On the way home from a 2 week road trip across the country, I came up with this list
1 prepare as best you can for the road ahead
2 carry a pocket knife
3 choose your gang wisely
4 give people the benefit
5 sleep as little as possible
6 hike. camp. explore.
7 see as much as possible
8 change clothes as little as possible
9 leave the phone
10 pack a camera
Made this little Ad mock up for a Jack Kerouac TV show.
I took this photo this past Summer in Yellowstone.
I was frozen. Couldn’t move an inch. Conversations in Portuguese engulfed me. All I had was my imagination. I wondered if they were talking about me. Poking fun?
Eventually I gathered the courage to grab my pencil and paper from my backpack in the airplanes overhead. I was 10 hours away from Brazil, a place I had dreamed of for years. Until just now, I failed to really consider what it would be like in a place where most people spoke no english. It was unfathomable. I would have to figure it out as I went.
Embarking on a journey much bigger than myself I realized I would be an outsider. The key was to embrace this. Completely own it. Share what I could and take as much as possible out of it.
Knowing I won’t be the same person who naively came to this country three weeks prior, I expect to leave with a memory rich with scenery, people, food, and life. Not that my expectations are too great; simply seeing Brazil is all I need.
Film allows you to be careful, cautious, and adventurous. It provides a physical manifestation for you to hang on your wall and show your friends.
All it asks for in return is patience.
Film offers a challenge.
The challenge is to get that perfect image and capture it forever. Of course, this isn’t easy to do.
It takes time. It’s imperfect.
The more you know about how the camera functions, the more you can control the outcome. These attributes are what makes it fun.
Film is to photography what a train is to travel. You can see and touch so much more. You don’t need to rush through it and its the journey that counts.
The K-Staff would make a grand entrance. The lifeguards lead the way wearing bikini’s and holding signs. An announcer on the microphone calls out our nicknames and fans all around are throwing high fives and going nuts. This was my first ping pong tournament and I was pumped up.
Looking back at my last three Summers spent in Yosemite, I could not have done anything better. From climbing in and around Yosemite valley, to cooking Shabbat dinner for over 500 people, I did some things.
2009
Along the way I got into trouble, learned how to cook, and played a lot of ping pong.
Since before I can remember ping pong has had an important place in my life. Before I ever played with my little brother I played with my uncle Robbie, and my grandpa Joe.
2010
When I first got to Camp Tawonga, my boss, Kel took us on break and showed me the tables. He had a wicked curve, played with mad spin, and slammed it on a dime. He womped me three times straight.
Camp Tawonga has an annual Ping Pong tournament in the heat of the Summer. It’s a time to put on your most stylin suit, but with shorts underneath, ready to be busted when it starts getting steamy. Kel told us all #1: that the Kitchen staff were the coolest dudes around. #2: That we would be the flyest at the tournament.
2011
The kitchen would put out hotdogs, chili, and cokes, and surround the 5 ping pong tables with bleachers, so that everyone could watch the games unfold.
Now I never won the ping pong tournament and would hesitate to say I even got close. There was serious competition every year, and some say my style doesn’t match up for tournament play. The sad part for me is skipping out on it this next summer.
It won’t be easy, but my brother will be taking my place on the roster and I feel good about it.
Working on deadlines will teach you a lot about what you can do. When you have a project you need to completely hammer out for a presentation the next day, you keep the golden bits and brush off the rest. Thinning it out.
You get tired. Cranky. Upset. You get as close as you can to what you want to achieve. Then you call it a day. Take everything you learned and keep it in your back pocket.
Good things learned: Keep people accountable. Expect dedication. Be a leader. Keep moving forward.
Not so good: People are lazy.
In between good and bad: We only work when we are under deadlines.
Fresh. Cool. Breezy. Comfortable.
In Oregon you can breathe deeply and calmly. It’s a pacifying experience. Life in the Northwest reflects this.
Oregon teaches you it doesn’t have to be 100F and Sunny to be good weather. Oregon teaches you to value green trees, grass fields, and surrounding mountains.
Oregon teaches you to get outside. Even in the rain.
The places to explore are only limited by your imagination. You can go anywhere and see and touch and feel. There are basketball courts under highways. Pupuseria stands. Bike paths to infinity. Good eats abound. Fresh vegetables and gardens all around.
It’s a good place to be.
Jackson Browne has the ability to take me back. Running on empty should be the theme song to my movie.
My grandpa Joe recently told me, “you can sit around when you’re old.” I figure I will have plenty of time to sit on the couch, after I lose my legs or the ability to move. At that point it will be gravy to watch TV and eat microwaveable meals.
But until then. I want to see as much as I can. This weekend I was able to get out and see Fall Creek Oregon for the second time this year. As opposed to when I went in the winter time, the area surrounding the creek is now extra lush and green. I pulled up my pants and waded in the freezing water. I climbed trees, branches, logs and rocks.
This next weekend I want to go to the Columbia River Highway. From there I want to explore the Gorge and a number of waterfalls in the area. I’ll wake up early, pack a sandwich and hit the road. My only idea is to take pictures, and explore that shit.
This summer my cousin Spruce is getting married in North Dakota. Rather than flying out East, which would be ehhh, I’m planning on hitting the road with my little brother Noah. My number 1 sight is Yellowstone National Park. I figure I have explored the depths of Yosemite in my 3 summer’s of working there and I hear Yellowstone is quite amazing.
Places on my list: The Grand Canyon, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Europe, Australia, Southern U.S. and Rhode Island.
I have spent a lot of time sitting around in my 21 years. It gets old. Exploring doesn’t. I want to have something to talk about with people all over the world. This is where it all begins.
It’s not easy to share the things you love. You want to hold them tight, and never let go. But it’s always better to share.
Sometimes it’s scary to let something grab a hold of you. It’s easier to pretend it isn’t there. That it doesn’t affect you. But you can’t do this. You can’t hide from inspiration. You need to accept it for what it is. Great work is passionate. Perfect. It’s something to strive for. It explores. Delves deeper.
Things I find to be perfect:
wineandbowties.com :: I want to be this open, insightful and thoughtful by the time I die. His writing is casual, but brilliant, and Max Gibson has the ability to put show the world from a unique perspective.
streetetiquette.com :: Street Etiquette teaches me to be different, to embrace photography, and to explore. When I go to second hand stores, I look for clothing that Travis would want; Meaning colorful, tribal patterned, stand out clothing.
