I think this is a step in the right direction.

Consumerism and Capitalism. The Race for Wealth. Money. Things. Objects. Products. Materialism. I’m over it. When did the world become so fixated with money, objects, commodity, and other things of only material value? Moving out of home reminded me of how little you actually need to survive (and still be pretty comfortable)

I have to admit that sometimes I can’t help but be a consumer. Cool art books, art supplies and Camera equipment are my latest vices. I justify buying art books as helping other artists in the community continue doing what they love! :p ahah

I saw a news story about people who raise their kids as mini socialites. Designer clothes that they will outgrow in a few months. It makes me think about what will they be like when they’re older? they won’t have a chance. What will they value? Who’s fault is it? Media? TV? Constant pressure to be perfect and have all the best things? I often wonder when success started being measured by how big your house was and how big your bank account is. Maybe I’m just jealous because I’m an average wage earner. Who Knows.

Advertising. products BAM in your face. Every day, Everywhere. Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like if we didn’t run on a capitalist system. Imagine artwork on all billboard spaces. Someone’s photography made HUGE without some sort of lame message and branding. Ahh I’m just a dreamer.

Anyway, so I drew ‘Ring’ around these thoughts. I was wondering why people placed so much importance / fascination / desire with precious metals, and stones like diamonds and gold. Other things in nature are just as beautiful too! flowers, trees, plants, animals are just as amazing in my eyes. I guess you can’t put a tree around your finger because they are more temporal than gold. But yeah just a thought. Just wanted to make people think twice about what’s important.

Thats off my chest. I’m signing off!

Sam

I’ve been going to the rally for a while now, and its sort of become tradition to go every time it comes back to NZ. (Sadly its only every two years now) So I thought it would be a good opportunity to actually use my camera!

Funnily enough I think my favourite photos weren’t of the cars at all.

Oh and sorry for the over processing, I got bored and discovered photoshop actions. Haha.

Anyway, what I was meant to take photos of:

I ended up enjoying taking photos of random things more though. Helicopters, Diggers, People. Haha.

I like how this next shot looks like theres a giant crucifix coming out of the caravan. Kinda spooky

It was taken at around 5 or 6am from the edge of the water in Kawhia, by a Marae (That’s Maori for ‘meeting house’) we stayed for a few days while at Uni. I remember this morning well, Stayed up all night from the previous evenings antics (tried to run away from the bus because we wanted to stay at the pub longer – later found by our lecturers driving past as we tried to jump into shrubbery. Got back to camp and couldn’t go back to sleep so I layed down on the bank in my sleeping bag and watched the sun come up over the water.

Anyway. It was a beautiful place and I’d like to go back for a visit.

Not a great photo but holds a lot of value

Shot with a Canon 7D and 50mm f1.8 II Lens

It was actually hard to decide where to look on stage cause so much was happening at once. Grohl’s relentless drumming, Josh’s amazing guitaring or JPJ’s skill on every instrument he picked up.

I must say it was a lot better live than on the album.

If you haven’t yet. Check out this band!

(Photo taken from Stuff – SHANE WENZLICK/Stuff.co.nz)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shot with a Canon 7D

P.S. Can’t wait to get my own 7D