Autumn in Texas

It's a strange combination--the cold air meeting brown, dead earth. Trees stand like skeletons eerily swaying, naked in the wind. It wouldn't be cold if it weren't for the wind actually. But it's the kind of humid wind that goes right through you, like a gulf breeze. I miss the fiery fall's of Appalachia. And the mountains.

But I'm happy here in Texas. And I've discovered that it doesn't matter where you live in the world, there are always people who will make you smile, scenery that will make you happy to be alive, and experiences that will change you. And isn't that the point of life?

Here are just a few of the things I"ve observed about East Texas:

1. 90's music. I will never again think of the 90's when I hear the strains of Savage Garden. I will think of an East Texas bar with a juke box.

2. Which brings me to my second observation. Juke boxes--they're everywhere. Why have live music when you can have a juke box? That might work out if you share the musical taste of 70% of the bar. But that's  never the case. Just say no to Sir Mix A lot.

3. Trucks. Everyone told me everything was bigger in Texas, including your carbon footprint. It's just not necessary, people.

4. Roadkill. It is customary in Texas to place a beer bottle in the hand, hoof or paw of roadkill and take a photo. Nevermind why you had that empty beer can in your car. I can't make fun of this too much though, because in Tennessee it's legal to eat your roadkill. Redneck Thanksgiving much. Everyone get in the truck!

5. And just to add some positivity to it all--there are some awesome people here. People with stories at every turn. Like Ab Abernethy who has traveled all over the world, taught folk music to Janis Joplin and showed up at the Dalai lama's apartment a few years ago. I'm proud to have his type writer. Then there are more characters around, such as Brad Maule and Wally Knight, just to name a few. It's a writer's haven.

So maybe I should write more.

Nacogdoches, Texas

It was late March, mildly cold, and my room was empty. I had packed everything I could into my tiny car the night before. Now all I had to do was load up the dog, fill up on gas and head West. My destination was 800 miles away in a small town in Texas called Nacogdoches. Two weeks before I was hired as a copy editor by the Daily Sentinel. So I did what I had to do to follow my dream. I sold almost everything I owned, quit my job and found someone to sublet my apartment. Now I'm here, living the dream, so to speak. All in all I'm realizing a few things, like how I definitely want to get my master's in film. Right now, things are fine, but I can't see myself staring at a computer screen 8 hours a day for the rest of my life. I need to be a journalist, that I'm certain of. But I think I need to include all the visual elements of film. Seeing is believing.

But in the meantime, this is a charming town. It doesn't quite boast the music scene I'm used to. In fact, there isn't much of a music scene at all that I'm aware of yet. But this little town does have appeal. The oldest town in Texas, it boasts a rich history including (but not limited to) rumors of Bonnie and Clyde, Indian burial grounds and the accompanying ghost stories, and a charming downtown filled with forgotten antiques, many art galleries and delicious food. My late hours make it difficult for me to fully enjoy all of these things, but perhaps I'll get the opportunity once I'm acclimated to the crazy schedule. My plan is to sign up for a yoga class at Morning Glory downtown, and perhaps start making art to sell at the farmer's market on Saturdays. These simple goals seem rather lofty just yet, to be honest.

In other news, Ben Recchi has completed his journey by motorcycle across Central America. He decided to stop by Nacogdoches on his way back to New York. His seven month voyage reaped many incredible stories that he has devulged on his blog. There is talk of a book, and I'm going to make certain it happens. It will contain the nitty gritty details that would make his grandmother blush--the one's that aren't included on his blog. I need a project, and this seems like a good one.

Anyway, here are some shots around Nacogdoches today. Enjoy. Comment. Etc.

Kimberly

Keeping it real in the Middle East

Nicholas Kristof.

He's a two-time Pulitzer-prize winning journalist with an amazing knack for keeping it objective. I've been following his blog and his New York Times column for a while, but his recent coverage of the protests in Cairo was very impressive. Kristof covered the Tienanmen Square protest in '89, and has been covering wars and humanitarian crises for years. He's now moved on from Cairo to covering the protests in Iran.



Check out his blog here.

Ben rides to Central America again

It was around this time last year when my boyfriend, Amlan, and I met Ben Recchi in Guatemala. We were staying at Hotel Backpackers, a hostel in Rio Dulce, while volunteering at an orphanage called Casa Guatemala. Ben visited the orphanage with us and participated in our photography project with the kids. We brought several disposable cameras and allowed the kids to take photos of their world, through their eyes.

After a few days in Rio Dulce, we traveled with Ben to Quirigua, some Mayan ruins in the middle of a huge banana farm. Ben had been there before and insisted that it was a must-see. He was absolutely correct. The year before, Ben rode his motorcycle from his small town of New York City to Guatemala, and he had visited the ruins during that trip.

Well, Ben is doing it again. This time he stopped by Knoxville on his way down south and hung out with us for a couple of days. He is currently riding through Mexico with the photographs the children at Casa Guatemala took in his backpack. He plans to visit the orphanage again and give them the pictures.

Ben is once again updating a blog with all the details of his adventure. Click here to check it out.

Click here to view Ben's first blog that chronicles his adventure south of the border.

Good luck Ben!

Underbelly Project

Jasper Rees, New York Times writer, explores an underground, secret art exhibit in an abandoned subway station in New York. I like this concept, this hidden gem in a dismal forgotten corner of New York. Street art is typically pasted front and center, screaming propaganda from brick walls and trash cans. But this exhibit is different, and I think it really captures the true essence of street art. Check out the article here.

New Orleans street performers

I filmed these kids tap dancing on the streets of New Orleans in late July. Just now getting around to posting it. These talented kids attached coke cans to the bottoms of their shoes and tapped away while tourists meandered by, occassionally throwing a couple dollars in their box. Maybe Adidas would be interested in a commercial?

Peter DiCampo

A friend sent me a link to Peter DiCampo's work a couple month's back and I decided to post it on here. These photographs are truly amazing and this young photojournalist has already accomplished quite a bit in his short career. I was initially drawn to his work because DiCampo worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, where I studied abroad in the Spring of 2008.

His collection titled "Life without Lights" is a fantastic exposition of life in rural Ghana. In these photos, he used a flashlight to illuminate the lives of his subjects going about their nightly duties, whether working or dancing. Hope he doesn't mind that I ripped this photo of him off his facebook ; ). Check out the links below to his site and a New York Times article about him.

New York Times article about DiCampo's "Life without Lights" project.

Peter DiCampo's Web site.