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.

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© 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!

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?

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?

Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz)/When's the last time you went to see a movie?

My friend Natalie took me to Sapp Coffee House, which she discovered when she saw this clip of Anthony Bourdain eating their boat noodles. It's a yummy Thai restaurant in a Los Feliz strip mall, despite what you would think from the name. I don't even think there is coffee on the menu at all!


© Jasmin Chang 2010


Answer: Three weeks ago. Shutter Island. It's fun. It was interesting. You saw the preview right? Not scary at all. It interests me. Yea, yeah I liked it!

Question: What kind of food do you love the most?

Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Where were you born?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

I stumbled upon the Echo Park Farmers' Market and met these women at a booth representing the Echo Park Time Bank.

Answer: (from left to right)
-El Salvador.
-Findlay, Ohio. It's a small town.
-New York City.

I ask what brought each of them to Los Angeles.
-I came here to LA when I was 6, but then we moved to the valley because of the gang violence in the city then, but I came back later because LA's fun. It's a magnet.
-We moved from Ohio to Denver to LA because my mom remarried and my stepfather got a job with the LA Philharmonic as a violinist. This was back in '81.
-I always wanted to come to LA. It was always something my mom would talk about, but we never came, so I always saw it as this place where I would eventually go.

Question: What does community mean to you?

Los Angeles, CA (Mar Vista)/How old were you when you had your first kiss?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: I was 14.

Question: Where were you born?

Los Angeles, CA (Del Rey)/What is going to make you happy?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: Ooh...I would actually say clearing the economy. That would definitely make me happy. I need to get a job. Can't be happy broke. She shakes her head and laughs. I'm looking for a receptionist job, anything right now.

Question: How old were you when you had your first kiss?

Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/Have you thanked your guardian angel today?

© Jasmin Chang 2010

Answer: She shrugs. I'm not sure. It depends what religion you are. I ask her if she believes in angels or guardian angels. Yes. I do. Yes, I believe in angels. I ask her if she thanks them. Yes. Today and everyday, but most of the time I think about God to help me.

Question: Do you think angels are around us everyday?

Los Angeles, CA (Del Rey)/Let's talk about 2010.

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: I don't know. Well, I leave next week to go to Salvador! My grandchildren are there. I go every year for Christmas. I like! Muy importante. I like to cook with my family. I like my dogs. I like it. Everything, I like it. I don't like the cold.

Question: What do you like?

Los Angeles, CA (Lincoln Heights)/What do you think is going to happen in 2012?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: I hope it gets better for the year 2012. That's just my opinion. I hope things get better by 2012. People have struggled this year. Well, when my mom was a little girl, they said the world was going to end. There would be a big disaster or a big earthquake, but who knows?

Well, I've noticed that people are more friendly now that we have a black president. Well, the president...well, I like him. I don't care what other people say. I like him and Michelle and the kids. Color doesn't bother me. I don't care if you're black, purple, green...as long as you're nice.

Question: You're asking about 2012? Well, let's talk about 2010.

Los Angeles, CA (Del Rey)/Do you live near where you grew up? If so, why did you stay and if not, why did you move away?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: I grew up in San Diego til 14. Then I moved to LA. The reason why we moved here was for my dad's job. He repairs airplanes at Santa Monica Airport. The beginning--no I wasn't cool with it, but once I got here there was nothing I can do. Now, I'm OK right here. This is cool. I miss my family in San Diego. I got a lot of family out there.

I ask if he will be going home for Christmas.

No, I have to work but my mom and my brother are here. My aunts, cousins and uncles are in San Diego. Christmas will be my mom, my brother and I. It's good. It's good to take care of mom.

Question: What do you think is going to happen in 2012?

Los Angeles, CA (Getty Center)/How long will it be before we eliminate war and why do you think that?

The Getty Center gardens are definitely my favorite place to spend an afternoon in Los Angeles.


© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: I think it's never because war is inevitable. Someone is always going to be pissed off at someone else. There's always conflict in this country, never conflict resolution. Not in our lifetime.

Question: Do you have any tattoos and if not, why?

I ask him if he has any tattoos and he shows me his tattoo inspired by September 11, which says in Latin, "If you want peace, prepare for war."

Los Angeles, CA (Miracle Mile)/Do you think that men and women have more equality in our generation than in the past and is it enough?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: I can only speak for the American situation but for my generation versus my mother's generation, it seems to be more equal, but that's just my personal experience. But I think different levels of equality and inequality exist in the same time and region. (For there to be full equality,) it would take more self awareness for women. It's an agreement to have an equal status. I'm not that big of a fan of "feminism," in quotes, because I think a very specific social strata is attracted to it and it's offputting to other women.

Question: What do you think what you eat says about you?

Los Angeles, CA (Del Rey)/How will you demonstrate love towards someone today?

The two guys have been traveling by walking, hitchhiking and taking the bus up and down the west coast from Portland to San Francisco to Los Angeles since the beginning of the summer.

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: When I go into the Jack in the Box right there to get a salad, I will lean over the counter, not for a kiss...that might be moving too fast...but to say thank you for the salad and I love you for the salad.

Question: What can we do, as human beings living in the 21st century, to make sure that future generations of chickens will not be so mistreated?

Los Angeles, CA (Mar Vista)/How has the economy affected your life?

© Jasmin Chang 2009

Answer: My friends don't have jobs anymore, so I have to spot them whenever we go out.

Question: What part, in your life, does the ocean play...as a California resident or a coastal resident?

Inglewood, CA/What would make today a good day for you?

For anyone that knows of my obsession with fake food, especially gigantic fake food, it's obvious why this entry exists. Seeing Randy's Donuts every morning on the way to work has been the highlight of many days. So finally, on the way to my last day of work, I decided to stop and buy a dozen donuts.


© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: Business wise, of course if business is good today...the day before Halloween. Personally, that we all get along, everyone in the store. There are 14 people working here and most of them have been here for awhile.

This building has been Randy's Donuts since 1976. The building was built in 1952. There were 10 buildings like this and they were originally called the Big Donut Drive In. The original owner sold it to a man whose son was named Randy. There are four buildings like this left, but this one is the most famous cause we've been in movies. They're actually filming a movie here next week. It is about the end of the world, and they are going to have the donut roll off the top of the building.

My brother and I bought the store in 1978. I was living out in Ohio and I wanted to come back to California and my brother told me that this place was for sale. So, I came out here, worked here for a month, liked and and bought it with my brother. It's been 31 years.

Question: How has the economy affected your life? Have you continued on the same path or cut back?


© Jasmin Chang 2009

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Good morning, Randy's Donuts! Crumble donuts...AMAZING.

Los Angeles, CA (Echo Park)/ How do you define love and where did it come from? What is the source of it?

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: Definitely God given. I think people that know God love deeper. You can feel it more if you are connected with God. To define it? It's God. It's what God is. I think that's why we're here is to love. The more you love, the more you will have it in your heart and soul and the other person can feel it in their heart and soul. It's not even about religion. It's about souls and connections and when you connect really deeply with someone, then that's love. I know that when children bond with their mother, that's their first love. It teaches them to love. It's scary because for people that never bond with anyone, it's harder for them to love. Brandon and I connected immediately. We're best friends and we love hugs. Countries that don't teach touching and holding...it's so much easier for the people to be detached. I think people that love deeper are happier. It's almost like a domino effect.

Question: What, more than anything, would you like to achieve in your life?

US, Canada, UK/How does art affect your daily life? Does it?

(I photographed Suzanna in my neighborhood in Los Angeles, but it seemed strange to classify her in that location. For the past few months, she has traveled from London to Toronto to New York to Philadelphia to Jacksonville and finally to Los Angeles in the pursuit of developing her screenplay into a feature film.)

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: Art keeps me inspired When I see other people create, it fuels my creativity. As a creative, it keeps me creative. Art is an expression often of what is going on inside and sometimes words are not enough and then art allows us to communicate.

Question: How do you define love and where did it come from? What is the source of it?

Los Angeles, CA (Del Rey)/Does making art, make you happy?

© Jasmin Chang 2009
Answer: Of course! Of course art brings you happiness! In our head, we always imagine perfection, beautiful things and art makes it so that you can see it. It's real! It's not just in your imagination anymore. We as humans go so far away with our imagination. Art puts that in reality where you can enjoy it, especially in moments where you sit and have a fixation on something. It's always beautiful things. You never want to go to bad places with your imagination. Artists give you something beautiful, something green, with birds around, beautiful where your dreams come true.

Well, in art, I don't like art that has an insult to humanity, but anything that brings peace, love, harmony and life, I think everyone enjoys. Art affects your daily life when you don't throw anything beautiful away. You don't see a flower and kick and break it. You don't throw a big plastic bag over something that is beautiful if you are one that likes sensitive things, beautiful things. Yeah, I admire beautiful people, beautiful things. You cannot deny beauty. It's there. It's only for us to see. You can see beauty in a monkey, but other people just see a monkey. Beauty is all over but some people can see it. You just have to see it. Or what you have to do is knock on that door, let it out. Be open to beautiful things in life, or what you can say is oh, damn it, let me just finish my day. It's not a contract. You're day is not a contract. Enjoy your day. Live your day. Then you will see beauty.

I tell you one thing, with photographers--what I see can be a normal person, but what you see is an angel. I see the picture and think geez what a beautiful person. I mean, it's there, but until you see it in a picture and you say oh my God, it's beautiful. You could have just passed it by on the street, but when you see it in a photo, you see it's beauty.

Question: How does art affect your daily life? Does it?