.  Although, I made some of the best purchases of the trip.  I got 6 Armani knock off ties, a Burberry knock off scarf, and a Hermes knock off silk scarf for 30 Euros.  I also picked up a Louis Vuitton knock off messenger bag that is a very high quality fake for 80 Euros.  The only part that looks sketchy is the color of the leather, but it is nothing a little leather cleaner and sun can't fix.  After 45 minutes of gazing and dodging, I had definitely had enough!  Some of the people don't know what no means, whether it's English, Italian, Spanish, or cursing.  I also walked by the Synagogue this morning with my friend, Justin, which was really beautiful and quiet.  I love the turquoise color tiles and overall architecture of the building; it is arguably my favorite in Florence.  I really want to try Ruth's Kosher Vegetarian restaurant by the synagogue.  I've only heard great things about it and I think that it would bring diversity to the usual pasta or bread we've been eating ad nauseam.  I can't wait to see the highlights from the US Open tomorrow.  It should be really interesting to see if Tiger's knee can hold up to his usual domination of final rounds in major championships when he is in the lead.  It will be on NBC all day Sunday if any one is interested.  Yesterday's back nine was some of the most exciting sport I have seen in quite some time!  Golf fan or not, check it out!  A presto.