Sawatdee Kha

Being asian and growing up here in the US was not easy. With the US history of discrimination, some of what I could remember growing up was not healthy to a child's developing self esteem. Although being a teenager and not being accepted into either the American crowd because of the way I looked and the Asian crowd because I was too American, I managed to dig my way out of that hole of self doubt. It was ok to be myself and if being Asian was part of that...then that's who I am.

To learn more about my culture, the traditions and to get some good Thai and Laotian food to eat (my parents live across country, so I am missing this terribly), my friend Laura, her son, Nick and I headed to the Asian Pacific Rim Festival. I just knew there was going to be an abundance of bright colors spread across the scene. The reds, yellows, blues ...textures and designs. It was absolutely amazing. I was so taken aback by the crowd and performers that I forgot about how heavy the camera was. Indeed, I felt it the next day...my arms and shoulders were killing me.

Just the smell of food wafting through the air was enough to fill empty stomachs. I got pictures more colorful than any I have taken in a while. It was a good day. It was a peaceful day of togetherness...Americans and Asians alike.

Make Me Look Good

Sunday was the day to pull out all of my tricks. I went to Honeymoon Island to model for a few photographers taking a photography workshop. Robert LaFollette was teaching the group that day. I have known Robert for about a year now and he had asked me, as well as a couple of other girls, if we would be interested in modeling for them. Why not? I love being behind the camera but I figured being in front of the camera would give me a different perspective on the world of photography. I have taken a day workshop with Robert before. He is an incredible photographer and an easy-going intelligible instructor. He knows his way around the camera and how to get the best images.

Now, we have all looked at magazines and thought about how easy these girls have it. They get paid to just sit there while photographers snap away. Then, BAM! These beautiful magical photos come to be. Well, speaking from experience, it was not just about sitting there looking pretty....and no BAM!

The day was windy and our hair was blowing all over the place. Mainly, in our faces. God's way of warning the camera? We will soon find out. So, as we were fighting our hair and trying not to squint at the sun, we had to keep a big bright smile on our faces. I do smile, I just always felt that having a smile plastered on your face all the time meant you were not all there in the head. But my smile was there. The part that was the hardest was trying to interpret the photographers instruction into something tangible. Smile a little, but open your mouth and don't show teeth. I didn't this it was impossible until I tried. I'm gonna have to practice in front of the mirror more. It wasn't all bad. I thought it was kind of funny...like the feet shot where we had to bend down towards our feet while we were sitting. The photographer asked " Can you bend down some more?" My response, "That's as far as I can go." It wasn't very far either.

As the time passed with the continuous click of the shutter, I grew more comfortable. It helped big time that I knew Jenny (the other model), John Jacobsen (one of the photographers taking the workshop) and Robert. It was so much fun and getting that attention wasn't so bad either. John has already put up some of the pictures. I was very happy with the outcome, but he is good so no worries there. Now, to wait for the rest.

What I take from that day......its fun being in front of the camera, the pay is good, but I miss having the creative control behind the camera. Several times throughout the day I was thinking how I should have brought my camera. Oh well, I still had fun.

Sunday for Two

This past Sunday Laura and I went to downtown St. Petersburg. I have been there many times but this was her first time getting a feel of the true St. Pete. Not the quick drive-thru tour, but the walk down the streets and brick road alleyways in-depth tour. I love it when people experience things for the first time. The sense of awe of your surrounding is still fresh and the excitement of seeing something different reveals itself in your childish enthusiasm for the slightest detail. We tend to lose these feelings when we become accustomed to being in the same environment time after time. You become neglectful of its beauty and its luster fades into the distance along with any memory of the new beginning.


This was not to be the case on Sunday. We roamed the streets with our cameras, ready to capture timeless images and document the detail in the old time architecture that will someday give way to modern condos of the future. We felt brave with our cameras ready to use it as an excuse for roaming into areas that could possibly be off-limits to passersby. We covered the inner downtown area of St. Pete, but I am pretty sure there are a lot more things that we missed. Thats why multiple trips are called for.