In this issue:

“The visitor”, by Jonas Jungblut

“BERLINALE”, by Jacob Fessler

“THE EAST FACE OF CERRO ARATITIYOPE”, by Asa Firestone

“STRAIGHT FROM THE MINIBAR”, by Jonas Jungblut

PORTRAITS, by Jonas Jungblut

ENCOUNTERS, by Jonas Jungblut

“DRUNK HOBO”, by Mike Ryko

check it out here

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a1 steaksauce and onion rings

My image “A1 Steak Sauce and Onion Rings” was selected by the Art of Photography Show as one of 113 images out of 13,692 entries from 67 countries! Nice! The Show will be held in San Diego in the Fall with a gala on August 28th. Here is a link to the Art of Photography Show.

To see the full series “straight from the minibar” which this image is part of click here.

The image was taken at the Rosewood Crescent Court Hotel in Dallas and is the, so to say, “source” of the series “straight from the minibar.”

SWAE

SWAE

SWAE

SWAE

SWAE

SWAE

On June 16th 2009 a group of three young and healthy men crossed the border form Canada into the United States embarking on an adventure that would lead them all the way across Washington State, Oregon and California to Tijuana, Mexico. A 2000 mile bike ride covering some of the worlds arguably most beautiful landscape. But while these three Colorado hotheads intend to bring the beatnik driven rucksack-revolution of the fifties back (they would like people to join in on their ride), they are different than their predecessors sixty years ago. They are riding with business in the back of their head. Founders and operators of SWAE sports (Snow, Water, Air, Earth) they are riding the distance to promote their new company and to find outdoor and action sport outfitters along the way.

Soon they were joined by another young man, Jesse Amorratanasuchad (23), a journalist, who was inspired after covering them for the Bellingham Business Journal (a position which he quit to go along for the ride) and quickly became the groups man for public relations. Further down the road yet another adventure seeker decided to saddle up.

SWAE sports is intending to connect two worlds which usually act like polar opposites: The outdoor bound adventurers and our data highway, the internet. Of course the internet has been used by adventurers over the recent years but SWAE’s approach is to connect people who try to stay away from the computer to people who want to go out and explore but DO sit in front of the computer. An outfitter, or guide, can offer their services on Swae’s website and the adventure-hungry can book a trip, session or lesson directly on the website. Swae limits adventures to human powered only, the members wanted to make a point not to support sports that have a direct negative impact on the environment. Riding bicycles for the 2000 mile distance was a decision made to underline that ideology.

I happened to meet Jesse and the rest of the group at a friends house while they were camping out in Santa Barbara. They had pitched a tent on the lawn and rode their bikes down into town during the day to use free wireless internet to market their idea, post entries and images to their blog or connect with outfitters. Interested in who they were and being a fan of the best vehicle ever invented, the bicycle, I started chatting and was surprised to find that they had been on the road for a good two months. None of them looked tired, worked or unpleased. They all seemed relaxed, but one could feel the deep grumble of energy that was going on inside each one of them and between them all as well. It was a group of young men that had bonded through adventure, physical exhaustion, joy and last but not least an idea. They were on the same page. There was an energy of accomplishment that hung in the air, they looked happy. Riding in flip flops and old shirts, with peanut butter in the bottle holder on the frame of the bike for a quick snack, they made for a great group to stumble upon.

On their trip so far they had fought mile-long climbs over mountain passes, swarms of mosquitos trying to eat them alive, crashes and fog that was impossible to penetrate by the human eye. They had woken up right next to the shores of Crater Lake, Oregon, danced naked in the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, surfed with Big Wave surf legends in Santa Cruz and skydove in Seaside, CA. When they would ride into a town they would find a nice lawn, knock on the door and ask for permission to camp out for a night, mostly with success. “Most people got so excited about it, they would just sit down and talk with us, talk for hours… It seemed to really motivate people and that’s part what Swae is about.”

And I got motivated myself. Hearing the stories, seeing the images, feeling the energy and bond between them showed that there are people out there who don’t just talk about doing something, they actually saddle up and rode for 2000 miles.

Take a hyper-electrocuted-data-particle-ship on the  data highway and exit at swaesports.com, one exit later is swaesports.com/blog, make sure to rest your particle here for a little as well.

lachs2

at the Rosewood Sandhill resort in Menlo Park.

Surfer by Shimoda, Japan

I just went through some old files and found this image of a surfer on a beach a little south of Shimoda, Japan. I had been trying to find a board to borrow all day and actually asked this guy if he would let me ride his board for a bit but he didn’t speak English. Found one in a surf shop a little further down the road later that day. And the waves were bigger down there too…

Here is a link to my follow up article for the Santa Barbara Independent:

http://www.independent.com/news/2010/mar/06/chile-getting-back-feet/

The city of Talca,Chile after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010.

The city of Talca, Chile after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010.

The city of Talca, Chile after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010.

Policeman in the city of Talca, Chile after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010.

The city of Talca, Chile after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010.

The city of Talca, Chile after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010.

Destroyed road north of Rancagua, Chile after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010.

I am still in Chile. The Santa Barbara Independent is publishing my story on their website. Click HERE to read my article on their site and HERE to view a profile of me on the same site. I just submitted an update from yesterdays excursion to a largely destroyed part of the country. I’ll post a link to that later.

As said above and as the images show we drove to Talca yesterday. Talca is close to where the epicenter of the earthquake was and has been largely destroyed. I’ll post a link to the full story in a little bit. Overall I am very ready to get out of here. American Airlines has been ridiculous in giving information. On Tuesday I called and the lady told me that her monitor showed Santiago airport operating normally?!? Do you guys still send information via a roll of papyrus tied to a bird over there at American Airlines?!? Aftershocks persist, actually just felt one a few seconds ago. Some are strong enough to send me to the floor next to my bed and serve a healthy dose of adrenaline. By no means are we struggling physically here in the hotel but the nerves are very raw at this point.

Despite traffic issues due to collapsed or damaged roads and bridges Santiago seems to be operating as usual, but the fear of aftershocks is written on everybody’s face.

gwg

Santiago, Chile earthquake fallen bridge

Santiago, Chile earthquake fallen bridge

Santiago, Chile earthquake fallen bridge with fireman

Santiago, Chile earthquake fallen bridge with spectators

Santiago, Chile earthquake

Santiago, Chile earthquake airport

We drove around Santiago today to document/photograph the damage from the earthquake. Santiago seems to be not too badly damaged in general. We only encountered a few spots of bad destruction and people are mostly doing things they would do anyways. Encountered the bridge pictured above though and went to the airport which was like a ghost town. Almost nobody there and the police just let us walk right up there. City seems mostly intact.

It has also been rather weird staying at the Marriott hotel, which is a nice hotel. Having a flat screen TV and watching the earthquake damage all over Chile while laying in a nice king bed was odd. Feeling all the aftershocks is not fun though, especially since I am on the 19th floor. Actually I feel like being on a boat right now. It just doesn’t feel solid under my feet. I think a lot is imaginary but then there is the occasional rumble. I have my water bottle set up to monitor shaking. We just spoke with the director of sales here and he told us that we might get into a pinch with food since the government might cut off delivery and dispense it where they need it most. Gladly giving up food for those in need though, this is the most spoiled disaster experience one could imagine.