It was a rough trip, but overall... extremely productive. The whole focus on the Chupacabra story as really a last minute idea to work on, but became the main driving force of the entire trip. Got some sweet images and have almost completed the screenplay version!
The trip was mostly chronicled on Storify HERE for more details.
Also got some video clips that I will use in the iBook version and possibly a pre-production movie trailer to hopefully raise funds. Check it out!
And, I've also got the first 3 chapters available via iTunes podcast for free HERE
In just 3 days I'm flying to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico as an entry point... will hang out for a few days before climbing aboard a bus for who knows where?!
After finally recording some audio tracks into chapters so that I could at least get through the story with minimal editing and offer it as an audio book, the idea of maybe trying to push this true story forward to shoot as a movie started to materialize.
I figure that I'm going to be in the same general locations that the story took place, and since I've never seriously considered making a movie out of it... well, it seemed high time that I revisit the story over a decade later to see if maybe it has legs.
Am I just procrastinating? Perhaps. I've been to these places many times before and have already made many Mexico images on previous trips. I'm hoping to accomplish a tighter focus and being able to "see" this as a movie in my mind's eye... with making new images specifically related to my CHUPACABRA | A True Story I'm hoping to get a similar level of obsession that almost cost me my life over 13 years ago.
The audio book project was initially intended to save the story for myself. Then, it's purpose became to see if other's were intrigued enough to buy the audio book. Now, it's evolved into a purpose for this trip. Where it will go from there I can't say, but with some encouragement from friends, and that strange tingle you can get sometimes that implies "now is the time"... I'll soon see if CHUPACABRA | A True Story will live beyond a recorded story.
CHUPACABRA | A True Story + Audio Book 01:45:32I'm going to listen to the story while traveling and grab extra images that could serve as companion pieces specifically for this story, and possibly useful cinematic location shots. If this story intrigues you at least the $3 worth :) And you want to listen to what will be guiding me on my next journey, I've made it available for purchase & download HERE
Listen to sample from CHUPACABRA audio book below
There's won't be a project site with this so that I can focus solely on getting intimate with my own story once again. I'll be posting stuff along the way when possible as thoughts, images and sounds relate to this story. Should be an interesting trip if the Great Spirit see my intentions as earnest and worthy. Wish me suerte (luck)!
The LithoFusion Collection based on a set of rules and parameters I'd set for myself as an experiment to see if it helps maintain a subtle cohesive quality throughout the collection.
Each composition was based on images from one of 4 trips, and each composition's images are unique to a specific location with no cropping or cutting and pasting done at all. All source images are kept framed as they were shot.
Book available HERE Fine Art Prints available HERE
After 6 weeks of wandering around Colombia and a few more weeks of pain-staking editing & culling, I'm happy to announce that the photo book of fine black and white images is now LIVE!
Once again, I will be tearing away from the familiar and immersing myself in a country and culture I know very little about, Colombia. The only plan is to enter the country and follow intuition for 6 weeks of exploration and adventure. A photobook and fine art prints will be produced during this trip, as well as "from the road" travel blogging.
UPDATE: Trip Concluded. Book announcement coming soon!
Just got back from a little motorcycle touring and camping trip to Colorado Bend State Park in Bend, Texas.
So peaceful and beautiful out there and the only drama was an armadillo I startled at night with my flashlight. My hammock was hung in a tree that grew out at an angle creating sort of a natural gazebo. There was soft grass below and so I thought it'd be a perfect spot. Evidently, it was also a favored spot by the local wildlife as well.
One night, after hearing some stirring in the tall grass,
This collection began as an experiment to see if constraining the process with self-imposed guidelines would both stimulate creativity and result in a subtle cohesion.
A new collection of image compositions based on complex blends I call "LithoFusion". An experiment to see if a subtle cohesion could be achieved by using certain self-imposed parameters and guidelines.
Buy by March 6th 2012 to have your name included in the drawing. Each book purchase gets another drawing entry. This contest is open to everyone and one winner will get their choice of one pair of Cruiserworks motorcycle boots. (International shipping included)
Back in 2010 I just took off on my motorcycle toward the West without a plan. Just took off on an adventure with no particular schedule or expectation. After I announced the trip,Cruiserworks motorcycle boots loved the spirit of the trip and wanted to support me with a pair of motorcycle boots. They turned out to be the best pair of motorcycle boots I've ever owned!
The trip started from my home in Austin, Texas and took me through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California coast, Arizona and back to Texas. It was an amazing adventure that yielded some of the best photographs I've made to date! There were some very bizarre characters met along the way and I can highly recommend the "no plan" approach.
Buy to Enter Cruiserworks Contest!Fine art photographer Skip Hunt of Austin, Texas traveled Westward via motorcycle in search of the exotic within the mundane. He found so much more! This issue contains the entire set of chronicles from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California and Arizona. What began as a curious wandering with no particular path or direction, became a powerful life-changing adventure. Sometimes we must become lost before we can truly find our way.
Contest is open internationally. Cruiserworks exclusively carries men's motorcycle boots.
LithoFusion Collection Now on the Glossom Platform
Recently discovered them via an emailing. Rarely get excited about something like this, but they really did the art platform right. Great interface & the collections there are beautiful. Everything just works well with clean design.
Thought they were some site for an actual gallery & were just getting into the app game. Realized they were completely open for all artists, photographers, designers, etc. & quickly put together a collection of the LithoFusion stuff published here @G+ too. Check'm out. They've done a stellar job with the interface and their free universal iPhone & iPad app is very elegantly produced. Click graphic to view!
Happy to announce the DC + NYC 2011 photo collection is now live available for preview and purchase! This book is printed by MagCloud and they do a beautifuly job on state of the art printers. This book contains all 60 images from the collection and is perfect bound. You can also preview the entire book before you purchase either the printed version or the digitalversion. The digital verson is included free with purchase of the printed version.
Took off on a last minute trip to wander around the Washington, D.C. area and then ended up meandering off to N.Y.C. to continue riding the vivid inspiration you can get while traveling. These images were the result.
As an experiment to see if a subtle series cohesion could be achieved by using certain self-imposed parameters and guidelines.
Each composition was based on images from one of 4 trips, and each composition's images are unique to a specific location with no cropping or cutting and pasting done at all. All source images are kept framed as they were shot.
At first I thought from all the carnival booths flowers and taxis decorated with balloons and streamers that someone important was getting married. So, I just hung around and made a few images here and there of the magnificent color cache before me.
These 7 images were all shot on an iPhone and edited on an iPad during a 2 month journey in Mexcio in the Summer 2011. Travel blogged on this site HERE
Non-iPHone conventional camera images from this trip HERE & new book HERE
What I really love about this collection is the elegant way the Seven Days In designers have presented them.
Now Available for Preview and Purchase on MagCloud!
Pleased to announce that I've finally edited down a nice collection for a fresh photo book of images from this trip. It took awhile, but I hope it was worth the wait. Going through these images was so intense, it almost felt like I was experiencing the trip all over again. :)
Simply jumped on a plane 6/25/11 and flew one-way to the furthest airport in Mexico from Austin, Texas. From there I will wandered about photographing and travel-blogging The only plan was going into the unknown and letting the unfamiliar move and inspire me. I wrote about the adventure and chance e…
How Using the iPhone Can Influence Creative Choice
Several years ago I was trying to make a point that it really doesn't matter which camera you use and that what mattered most was your own vision. In an attempt to prove this (partly for myself) I set out to do a small collection of images with my old Motorola cell phone. The results made the point I wanted, but the lower resolution became somewhere restrictive.
These 7 images were all shot on an iPhone and edited on an iPad during a 2 month journey in Mexcio during the Summer 2011. Travel blogged on this site HERE
I also shot a regular camera on this trip and you can see images from that gallery HERE
What I really love about this collection is the elegant way the Seven Days In designers have presented them.
This video is such an adrenalin rush to watch. Simply incredible control of one's own fear and absolute mind focus.
It's hard to make out what she's saying, but I found this transcription:
1:31 If I kneel down, they will come towards me because I’m the same size as them. 1:50 I do this to show you how cowardly they are, not to tease them, but also to raise my own adrenaline. As soon as you turn around, they attack you. If you try to make eye contact, they get scared of you. 2:08 If you run, you’re prey. As soon as you turn around, they’re scared, they stop. 2:47 I think they’ve had enough, they’re too scared of me.
I wonder if her techniques would work with people?
I was in D.C. to see one of my images displayed in the Smithsonian Castle last year and really enjoyed touring the galleries and driving around the Virginia countryside near my sister's place in Hamilton, VA. I just felt a bit rushed I guess.
Friday, November 16, 2012 at 11:52PM ;)
And, I've also got the first 3 chapters available via iTunes podcast for free HERE
