Sunday, July 27

Hunting Vipers

I am in the jungles of Costa Rica, the only thing visible a pale swath of endless green foliage that I illuminate with my headlamp as I hack my way through the thick forest, ducking under branches, pushing aside leaves as big as my body, stepping over roots crawling with insects and spiders. Inky blackness fills the space between the wet palm fronds. It all looks the same in this deluge. Big fat tropical rain drops crack loudly all around as they hit branches, leaves, and fronds on their plunge to the forest floor. My wet socks sloshing around in the trapped puddle of water that have become my boots. All my senses on high alert. I have become the jungle, everything is the same as we are both soaked in this warm and steamy rain.

I am wandering, dreamlike, looking for the yellow eye-lash viper. A tiny and impossibly colored snake with a venom known to kill its victims, intended prey and accidental human alike. I’ve never seen this snake, but our guide tells us they sit in branches at night, just about head height, and to watch where we put our hands as we push aside the foliage.

I am part of a film crew, shooting a nature show. We’ve been in Costa Rica for a week and have already filmed wild sloths, pulled baby crocodiles from the rivers, handled bats and creepy centipedes. But this night is different. I wander through this prehistoric jungle and am snapped awake to the awareness that I am living my boyhood dream. I’ve spent hours in my room as a kid, imagining this very moment; the primordial fog, the heavy and all encompassing wet heat, the jungle night sounds of hundreds of tree frogs, the looming prehistoric trees rising upward, far beyond my darkened tunnel view. 

I push deeper into the jungle, what I can’t see my imagination fills in for me, the unknown creatures waiting here, watching me among this mysteriously familiar place. My bedtime stories would whisk me away to this very moment, preparing me for sometime in the future, where I am now, in this wild jungle, in a tropical downpour, hunting for vipers.




Monday, July 7

JACKWHITE.III. Always bringing the noise...

The first time I saw Jack White was when he played at Bonnaroo in 2007 with "The White Stripes".  I wasn't even a photographer yet and I took this crappy, shaky, really grainy photo of one of the best show's I have ever seen.

Then, I saw him again in 2008. Again, at Bonnaroo, where he was playing with his band "The Raconteurs". I was Still not a photographer, didn't even take a single shot. But the show was, again, another hard rocking and amazing set. (video below NOT shot by me, just a re-blog)



Then, I saw Jack White yet again at Bonnaroo, this time in 2010 with "The Dead Weather". Finally, a photographer, I took theses shots from the photo pit.

That first time I saw Jack White play, way back at Bonnaroo in 2007 with "The White Stripes" I instantly realized he is one of the best and only musician conistently Rocking and rolling, the only true Rock Star living and playing today. I have since seen him play 5 times with his various bands and musical outfits and on his current solo tour. He rocks, he roll's, he plays different and unplanned sets every show, he plays elaborate secret shows. I have told anybody who'll listen and especially myself, if you ever get a chance to see Jack White live, always go. Never miss a Jack White show, He will never ever disappoint an audience.

So you can imagine my self-loathing when i skipped Bonnaroo this year (against all my better judgement and mental warnings), where Jack White Headlined Saturday Nights Main Stage. And it was apparently "One of the best in Bonnaroo's 13 year history". FUCK ME.

But luckily, I found this bootleg recording of the entire show, you can download it here, put it on your ipod and enjoy the show...and remind yourself, to never, ever, miss a Jack White Show.