tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209519662024-03-07T07:53:26.336-08:00Wonder / Landan explorationAlexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.comBlogger517125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-22280637398461315232011-06-21T12:32:00.000-07:002011-08-05T13:21:21.347-07:00Only Sorta Goodbye<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjm7AJFnOFvRAbnpt7JE3QtSgbcijSzvAu3ZnV1NaT0hdAFuVskUNh580URomDRYahTTYzY0MgdLREHQXp3MKz2Wx_jpdGC3Yhh4VeWNcCKasvIWEcl2LXCFnpV12cyqIXPmD/s1600/youandimd58zf.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjm7AJFnOFvRAbnpt7JE3QtSgbcijSzvAu3ZnV1NaT0hdAFuVskUNh580URomDRYahTTYzY0MgdLREHQXp3MKz2Wx_jpdGC3Yhh4VeWNcCKasvIWEcl2LXCFnpV12cyqIXPmD/s400/youandimd58zf.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620764033074392786" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Photo (a still from the film 'You & I') from my <a href="http://alexisstember.blogspot.com/2006/07/movie-news.html">very first Wonder/Land Posting</a>.</span></i></span></div><div><br /></div>On July 24th of 2006, I stumbled upon something called Blogger and thought, "What the hell, why don't I start one of these online journally things?" And so began <i>Wonder/Land</i>. Now, just shy of 5 years later, I've decided to retire it (largely due to the fact that, while the rest of the world moved on to 2011, Blogger pretty much stayed back in 2006). I'll still continue to post inane randomness except I'll be doing it over at <b><a href="http://personsandthings.tumblr.com/">Persons + Things</a></b> now, so click through and follow me! And thank you, reader, and you, Blogger, for the solid run.<div>x.</div><div>a</div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-2734106071386065392011-06-01T08:47:00.000-07:002011-06-02T12:15:41.465-07:00Road. Trip. (virtual or otherwise)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO52B56SRTWtOiTDYiIPsHC5REPFpY3cdoxz2rmkujRqyw1n2SHDosWK42Y_22NP1UUlU0JUmdhW8vYgbWg1tYQ6FucCFmCssKyby2rOFak3GUReJbPfSwLrnPxFxa6MQeDX8z/s1600/Roadtrip.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO52B56SRTWtOiTDYiIPsHC5REPFpY3cdoxz2rmkujRqyw1n2SHDosWK42Y_22NP1UUlU0JUmdhW8vYgbWg1tYQ6FucCFmCssKyby2rOFak3GUReJbPfSwLrnPxFxa6MQeDX8z/s400/Roadtrip.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613284653691461090" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's officially summertime (sort of?). Aka, time to try something new. To explore and adventure. To experience and encounter. And if you're stuck at a desk right now, then it's time to think about getting out from behind it. Music is a vehicle. Get in and drive.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/">https://www.dropbox.com/</a></div><div>user: mamitastember@gmail.com</div><div>password: roadtrip</div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-8274744174150442242011-05-09T09:11:00.000-07:002011-05-10T12:30:39.008-07:00Project Updates<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljWPf5jWSfFE4WPX41a8BBJDdPkLk2ys_N-FlrfML6VDoeQIKKHnTEuOSjymuwP8tQuMlkiWx3zb99Bv9KFOoy4m6enTjwkRUP9p0sD2DF_u2ReEEOvgBusbxI9ufJCkzFFG3/s1600/tumblr_lkwq9xPiB31qiediwo1_500.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>I'm so accustomed to posting all my updates on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexis.stember">Facebook</a> that I forget to share things elsewhere but in addition to my documentary <a href="http://web.me.com/astember/The_Long_Way_Home/Homepage.html">The Long Way Home</a>, I have been working on a couple of photography projects worth mentioning. <div><br /></div><div>First off, there's the <a href="http://the2552mileproject.tumblr.com/">2,552 Mile Project</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsm_gYNMxjcItTCpdE_fULFmFuDQsQRE_BLHgV9oKcUe26rNEyfalgVDkC6Vx_HYO5i5NdOghiDnDxiKthgBkxZxBhpCJA3qq2RxTrjq9Nlyq5_w_D9t5hmb4rISlu35_ImKD/s400/2552.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604748097498455810" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The 2,552 Mile Project was conceived as an artistic collaboration between two photographers: Alexis Stember in Brooklyn, New York, and Monika Clarke in the small northern town of Hayden Lake, Idaho. Each photographer shoots a roll of 35mm film and sends it to the other photographer, 2,552 miles away, who then reloads the roll to create a series of double-exposed images that fuse together two geographically based experiences into a single frame. With no more than a generalized theme behind each round of work, the hope is to encounter visual accidents that upset and/or affirm stereotypes and expectations; to capture in analog form a world that seems to grow smaller with each technological advance; and to see how close, or far apart, 2,552 miles really is.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>And then there's <a href="http://thedelishous.tumblr.com/">The Delishous</a>, a fun and frivolous look at faces and fashion on the street. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljWPf5jWSfFE4WPX41a8BBJDdPkLk2ys_N-FlrfML6VDoeQIKKHnTEuOSjymuwP8tQuMlkiWx3zb99Bv9KFOoy4m6enTjwkRUP9p0sD2DF_u2ReEEOvgBusbxI9ufJCkzFFG3/s400/tumblr_lkwq9xPiB31qiediwo1_500.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605171934545023490" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Click through and follow them both!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-30236625000266880272011-04-26T08:09:00.000-07:002011-05-09T09:17:56.403-07:00The Long Way Home - Teaser 2<div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/22875372?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="398" height="224" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The second teaser for The Long Way Home, a documentary about my father, the photographer <a href="http://johnstember.com/">John Stember</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>While <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/19471211">the first teaser</a> was largely my attempt to enter into the experience and perspective of my father, it was impossible to ignore that despite the film being about my father, it was being told from the perspective of his daughter, aka me. It is from my perspective then, that I share this teaser. </div><div><br /></div><div>To give a little background, I should mention that I set out to make this film for entirely selfish reasons. I was in pain after a difficult year and hoped that in making a film about my father- in coming to terms with him and his journey- I might come to better understand myself and my own. The result of that pursuit is what's being worked into the feature-length documentary, The Long Way Home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Both this and the first teaser are comprised of personal footage taken not for the film itself, but for keepsake purposes, with my Pentax K7 dSLR. The actual film is currently in post but updates and the official teaser are to follow, along with an inevitable request for your help and support. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for staying tuned.</div><div><br /></div><div>Music: Tahiti by Bat for Lashes</div></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-68146355876476035732011-02-03T10:01:00.001-08:002011-05-09T09:18:24.252-07:00The Long Way Home - Teaser 1<div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19471211?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="398" height="299" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>I recently wrapped the shooting of a little project that's near and dear to my heart: a documentary about my father, John Stember. I'm not going to say much about it, and neither will this teaser, but the lyrics, courtesy of Tom Waits, might offer some elucidation. Many thanks for all the love and support I've received in endeavoring to do this. A long post schedule lies ahead but I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel. And that light, unlike this one, will be color graded. Stay tuned....</div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-22207681587026146462011-02-02T00:46:00.000-08:002011-05-09T09:20:43.547-07:00Hennessy "A Very Special Experience" Director's CutIn addition to my regular duties as an <a href="http://www.bc-p.com/">agency producer</a> for Hennessy, I got to direct my first spot for them <a href="http://alexisstember.blogspot.com/2010/12/miami-spice.html">back in December</a>. I had a serious blast shooting it so I hope there's a residual effect in the viewing. Enjoy! (With a fine glass of Henny, of course.)<div><br /><div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19478432?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="398" height="224" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div><div><div><div>Director's cut edited by the one, the only, <a href="http://thejohnresner.com/">The John Resner</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Client cut, edited by the lovely and talented Arthur Dougherty, can be found on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/facebook.com/%E2%80%8Bvideo/%E2%80%8Bvideo.php?v=10150106741998257">Facebook</a>. Log in and like it! </div><div><br /></div><div>Many thanks to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/greenteafilms.org/%E2%80%8B">Greentea Films</a> for being awesomely game with next to no prep time, and for working over the Thanksgiving break.<br /></div></div></div></div></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-76523802857700840962011-01-18T11:33:00.000-08:002011-02-03T14:42:42.879-08:00Royksopp - The Fear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6YoFGFCYLETS6TW3HrF8aTwNCMa-4nArVvMGgTwTopF5F892vDNhBydPl65vLwpc7s-YDMs7KaWHF-x1-wtYnIX24lcR7Frvy9g1UwpGA0_XPHEaUIAYuR7XG0Ypoi2lo6mR/s1600/Picture+2.png"></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19494709?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="398" height="224" frameborder="0"></iframe></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"></span>I'm in a video </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">for my friends over at Charred Oak Films</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. We almost got arrested (twice) in the making so watch and give them some Royksopp love.</span></span></span></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-49327189255093881442010-12-25T17:46:00.001-08:002011-02-02T01:19:03.054-08:00Merry Christmas from Me and the Pops!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/5292818490/" title="Papa by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5292818490_b1a50a0683.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Papa" /></a>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-20141837195485602452010-12-08T09:54:00.000-08:002011-02-03T14:28:32.198-08:00Musica<div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/farbwahl/5078990888/" title="attic by mav_at, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/5078990888_b787961a94.jpg" width="500" height="370" alt="attic" /></a></div>I came across the modern <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">equivalent</span> of a dusty old shoebox full of tapes on the Internet last night. These are a few songs I wrote and recorded roughly 5 years ago when I first discovered Garageband. The quality is shoddy to say the least but it's kind of a fun visit to another time, and some of the harmonies I'm actually kind of proud of. Welcome to my attic. Dust off and take a listen:<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://ia700404.us.archive.org/5/items/Sinner/Sinnercopy6.mp3">Sinner</a> *one of the first songs I ever wrote/recorded.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://ia700202.us.archive.org/3/items/AlexisStemberScratch/WhoseFace.mp3">Whose Face Do You See</a> *back when I lived in the East Village, my neighbor John Newell asked if I would sing a song he'd written lyrics for. Here's what I came up with.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://ia341312.us.archive.org/0/items/Late_Night/04MidnightDrumscopy.mp3">What Is Left Is Love</a> *I was clearly listening to a lot of Coldplay.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://ia700306.us.archive.org/14/items/AlexisStemberFalling/Falling.m4a">Falling</a> *Written for a good friend who was entering tricky romantic waters.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://ia700106.us.archive.org/12/items/Mamma/Mamacopy2.mp3">Mama</a> *I believe this was the second song I ever wrote.</div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-3807177571891156702010-12-06T13:42:00.001-08:002010-12-06T14:34:51.094-08:00Steve Martin, America, Art and the Box<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScDHS61ldz7gXCVDy2-stTOdzH3Rw1BWDK065FXQf_FASp4DNL_cgX4-ojZFKw04FNiw7zkZMuiDZoR7iJiTVapeMHNGeo0M_mj-klp8XJO3XSYrFId4Du96qgzfCN_Hw79s4/s1600/106959901_custom.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScDHS61ldz7gXCVDy2-stTOdzH3Rw1BWDK065FXQf_FASp4DNL_cgX4-ojZFKw04FNiw7zkZMuiDZoR7iJiTVapeMHNGeo0M_mj-klp8XJO3XSYrFId4Du96qgzfCN_Hw79s4/s400/106959901_custom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547690267982478290" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Normally, I'd post this on my Tumblr because it's of a less personal nature but seeing as Tumblr is down for an indeterminate period of time, I'm sharing this here. It's an <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/12/03/131750301/steve-martin-isn-t-predictable-enough-this-is-why-we-can-t-have-nice-things?sc=tw&cc=share">excellent write up</a> that uses the bizarre 92nd St Y/Steve Martin episode to raise a far more important and pertinent point regarding the role of democracy in art. I'm all for democracy in politics, social order, etc. but where art is concerned, it seems to act in a reductionist manner, leaving us with nothing but the lowest common denominator and in place of democracy, we get mediocrity. Just saying....</div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-46111337700945774722010-12-05T14:54:00.000-08:002010-12-05T22:00:01.141-08:00Miami Spice<span style="font-style: italic;">If Miami hasn't got it, they haven't invented it yet.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">-Vincent 'Vinnie' DeMarco, Miami Vice</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJqe7RDjJSSNJ29J2ioRievNGY0daR3YIi_aE0mCkwMx27eT98A5t4fvmeAHPa-4hO5gz-8_K384jqlHJct0tYBvuEN7d3eXtTyv45QeRWNhDRzuU_5Kr8XHYlE2VUaf-eSmY/s1600/IMGP6209.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJqe7RDjJSSNJ29J2ioRievNGY0daR3YIi_aE0mCkwMx27eT98A5t4fvmeAHPa-4hO5gz-8_K384jqlHJct0tYBvuEN7d3eXtTyv45QeRWNhDRzuU_5Kr8XHYlE2VUaf-eSmY/s400/IMGP6209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547353090357828578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br />Andres of Green Tea Films</span><br /><br />My first trip to Miami proved to be an extraordinary and entirely unexpected pleasure. Over this past week, I met a remarkable crew of filmmakers, directed my first commercial, experienced my first <a href="http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com/">Art Basel</a>, ran into a boatload of old and new friends, saw a<a href="http://www.miaminewtimes.com/slideshow/moca-los-angeles-beach-party-with-lcd-soundsystem-at-the-raleigh-31975559/"> private LCD Soundsystem show</a>, ate and drank, then <a href="http://miami.modernluxury.com/style/after-party-le-baron">danced</a>, <a href="http://www.mrchow.com/blog/miami">ate</a> and <a href="http://www.wallmiami.com/">drank</a> some more. It hasn't been 24 hours since I got home and already I'm nostalgic. Thanks to Max, Violet, <a href="http://www.greenteafilms.org/">Green Tea Films</a> and my <a href="http://www.mondrian-miami.com/default.aspx#/explore/?id=pool">Mondrian-poolside-work-bungalow</a> for making this an awesome December so far.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKn4tRWAxMh-q0CxtayxBzdOi3Z303IgxwOj522u9RjplcjP4xaW62jqohnUCFj1Iow1iHYk15n9LaQT9vb745_zTjqqVsyrZfmPQX8zZakzWbyEE3dLh3zruqtbNzBuhE-wp/s1600/photo+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKn4tRWAxMh-q0CxtayxBzdOi3Z303IgxwOj522u9RjplcjP4xaW62jqohnUCFj1Iow1iHYk15n9LaQT9vb745_zTjqqVsyrZfmPQX8zZakzWbyEE3dLh3zruqtbNzBuhE-wp/s400/photo+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547351885109190802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">The exceptional Maximillian Chow</span></div><div><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38ZZdv7alCY-unO0YwmsOodz6LIuiCB7qWnc4P1uCjRL7HzPZNJSraiY9e9ALLLSqr8UBH1DTfIfvttWEeYgaCiy4p6x-PvWyIsSoXQWvUQZkGG_hRtHqqXS-oRohVBJ_Gd5Y/s1600/photo+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38ZZdv7alCY-unO0YwmsOodz6LIuiCB7qWnc4P1uCjRL7HzPZNJSraiY9e9ALLLSqr8UBH1DTfIfvttWEeYgaCiy4p6x-PvWyIsSoXQWvUQZkGG_hRtHqqXS-oRohVBJ_Gd5Y/s400/photo+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547353994596552274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">LCD Soundsystem @ The Raleigh Hotel</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPSbqefXwJ5RliK841sXnn8xbCKRYGk7jyscxgpkXylu6B8adwJybPXqkojSaMzAp_nsPGxtgsCVHZDk81coKG9DacrMCvi4_Homrh7NJJZL01C0bn5Az9NAaIHgEFC8YAJbv/s1600/IMGP6208.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPSbqefXwJ5RliK841sXnn8xbCKRYGk7jyscxgpkXylu6B8adwJybPXqkojSaMzAp_nsPGxtgsCVHZDk81coKG9DacrMCvi4_Homrh7NJJZL01C0bn5Az9NAaIHgEFC8YAJbv/s400/IMGP6208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547353378079751170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Sean and Tash of Green Tea Films</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFB2-LrBVxHE7eg9gAAT1IcB45yKdHkur3L5Y2Wtv6GX-Bj6zAWH9O66D0qjJ62Er31cYQwGTsjlU6vlvRlLuonZH4TwoM9rEWJpeT3zWzIbxrKO8Z20nodDoDBmWKytSfd22o/s1600/IMGP6229.jpg"></a></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-45629077253568563632010-11-28T15:22:00.000-08:002010-12-06T12:19:27.334-08:00Southern Exposure<div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/5215548022/" title="Untitled by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5215548022_6e0fe3d8e1_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="" /></a></div><div>One of the things I cherish about my apartment is the light that it gets in the early to late afternoon as the sun is going down. I shot this today at a moment when the light was bouncing off the floors and creating an isolated shaft of passing illumination. The light in the shot vaguely reminds me of the light in <a href="http://www.johnstember.com/archives-mariele-hemingway-1980s">my father's work from the early 1980s</a>, which brings a smile of joy and recognition to my face, even if I'm not showing it here. Tomorrow I leave to work in Miami for a few days, where I hope I will have time to capture a few photos full of warm southern light to share on my return. Until then....</div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-47130743138878486442010-11-17T07:59:00.000-08:002010-11-17T08:23:57.117-08:00A Maximalist Thanks to the Minimalist Chef<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/dining/20101116-bittman-thanksgiving-interactive.htm"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLj0XkJrBYL1W1HQttfkdYay73dNRWoAjNXfCf-0NmnFvWkRtM02TQNMkpIRyMiUuBk8dBzzg6t6y9gW1ik5iDX5UP92_hSF-55nZzSZ-TlKg3QftFQ-4Hbo_riuxni_cEJQdG/s400/Screen+shot+2010-11-17+at+10.59.37+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540549612692995042" /></a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/dining/20101116-bittman-thanksgiving-interactive.html"><br /><br /></a><div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/dining/20101116-bittman-thanksgiving-interactive.html"><br /></a></div><div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/dining/20101116-bittman-thanksgiving-interactive.html"><br /></a></div><div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/dining/20101116-bittman-thanksgiving-interactive.html"><br /></a></div><div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/dining/20101116-bittman-thanksgiving-interactive.html"><br /></a></div><div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/dining/20101116-bittman-thanksgiving-interactive.html"><br /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'd like a Mark Bittman in my pocket at all times, but I'll save that request for Christmas. Right now, I'm giving thanks in advance for my very favorite holiday. </div><div>Did I mention that I love the Times layout for this? </div><div><div><br /></div></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-1788638535927097592010-11-14T09:40:00.000-08:002010-11-17T08:13:55.654-08:00The Marriage of Claudia and Peter<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/sets/72157625264090665/show/" title="The Wedding of Peter and Claudia by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5175538818_52c5e9406f_z.jpg" width="640" height="411" alt="The Wedding of Peter and Claudia" /></a><br />My friend Claudia married Peter, her boyfriend of ten years, at Peter's mother's home last night. It was a beautiful and warm ceremony, and of course I photographed (click photo to see more). Now we just have to wait for the birth of their undoubtably beautiful baby, due in April.Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-8001521349468609422010-11-12T08:36:00.000-08:002010-11-26T07:35:09.347-08:00A Life On/Off FacebookLet me state for the record that I absolutely love Facebook. I love using it to keep in touch with the many wonderful people I've met in life and I love the constant exposure to new and interesting content that's shared across my various networks of friends. What I don't love is the seductive yet ultimately meaningless cycle of consumption and instant gratification that Facebook engenders. <div><br /></div><div>And so, my friends, I have de-activated my account. Not forever, but for now.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's time for me to fill the well again and engage in the slow, private process of content creation rather than consumption. Once I have something to show for myself, I'll return with the hope that ravenous content consumers like me are still out there, standing by to enjoy (or not) the fruits of my labor. Until then, I will relegate my internet presence to the occasional post here and on <a href="http://personsandthings.tumblr.com/">Persons+Things</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F2n8Ma7y4-I?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F2n8Ma7y4-I?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></div></div></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-74017552437428504422010-11-02T10:26:00.001-07:002010-11-02T10:26:53.566-07:00It's November 2ndHave you voted yet?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7LfxzD9qLEBrPA4Qk4bmgDHQGBPI3MqcgkBVz-T4RsRhCYs3kwS-6hWSFtn9zDUPg_rmE1az5mTsqp7Igvir4_UnDxaB9wsAjBCxxeSIstE8vWLvVkcQm0aiEOUsf3fj41Eq/s1600/leftright_EU_1416.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7LfxzD9qLEBrPA4Qk4bmgDHQGBPI3MqcgkBVz-T4RsRhCYs3kwS-6hWSFtn9zDUPg_rmE1az5mTsqp7Igvir4_UnDxaB9wsAjBCxxeSIstE8vWLvVkcQm0aiEOUsf3fj41Eq/s400/leftright_EU_1416.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535004798132353330" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/left-vs-right-world/">http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/left-vs-right-world/</a>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-88484879178135463412010-11-01T07:35:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:25:21.183-07:00New Song : ForgiveIt's been a long while since I wrote or recorded anything but I was talking about childhood with a friend yesterday and it led me to pull out my dusty keyboard and lay down this thumbnail sketch of a track on Garageband (sans mic, hence bad tinny recording).<br /><div><br /></div><div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16390563" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16390563">Forgive</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/alexisstember">Alexis Stember</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></div><br />Forgive yourself for not being everything you thought you had to be,<br />Forgive yourself for falling short,<br />You couldn't save him no matter how much you gave or thought he needed you,<br />You can't blame yourself anymore. <br /><br />Forgive yourself for not being everything you thought you had to be,<br />Forgive yourself for falling short,<br />You can't make him or any other person your responsibility, <br />You're a big girl now, not the child from before.Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-66918745269544553762010-10-07T16:25:00.000-07:002010-10-15T09:15:54.376-07:00On Relationships<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Consolas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/4829153099/" title="Pool Party Polaroids from the Piazza Palazzo by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4829153099_22a6c85d43_z.jpg" width="640" height="511" alt="Pool Party Polaroids from the Piazza Palazzo" /></a></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pool Party, Summer 2010</span></i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Consolas; "><!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family:Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It would seem that much of what Rabbi Dov Heller, M.A. outlines below would be self-evident and yet many of us, myself included, would do well to remind ourselves of these basic guidelines for finding and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">creating</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> a fulfilling relationship with long term potential. Keep in mind that this is written by a religious man so if you're an atheist or agnostic or anything else, take the God references with a grain of salt. They don't dilute the significance of the underlying message.<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> 5 Golden Rules For Finding Your Life Partner</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /><br />When it comes to making the decision about choosing a life partner, no one wants to make a mistake. Yet, with a divorce rate of close to 50 percent, it appears that many are making serious mistakes in their approach to finding Mr/Ms Right!<br /><br />If you ask most couples who are engaged why they’re getting married, they’ll say: “We’re in love.” I believe this is the #1 mistake people make when they date.<br />Choosing a life partner should never be based on love (alone).<br /><br />Though this may sound not politically correct, there’s a profound truth here. Love (alone) is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come.<br /><br />Let me say it again: You can’t build a lifetime relationship on love alone. You need a lot more.<br /><br />Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you’re serious about finding and keeping a life partner.<br /><br />QUESTION #1:<br />Do we share a common life purpose?<br />Why is this so important?<br /><br />Let me put it this way: If you’re married for 20 or 30 years, that’s a long time to live with someone.<br /><br />What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need to share something deeper and more meaningful. You need a common life purpose.<br /><br />Two things can happen in a marriage. You can grow together, or you can grow apart. 50 percent of the people out there are growing apart.<br /><br />To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life – bottom line – and marry someone who wants the same thing.<br /><br />QUESTION #2:<br />Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with this person?<br /><br />This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship.<br /><br />Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust! i.e. trust that I won’t get “punished” or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings.<br /><br />A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts and feelings.<br /><br />Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.<br /><br />QUESTION #3:<br />Is he/she a mensch?<br /><br />A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person.<br /><br />How can you test? Here are some suggestions<br />1. Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis?<br />2. Are they serious about improving themselves?<br /><br />A teacher of mine defines a good person as “someone who is always striving to be good and do the right thing”.<br /><br />“So, ask about your significant other: What do they do with their time? Is this person materialistic?”<br /><br />Usually, a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement.<br /><br />There are essentially two types of people in the world:<br />1) People who are dedicated to personal growth and<br />2) People who are dedicated to seeking comfort.<br /><br />Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing.<br /><br />You need to know that before walking down the aisle.<br /><br />QUESTION #4:<br />How does he/she treat other people?<br /><br />The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure.<br /><br />Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves and self-absorbed?<br /><br />To measure this, think about the following:<br /><br />1. How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc?<br /><br />2. How do they treat parents and siblings? Do they have gratitude and appreciation?<br /><br />3. Do they show respect? If they don’t have gratitude for the people who have given them everything, you cannot expect that they’ll have gratitude for you – who can’t do nearly as much for them!<br /><br />4. Do they gossip and speak badly about others? Someone who gossips cannot be someone who loves others. You can be sure that someone who treats others poorly will eventually treat you poorly as well.<br /><br />QUESTION #5:<br />Is there anything I’m hoping to change about this person after we’re married?<br /><br />Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to “improve” them after they’re married.<br /><br />As a colleague of mine puts it, “You can probably expect someone to change after marriage … for the worse!”<br /><br />If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them.<br /><br />In conclusion, dating doesn’t have to be difficult and treacherous. The key is to try leading a little more with your head and less with your heart.<br /><br />It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating, to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues.<br /><br />Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don’t want to find yourself in trouble because you didn’t do your homework.<br /><br />HOW WILL I KNOW IF I’VE MET THE PERSON I SHOULD MARRY?<br /><br />The choice of a marriage partner should not be based on “I get a warm, wonderful feeling whenever we’re together and I want to have that warm wonderful feeling forever, so let’s go get married”.<br /><br />Feelings, as we have discussed, have no logic on their own. They need to be acknowledged, of course, but they need considerable assistance from your brain.<br /><br />Marriage means choosing the person you will spend the rest of your life with. This, as you may have guessed, is a very long time to spend with one person.<br /><br />This person will live with you, eat meals with you, sleep with you and go on vacation with you. More important yet, this person will share your children.<br /><br />You need to choose wisely. The decision should not be made based on feelings alone. You need to ask yourself some tough questions. The decisions have to be made on solid considerations.<br /><br />Will this person be a good partner? Is she mature enough to put her own selfish desires aside to look out for what is best for the family?<br /><br />Is he prepared to be a good provider? What is his track record? Is he responsible enough to get a good job and keep it?<br /><br />Will this person be a good parent? Can you stand the thought of your children turning out exactly like this person?<br /><br />They will, you know. Children spend a lot of time with their parents and consequently pick up many or most of their parents’ character traits.<br /><br />You had better like your spouse’s traits a lot because you will be seeing them again in your children.<br /><br />If something were to happen to you, would you completely trust this person, alone, with the task of raising and forming your children? This is not a pleasant thought, but it is an important consideration. Not everyone dies at a ripe old age with great grandchildren gathered around the bed.<br /><br />Sometimes a parent dies and leaves young children in the care of the other parent. If you feel that you would need to be around to correct or lessen this person’s influence on your children, then you are considering the wrong person.<br /><br />Does this person share your faith in God? God does not give us children so that we can mould them into the coolest, most popular people in school. Our job is to get them to heaven. To do that, we need to raise them believing in God. It is tough to do that if only one parent believes.<br /><br />Saying “This is right and that is wrong, and I want you to ignore Mommy until you are thirty-five” does not work.<br /><br />Small children ask about eight million questions in a single day. The answers to those questions go a long way toward forming the kind of adults they will become. Who will be answering those questions for your children?<br /><br />Does this person you are marrying have sexual self-control? Single people sometimes have this idea that marriage is just some kind of lifelong sex festival and that as long as they have each other, they will never be tempted by other people. Wrong!<br /><br />There are many times in every marriage when one partner or the other is sexually unavailable – illness, the last months of pregnancy, travel.<br /><br />There are also times when spouses, just get on each others’ nerves. At times like this, other people can seem very appealing. That can be dangerous, because there are plenty of very attractive people out there who are willing to make themselves available to married men and women.<br /><br />Do you want someone who has never said “no” to sex? If he is not good at saying “no” at eighteen, it won’t be different at forty. Do you want to worry about whether or not your spouse is being faithful?<br /><br />These are very important questions, and if you are not comfortable with all of the answers, you should definitely not marry this person.<br /><br />None if this is to say that feelings play no role at all in a marriage decision. You don’t have to, “Well, I suppose that you would make a good spouse and parent, so even though I don’t particularly like you I guess I’ll marry you”. You need to be happy and excited about the prospect of spending your life with someone. Your brain however must acknowledge that this person as a good choice.<br /><br />Don’t listen to your heart alone nor your head alone…<br /><br />Wait until your heart and head agree.</span></span></span> <!--EndFragment--> </p><p></p>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-60062806953514562032010-09-27T22:57:00.000-07:002010-09-28T08:39:31.238-07:00Chemical ExuberanceI have finally, finally gotten my hands back into some HC-110 and it feels remarkably good. This is the first roll of film that I've developed in over four months. Which is crazytown. More rolls to come....<div> <div><br /><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/5031923567/" title="Simon Dasher by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5031923567_047786175e_z.jpg" width="640" height="629" alt="Simon Dasher" /></a></span></div></div></div></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-2013075874676609982010-09-27T14:15:00.000-07:002010-09-27T23:07:12.323-07:00Our Nation's Capital<div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/5030217931/" title="Washington by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5030217931_623b3e2fea_z.jpg" width="640" height="416" alt="Washington" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lincoln Memorial</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div>Those who know me know that I like to travel. I don't particularly care where I go; I just like the way that travel shakes my seemingly familiar grasp on reality and gives me a fresh perspective on the things that so easily become commonplace or mundane. <div><br /></div><div>My recent goal has been to escape the city, or at least explore one of its more unfamiliar alcoves, each weekend. I'm only two weeks in but so far so good and this past weekend, I finally made it to a city I've meant to visit for years: Washington, DC. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/5030834268/" title="Washington by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5030834268_257e33636c_z.jpg" width="640" height="424" alt="Washington" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Washington Monument</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div></div><div>One thing I figured out pretty quickly is that there's a lot to do in DC, and I only had a day and a half so I took it easy and indulged my feet in wandering aimlessly (and maplessly) for a few hours before my amazingly gracious hosts, Cameron and Joe, met me and gave me a serious taste of DC awesome. </div><div><br /><div><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NMinpvsrr40?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NMinpvsrr40?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Petty Cabbing It</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div>We started with sunset drinks on the rooftop of the <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3279">W Hotel</a>, from where I got a rough lay of the land ("Oh, there's the White House! Right there in front of me! And the Washington Monument. And Ooo ooo! I can see the Pentagon over there!") and then we did what none of us had ever done: petty cabbed it down toward the Lincoln Memorial but on our driver's recommendation, stopped first at the Einstein monument where there happened to be a poetry reading (yes, there is an Einstein monument that apparently nobody but a group of English poets knows of. Score!). </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/5030834098/" title="Washington- Einstein Monument by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5030834098_47102fcee2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Washington- Einstein Monument" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Einstein Monument</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div>From there, we walked down to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which I've observed plenty on TV but which really took my breath away in person as one of the most beautiful and tasteful memorials I've ever seen, and then on to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and finally, Joe's rooftop where we BBQed ourselves some dinner and ate with a view on the US Capitol building. </div><div>Kind of amazing....</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/5030833866/" title="Washington by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5030833866_a0ffefb9c0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Washington" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Vietnam Veterans Memorial</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Other incredibleness that I discovered while in DC, thanks to Cam and Joe?</div><div><a href="http://www.marvindc.com/">Marvin's</a> for late night drinks.</div><div><a href="http://www.benschilibowl.com/">Ben's Chili Bowl</a> for even later and truly ridiculous chili smokes and chili cheese fries (just what you need at 3am). </div><div>And the entire <a href="http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/">Eastern Market</a> section of town for Sunday afternoon perusing.</div></div><div>I'm liking you, Washington. Keep on keeping on.</div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-64726885082037817012010-09-16T04:03:00.000-07:002010-09-16T10:13:26.930-07:00Chiaroscuro<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexisstember/4995150407/" title="Untitled by alexisstember, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/4995150407_a937ce81bd_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-wL9gWoMtWZdAP156MyKEugOKkC4TfcEuVsUWlIm6ENgwZfeUW1tCpTlAmmLMGgWwHepDZnB0dBOMC5jQblxyioWNNCjD4jDXFFpHS5EHQ3aV9Q4t6qs82f0MbFbyBuQ1Lgz/s1600/IMGP5160+(1).jpg"><br /></a><div>After an extended absence, it feels incredibly good to return to my camera again.</div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-88673639788738544102010-09-12T16:59:00.000-07:002010-09-13T08:53:30.433-07:00Go DoThere are certain songs that leave me really, really happy. This is one of them. <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:monospace, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c1WomtTi0wY?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c1WomtTi0wY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-28811776519014879362010-09-11T06:32:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:25:45.116-07:00Fashion WeekFashion week in NYC is really something else. Generally speaking, I hate both crowds and fashionistas but I have to credit <a href="http://lukewoodenphoto.com/">Luke Wooden</a> for making this year's fashion week a whole lot of fun. He was here from California to put on the <a href="http://www.lnaclothing.com/home.aspx">LnA</a> presentation (for which he also shot the very sexy wall projections) and after party at <a href="http://www.milkstudios.com/content">Milk Studios</a>, all of which were a huge success. Kudos, signor ;) <br /><a href="http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/09/video-lna-brings-la-cool-hottest-video-new-york-fashion-week">Watch the video that Luke and Brian put together for Radar</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14859749" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14859749">Video for Vimeo File v2</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/milkstudiosnyla">The Milk Group</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-25280380598008959662010-09-10T09:56:00.001-07:002010-09-10T10:00:25.438-07:00American Gothic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l7yowGDQQKBsXPTakoFXeJZ1dnBT-NQsBLOiH6m1POx_HduAgF8x4tzDC4qtRwFIZ9kb9SmSn3E6GkfSnH4ltQCUFo57dVAggEYhWdLUU_ssiHP6V814NUFuaauw6AjpYuX4/s1600/1283517716.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l7yowGDQQKBsXPTakoFXeJZ1dnBT-NQsBLOiH6m1POx_HduAgF8x4tzDC4qtRwFIZ9kb9SmSn3E6GkfSnH4ltQCUFo57dVAggEYhWdLUU_ssiHP6V814NUFuaauw6AjpYuX4/s400/1283517716.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515329903072057666" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;">American Gothic, Martha's Vineyard, 2009 — from the series American Stories Photo © Palmer Davis</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I love this take on American Gothic, <a href="http://www.wapellocounty.org/americangothic/visit/maps.htm">the original of which was painted near my hometown</a> in Iowa.<div>(via <a href="http://flak-photo.my-expressions.com/archives/6333_1646490288/349279">Flak Photo</a>)</div></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20951966.post-76811374997402221502010-09-08T07:28:00.001-07:002010-09-08T07:28:57.013-07:00So You Think You Can Dance?This video needs no introduction. It's just pure awesome.<div><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zdz88MBWomo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zdz88MBWomo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>Alexis Stemberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13022977778802181444noreply@blogger.com0