Monday, 25 November 2013

Mantra's

Mantra (n): is a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses someones basic beliefs


"Today can be better."



My picture is about an idea that helps me to cheer up when I’m in a bad situation. When I took this picture, I was crossing through a bad situation and this project helped me in some way to notice that; in fact every day can be better. I would never know if I didn’t give it a chance, which is my main idea. I believe that during a bad time when you are passing through some problem and the sky seems to be falling down the only thing that you can control is yourself. It’s very helpful because it’s a kind of hope that doesn’t depend on chance. I took a long exposure photo in order to put emphasis on the time. As you can see there is one person in two different places, one of them looks contemplative and the other one looks more depressed; this contrast is my main objective. There are a few things more about the picture like the mess, the bed which is a symbol of the end and the beginning of a day, the lights, and a pack of cigarettes. One more thing, this is my first project as a student in blogging and photography class I hope you like it.

By Daniel Rojo



          "Whatever you think will become true."



The picture was taken by my co-worker when I was working as a light controller.I love colourful things. When I am watching a performance, I always focus on the light. The light can make the emotion of the performance so powerful, and the light can make me drunk. But I just love it, I never thought about doing that by myself.By coincidence, I was trained by my school to become a volunteer for light control. Although the process of training and work were difficult and hard, I really enjoyed that experience. Because I felt the joy of my dream come true.
The picture shows that I can create a big stage with a little controller. The little controller is just like my mind. So I believe that you should enjoy the things you love and always keep them in your mind, then something will happen in a magical way that you can never predict. 

By Kitty Wu


"Be realistic and plan a miracle."


When you achieved your goals, what did you think and how did you feel?When you realized what you were about to do, what did you think and how did you feel? I fell excited at the time as if I could climb a mountain and expand my mind, and then I would see the beautiful, colourful, and glorious views. The experience is like that I discover a new world. I love to catch the power of the landscapes.I want to feel like that by realizing some new business to satisfy genuine needs and demand of people. Colourful crayons are symbols of what I want to realize. When I start to make it come true, I need some cooperation and followers. Post cards are symbols of my honesty and sincerity to people surrounding me. When I travel abroad, I buy post cards to send to my family, my grandparents, and a girlfriend. I never forget to do this. An organizer is also a symbol of the way to achieve my goals. When I reach my great destination, I need to make plans and develop my abilities which are not only knowledge but also body and mind. Finally, green field is a symbol of an important lesson that I have to remember of putting my foot on the ground and step up. Look at the top of the mountain expressed by crayons on a mug, you know the reason why I put there colourful crayons. What would you like to realize in the world?I believe beautiful, colourful, and glorious experiences await me.

By Yu Inaba

              

                 "It's is more than it seems."

What I try to do every time I face a problem, an issue or unusual situation, is not to judge instantly what I'm seeing. It is a way to not see things just on the surface, and get to the real reasons and consequences of them. This picture shows one simple daily act of throwing something in the trash. But is it that simple? Even with a clear sign saying "Paper Recycling" on the box right next to the regular trash bin, people still opt to throw paper in the wrong place. Recycling is one of the biggest environmental issues and it can make life easier and better now and mostly in the future. But we still don't care about it, we still don't change our habits and most of the time we're not educated to do so. People still throw their paper in the trash, and for me, this is more and a bigger issue than it seems.

By Andrey Moreira




   "Never give up too easy."


Some people face many problems of life. For example, money, love, school etc… But we can either conquer them or not…your results will depend on your attitude. I respect my father who is strong about hard problems. He told me “people who give up too easy are stupid” because they can succeed but they don’t try. So I always think about trying and challenging the problems of life. I have experienced facing the problems of life. Sometime I fail or succeed but I’m not satisfied, maybe I didn’t try my best. I think I try more now than in the past, I will succeed and be satisfied. So my mantra is never give up too easy.

By Boyoung Kim



                                                               "But inside, it doesn't matter."

In the world normally men don’t wear skirts. If a man wears a skirt, maybe many people will say that the man is crazy! I know that this is a typical situation. Everyone knows this is true. This is like a custom. There is a secret rule that men shouldn’t wear skirts. I want to break this custom hard. I want to imagine that I can wear a skirt. Maybe many people would criticize me, but I don’t mind. My inside is so brave and strong. My inside can stand any pain. Although they will mock  me, I will just keep going as I want. That is the reason why this is my mantra! 

By John PB

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

                           HALLOWEEN
Halloween is a freaking crazy day. An excellent excuse to show what  you're able to do with your imagination and be creative. On October 31st people dress up! The subject is the horror, scaring things like vampires, ghosts, witches, zombies and whatever. But there is no boundary for the human mind! You can see Elvis Presley walking on the street, bunnies jumping around, hippies with their long hair. This is a day to scare people, ask "trick or treat", carve pumpkins and, of course, party.
Halloweens has it origins in an old Celtic belief. The Celts would celebrate the harvest time of the year and prepare for the winter. At the same time they would use costumes to mimic and calm down the evil spirits. Over the years this celebration has lost its meaning and become just entertainment. Now the intention is to have fun. Boyoung Kim said: " Halloween is interesting. because my country doesn't have it, its amazing to see peoples costume-making skills". I was excited to be apart of it". On this day most people put on special or scary clothes and after just enjoy the moment. It is a really funny day.
- Written by Andrey Moreira and Boyoung Kim

THE I.H EVENT 
 There was special event at International House Vancouver on October 31st. The whole school was dressed up as monsters and creatures. They were walking around, laughing loudly, clapping their hands, dancing, and playing games.When you turned around, you could hear ....!! BooooOOOOO!!
The creatures enjoyed activities that  they had organized in their classes, in order to make each other happy and celebrate Halloween.
- Written by Yu Inaba


Charlie Chaplin playing Eyeball Toss
Bobbing for Apples
Darts


Pumpkin Carving/Bowling/
Google Map (Jessica)

General KEN
Sexy  Boy 'Johnny Depp'

Winners of our costume contest:
Beer-keg and Wizard

We need blood.


 After the event, all the creatures went into the dark night  to sing and dance to music downtown.

- All photographs by John PB (Dong Hyo Kim)

Wednesday, 23 October 2013

The Unusual Suspects



Introducing the current IH Photography and Blogging students. They have been contributing members for over a month now and together they have been making beautiful imagery, bringing up some insightful concepts as well as maintaining and updating the blog. Look forward to seeing more work from these talented young men! 

Contributing blog members
{Past and present}
 Andrey Moreira
Boyoung Kim
Dong Hyo Kim (John PB)
Stella Lin
Min Jung Kim (Summer)
Seonghoon Heon (Eddie ‘The Editor’)
Chein Yen Hung
Ki Seok Keum (David)
Sang Woo Kim (Alex)
Carina Latz
Luis Alberto Luckow
Mark Roloff
A special thanks to Joao Neto (Blog Master) for all his help with setting up this course, and most importantly this blog!

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

What represents 'Home' to you?

Father's handcart
Jagalchi Market, Busan, Korea 2012, 09
Photo by John Kim

I made this photograph a year ago, in Jagalchi market, Busan, Korea. It was 5am, the day before thanksgiving. I went to the market alone to take pictures. I wanted to take pictures of people preparing a daily task.  As an industry, labor is hard work. It is so laborious but it can be so beautiful.
In Korea thanksgiving is a day of meeting all the family. They gather at the parent's home. Each talk, "how are you”, "how was.....?", "when will you marry?", "did you get a good job? Everyone is so happy and comfortable, and romantic. We give thanks for harvesting, thanks for god, thanks for parents. For this reason I decided to take this picture. The man, carrying something somewhere in the early morning. His son might be asleep. Might... but he couldn’t sleep. He woke up early and went to his work ground. He had to earn money by carrying things.
At that time I didn't know him but I felt his emotion. Because I have a father. Also my father might feel such emotion. I could identify. Many media had been describing only the mother's life, not the father’s life. So I tried to take this picture to represent the fathers struggle. We can see a father in this picture. The man might be someone's father. Carrying something that is so heavy on his shoulders, his back becomes painful but he has to overcome it, and has to go back to his family. To me, my father represents home. He creates our home like all the other hardworking men.
Written by John Kim


Untitled
Jagalchi Market, Busan, Korea 2012, 09
Photo by John Kim
Untitled
Jagalchi Market, Busan, Korea 2012, 09
Photo by John Kim

Milton
 Photo by Andrey Moreira


Music. This is the picture of a masterpiece of Brazilian music, perhaps of global music. A
great album that translates the musicality of a people, their influences and their culture.
For me, listening to music is the best way to travel without actually going anywhere.Nothing is better to bring me back home than the music of the greatest artists of my lovely Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Milton Nascimento is a musical phenomenon on so many levels that is hard to explain.
His voice gives you chills; his music enters through veins, flows up trough your body and
goes to the brain. It warms your heart and heals your pain. Makes me remember my
people, my family, my friends and the good moments of life. This is my transport home.
Written by Andrey Moreira




Photo by BoYoung Kim


Home to me is; family. This picture is of my home-stay family. They are always looking happy. They have big, loud, good smiles and they are satisfied. In your home lives your family. Your family always cares for you and protects you. Family understands you. When you fail to work, your family is always there for you. In your home, who do you eat dinner with? The answer is: family. Home is a warm space and a resting place. Humans can’t feel home with out the thought of other people. You live and you die with your family. Family represents ‘home’ to me.
Written by BoYoung Kim.