Am I A Japanese Schoolgirl?
Hello, everyone!
Yes, it has been too long since my last blog post. I’m finally settled in Ubud, Bali, but not working for the NGO as originally planned (a long story, but definitely for the greater good). I’m currently rushing to meet submission deadlines for publication (more on this later). Also, the newly rewritten BeyondExposures.com site, complete with interactive galleries, has been launched!
*~ I just remembered I need to update the B.E. site as well: kyaaa ~*
I had the weirdest dream this afternoon (what is better than an afternoon nap after great warung food in a tropical paradise?hehehe), after watching the DVD “War Photographer”. My cloest friends know this DVD very well, as I’ve forced them all to see it at least once. It’s playing right now, yet again *LoL*
In the dream, I’m on my first International assignment, covering the stark and tragic misery of Kosovo. Several other notable photographers are there as well, listening to the United Nation advisor’s “can do” and “cannot do” lists for what may be photographed. I see James Nachtwey! Eeeeeee!
*~ You must understand. There are a few photographers I feel are truly elite: James Nachtwey, Eugene Richards, and James Whitlow Delano, are my favorites! ~*
Back to the dream: I see James Nachtwey. Before we are led in by the UN advisor, I go to James and introduce myself: “Hello, I’m Rodney Johnson, I’m a huge fan and have diligently studied your work blahblahblah …”
But soon in the dream I go on and on with praise to Nachtwey, gushing and squeeling like a Japanese schoolgirl in an Austin Powers movie! Even my accent turned Japanese and I was wearing a schoolgirl outfit, jumping up and down, holding on tight to my over-accessorized mobile phone. I was smiling so hard that my eyes closed to thin slits!
*~ If you have Chinese or Japanese friends, and have seen them laughing hard, you know their eyes disappear entirely hahaha: it’s cute actually! ~*
In a high-pitched-anime-girl-voice: “OMG! Mista Nachtwey! I so big fan! I … I eeeee! I so embarass! Eeeeeee! … I also shoot Canon! Eeeee!”. My Sailor Moon hair pompoms almost fall out, while my teddy bear backpack flops around.
*~ looking around in embarrassment: only tiny wall lizards are the witnesses ~*
Anyway. All is well. I’m alive here. I’m thinking of renting a motorcycle and taking a few days trip into deep Bali mountain areas. I will post images from bali shortly on the new BeyondExposures.com site. For now, back to the portfolio submission (and the War Photographer DVD, of course)!
Posted from BlackBerry
BE Informed, BE Updated, & BE Fed!…
BE Informed:
Yes, I’m still alive, even if just barely! Life is the same as in my previous post. Actually, I’m very depressed. My friends read my blog, and feel “he’s happy boy” but frankly, I hide a lot of my feelings, and choose to post just the the everyday things. But, I will be ok.
I just feel frustrated. I won’t go into the personal life issues, but they are on my mind (enough about those). My photographic life is eating at me. At the museum showing, only one photo was shown. The gallery rep said they wanted to use all of my photos in the museum, but they could not read the CD of image files to be printed, except for one file. The CD was made by someone else who was assisting me while I as traveling in Vietnam. The person meant well, but did not do a “verify” of the disc’s content, thus some data was not readable. It was an honest mistake.
*~ SCREAM! ~*
To make a long story short: I feel I should be much further to my photographic goals than I currently am. Worse, since I am out of work, I can’t afford to go out shooting as I wish! I have a photo project idea I really want to start, and it is a great project which requires no special access approvals, but I cant get to the areas I need, as I cant afford the transportation to get to the places! Maybe I should ask The Evil Twin for a lift, but she’s quite busy with a project of her own at the moment.
Some noted photographers have told me I’m on the right track, that my photographic work is wonderful, that it’s getting better and better, and just be patient (see below about Rodney and patience!) but I can’t help how I feel. I feel “stuck!” I feel I am losing valuable free time, while I am free from work. I’m going to be the greatest photographer of all time, damn it!
*~ Hmmm, Egotistic much, Rodney? hahaha ~*
But it is true, damn it! I will be one of the greatest, and I will join VII Photo! Anyone who knows me knows my stubbornness. And not reaching my goal at a faster pace is slowly building my frustration. And I am not sure what NGOs or other organizations to contact, or how to find them (trust me, Google is not the optimum way to do it; I’ve tried it). Anyway…
I’m still in the interviewing process for a Director of IT position at a major company here in Indonesia. This co also has a photojournalist internship program I am told I can join on a part time basis. Yes, it is not photography job, but it pays bills, and it is a place that will give me some unique access to places. It’s an diagonal step (not straight forward step) in the right direction. I’ve gone to several Interviews, and each time they say they like me, yet I’ve not been formally offered the position! I’m wondering how long should one wait before looking for something else? I want the job, but, I cant wait forever; I’m poor! A friend of mine is partly involved in the interviewing process. I’m wondering if I should give him a quick call or SMS tomorrow to ask “Hey there, How are things? I just wanted to check what’s the next step?” My last interview was Thursday (2 biz days ago) when I was told by the HR he’d give me a call. Should I?
*~ Patience is a virtue, but it’s not a strong Rodney trait! ~*
UPDATE: June 18, 2008
I got the job: well unofficially. I received information all managers and HR met, confirmed they all like me, feel I am a good fit, confirmed my credentials, and will hire me as soon as the Manager returns from a biz trip.
The job is managing the IT department for the organization, but I also have a unique opportunity to work with the photojournalists. Will be interesting to see how that works out.
Anyway…
BE Updated:
I’ve used my way-too-much free time creating new recipes and updating my professional photography website: Beyond Exposures. I’ve updated the site from version 1.0 to the new and improved v2.0!
This is a screen shot of the new front page:
In addition to all of the pages being updated, I REALLY revamped the Photo Essays and Galleries section using SmoothGallery Javascripts.
*~ In Human Language: I used a way cool scheme to show my galleries ~*
I had to really update the code a lot to get the hundreds of images to load in a sensible manner that would not suck the viewer’s bandwidth quotas dry. Additionally, I tried to incorporate everything to be read more easily than the original site, and make it a joy to see. But I really feel the photo essays and galleries work very neat!
*~ Does anyone say “Neat” anymore, besides Clark Kent? ~*
Screen Shot of the Photo Essays and Galleries Page:
Ok, enough about the new website design. Please do take a look at the site and tell me what you think of it! I hope u enjoy it!
*~ Special thanks to Yensi: you endured my grumpy mood and my “typical-Leo, domineering Yendor” side while helping me to beta-test the new site. I appreciate your help very much! I’m waiting to receive your invoice in email for your time and endurance!
BE Fed!:
Being poor and out of work means having to cook at home instead of eating out. Actually, I love to cook! When I was a teen, my Aunt (a master chef) really encouraged my parents to send me to formal chef school! I love to create new things and try new cooking ideas. One thing I love to do, yet rarely seen people in Asia do, is create flavored steamed rice. One thing I did was use the flavoring packets, oils and veggie packs that come with instant noodles, and added it to the water in the rice cooker. This infuses the rice with wonderful flavors! Bye bye, Nasi Putih! Say hello to:
*~ Rodney’s Super-Duper-So-Good-Will-Make-You-Stuper Rice! ~*
It tastes wonderful! Of course, you can add basically any sapi (soup) mix to the water, then cook the rice. you can then eat the rice as a side dish (it maintains its cohesive, stick-together, Asian nature) or can add it to the Wok for making the ultimate, the wonderfully tasty:
*~ Super-Duper-So-Good-Will-Make-You-Stuper FRIED Rice! ~*
Adding the flavoring packet to the water of rice is VERY different than adding that packet to instant noodles, because noodles is merely coated with it. while rice absorbs the flavors. As such, you can make 6 servings of flavored rice with just 1 (ONE) packet of seasoning! *~ Shock ~*
I was going to post a pic of the rice, but it was umm, uhhh, Eaten!
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for Today:
Nasi: Rice
Putih: WhiteEx: Saya sedang makan Ayam Goreng pakai Nasi Putih
(I am eating fried chicken with white/plain rice)
Take care! I’m ok, just depressed, very frustrated, but look at the pic at the top of my blog: I’m smiling with “V” fingers. (hmmm…)
A Working Holiday…
Intro
I’m writing this blog post very fast, as I am less than a few hours from deadline for submitting a portfolio (see below). I’m currently in Vietnam. I can say HCMC reminds me a lot of Banjarmasin, Kalimantan or Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in terms of the types of buildings they have, but with maybe 50% of the Jakarta’s traffic: most of HCMC’s traffic seems to be motorbikes. I can say the traffic is more organized than Jakarta’s, yet still harder for a pedestrian to cross the roads, as motorbikes are just a non-stop torrent, thus people almost cannot walk across roads. I’ve seen so many skinny people standing sideways balancing as if on a log, to avoid the motorcycles from hitting them as they pass just inches away in front and behind them! If I did that, I’d be a dead man!
*~ Yes, I know, lots of paradoxes today ~*
Traffic Example: It seems there is an HCMC unwritten rule on the main roads motorbikes will drive in the right lane, and cars in the left lane, crossing each other only when needed or turning (which is a horror to witness: turns!). Still, Jakarta has HCMC beat for overall traffic, but at least Jakartans can cross the road (albiet still dangerous to do so).
In Jakarta, the traffic is massive, swarming mass of cars and motorbikes, constantly weaving in and out of lanes (what lanes? they will drive 5 cars side by side on a 3 lane road!) while honking their horns for almost no reason (maybe it is a Jakartan Hobby?). In HCMC, the car horns are used much less, but when they do use them they honk Honk HONK even after passing what they were honking at!
Police are almost unseen in HCMC, while in Jakarta, they are everywhere and constantly pulling people over to elicit ‘fines’ from people. My friends say the fines happen most often around lunch time, as the police tend to pocket the money, and thus can use it to buy lunch hahaha. Also I noticed Lebaran holiday (when many go back to their home towns) is another time when Police are out in mass force to get every dime (or Rupiah) they can.
Now, turns, both Jakarta and HCMC are horrible with turns and circles! My God, why do people love circles sooooo much in S.E. Asia??? (well, I did not see that many in Thailand….) I must say circles are so dangerous a place. It’s impossible to walk, and forces all the cars and bikes (who are already driving illegally in and out of lanes in Jakarta especially) to be a big mass of 20 cars side by side. Jakarta has these huge circles, while HCMC have tiny ones, but still have this effect of 3 lanes of cars turning at the same time into 3 lanes of cars coming from the opposite direction, Add to this that not all cars are making a U-turn, but making an upside down L shaped left turn which now “croses” the onslaught of 3 lanses of cars coming from the opposite direction. *~ my god, headache thinking of it! ~*
Buildings here are not a modern as Jakarta. There are some very modern places, certainly, but I think HCMC is still behind Jakarta. If you’ve visited Jakarta, you know it is a mix of poverty and very modern. Here, the poverty is not as deep (I think) and the modern is not as modern hahaha.
The people are very very tiny! They find me to be amazing (given my chubby body). I visited my friend’s factory, where over 1000 people work. I felt like either a walking zoo exhibit, or a rock star, given the constant stares. I even was asked a few times to take pictures with them (maybe as proof they met a giant fat man). The people are quite friendly actually
I’ll post pictures next time, as I’m just too busy at this moment because of…
Work
So far I’ve seen some interesting places on my first day here, but the last 3 days have been spent doing the following:
- Updating my Photo Catalog in Adobe Lightroom
- Finalizing the prints and photo information for a photography contest that focuses on MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) in Indonesia
- Preparing (by 2 PM today, and it’s 11:00 AM already!) a portfolio of 60 photos to be submitted to VII Photo Agency (home of my Photography Gods). They have given a deadline of April 30 for my portfolio to be received in their New York office.
*~ Kyaaa, I must get the CD to Janet’s office staff so they can give to DHL! ~*
Holiday
Later this week, I’ll meet up with my buddy, Andrew, to take a quick 2-day tour of the Mekong Delta. He’s still finalizing the plan for it. This weekend, I am dragging Janet for shooting! She purchased the Canon 5D that I wanted weeks ago, but have yet to use it! OMG! How can she resist using it???? She says she must “read the manual first” *~ Shock~* hahahah
We’ll be heading to Cambodia for a week on April 30, where I plan to do the great majority of my shooting this holiday. I can’t wait for that. I’m doing a great deal of personal research for this part of the holiday. It will be a great time and effort.
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for Today:
Vietnam: Vietnam (hahaha)
Cambodia: Kamboja
Take care!