I just had to go for another Red Hot Chili Peppers reference with the title, hope you guys don’t mind. Last week Nicky decided to be an amazing person and take up a few lost New Yorkers, Ray and I, in her lovely San Gabriel home. If only she knew how big of a favor she was doing me. I really desperately needed a break from life except I didn’t even know it. Sometimes you get caught going 100mph all the time and don’t see that you’re slowly falling apart. Kind of like a shuttle descending from orbit, just burning up trying to get home.

This was my first time in California and I surely wasn’t ready for it. Coming from New York I thought it was gonna be more mellow, but what I found when I landed was more like long jumping sand pit full of melted marshmallows and face planting into the soft goodness of it all. Sure there was smog and hellish traffic. I didn’t even have power for two days thanks to some what I thought were mild winds. But, it was definitely the most chilled out place ever. No matter where I went it always felt like a Sunday morning in the suburbs. I really felt like I could sit and do nothing and no one would judge me for it.

Nicky showed us around to the best parts of the City of Angels, and the whole while I didn’t feel an ounce of anxiety. While I missed the morning grind of Manhattan, I’ve definitely gotten a soft spot for the light Pacific Breeze and the now familiar ridge line of Angeles National Forest. I’ll without a doubt be back this Summer, flip flops, Ray Bans and an In and Out starved stomach. Cheers, Los Angeles.

Click through for some palm trees and beaches.

Santa Monica, California

I try to keep blog posts about Thanksgiving short because when I start thinking about everything to be thankful for I always end up with a 5 page letter and nothing to blog about in a month when the New Years post comes around. That said lately I’ve been finding myself getting support in the most unexpected places, and those I usually get support from have been even more gracious then usual. People are definitely going to be getting some premium ass socks for Christmas. Here’s to the friends that buy you that cold beer even when you damn well know they can’t afford it either. Next round’s on me, broskies.

Post graduate life has been a mix of unexpected busyness and relentless moments of boredom. At one point I was very literally watching paint dry. Though I managed to reign in my procrastination and get around to living my life. In my last post I said that there would be some changes in how I ran this blog. One of those is actually an addition! I’ve been posting onto a Tumblr account. I’m already informal as is, so what you see there is very much unfiltered. When I started getting into photography I took my camera everywhere and took photos of everything. Somewhere along the line I stopped doing that as much. Now its back, accompanied by a flood on immature side comments and life stories. Join the ragefest!

chuas.tumblr.com

Link to my Personal Blog.

As always, things are in a state of transition. I’m going to be changing the way I add to this blog, as well as introducing awesome new and pretty things for you all to look at. Things have been a bit stale and boring lately and I really hope to change that. To everyone who has supported my photographic endeavors over the last four years, thank you. You have no idea how important you’ve all been to my growth and confidence.

P.S. Sorry for the completely arbitrary photo, I promise previews and new work coming soon!

Probably the longest February of my life for that matter. I’ve been really feeling the weight in my rucksack the last few weeks, but things are finally working their way out. Regardless of the craziness happening all around, picture taking never left my mind and it looks like I’m coming out of February with a significantly different view of things. In the off time I’m usually just trying to gain a little energy for the next push, luckily I got a nice break lined up. You’ll hear about that later. I’ve been neglecting the blog for a few reasons but no fear, I will return post transition. I haven’t been posting many portraits or people stuff at all, and I’m definitely going to be jumping straight back into that. In the meantime though all I want to do is chill by some baller fireplace and catch a few Z’s.

2011 Will have a few things in store for me, to start off I should be graduating come May. Rutgers is all I’ve known for the last four years and I’m eager and anxious to get out and fend for myself. People often look over the fact that I will be a US Army Officer come May also, I’ll be a Second Lieutenant. I’ve joined the New Jersey National Guard, branching Military Intelligence. I chose not to go into the Active Duty Army for many reasons, one of my most ambitious being my one day career photography. My military journey will take me to Arizona first, spending around 5 months in Fort Huachuca learning my trade.

Ever since my visit to Europe last Spring Break, I’ve caught the desire to travel. This Spring Break I’ll be down in Louisiana for Mardi Gras, a good way to end my senior year I’d like to think! Other than Arizona I’m really hoping to fill this year with a ton of miles traveled. During all of this I’ve got all my goals in photography. I’m trying to make this a big year, it’ll be tough going but I’ve got great support and there’s no other way I’d like to chase this. I’m not looking to share what those goals are right now, but if I manage to pull them off 2011 is going to be awesome.

Usually, I never like any landscape photos I take. Maybe I just don’t see it the way other people that take them do. The week before Thanksgiving we had a little hike up to see the view above the Delaware Water Gap. As crowded with other other hikers it was, the view was left uncluttered. The hike to the cliff was short and happened to be on the side of the mountain that was just drenched in late afternoon sun. Golden light just covered everything we saw. We found this nice little ledge that we could all fit on comfortably and watch the sun set over the opposite peak.