FRALIN, HUONG » quotes

Huong — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:02:49 +0000

Dark Side of the Lens

Huong — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:46:54 +0000

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

Beautiful video that I first saw on Briony’s blog as linked from Chase Jarvis’s. Love the quote that they each pulled from it as well:

“I never set out to be anything in particular, only to live creatively and push the scope of my experience through adventure and through passion.”

Beauty on an overcast day

Huong — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:25:39 +0000

21/365

New York, New York

Huong — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:21:41 +0000

It was cold from the blistery wind but warm with the laughter, smiles and embracing hugs from friends I hadn’t seen in way too long. The annual pilgrimage to my third home was made this past week, and though my father thought we were absolutely nuts for taking a vacation in December to a place much colder than where we hailed, it was totally worth it. Though I do see his point :)

Also, I took the plunge (while dancing my way to the end of the diving board) and finally purchased the Canon 5D Mark II (!!!). This baby COMPLETELY changes the photo game for me and I could not be more content with the investment. I know it’s not about the camera and that it’s about the photographer … but I’d be lying if I said this piece of beauty didn’t make my job a gazillion times easier. And beautifuler. Can’t wait to start experimenting with the video functions as well, but for now, I’m still trying to get used to the backwardness of the buttons and barrels compared to Nikons. I read the entire manual on our train-ride to NYC (I received the camera the night before) and wasn’t bored in the least bit. I still love Nikons and will never ever give up my FE2 but the new toy definitely brings me a bundle of joy.

The New York leg of the trip basically consisted of me getting my fix of Vietnamese cuisine and bubble tea. And steamed pork buns and $1 bags of sweet chinese cakes from the street cart on the south end of Canal Street. And bacon-wrapped hot dogs with fried eggs and cheese (together, in a bun). And dim sum in a gigantic banquet room with several hundred others. I fell straight back into the groove of walking several miles, subway hopping and car-dodging (the yellow ones don’t stop), only this time my heart didn’t break as we left. I don’t think I was quite ready to move back to Roanoke that cold snowy day two years ago, but I am definitely blessed with a husband and home and job that I probably wouldn’t have, had I not left.

On sort of the same note:

“Life is full of choices if you have the guts to go for it. That’s why I get immediately bored with anyone’s complaining about how boring their life is, or how bad their town is. Fucking leave and go somewhere else. Or don’t.” —Henry Rollins

Pardon the french but I don’t think you’d get the same je ne sais quoi without it. (Pun totally intended.) To my friend who was venting about your job and knowing what you have to do but willingly deciding not to do it … that one’s for you. In the most loving way possible.

I have mucho updates to make on the website so keep an eye out for that if you’re interested. Meanwhile, check out some of my latest photo inspirations:
Miha Matei Photography

Norman Jean Roy

Daniel Weisser

And I have a Pinterest account for other likes and loves.

Oh … the photo above is of my friend KnitKnit in her apartment/studio space in Brooklyn. While some may say it’s a horrible picture that’s out-of-focus, this one jumped out at me as I was making my edits. I think she looks timeless here though you can barely make out how she really looks at all. Maybe that’s exactly why I love it. She could be any woman.

Having a Coke With You

Huong — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 01:30:51 +0000

is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irún, Hendaye, Biarritz, Bayonne
or being sick to my stomach on the Travesera de Gracia in Barcelona
partly because in your orange shirt you look like a better happier St. Sebastian
partly because of my love for you, partly because of your love for yoghurt
partly because of the fluorescent orange tulips around the birches
partly because of the secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary
it is hard to believe when I’m with you that there can be anything as still
as solemn as unpleasantly definitive as statuary when right in front of it
in the warm New York 4 o’clock light we are drifting back and forth
between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles

and the portrait show seems to have no faces in it at all, just paint
you suddenly wonder why in the world anyone ever did them

I look
at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world
except possibly for the Polish Rider occasionally and anyway it’s in the Frick
which thank heavens you haven’t gone to yet so we can go together the first time
and the fact that you move so beautifully more or less takes care of Futurism
just as at home I never think of the Nude Descending a Staircase or
at a rehearsal a single drawing of Leonardo or Michelangelo that used to wow me
and what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them
when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank
or for that matter Marino Marini when he didn’t pick the rider as carefully
as the horse

it seems they were all cheated of some marvelous experience
which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I am telling you about it

— Frank O’Hara

The itch

Huong — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:27:36 +0000

Escalate Live and Link Love

Huong — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:21:32 +0000

So I know this is a few weeks overdue, but here is my recap of the few Escalate Live sessions that I tuned into:

From Jerry Ghionis:

Look for the light and slow down. If that’s all you change you’ll be a better photographer next week.

You don’t have to be the best, all you have to do is be better than last week.

Value what you do, don’t just sell the JPGs on a piece of plastic, and tell your clients “here ya go, do it yourself.”

Compose the photo in your head.

Giving the JPGs away is like loving a meal then going in the kitchen and demanding the recipe from the chef. (Don’t do it…also I think he mentioned that he charges $2000 for JPGS for a wedding).

Don’t spend energy focusing on your fears. Spend it chasing your dreams! (yes, might be a bit corny but we all need to hear it sometimes)

My most powerful tool is my voice, my energy, what I believe in. Not my camera.

If you want to be like the greats, be yourself.

And I didn’t take any notes when watching Jasmine Star (who I admire as much as anyone can admire from afar) but both she and Jerry Ghionis gave SUCH great presentations. Seriously. I was actually moved and my enthusiasm cup was totally refilled. It’d be an honor to be a part of any of either of their workshops and I really do hope to be able to one day. Anyway, the one thing that Jasmine said that did prompt me to make some scribbles on paper was “get out and get uncomfortable because when you’re uncomfortable, you grow.”

A few months ago when I was going through the process of hyping myself up before making cold calls, I realized that every great accomplishment I’ve made so far usually started with me feeling terrified. Figuring out what to do after high school. Moving six hours away from home without knowing a single person there. Repeating that scenario, only moving even further, yada, yada, yada. All of these great things happened because I stepped out of my comfort zone which got another ball rolling. So I guess that’s why what Jasmine said really sparked a little something in me…’cause I know I’ve definitely grown after taking all of those leaps.

Workshops and events such as these are very reminiscent of photo church if a photo church actually existed. Lots of uh-huhs and amens and epiphanies and hope. Looking forward to attending some of these sessions in person next year.

If any of my dear internet friends have attended a workshop that you’d recommend, please let me know! From the myriad of options, it’s tough to choose which ones to invest in.

***

I’d like to end this post with a few shout outs. I’ve recently started shooting more interiors and architecture which leads me to mention Ty Cole who is the most talented architecture/interiors photographer I know and have had the privilege of assisting. He just finished a shoot for Absolut Vodka’s latest flavor, Absolut Brooklyn, which completely blows my mind because I used to love this campaign when I was young and would plaster my walls with every cool magazine advertisement (including theirs) that I came across. I even owned a book full of the Absolut Vodka ads up until whenever that book was published. I worked with Ty on some amazing residential and commercial places in NYC and one of them was the Christian Louboutin store on 5th Ave. (as a shoe fiend, I was in LOVE). Each time I worked with Ty, I always learned something new, and for that and all the experiences, I am forever grateful. Even though call time was usually at the butt crack of dawn.

To my mentor, Monte Isom, I’d like to give some props to one of his latest campaigns which was for the EA Sports FIFA World Cup. Check out the behind the scenes video here. And yes, it’s always that fun when you work with Monte. As a side note, today he tweeted that he just booked his flight to South Africa to catch three games of the world cup. JEALOUS. And to brag on him a little more, he also photographed the US Olympic Snowboarding team before the games. And the Adidas campaign for the Olympics in China. And…and…

Last but not least, my lady, Shannon. She is my home girl to the core and I wouldn’t have met her if I didn’t go through what I thought were unnecessary or unfortunate events. Pit stops, if you will :) We worked on the 9/11 project together and she has taught me so much about life, love, and of course, the photo industry. Shannon launched her own blog not too long ago with some new portraits that you should definitely check out. She loooooves to geek out in technical camera speak and she is as quirky as they come. Never a dull moment :)

…Are you still reading? I feel like I’ve been going a thousand miles an hour lately so I apologize for my lack of response to emails and comments. Do know that I appreciate all of them though and I hope to get back into the groove of writing asap. Much love and big virtual hugs, H.

And I Quote…

Huong — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:50:21 +0000

And I Quote…

Huong — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:14:39 +0000

I came across this quote in Bobby Earle’s blog post titled “Originality is Overrated (for Photographers).” In it, he writes about the importance of sincerity in art and I couldn’t agree more. I know for a fact that I do my best work without the added pressure of doing it for any other reason than just to make a photograph that is meaningful or taken candidly in a quiet moment. Check it out for some reassurance.

And I Quote…

Huong — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:52:27 +0000

There’s No Such Thing As Coincidence

Huong — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:25:04 +0000

Two things that came in my inbox yesterday that couldn’t have been read at a better time:

“To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”

Also, “Do something everyday that scares you.”

Today I have done something that has scared me which may lead me to doing something I never did. I’ve had a couple of really important meetings in the past few days that could potentially change my life for the better and it had me terrified. And no matter how much encouragement I could get, deep breaths I could take, prayers I could say, reading these words were exactly what I needed to give me the confidence to trudge forward and roll with the punches. So maybe you need some encouragement too…I hope reading these words will help.

As Long As You Keep Looking You Will Triumph In The End

Huong — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:18:55 +0000

Title quote from Brida by Paulo Coelho.

Huong — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:01:00 +0000

I stumbled upon this quote by Steven Furtick, Lead Pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC on my friend Cameron’s tumbler via Joshua Blankenship. Now I understand why it’s called “the web.”

This quote was first posted on these gentlemen’s internet estate at some point last year and was one of those “things that I read then write in my moleskine.” I was prompted to thumb through my quad-ruled pages today looking for it after reading a post by Philadelphia children’s photographer, Kristen Kalp, entitled “On Haters,” referring to those who think they can do better in regards to various aspects of photography, and really, the entire creative world. Definitely give it a read then check out her Greatest Hits section for some useful marketing tips. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but one of the main things I’ve learned from my apprenticeships with big wig photographers is that you need to be a better marketer than photographer in order to have a successful business.

Bon appetit!

10,031 Days Old

Huong — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:00:24 +0000

“The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating — in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.”
__Anne Morriss, The Way I See It #76