Night two.

.

As time inexorably moves forward; are we just ideas that float on by, faded, then forgotten as new replaces old? When we understand that we will inevitably become dust, there is a sense of hopelessness as we question purpose in this existence.

the end of the year in lights

Channel 45 plays an all day "yule log" fireplace scene with Christmas carol soundtrack on Christmas Day. It is a hoot. We had it on all morning. Christmas cards from friends and family are posted up around the doorway.

The tree is topped by a plastic corn, in tribute to our life together beginning in DeKalb, Illinois.

Here we are at the end of the year.

Here I'm in one of my few self portraits.

How has been the 2009 ? Though to say .....it has been full of life for sure.

I've been called for the first time baba and then papa (dad).

I got married with the woman that I love most in the way that we wanted. Few people, in the mountain, sunny day and good food.

We bought an house in Pittsburgh, the city that I discovered 3 years ago for the first time. It has been a long, difficult process. Being a foreigner with clear idea of what we wanted doesn't help. But we spent Christmas already in the new place.

I spent more than a month in Italy due to some immigration visa issues: this taught me that I'm not a citizen, that I don't have the same rights of a citizen, that life can change in a heart bit. And I learned what it's really important.

Professionally speaking I have the feeling that I changed gear: I have a more clear idea of what I want to do, what kind of project I want to be involved in. And I discovered that if you want something, you need to fight for it and, at the end of day, it's not obvious that you get what you deserve. But keep fighting for what you think it's important. Professionally or not.

Photography-wise this year it has been a surprise. I started to use film cameras: the PFM course was great and I learned the beauty of the darkroom hours, the mystery of the shutter sound and the chemistry of the development process. I started to have idea about projects, to tailor what I want to shoot. The TTV has been a good friend through the 2009. It will be with me in the 2010 too. Flickr was such an inspiration for new photos, a place where to spend hours and hours looking at such great art. Here in Pittsburgh it helped me to meet few times great people. I should spend more time with the Pittsburgh Flickr folks in 2010 though. Other groups ? Well It's still not clear to me why I'm still posting my pictures in other groups ......to get nice comments ? (everybody loves nice comments) to have suggestions ? (always welcome) To get visibility (probably) To make connections ? Networking ? I still don't have an answer.

2010.....everybody is looking for resolutions. Speaking about photography I would like to spend some time in post processing digital photos. Nothing fancy but a bit of digital dark room would be great. Then I would like to print my negatives in the basement. Right now I can develop rolls but a printing station is more challenging. Will see.

That's it. I don't fell too much this new year coming. My new year has been my trip back to the US, to my wife, to my house and to my job. At the end of November.

But....what a heck. Sometime revealing some thoughs in a written way to others, helps to fix them in my mind.

See you around folks.

Clean the rooms!

iPod is a good partner. :D

kaitlynferris.com

Title : Street Happening 2009, One Malaysia Hip-Hop Jam.

Location : Kompleks Rakan Muda, Larut Matang, Kamunting.

Date : 31st Dec. 2009

Time : 7.30pm to 12.30am

Sponsor : GBBM, Rakan Muda and Rakan Muda Seni Budaya.

Special thanks to Ivan Tan, Cucuksanggol and to all my friends.

And so is the last day of school!

Good-bye classroom. I'll see you in September!