San Francisco

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Another city, another world... With only two nights spent here, it's already been one of my favourite places I've been to yet in America. Everything from the architecture, the street art, the shops and the people.. I've fallen in love. 

Thrifting has been amazing here, it's so cheap and the clothes are so cool and pretty. I got a $4 top yesterday - obviously very pleased with.  

I met some friends out here too which made it 10x more fun and exciting. 

Shopping isn't the only thing I am loving here. The street art is insane and as we were walking around all day I got to see some pretty amazing stuff. 

And of course since I'm doing my project on street photography, I've got so many new pictures I can use. 

 

The rest of my photos pretty much sum up the other parts of the day. Chilling in a park with the young people of San Francisco (pretty much all off their faces), meeting more friends, eating yummy food and just enjoying the real heart of San Francisco. 

This is a long post but probably one of the most interesting to look at with the bright colours and amazing art. I'll be updating more as I've got another 3 nights here before I head home to London, and of course I'll be posting my last video here of San Francisco. 

M x

Just Before San Francisco

Grandma famous?

Apologies for this short and dull post but since I've just arrived in San Francisco there is really little I can say. 

Before we arrived yesterday, we stopped off at an art gallery ((not quite sure where but it was just outside San Fran)

The artist had painted many different people she'd met who had interested her deeply.. obviously my Grandma was one of them. Sadly we had just missed the painting of Raga since it had been moved to New York to another art gallery 2 days before. But there were postcards of the painting so we got to see something.. 

As well as Raga being the reason we went, the other paintings were incredible too. 

I particularly liked the distorted paintings, a very unique and different approach to portraits. I wish I'd been able to use these in my art last year but then again who cares because GCSE's are long over... apart from the results which is 6 days and counting! 

I'll hopefully be able to visit some more art galleries in San Francisco and as I've only got 4 days left I need to make the most of it. 

I'll be updating soon as today is thrifting day for me! 

M x

Los Angeles

The place to be 

These photos pretty much say it all. Los Angeles was and is one of the coolest places I've ever been to. Luckily I had the pleasureeee of having a friend in LA who made the experience a real one. 

We stayed right next to Venice Beach so obviously I walked up and down Venice Sidewalk many times. Quite like Camden but obviously a lot more interesting for me. It had shops selling bongs, pipes,souvenirs, skateboards, clothes and so much more. Loads of food places and even Medical Marijuana doctors which is probably one of the most exciting things to see as it's not common AT ALL in London. 

I've got soo many more photos from LA but I don't want to completely bore anyone reading this! I'm now on the way to San Francisco which is my last stop of this WEST SIDE TRIP! Although it'll be sad leaving America, I cannot wait to get home and get ready for Reading Fest! 

Almost forgot... I've made another video which is obviously going to be just LA! I've uploaded it to both Youtube and Vimeo so please click both links ((if you've got time)) 

VIMEO LOS ANGELES 

and 

see ya'll in San Fran 

M x

Universal

Yesterday we went to the famous Universal Studios which we'd obviously not miss out on here in LA.It was such a good day and obviously we went on a few rides and got yummy stuff to eat.Obviously as I am interested in film I had my notes ready to take down anything I saw or heard. I got some pretty good films to watch that were all on billboards while queuing for the tour guide of Universal Studios. 

They seem to be very proud of their sets and the number of films and tv series they've produced. Even I was impressed as some of my favourite series and films were made there. I'm sure many people have been on the tour as its a world famous attraction but I'll add some photos just for interest. 

Riding along on the tour bus, seeing places like Wisteria Lane and the Physco motel and house inspired me so much more to continue filming and peruse some sort of career in film. Obviously I am still heading towards fashion too but film mixed in would be so ideal for me. Just the whole feel of it all really excited me, as it probably would do to anyone. 

Also... I got round to watching one of the films I'm going to by studying next year, also a classic: Groundhog Day. After he goes through times of recklessness with suicidal acts, anger, bitterness and misery he begins to learn and help the people who need it. It's such a great film and so easy to watch yet I'm sure most people have watched it (I'm just very lazy)

Not much else to update on except I'm leaving LA tomorrow to go to San Francisco with two days in between. I'm so excited as I've got friends who are also there and we've booked to swim with dolphins, plus this is the week we are going to do the most shopping!! Can't get better. 

I've got a video in the making right now of my time in Los Angeles which will hopefully be up either tomorrow or the next day depending if its done/ if I have internet. 

Laterzzzz 

M x

Street Photography

Sudden realisation that I only have a couple weeks left of summer and as I'm completely booked up for the next couple weeks due to America, Reading Festival and my Central Saint Martins Fashion course, I need to get started with my summer assignments for my new school now!!!!

As I don't have a book to yet start my photography assignment (which is what I am working on first... next comes film, then english lit and history) I am just planning what I am going to do in each page- much like I used to do in Art.
Planning my portfolio, editing photos and putting everything together in my head has suddenly made me a bit more open to street photography. It's become a very interesting way of taking photos for me now with a lot of research I've been doing all day. 

I'm now determined to get some shots I am happy with and will be able to be pleased about when showing my new teacher my work. I've also had the idea of comparing the similarities and differences of the street photography in America/Cali and London. I thought this would be a more interesting approach to my assignment and as I took Art GCSE, I'm very used to a lot of comparing,analysing and being a little creative. 

''The urge to take a photo of something solid, something real. It's the happening shot of an image capturing the moment around you. A decisive quick movement. It's alive. The deep charisma of the inner world, a less obvious image. Street Photography is, life at a still.''

I've gotten some people to write their own definition of 'Street Photography' which I am going to begin with in my assignment. 

''Capturing the personality of the not-so-exposed areas around you''

''Urban photography on the street, like gritty matter''
''Pictures of specific things that you think look good or weird around you''

''Managing to notice the small eccentricities that one might ignore in the mundane repetitive routine but that are still prevalent nonetheless''

I've also been doing a lot of research on the street photographer Eric Kim who I appreciate very much! I love is black and white film camera work. Like some of my quotes, Eric Kim's photography really identifies what these people mean by the ''gritty matter''. I am so completely in love with his work that I am now trying to invest in a film camera although with so little money I will probably have to wait till Christmas!

Even more so, Eric Kim is based in Los Angeles which is where I am now so looking at his photos has inspired me to go out in particular places and to not be afraid of taking pictures of people because they always end up looking incredible. ((Obviously I am not as good as him so my photos wont actually turn out nearly as good))

Please check out my FLICKR 
I just made it and would be appreciated if you could just look at the few photos I have on it. 

M x

Grand Canyon and others

From a hotel with a pool , gym and spa to a little cabin in the woods with no signal or internet…….. you can only imagine the slight shock I was put through. Although I feel like I'm in some movie going to a holiday cabin like in Sex and the City, I really love it here even though its remote, its just what I need after Vegas.

This film is just nature which was actually fun filming and editing though it did take agessss to find a song to fit. I even went on a little walk alone in the woods for some filming and a cheeky cigarette.  

So here's the second film of the holiday.. 

NATURE

NEXT STOP: LOS ANGELES .. madmadmad

Touch down Las Vegas

We decided that if we wanted to really get the full crazy experience of Las Vegas then of course we've got to stay in the famous 5* hotel, Trump. Arriving into the hotel was just the start of the short but enough three day trip we were about to adventure. 

Las Vegas was pretty intense. From the casinos, to the people, the buildings and the many 'fake' cities within the city. I managed to visit Rome, Paris, China town, Little Venice and New York from the distant. Even typing this just makes me sound completely mad but that's what you get in Vegas. Three days was just enough time as me and even my family were starting to get a little freaked about by the culture but loved it all the same.

This is my first proper holiday I've been able to take pictures on my new ((beautiful)) camera. I then realised where the film setting was and started to take a few shots. As I got into the filming I thought about all the films I used to make/edit, even though those films were just for family and friends it made me want to start again and with the incredible surroundings I was able to take many shots of things that really caught my eye.

So after three days of filming and editing in between I came up with my first short film that I've done in months. I am quite pleased with it but I'm just starting up again meaning they are not going to be as good as I would like but whatever because the more practice, the better I will get (( HOPEFULLY )) 

Enjoy and don't judge the cool effects of reverse I've done xxxx

NEXT STOP… GRAND CANYON 

and here is the video::::: 

LAS VEGAS