1989 Buick Park Avenue Snapshots

From learning to drive, trips between home and university, and appearances in random film projects, I think I've made my appreciation for what was the Buick (and my very first car) completely clear.  I found this series of pictures that I shot in 2007 when I created my Buick 360 edit and had a bit of a nostalgia trip.  

My affinity for shooting detailed shots of some of my random experiences and prized possessions often seems a bit frivolous in the moment, but when those moments start seeming more like distant memories the pictures take on a life of their own.  It's been almost a year now since I retired the Buick for my Jaguar, but seeing these pictures again reminds me just how much I loved that old car and how many great memories are associated with it.    

Editing Stress

With the sun shining, the temperature rising, and a social atmosphere calling people outdoors, you'd think I'd be in better spirits these days.  The truth is I'm already exhausted.

The spring brings college edits and promo videos in a wave.  Photo shoots for the magazine translate in a buzz of activity around the office, and before you know it there are new products and promos on my desk and new videos to shoot.  And then there's my personal life - or the increasing lack of one.  This is the balance I have between my web photography/editing day job and my on the side contract editing. 

I honestly love the work I do, but I'm often left questioning if I'm really happy about my routine or if I'm just too busy or distracted by the perks to explore something that I haven't found yet.  It's like I'm swept up by the fact that in film school I would've killed for my current life and now I'm realizing that I didn't put much thought into what I'd do after I got it.

It's been exactly three years since university now and in that time my life has transformed in almost unbelievable ways.  Similarly I'm witnessing my friends changing their careers, getting married, having kids, and settling down.  The concept of 'Editing Luke' was always grounded in my issues as a film student in addition to the literal editing I was doing.  Now it seems that concept has broadened. I honestly feel challenged about how to be an adult - at least the kinds of adults I see many of my friends becoming. And then I think that was probably part of the plan somehow. 

Editing is emotional, intensive, and meticulous.  I'm realizing that a lot of the choices we make aren't though, and maybe I'm trying to contextualize something that's just meant to happen naturally.  Why stress about what I can't control? But, in my projects I'm always focused on featuring the best shot, the most profound sound-up, or the crux of the action. In my life I'm trying to create it.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (2010)

Visiting the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for a second time was something Dave and I really wanted to do. Our first time around we'd taken the trip as the sun was setting, which was beautiful, but we didn't get to enjoy the view for very long before it was dark. It made for a cool video though.