Long nights

The lights got put outside this year on the little tree next to Kaj's room. The night begins so early these days that I feel rushed to try and spend anytime at all out in the sun, just doing anything to have some blue sky and wind. The mist on the window is because our house doesn't dry out much at this time of year as it seems to rain ALL the time.

Holiday

We live on a island but too bad its cold. Anyway, we had some presents to open this morning and there were some stockings too. Kaj and Eski both got new kites and so we went out this afternoon almost-dark to the beach for a test flight. The blue French military kite looked so lovely hovering over the water and then it was wet. At home again and there was some napping and now dinner time. Damn it gets dark early!

Winter in the North

The pond is frozen and deceptivly looking shallow in the morning sun. We all got up late this morning because the electric company shut off the power last night to do some pole replacements while we slept, thus since our lives revolve around electric power we were unable to charge our batterys till later.

Long ride back to Lopez from Piha...

This is a photo of my friend christopher in Sydney going for a snorkel at clovelly beach.
It took us 3 days total time but only 2 days by calandar to travel from Piha to Lopez via car, plane, train, car, fery boat. Wilmot, good to speak with you today and i think you may be my only reader. spent the morning rearranging my studio in the living room and then doing some paingting until I suddnely realized I had to take the truck full of trash and an old dryer to the island soild waste centre this cold afternoon , that done and rushing home to help Eski cook a dish for his school potluck and other homework assignments, breathe, eat.

kaj finds bugs

here is Kaj the Moana playing with a bug that had crawled its way on to Lauriew iBook some time this afternoon. Kaj is doing a photography class in school so many photos of the bug are taken.

Bushwalk and mussels on the beach

What a day this was! We went on a bush walk up through the Waitakere ranges to a remote beach that to get to we had a rough climb down a cliff with three rope sections to help us down the tight spots. After we got down to the hot sand we gathered a few sticks of wood for a fire our friends and there friend Jim had started. Then Jim showed us this cave that is only open at low tide whence we proceed to make our way through and out the other end where the rocks meet the west coast of New ealand. We swim across some rocks to another cave in to which the Maoris used to use as a hide away from fighting tribes due to the fact it is almost inaccessible at the most of times. On our way back we harvested a bucket of mussels for a nice cook on the beach, the boys both tried a bite but decide the texture was just too disgusting and ate crackers and avocados instead.

Piha, The Gap

Here I am surfing The Gap at Piha beach on a low tide. The ride is excellent because the wave is trapped in the small canyon and can only continue forward and not out sideways.
Kaj gets a rough ride and ends up with a rock rash
Eski stayed at home but Laurie came out for a ride as well.

Piha Beach

Kaj Eski and Laurie are here with me in Nz at Piha beach about an hour west of Auckland. Laurie and I are finished working on the job we came for so yesterday we all went for a surf, very nice. Today after visiting a friends house that actually has internet we are going into town, I have a doctors appointment and we have errands to do. I am getting shots for my upcoming job shoot in Africa and India for 10 weeks. We are going to try and see a film and maybe get some christmas shopping in as well.

Lopez Island

Its dark, a bit chill in the air and dark. I''ve been here a few days, got in just in time to see Kaj and Eski in thier repective plays. I'm doing all the stuff around the house that always needs doing, fixing things that break, clearing leaves, cutting black brerries back. To day the dump is open so I will do that too.
Seeing Laurie, talking, watching movies, riding Eskis electric bike, looking for work for next month.

So I'm in LA

Ive been here staying at Shiho and Andrews house enjoying not moving andd seeing old friends and working on Bi-The-Way when they call me up to shoot. I'm wondering how much longer this job will continue as they take down time to think about the project and wonder what is next. I find my self trying to find the next job.

Where I've been lately

Here is the route map of this grizzly journey I've been on for this film Bi-The-Way. I had a few hours to myself yesterday and enjoyed them all. Took myself to see Capote which I highly recommend, engrossing and a finely crafted script plus amazing acting had me emotionally drawn in for the entire film. Caught up on some sleep and drove Shiho to the airport for her trip to Washington DC. Got to go shoot this morning and all this weekend.

My Blundys...

My Blundys taking a foot break on a misty beach in Northern California. The mist rolled in this morning and We had gotten out to film some beach footage , I quickly took off my boots and rolled up my pants and splashed around in the waves. The black sand sticks to my feet after I get back in the car.

Seattle today

This photo of me climbing a tree some where in Eastern Oregon was taken at a rest stop with an interpitive display about the hard ships of life on the Organ Trail by the award winning photographer Wilmot Kidd. Misty and cool, such a contrast to where we have been lately. My lips aren't feeling parched but I miss the glow of the sun on my face. My still camera battery was left in a hotel room somewhere charging, and so I am relying on Wilmot's photos now for my blogging inspiration. We are ensconsed at the Super8motel next to SeaTac airport while waiting for Jane Han, or "The Han Dynasty" as we have come to call her. Some how her plane connection didnt function in Las Vegas last night at 1 AM so she spends the night at the airport. This morning after I realized that we would spend most of the day in a cafe doing internet I looked up this incredible site for the best place to hang for the afternoon. Caffeinated and Unstrung
I seem to be the one on the trip with the least clothes so I am the one who says "hey who has dirty laundry" and then get to find the coin-op. The dryer hadn't finished by the time it was time to pack up for the airport so damp laundry accompanied us all day long in the big yellow bag.

Provo Utah

We make it to Provo Utah this afternoon. After being told we need permission to shoot on the campus I take a small break while they round up interviews. I go to the BYU art museum and enjoy the photography exibhit. After a couple of interviews and a garden burger at the creamery cafe we head out to find accomidations and do the internet for a few hours and then acting on a tip find a friday night provo Utah hang out where we interview people till 2 AM. I fall asleep on the drive back to the hotel. Sorry no photo today.

I love the warm sun...

This photo from Sydney NSW Australia reminds me of the sun on my face and shoulders. It is cross processed slide film taken with my Lieca IIc.

Today was a regroup day here in Tempe Arizona, a few interviews on campus and me doing some laundry while the rest of the crew does producer duties and Wilmot changes the oil in the car, makes keys so we can all access or house on wheels with out having to find him when ever we want in. October in Arizona is a nice temperature. We have an interview this evening at 11pm and Wilmot has turned me on to Bittorrent so I am looking to watch "Shermans March" on my computer. It is one of my favorite and most inspiring doco's.

Finally a internet connection

After many long days of driving and shooting, we find a hotel that has wireless internet and all plug in to do emails and blogs, collect podcasts, download and upload. This photo is of our first day on the raod in northwest Texas on the way to Roswell NM. It is hard driving, riding all the time and then when not moving getting out to shoot. We are meeting some amazing people who all have some really interesting things to say about love and relationships. The movie also has a website where they blog at www.bithewaymovie.com

A photo I like

Here is a photo of Jo's pool in Dallas that Wilmot helped me photoshop to perfection.

Last day on Lopez for awhile.

Last day on Lopez for awhile. Been ripping DVD’s to the hard drive for research refrences. The hard drive space is running out. Inspiring things. So many things left undone around the house though. For example painting it. That will take a while when it happens. Karen Fisher gave me a lift from the ferry to Sea-Tac this morning, thank you Karen as the bus ride is long and boring with out some one interesting to talk with.


Lots of time to hang at the airport before the flight to Denver and Dallas. I made a point to see all the great and not so great public art on dispaly and admire the sleek planes from the large windows SEA-TAC has. To bad there isn’t a place to go outside on such a nice shiny day.

Morning on Lopez

Woke this morning to a dense fog. So nice to be with Laurie and the boys. They still have some of their surfer hair from our summer together in Baja Sur. And the garden produce is over flowing the house and onto the porch. Things need doing, light bulbs need changing, car oils need changing, stuff from us being away all summer, and then the chores that one assigns one self in a relationship with others and objects.

Redding CA-PDX

When I woke this morning this was the first thing I saw.


The jug was glowing with light. I drove all day, stopped once at cow creek to have luch and take a dip in the water but after getting in half way decide it was too cold and just sat in the sun instead. In Portland I went over to see Eric E. at his "office" which seems to me more like the greatest studio space and he showed me his amazing infared photos and we talked about camera stuff. Had dinner with my oldest brother Bjorn and Kirsten his wife of 20? or more years. And now I sit on their sofa writing.

I'm tired behind my eye balls.

I'm in a hotel in redding Ca.. I'm tired behind my eye balls. Sitting in a car driving is mind numbing. I left LA this morning and drove on cruise control all day. Stopped in the afternoon for a cup of tea on the back bumper somewhere up at the north end of the San Joaquin valley.



I find that the most lovely part of the valley and where there has been a grass fire the color contrasts are exquisite. Had a sandwich for dinner and some water.
This really is the beginning of the film for me because I am doing research on equipment and thinking all day as I drive about how to shoot and edit a on-the-road montage that is not cliche, hasn't been used a thousand times. We have all seen them, boring. No two road trips are the same.

I don't want to leave..

I'm at Maryanne's house, and have to pack all my stuff and get ready to drive tomorrow. But I'm having such a good time with Maryanne I don't want to leave. We packed her garage and sorted things out for here garage sale. Spending time doing things with her, talking, its so nice to have such love and camaraderie