The Heights

Chicago Line of Sight

2011-10-30T13:37:00.000-05:00

As my time in Chicago comes to an end, I think back to all the times I walked down its alleys and sidewalks or meandered through Grant Park. I would stand in awe of the century-old architecture, looking roughly very much as it did one hundred years ago. That's not to say it hasn't changed. The Chicago landscape is a collection of architectural styles spanning this most recent century. I can't even attempt to recite all the movements represented, nor would I want to give the impression that I have any respectable knowledge of architectural philosophy. I just want to show you all a little about what I'm talking about. Here, you can see towers of curved glass, tightly organized granite, and ornately carved limestone.

I will miss you, Chicago.

Jeff

Zig-Zagging Through the Zeya Gorge

2011-09-05T13:50:00.000-05:00

Heading north from Wenzhou, Zhejiang, in a bumpy bus, the dense and vertical architecture of Wenzhou gave way to the Ou Jiang (river). Beyond that, the city quickly fades into vast farmland; laborers tending to the marshes, vegetation continues to thrive as it has always been. As the lanes get narrower, and the cities get smaller, you can see more and more road-side stands of people selling their fruits and wares. These roads eventually and eventually run into intermittent stretches of dirt. We start making our way up a mountain and the villages become densely packed again, this time along the flattened roads weaving through the terrain. The buildings all have storefronts, but it seems like most of the people are lounging around in front as if they live there. The pace seems much slower up in these winding streets as kids run around playing while the elders gossip or tend to their stews, meats, or shelves.

The streets we take lead us to the Zeya Gorge, somewhere near the Nanxi River area and Yandang Mountain range. The gorge is a natural area cut out of rock by the aqua-blue waters coursing through its turns.

Lone wolf

Tofu lady

Every now and then, instead of reading a paper menu, you can choose your dishes straight out of the kitchen fridge.

Women making bamboo paper. We stumbled upon this little operation as we were walking back to our bus. The first thing we noticed was the crackling of bamboo against a wall as a flatbed truck loaded up with the poles was maneuvering to park on the side of the road. Then, the stench came hit our noses. To process the bamboo into paper, they have disintegrate the fibers into pulp. I think a combination of heat, water, and some level of rotting allows this to happen. When it is ready, a screen is dunked into the mixture, swished around a few times, and a fine layer of bamboo pulp is pulled out of the liquid and laid out on a stack of other previously made sheets. Later on, we noticed various dimensions of bamboo paper draped over a bamboo lattices across many fields, left out in the sun to dry.

While I love seeing the various cities of the world, and enjoyed passing through the villages of China, I always get a kick out of seeing the natural scenery of the world. When you take away the buildings, people, or any signs of culture, you see the world for what it is. Boulders moved into place by water. Plants battling it out for sunlight. It's the same place that has existed for ages beyond what we as humans could possibly understand or experience. It was formed by the raging forces of the universe without regard to where people or animals were or what we needed. Nature is the ultimate aesthetic ideal. Respect.

Hong Kong Summer: 1. Nights

2011-08-26T00:07:00.001-05:00

Hong Kong is an amazing city of lights, people, steel giants. My recent visit was the second time I've ever been to Hong Kong. It was every bit as packed with action as I remembered. The panorama of lights over the oceans of people fills up your visual field with activity. Yes, I just dropped that term. I think everyone should visit one day. I think if I were to ever live someplace far far away, Hong Kong would be high up on my list of choices. I found it to be very easy to get around considering all of the signs are in English and most everyone there can speak the language. I would, however, definitely learn how to speak Cantonese if I were to ever move there. More than just the linguistic familiarity, I like how the city has so many options. We stayed at some hostel in the Chungking Mansions of Nathan Road. Known for its mix of ethnicities and hostels, it has also been used as the setting for some films. It was one of the cheapest hostels we could find in the city. When we checked in, there were four different hostels all with the same reception desk somewhere up in the 14 or so floors each accessible by only one 6-person elevator. Down on the ground level, you will see people of all ethnicities passing through the arcades of various currency exchange windows.

This is the ground floor of the Chungking Mansions. Official supplier of calling cards, Indian food, cell phones, and international monies.

Here is the line for the elevator. Only one of these two on this block will take you to your floor.
Home

Beijing

2011-08-09T09:59:00.005-05:00

In May I moved to China for a summer quarter clinical rotation at the eye hospital of Wenzhou Medical College. My first stop in China, however, was in Beijing. I'd always wanted to one of the ancient cities of China. I knew I had to go see the Forbidden City. It is China's equivalent of England's Buckingham Palace and India's Taj Mahal. I knew I had capture it on slide film. I've never shot slide film before, but I had a roll of Kodak Elitechrome 100 that I was saving up and I knew this was the time to throw it in. I couldn't find a lab that could develop slide film for the longest time so I just brought it a local lab and had them cross process it in regular C41.

I always enjoy the way that Chinese people have given the best, most epic names of all time. This is The Hall of Supreme Harmony. It is in front of the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Hall of Mental Cultivation. It is the top dog of all the structures. Situated in the center of the walled compound that is the Forbidden City, it symbolized the imperial command of the time. The central staircase with the marble dragon screen was for the exclusive use of the Emperor. The staircases to the sides are each for his officials or family members. Again. EPIC is all I use to describe the city. Even though the site is a huge tourist attraction surrounded by souvenir vendors and tour guides, its still worth a visit. The architecture really does speak for itself.

Costa Mesa Nightcrawling

2011-01-27T03:26:00.001-06:00

My buddy Jeff Tang and I were hanging out one night with nothing to do so we went for a quick adventure through the damp streets of Costa Mesa. I was using Fuji NPS 160 film which is not very fast for night shots, but I went ahead and did what I could do, sometimes just guessing how long to keep the shutter open since it was beyond metering range/slowest shutter speed in my camera. I was glad to see some of the soft lights of this quiet night captured on film. We got abruptly bounced off of some property while we were there, but strolled down the street for a couple more shots before we headed back. Here are some highlights. Signing off, Jeff

Middle of America

2011-01-24T12:43:00.001-06:00

Last month, I went to Wichita to check out my girlfriend's hometown. The first time I went through Kansas, I was passed out in the passenger seat as my buddy drove all through the night to keep us on our non-stop trip from Chicago to Denver. The 12 hour stretch of pavement leading to and running through Kansas is flat and empty. This time around, I had native Wichitan Alice guide to show me some of what Wichita has to offer. Some quick facts about Wichita you may not know: It is not the state capitol (Topeka) The first Pizza Hut was opened in Wichita It is known as the Air Capital of the World because of the numerous aviation companies founded/operating in Wichita Population 372,186. While 1/10 the population of the city of LA, it is not really a small town. A quick survey of my class would reveal hometowns of 5,000 or less. You can drive a tractor to school in a small town. Your neighbors are a mile away in a small town. Chances are, if you've ever heard of the town, it's probably not a small town. Here is my real/your virtual tour guide. Hi Alice. Here we are at Nu Way Cafe, a local burger chain that opened in the 1920s and is still popular today for their crumbly patty burgers and root beer floats. The local people are all very friendly; one even offered to take a picture for us while in the restaurant. The guy probably though we were asian tourists; I guess he was half right. Old Cowtown, a living museum set comprised of old turn of the century or older buildings set up in a town formation. You can walk in and see the different businesses as they would have looked 100 years ago. We saw this cool foot operated bellows organ that they let us play with. Rice in a general store. The lobby of the Wichita Art Museum, the largest museum in Kansas. At first I noticed this amazing painting of Venice, and then I was suddenly even more intrigued by this ornate hand carved frame for the painting. The Keeper of the Plains watches over the city at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers. Girlfriend bundled up in a scarf, jacket, seatbelt, and car. Plane guts Here I am keeping watch over the parking lot. This is where my roll of Kodak Max 800 begins. Midcontinent Airport where you board via ladder. Denver layover. Finally home! I hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I did. The earlier photos were shot on Kodak Gold 400 (Wagon shot on 200). As for the ultra grainy photos, I was using up a roll of very expired 800 speed film that was left in a drawer when I was still in high school. What you see are the more tolerable shots.

Mishe Mission 2

2011-01-20T01:11:00.004-06:00

Here are some more shoots from another roll shot on top of of the trails of Malibu. These photos were shot with a Nikon FM2n 35mm camera during my recent trip back home to LA. The Ektar 100 film really brought out the vibrant colors seen in Malibu. The week of constant rains also helped bring on chlorophyll.

Renewal

Caps in moss=pagodas on steep mountains

Deposited by rain
The split in Split Rock

Our glorious arsenal
Lovely ladies whatsuuup

We're here.

We found what we were looking for.

Although it was a little hazy and overcast, you could still see the ridges of the Channel Islands sittin on the horizon.
This one below is one of my favorites from the roll.
The troop: Louis T, Haserad, Chris Gayomali, Garrick Fujii, 12FV

Back to Part 1

Mission Mishe Mokwa - Ascent

2011-01-14T11:55:00.003-06:00

I recently went on a joint photomission with a group of talented photographers in the mountains of Malibu, California. It was a beautifully clear day in Malibu; you could see to the peaks of the Channel Islands from the right vantage point along the Mishe Mokwa Trail. Here is a set of findings from my roll of Fuji Superia 400.

Mishe Mokwa Trail through the eyes of: Louis T, Haserad, Chris Gayomali, Garrick Fujii, 12FV.

Rising from the Ashes

2011-01-04T12:16:00.003-06:00

Have a happy new year, all. I'm still working on getting my film developed so here is are some curious photographs I took at a campsite this summer deep in southern Illinois. What do you see?

Life Aquatic

2010-12-28T00:09:00.001-06:00

Here are a couple more shots taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in November of 2010. I'll have more photos of places, mountains, waters, foods, and hikes all coming soon.

Gateway

2010-12-22T02:42:00.000-06:00

Forms

2010-12-13T01:09:00.000-06:00

California Gold

2010-12-07T04:32:00.002-06:00

I lost my Lumix LX2 back in August and have been pretty much been stagnant when it comes to taking pictures for the time being. I've been feeling the itch to go out shooting. A couple of friends have been getting into film so I thought I'd jump back to that lost era with a sweet Nikon FM2n. I definitely want to bring this with me next year when I go to my first externship in WenZhou, China. I'll be living there for 3 months and then I'll find myself zig-zagging through Chicago, Seattle, then New York for the rest of the year. I am particularly anxious to go back to Asia and be immersed in the culture. I've seen pictures of the round, Mario land mountains in smoke and have always wanted to see them for myself. Being in Chicago for about a year until Thanksgiving was also taking a toll on me. I'm not one to get homesick easily, but I was definitely beginning to miss the state of California (not economic state) during the approaching holidays. Here is the tip of the iceberg for things that I've missed or are otherwise awesome, about California.

Here is a picture of the Golden Gate in the night under the watchful eyes, light beams, or mind control rays of what may possibly be aliens.

A friend showed me the corridor to her house in the Mission of San Francisco. The walls are covered with the details of a mystery murder case being investigated by the owner.

San Francisco is a really beautiful city at in both day and night. I can't get enough of the hilly views and scattered trees.

My favorite exhibit of all time is still the Jellies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I love hearing the waves crashing off in the distance and smelling the fresh sea air when I'm at the aquarium.

Moon rising through the clouds as the sun fades away

Special Combo Burrito from a burrito stand we discovered sometime in high school one random day around 9 in the morning. Later in the day, we went back for lunch.

Between the my friend's house is a wooden deck that leads down to this common garden sandwiched between two rows of houses in the SOMA neighborhood of SF.
I love the city of Chicago and am finding more and more to love each day, but having been away from friends, family, and the familiar sights of California.

Missing friends and far-away lands, Jeff

Little Italy

2010-10-13T21:53:00.004-05:00

These shots are all from my recently purchased Lomo Fisheye2 35mm camera and exposed on ISO 200 Kodak Gold 35mm film. I took it for a stroll around my neighborhood earlier this summer and came up with these shots. This was my first roll of film shot with this camera so I'm still learning how to get the exposures just right but here are some of the better shots. What I love about Chicago is the many neighborhoods that make up the city grid.

This is the neighborhood cleaner next to my building. I can't get enough of the weathered and faded hand painted signs all around Chicago. While this building still houses a dry cleaner, many other buildings around the area tell decade old stories of an era past. Messages from old print house companies, auto body shops, and local goods manufacturers of the past, none of which ever intended for an audience two generations later, still remain like an unintended time capsule. I enjoy museums and their contributions to preserving culture, but you don't need a curator to get a glimpse of times past; you just need to get off your ass and take a look before the unremitting sun, rain, snow eventually blot these mementos out.

Here is the dome of a nearby cathedral I stopped under for respite from the sun.

Who knows how long this shop has been here. I can imagine, however, I would've been the type to run around the fountain to the left of this barber shop on a hot summer day while waiting for my mom to get out of her hair appointment.

The trees are bright golden yellow this week and quickly losing their plumage. It's about that time to break out the wool!

Lake Redstone, Wisconsin

2010-09-08T10:22:00.004-05:00

Time

2010-09-01T13:36:00.002-05:00

I'm a fan of hard work and being productive. I wouldn't be where I am now if that weren't the case. With increasing frequency, however, I find myself enjoying doing nothing at all. After a long day of at school, nothing is more gratifying than sitting on a deck with time ticking forward as the sun fades away.

Miesterpiece

2010-08-30T22:34:00.000-05:00

For words: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Crown Hall

Day & Night

2010-08-29T23:08:00.001-05:00

Pharaoah Campground, Shawnee National Forest

2010-06-25T23:15:00.000-05:00

Cloudhopping

2010-06-22T09:44:00.001-05:00

Big Sur Twilight

2010-03-19T00:25:00.009-05:00

I think my favorite time to look at the sky is during the evening twilight. It's like a slowly running movie before your eyes. The sky starts out a soft, calming blue. Not like baby blue, or ocean blue, but a distinctly sky blue blue. It then deepens as the low lying atmosphere, haze, clouds, all ripple around in a radiant display of brilliant white, the deepest oranges, and electric pink and violet. The blue extinguishes the other colors and takes over in the end lulling the birds, people, and car engines into an indiscriminate hum.

2009-09-18T01:38:00.000-05:00

Utah, who would've imagined?

2009-05-28T18:21:00.000-05:00

From Consistently Inconsistent

West of the Rockies

2009-05-20T10:24:00.001-05:00

From Drop Box

North Cove Marina Redux

2007-05-10T18:26:00.002-05:00

Bueno, Hannah?

Coffee on the Hudson

2007-05-03T04:22:00.001-05:00

I wouldn't have changed a thing: sitting out front at the North Cove Marina, custard in one hand, cup of illy in the other. Beyond the promenade runs the Hudson River, and down the river to the left, the lady stands stoic--in her regal patinaed gown.

Can't Really Complain

2007-04-28T03:46:00.001-05:00

Not that everything is going my way right now, or that anything significantly uplifting has happened to me (nope, still didn't win the lottery), but I feel contentment in the way things are now. That also isn't to say that there aren't any things I wouldn't change about where I am right now, but I'm alright with it at this instance. I still wish some things were different. I still wish some things would change. I just don't feel regret regarding whatever steps led me here. Even though things aren't progressing the way I had imagined just a year ago, I'm certain I'll be happy with the outcome. Not knowing whether your plans will fall through is deteriorating; the uncertainty wears away at your mind. As in the business world, adaptability is the key to survival. There's nary a situation so drastic that only allows for demoralized spirits.

I guess I've grown more optimistic in recent years. Maybe I'm getting old, but I think I'm starting to learn how to appreciate what I do have. I hate that I take certain things for granted, but I think I'm thankful for them more and more. Things I'm glad I have now are time, and fresh plans to fill it up with.

Since posts are almost worthless without pictures, I'll leave you with this--an artifact of the most important thing to do in life, smile for the ride (and pretend to be in a straw hut in Africa).

What a Wonderful World

2007-04-05T05:10:00.001-05:00

The two buskers were covering Louis Armstrong at the 42nd St. Times Sq. subway stop; one mirthfully rapping on steel drums, the other, absorbedly picking away at his guitar. While I waited for the uptown 1, I found my $2 well spent before I even stepped into a subway car.

Biography

2006-11-28T05:16:00.000-06:00

You're so money, you don't even know it

2006-10-13T04:42:00.000-05:00

I have been eyeing this lovely lady for the past few weeks since first spotting her sitting up front (4 rows up and 6 seats to the left) in the first lecture. Her hair fluttered in the wind (yes, even in the lecture hall), her vibrant eyes flickered in the lattice of her bangs. The room seemed to quiet and all light had begun to focus on her. This was it. The fulfillment of my dreams; find a cute girl in one of my classes with whom to exchange careless glances and timid advances. In my mind I already played out hours at the beach, dinners in dimly lit quaint joints, and fulfill our wanderlust for all things foreign and exotic.

She had always been occupied with the friends surrounding her and not once had I been able to catch her eye wandering. "Sitting next to a boy, eh?" Observation precluded any significance. Carefully chosen clothing on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I would carry myself confidently into class. On Tuesday I spotted her one seat away from an acquaintance of mine. Hurriedly I planted myself next to him, opposite her, and awaited the moment we would cross gazes, awkwardly catch ourselves, and fall in love. It happened—the crossing gazes—but none of my plans came to fruition. It was fleeting, but her visage was residually imprinted in my brain. I hoped, on every shiny penny I had, that her image of my face would be just as lingering. Until next time, pretty bunny.

Today my roommate called and told me that he was going to pass on the lecture. Something about no need for it but I had definitely thought of one good reason to go, so I did. I entered late (as usual) and surveyed the openings until I spotted her. She was sitting left of middle, clicking and typing away. Destiny herself had come down and saved a single seat for just me. I trotted down the steps, tiptoed my way past one empty seat, and squeezed myself between a more prominent gal and her (sigh). I didn't know what to say! I was completely dumbfounded at my good fortune that I had to search my mind, minutes on end, for a pick to break the ice. Trying hard to look relaxed, I casually looked up and began taking notes. "Weather's fine as usual, stupid coastal bubble." "Midterm's next Tuesday, just like the teacher announced a moment ago." She probably doesn't want to know my name that soon." And finally, a 5 minute window opened as the teacher announced a break. No more mental stewing; it was time to take action. "This could mark a new chapter in my life" I told myself as I slowly drew in a breath. And with that, I leaned over and wrote the first line.

"Nice computer."

Erasers

2006-10-07T01:23:00.000-05:00

I remember when I was young on the orientation day during elementary school, at some point, the class would all snake its way over to the school library, the distribution point for all the student books and gear. This was the best part of going back to school; peeking in that white drawstring bag filled with back to school goodies like pencils, rulers, pencil boxes, erasers, and even miniature dry-erase boards with complementary dry-eraseable marker. I don't know why everyone was so excited about looking into the bag, but I guess we weren't cool enough to be unenthusiastic about school just yet.

The earliest erasers included in the kit were these infamous pink pearl pictures. They were no better than the scouring rubbers on the tops of your everyday yellow pencil. It wasn't so much erasing as it was spreading carbon particles over the fibrous fuzz it lifted from the surface of the page. I was always a messy writer and my penmanship necessitated vigorous erasing. I just began to cross things out in the years to come. It did not help with the aesthetic appeal of my papers but was much easier and quicker. Efficiency. That habit continued as I switched to using pens in college. I certainly had a roll of white-out tape in my backpack but I wouldn't be bothered to reach down, unzip, grab, and drag. It was still too convenient for me to line-draw through errors and making perfectly black squares to black out text passed time quickly as I could not be expected to doodle any better than I could write letters. My transition back to pencils began with my increased coursework in science and math. I had begun to fill up three quarters of a page with scribbles and errors. I had to bust out the legit shit.

Drafting erasers. Now that's some impressive gear. They come at a premium but can always be counted on to efface the most stubborn of mistakes. It was like magic. So perfect is its effect that you can still see artifacts of your writing as indentations in the glossy glare of light off what seemed to be an unused portion of paper. The motion was smooth (unlike the sandy feel you get from other erasers) and the jacket, a wonderful shell to guide the pliable rubber. Perfect give and competent stiffness to glide gracefully accross the paper. But lets get back to the price.

At over $1.00 for each of these puppies while its unruly and ruddy cousin sits lonesome in a cardboard bin for less than half that, it might be tempting to relent to the spendthrift inside. Just remember that you spend $2.00 a day on a cup of coffee and stays hot for half an hour.

I have devised a new method to stretch that dollar and maximize eraser use. This is the culmination of my years thus far at one of Orange County's premier universities. If anything I may pass on to you all, let it be this technique.

You begin with your brand new eraser all clean edged and pristine. Now, pull out a sharp razor blade and slice it right down the middle. Of course you all are asking me why right now and trying to remember why you ever trusted me with your office equipment advice in the first place. Well, let me allay your fear and anger by bringing up something you've all abandoned past the age of six. The concept of continuity, in the psychological community, refers to the connection that young children often have problems understanding about the constancy of volume. If you split one cookie with a tightly gripped golfball a la Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes, you get MORE COOKIES! Well, you would if you were still five.

Now this concept is germane because the average lifespan of an eraser is usually limited by retainment time and not volume of polymerous compound. Just think of how many erasers you've found on the ground and how many you've lost in the stadium seating of your local lecture hall. With fold-away tables the size of half a piece of loose leaf lined paper, a blink to furious could knock a precariously placed eraser into the abyss of seats too close to your knees. I estimate that I lose an eraser, on average, at about 60% life left. Now, splitting erasers, although fractionally decreases the amount of erasing capacity (you still need to grip it somehow right?), can potentially double effective lifespan.

And if you don't end up losing your eraser half before you've erased it all away, well, kudos to you because that's just luck. Beginner's luck.

Change Clothes

2006-10-05T05:23:00.000-05:00

If any of you know me, you'll know that I never buy anything expensive and much less, even at full price. I don't know what it is about me, I just can't bring myself to do it. I think this all goes into my undeniable complex of trying to "stay ahead of the rest." My avoidance of all things MSRP is just my way of one-upping the already one-upped retailer. What this invariably means, however, is that I trod along life in my post-seasonal, loose-fitting trappings.

My wallet can't afford trendiness so seasonal wardrobe changes are unfamiliar to me. I wear the same clothes year round and rarely throw anything out. The last time I really tossed old clothing was two years ago when my parents moved to Diamond Bar. I was sorting through piles and piles of 7th grade polos and 12 year old hand-me-down khakis (the khakis, however, were tucked away, unworn). Even now, I still don't throw away clothing until it's seams are no longer intact. Now, I want it to be clear to all that I'm not striding around campus in the latest one-sized-fits-all promotional sportwear (I wouldn't even wear that swag to the gym). I'm also not tawdrily strutting around in imported NLKE kicks, Rolox piece under cuff, Donno Karan accross my ass, and imitation Cool Water wafting in tow.

I'm just a plainly dressed guy with blue jeans, t-shirts, and a handful of darker colored polos (I recently retired two horizontal-striped polos I purchased in 10th and 11th grade). Jeans get torn, jeans get replaced. Socks grow holes, socks get replaced. Jackets, however, almost never wear out. They're also the most expensive to buy. I have this black Gap jacket I got on sale in 10th grade for $25 that I still wear every winter. I never really liked the style but I've been wearing it for lack of anything better. It's white people medium (rather large) and hides my hands when I don't tighten the wrist velcro. I'll bet none of my girl friends even remembers what jackets they wore six years ago.

This year, my goal is to buy a jacket I actually like at the expense of submitting to the lure set by the retail monsters. The most expensive jacket I currently have (minus blazer) is a $40 Adidas track jacket I bought at some outlet store in the desert. I'm strengthening my resolve to drop over a bill on one item; encouragement gladly accepted. It'll be hard but I'll be happy (I'd better be or else I'm sticking to online catalogs and imagination for good).