About
I'm a photographer. I was born to see, my duty is to look.
Movies
2001:A Space Odessy, Trainspotting, Dr. Strangelove, Psycho, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, The Party, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Brazil, Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas, Blow-Up, La Dolce Vita, Amarcord, All The President's Men, Marathon Man, Klute, Apocalypse Now, Silence Of The Lambs, Harold and Maude
Music
Broken Social Scene, Jimi Hendrix, Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, White Stripes, The Strokes, Metric, Emily Haines, Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck, The October Trio, Klaxons, Books
Books
Portrait of an Artist as a young man, Picture of Dorian Grey, The Sun Also Rises, A Movable Feast, On The Road, Dharma Bums, Sound Bites, I Am Not Myself These Days, Lord Of The Rings, Edie, A Tale Of Two Cities, Life Of Pi, Ishmael, The Peaceful Warrior, Naked Lunch
Photographers/Artists
Man Ray, Andy Warhol, David LaChapelle, Banksy, Picaso, Weakhand, The Dark, The Polaroid Kid
DecemberDec 21 Monday Mon 09
Icicles in my Mustache
We killed it. We were given one simple task and failed right away. its not entirely our fault, but I suppose we should have seen it coming. Our friend Laura was going back to Germany briefly to see her folks and she left Jelly and I in charge of her plant, a plant we were to get to know and give a name. It was a plant Laura was proud of as it hadn't yet died and all her other plants died very quickly.So at 2 in the morning J and I leave L's and start heading back to J's place in the bitter bitter Beograd Cold and by the time we get home the poor little plant is dead. What was a white bloom hs gone black the leaves are going darker and drooping and kinking. And thats that. I don't think we can save this one. I feel bad, it was a beautiful plant with a history.The Belgrade Cold is a murderer. It was so cold that my breath condensed and froze on my mustache. I was actually pulling little chunks of ice out of it when we got home. This may be the coldest place I've ever been, though thats not saying much. I live if gloriously temperate Vancouver and try to avoid the cold as much as possible as it upsets me. Had I my 'druthers I'd be somewhere warm every winter. Thailand, India, The Bahamas, Tijuana, maybe even Australia if I got desperate.But here I am. Dead of winter 2009, Beograd, Serbia.Aside from the cold its beautiful (and I'll admit that the snow does add a magical quality to it that I kinda like. Its that white Christmas I've only sorta had in that soon to be slush kinda way back home.The past couple days have been full of late nights, strong drink, loud music, very fun people and strong drinks. And Meat. Hooo hooo. I'm Vegitarian? Though I'm sure I could survive that way it'd be a challenge that I don't need in life. Instead the other day was Meat day when I woke up to Burreck (spelled Phoenetically in my own Serbian way (as in not spelled right)) which is Filo wrapped ground beef. Delicious. Later I had a burger type thing... Big meat patty with Cabbage, the Serbian Cream Cheese like cheese (same consistance as cream cheese but way more flavour) and some other stuff in a Pita like bun. Delicious. Washed down with Wine in a cave and then burned off with Dancing at Grad. Awww yeah. Yesterday I had Hot Chocolate that was SO thick it blew my mind. I'm also knocking back Turkish Coffee like never before. And of course roasted pickled red pepper. Its grown on me. I like Serbian Food. Today I'm going to wander and take photos of icicles and snow and Beograd before the Heat Wave kicks in later today. I'm conflicted as how to dress. Its negative 14 right now and is going to be rising to positive 4 over the day. Long underwear? We'll see.
(via Waber-omatic)
DecemberDec 18 Friday Fri 09
I'm in Beograd!
Soooo, as the title suggests I am in Belgrade, Serbia. Its very very cold. As in I'm wearing almost every warm layer I brought. (I've decided that wearing both my nice sweater AND my red hoody is just barbaric. Standards you see.) Its snow white out side and beautiful. There is a shocking charm to this place that I really didn't expect. I think its partly just the joy of seeing one of my best friends again after FAR too long, but the city helps too. I've been introduced to a couple of her other wonderful friends (with more on the way) and I've been brought to my new favorite drinking hole! Its some old man's house that he put a couple tables and benches in and then he and his wife sit in the bed room watching TV and occasionally checking on things. If you want something when they're not around you knock on the door and ask! And ther toilet is THEIR toilet beside the bathtub! Its so quaint and charming! And I'm digging their local brandy type thing. Its made in an assortment of different flavours depending on the fruit used. So far I've tried to: Apricot and Quince. I'm told that it'll knock me on my ass (And when you try it you can tell that it is capable of doing this) but you don't end up with a hang over! Its like the miracle drink!What else... We went to the Chinese Market today (I KNOW) and that was cool. There was a lil' noise toy thing that played Christmas Carols (like,,,, one of those musical cards where its just one electric note at a time) but most of the notes were slightly to very out of tune and between songs rather than pausing it would awkwards slide from one note to the next like a small dying robot. I laughed. Had I a bigger budget I would have bought it to share the joy (Bigger budget and not being afraid that it wouldn't stop. It didn't stop the entire time I was there. It just kept playing badly over and over and over and over. Terrible)I'm digging the food. Completely unexpected, I used to make fun of it (friends are Serbian force food on me... maybe it was because I knew that in Canada I don't NEED to eat it... Who knows) but now I legit enjoy it. Roasted and pickled Red Peppers! Yes please (Though not too soft please) Weird mashed stuff that I'm told is beans? Yes please! Okay thats all I've tried thus far. Other than that its been corn bread and today we stewed apples with Ginger and Cinamon and called that dinner (backed up by Corn Bread with Red Peppers about and hour later). All and all I like it here. And would willingly come back (in the summer. I still don't like cold)
In other news the flights were all right. Had a pretzle and Beer in the Frankfurt Airport (I walked down every hall until I found somewhere I could have a Pretzle and Beer) Watched the New Harry Potter on the plane. It was pretty good. And watched that documentary with Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge. It was super cool. At one point they jammed out a Zepplin Song (I think In My Time of Dying, but I can't remember. I was tired. Very very tired) and it was through the roof cool.
Oh, and some random girl approached my friends and I in a bar and asked the deepest most personally meaningful question I've been asked in a long time. It was kinda intense!
(via Waber-omatic)
In Belgrade.
DecemberDec 16 Wednesday Wed 09
Good bye for now!
I have to go to the airport in 2 hours. I was hoping to get some sleep in, but as usual, I end up making Christmas Cards and such until 3:39. Whats the point in sleeping now! Awwell. Last night in my good old trusty bed. After this its Hostel Dorms and airmats until the middle of February.
Perhaps this tiredness will help me sleep on the flights ahead. First I go to San Francisco where I only have 3 hours down time (not enough to really dig the city unfortunately) then I fly to Frankfurt where I have another 3 hours (enough time for Pretzel and Beer?) before I get on another plane and finally arrive in Belgrade at 5:00pm. So start flying at 6:30 am, stop the next day at 5:00pm. Awww yeah.
Also, if you haven't seen it... The Family Guy with dimension jumping is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. A long time. A long time.
Peace yo! Check back less regularly as I won't update as often. BUT come march or perhaps April if my dad and I do end up going on a road trip south I will have stories the likes of which you will enjoy.
(via Waber-omatic)
DecemberDec 15 Tuesday Tue 09
paking, skyping, and being Alex Waber: Alex Extraordinair!
So, I'm packing because I'm leaving tomorrow morning at the ungodly hour of 4:30AM. Gaddamn. And so I was on to Liquids (toothpaste, deoderant, hair stuff, ect) when I stumbled accross the problem of how much can I carry on. So I pulled out this handy dandy list that Figh Center gave me with all kinds of useful facts. Well, I was motoring through their "essential Travel Guide", skimming as I knew most of it anyways, when I came across this brilliant line: "Travellers should be aware that different living standards and practices may exist outside of canada including but not limited to: provision of utilities, eg. Water and electricity; accommodations; services of all kinds; food; food preparation and water quality. Flicht Centre shall not be held responsible for any loss, damage, illness or injury resulting from different living standards."
Thats a load of crap. If I go to China and get sick because I am sleeping ina cockroach infested hotel room eating semi cooked food prepared by a guy who didn't wash his hands... Well I blame flight centre! At no point was I informed that by going to countries other than canada I would have to be prepared to live with different standards of living! Whats up with that! Other places CAN'T be different from here!
On that note its funny how hotel rooms all have a very similar feel. But thats another story I can't talk about. Sorry.
Back to reading thigns. Old Spice had this on their deoderant: "HIGHER PREFORMING odour protection*
*Than Before"
Ah, before... I remember before. Before was good times, in the long long ago.
But I digress. The fact of the matter is that whilst I packed my Bro called on the old Skype and we had a chat and it was
rad. I ne'er had skyped before. I could see him. I could show him my mustache REALLY big It was awesome....
Which makes me think... there should be a way to use the lil' camera on my computer to take those shitty web cam shots that were all the rage back when apple first came out with that amusing program where you could make twirls and what not. Hold on a sec....
Aww yeah, photo boot, there you are...
So there you go. That is me and my Mo the night before I hop on a plane and fly fly fly away to Serbia and Turkey and other. Awwww yeah.
(via Waber-omatic)
packingpackingpackingpackingpacking
DecemberDec 14 Monday Mon 09
Holy Dexter-Ending, Batman! That was grim and unexpected.
Muuuuusiiiiiiic
I'm packing and listening to music as we speak. Whats playing is Sufjan Steven's strange album "The BQE." I say strange because, well, it is. Its essentially a symphony. It IS a symphony. With sweeping scores and repeated refrains throughout and a sorta theme to it all. Though there is the jarring yet awesome song "Traffic" right in the middle which goes pleasingly electronic just to liven to mood a lil'. That song just ended and I'm in the meandering next song now. This is a symphony I would LOVE to see preformed live.
Music is an interesting one. The way it can pull at emotions, make you spontaneous and change moods drastically. I feel that it may be the highest art form; its completely abstract. How can you describe a sound? How can you apply words to something you only experience with one sense (occasionally you feel it too, I guess) But this invisible force is able to raise you to the heights of excitement and then bring you to tears. Invisibly. Its not there. Its barely real.
Last night I was at the Narrow and one of my favourit songs was played. but the situation caused the song to become new and exciting and ultimately changed itself and the situation completely. Pulling fortha level of spontaneity that I at least try for the most part to avoid and restrain. The song is by Sigur Ros and is called "Inní mér syngur vitleysingur". Its epic. I played it as my third to last song of my last day or work at Valhalla Pure. The second to last was one of my all time favourit songs "No Cars Go" by Arcade Fire. THAT is the song I want played at my funeral. I figure at the end, after the dramatic speeches and such when everyone gets up to go eat cake and tiny appitizer sausages "No Cars Go" will be played at a good thumping volume. A volume you can feel. It'll be beautiful.
The last song of the play list was "Come Sail Away" by Styx. And it was rad. It gets a smile on everyone who hears its face. And people hate to admit that they secretly LOVE that song. An dpeople who watch South Park love it even more!!!
Now I loose the jist of my point..
Anyways so yesterday I go to this Secret Christmas Breakfast thing with my friends at my friends house and it was rad! Completely Vegan! Waffles! With a hella ton of Chocolate Moose! It was Hella good! And Vegan! And hot Apple Cider and Rooooooibos Chai. I highly recommend looking in to one of the Secret Suppers! I plan to go next chance I get (as in in three months or MORE because first I'm gone, then the charming host of the Suppers is taking the suppers on tour! (So it may be coming to a city near you soon!!!) But after all that I will go to a supper (secretly) and enjoy a nice vegan supper (secretly).
Anyways, back to packing. (Secretly.)
(via Waber-omatic)
2 days left and tonight is full of sushi.
DecemberDec 13 Sunday Sun 09
