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Right Coast

New York

There are only so many destinations in this world that can designate a home in the hearts of so many individuals. Its even more rare to find yourself magically waking up in a hotel room placed in the center of it. New York city is one of those destinations that create a sense of opinion whenever recited in a public arena. People either love it, or they hate it...well, I loved it.

Recently I was positioned with the opportunity to fly to New York for a weekend to assist on a photo shoot for the magazine firm that I work for. I jumped on the chance and packed my bags. Along side the art director and the head photographer we took our game from the left coast to the right coast.

This being my first time in New York, I had all the stereotypical preconcieved notions of New Yorkers being huge assholes and pushy Yankee fans...needless to say, I left my Giants hat at home but not needed. New Yorkers are some of the nicest people I have met, some of the most genuine individuals that are alive simply because they want to live. New York first strikes you as the type of place where someone goes after a bad break up and wants to re-discover who they were before they submitted to the life of relationships. It is just a very free flowing city with lots of inspiration.

I spent 90% of the time walking the streets solo with a comforting playlist of Radiohead and Broken Bells. Camera in hand and hoodie tag teamed with my messenger bag. I soon realized that the Lower East Side was my favorite spot, definitely on the list of favorite spots ever. Reminded me a lot of San Francisco, youth debating with their inner demons on the street, smoking and drinking with their wayfarers. I found myself falling in love with the women who ride rusted old bikes while wearing heels and carring parcels of fresh cut flowers to their assumable tiny apartment, ah the fictitious romance our minds create.

I met up with some good friends while in the city, Kevin and his sweet digs overlooking the only tangible city lights. I never did shake Tania's (sp?) hand, from which I am still regretting, so deliver my apologies. Kevin your hospitality wont be forgotten, you will always have a place to stay in SF. To Spencer and Mackenzie, I appreciate your existence, two beautifully charming young ladies who still some how find a way to keep themselves grounded in a city so driven by floating above the rest. Thanks for a great dinner and a quite memorable bar experience you guys. Vanessa, there will be a next time...promise, and ill have a Moleskin addressed to your sister. To Josh, your family, always remember that...NYU is your home, hell New York is your home, you were meant to be there and no where else, suits you more perfectly than any block in Orange County ever will.

Alas I left the city that the Hova himself calls home with a craving to return to the Bay. San Francisco will continue to be my home and my inspiration.

Here are a few snaps from my 48hr journey.












PS: ill be moving to Tumblr like the rest of the world...

fART

Everyone is trying to be an artist and keep up with the trends, hell I know I am...sorta...I know my limits. But still, what people forget is that we are completely capable of multitasking our lives yet when do we call it to much, when do we realize that what we are doing is not so much progressing us, but digressing us. Why is it so hard for us to find one thing in life and do that one thing perfectly. In many respects doctors and lawyers have it the easiest. They have a set path, deviation is possible, but not willed. So what about the rest of us...the rest of us that are still yet to figure out what we want/have to do to make it in this world. Do we simply submit to what we view as safety or do we branch out into the wild world of self proclaimed happiness? As cliche as it is, is it even possible to find truth in our actions without convincing ourselves that we are doing it right...le sigh...(as I sit in class completely tuned out of what is going on simply because I just find anything going on valid for my minds interests...what a waste of their time I am)

"I've got a painting in my head, a deeper blue bled thicker red."
-Alkaline Trio

Wii is out of control...in a good way...yeah good way.

So here I am on Noriega doing my laundry at the beach laundromat (free wi-fi for those who cant remove themselves from their lappy such as I) Anyways so I found this article on Engadget about this spray can controller that Montana Inks is making. It looks legit. It would be something fun to do inside the confides of your house, cause tagging is sorta like going to the community swimming pool...no one wants to tag in the public when you cant swim...get it get it?...sigh...anywho this is def going to get a few young minds working and thinking about how to tag up some new walls. So props to you Montana for showing your worth and your dynamic thinking. Now all thats left is the virtual blunt, le sigh.

http://www.wiispray.com/


WiiSpray Teaser from Martin Lihs on Vimeo.

G-Hetto Studio on 42nd AVE...aka Home

So I recently procured a soft box from my old boss at the gallery and that spurred a photo project. I cleaned out part of our garage and zip tied the soft box to an old Ikea lamp then zip tied the lamp set up to the top of the garage. The backdrop I used was the headboard from my bed, so now I dont have a bed frame, but I have a black backdrop for headshots...ill most likely regret this later on. Then the girlfriend came over and we had a test run photo shoot. The results were actually really nice.

For those camera nerds out there...
Item List:
-Nikon D2x
-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 Macro
-120w true white house bulb
-Guiness Beer
-Bar of Dark Chocolate
-Two piles of wood

"Be thrifty, not covetous."
George Herbert

So...Why Photography?

As poetic as possible, there is a comforting feeling that one feels knowing that the capture of time means more than the actual moment of capture. It is seeing the world in color and shades of grey, it is seeing the mundane in a way that no one else understands. In many respects photographers are elitists with a soapbox on their back, always thinking that they are capturing a moment that is so momentous that others cannot even understand it. The honesty that photographs hold are only rivaled by the intensity of silence, the kind of silence that hovers around the casket of a strangers funeral. It is this honesty that I have fallen in love with. Perhaps that is why when I see a photograph that takes my breath away, it breaks down my every emotion, it is more powerful that just an image, it is a moment of reality no matter how beautiful or terrible it may be. I will never take photography as just a hobby or profession but my way of repaying my debt to humanity. So for all of you out there that wish to be swimsuit photographers or Victoria Secret photographers, it is a noble and worthy position but never forget the power of photography. Your passion behind the lens can capture the beautiful shape and aura of the female body, but you also have the power to capture all the truth in the world.

Here are a select few pieces of work by my hero’s...

Henri Cartier-Bresson

James Nachtwey

Ansel Adams

"It's weird that photographers spend years or even a whole lifetime, trying to capture moments that added together, don't even amount to a couple of hours."
-James Laropui Keivom

Dude...VIDEO POWER

So I wake up this morning, come downstairs to the kitchen and my brother is eating pizza and watching this movie I haven't seen in ages. It's called "The Wizard"...think about it hard...I know you know what movie it is...Here are some hints, Fred Savage...Jenny Lewis (aka Rilo Kiley)...no?...last clue the Nintendo Power Glove. Anyways it came out in 1989 and while watching this I remembered a game show from back in the day...VIDEO POWER. Mind you I was super young but I used to watch all the good shows like G.I. Joe and Mask and Transformers with the older brother. Anyways so the premise of VIDEO POWER is that two unassuming kids dolled up in neon STREET VISION WEAR (WHAAA!?) go head to head in video game challenges and the winner gets to run through a maze of video games, a shopping spree of sorts. Anyways, I found a clip of it...someone get rich and bring this shit back to prime time.

Video power game show 8


"Video Power skateboard, only one of its kind...until we get one tomorrow"(HA)