The Kid

I’ve known Ruskidd for 3 years now(or there about) and I’ve been there and seen him grow into, who I believe, is the next big thing. You’ve probably seen him around. Perhaps not the face, but the bears; Rus. Perhaps I’ll let him tell you about the story of his name. His stickers and paste ups are literally sprawled everywhere. This kid has been busy!

Over the years I’ve watched Rusk move into aerosol and transition himself from a stagnate ‘street artist’ into a more mature and cohesive creative mind. I hold Rusk as a very close friend and I often forget how young this talent is. From a simple stenciled photograph, he is now slinging paint with the style, finesse and flare of someone who is always building on his practice. I get excited when I mentally glance at the large scope of his work and the potential it has to expand.

I have so much respect for him. He’s fucking hard working, works hard as fuck and is easily one of the most friendly and easy-going chaps I know. Now maybe i’m brown-nosing, but in all seriousness don’t underestimate this cute little bear character. It’s true, I often giggle to myself when i see him draw the cute little faces that he does on them, but some of the experimentation I’ve seen him do is so incredibly beyond his years. I really can’t wait to see what he does with his bears in a few years and where they end up going or looking like.

Oh, to make things clear, they’re just regular bears. They are NOT pandas. He doesn’t like it when people say they are, just letting all you comedians know that for future references or future jokes haha.

Ruskidd

A MERRY FESTIVE EASTERMAS FROM THE DISCOUNT POSSE

Eleven - Jan - Empire - Tkkdout

Bookworms

Would it come as a surprise if I told you I’ve never finished a book in my own leisurely time before? Would it shock you, if I were to tell you I don’t have the patience for novels? Is it weird that I like spending time in bookstores; nose deep in picture books? Rarely do I actually read most of the books I pick up, is that unnatural? Would you be disappointed if I told you I have ‘Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire’ bookmarked at page 95 and it’s been collecting dust for years? Is it astonishing that I even made it to page 95? Would you laugh if I told you I always ask for the number of pages first when people recommend me novels? It’d come as no surprise that I’d never set aside time or effort to actually read those recommended books, yes? Is it devilishly ironic that i’m making you read this ever-rhetorical passage of nonsense? Of course it is, but you’re reading it anyway aren’t you? You’re hoping for some words of wisdom or some philosophical metaphor, correct? Well then, perhaps you should pick up a book?

Miss Ggibbings

Kodak 200 / Oly

New skirt On A Rainy Day

We walked with no real destination in mind. Mindlessly wandering for the sake of chasing time. The rain crept up on us, catching us both off guard. She followed me through the rain as I snapped away, despite her intolerance of the cold. “This is different” she said. The rain poured quite heavily and we had to move fast. I turned around and quickly snapped this shot. The lighting was so elegant, complimenting that new skirt of hers. It’s quite a ordinary photo, the lighting and location aren’t that spectacular, but that leg…That subtle haze of her leg, creeping through the gradient of the skirt just makes this photo. Goodness.

Miss Ggibbings

Concrete Jungle

You know how you meet those people who are just so ‘switched on’? You leave feeling so enlightened and full of thought, telling all your friends about how you’ve met this guy who’s ‘definitely switched on’. You’ve probably done it and heard it so many times all of your mates must be ‘mates that are switched on’, right? I mean, you have to be switched on in this day and age; having to keep up with the world at the pace she happens to be going at. This man however, I’d like to think, is ‘switched off’ while everyone else is blinded by the glow of each others’ ego.

Ben, head honcho of the THSLFE familia

Kodak 400 / Oly

Supreme Dream Team

Yes, the rumours are true, we are supervillains.

Tkkdout
Empire
Ruskidd
S-701a
& some alien

Sunday Self Shots

Nearly forgot about ‘Sunday Self Shots’. I know you were all wondering,
“Yo Elev, where the hell is your Sunday Self Shot? Why would you lie to us and say it was going to be a weekly thing and then no show?”
Well, I posted one now, so suck on those pineapples.

Ruskidd currently has 3 rolls of my blk/wht film, soon to be 4. The fella is a trooper! This roll developed with a few scratches and bubbles, but I don’t mind, they give an interesting grungy look to the photos. You guys have just GOT to see them. Of course, i’m a busy burger, so you’ll have to hold onto your panties. For now here is a shot of me and miss Ggibbings being losers ~

Ilford Delta 400 / MG-1

Sunday Self Shots

When you’re taking photos of strangers and friends most of the time you have the camera in your hand, you can excuse the sneaky self portrait every now and again. Seeing as I have numerous photos of myself I thought, why not share them? If anything I think shots I take of myself are the bees’ knee pads. Not everyone agrees, but I know secretly underneath that mountain of obnoxious smugness, there lies a mine of jealousy and awe. Maybe.

Thought maybe this shot took self portraits a step further. Then again, it’s pretty bias for me to comment.

(an old photo I was able to dig out from my numerous photography folders)

http://valkelmer.tumblr.com/

My favorite frenchman has made a tumblr! I met monsieur Valentin and another friend Sofia, late December ‘10. They approached me at the very first exhibition i had ever been in and asked to do an interview of me for the magazine they were working abroad for, SHOES UP. With an offer for being published in a french magazine, how could I say no?

I love Val. Perhaps in a homo way, I’m not sure, but I am constantly missing the positive energy and good times this man carries with him wherever he goes. He is exactly what you want a bear to be; big, furry, cuddly and lovable. He takes amazing photos and knows how to bike polo like a fiend! Spending as much time as I could while he was here, it was still very short and left me never seeing any of Val’s flaws. I suppose that’s why I hold him on such a high pedestal. I don’t really care, cause he’s one of the most amazing persons I’ve ever met and I will one day return the favor and visit him in Paris.

Check out him out
http://valkelmer.tumblr.com/
http://www.valentinbourdiol.com/

Also check out this amazing video he made documenting, what i can only assume by the iamges as I’m yet to learn french, of the fixed gear scene in Paris; it so amazingly well shot.
http://vimeo.com/14419945

S-701a

Eccentric doesn’t really sum up this fellow. As are all ‘artists’, you can expect them to be a bit…’loony’. Hmmm no, Mr S7 is something else. There is a difference between confidence and audacity, but when you meet someone who speaks so profoundly one minute and is then suddenly opening up the cap of a marker that is pungent of, what could only be an obscure mixture of overdue milk and ass, on a tram full of people your mind begins to fog up. I mean, everyone said Picasso had a few loose screws in his head and now he is internationally praised, so perhaps I’m overlooking a genius, right?

I find it hard to read or predict what Mr S7 will do or get up to next. He is someone who is obviously passionate and dedicated to his artform and could possibly be sneakier than yours truly. I know right? A good friend, fellow creative mind, image maker, someone who I admire and someone I respect greatly.

Pixel-faced because his beauty is illegal in several countries and selective rural areas throughout Europe.

S-701a

“You know I can’t read with you there.”

“Why? I’m just sitting here.”

“I KNOW you’re trying to take a photo of me.”

*click

The weather quickly changed from uncomfortable humidity to a cold rain. With neither or us remembering to bring umbrellas we had to make a retreat to somewhere with hints of warmth. Now I’m a winter person, things and people are more interesting in the rain. Melbourne is a Pandora’s box of weather conditions and is known for it’s unexpected rainfalls. Growing up in Cambodia most of your life makes you a summer person though, so this weather isn’t ideal for certain people. Certain people like miss Ggibbings.

I often day dream of living in a place with an atmosphere like that of the photo. Being wrapped in warmth surrounded by inspiring words and images from years of book/magazine collecting, the rain lightly knocking on the window, pleading to join us inside as it washes out the city. A warm hot chocolate and someone to converse and admire photos with. What a life.

Serendipitously making daydreams reality for a brief moment with miss Ggibbings :3

Kodak 200 / Oly

http://ggibbings.tumblr.com/

You should have seen what I was wearing. It was a scorching day and I had just come from a 3 hour long paint in the sun. Almost knee deep in tall grass and constantly fighting off flies, spiders and ants. Sweat stained the aroma of my presence and If that wasn’t enough, I was covered in specks of paint. Every garment ruined by random dots of colour and not to mention the odd rip and tear. I looked like a mess. Like I was hit by a storm; a really hot and painty storm. Reckless and unreliable. The complete opposite of miss Ggibbings.

She gracefully claims the rightful title of my very first portrait on film. It’s in colour too, how about that!

Kodak 200 / MG-1