yeah.

blankcollective:

I missed #selfiesaturday, but I’m making it up to you all with a little #selfiesunday. These are pretty rough screencaps, but on top of a few other concepts, I’m working on a rather expansive project that started January 1st of this year and will end December 31st. The basic goal is to capture a one second clip from each day. Best parts of the day. Worst parts of the day, (but hopefully not…) and also the mundane parts. Everything. I want it all taped down. It will compile each day together into a 6-minute video. I want to be as honest in my portrayal as possible, journalistically-speaking, but also in an effort to remain as true to myself as possible and what life means for me.

So far, it starts in the middle of India. There are a lot of shots of the cityscape from my drivers seat, feet kicking with boredom at the doctors office or at home or at work, and concert shots. We’ll see where it all ends up in roughly 210 days. I know I’m looking forward to it.

-Alyssa

zachsuggs:

Traveling to Haiti for the first time was an incredibly humbling experience. The things that mattered so much to me in the States left my mind as I was immersed in the culture. Questions like, “where do I want to eat today?” seemed so shallow in a country that asks, “will I eat today?” Even though it was my first time in Haiti, I felt a strange familiarity that was both beautiful and comforting.

It was a paradox.

How could a country so different from the one in which I was raised bring about a feeling of nostalgia? It’s a thought that has yet to be fully realized, but I think at least part of what I experienced were the things common to all humanity — not only physiological needs, but psychological needs such as friendship and recreation.

Seeing only our vast differences without recognizing our human connection leads to a cold and unempathetic relationship (if it leads to a relationship at all), while an exclusive focus on our similarities, ignoring the differences, doesn’t motivate us to work for change. Similarities give the heart and drive to remedy the differences.

Holy cow. My buddy Zach created some amazing diptychs.

blankcollective:

For my Man Crush Monday, I’m choosing Benjamin Rasmussin. Based out of Denver, CO, Rasmussen spends his days currently freelancing for the big dogs such as Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

Aside from being a POYi of 2010 award winner, Rasmussen seems to very lucidly translate what he sees in his head to the resulting photo with ease; something that many photographers, including myself, struggle with. He incorporates a sort of unique symmetry along with a very muted color palette to make the actual message he wants to convey stand out, and it’s absolutely working.

-Alyssa

I like these photographs.

And I’ve stood right below that trail map at Vail.

blankcollective:

I love making photographs, even if they are from an iPhone. Although most people just throw up their little mobile device and snap pictures left and right, I believe there can still be a certain intentionality in image making with camera phones.

It’s rained a lot this week in Ohio, but each day, around 7 p.m., the rain stopped and gave me time to go and ride my bike. These are photographs I’ve taken throughout the week on those rides.

-Chris