Wings Of Grey

Hitch-Hiking the Mongol Rally

2011-09-05T13:59:00.003-04:00

Hitch Hiking the Mongol Rally

Sitting on top of a hill next to a small mountain Ovoo, gazing at the expansive and dusty Gobi-Altai, I was contemplating my escape route. I wasn't really doing anything, mulling around Altay City, a soum with a population of about 16,000. I was feeling a little dejected at the thought of having to make the 30+ hour bus ride back to Ulaanbaatar, nor was I quite ready to go back, but quickly wearing out my welcome at a friend's tiny, one room, soviet square cinder block of an apartment. I had seen the slightly askew, hand written sign for the Mongol Rally Auto Shop in the center of town, and as I had never heard of the Mongol Rally before my friend explained.

The Mongol Rally is a charity event that starts with teams purchasing impossibly small and or ridiculous vehicles to cross over 10,000 miles and two continents from Goodwood England to Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. If the vehicles make it through the impossible Mongolian terrain, they are then auctioned off and the money is then distributed to the Christina Noble Foundation, an organization that cares for children who are at risk, whether on the streets or in their own households.

So, at the suggestion of my friend, I decided that I was up for one more Mongolian adventure and I would ask the cars passing through town for a lift out. The first stream of cars had just started to make an appearance, often stopping at the Post Office for internet checks, or for quick lunch breaks before hitting the dusty road again. Unbeknownst to me at the time, there was also a second, smaller charity drive happening, so the first batch of cars I asked a ride from were actually from that faction. The response was curt at best. While two cars did not have room, the third one clearly did but they had “hell no” written all over their faces as they not so politely told me they couldn't oblige me.
Feeling a little dejected on day one, and no sign of cars on day two, I decided to try again on day three before sucking it up and buying a bus ticket. I spotted two cars parked in a lot with no drivers to be found nearby. Dusty, rattled looking little tin cans packed to the brim. As I crossed the street I can make out a couple of guys, obviously foreigners, hanging outside the Post Office. Perfect. Even on the Mongol Rally, people want to check their Facebook or blog about their adventures for friends and family back home. I approach the small cluster and introduce myself. I take a minute to inquire about their route, any mishaps along the way, and how they are enjoying the glorious “roads” that are mere pathways crisscrossing the open fields. They were nice English chaps that I made easy conversation with so I made my pitch to them about getting a lift. Unfortunately they just didn't have the space. Little did any of us know that, as I walked away from those nice lads, that it would not be the last time I would see them.
    This was the moment that I had originally decided to go buy a bus ticket, but maybe it was the Universe speaking to me, or my stomach, but I decided to return to the apartment for a quick lunch before heading to the bus stop. It's safe to say that had I not made that decision I never would have ended up on the craziest 4 day ride across Mongolia. As I re emerged from the apartment I spotted a Land Cruiser with AMBULANCE written on the side, drive by. Score. The vehicle was heading in the direction of the Auto shop. Figuring I'd give it one more go, I headed in the same direction. The Auto Shop had suddenly turned into a Mongol Rally parking lot. Three cars and several people were milling about and there definitely was a caged wolf pup in the back.   A young man was leaning into the window of the Land Cruiser Ambulance. I approached him and struck up a conversation similar to that I had with the two previous cars from earlier in the day. Two Brits Two Blondes were four in a small silver two door Ford KA . One Brit skips up behind me and enthusiastically points out that I am already equipped with a Leatherman on my belt and a Fanny Pack.
“I'm always come prepared” I exclaim.
One of the Blondes, a fellow American girl, points to a Blue Peugeot in the back, hood up and one wheel already off.
“These guys are broken down but they might have room....if they can get their vehicle fixed....”

A tall lanky fellow saunters over. He is the driver for 206 A Race Odyssey. Keith, a Northern Irishman, explains that he just drove 80 km with no breaks and the tire blew out and the rim was crushed. The other members of the car are Josie from New Zealand and Sayan, a Buryat Russian both who reside in Germany. A truly international group of people who just tossed an American into their mix.
I ask what the likelihood of a car revival would be and the status at the time seemed to be a toss up. But the good news was that if the car was fixed, then I would have a ride as their 4th team member had visa issues and had to cut the trip short. We waved goodbye to Two Brits Two Blondes and the Land Cruiser as they continued their journey with plenty of daylight left for driving. I make myself comfortable in the the Auto Shop parking lot, taking note that some issues with the wheel had seemed to be getting resolved. After about an hour, it's determined that the car would in fact be drivable and I hurry back to the apartment to grab my gear that I would be practically hugging for the next several days in the jam packed Peugeot named Lionel. With spirits high we cram in and take off. I was finally getting out of this boring little soum and I was ready for whatever obstacle would get tossed our way. About twenty minutes into the drive as we pass under the Archway on the outskirts of the town and into nothing but a thousand kilometers of grass, rock, and camels, Keith exclaims in his charming Irish lilt,
“um, hey guys, we still don't have breaks. We have to go back.”
Josie groans, “are you sure you can't drive a thousand kilometers with no breaks?”.
I think at the time we were all almost inclined to say fuck it, who needs breaks, but as Keith was the actual driver he made the decision that breaks were indeed useful and we did need to return to the mechanics. As we turned around and once again passed under that Altay City archway, Keith looks over his shoulder at me and asks how my first day with the Mongol Rally was.
I shrugged a reply, “As I expected”    Back at the mechanic it's clear that we would be staying the night. Assured that we would have breaks, we woke at first light only to discover that we did not in fact, have breaks. But within two hours the issue is resolved and this time I pass under that archway for the last time. With Bayanhonger being our goal for the day we speed along the dirt road choosing the least offensive route that's cut into the pastureland. The weather is poor, the cold incessant drizzle that lasts the entire day and seeps into your bones. The dirt roads split in several directions, one going over a small ridge, while the other goes around. We exit the car to get a better view and in the distance we spot two cars at the base of the ridge line. We decide that before cresting the hill we would ask the cars which direction we needed to go in, although when asking locals the answer was usually given in a brisk hand gesture towards a horizon line. As we roll up to the two parked cars I immediately recognize red Hyundai and silver Punto as the vehicles owned by the group I had talked to outside the Post Office. The Shantastics and Mathematicians Not Mechanics had not been aware of the time change and were casually drinking coffee and rolling out of their tents even though it was pushing near 10 am. After a brief chat we leave them to pack up their car and continue onward, making note that they would probably catch up with us since we were driving pretty slowly. The other teams weren't without their problems either. The Shantastics needed a jump start every morning so they had ended up convoying with Mathematicians Not Mechanics and the Mathematicians had no shocks and had been driving with almost no breaks since Hovd, just minimal back breaks and a hand break which later that day or the next ended up becoming completely useless while trying to avoid smashing into the other car during a short stop.

Between the dirt, the sand and the patter of rain, we carved out some mileage before spinning out and giving ourselves a good scare. Seconds later the other two cars careen over the hillside. They had narrowly missed a scene were we potentially could have ended up on our backside. At that point onward we became a convoy.

Our first hurdle of the day was a large river crossing. I had crossed it once before in the van I hitched the opposite way with. But now there was rain in the mix and much tinier, crappier cars involved. We approached the small cluster of Ger's at the rivers edge. Several children come running towards us, excited by the foreigners and probably being fairly familiar with the annual flux of weird cars and weird people needing a tow over the river. We step out and contemplate our options. It was possible and actually probably that one or none of the cars would make it. The Mathematicians had already narrowly escaped a river fiasco when they straight up sank in the middle of a previous one. As the children mill around us and the local Mongolian men prepare their tractors to tow us, we all shuffle our feet and procrastinate. Nobody wants to be the first sucker to try it out. One by one we all get ferried across, water trickling in under the doors we all expect the worst and hope for the best. Safely across and engines running (after another jump start for the Shantastics) we are surprised by another smaller river. Why hadn't they taken us across this one as well? It certainly didn't look that bad. But with the rain, it definitely had some current to it. The two other cars charge through it first. Then Keith revs the engine and makes a run for it. Kaput. We are stalled out and engine flooded. FUCK. Without so much as a second glance the other team members jump in shoes and all to push us out of the middle of the river. I don't know much about cars but the situation seemed pretty dire. Someone mentioned maybe having to bust out the tow line. But we were on the wrong side of the river so the only option was forward not backwards. In fact it was Josie who mentioned after the tractors took us over that “there was no going back to Altay now”. As we are weighing our options a car with a family of Mongolians drive up and stop. A girl jumps out. “Sprechen Sie Deutsch?” A Mongolian who speaks German. Yet no Germans to be had. Yet. The girl's father comes over and takes a look under the hood. Using my Leatherman, he unscrews some tie on the engine and takes hold of a tube and pours out several ounces of water and then miraculously chokes the engine back to life. WIN.

Never assume you are in the clear. Careening our way into the homestretch, leaving half of Mongolia at our backs, Bayanhonger never seemed so reachable. Then came the massive CLUNK. With dismay in our eyes we knew that sound could not have been good. And seconds later, the overwhelming petrol fumes confirms what we already knew. We hit large rock and cut a huge hole into our fuel tank as well as our fuel pipes. This really was the end of the road for poor Lionel, as we toss a plastic container under the car to catch the fuel pouring out. Our convoy stops to asses the situation. We are 70km from Bayanhonger. Someone pulls out some product that is specifically meant for patching the fuel tank but we also had punctured the fuel pipes which was a bigger issue that would have to be resolved at the mechanics. The Shantastics cheerily exclaim that they have a tow line and would tow us to Bayanhonger. As there seemed to be little other option, we hesitantly look at their wheel with an obvious slow leak, shrug our shoulders and decide to give it a go. And three hours and a broken tow line later, that sturdy little Hyundai Accent, pulls us into the Auto Shop. We had our hopes high that we would be able to get the issues resolved and be able to camp out with our friends outside of town. We had already spent the previous night at the mechanics and we were not enthusiastic about another, however, upon my return from dinner, hot soup in hand for my team mates who had not eaten since I met them, it was announced that the car would be worked on in the morning. Defeated, we waved good bye to the other cars as they pull out to find a camping spot. They promised to return after breakfast to see how our progress was.

I awoke with a start. Josie is in the doorway, stamping and fuming.
“Keith!, He's drilling holes into our fuel tank!”
After some more expletive remarks about the mechanic not fixing the car, and in fact maybe damaging it more by drilling 9 extra holes into the tank, we evaluate the situation again. Do we take the car somewhere else? Obviously the language barrier had made the process of fixing the car a little more exasperating. Sayan was Russian which helped immensely, and to be honest, I'm not sure how the other teams were able to manage without even that. By about 10am, however, with Keith being under the car more then the mechanic, the holes managed to be patched somehow. It had been a harrowing 24 hours but we were ready to continue.

Throughout the journey I had been told snippet tales about The Germans. Another rally car that I had just missed at the mechanics in Altay. Keith described the team like the story of the Turtle and the Hare. Slow and Steady wins the race. The joke was that the Germans drove so carefully and so slowly and drove long hours with little to no stops, that they efficiently crossed the 10,000 km with no mechanical problems. But every day while the other cars would stop due to malfunctions, there were the Germans to wave to them as they slowly cruised by. How....German. As Lionel chugged and rattled across the open fields, we crested a hill and who do we drive up alongside? But ze German's of course.
The whole care erupts, “Ze German's!!!”

And now our convoy was four.

The goal for that day was to drive carefully and to reach Aveikheer. The next soum a few hundred Kilometers away. We were excited for the prospect of a big camp out and several bottles of Vodka, with all four teams.   The day was fairly uneventful and the landscape rarely changed. A couple suspicious looking bridges were tackled, some of us going around and into the streams, while others took the chance at the decaying planks of wood. The Mathematicians not Mechanics car was an entertaining view as their car would bounce high in the air for several minutes with every little bump. And since there were many little bumps, that tiny Fiat bounced it's way across the Mongolian countryside. Finally, with Avaikheer in the distance, we hit beautiful sweet sweet TARMAC. The remainder of the drive to UB would be an actual road and actually paved. Of course luck was not on our side. The patches the previous mechanic had placed on our fuel pipes were leaking again. It was late afternoon and the leak was slow, so we discussed whether or not we should just take the chance and continue onward, and try and reach Ulaanbaatar as quickly as possible. But there was a lot of open landscape ahead of us yet, so once again, feeling defeated, we turned into Avaikheer to make our daily stop at the next checkpoint mechanic. This time we were absolutely not going to spend the night at the auto shop again. We were in Mongolia goddammit and wanted to sleep under the open Mongolian sky. With the help of the other teams, we were loaded into the other cars and carted to the camping spot. Even if the car didn't get fixed, we at least could enjoy a nice night with friends and vodka.

The following morning, with Lionel patched up again, but clearly needing a cylinder replaced, it was decided that our convoy would split up. Lionel was going to make a beeline for Ulaanbaatar, while The Germans (named Team Dzambala), the Shantastics, and Mathematicians Not Mechanics were going to spend one more night camping out. Nobody had any flights out till after the After Party on Saturday so there was no real rush to get to the Capital where money would be spent on hotels and restaurants. I had no particular schedule as my own flight out of Mongolia was not for another week and a half. At that point I decided to switch teams and stay behind. It was a little emotional, putting my pack into the Mathematicians Not Mechanics car. I had been through a lot in my two and a half days with 206 A Race Odyssey. But it wasn't over yet, I would see them all again at the Finish Line.

As the remainder of our convoy trudged onward, we had decided to find a nice spot in the afternoon to set up camp, and maybe do a little hike. Half way between Avaikheer and UB there was a tourist stop on the map where there were Gobi like sand dunes and Camels to ride, but as we passed by the bus loads of tourists getting their Camel photo op, we decided to move pass it. The countryside was turning a little busier, with more small towns and gas stations lined up along side the road.   All of a sudden, the convoy careens into a gas station. There was another Mongol Rally car that had appeared to have a flat. As I jumped out of the car I immediately recognized the the small cluster of blond hair. It was Two Brits Two Blondes who I had met at the mechanics in Altay City. They had taken a detour to visit a monastery for a day and had blown out two tires. How they managed to do that while on the paved road is a mystery and just the type of ridiculousness that is common on the Mongol Rally. The mini reunion involves the Germans handing over their spare tires they had tucked in the back and a quick comment about how they had wondered if I ever made it out of the parking lot in Altay City.

And so I had.   Two Brits Two Blondes had UB as their destination for that day so we waved good bye and went in search for our final camping spot. Because we missed the off roading so much the past day and a half, we needed a little reminder of what we would be missing in Mongolia so we turned off the road towards the mountain range. Parked at the base of the enormous cliffs, we set up our tents for the last time. It was a much needed relaxing afternoon that brings me to our final day on the Mongol Rally. Not in any rush to reintroduce ourselves to the daily hustle of city life, we moseyed our way to UB. A fun new game of switching team cars to the homestretch developed and finally there was the Ulaanbaatar archway. Of course I had seen it all before, but I still fed off the excitement of the others. Posing for pictures, I could already taste that cold draft beer, waiting at the Finish Line. Which made the next hour and a half the most treacherous and aggravating stretch yet. With the road construction, loud traffic, great plumes of dust and pollution, it seemed like a life time before we finally turned the corner and saw the Finish Line Banner. Our convoy passed beneath the banner and I looked up to see my former team and new friends, 206 A Race Odyssey and Two Brits Two Blondes jumping up and down, cheering, with beers in their hands. I had only been on this journey for four days but the camaraderie and friendships made, put a whole new spin to my time in Mongolia. They had made it.   We had made it.

Photo By Josie McVitty

Blue Mongolia

2011-06-16T03:23:00.000-04:00

They weren't lying about the Blue Skies of Mongolia, and how absolutely fantastic it truly is.
I have finally made it to the one place that as a 13 year old girl i said "i want to go there when i grow up". Well I'm grown up and while I just arrived in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city with it's old soviet/communist design, I can;t wait to embark on on my quest in the countryside. I suspect, as it is with riding trains, that I'll return again. This is a lifelong project. I've barely started but I can't wait to come back again.

Red Cambodia

2011-06-16T03:17:00.001-04:00

Red Cambodia, a set on Flickr.

Gear List

2010-10-07T10:05:00.004-04:00

I decided that even though I will be in a few different climates over the next year, that in an effort to travel light and have room for my cameras, I am only packing the things I know I will want/need while I am in Se Asia. I figure I can acquire other types of gear as I go.
So here goes, the list as it stands.

Gear:
Osprey Aura 50L pack
Sea To Summit CoolMax Liner with Insect Shield (in place of a sleeping bag)
Compression Sack for clothing
Wave Leatherman
Headlamp
1 pair of sneakers which I will wear. (probably buy flipflops or sandals in Thailand.)
1 pair of jeans
1 plaid long sleeve for looking "normal"
Haitus Shirt
Harum Scarum Shirt
Auryn Shirt
and maybe 1 "normal" tank top for when being a punk isn't appropriate.
1 skirt
1 pair of leggings or tights
1 hoodie because no matter how hot it is I can't live without it.
1 Rain jacket
1 small backpack/day bag.
Moleskin Journal
Fannypack
Photocopies of documents
Small Bottle of Dr. Bronner's

Camera Equipment:
Canon 50D
Canon 35mm f/1.4 L lens
4 batteries
Canon Speedlight
rechargeable batteries
both chargers
Memory Cards
Card Reader
Hasselblad 500c (debated this for awhile because of weight but in the end, my Hassy is my baby and will be well worth it)
Medium format film
Light Meter
LAPTOP (really not excited about this but I can not legitimately edit all of my photos and keep up to date and trying to get my stuff out there if I don't have my laptop and Photoshop)
Iphone

UGH. I always considered myself to be lo fi and not a gear head but even all this crap is a little overwhelming. Essentially I will be wearing what I own and my entire pack will be photography related.

Hitting the Road Again

2010-09-23T16:25:00.003-04:00

On November 22nd I will be leaving Philadelphia and flying one way to Bangkok where I will start what may end up being my Magnum Opus. I will be tramping about SE Asia with the intentions of photographing and volunteering my services with various organizations that focus on the betterment of human and animal life. I am specifically interested in organizations that focus on women's issues and issues that highlight the sustainability of Indigenous cultures. My goal is to spend the winter in Se Asia and then in the summer of 2011 I will make my way to Mongolia with the intention of herding with Mongolian nomad families.
I will be using this space to keep interested parties updated into the trials and tribulations of my adventures!
Of course, any help along the way with places to crash are always welcome and appreciated.

Publicity

2010-04-21T11:32:00.005-04:00

A collection of web pages that my photography is used for. Things that pay the rent!

Ridin' Dirty, and a Happy Fucking New Year

2010-01-27T21:47:00.005-05:00

Ridin' Dirty, A Black Label Event
New Orleans, Jan 31st 2009

Moving on Up

2009-11-20T10:49:00.003-05:00

"SKIP TOWN: A Photographic Journey of Riding Freight Trains Across America"

My show from Benna's Cafe, Philadelphia will now be moving up to NYC
until end of December to :

Himalaya Teahouse
33-17 31st Avenue
Astoria, New York
718-777-7450
Visit website for more info: www.himalayateahouse.com

I will be at the Teahouse all afternoon Saturday, Nov. 21st should you
like to stop by and say hello.

All images will be for sale at very reasonable prices (just in time
for Christmas gifts!)
Please support your Local Artists and Local Businesses
Forward to Your Friends!

To see more of my work, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artandrevolution

SKIP TOWN

2009-09-01T16:44:00.004-04:00

Come out to my Art Opening!

Friday Sept 11th

@ Benna's Cafe

8th and Wharton. 7-9 pm

raton laveur

2009-08-24T14:11:00.003-04:00

Cumberland Md

Long Gone And the Scent of Autumn

2009-08-18T21:42:00.004-04:00

Juliette, Philadelphia PA c. 2006

Wish You Were Here

2009-08-11T16:36:00.004-04:00

Maine, June 2008

Steel Mill Sundays

2009-08-04T14:30:00.002-04:00

This past weekend we made the hike once again across the Pennsylvania Turnpike for weekend in Pittsburgh of Punx Picnic, Rope Swings, all you can eat vegan Buffet at Zenith's and of course washing down the buffet with a trip to the old abandoned Steel Mill.

Pittsburgh, Pa

Rush Hour on the Delaware

2009-08-04T14:20:00.004-04:00

For Noel's Birthday, a small group of us went tubing down the Delaware River. However, do not be mistaken by the photographs depicting an intimate gathering of friends floating down the river. It was a hot and sunny Saturday with literally thousands of people who had the same idea as us.

Delaware River, NJ

Bringing Back Summer

2009-07-28T10:23:00.005-04:00

Ocean City, NJ

Shameless Self Promotion

2009-07-16T09:54:00.004-04:00

So, without rehashing bike snobbery, let's look at the positives! My picture made it on the UrbanVelo website!

Support your local bike shop! Support your local Photographer (me)!

http://urbanvelo.org/urban-outfitters-to-distribute-bikes/

Live Free or Die

2009-07-14T08:22:00.008-04:00

Concord, New Hampshire 6.4.09

Uncommonly Made. Uncommonly Good

2009-07-01T12:10:00.008-04:00

We changed our lighting this week at work,and I have to say I like it a lot.

I also like that Emily looks like a Keebler Cookie Elf in this 70's dress.

Emily of Rocket Garage, Urban Outfitters

Republic

2009-06-22T10:36:00.007-04:00

It's true. UO is coming out with a brand of track bikes called Republic. Bringing hipster to an all new level. Don't they know they missed the boat on this one? Road bikes are cool again kids..

Sanja of MC2 for Urban Outfitters , Philadelphia Navy Yard

No Bummer Summer

2009-06-18T22:23:00.002-04:00

John's Graduation Party, Pottstown Pa.

Dead Air

2009-06-17T15:02:00.005-04:00

Maybe I should switch fields and be a dog photographer.

Champion

Feeling the Burn

2009-06-08T11:02:00.002-04:00

Since moving to Philly, going to the race every year has turned into one of my favorite annual events. It's what starts Philly Summer.

TD pro Cycling race at Lemon Hill, Philadelphia 2009

I Heart Ponies

2009-06-03T14:53:00.004-04:00

Friday evening, I went to the Devon Horse Championships with Blakslee. Unfortunately it got rained out and we missed the Gambler's Choice Jumping. So, instead we caught the gaited horse show, which was a little odd, and not really my thing. In fact, what I love most about horses and riding is the informal, wild act. Not the strict environment of rules, regulations, and rich people. It kind of brought it back why I stopped paying attention to this kind of thing. But it was still fun nonetheless to do something different with my Friday night.

Devon Horse Show, PA

Southbound

2009-05-28T16:06:00.008-04:00

Last Friday I played hooky from work to catch a Philly Southbound to Baltimore for Deathfest. It was good to hit the rails again with my favorite lady friends, if even for a few short hours.

Not a single one of us was under the age of 25. Senior Citizens, oh what?

Philadelphia --> Baltimore, 5.23.09

Fire Walk with Me

2009-05-27T12:10:00.003-04:00

Rachel of Muse, Urban Outfitters 5.27.09

Birdie

2009-05-11T12:36:00.001-04:00

Maggie's yard in Pittsburgh. April 25th 2009

St. Johns Island

2009-05-11T12:10:00.003-04:00

In March, Chris and I went to go visit his sister on St. John's Island in the US Virgin Islands.

I busted out my Diana toy Camera to give it a few test shots.

Denis Bay, St. John's USVI

Denis Bay Plantation, ST. John's USVI

Sugar Mill Tower, Peace Hill Ruins. ST. John's USVI

Various Occurences

2009-05-11T12:06:00.002-04:00

The truth behind what people are willing to throw out of a car window

Fishtown, Philadelphia 2009

Polaroid Back

2009-04-20T16:16:00.002-04:00

Just a quick test shoot with the new Diana Camera Polaroid back. I want one.

Navy Yard, Philadelphia

---->I'm with Stupid

2009-04-20T13:26:00.009-04:00

2nd Annual Beerster event, hosted by Crucifixed. 666 painted beers on Lemon Hill. We win at life.

Lemon Hill, 4.19.09

Bywater

2009-04-13T18:08:00.002-04:00

New Orleans, January 2009

Carcass

2009-04-09T16:42:00.002-04:00

Tess has a fascination with carcasses. I think they have a word for that.

Tess, 4.9.09

A Sailor's Delight

2009-04-06T13:34:00.006-04:00

Auryn played a benefit show in NYC for some tranny kids that live on a boat (i think). It was a ridiculous night which started off with Eye Of The Tiger and ended with a Mother cover.

Auryn 3.28.09

AMEBIX

2009-03-10T12:36:00.005-04:00

Amebix, Philadelphia 1.31.09

Clips

2009-02-27T15:16:00.005-05:00

Urban Outfitters, 2009

Fifteen Hundred Shots A Day

2009-02-20T20:51:00.005-05:00

New Job, Urban Outfitters 2009

And So We Call This Winter

2009-02-15T16:08:00.004-05:00

A Career

2009-02-13T12:46:00.007-05:00

I'll be working full time at Urban Outfitters Co, as a staff photographer. I suppose if the stock market hadn't crashed I'd be a little more excited about the 401k. I guess a couple dreams get to be put on hold for the time being...

Grey Eyes

2009-02-11T11:40:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago this piece won a spot in a contest called Visions Of America, to be shown at the Kimmel Center. I hope someone "got it".

Yard Songs

2009-01-11T16:58:00.006-05:00

Photographs that will exhibited for the folloing event

Nexus Foundation, Saturday January 24th 7pm - 10 pmThe Crane Building1400 N. American st, Philadelphia
Yard Songs: A Kensington Requiem for Trains is a musical performance that invokes the ghosts of North Philadelphia's steam locomotives and the people who powered them. A hand-pumped railcar glides down long-abandoned tracks. Workers pound the rails, tapping to life a remembrance of motion and labor. Fractured bits of immigrant folk melodies, found sound, junk percussion, and Morse code all collide and overlap to create a site-specific spectacle of mourning and reflection. What are the ways that old technologies etch us with their memory once they pass into disuse? What are the architectures, rituals, and environments that these technologies serve to create, and what happens to the places and people they've shaped once they disappear? This piece is a lyrical acknowledgement of past times as they may have looked and sounded on a specific street corner. And it is an inquiry into what we had, what we've lost, and we may again regain we hustle and founder towards an uncertain future.

Hobomilitia, 2006

Stone Lion, Roseville Ca, 2004

Hobo Gathering, Dunsmuir Ca, 2004

The Highline, 2006

Northern California, 2004

Gondola, 2006

Montana, 2004

Wissahickon

2008-12-30T18:08:00.004-05:00

I found this oldie in a stack of Negs that I never got printed.

P.K. Skipping Stones , Philadelphia, 2005

Being OK with Selling Out

2008-12-29T14:13:00.007-05:00

fIn case anyone was wondering how I'm paying my bills right now, I've succumbed to the world of retail and have been freelancing for Urban Outfitter's.

You can view this little number on thier website.

I take no credit for post processing!

Consumer Attraction

2008-12-22T13:11:00.001-05:00

Maine, 2008

Blue Otter

2008-12-20T19:29:00.003-05:00

Meleagris

2008-12-17T19:59:00.005-05:00

Nostalgia

2008-12-17T19:09:00.003-05:00

Ca de Bou

2008-11-16T11:18:00.003-05:00

I heart Philadelphia

2008-11-16T10:46:00.002-05:00

World's Biggest Piñata

2008-11-16T10:37:00.004-05:00

Halloween Party Portraits

2008-11-01T17:13:00.019-04:00

Balanced Media

Jrobes of the Dharma Initiative

Bobble Head

Eleanor and Corina

John Dukes as The Party Duke

Sara

Rebecca the Red Neck Trucker

Misfits Cover Band @ The Mitten

Nicole the Cow

Sheila the Sister Cow and Irina

Big Al and his Big Gun

Everyone needs a Joe The Plumber.

Last but not least, myself as Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas.
Photo By Zia Hiltey

Kayak The Schuylkill

2008-10-26T13:31:00.013-04:00

For Chris's Birthday we took a small Kayak trip down the Schuylkill River. These were the sights of a Friday afternoon in October along the dirty river bank.

Scumbag Cup

2008-09-22T14:38:00.008-04:00

This weekend our former One Hour comrade, Justin Swain, hosted the Scumbag Cup. Five races total over two days, plus a scavanger hunt. The first four races on Saturday would count to qualify for the final race on Sunday.

The morning started off on a great foot with the weather being perfect as Chris and I rolled up to Kristen at the Spring Garden st/Kelly Drive turn off to take numbers for the time trial race. It was a pretty standard race so the only amusing parts were when two people veered off the course and went the wrong way.

Next up was the Alleycat.

The start of this race consisted of Baby Joey ordering all bikes locked up against a wall beneath the Chestnut Street Bridge and taking up a bike lock key collection.

Several of the messengers took the opportunity before the race started to prove thier worthiness as scumbags by peeing behind several dumpsters.

With directions to file into a small walkway tunnel under the bridge and to crouch down in emergency position, Baby Joey clipped all the keys into one massive unit and hung them from the wall on top of the bridge.

With a "One, Two, Three....GO"! Everyone made a bee line for the stairs to the top of the bridge...everyone except one really short straight edge fella who had handed over a spare key.

Was it smarts? or Sobriety?

You decide.

At this point I decided that I needed to use the bathroom and the best place to post up would be at 818 South st. Tara was manning the check point and there was some debate on what task we would make the couriers do. Cleaning the bathroom seemed the most appropriate since it had just been determined that the after party would commence at thier house later that evening.

The last race of the evening was the Figure 8 Criterium around City Hall and Love Park at Midnight. If there was any idea that was a bad idea, this was it. There are only a few outcomes that could transpire from two dozen couriers, racing as fast as they possibly could through moving traffic in a figure eight around City Hall and Love park, and one of those things would be blood...lots and lots of blood. I could already visualize the skulls across the pavement as the faster couriers would intercept with the slower ones at the intersection. At lap two, half of the racers had dropped out, after a near miss involving a car and Baby Chris. Unfortunately I was looking in the other direction trying to get a shot and missed the excitement but when I looked up I could see a very nervous looking Baby Chris coming straight for me.
At least he hit me, instead of the car.
Most bystanders took to "corking" traffic which resulted in the Transit police pulling over two riders and putting them in handcuffs.
According to Transit Police, it is perfectly ok to arrest someone NOT on transit property and they also informed me, by way of tackling me off of my bike, that I was not allowed to take photographs of them "arresting" people. I also might point out that Transit Police do not have any jurisdiction to arrest anyone that is not on transit property. They did however, seemed to be quite upset when someone pointed this out to them and proceeded to put that person in handcuffs as well.

Luckily everything worked out and the actual Police were probably too busy on a Saturday night, to be bothered by a dozen messengers trying to kill themselves, to even bother showing up, so they released us and off we were to 818 for the after party.

Moonbounce

2008-09-08T14:44:00.001-04:00

This past weekend I was invited to participate in Cindergarden's Moonbounce BBQ and party. There was something rather enticing to see 25-35 year olds bouncing in a moonbounce. The Moonbounce completely took over the back yard, and great plumes of dust would puff out the sides at every bounce. Chris and I first made our way to the rooftop bbq. While peering down from the 3rd, or maybe even 4th story rooftop, we could see the blue top of the moonbounce pulsating with gleeful bouncers.
Vince came up from behind and joined us in our gaze downwards. With a sparkle in his eyes, like a child discovering a new toy,
he exclaims
"I think I could make it....!"

Goodbye, Dear Friend

2008-09-02T10:04:00.001-04:00

This Labor Day I went to KTD Monastery, a place that was so ingrained in my childhood, to partake in the memorial service of a dear family friend who passed away this weekend. I took a small video clip of the Puja performed in Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Our friend made his way to America after the Chinese invasion, and lived his life as a translator for Tibetan Lamas.

The ceremony was so beautiful, that many of us could not hold back the tears.

Farm Party 08

2008-08-26T17:18:00.000-04:00

I'm going to jump start this page with August 2008 weekend adventures starting with the Frederick's Farm Party. About two dozen car loads made the trip to the Poconos for a weekend of drinking, fireworks, pony rides, slip n' slides, swimming, and general farm mayhem that is expected when you get 75 of your closes, scummiest friends together.

Friday night ended early for me as I decided to take the route of getting rest rather then staying up till dawn drinking like the others, so that I could partake in the days festivities. At 9 am I stumbled upon a drunk Justin and xKevx trying to make friends with Blakslee's horses.
The Slip N' Slide turned into a huge project, but was a total success, however not without a Donovan injury. Only Donovan has the unique ability to turn fun into some bodily injury.
And I think the rest speaks for itself.