The more you know…

It isn’t just a line burned into my brain thanks to television. The more you, or I, know, the better informed we become and the more options we have. And options are something you really want when asking for advice, looking for inspiration, or just taking stock of good things in your life. One of the things I know is that I met a lot of amazing people while in college. Perhaps I didn’t fully realize the greatness of those around me but I’d like to think somewhere in my subconscious I knew. How else could I explain that those who stick out in my mind are still an email away years after graduation?

One of these amazing people is named Andri Tambunan. When I was happily bouncing from photography class to photography class in school Andri was amazingly focused. I remember being somewhat intimidated by how far along he was in his own personal photography journey, and I still am. While I was learning about different kinds of photography for the first time he was doing professional level work living the life of an established photographer. In fact, my first memory of him wasn’t even from a class he was taking. We took a class trip to a local collaborative photography studio and while there I noticed someone quietly hanging framed images. That person was Andri setting up for a solo show. I did my best to help him with grunt labor and was blown away by his portraits. That was the first photography show I ever went to and it left a permanent impression on me.

Perhaps, if you’ve made it this far, you’re wondering why I’m even writing about this. Well, good reader, I have two reasons:

1. This is my blog, about my journey, and it’s going to be filled with stories about fantastic photographers from my past and present.

2. He has a new photography show which will amaze you!

His new photography exhibit kicked off a few nights ago at Beatnik Studios (more on them later) and has a different sort of kick off this Saturday when he’ll be meeting and greeting visitors during the Second Saturday Art Walk. In his own words:

“I am really excited to display this new body of works. I have printed 40 images from my trip last year that embodied many experiences and several documentaries such as Mumbai terrorist attack, HIV/AIDS in Papua, China’s Modernization, Pilgrimage to Tibet, Nepal’s Annapurna Sanctuary, etc. In a way, this exhibition is my debut into documentary and photojournalistic photography.”

Please, if you love photography, art, or just meeting fantastic new people who will change your life, go to this show. Artists who are truly talented enough to find beauty in the face of tragedy are few and far between. I’m happy to call one of them my friend.

http://www.andritambunanphotography.com/index2.php

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1294045