Mime Monkey

ABC News Promo

2012-01-27T12:33:00.004-05:00

I think it's safe to post these now. Here are some images from a Behind the Scenes promo I shot for ABC News. These are stills from interviews with some of ABC's heaviest hitters in the news world, including the ever-famous Barbra Walters.

X-Mas Island Vacay

2012-01-24T12:26:00.005-05:00

As per usual I have failed to update my blog for a very long time. I think this brings my average post time to about once every four months. Not too shabby.

Here are a couple of shots from my recent trip to the Caribbean. It's just a teaser. Check back later for more.

Lobster Fishing in Maine

2011-10-12T13:43:00.007-04:00

Last week I was in Maine shooting a web spot for Red Lobster with my friend and director Nika Offenbak. Here are a few of the scout photos as well as one of my favorite screen grabs.

The beautiful town of Port Clyde, Maine.

Producer John Seabright posing for a scout photo.

Director Nika Offenbac posing for another scout photo. What exactly is she pointing at?

Port Clyde harbor.

I'm on a boat!... with Jordan our sound guy.

Lobster fisherman, John poses for the hero shot with a freshly caught lobster.

Fashion Week

2011-09-26T11:08:00.004-04:00

As some of you may know, I have recently been doing some shooting for The Daily, an iPad based news source. Here are a few pieces that I shot for them in connection to New York Fashion Week.

Wedding Video

2011-08-29T15:39:00.003-04:00

I said I would never under any circumstances ever shoot a wedding. And of course I am once again eating my words. Last month I was asked by my good friend Danielle to come out and shoot her wedding in Central Park at the Boat House. She wanted a "non-traditional" wedding video and thought that I would be perfect for the job. I've always been a pushover when it comes to friends and flattery so I agreed. Here are the results:

Are You Still Waiting? (Official Video)

2011-08-26T15:29:00.001-04:00

Here is the official video from Yaara Sumeruk and Corey Eisenstein for Hee Young's Are You Still Waiting. Let me know what you think.

PS special guest appearance...

Foster Dogs NYC

2011-08-09T11:10:00.004-04:00

Recently I have been dedicating my time to wrapping up projects that were still on the butcher's slab. One of said projects was a shoot I did for FosterDogsNYC.com We interviewed a great group of people and their dogs about the importance of adopting and fostering. Check it out.

Race to LA

2011-08-04T18:04:00.004-04:00

Recently I was commissioned to fly out to LA and shoot a bike-a-thon sponsored by Adecco for the charity, Win4Youth. This whirlwind trip lasted a whopping 30hrs and included a full event, interviews and b-roll of Los Angeles. Somehow we survived and managed to get some great material.

Oregon: the First

2011-07-29T19:23:00.004-04:00

Here are some photos from my recent family trip to Oregon. With my limited amount of time to post, this is the best I can do for now, but rest assured that more are on the way.

The vineyard where my cousin was married.

Foggy forests on the Oregon Coast. Perfect for portraits.

The top of the Table Rocks with my family off in the distance.

When it's not raining or foggy, you get treated to view like this one.

My sister on the dunes. Despite how it looks, she now hates the sun.

Sunsets on the coast are stunning.

Not so Oregon-y, but I love this photo taken outside of a hotel room one night.

Toys

2011-07-26T18:02:00.005-04:00

I've been increasingly busier and busier these days, making it hard to post. However I am finally able to post this spec that I finished a while ago for a toy company called Wild Planet. My first foray into the world of speed ramps. I'm hooked.

Are You Still Waiting?

2011-06-20T22:12:00.005-04:00

This Sunday I had the great pleasure to work on a music video for the very talented Heeyoung, pictured below. Directed by the lovely miss Yaara Sumeruk and shot by the talented Corey Eisenstein, the video is sure to be a great success. How could it not be with yours truly making a cameo...

Heeyoung

Director: Yaara Sumeruk

DP: Corey Eisenstein

Yoshi, rockin the steadycam.

The wonderful talent that came out on a Sunday to make this video a reality.

How do you keep it Classy?

2011-06-11T16:09:00.002-04:00

Here is a promo spot I shot for Jack Daniels. They were looking for submission on how they could rebrand the term "Drink Responsibly". Here's what I came up with.

Ringo

2011-05-17T14:17:00.004-04:00

Here are some behind the scenes photos from RINGO, a short film directed by my friend Yaara Sumeruk and shot by my other good friend Corey Eisenstein. This play converted into short film features a young male prostitute and the awkward woman that has paid for his services. Stills were shot by yours truly.

Portraits

2011-05-05T21:59:00.004-04:00

Over the last year I have transitioned mostly into the world of film, but a couple of my friends have asked me to take their portraits. Here are the results.

My very talented actress friend Jeri Silverman:

El Director Jorge Valdez Iga:

Make-Up artist Francesca:

Back to the Front

2011-05-04T14:49:00.003-04:00

So I've given the blog a new look and I'm dedicating myself to once again posting on it. To kick it off, here are some videos that I directed at the beginning of this year. The first was a spec commercial for Netflix, meaning that we made it in the hopes of Netflix purchasing it. Though we were unsuccessful, we did receive an editor's choice award from Poptent.

The second video was done for a company called CheapCaribbean.com and was purchased! If you haven't seen them yet, let me know what you think.

Jones New York

2010-08-26T16:14:00.002-04:00

So, I must be the worst blogger ever. I just get too busy and then I get all backed up. Regardless here is something that I worked on that just came out. I was an electrician for an Annie Liebowitz shoot for Jones New York. The gaffer was Brian Harnick and I think the images came out beautifully.

Click to enjoy!

Canon 1D Mark iv Tests

2010-03-22T19:55:00.001-04:00

This is the video that Corey Eisenstein and I shot for the Canon 1d Mark iv which should be coming out later this year. We did all night shoots and tested the low light capabilities of the camera. Here are our results.

Canon 1D Mark IV - Camera Tests - New York City at Night from Corey Eisenstein on Vimeo.

Production Stills

2010-03-12T00:26:00.003-05:00

Here are some shots from a couple of projects I've worked on recently.

These shots are from "The Zax" music video.

Directed by Jorge Valdez-Iga
Shot by Corey Eisenstein

These are from a web series entitled "The Guardian".

It was a kind of vigilante cop drama.

Directed by Jay Rodriguez

Nicaragua!

2010-03-08T11:32:00.011-05:00

Life has been hectic, and going to Nicaragua for a month and a half certainly didn't make things any easier. The first week was spent with my family traveling. The subsequent weeks were just me and my sister, living in her site in the middle of nowhere and making weekend excursions. Here are some of the highlights of my trip.

A central part of the Nicaraguan experience is the meet-n-greet. This is where you drop into people's houses and get to know them, which often times means long periods of awkward silence. Above is when I met Don Chepe, who showed us his greenhouse full of tomato plants.

While in my sister's community of El Coyolito, I tried to help her meet new people. Here is a man who dubbed himself "El Pobre Viejo" or "the Poor Old Man." A true cowboy.

Entertainment is sparse in small Nica villages, so people love to go to a Sunday cock fight. Here two birds fly at each other as the kids look on.

This treehouse was my favorite place I slept in Nicaragua. Set in a cloud forest, this house perched atop a strangler fig was quiet and unexpectedly bug free. The fog in the morning made for a great wakeup.

Nicaragua's festivals are colorful and loud. Throngs of masked people take to the streets dressed as conquistadors.

It is no wonder why Nicaragua is called the Land of Volcanoes. Concepcion, one of two volcanoes that comprise the island of Ometepe, is a beautiful sight. This island is the largest lake island in the world and a true wonder.

As my sister and I climbed the other volcano that makes up Ometepe, Maderas, our guide paused and snatched a hummingbird out of the air. This was the high point of the trek. The low point was realizing that I had too much camera gear and having my legs cramp up horribly, almost causing me to turn back.

My trip ended on the gorgeous beaches of the Corn Islands. Wish I had had my scuba certification with me, because the waters were crystal clear and teeming with life. From the tranquil beaches back into the hectic New York life.

Cappadocia and the End of Traveling

2009-09-04T15:14:00.005-04:00

The end of my trip was imminent. I was on my way to the middle of Turkey to explore Cappadocia and then the plan was to head further East to climb Mt. Nemerut, but as I arrived in Cappadocia everything changed. I had spent no more than a few minutes in this strange landscape before realizing that it would be impossible to leave here so quickly. What started out as a three day excursion quickly turned into a week stay. By now you must be wondering either what is Cappadocia or what is so captivating about it. I struggled the whole time I was there to put into words and images what Cappadocia is, but everything I attempted to relate paled in comparison to the reality of this bizarre landscape.

Cappadocia is a region that covers approximately 100 square km in the middle of Turkey. It is a lunar landscape created by eroded volcanic ash. The end result is vistas like the one above that resemble the american Southwest.

In addition to this it is also an area that has been inhabited for thousands of years by Christians in isolation. What these people created out of these surreal rock formations is what truly makes this place spectacular and like nowhere else in the world.

Churches were built straight into the rock and underground passageways were carved connecting the structures, creating an intricate set of tunnels and valleys that are an explorer's dream. Above you can see a church that has been ripped open by years of wind and water erosion.

Also found on this landscape are towns like Goreme, pictured above, which are both modern and quaint. I stayed here in a pension that was half house and half cave dwellings.

Each day I explored different parts of this region wandering in and out of valleys, sliding down ravines and scrambling up cliff faces.

Everyday I found myself in places that people rarely set foot, on paths that may have only been traversed thousands of years prior. I felt like Indiana Jones stepping into a world from the past.

One day while wandering I stumbled upon a festival.

Here men practiced spear throwing, charging full speed at each other with horses attempting to hit one another as onlookers cheered for their favorites. These war games were both new and exciting to me.

Then to top it all off, I took an early morning hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia.

From this vantage I saw ravines and valleys that I had traversed.

It was amazing to see the land as a whole, stretching as far as the eye can see in every direction.

We landed as the sun was rising in the sky and watched the other balloons floating across the horizon.

I finished my time in Cappadocia watching the sunset over these conical monoliths. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

And thus the sun set on my Middle Eastern trip. I never made it out to Eastern Turkey, but since it was so beautiful here, I am confident that I will be back one day to finish the trip.

Finally Turkey

2009-08-24T12:01:00.006-04:00

Getting to Turkey was no small matter. As nothing is ever as simple as it should be in Egypt, leaving also followed this. It was one of the most frustrating roundabouts I have ever been on to get out of Egypt. As I boarded my plane at 3:30 in the morning, I was happy and saddened as the final chapter of my Middle Eastern adventure was about to unfold. After an hour of sleep, I arrived in the breathtaking city of Istanbul. Here East truly meets West as European culture and Islamic mysticism blend in an enchanting metropolitan.

Here the Blue Mosque can be seen, one of the endearing modern symbols of Istanbul.

This is the new part of Istanbul where people shop, dine and lounge at cafes.

This is the inside courtyard of one of the mosques.

After five days in Istanbul, wandering and exploring, I decided I had to move on. The next stop was Selcuk, an old city famous for the ruins of Epheseus. Above is the library at Efes, the most impressive facade that remains.

Here is the remains of the Amphitheater. At one point Artemis' Temple, one of the seven ancient wonders, also was here, but now all that remains is a single pillar and it is completely unspectacular.

After the ruins I spent the day taking shots of flowers and animals, waiting for my night bus to Olympos.

Olympos was spectacular. Situated in a sleepy cove on the Mediterranean, this group of backpacker huts and treehouses is a real paradise. I could have stayed here all summer as the water was clear, the beaches beautiful and the air clean and fresh.

Despite the other guests, I felt secluded and free, able to totally relax. My days were spent hiking in the mountains, swimming in the Mediterranean and jumping off of cliffs.

This is a view of the coast from the cliff tops. I will come back here. It was that beautiful. But as with all things this too had to come to an end if I was going to make it to my final stop and reason for coming to Turkey, Cappadocia.

The Sahara Desert

2009-08-19T17:18:00.005-04:00

I was anxious to get to my final destination, Turkey, but at the same time, I couldn't resist making a final stop at one of the many oasis that dot the Egyptian desert. From my information gathering I ascertained that the most beautiful and, not so coincidentally, remote place to go was the Siwa Oasis in the Western desert, also know as the Sahara. As we travel further and further West, the most immediately impressive thing is the emptiness. The buildings become fewer and further between.

Here you can see that this outhouse is the only building on the horizon.

We then arrive in Siwa and immediately the number of buildings skyrockets. All life is centered around this Oasis and the naturally occurring pools of hot and cold water which they use for irrigating crops. Above you can see the Shali Mud Fortress which is a remnant from 600 AD. This marks the center of town.

As you climb to the top of the Fortress you can look around and see the expanse of mud and clay houses and the landscape, including a giant rock that looks like a big turd.

I wandered around this sleepy little town finding nice little gardens and pools. Here is a sweet, or cold, pool called Cleopatra Springs. Siwa was the original tourist location with tourists from the Egyptian to the Romans stopping by for relaxation and seeking youth and beauty.

The next day I took a tour out into the dessert. This area is called the Great Sand Sea.

I thoroughly enjoyed the day, riding around in a four-wheeler, relaxing in remote pools, and even dune surfing which is like snowboarding but on sand.

We then watched the sun set over the dunes and had dinner at a bedouin tent camp. All in all an amazing way to end my time in Egypt.

Over to the Nile

2009-08-09T19:20:00.007-04:00

From Sinai, the Asian portion of Egypt, I took a 9 hour bus ride to the mainland African portion of Egypt and the city of Cairo. The relaxing beaches have been left behind for the hustle and bustle of Cairo streets.

Here you can see Cairo from the top of a spire, specifically the Islamic, old section of Cairo.

Here in the area called Khan al Kalili you can tour mosques and go shopping in the outdoor markets.

I was even lucky enough to stop in on a Sufi Dance where I saw whirling Dervishes.

From Cairo I took a side trip to the pyramids of Giza. Though I got some fantastic pictures, the whole experience was totally underwhelming. It just didn't live up to my expectations. It might have been the flocks of people trying to get your money, or the trash everywhere, or maybe it was the KFC/Pizza Hut directly outside of the front gate.

Regardless it was something I had to do and I'm glad to have it crossed off my list.

Then it was down the Nile to Luxor where I stopped at the Temple of Karnak.

Here, the Row Of the Sphinxes outside of Luxor Temple were both stunning and mildly surreal.

A lot of the frescos were amazing and this one in particular was well preserved.

I then took a Felucca cruise out on the Nile at sunset. Beautiful.

As the sun set on Luxor, I was itching to get a move on, back to Cairo and then off into the heat and desolation of the Sahara desert. It was shaping up to be a great trip.

Music Video

2009-08-07T17:18:00.001-04:00

So once again I have found the second music video I was in and am thus reposting it. Enjoy and let me know what you think. This one is by artist Mori Daisuke.

And on to Egypt

2009-08-02T15:56:00.003-04:00

After leaving Petra, it was time to make my way to Egypt. This of course had to involve a stop at Wadi Rum, the desert where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. Our guide took us around in a four wheel drive to various desert sites including hoodoos and natural rock bridges.

Here our guide can be seen making some drawings on the rocks.

From there I proceeded to Aquaba, the Jordanian city on the Red Sea where I awaited a boat.

The beach cafes were nice, especially at night when they are all lit up.

Though the boat ride to Egypt was less than ideal, arriving in Sinai was a breath of fresh air. The relaxing portion of my vacation had begun. I stayed here in a beach hut in a "city" called Nuweiba. It was certainly a little slice of paradise.

I went snorkeling along the reefs in these clear waters and though the viewing was not the best I've seen, it was very calm and satisfying.

The beach was soft and at times you would come across mud flats.

My final stop in Sinai was Dahab, a resort town. Here I went scuba diving, stopping at an eel garden and reveling in the experience. In this picture, you can see Saudi Arabia on the horizon. From here I was off to Cairo and the crazy experience of Egyptian big cities.

Jordan

2009-07-20T17:12:00.006-04:00

From the south of Israel, I crossed the border into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This border is both a physical and a cultural one. As soon as you pass the mountains that divide these countries, you are clearly entering the Arabic world. Birka-ed women appear on the streets and men wearing head coverings are prominent. The landscape changes to a dry desert view and the heat in undeniable. The other change is in attitude. People in Jordan are renowned for their hospitality and live up to this expectation. Everyone bends over backwards for you and you will be sure to be offered tea by anyone you have a one minute or longerconversation. I arrived here with my traveling mate Kerrin, who I met in Eilat, Israel. Together we rode a taxi straight to the top site in Jordan, Petra.

My first view of the deserts of Jordan.

Travelers make their way through the Siq. A long chasm that is lined with magnificent orange rock, carved by wind and time.

You then arrive at the stunning Treasury, a monument built out of the rock face itself that is both staggering in its size and detail.

Pilgrims travel here as it is both a part of the Middle East's herritage and a holy place.

Further exploring yields other impressive sights such as the monastery, another building made from the rock of Petra.A detail shot of the red/ orange rock that makes up the walls and hills of Petra.

A bedouin child looks out of a cave at the broken down amphitheater.

The sun sets over the surrounding village of Wadi Musa as I prepare once again to get on the road.

Back to the Blog

2009-06-28T16:10:00.010-04:00

I know it has been quite some time since my last installation and there is good reason for this. I have been very busy working on making the best photos available. I have back logs from the last four months and trust me, they are pretty good. I will however start with photos from my latest venture into the Middle East. It all began with my ten day Birthright trip in Israel and then blossomed into my solitary adventure into the wilds of Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey. Here are some of the better photos from Israel.

A man with his morning cup of coffee in Svat, Israel's mystical center.

People buying bread in a Jerusalem market.

The Old City wall and cathedral.

The Wailing Wall.

Floating in the Dead Sea and truly unique experience.

The landscape of the Golan Heights.

The ruins of Masada at the early hours of the morning.

The Old City of Jaffa outside of Tel Aviv.

More images on the way soon. Stay Tuned.

New Website Under Construction

2009-02-28T12:36:00.003-05:00

Hey all,
I've been working hard on updating both my portfolio and the website that its held in. I am happy to say that www.mimemonkey.com has had a massive overhaul. It is still under construction however, so please check back. Eventually it will probably incorporate this Blog as well.

Long Time No Talkie

2009-02-12T16:56:00.002-05:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but my life has been in turmoil and its not easy to get back to old habits in a new place. That's right, I've relocated to New York and am working on establishing myself here. One of the things I have done is gotten in touch with the Village Voice, a local free paper with wide circulation in the city. I am now one of their freelancers and my work can be found on their website. Here's a link to my first gig with them. More to come soon.

New Music Video

2008-11-07T17:26:00.002-05:00

This is the second music video by a singer named Mori Daisuke and is shot by the same company that did the first. The director liked me so much in the first one that she wanted to use me again. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE

Wipe Out

2008-09-22T07:39:00.004-04:00

Hi-Prix - Wipe Out
Uploaded by tenxxx13

It's official... I am in a Japanese music video. And boy is it something! See if you can find me... Though I don't think you'll have to try very hard.

Kansai

2008-08-13T02:09:00.007-04:00

After my trip with Drew I still had another week to kill before the Gion Matsuri, Kyoto's largest festival. I decided in this interlude to travel Kansai and visit the places that I had yet to see.The first stop was Amanohashidatte, also know as the bridge to heaven. This remote location features a natural land bridge that when viewed between the legs appears to be a road to the heavens. It is also the third of Japan's three most beautiful locations and a necessary check off on my list of to do's.
Next was Himejijo, the castle acclaimed as Japan's most beautiful.I then made my way to Nara, a small city with a stunning 8 World Heritage sites and herds of tamed deers that bow when you feed them.
This is the second tallest pagoda in Japan.

Finally on the 17th the Gion festival where groups of men haul massive wooden floats on wheels through the streets in a day long parade.

Around Japan with Drew

2008-07-31T08:25:00.008-04:00

Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting my friend Drew Sobey for almost a month. Though the times sometimes grew rough and I got upset at him for apologizing excessively, we had an amazing time together traveling to new parts of Japan. Here are some of the photo highlights.

Asakusa lights up at night.

Getta wish slippers on Mt. Takao.

The Eye at Shinjuku station.

Maiko-Chan in Kyoto.The forbidden picture of the 100 golden buddhas.Niko Temple in the Rain.

Climbing Mount Fuji

2008-07-20T09:58:00.007-04:00

Despite what some people may tell you, climbing Mount Fuji is not a walk in the park. Drew and I began our upward battle from Fuji 5th station at 10pm after a grueling 2hour bus ride where the lights never went out. The plan was to ascend slowly and summit just before the sunrise as waiting at the top can get very cold. The climb up Fuji goes in segments dictated by the various stations one passes on the way up. From 5th to 6th is a no brainer up and down simple sloping terrain and lulls the climber into a false sense of security. From 6th to 7th is a rude awakening where climbers must shimmy up boulders, hand over foot. The difficulty of this is compounded by the fact that you are climbing at night with a headlamp as your only source of light. From 7th to the top is a slog of a trek along switchbacking trails of loose gravel. The climb is not a horrible difficult one technically, but its monotony and slow pace can be extremely taxing.
Just below the summit, light began to filter over the skyline and we passed the tori gate and plopped down just in time to see the first light.
Drew and I celebrate at the top of Japan as the Sun peeks over the clouds.
A view from above of the Fuji 10th station.
Mount Fuji's highest point and the tori gate that is filled with travelers' coins for good luck.
Hikers make their way around the Fuji Crater.

What many people forget is that what goes up must come down. If the climb up Fuji doesn't get you, the climb down just might. The steep and rugged trail with its loose footing can wreak havoc on the knees. Bring a walking stick and take it easy.

China Part 3: Drifting Down the Yangtze

2008-06-07T05:12:00.008-04:00

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the whole world. Needless to say that it is an impressive sight and a power house that is not easily stopped. My trip down this natural behemoth began in the city of Chungching. Three lazy days on a cruise ship ahead and not a care in the world.

Here is a view of the mighty Yangtze as seen from above. It's width now is already impressive, but it is growing steadily due to the Three Gorges Dam Project.

Welcome to Hell! This is the temple at Fudong which rests on the top of a mountain and was believed in ancient times to be the physical resting place of Hell. Now however the town at the base of this mountain is being flooded and the inhabitants have been relocated to the other bank of the river.
Here we see guardians waiting to punish the evil souls which wander up to Hell.

This is a picture of a small cruise boat used for a side tour of the gorges, or walled valleys which wind off from the main river.

Maybe you can grasp the magnanimity of these gorges from this photo of the Little Gorge, one of the last ones that we toured.
And here is the ever controversial Three Gorges Dam, a project which was supposed to supply power to all of China, but which instead has sapped resources and put thousands upon millions of people out of their homes. I was unimpressed by the dam, especially as I wasn't allowed to walk upon it or inside.
A sunset on the Yangtze. Cross another must see place off the list.

Published

2008-05-05T12:09:00.002-04:00

My essay on the Fire Walking festival has been published on the InTravel magazine home page. If I receive enough votes then I can get paid, so everyone please go to the site and vote for me! You have to register and then go to the forum page and vote in the pole on this month's articles. Follow the link above to the home page.

Self Portrait

2008-04-27T11:00:00.002-04:00

China Part 2: The People

2008-04-13T01:25:00.009-04:00

This section is dedicated to the people in China, both those that were on the trip with me and those that inhabit the Middle Kingdom.

That's me. Contemplating the deep fried scorpions. They were so delicious that everyone tried them and went back for seconds.

Next up is Corey, one of my best friends and a fellow film maker.

Then comes Drew, another of my best friends and an actor in Chicago.

Here are the other Eisenstein brothers: TJ pictured above and Michael pictured below.

He's exploding out of the building.

And here are the locals. This man was in a park in Beijing. His specialty was to bounce balls and catch them in his funny hat.

A traditional Chinese baby found in the Forbidden Palace.

One of the Hello Women who sell things throughout China. This one was selling scarves on the Great Wall.

One of many guards throughout China who police the area looking for miscreants.

This woman was painting inside of glass bottles with a fine brush on the Great Wall.

"I'm Dancing!" this woman stated as she entered our dining area and began to perform a traditional Chinese dance.

And finally my favorite. This man was riding by when I was waiting outside the Silk factory and was very happy that I was interested enough to take his picture.

Kanamara Matsuri

2008-04-07T04:20:00.005-04:00

If I told you the premise of this festival, most of you would scoff and shake your heads in disbelief, but here it is with photographic proof to back it up. I present to you the Kanamara Matsuri, or Festival of the Steel Phallus. That's right, folks, it's the Giant Penis Festival dating back over a thousand years. Here prostitutes and transvestites pray to the gods of the penis for safe sex and fertility. Though the festival was populated more with gaijin, foreigners, than Japanese due to the spectacle of it, it was still a cultural experience in the extreme and one of the many reasons I love Japan so much.

Here, the local cross-dressers parade the giant pink phallus though a teeming crowd of onlookers, all trying to get the best photo possible.

A sexy woman rides one of the the giant wooden cock statues.

She's packing and she's bigger than me!

A baby sucks on a penis pop.

Old men carve penises out of radishes to be sold at auction later.
Flag wavers swing a massive flag, calling the festival to a close.

China Part One: Quintessential China

2008-04-02T06:52:00.010-04:00

With over 20gigs of photos from my recent two week jaunt in China, I have my hands full sorting and editing. Just starting this task seemed unsurmountable, but i decided I would begin with all the famous places I visited and things that would be recognizable as China to anyone who hasn't been there. We begin with the Great Wall and the Marble Boat and move on to the Teracotta Warriors. Next come foggy pagodas, acrobatics shows, and farmers with water buffalo. We then finish with busy cities and to offset that the beautiful Carst Formations of Guilin, my favorite place on the trip. This is only the tip of the iceberg of photos I took on this trip. I had a really amazing time. More to come.

Hiwatari Matsuri

2008-03-11T07:06:00.005-04:00

Spring is finally here, and very welcome after this bitter winter. With it the plum blossoms have sprang out, the birds have returned, and the monks have come down from the mountains to walk through fire. Yes, this past weekend I went to Mount Takao for the annual Hiwatari Matsuri, Fire Walking Festival. Hundreds of people gathered to purify themselves in heat and flame and of course to watch people do crazy things like walk on burning hot coals. The festival began with a procession of monks bearing conch shell horns. Buddhists from all over Japan gathered here to cleanse their souls under the watchful guide of this mountain's Tengu, or protecting Bird/God spirit. They then showed acts of power such as the swinging of the axe and firing of the bow and then finally lit, the massive pile of pine tree boughs in the middle of the crowd. I was situated at the front for maximum photo opportunity, but as soon as the fire was lit, a heat like I have never felt before washed over me and all around men ducked and cringed against the fire's blazing power. I held my ground to take pictures of the monks hurling water onto the fire to cool it and create smoke, but was eventually forced back like all the rest. After the fire died down some, the other monks picked up the prayer stick where people have written their hopes and dreams and tossed them into the fire. The monks then raked the coals and when all the preparations had been completed, the monks walked the fire. About fifty monks in total walked the fire and when they had finished, a clear path had been made. It was then time for the crowd to join in and a line of hundreds of participants began to file up and cross the coals. With my picture taking done, I hopped in the back of the line and I too walked the fire path. All in all a truly spectacular festival and a day I will remember forever.

New Models

2008-03-06T07:23:00.003-05:00

Recently I have been trying to build my fashion portfolio, so I have been asking people I meet to model for me. One of the fortunate results of this was my shoot with soon to be models, Garrick and Richard, friends of my house-mate Omar. These are shot around Kichijoji area.

Photographer's Assistant

2008-03-01T09:23:00.003-05:00

I have begun some part-time work as a photographer's assistant. His name is Ryan Bruss and he specializes in fashion photography and club/street life. We met at Glitterball, as he was the main photographer and I the backup, and now I help him when he needs an extra hand on a shoot. His photos are brilliant and I urge you to check out his website.

WWW.RyanBruss.COM

Stickers and Postcards

2008-02-28T03:30:00.002-05:00

They are finally here! Gunkler stickers and postcards from Japan are now available. The sticker set consists of 18 heavy duty, fairly large stickers, pre-cut and ready to stick on anything. The postcards are made from the pictures found on this website and my official website. If you are interested in either the postcards or stickers, please let me know. I'll try to hook you up. In Japan, I am selling them for 100yen a piece.

Glitterball

2008-02-19T08:54:00.010-05:00

This was easily the best Valentine's day I have ever had and I spent it with 1,600 of my closest friends. Yes, this year I spent my V-day photographing Metropolis Magazine's blow out party at A-Life in Roppongi. For two days prior I worked with the Metropolis crew compiling gift bags filled with Bailey's, No Calorie Coca-Cola, Durex condoms and other products sponsored by major companies in preparation for the event. Then on the evening of, I was graced with a Staff pass and given free access to the entire party. I spent my time taking pictures for the magazine of the sponsor's stalls and of the attending people. The highlights of the evening were watching the pole dancing performance, chilling in the VIP with Chingy and AV idol Sola Aoi, and drinking copious quantities of Jaegermeister and Moet with the beautiful event companions. It was a fantastic night and I hope the pictures reflect it.

Sapporo Snow Festival

2008-02-16T00:58:00.005-05:00

I have been looking forward to this one for more than a year, having missed it due to poor planning on my part the previous year. Finally I have been to Hokkaido and the Yuki Matsuri, or Snow Festival. For those of you keeping score back home, Hokkaido is the northern most island of Japan and, in winter, is blisteringly cold. Thus it is the perfect place to have the Snow Festival, an event where people from all over Japan and world come to build massive snow and ice sculptures. These behemoths are created and displayed in a park that runs the length of the city and people flock here to see these humongous creations. The sheer size and detail of these statues is awe inspiring.

Panasonic Promotion Video

2008-02-04T23:07:00.000-05:00

After a nice long wait, it's finally here! My first successful modeling job for Panasonic is up online and running. Though you can't see the video, you can see my picture. Check it out at:

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/viera/

You may need to refresh the page a few times to see me.

Fugu

2008-02-04T09:29:00.001-05:00

Last week, after more than a year of waiting, I finally ate fugu. This was not a matter of a belabored search, as fugu shops are fairly commonplace, or one of rigorous preparation, as all it takes to eat fugu is a reservation, but rather a monetary concern. Fugu is expensive, costing at the least 5,000 yen or fifty dollars for the set. Now, at this point some of you might be asking yourself, "What is fugu?" Fugu is the cute little fish pictured at the top of the page. Fugu means blowfish, but despite this name the Japanese blowfish does not expand or inflate, however, it is harbor to one of the deadliest poison's known to man. Approximately seven people a year die from eating fugu. Upon hearing this quote, my mother tells me that I am insane and insists that anyone who eats this fish is "taking their life into their own hands." This statistic, however, relates only to people who prepare the fish themselves. In the last seventy years, only one person who has eaten fugu in a government approved fugu restaurant has died and was, in my humble opinion, an idiot, insisting on eating five pieces of fugu liver, the most poisonous portion of the fish which is technically illegal to serve. It is this poison, or rather the trace amounts that remain in the dish, that make this dish a delicacy and a worthy choice. The poison gives the fish a distinct flavor and causes the eater's lips to numb slightly. In larger quantities, though, this poison causes the victim to lose feeling throughout their body, eventually shutting down their motor functions and causing respiratory and heart failure. One fugu is said to have enough poison to kill 32 adults. Needless to say, I was dying to try it and with the monetary assistance of one of my previous students in the form of a birthday present, I was finally able to. I had just finished reading "The Year of Eating Dangerously" by Tom Parker Bowles in which he has an entire chapter devoted to eating fugu, and subsequently was equipped with his anecdote for the event. When I told my former student about his and my mother's fear about eating fugu, she was baffled. For a Japanese person, eating fugu is about as dangerous as eating raw fish, the only danger comes from going to a bad restaurant.

Fugu comes in a three course set meal. The first course is the sashimi, or raw portions, consisting of the main meat, as well as the innards. This is obviously the most scrumptious bit and the main reason why people eat this poisonous puffer. I found that the sashimi was much chewier than a fatty cut of maguro, but the flavor was very nice, and perfectly complimented by the ponzu sauce. The innards are fantastic chewy bits of jelly that have about the consistency of gummy worms, but little taste to note. The best part of this course, however, is the tingle that spreads thoughout your mouth shortly after eating it that is both exciting and mildly nerve racking due to this fish's reputation. The second course is a nabe, or hot pot, that is made from the remnants of the fish meat and bones and supplemented with veggies and tofu. I enjoyed this course, savoring the miso based broth and hearty bites of cabbage and tofu, though removing the bones from the meat is a bit taxing for very little gain. The final course uses the remaining broth from the previous course with the addition of rice to sop up the excess liquid. This course didn't impress me much, having a very subtle flavor that neither shocked or awed me. I ended up adding a lot of salt to arouse some kind of flavor, though really no complaints as it filled my belly, something that not all Japanese meals can claim. All in all it was a wonderful experience and despite the lack of any real danger, very exciting.

Saku-Rabu-Rabu

2008-02-03T02:32:00.000-05:00

Saint Valentine's Day is coming soon which means its time for girls all over Japan to rush to the stores and purchase copious quantities of chocolate for all the boys that they have a crush over. Yes, you heard me right. In Japan, on Valentine's Day the girls give presents to the guys! The guys don't have to follow suit until the following week on White Day, when if the love the girl has for them is requited, they also flock to the stores to purchase every available sweet for their new "Honey". Just another sweet benefit of life in Japan.

(BTW sorry the image is polarized.... still not sure why)

The Coffee of Japan

2008-01-18T02:54:00.001-05:00

Coffee, Coffee Everywhere!

Everything in Japan comes in a nice tiny package and coffee is certainly no exception. Coffee comes in all variety of containers and vessels, though the most prevalent is the canned coffee from a vending machine. This really shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone as all of Japan is streamlined to move as quickly as possible. So why not have thousands of different kinds of coffee readily available for salary men on their way to important business meetings? I can’t think of a good reason. So then how does this frantic businessman with no time to spare choose from the multitudes of coffee choices? The answer is packaging. Japanese coffee cans feature a wide variety of labels and designs as well as all kinds of blends ranging from straight black coffee to coffee to milk to the more exotic seasonal coffees with cherry blossoms or fruit flavoring. The choices are seemingly endless which is great for coffee enthusiasts such as myself.

History:
Before you get started sampling coffees, here is a little background on Japanese coffee. Canned coffee has been around in Japan since the nineteen sixties. In fact the term “canned coffee” comes from the Japanese market and was introduced to the US via companies like Nestle. In 1965,the UCC Ueshima Coffee Co. produced the first canned coffee with milk. Perhaps Japan’s greatest coffee achievement however was in 1973 when the Pokka Coffee Company introduced the hot and cold coffee vending machines, which anyone who has ever walked around in Japan realizes has changed forever how coffee is sold. Originally coffee was sold only in a slim 190ml can though over time the cans have varied and now both 190ml and 250ml cans are available and often equally priced. The main brands in coffe are the same as those for most major soft drinks and beer distributors. Some of the most poplar brands are Georgia which is owned by Coca Cola, Fire which is owned by Kirin, Boss Coffee which is owned by Suntory, Wonda which is owned by Asahi, Dydo, Nescafe and Roots which are all owned by Japan Tabacco, Itoen, Sangaria, and Coffee Time which are owned by Yakult, and Café La Mode which is owned by Clapis. With so many big names in the canned coffee business, it is no wonder that there is little room for independent competitors.

In the beginning, coffee cans were color coordinated to denote their flavor or contents. Thus most black coffees come in a black can and traditional blend coffees come in a brown can, but recently companies have begun to branch out for marketing reasons to attract more customers. The result is a wide variety of can colors, designs and shapes that are both appealing visually and unique. Common ploys include new coffee lines with English names proudly displayed on the front of the can like “Season’s Best” or “Demitasse Velvet Touch” or small descriptions in Engrish under the coffee’s name. For example the Roots’ “Simba Wind” proudly totes the slogan “Real technology brings you an aromatic coffee break and a fine life” just under its name and logo, which is a blue lion from The Lion King. Some of the most popular sellers are Boss’ “Rainbow Mountain Blend,” Wonda’s “Morning Shot,” and Georgia’s “Blue Mountain.” However, the only way to find out what you like is to go out there and try them, so grab a hundred and twenty yen and find the nearest vending machine. It shouldn’t be too hard.

Atagawa: Onsen Resort

2008-01-04T08:02:00.000-05:00

Hakone: The Things I Would Have Liked to See With My Family

2007-12-08T03:14:00.001-05:00

These are the pictures from my recent trip to Hakone with Luke, Myshca, and Carson. I finally got to do all the things that we had planned to do on our family trip. Enjoy living them vicariously through my photos.

Exerpts from My New Project "ばけもの” (Monster)

2007-11-11T13:04:00.000-05:00

New T-shirt Ideas

2007-10-25T07:09:00.000-04:00

Fire Dragon

2007-10-15T07:52:00.001-04:00

Behind the Scenes with Marco Tempest

2007-10-09T09:56:00.000-04:00

Here's some of the footage from our shooting with Marco Tempest, a digital magician.

My Digital Life

Gunklers

2007-10-09T09:31:00.000-04:00

I know its been about a month or two since my last writing, but I'm back up and running. I've been working for a production company, named Empire Entertainment doing PA work, so I haven't had time to do my own work. This is my new project. I'm working on making t-shirts so look forward to them in the future.

Sendai

2007-08-14T09:05:00.001-04:00

These are the pictures from Sendai, though I couldn't put up the panoramas, so those are probably to come. These pictures are of Matsushima (the pine tree islands), Akiu Waterfall, and the Tanabatta Parade.

O Hanabi

2007-08-08T23:58:00.001-04:00

Summer is now in full swing in Japan which means three things: Heat!, yukattas, and festivals. One of the best parts of the festival is without a doubt the fireworks show, or hanabi which means fire flower in Japanese. So posted for your pleasure are some images from the Hon Atsugi Ayu matsuri. Enjoy the fireworks show!

The Ants Go Marching

2007-07-26T08:58:00.000-04:00

Strange Cuisine

2007-07-14T07:49:00.001-04:00

One of my goals in life has been to eat as many strange foods as possible. Of late I have been trying to document this. So here are a few of my recent excursions in the the world of Geteimono (innedible foods). Raw Oysters in Miyajima, a hot dog wrapped in egg from the Tanabatta festival, and liver sashimi at a yaki niku restaurant. Also featured here is Luke munching down on a ridiculously long sauasage.

Smoke Dragon

2007-07-08T07:54:00.001-04:00

Hiratsuka Tanabatta Matsuri

2007-07-07T02:53:00.000-04:00

This was the single best day of shooting I have ever done. I spent the whole day at the Tanabatta Festival in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Ken. It's a festival for lovers when the stars can join each other in the sky. To celebrate people wear kimono and hang streamers and floats from bamboo.

Infinite Coil

2007-07-02T09:01:00.000-04:00

3 Days in Hiroshima

2007-06-24T04:08:00.001-04:00

Nagano and Yamanashi

2007-06-18T11:52:00.000-04:00

Skull Drop

2007-06-18T11:30:00.000-04:00

Ninja

2007-06-10T12:03:00.001-04:00

People of Tokyo and Chase

2007-06-03T06:13:00.001-04:00

Japanese Children

2007-05-28T22:22:00.000-04:00

Yoyogi Park Public Art

2007-05-23T09:49:00.001-04:00

These are the Public Murals in Yoyogi Park which can be seen when crossing from Shibuya into Harajuku. Wish we had more stuff like this in America.

Asakusa Matsuri

2007-05-18T09:56:00.001-04:00

I finally was able to get out on a day off and go to a Matsuri. This is the Asakusa Matsuri, probably the most touristy, though still totally worth it if for no other reason than to see the Mikoshi teams carry portable shrines down the street. These are my best pictures from the event.

Japaneeseyness

2007-05-16T09:50:00.000-04:00

New Experiments

2007-05-14T22:39:00.000-04:00

The Family Trip (Part 2)

2007-04-21T07:04:00.000-04:00

The Devil Always Wins

2007-04-06T01:08:00.000-04:00

To Kyoto and Beyond

2007-04-06T00:26:00.000-04:00

A few choice pictures from my trip to Kyoto with my family. There of course will be more to come. let me just say that this city is one of the most unique places I have ever been and even though it was not what I expected, I was pleasantly suprised and would love to return.

Views of Fuji

2007-02-19T06:52:00.000-05:00

These are my pictures of Fuji San. Please write and let me know which one is the best.

Photos for Luke's Mother

2007-02-17T05:17:00.000-05:00

I finally made it to Fuji! Those pictures will be coming soon, but in the mean time here are some pictures for the family... Luke's family. We pulled an all nighter, so the first picture is us waiting on the first train to Gotemba. We then arrived and took pictures in Gotemba for an hour and made our way to Yamanakako. It was here that Luke slowly went insane, causing him to remove his shoe and attack me. A great trip.

A Few from Kamakura

2007-02-10T08:41:00.000-05:00

Grafitti

2007-02-01T08:47:00.000-05:00

The Enoshima Aquarium

2007-01-21T23:23:00.000-05:00

Just a few shots from the Aquarium.

Luke

2007-01-19T10:40:00.000-05:00

There's a new Shoe Hero in town and he goes by the name of Luke. This is my fellow aspiring photographer friend who goes out on shoots in random places with me. You can check out his work at his website: www.stucktothefridge.co.uk

Portraits?

2007-01-13T06:46:00.000-05:00

Shimokitazawa Murals

2007-01-09T09:17:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking about turning these photos and others like it into a series on Japan's public art. What do you think?

Noborito

2007-01-09T09:05:00.000-05:00

Atsugi, My New Hometown

2007-01-09T08:53:00.000-05:00

These are photos from New Years around Hon Atsugi.

Love Abounds

2006-12-25T09:40:00.000-05:00

Out and About in Enoshima

2006-12-21T08:35:00.000-05:00

These are pictures from my trip to Enoshima Beach. I walked along the beach snapping photos of locals and then headed out to the island where I watched the fishermen and visited the temples. I'm partically fond of the dogs and the demons.

Oyama

2006-12-03T05:22:00.000-05:00

These are pictures from my hike up Mt. Oyama (if you speak Japanese you know that's redundant). This was my first real viewing of Fuji San as well, a truly euphoric moment as I was completely dehydrated and semi-delusional. Wish I had made it to the top to take some panoramas.

Is this Thing On?

2006-11-28T09:44:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel like I'm just posting this for myself.

Around Hadano

2006-11-21T09:23:00.000-05:00

This is the mall that I work at. The infamous Jusco.

A bundle of telephone wires.

This was my first sighting of Fuji san. A monumental moment.

The People in My Life

2006-11-20T07:22:00.000-05:00

These are the boys. My roomates Kelly on the left and Jon on the right.

This is an image of my friend Takashi at the Taro Museum in Kawasaki.

My yasashi boss Reiko Chan.

The assistant staff member the kawaii Shino-chan.

Random Japan

2006-11-11T09:26:00.000-05:00

Isehara at Harvest Time

2006-11-08T08:42:00.000-05:00

These pictures were taken in the area surrounding the place where I work. It is harvest time and the wheat has been cut and dried while the ground is being burned so that it will be fertile in following years.

Back in Action

2006-11-07T21:55:00.000-05:00

I finally got my Blog back up and running. These are the pictures from the Hadano Tobaccop Festival, an event that takes place annually in the town I work in. There are many more to come.

The Continuing Adventure

2006-08-26T21:24:00.000-04:00

Monkeys and Mayhem

2006-08-25T16:25:00.000-04:00

Not so much mayhem, but there sure are a lot of monkeys.

Yet More

2006-08-19T16:19:00.000-04:00

A few more images including one of James getting the addition to his tatoo and one of our traveling companion in Cambodia, Dustin from BC.

Third Set

2006-08-18T16:17:00.000-04:00

More in the works. Write me and let me know what you think so far.