Megan at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. - Arthur Alvarez
When I was in middle school, my friend Hisashi invited me to visit him in Japan. I arrived feeling completely lost, but he picked me up, and showed me everything from the shrines to the Studio Ghibli museum. Through his passion I developed a love for the entire country, and have gone back multiple times since. Fast forward to a few days ago where I met Ken; a traveling surfer from Tokyo who dreams of opening a Gastropub. After our inaugural surf session he reveals he is staying at a hostel in the Tenderloin. Without thinking, I invite him to hang out in my tiny beach studio to stay a few nights; hey it's tough lugging a surfboard on the muni! Since then, we've surfed, boozed it up, watched anime, played video games, and explored some of my favorite sights in San Francisco- the little silhouette here is him! I'll never forget how Hisashi took the time to show me Japan, and I hope I can do just a fraction of that for my new friend Kenchi. Treat everyone the way you want to be treated, and maybe someday they'll show someone else how to as well.
ahsah reblogged
Surround yourself with interesting people - old portraits - San Francisco, CA - Arthur Alvarez
People in the water at Ocean Beach - San Francisco CA - Kodak Portra 400
Charles - Bronica Etrsi - Kodak Portra 400
Happy Birthday to my good friend Charles. Cheers to another year of spontaneous adventure.
People I've hung out with this year Part 1 - San Francisco - 2013/14 - Various Cameras (Bronica Etrsi, Mamiya 645pro, Nikon F4) - Mostly all Portra 400 or 160
If you follow my blog and happen to catch my photos on the dash, you're probably well aware I mainly shoot landscapes. Particularly of people as tiny little dots inhabiting a larger space. Without the cash flow to play around in airplanes, I spend a lot of time on foot. Cautiously navigating and normally getting lost around the upper levels of buildings and mountain tops.
However, this post isn't about composition, juxtaposition, or any other artsy word ending in "tion". It's about the people you and I have adventures with. Yes, I can attest to how glorious it is to traverse rolling green hillsides with nothing, but your thoughts. Finding yourself alone in the forest is also kind of cool. But nothing really beats sharing those places with others. There's just something special about that glowing "whoah" face your companion makes after reaching that waterfall, rooftop, or secret beach. It's a way to experience the awe you felt one or ten more times.
With that said, this post is for people and life. Get out there, explore, adventure, and get lost. Just remember that it's always a little more fun with a few friends.