Chelsea, Manhattan / What event has most influenced you in choosing the career you have now?

Another favorite thing about this city...dogs are everywhere! And I LOVE dogs! I struck up a conversation with my next interviewee over her very sweet papillon, Tufani.  

© Jasmin Chang 2011

Question: What event has most influenced you in choosing the career you have now?

Answer: I'm a lawyer now. When I was little, I wanted to be an artist. My parents wanted me to get a profession. Parents  hammer into you that you need a practical career. So, my artistic career got swapped for a legal career, which I've been doing for 28 years. Intellectual property law is very tedious, but it's a way to get into the more creative. 

Question: If you could go anywhere in the world and spend a month, where would it be?

Manhattan, NYC (Chelsea) / Which mangoes are the best?

Another favorite thing of living in New York is being able to see a TON of photography, to hear lots of artists talk about their own work. It almost feels like I'm back in college, but I get to pick the lectures and events I want to go to and they are all exactly what I find interesting. It was on the way to PDN Photoplus, that I met my next interviewee. On the three long empty blocks between getting off the subway and getting to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, we started chatting because we were obviously headed toward the same event.

© Jasmin Chang 2011

Question: Which mangoes are the best?

Answer: Julie mangoes. Regular mangoes are very stringy and I don't really like that texture. Julie mangoes are my favorite. There are lots of different types of mangoes, especially in Jamaica, but my favorite is definitely a Julie mango.

Question: What event has most influenced you in choosing the career you have now?

Park Slope, Brooklyn / Where in the world would you like to go to visit? Where are you curious about?

It's the LA freeway driving talking in me, but I've been continually amazed at how walkable New York City is. If it takes the same amount of time to walk somewhere versus take public transportation, I'll always walk. I walked so much the first few weeks here that three pairs of shoes, on three simultaneous days, completely self-destructed and broke as I was walking home. So, my friend Julia suggested I buy a pair of white hi top Converse, my first pair ever! A few days later, as I was walking around in Park Slope, I stopped at a stoop sale, and my next interviewee called out that I had the cleanest Converse that he's ever seen, that he used to wear converse in the 80s and his were always tie-dyed and completely marked up with Sharpie.

**
© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: What an easy question! I would want to go to Machu Picchu in Peru. I would want to go to Sydney, Australia. I would want to go to Egypt to see the pyramids. Those things are on my bucket list. I've already been to the Northern Lights, Glacier National Park and seen pyramids in Mexico (which I really liked, but I want to see the ones in Egypt). I've been to Río Camuy Cave Park in Puerto Rico. They are the darkest, deepest underground caves. There are 20 mile deep caves, 40 mile deep caves and even 100 mile deep caves with stalactites and stalagmites. I've gotten to travel to all these places just by saving from one year to the next and when I have enough, I take a trip

Question: Which mangoes are the best? 

**The story about why these photos look like this...in April of last year, my friend and forever creative collaborator, Kaitlyn, visited me in L and she had two rolls of Kodachrome left. She gave me one roll, she took one roll and we went on a photo adventure. But, I didn't finish the roll till this fall, far after Dwayne's in Kansas (the world's last Kodachrome processing facility) stopped processing the film. Still eager to see what was on the roll, I took it to Print Space, who said they could experimentally process it as black & white film....and voila!


Here are a few more from that roll of film:

My friend, Kaitlyn!

Ravinia, IL / What are the most important things in life?

I visited Chicago at the end of the summer and went to the Ravinia Festival for the first time. I saw Yo Yo Ma who performed so incredibly amazingly. Chicago is an awesome city because it doesn't make me feel like I have to do a million things at once and I had the best Chicago day. I got a chocolate croissant and a cup of coffee (which they were giving out for free!) at Alliance Bakery and sat down to do some work. Then, I had a walk through the epic buildings of downtown Chicago (I really think Chicago has the most beautiful skyline in America) to the Metra station. On the train up to Ravinia, I met my walking talk interviewee who was on her way to the festival as well...


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: Freedom is the most important. Freedom to see your friends. Freedom to think what you like. You don't have to live a cookie cutter life. You have freedom to live where you want, read what you want, love what you want, to think what you want, to have your own opinion. Basically, no limitations. You're going to have limitations with age, but I'd like to avoid it if I can afford it.

Question: Where in the world would you like to go to visit? Where are you curious about?

Stay tuned and get excited...the next Walking Talk moves to New York City!

Venice, CA / Do you like to sing?

I spent this past fourth of July hanging out around Venice Beach. Fourth of July two years ago marks pretty much the very beginning of this project which began on a post college roadtrip from Chicago to Jacksonville with my then roommate, Taylor. We spent the fourth of July at her family's beach house, where they've hosted an giant fourth of July party every year for the past few decades. It was epic and so delicious!

 

© Jasmin Chang 2011

 Answer: Actually, I would say I don't like to sing, but I like to talk. I like to speak. I just like listening to music. You know, music soothes the heart and soul. 

What's your favorite song right now?

I think something by Yanni. "Love is All." Yanni. Y-A-N-N-I. He's a good American singer and the song is "Love is All."

Question: What are the most important things in life?
 

Oceano, CA // What is your favorite aroma or smell?

Our road trip continued down the coast. We hiked in Big Sur and picnicked overlooking the ocean and then took a giant detour to our next stop, Pismo Beach. Apparently, there was a mudslide on PCH but despite there being signs for the past 100 miles telling us we would have to take a detour, there was never a sign saying...detour here! The road literally just ended with one roadblock sign in the middle of nowhere. So, we had to take a 3 hour loop all the way back up north through Monterey and then all the way back down, finally making it to Pismo Beach at 2 am, for a lovely dinner of Jack in the Box. So, a wise word of caution to future road trippers... the ocean can be beautiful and mesmerizing, but make sure you take the signs seriously!


© Jasmin Chang 2011



Answer: Lavender. The smell of lavender. It's relaxing and soothing. I plan on planting lavender when I rearrange my yard, so I can dry it and put it in little baggies. When you walk into Bed Bath and Beyond, it's the first thing you smell. At the farmer's market here, it's the first thing you smell. It draws you in because it's just so calming and soothing. My favorite smell used to be vanilla, but lavender has overruled it now. laughs


Question: Do you like to sing?

Napa, CA/What's the first thing you do in the morning when you open your eyes?

I went on a roadtrip down the California coast with a few of my best friends. Day one of our trip began at a winery in Napa and a picnic with wine, lots of cheeses and chocolate chili fudge. It was awesome because I've wanted to visit Napa ever since sixth grade when The Parent Trap, probably one of my favorite movies of all time, came out!


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: The first thing I think of is, "I want to close my eyes and I don't want to wake up. I want to go back to sleep." Laughs. Every day I think that.

Question: What is your favorite aroma or smell?

I ask that because I was in Taipei just about two weeks ago. I grew up in Sydney, Australia and just for a minute, at sunset in Taipei, it smelled like a humid day in Sydney.

Venice, CA / Are you happy? If yes, why? If no, why?

I often go to the Bank of America in Venice for work and every time I go, I always look forward to seeing Magdiel, the attendant in their parking lot, who greets me with a big smile and an enthusiastic, "Hello Jasmin!" I've been hoping to interview him for The Walking Talk for some time now, and this just seemed like the perfect question for him.


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: Of course, I am happy! I am happy to breath fresh air. I'm happy just to be alive.

There was a singer who sings this song... Celia Cruz. She sings, "Life is a carnival. It doesn't matter if you don't have any food, doesn't matter if you don't have any belongings, just be happy. Try to be happy. To be happy, you don't need many things. To be happy, you just need yourself. If you are not rich, if you are poor, enjoy the life cause it's a carnival."

It's the only time we have to celebrate, when we are alive.

Question: What's the first thing you do in the morning when you open your eyes?

Los Angeles, CA (Koreatown)/Would you marry someone of another race?

This is a very exciting post for me, because it has been a mighty long gap in the walking talk and I can't wait to get started again. Thanks to everyone who asked me what was going on with it, if I was still working on it, when they would see a new interview etc. Your encouragement seriously means a ton to me!

Last weekend, I visited photographer Noe Montes in his studio, met his adorable kids and talked some ideas.


© Jasmin Chang 2011

Answer: I have...yes. So the answer is yes and I hope everybody does, actually, so eventually there won't be any separation, but yes, absolutely, it's not an issue at all.

How did you meet your wife?

We met in Mesa, at a community college, in a photography class.

What ethnicity is she?

She's American. She's from the Hudson Bay so she's very white, very American. She's from New Jersey and her family's been there for a long time.

What European country is she originally from?

Actually, I think she's Polish originally, but like I said, they've been here for a long time. Her father actually followed up on a family tree a little bit, so they found out they were related to Henry Hudson, or one of those guys, one of those explorers, but very, very far back and before that her mom's family was from the Netherlands, but like I said, they've been American for generations so they're more American than anything.

Question: Are you happy? If yes, why? If no, why?

San Francisco, CA/Who in your life do you think you take most for granted?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: Most for granted? The person who I know that I do that to and I really shouldn't is my partner. We've been together 36 years and sometimes I do things that I wouldn't do if it was a casual acquaintance, I say things that I wouldn't say to a stranger. I would say something that was nicer. We have a great place and we have a wonderful life together. Sometimes we get into a little argument but very very seldom, but still, sometimes I do things that I shouldn't even though we have a great relationship. I always regret any kind of a mood swap. I just wish for peace in the family. Most of my immediate family is back in Louisiana so I really have very little contact with them.

Question: Would you marry somebody of a different race?

Inglewood, CA/How do you feel about life in general? Do you feel like you're content or do you feel like you're missing something?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: No, I do not. I feel very content. I feel I'm exactly where God wants me to be.

I just turned 31 and I just feel so blessed. I feel like most people my age don't love their job. I feel blessed to really love what I do. I have a great family. I have my health. Yes, I'm very content.

It's such a great place to be. I just think so many people at this age, well so many people in general. are always waiting to see what the next thing is thinking, well, this will make me happy. Well, that will make me happy, but I am content with where I am.

Question: Who in your life do you think you take most for granted?

Rockford, IL/How come some people can take care of dogs and cats for a long time, but others for only a very short time? With babies too. Some people can care for them for a long time, some people play for a few minutes and then get bored. Why is that difference?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: Well, you can say the same for people and children. For people who are entertaining a child for the short term, they want to play with the child, interact with the child so the child will not fear them, so that it will be comfortable with them but then they want to move on and interact with the adults in the room if there are adults in the room.

As far as taking care of a child on the long haul, usually that's either your own child or you've taken an interest in a friend's child or an aunt's child or you're doing it for money so it can either be a financial need or an emotional need, end of story.

Patience comes because people have a deep love for children, or they have a deep love for a pet and a pet fills empty holes in their life. It fills loneliness and some people, they bond with animals better than they bond with people so they have a wonderful lifetime relationship with an animal.

I understand people who love children and I understand pet lovers and the desire for pets. It's kind of, you know, when you've lived this many years, you kind of know a little bit about human nature and human needs. You can read body language and the way people laugh, the way they react to you...you can tell if they're genuine or not, the same thing with pets they either love you or they don't.

So now, shall we move on?

Question: How do you feel about life in general? Do you feel like you're content or do you feel like you're missing something?


© Jasmin Chang 2010


© Jasmin Chang 2010

Skokie, IL/Why don't people pay more attention to spaying and neutering their cats and dogs? Why don't people take more responsibility for their pets?

Welcome to the Pita Inn, one of the most amazing places to eat in all of the Chicagoland. Three dollars for a dozen fresh baked pita bread, the best falafel sandwiches, hummus, tabouleh... Needless to say, many of my Northwestern days were spent here so it was only fitting when I visited this summer that it would be a part of my project.


© Jasmin Chang 2010

 Answer: I don't know because I don't raise cats or dogs. The people don't have responsibility. They think it's easy but it's not. It's a soul. It's like a human being. It needs food. It needs care. You have to take care of it like a baby.

I ask why he does not own any pets.

I've been here just for a short time and in my country, Iraq, they don't care to take care of pets like here.

Question: How come some people can take care of dogs and cats for a long time, but others for only a very short time? With babies too. Some people can care for them for a long time, some people play for a few minutes and then get bored. Why is that difference?

Venice, CA/Do you think that the country is headed toward a more socialistic system than we had before? Why do you think so?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer:  Right now, there's a democratic president and the healthcare issue. That passed so that is more socialistic. But I think the real sign is that everyone is intermixing. Before it was like our culture versus your culture. It seems like people are interrelating more. It's more of a celebration of culture rather than paranoia, which I guess is more social.

Question: Why don't people pay more attention to spaying and neutering their cats and dogs? Why don't people take more responsibility for their pets?

Manhattan, New York (Central Park)/Do you think that American society is becoming more nihilistic?

It's been a terribly long time since I've posted here but I've been feeling like I reaallly want to get back to working on this project. It's something that's given me so much life and so many good stories since I began the project two summers ago...through moving to LA, looking for a job etc. This blog sadly hasn't been getting very much love from me over the past few months but luckily, this past weekend, I received an awesome email out of the blue from this awesome lady which totally gave me a kick in the butt to get back into this project. I have a few older photos that I haven't gotten around to posting but once those are up...walking talk, meet 2011. I'm back!


© Jasmin Chang 2010
Answer: No, I don’t think so, but I think people are more afraid of getting involved. If someone doesn’t help someone that’s sick, it’s because they don’t want to get sued, but I don’t think it’s an individual fault.

Everyone is kind of wrapped up in their own little thing they’re doing. They are scared to come out of their bubble.

Question: Do you think that the country is headed toward a more socialistic system than we had before? Why do you think so?

DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY/ Do you believe in God? And if not, why?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: Yes, I totally believe in God because I feel like our human brain cannot comprehend the infinite. I don’t think it’s arrogant if you’re agnostic, I just don’t think the world would be the way it is now without God. The serendipity, the random violence. We try to anthropomorphize God but it’s beyond our thinking. I think it’s something that gives us hope because I don’t think being human is the most fun thing in the world.

Question: Do you think that American society is becoming more nihilistic--that we are not caring about things that we used to see as sacrosanct? What values do we still care about or is it all out the door? Is everything up to question? Do we care anymore?

Beverly Hills, CA/ Will the universe continue to expand?

© Jasmin Chang 2010
Answer: (left) Yes, absolutely. It always has and it always will. There’s no end to the possibilities of the universe. The universe is endless in my mind. I have a conviction.

(right) Of course. Nobody knows how far it goes. You don’t know. You can’t know.

Question: (left) Do you believe in God? And if not, why?

(right) Do you think that everytime NASA sends a satellite into space, they create pollution? Why are we making consumers so guilty when they drive a car when we have the government sending spaceships into space and probably creating much more pollution? How come nobody talks about that?

Santa Monica, CA/Do you believe in God and if so, how do you know?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: (right) I’m probably the least religious guy you’ve ever met.  
(left) No you’re not. 
(right) Why do you say that? 
(left) Because I’m even less religious. I don’t know if God exists or not. I don’t really think about it.
(right) Do you eat matza balls?
(left) Well it’s hard to kill off those matzo balls. laughs. Every society since the dawn of man has had gods. Some of them plural. Lesser animals we don’t think have gods because they don’t have the imagination we have. So we can create anything we want in our imaginations but as far as a physical God that watches over us? No, he doesn’t exist.

Question: Will the universe continue to expand?

Los Angeles, CA (Silverlake)/ Are you interested in tracing your roots via the internet?

My mom visited me a few weeks ago and I spent a day showing her around LA. Even though I grew up in southern California and she had lived here for 20 years before moving to Illinois, we've never really spent time together in the city. It was super nice being able to drive her around and show her where I've been spending my time for the past ten-ish months since I've been living in LA.

At the top of my places to bring visitors is Barnsdall Art Park at Hollywood and Vermont. Hands down, the BEST place to take a nap on a grassy lawn while taking in the downtown scenery and the Hollywood sign.

After that, we went to Silverlake, where we discovered Spice Station, met the owners and bought German Chocolate Cake Tea and volcano ash salt!



© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: I'm not interested in that simply because I already know my roots. My uncle gave my parents a gift that traced our family roots, so I know that history. It would have interested me though. My family is Italian, first generation Italian. They moved from Italy to Montreal, my dad in '54 and my mom in '59.

Question: Do you believe in God and if so, how do you know?

Los Angeles, CA (Playa del Rey)/Where do you come from?

May has been a busy month with lots of travelling, which I'm quite happy about. I'll tell you more about about where I've been through the next few posts. However, travelling plus waiting to finish a roll of film and then develop it has put a bit of a lag in posting the walking talk, so sorry about that!

Back at my favorite neighborhood grocery store, I met this couple when they recommended a new type of orange with wrinkly, bumpy, bulging skin.  I can't remember what it was called but the woman I photographed said it was the sweetest, most delicious orange she ever ate. I bought one and indeed...yum!


© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: Would you believe that we are both native Californians? We were both born less than ten miles from here. I was born in San Pedro and he was born in west LA.
 
I ask how LA has changed since they were young.

The largest difference I can think of is, for instance, I had a friend who lived on a street with three single family dwellings on one street. When they decided to sell, they all decided to sell to a contractor and it went from three families to 36 condominiums. You multiply that by many many many times and that's what happened to west LA. That's the reason for all the traffic!

Question: Are you interested in tracing your roots via the internet?