Update.

Due to life in general, we are taking a brief hiatus.
We will return on the 21st of April.

Yesterday 4.13.08

Kore
On Mine
On Her's
Em
On Mine
On Her's

Yesterday 4.12.08

Kore
On mine
On her's
Em
On mine
On her's

Yesterday 4.11.08 (it's a little late, oops!)

Kore
On mine
On her's
Em
On mine
On her's

Yesterday 4.10.08

Kore
On Mine
On Her's
Em
On Mine
This picture is actually, what I would consider a tried and true portrait of Charles. He is quite social Liberal, a vegetarian, pro-choice, supporter of the separation of church and state etc. But there is a distinct hatred of people and the state of this world that blasts through his personality like an atom bomb. The idea of the world blowing up around him, while he sits peacefully, eyes closed almost smiling, is not a far throw from reality.
On Her's
I would imagine that one was his and the other hers, that somehow a love story was being written between two baskets of laundry in this laundry-mart. They will be separated, whites, colors, then mixed, then folded to never see each other again. But for now, they are close and awaiting their cleansing. The colors are great as well.

Self Portrait

Kore
On mine
On her's
Em
On mine
I took this picture by setting up Charles' projector in the office and walking toward the camera while my camera was set on timer. I wanted to illustrate my longing to be in New York through a photograph. My struggle with my living situation can be directly attributed to how much I moved when I was a young child. I have never fully felt like I was a resident, living out of boxes, suitcases and always making and loosing friends. The only place I feel truly at home was in New York or in New York City. The only problem is, that I a still, in my own mind, there. I have not been able to completely remove myself from what I still consider my true home, and place myself fully, in San Diego. And in truth? I don't really want to.
On her's
I had chosen a similar picture to this one for a "Yesterday post". I think that Karina's affinity with water shows through in this picture. Maybe it's the Pices in her, or maybe it's just that she enjoys a good bath, but she looks comfortable, relaxed and strangely youthful in this photo. I love the contrast between that which is under the water and her not yet submerged face. Like part of her is hidden somewhere below the surface, we all conceal something. I await her description so I can learn further as to what this portrait portrays to her, of her.

Yesterday 4.8.08

Kore
On Mine
Andrew came home from his month and change in India. He went out to visit his now ex-girlfriend who is at school in Bangalore. He regaled us with tales of ear infection scams, possible typhoid, and bank robbery. The Kali statue that is sitting on his lap is the gift he brought home for me. I'm definitely thrilled that Andrew is back. Woot to the return of a close compatriot!
On Her's
I really like the texture in this shot. The grain of the black and white implies this creepy aged feeling that is fantastic. I think it's really funny that I immediately knew exactly where this in em's mama casa.
Em
On Mine
I suppose my last few pictures have been a little lazy. I took this picture bored at my mothers house. She has a bunch of antiques there from when we shipped my Grandmother out from NY. The empty chairs and the unused room where all of these things reside remind me that she is gone. My Grandmother was the matriarch of our small family, and although I had quite the troubled relationship for most of my life, toward the end of hers we mended many of those hurts. The darkness of this picture also lends to a nostalgic feeling that pairs well with the empty chair.
On Her's
I love Andrew's smile in this picture. Like usual, Karina gets some amazing candid shots of people. Andrew's goofy kind personality rings true in this photograph. At first glance, it looked like he was knitting in this picture, causing me to take a second look and clarify that he was, from my now studied perception, rolling a cigarette.

Yesterday 4.7.08

Kore
On Mine
On Monday I went to my Dad's house in Queens. I've been cleaning out my old room so my Dad can turn it into a guest room. Since we were all going to be together (my Dad, my sister, and me,) my Dad invited my Mother over to have a family discussion about tuition. My sister and I are both starting new schools in the fall; Miriam is going into her freshman year of college, and I am transferring. Seeing my parents in the same room together is always strange for me, though they have certainly gotten better about it. It used to be that putting them in the same space for an excess of 10 minutes would almost guarantee a fight(example: my H.S. graduation.) This discussion could've turned into a major trainwreck, but thankfully it didn't. I dont know if time truly heals all wounds, but at least the big gorey ones are bandaid secured.
On Her's
Doesn't Mojo look so regal in this photo? If this were a painting it could easily hang in London's National Gallery or in the Uffizi. Wonderful as Mojo is and seems, the thing that makes this photo for me is the flower peeking in through the frame. It's also fantastic that Mojo is looking directly at it, as if to see who his competition is for adoration in this photo.
Em
On Mine
I don't have too much to say about this picture as it was a snap shot of the pup. I love the yellow flower in the corner, and I agree with Karina that this could be quite the painting. Perhaps Mojo could find a new career as a dog model for art students! Most adorable dog ever!
On Her's
Karina's parents have always seemed like a mystery to me, until her mother became my dentist. They have quite the interesting family dichotomy, and I believe that one part of that is illustrated quite well in this picture. I love the circular composition of this picture, and you can tell that at least a few family members are photographers as they are seemingly unaffected by the person standing over them snapping this shot. What's great about that is that it lends to a real honesty in this candid photo.

Yesterday 4.6.08

Kore
On Mine
Yay bathtime! I've been trying to improve my self poratraiture skills lately, in conjunction with the upcoming Self-Portrait theme. This shoot resulted in almost 100 fabulous photos of yours truly. I decided to draw the line between those photos which I felt represented some aspect of myself (thus making them true self portraits,) and those which were just simply well taken photos of me. The self portraits are saved for the theme, and this was em's choice of the best of my "pretty me" photos.
On Her's
This photo looks like something straight out of Gourmet magazine, or any other prestigious foodie publication. Everytime I look at this photo, It makes me hungry. On a purely visceral level, I adore the arc created by the placement of the food. It leads the eye to more and more delicious delights! ok now I really need to eat something...
Em
On Mine
Well. Charles and I both love to cook, and my mother loves when we cook for her. We spent a lot of the day watching Food Network and later Charles mentioned that he really wanted to eat polenta for dinner. We ran out to the store after agreeing that I would cook and grabbed pre-made polenta and honey for the two parts of the recipe I needed. (If you would like to give it a shot go here!) I was very proud of the taste tangy, sweet and savory! Good texture to me as well. The spinach was crispy as it only wilts a bit from the heat, the goat cheese was creamy and the polenta was, well, polenta-y! On top of all of that it LOOKED good! I thought it was so colorful and vibrant that I snapped a picture!
On Her's
I am not really sure if words can describe how much I love this picture. Karina looks straight out of some fantasy novel, ethereal and nymph like. She could be gliding through the water or floating past the photographer suspended in the air (of course we all know she is the photographer lol). Tendrils of hair purposely kiss her lightly pursed lips. Very evocative. You can't see her eyes which gives this photograph the feeling that this window contains only a brief glimpse into a singular moment of the subject. I don't think I can go on any more about this one, I could just simply dote on this picture for a few more paragraphs, but I am sure that my adoration would get sickening. So yes, big fan of this portrait of Karina.

Yesterday 4.5.08

Kore
On Mine
Bill and I met Luis and Travis for a drink at Lucky's. It was good times, though Bill and I weren't there for very long. After almost two years of living in Park Slope, I think its safe to say that Lucky 13's is my local watering hole. A 711 opened just down the street recently, which leads me to believe that they opened it solely to assist in regaining sobriety post-Lucky's. I cannot wait to bring em and Chaz there when they visit. In fact, I think about that every time I go.
On Her's
The road to Julian is so gorgeous! This photo looks like a film still from an old western. The gnarled branches and the cross, against the mountainous California sprawl give off this feeling of endless barren that I adore. I keep expecting John Wayne to swagger through the frame.
Em
On Mine
Charles and I took a drive up to Julian in East County, a popular tourist destination. I am not sure why the actual town is a tourist trap, there are no historical places to visit, no museums no nothing! Just pies and shops for old ladys who like cats and hippy clothing. However, the surrounding scenery is absoloutly stunning. On the way there, we drove up he 78, detoured through orange farm country because the road was closed. We actually found A CAMEL FARM! Once we arrived we decided to drive out a different way, the same way that Karina, Bill and myself drove the first time I went up there. The drive down is far more beautiful. The rolling hills home rows of burnt oak and regrowing shrubs. We stopped at a vantage point (vista points they are called here) and found a row of crosses looking out on a mural of purple and green flowing hills as far as the horizon gave up. The clawed branches reaching toward the cross and out toward the sky were doleful and wanting, inspiring me to take this photograph. I don't know why the crosses were there, but those along with the recent wreckage that the Southern California wild fires caused, I felt that this picture was quite symbolic of the mood in the surrounding areas of Julian.
On Hers
I love Lucky's. Every time I see a picture of that bar I can almost feel myself standing outside with Karina and Bill smoking a cigarette, drinks left abandoned at one of the small tables in the dimly lit establishment. There is something so endearing about neon nights, basement grate doors and little sandwich boards outside of a bar for me. It's so New York that it hurts my brain. Bill is standing smoking a cigarette, I can only assume first two fingers pressed on the top of his smoke and thumb pinching the butt together. Everyone has unique ways of smoking a cigarette, but Bill has always had a very distinct habit. This is totally a photo of "your local bar, your local hang out, where everybody knows your name."

Yesterday 4.4.08

Kore
On mine
Bill and I spent Friday at his parents' house in Westchester. When we stay there, we sleep in what used to be Bill's room. His parents turned it into a guest room when Bill moved in with me. They changed the furniture, repainted, and basically removed any evidence that Bill ever lived there, save for the old speakers that are now used as bed tables. The new bed is on wheels, and I'm told that whenever Bill sleeps there he has to be extra careful to not knock things off of the bedposts. Apparently, the giraffe statue constantly falls on his head. Knowing this, I thought it was hilarious to find the giraffe nestled so comfortably on the pillow. Maybe the giraffe just wants some shuteye of his own.
On her's
This monkey is so statuesque. I really like how she's peacefully smiling. The angles in this photo are amazing. Looking at this photo, I can totally see the ape-human link. It may be simple projection, but to me she seems to be in a deep contemplation. I'm also a big fan of the contrast between the rich brown/black of the monkey against the dry beige of the rocks.
Em
On mine
Charles and I headed off to the Wild Animal Park in North County. Having a membership to the zoo's in San Diego has been something that has not been taken for granted in my relationship with my mother or Charles. My mom and I will go to the zoo or the park and walk for a few hours, stopping by our favorite exhibits, Charles and I will have mini dates. One of my favorite memories from Karina's first visit to San Diego was going to the zoo with her and drinking Margaritas. So I would say that the zoo is a very important place to me when it comes to my life in San Diego. I am more familiar with the Zoo because of this, so going to the Wild Animal park is always a bit of an adventure. We arrived relatively late in the day so we missed the bus that shuttles you around the park, and instead opted to wander around aimlessly. There are a few more pictures of my park day here if you are at all interested! Charles and I really like the gorillas and they happened to be scaling the rocks in the front of their enclosure. I snapped this pic of one of the females after realizing that magically my digital zoom had begun working again!
On her's
I suppose that subconsciously I chose this picture because it evoked images of a resort in Africa, netted beds and landscapes of dusty savanna plains. This picture is comforting and warm. Everything about this picture is soft, the lighting and the colors. I can just imagine taking a mid day nap in this scene.

Yesterday 4.3.08

Kore
On Mine
Luis again! This time with many faces. I love the hallucinogenic blur, and the distict stages of movement in his face and arms. Its as if I caught a second, between animated explanations, wherein Luis' soul attempted to jump ship and evaporate into collective conciousness. Good thing it didnt succeed. I'd be sad without my bunkie Cyclona.
On Her's
Truly, I cannot resist a piggie face. That said, I did not choose this photo because it features a porcine companion. I love the sharpness of his snout. How you can see each and every whisker of his mustache. I also really like how the black pig is juxtaposed against the white, grey, and parched yellow of his cage. I so desperatly want to reach into this photo and feed this guy some oats, probably a sign that I need to stop staring at his face.
Em
On Mine
Charles and I drove my mother up to her friend's house in Orange county so that she could go to Yosemite. The boy and I decided that since San Juan Capistrano was right down the street we would go to the Mission there and investigate, you know do some touristy stuff. So we hung out at the mission and museum and took pictures. We walked around the local streets and visited the antique shops. Grabbing a map we decided to go to the O'Neill Museum (Charles' last name) and check out the history. Interesting, but not as Irish as we had suspected we walked along the side streets some more and found a petting zoo with bunnies, alpaca, emus, cows, chickens and most importantly pigs. We did not go in but we did get to see some of the animals. This pig was quite friendly and incredibly adorable! To see the rest of the pictures go here.
On Her's
I love the motion in this picture, how animated Luis looks. The colors, like usual are just amazing. The last time I was at Karina's house I was in shock at the bright green of the walls. Well, it was the first time I was there, so second to last time. But anyway I am truly confusing the issue. So Karina's pictures are just perfect, especially her candid portraits. I know that I recently chose another picture of Luis as her picture for the day, but well, he is just so all over the place, so dramatic and not to reiterate, but animated, that his pictures tend to be quite captivating.

Yesterday 4.2.08

Kore
On Mine
So this is what people see when they walk into the Rhonda Schaller Studio on a Wednesday afternoon. I'm setting up a database for their ArtLink network. I spent most of my day entering the information in that binder to my left into it. When I'm at work, I drink tea all day. Rhonda is a fellow tea enthusiast which just makes me like her more. Self-portraiture isn't my forte, but I'm definitely trying to improve. I'm also really partial to portraits where part of the face is out of the frame...
On Her's
...So is anyone surprised that I chose this photo? I love it. Maybe this is just nitpicking, but given all the photos I've taken of em I really adore the way she holds a glass. Every photo I can think of where she does this, she emits this elegance that hits you in the face. Em's elegance hits hard. Ouchie.
Em
On Mine
Whoa. So apparently the wondertwin brain power is syncing up again. Apparently we just have this ability to take very similar pictures or pictures with very similar themes. Anyway, I took this picture while Charles and I were sitting outside my mother's house. I have always been comfortable hanging out on my mom's porch in the sunlight with a glass of wine and a book, only this time Charles had the book and I had the wine.
On Her's
Ah, once again the studio Karina works in serves for a wonderful backdrop for pictures that she takes. I love the large amount of white blank space going on in this picture, and I can't help finding it amusing that Karina, me and Charles are all facing the same direction. Spooky!

Yesterday 4.1.08

Kore
On Mine
Luis and I went to our friend Tamarra's opening. It was a beautiful day. We were waiting for the F train just as the sun was beginning to set. When this happens in NYC on such a clear day, everything gets covered in a gold glaze. It's similar to what happens when the sun is just about to come up, though in that case everything looks silvery (my favourite.) As I took this photo, Luis was singing along to the M.I.A. CD I made him. As a result, his hands are my favourite part of this photo.
On Her's
This photo is so creepy! The headless figure reminds me of a ghost from ages passed. I love how crisp everything is. There is an overwhelming feeling of age in this photo, like a crumbling piece of ancient paper. This photo begs the question, "Who does that hat belong to?" Maybe I don't want to know...
Em
On Mine
Charles and I spent a few hours walking around Old Town which is about ten minutes away from our apartment. There were a ton of opportunity's to take pictures. Old Town is a vibrant tourist trap so there were a lot of displays on the porches of the Old Western store fronts and window settings in the more modern shops. I liked this particular display because well, I am a huge fan of fancy hats and nice gloves and I love the lace on the shawl of the mannequin.
On Her's
As I have mentioned before I am a huge fan of Kore's portraits. Candide portraits to be more specific. Luis looks like he is waiting patiently for the train, but at the same time you can see the impatience in his hands tapping on his knees. The light is also beautiful in this shot accentuating Luis skin tone and casting amazing shadows all over this photo.

Architecture

Kore
On Mine
I took this photo out of a window in the Aperture Gallery's limited edition prints room. The light was coming in so perfectly I had to snap it up. Architecture for me is all about math and angles. This photo depicts the three stages of Architecture from foreground to backround. The window frame creates a grid, the basis of all blueprints. In front of the window are the bricks which get built into buildings. The skyline in the background is like the culmination of both these efforts. I really love this photo. The dry yellow in contrast with the vibrant blue give off a very summery feel. Maybe I'm just wishing for the warm a little too hard.
On Her's
In keeping with my statement about angles and architecture, is it really surprising that I chose this photo? The lines are so dynamic and strong. The colors back up this strength with great voracity.
Em
On Mine
This is a picture of the Horton Grand Hotel, a Victorian style building nestled in the heart of the Gaslamp district in downtown San Diego. I only option I really had for a good shot of it was a straight up shot of the front face of the structure. I was attracted to the colors of the building and intricacy's of the white metal patio gates. The building a mix of two different older hotels and has an interesting history which you can read about here.
On Her's
The diaphanous blinds give you a brief glimpse of the Manhattan skyline, which holds some of the most amazing architecture in the country. The window, itself, is also part of the architecture in the inside of this apartment. The muted colors and distorted view of the city are almost uncomfortable and once again seem to show Kore's distaste with the messy state of New York living, and was also part of why I chose this picture.

Yesterday 3.30.08

Kore
On Mine
I've been making tea muffins alot recently, but switching up the kind of tea I use to change the flavor. For this batch, I used Celestial Seasonings' Sugar Plum Spice tea and let me tell you, these muffins were amazing. Its really great, because I have way too much tea that I'm not a fan of drinking but taste fantastic in a muffin. I think the next batch I make will go back to the original Earl Gray recipie, but I'm going to halve the white chocolate and replace it with dried cranberries. Delicious!
On Her's
This photo is so sweet it kind of makes me want to purge the contents of my stomach. Now that I'm thinking about it, Mojo and Mama de em share lots of positive qualities. They're both fun, kind, loyal, caring, and goofballs. I remember when em was still in NYC, how badly she wanted Mojo to have a place where he could run free and play whenever he wanted. Its so wonderful that now he has that.
Em
On Mine
My mother decided a long time ago that she was adopting my dog Mojo. He occasionally spends the night at her house and is very sad when he comes back to my house. It's not me or Charles, but the fact that she spoils him rotten and he has a huge backyard to run around in. You can tell how much she loves him in this photo. She is cradling him in her arms like a baby and giving him kisses. I was on the opposite end of the dog, the ass end, as this is what normally happens when he gets up on the couch. I also really like this picture of my mom because as the first picture of her in this blog, I feel that it shows her warmth and goofiness at the same time.
On Her's
I was not totally sure what this was when I first saw this picture. I really liked the brown/white/black contrast of the picture, and the texture of the mystery white powder. I finally figured out that this was flour etc, probably a muffin mix.

Yesterday 3.29.08

Kore
On Mine
Laurie and I went on a art fag expedition to a bunch of Chelsea galleries. I saw this on a staircase wall and couldn't resist. The words were scrawled in lipstick. I was instantly attracted to the blocks of color, and the text is pretty appropriate.
On Her's
This photo is so amazing. I love how rich the colors are. The whole thing seems damp to me, which is totally fitting to the scene. The sax player is the coolest guy ever. He almost looks like a statue. Or, I suppose, a zombie out of The Forbidden Zone.
Em
On mine
Charles and I went over to Balboa Park to take a walk and shoot some pictures. As we were leaving I heard tremendously loud Sax and I turned around and spotted this guy. I took a few pictures of him, and really, he kind of looked like a zombie. I liked how the colors turned out in this picture, especially the brightness of the orange lights from across the street. They almost seem like eyes watching me, Charles and the musician.
On her's
I chose this picture because I thought the colors were great and I can't help but like what the graffiti says. It's a fairly simple shot, but sometimes those simple shots have more of an impact to someones eye that you would imagine as the photographer.

Yesterday 3.28.08

Kore
On Mine
On Friday, I went to my the opening of my sister's senior show. She goes LaGuardia High School, where I spent my first two years of H.S. It was the first time I'd been there since I was 16. Soon after I arrived, I recruited Miriam into accompanying me on my roundabout tour of youthful nostalgia. This photo was taken from the back stall of the now infamous 7th floor bathroom. These stalls offered my compatriots and I refuge from the doldrums and general lameitudes of early high school life. We would cut class, hide from security guards, smoke cigarettes, and talk for hours about absolutely nothing. As much as I hated it then, and despite how complicated my choices made the period which followed, I look back on those days with a great fondness. In some ways, I was more alive then than at any other time that I can remember.
On Her's
I'm definitely not a dog person, but Mojo is the greatest dog to ever live. The juxtaposed angles of Mojo's legs are amazing. The light from the window adds to the stretchy-sleepy feeling that, for me, is so evident in this photo. Now that I know that the black is Charles' shirt, the photo is made even more sentimental. Its as if Mojo is giving his pal a friendly pat on the back.
Em
On Mine
Mojo is just a red fuzzy ball of love. He's warm and affectionate, but loves to be in the way. Getting up on the couch while Charles is trying to do something is his forte. He always wants to be near either me or Charles all the time. So, during this picture, Mojo had situated himself behind Charles so that he could not lean back on the couch. But he made up for it with a light back massage.
On Her's
Aww siblings. I loved this picture because so often you turn around and suddenly you see a different person walking in or out of a door. I have never actually met Karina's sister but I have seen pictures. When she was showing me the pictures for the 28th, all from her sister's art show, I was in shock at how much older she had gotten. This photo is apparently from the bathroom of Karina's old high school, and it's an interesting feeling that you get walking through your old haunts from when you were younger. That fleeting nostalgia is really captured here.

Yesterday 3.27.08

Kore
On Mine
To say that Bill loves audio equipment is a vast understatement. He sells high end hi-fi all day and then comes home a relaxes to the workings of his snazzy stereo system. Last night, Bill met some friends at Lucky 13's and brought them home with him. Upon being asked about his record player, he proceeded to dismantle the thing in explanation of exactly how it works. This went on for about an hour. Bill gets very much into his detailed descriptions of those wires and blinkie lights he loves so much.
On Her's
To me, this photo looks like it belongs in a comic book. I love how it almost looks painted. The way Charles is sitting on the rack, especially the positioning of his legs, seems very whimsical to me. I know I keep choosing photos of Charles, and maybe you, dear reader, are tired of seeing his face. To that I counter that em takes amazing photos of her love, and you should all be happy to see so many different faces of the great and powerful Chazwell.
Em
On Mine
I do take a lot of pictures of Charles it's true. I liked this picture because him and my mother were currently immersed in a powerful discussion on religion. Charles is a staunch atheist and my mother is a Christian, yet extremaly open minded. As you can see, it was a relaxed conversation. I only wish I had a picture of my mom, flailing her arms to pair with this.
On Her's
I think that once again our wondertwin brain powers matched up again. I love this picture of Bill, it's pseudo vintage looking and well, Bill is straight out of a page of the past. I like the way he is holding the record, my eye zoned in on that right away. I don't know who the other person it though, but it looks like Bill is probably explaining something from his vast knowledge of audio equipment.

Yesterday 3.26.08

Kore
On Mine
This is a hallway in the Building where I work. One of the cool things about working at the Rhonda Schaller Studio is that its in a building filled with other galleries. My favourite gallery in all of NYC, the Aperture Gallery, is just downstairs from me. Sometimes, when I'm walking around the building, I try and imagine what it was like to be there when it was still all factories. Probably not great, but it definitely leaves an impression. EDIT: em is telling me I need to link to a larger version, because apparently this photo is "raaaaaaad."
On Her's
Whee perspective is fun!
Em
On Mine
I shot this picture attempting to illustrate how low we keep our speakers in contrast to the loud ass jerk neighbor. However, the picture I liked the best did not have the volume dial in focus, so here, is a perspective shot of Charles' receiver (a gift from my mom).
On Her's
Me, my mother and Charles were sitting in front of the computer when Karina sent me her three photos for the day. Each one of us gasped when we saw this one. It was the first that came up on screen and it was surely the favorite of the group. Maybe it was group think, but Charles loved the distortion caused by the large rug, I loved the stark contrast of the white back walls to the closer (wood?) wall where the door is located and my mother was awed at the brilliance of colors and the effect of the light streaming in through the back window. Another great picture.

Yesterday 3.25.08

Kore
On Mine
Its very strange to me that, since em and I have started this blog, I've been taking so many non-portrait photos. I used to think that the only things I could photograph effectively were people, though now I'm starting to disbelieve that. This photo was taken on 17th street, on my way to the grocery store. The crosses pictured in this post are still up. They're a few houses down the hill from where I was standing. And yes, they still inspire giggles everytime I see them.
On Her's
Jack and I have a weird relationship. We used to not be friends at all. This was due to his constant attempts at attacking me, much like a ninja. It all began when em was still living in her one bedroom in Astoria. I had a huge duffel bag filled with clothes (when upright, the bag is almost as tall as me) which em and I were going to use for picture-taking-dress up. The bag was angled diagonally on top of em's bed. I was digging through the bag, when suddenly I felt something sharp against my hand. I let go as the bag fell backwards, and realized that Jack was attempting to scale the bag, probably in an effort to claw my eyes out. The last time I was in SD, Jack was really nice to me. Maybe he's left his ninja-ing days behind. So now I guess we're friends. Or are we?
Em
On Mine
Jack has always been a pretty photogenic cat. I found him lounging on top of a foam mattress topper in the living room right in front of a large painting of a fish that me and my little cousin are working on. I just thought it was cute the whole cat/fish relationship. This time, the fish is huge and ominous whereas jack is tiny in comparison. I have also been spending a lot of time at home, so I suppose you should all see pictures of things other than Charles and myself.
On Her's
This street photo really made me miss New York. A lot. I guess that there was some emotion behind me choosing this picture for the diptych. Those brownstones are just so incredibly Brooklyn to me that I just wanted to be there walking up the street with her. The sidewalk looks like it goes on forever and just kinda sputters out on the horizon.

Yesterday 3.23.08

Kore
On Mine
I went to Bill's parents house in Westchester for Easter dinner. Bill's parents and I have a strained relationship at best, and the experience was... complicated. But it gave me a lot of time to be outside and take photos in a different landscape, which was really fun. I took this photo at night (obviously) with a long exposure. As soon as the sun went down, I knew I wanted to take some night shots. I didn't have a tripod, so I had to stack my zippo on top of a pack of cigarettes which rested on the stone path to the front door. I balanced the tip of the lens against the edge of my pile and hoped for 15 seconds of stillness. I'm fairly certain that the camera picked up many more stars than my eye did. To see it full size, click here.
On Her's
I really like this photo. It just seems so real to me. I can easily imagine walking in on this scene. I love how warm all the colors feel, in contrast with the stark shadows. I wonder if Charles is looking at our blog, as hes been known to do on occasion. Or just pictures of dead babies. Maybe both, at the same time!
Em
On Mine
Mine seemed to put me in a bit of a funk yesterday. I mean, this is pretty much a picture of what I do every day, thank god for the boy in the picture. I kinda wish that my house was as warm and inviting as it looks in this picture, I would not have as big of an issue being couped up in it all the time.
On Her's
I am in love with this picture. And yesI would marry it. I love the brightness of the lights in the house from the long exposure. It looks like an advertisement for a forest resort or retreat. The composition is also awesome, the trees going from smaller to larger, from background to foreground lends to a great depth to this picture. Almost makes me miss Westchester!

Red

Kore
On Mine
Somehow all three of my Red pictures ended up being from nightclubs. I love disco balls. I love them so much that I have one hanging over my bed. I took this photo at Home Sweet Home, a venue with an excessively low ceiling. In fact, I knocked my hand on that disco ball several times throughout the night. Nightclubs always use light to extreme effects. The environment is created due partially to the combination of a dark dance floor and bright lights. My favourite thing about this picture is the red squares reflected on the ceiling. From eye level, the red squares cover the entire room.
On Her's
This was definitely my hardest choice yet. I was stuck between choosing the thematic best versus the compositionally best. Ultimately, I went with theme. The red in this photo is integral to its message. If all the red was taken out and replaced with another color, this photo would be entirely different. There is something about the urgency of red that speaks so much to a child's desire for 25 cent toys. The red is bright, shiny, and disorienting. It grabs your attention immediately, until all you can think about is how badly you need a plastic ring, toy soldier, or sticker for your social studies notebook.
Em
On Mine
There is a bodega type store up the street from where I live. I go get stoges there pretty often and the guy who works there always stores up a few Parliament light buy one get one frees for me. I shot this gumball machine next to the door and was planning on using it for one of my "yesterday" photos, but then my brain kicked in and I realized that it was perfect as a red themed picture.
On Her's
Ah, disco balls. If anything screams class it's a disco ball. But really, I liked the effect of the red light on the ball surrounded by darkness. It makes the color the most important part of the picture for me.

Yesterday 3.22.08

Kore
On Mine
Last night was crazy, in a way that reaffirmed my desire to get the hell out of here. This photo has nothing to do with that though, so ill just leave it at that. I took it at Lucky 13, a metal bar a few blocks from my apartment. I think its like a visual manifestation of beer goggles. I love the effect of looking half through the pint glass.
On Her's
I think em takes incredible posed portraits. Charles oozes cool through the frame. Its contrasty and dramatic and I love it. Somehow, em always knows exactly what to tell you to do to make you look fabulous. I especially like how the black of his tattoos looks against the white of his beater.
Em
On Mine
Kore and I used to get bored a lot in NY and take pictures. Not just candid pictures, but silly dressed up, make up-ed pictures. I think everyone does this. But the results were most often surprising and became some of my favorite photographs of mine and hers. I have not had the chance to take pictures like this since I moved from NY, so when Charles said he was fine with me fiddling around and snapping some slightly more posed shots of him I jumped at the chance. I love when he has this slightly 50's era look, the pork pie, beater, studded belt and boot cut cuffed pants over a pair of jump boots. I wanted to create a more timeless feel to this photo while still retaining a bit of a candid look. I suppose the reality also is that I just wanted to take a sexy picture of my boyfriend. I tend to take darker pictures with dramatic lighting when I go through the trouble. I am happy with the result.
On Her's
I think that we both see our boyfriends as these amazingly wonderful, beautiful creatures that should be constantly documented. I remember Bill being slightly hesitant about getting his picture taken when they first started dating. It seems as though this aversion to having his soul stolen has lessened greatly, which is awesome because Karina's pictures of Bill tend to be amazing. I think it's because she tries to capture him how she sees him, in all his wonderfulness.

Yesterday 3.21.08

Kore
On Mine
Ben and I went out dancing last night. We went to Trash! at Home Sweet Home and The Ruff Club at The Annex, both on the LES. I've been going to nightclubs since way before I was legal to enter them. Sometimes I just get that itch, meaning that its time for me to dance under the heat of blaring lights and booming bass. I took this photo at The Annex, from the upper level which looks down on the first floor.
On Her's
The thing I like the most about this photo is the Charles in the corner. The curve of his wrist seems in perfect balance with his upturned profile. The smoke he's blowing gives the photo a real depth and mood. This is another one of those photos that makes me feel like I'm there, smoking stoges with friends in the parking lot.
Em
On Mine
I chilled at Raeven's house last night, it was chill though sometimes my brain does stupid things. Hiding behind a camera always helps and I shot a few pictures I liked of the people who were there. Again, this is a picture of Raeven and Charles. I really like the fact that Charles is in focus and Raeven is a little out of focus, it adds a little more depth to the picture for me. Damn her for leaving soon! She's giving me so many pictures!!!
On Her's
I really liked the way the black frames this picture. I really miss going out and dancing, so I suppose there was a little bit of jealousy there for me! Karina is good at taking pictures at clubs, where as I get so freakin confused and buzzed that I can't pay attention long enough to get a good picture. So kudos to you woman!

Yesterday 3.20.08

Kore
On Mine
Being as yesterday was the first day of spring, I took a lot of photos of my fire escape garden. The pots and plants are just starting to sprout green (even though they're mostly weeds that must be pulled) and the sun was shining in that way it only seems to shine at the break of spring. The photo above is of my downstairs neighbor's backyard, shot from out my kitchen window. I thought the bright green eating into the white and gray of the concrete was exactly like the winter-to-spring transition I've (happily) been seeing in the last week or so. I'm really excited to start planting again. Its so nice to have fresh herbs and veggies whenever you want them!
On Her's
I love the texture of this shot. Its like you can reach into the frame and feel the crinkles of the paper and the smooth tape around it. I also really like how graphic and bright the colors are, passing along a sense of urgency. Secretly, I hope someone sees this poster on our blog and it helps them find the missing pup.
Em
On Mine
Every time I take my dog for a walk up Elm Street I see a new missing dog sign up. It makes me sad that people so easily loose their dogs around this neighborhood. I remember being little and our dog Setka would run away on a semi-consistent basis. We would put signs up EVERYWHERE and be so frightened that we would never see him again. We would always find him, but still the idea of these little animals having so much impact on someones life. I see these and I know that that person is freaking out about their dog, and I always hope that suddenly, immediately after seeing the sign, their dog will run out of a bush and I will victoriously bring the puppy home to it's owners. This, does not really ever happen.
On Her's
Oddly enough, (well when living in wondertwin land, these things just stop seeming odd) during this dog walk yesterday I was thinking about how in California, spring rips out of the ground, bears it's teeth and shoots burning hot rays of sun down on your back. In New York, as is shown in this picture, spring is more covert. You know it's coming, and the beginning is filled with mud and rain. But you can see little green shoots sticking out everywhere, flowers begin to bloom, they don't just, explode in color around you. I chose this picture because I felt as though the contrast between the pavement and the natural earth was very telling of this creeping spring. I liked the composition a lot as well as the colors and texture of the photo.

Yesterday 3.19.08

Kore
On Mine
Behold my Bilfus! Bill wasn't feeling well, so he called in sick to work. THIS NEVER HAPPENS. Bill is the kinda guy who would go to work even if his legs just got chopped off. I'm a very light sleeper, so I always wake up when Bill gets ready to go to work. This picture really captured that first 20 minutes of every day, the fuzzy sleepy warmness that we both start our days with.
On Her's
I love how alive this photo is. Raeven has an amazing smile. Hamilton's is a really fun bar, and I have some really nice memories associated with it. I'm finding that more and more of em's pics are doing that for me. I look at this picture, as well as many others I've chosen, and I feel like I'm there. In a wierd way, I feel like I'm living a pseudolife with em, and she is with me, just by the constant updating of this blog.
Em
On Mine
Charles' best friend Raeven is going on vacation and then moving to Vegas, so we have been trying to see her more than usual. Both her and Charles are bad at making plans, but she has been down in San Diego (she lives about a half an hour a way) hanging out with a friend of hers, so they decided to meet us at the bar down the street. THEY SERVE FOOD NOW! It's not bad bar food. Anyway, Charles and Rae were at one point sharing some secret best friend thing and I snapped this pic. I loved that it shows that Charles really makes Raeven laugh and that they are super close. They are a funny pairing and I definitely enjoy getting my drink on with the two of them.
On Her's
Oh man. This was a really hard choice as far as the three pictures that Kore took. I loved two of them so much (the other was a picture of just Bill) that I had to just go with my gut instinct. Kore looks so soft in this picture, if you knew her like I did you would know that as much as she can be a hard edged, NYC, firecrackin, bad ass girl, there is also a really genuinely sweet vulnerable side. This picture shows that side to me, it's a snapshot into a more intimate moment of her life. The black and white and soft lighting highlights this horribly adorable moment.

Yesterday: 3.17.08

Kore
On Mine
Bill, Luis, and I went to Eagle Provisions to buy beer for St.Patrick's day. Eagle Provisions has the largest beer section I've ever seen in a grocery store in my life. Their beer section is larger than the entirety of my apartment. Bill is a proud beer nerd, and seeing him go through the isles of obscure brews is really like watching a kid in a candy store. I bought some Dogfishhead ApriHop, Rogue's Shakespeare Stout, and Stone's Double Bastard. They were all exquisite.
Oh Her's
I'm a sucker for skulls. I really like the perspective in this shot. The camera is so close in that you can see the texture of the ashtray. The effect gives a gritty-starkness that I love. I also like how much the skull looks like a Neanderthal Skeletor.
Em
On Mine
I had a rather subdued St. Patricks day. It involved Charles cooking some amazing portabello burgers as well as a visit from Raeven and her friend Dan. I just shot a few pictures, one of them being a close up of Charles' skull ashtray. We have a thing for skulls.
On Her's
I hate not being able to drink beer. LOOK AT ALL THAT BEER! My jealousy meter is through the roof. I enjoyed this simple portrait of Bill gazing longingly, reading scrupulously and pondering his choices.

Yesterday 3.16.08

Kore
On Mine
Ben and I came upon this scene while walking to the supermarket. Someone set up the crosses, scarf, and sign in the patch of green in front of their brownstone. It was too creepy to pass by. After I took this photo, Ben climbed into the green patch and had me take a photo of him brandishing his Jew-horns while mocking the gentiles.
On Her's
I love religious kitsch. I have many of these candles (or ones like it) myself. Being that I've gone to buy candles at the Food Bowl with em before, this photo struck a nostalgic cord. I also love the effect that the rows of bright colors give this picture. Any saint you want for $1 each? What deified icon is any different?
Em
On Mine
So on a normal mundane day I visit The Food Bowl, a grocery store a little over a block from our apartment. When I first moved to South Park I refused to go there because it was not an extremely clean bright Ralph's or a cheap and gluten free possible Trader Joe's, but now, I have discovered the wonder that is this Mexican market. The produce is SO inexpensive and there are different specialty foods that Charles can get there to make really awesome Mexican food. Another photographer once took pictures of like, every single isle in a grocery store once and I thought they were quite interesting. All that was contained within the photos were rows of food stuffs or other grocery related items. So, I decided to take a picture of my favorite isle at Food Bowl, the religious candle section (which we also have a ton of in our bathroom as part of the Mexican kitsch theme.) I liked the expanse of them in the picture, one could imagine the selection of saints glued onto the brightly colored candles going on forever. Also, I totally got yelled at by store security whom I believe thought I was casing the joint.
On Her's
I find it strange when our pictures match up like this. This diptych is one of the stronger examples of our wonder twin brain fusion. Sensing that we would choose out of the six pictures for the day, the ones that were so close in theme, we made our choices without conferencing the other. I love the random crap you can find wandering around Brooklyn. The picture almost felt like a picture out of a newspaper that would head up some article on Christian wingnutts in New York, or at least something along those lines.

Yesterday 3.15.08

Kore
On Mine
Some friends and I went to Buttermilk, a bar in my neighborhood. This is by far the least scandalous of all the photos I took that night. Ben and I could not decide if the lettering on the wall said "vote" or "love". Such is park slope living.
On Her's
This was such a hard decision! I ultimately went with this photo because its compositionally good, and is also really funny. I also love that Charles is smirking devilishly in the background. Yet another pair of randomly matching photos. Bizarre!
Em
On Mine
Once again Charles and I visited Garth in Esco. We were going to be going to Desi's show in L.A., but she was not feeling well and her band was going on earlier than expected so instead we stayed in at Garth's, had some drinks and played a game called Talisman. It was fun and Charles, though the most reluctant to play, seriously kicked our asses. My character, at one point in the game, was turned evil, resulting in this picture.
On Her's
Firstly I have to reiterate that I have always been a big fan of the candid portraits that Kore takes. Even more so, I love the pictures that she takes of Ben. The texture in this picture is awesome, as well as the color and the composition. Another amusing point I find is the Indiana's "Love" picture above his head contrasting with the "Evil" in my picture. I picked this one out of my adoration for Ben, as well as the fact that it's a great picture.

Yesterday 3.14.08

Kore
On Mine
I found the recipe for these muffins while stumbling and I had to make them. They were so so so delicious! I've been baking alot recently. I figure, if I'm gonna start a catering company, I need to be able to bake at least as well as I can cook. Anyway, the point is: tea muffins are fantastic. I set up this picture so that it would look similar to a photo em once took of her cats in my bathtub. I also just really wanted at those muffins.
On Her's
I love how strong em's arms are in this picture. Women in art are so frequently depicted with flimsy weightless arms dangling somewhere stupid. She has this incredible intensity in her eyes, which directly address the viewer. Its so graphically emotional its almost intimidating.
Em
On Mine
Charles and I had been fighting a little recently and this is most assuredly a picture of him and I making up. I really love that the picture was taken in the bathroom and you can see the day of the dead pictures on the back wall.
On Her's
I... just adore this picture. I barely had to think about which picture I wanted to use for this diptych. I also really want to eat these muffins. Kore is quite the good chef, so I liked that there were some pictures of her cooking something.

Home

Kore
On Mine
Home is a tricky subject. The word implies geography, that is to say, a specific place. But home can mean so much. What about those who do not have a specific place to call home? Surely they must feel at home somewhere or with someone. I wrote about this for my Parsons application. For the "Parsons Challenge," applicants had to pick something in their everyday lives that goes unoticed or unappreciated. I chose Home as my theme and wrote about my grandmother shuttling from Latvia to NYC every 6 months, A couple who felt at home with each other, and the plight of being homeless (or feeling at home with yourself). All of these were accompanied by photos, and I was generally pleased with what I sent out. This photo was taken in my kitchen. I've always felt most at home in my kitchen and my bed. Bill came home early from work and brought me pizza and made me coffee. How more at home could I possibly feel?
On Her's
I adore this photo. I loved it even before I realized em's reflection in the window, though that kind of made me love it more. I've always thought blurry photos look like memories. This photo seems like several memories stacked on top of each other. I really enjoy photos that tell a story. If I close my eyes, I can see em stepping into her house, jumping on the couch and laughing. Why can't all our stories have happy endings?
Em
On Mine
The old colloquialism goes "home is where the heart is" right? I am not going to claim that I love my home in any way shape or form, but I do love the things inside of it. The dog, the Charles and the kitties. The only problem is that sometimes I feel as though those things that make me happy and make me comfortable at home are blurred by the frustration I have had with living not only in San Diego but also with the apartment itself. We have had issues with the electricity since January and just now in March they are going to restore full service. I hate my neighbors and I hate my landlord. The contrast of this happy home feeling and the feeling of being trapped behind a pane of glass at the zoo are confusing and lend to the emotion behind this picture.
On Her's
I feel as though I picked this picture for some of the same reasons that she chose mine. I am often on the phone with Kore or talking to her online when Bill comes home and it most definitely puts her in a better warmer mood. There is a feeling of safety when the people and pets you live with are around and happy, when you have warm food and flowers, that really lend to a level of happiness when you are in your house or apartment. I love the smaller details of the picture as much as I like the composition of it, the coffee on the stove, the hung up kitchen wares and of course, the pizza... great now I am hungry.

Yesterday 3.13.08

Kore
On Mine
On Thursday night Ben and I went out to Happy Endings on the LES for our friend Clifton's birthday. Thats him in the picture. An all around fantastic time was had, with plenty of dancing Natashas (a la Party Girl) abounding. I told Clifton to look devastating and pushed the shutter release. oh the anxiety of angles! Later that night, I assisted a drunk Brooke Sheilds in finding a bottle of Chimay in a bougie 24hour grocery store.
On Her's
That cat looks like a panda. Em loves pandas. I also really like that the colors of the cat match the colors of the room.
Em
On Mine
I hung out with Garth and Charles in Esco and played Zombies. Tacky is Garth and Desi's new kitten and I happen to like her quite a bit regardless of her tiny little head. Although, I do have to say I think that she looks a little like a kitty alien.
On Her's
I love Kore's photography of people. Especially candid, though I am not sure but I think this one was posed! The first thing I thought when I saw this picture was that Clifton was obviously studying America's Next Top Model. This was a hard choice for me, however, as the three pictures I was given to choose from were all very good. I had to go with this one, though, and I think it pairs up nicely with the cat.

Yesterday: 3.12.08

Kore
On Mine
I took this photo at the Rhonda Schaller Studio, where I work every Wednesday. The art on the walls is done by Rhonda herself, a supreme fabulist. Some of the work on the walls was done in the actual gallery, which I think is awesome. Its also really nice to come to work and be surrounded by paints and works in progress while I'm sipping tea and processing applications.
On Her's
Oh yes, we love the Charles. Quite the dapper gent that one. We also love the Chazwell's cuisine. So much so that we hope to start a catering company together. We should probably take our meds now. DAMN YOU AND YOUR GYPSY MAGICS, CHESTER!!!
Em
On Mine
Charles cooked dinner for me and my mother. The BEST mac and cheese that anyone could ever make. Gouda mac and cheese! It's awesome dating someone who is as good a cook as he is, and interesting because I am gluten intolerant and he is a vegetarian! We took a bunch of pictures of him cooking so that he could maybe post the directions to make the dish on his blog, but has still not gotten around to it. I chose this as one of my pictures because I enjoy his cooking and we always have a good time hanging out at my mom's house (although I think her and I got into a bit of a fight that night.)
On Her's
I love the chair in this picture. I chose this one because I thought that one of the more important things that have happened recently was that Kore got an internship at a gallery. I love the natural light coming in through the window and running across the back walls paintings.

Where

Kore
On Mine
The subway is a weird place. It exists as a time depository - everyone is on their way somewhere, and is essentially waiting (in public) to get there. A packed subway car is one of the few places where you can be surrounded by people in close quarters and feel completely alone. Some listen to music and spend their trip playing in space. Others read, play video games, or draft emails about how crazy last night was on their smart phones. For those with nothing to distract them, its the no-eye-contact game: the one where everyone tries to stare without actually interacting with anyone in their gaze. When the train is close to empty, the silence is literally loud. It's a lot like purgatory.
I have a love/hate relationship with the NYC subway. It is for sure the most expansive and accessible subway system I have ever encountered. I know its cliche, but it really is the veins that pump the blood of the city. I can't think of any other place where I can pay two bucks at 4 in the morning and go pretty much anywhere I want. Theres a certain freedom that comes with riding the train. But I hate the MTA. And the idea of everyone keeping to themselves and judging people silently is kind of devastating. I chose this picture as my Where because my feelings about the subway mimic my feelings about New York as a whole. I love living here because of the constant awareness of life and the opportunity to pursue basically whatever I please. I hate living here because living in NYC makes you feel how insignificant we all truly are. Em's mom told me once that sometimes its better to be the big fish in the little pond than the little fish in the ocean. I'm definitely growing tired of living in this ocean, but pond living isn't for me...maybe a sea?
On Her's
I thought this photo was really representative of architecture in San Diego. Some of it is really polished looking, some of it is old and fading in that awesome way that Spanish architecture does. The bright white of the building in the foreground with the balconies in the background implies warmth; oh what fun to be sunbathing in sunny San Diego! Also, the purple shadow looks like you're looking through those sunglasses that are rainbow-shiny on the front.

Em
On Mine
I chose to take pictures of San Diego that not only illustrated the city I live in, but also highlight the connection or disconnection I have with this place. I feel that the picture that Kore chose for me is a perfect example of these things. The modern California architecture lends to it's youth and is juxtaposed with a mission style church. The apartment building towers over the smaller building that strains to maintain it's classic affiliation with San Diego. The picture is also bright and stark, not at all what I am used to in photography as well as life.
On Her's
One of the things I miss most about New York City is the ability to get wherever you need to go whenever you need to get there. I feel as though the subway is an integral part of any New Yorkers life, and this is why I chose it as her "where" photo. In New York, you can be anywhere at any time. I love the fact that the picture seems taken right below eye level, giving you a full perspective, a little skewed, of the subway.