Monday, September 27, 2010

getting to be...


...late night in the t.o. and i've been getting my presentation skills back on track. sorting out gleaning, dv camera movement making, simmering on thoughts of agnès varda and heart shaped potatoes, yup, time to figure out ways to spend my days outside cause this technology gets me in a haze, reminiscent of saturday morning on the rare t.v. watching tip.

kev brown beats got me shakin' at this hour. thoughts of celebratory documenting and fresh autumn air with two day old portugeuse bread, perfect for french toast.

this is champabai back on the first journey to india. goodness gracious, that's be right round the autumn of 2000. thinking bout it, this kodak moment could've been caught on this here day ten years back.

that is real, or was.

the aravali hills, rajasthan, india, autumn 2000.

love and health to all...

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

cave living.


this is inside a cave on the puna plateau, trying to get some rest and stay warm at the same time after the most epic hike of all time, higher than high altitude.

i remember getting back to this cave with the most splitting headache after climbing a peak about 18,000 feet with little water, a lot of coca leaves and then after dark, having no clue what valley our ride was in!

la puna, northwest argentina, spring 2007.

love and health to all...

Friday, September 10, 2010

"Ocean" by Sam Lenzner


love and health to all...

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

"Good Morning Sir, Have A Great Day!" (Charles Rangel - A Visual Study)

"Good Morning Sir, Have A Great Day!" (Charles Rangel - A Visual Study)


Charles Rangel - A Visual Study (From the Politician Series)

I was standing on the corner of 110th street watching the timeless politician Charlie Rangel of New York's 15th Congressional District greet his constituents early in the morning. Rangel, a long time politician wise to the world, the way capital hill runs and New York City politics for that matter is dealing with a crisis of his own. He has been accused of ethics violations and tax discrepancies for a few years, constantly dodging the flames, it appears that it all may catch up to him the autumn when voters go to the polls.

Earlier that morning, I had approached Rangel where you see him in this video and attempted to ask him a question or two about housing issues in Harlem. Rangel himself, has been accused of utilizing low income housing in Harlem to his own benefit and I hoped to somehow catch him with his tongue tied. Yet Rangel smoothly, deflected my questions and I went across the street for a cup of coffee feeling extremely dejected in my tactics.

As I walked home and had a short conversation with my friend Alberto, I realized that politicians are a species truly unique. They seem to be able to lie and cheat the system, yet unwaveringly they are masters at manipulating those whom they are supposed to represent.

In order to better understand Rangel and further, to study politicians as if they were animals in the wild, I went and set up my camera on the corner of 110th street and filmed Charlie Rangel as he stumped and greeted the people who passed by and rarely, sometimes stopped. A week from today, Tuesday, is the Democratic Primary, it'll be interesting to see whether or not Rangel is elected to represent the democratic party.

This piece was filmed over the course of one half hour. And it consists of Rangel greeting his constituents.

Politicians should never get comfortable, no one, for that matter. Whether it is Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Bush in the White House or Charlie Rangel in Harlem. Becoming a leader is a privilege and to represent people in a government is an honor. Politicians must never forget that.

love and health to all...

- Ben Lenzner (Sept 7, 2010)