2021 RECAP.
PRESS PLAY.
I usually don’t write often on this blog but just post photos majority of the time. But, I decided to switch it up and document my everyday life on here. From personal experiences with people to photo coverages for events or shows I’ve been working. I’ve been writing on blogs for a few years and usually I do them on Tumblr because its been my safe space for so many years. From my happy moments to my most saddest moments in my life are all documented on there. I wanted to bring some of my photos and videos wrapped in words to explain these moments of time. So starting this year, I’ll be doing my best documenting and upload highlights of day, week or month just based on the pile of photos or videos I take. Doing whatever I can to be out of my room and stay cooped up in my thoughts. Also, I’m starting to get more comfortable in front the camera instead of being behind it all the time. To show who I am instead of being anonymous to the world.
As of now, the past two years I’ve been learning about myself. What I need to better myself, improve, being present and trying to be best version of myself than I was before. Giving myself self love and care, and not seeking it among others. Creating boundaries for myself and the people around me because of the past experiences I’ve gone through. Strengthening relationships whether if its friends or family. Rest, something I’ve been holding on and appreciating every bit of it. Before the pandemic hit, I was working my medical job and working with three entertainment groups every weekend for shows or concerts. There was never a break in between but the four to five hours sleep I’ve put in. I was losing myself in the end and losing the identity. So this year, 2022, is going to be a bounce back from what I’ve learned and give my best to show this better version of myself. It’s going to be a year where I don’t see myself as anonymous.
Lets get to it:
JANUARY 2021
The first day of 2021, covid-19 vaccinated since the release of it back in December. This is so crazy, just thinking about the first day felt like this was literally just yesterday. Waking up in the morning to get ready to meet my long time friend, Hannah, to give her Christmas gift that’s been in my room for over a month. From what I’ve remembered it was a simple plan to meet up at Coronado Beach. Get California burritos with horchata and sauces on the side while we people watched under the warm sun and light cold breeze. This was a weird feeling, being out in public after a long year of being in a pandemic. Watching people do activities, people having conversations, laughter and the list goes on what I guess you call it a “normal” day. Felt confusing a bit but we had to be cautious what was going around us because we were still in a pandemic during the time.
As the days got more clearer and with places opening up again, been trying to get out of my comfort zone again. Getting out of my room that I’ve spent almost a whole entire year. Been hitting up close friends to hang out and do things so I wouldn’t feel so alone and anxious about the outside. Bought new gear to test out to get me to shoot more.
PRESS PLAY.
MARCH 2021
Couple months later, I decided to travel again, little up north from San Diego. Ended up going to Los Angeles to meet up with an old friend, Drew. Catching up in his new place in Little Tokyo, drinking brew and eating ramen for that sort. Few hours later, I’ve met up with a friend, Rainie, in East side of LA because we planned out a concept shoot that she’s been trying to do. I’ve took up the offer back in February when we talked it over on twitch and discord. We’ve spent the other half of my day getting to know each other over some brew and food. At the end of the night we ended up drinking more and having a mukbang stream on her twitch.
The next day, we were suppose to do a shoot at a temple that we made reservations for but as soon as we got there, we got turned down last minute due to covid. So we ended up doing a impromptu shoot at the nearest park.
APRIL 2021
In that following month, did a last minute trip to Palm Springs with two of my bestfriends, Hannah and Ivy. Stopped by H-Mart and did some grocery shopping for our stay at the airbnb, ended up doing some Korean BBQ , beer and soju night. That following day, we drove around Palm Springs to visit Desert X art installations across the city. I mostly recorded video during our trip but I’ve never came around to finishing it. I have so much footage from this trip, it was worth the 15 MPH wind speeds and 90+ Degree weather.
PRESS PLAY.
Family Outing: Sister’s Birthday Celebration
MAY 2021
I fell in love with a woman.
Things didn’t work out in the end.
So I booked many flights just to get away from everything to sort things out on my own and be better.
JUNE 2021
Music venues were slowly opening up again, shows running through like nothing happened in the pandemic. However, It was a nice feeling to be shooting for the sake of music. So I took the risk of taking in gigs regardless of the status of the pandemic.
ABJO opening for THUNDERCAT in Escondido, CA.
The Drop- BANG BANG in San Diego, CA
JULY 2021
Second flight, flew out to Seattle, WA with my good friend, Vance and met up with some friends along the way. Nothing but food and drinks, late night stay outs at Dick’s (its like California’s In and out but in Washington State.)
AUGUST 2021
ESTA of Soulection, LETS PLAY HOUSE EVENT in Los Angeles,CA.
Then around the corner after that trip to Seattle, I continued to stay busy picking up two more gigs in LA and visiting my close friends baby shower party. I wanted to be on my feet, stay distracted and continue doing what I love doing: taking photos at music venues.
BJORN & LORE BABY SHOWER 082921
SEPTEMBER 2021
More work started slowly piling up and I even decided to take in one on the day of my 30th birthday. Worked under Festival Squad media to cover Porter Robinson’s Second Sky Festival in Oakland on the day of my birthday. Danced the day and night away while meeting new people on the way.
SECOND SKY FESTIVAL w/ PORTER ROBINSON 2021
30TH BIRTHDAY SHOOT
Photos by Leslie Colon.
OCTOBER 2021
Eventually, one of my good friends, Andre Power, wanted me to be his main photographer for his events. So I ended up shooting pics for his LINK UP event in LA at Johnny’s Bar monthly (I think that’s what the place is called). This was the highlight at the end of the year. Reuniting and catching up with old friends. Making new ones along the way through music. It’s always worth the drive to just work this event.
NOVEMBER 2021
My trips to LA end up becoming a monthly thing, whether if it was visiting friends supporting their events and business. Or it was me taking photos for Andre Power’s events. Always at the end of the night, it was always the late night hang outs with friends in k-town with more food and drinks till 3-4 AM.
CLINK WINE CLUB 11-2021
Thank you, Andre Power and ACE HOTEL for the stay.
AUSTIN, TX 11-2021
Flew out to Austin, Texas because I’ve never been to Texas before. Exploring different places in the city, consistently eating every where I go and always ending up drinking before the nights end.
During my trip in Austin, I sat next to an random, elderly lady at the sushi bar was escorted and seated next to me. I was eating alone, minding my own business and looking at the decorations around me. Food were coming in and placed in front of me with a bottle of hot sake and a cup of beer. She looked in awe, “you’re going to eat and drink of all of that?” as she pointed up and down. I nodded, and smiled then continued, “I’m alone on this trip, with nothing else better to do.”
She said, “Really? What brings you out here?”
Our conversations started and literally the highlight of the night was talking about art and our lone wolf travels in the world. Then continued: “It’s my birthday tomorrow, I’m celebrating it!” We talked and invited me to dinner tomorrow and I instantly said yes. Her eyes glowed up immediately and said, “really?!”
The next day was going to be my last day in Austin, so I decided to switch it up with something. My last day ended up celebrating a year of life with someone I just met, at a Indian-Nepal restaurant.
Right after my trip from Austin, it was right back to LA for work:
DECEMBER 2021
Started winding down and spending the last month of the year with family and friends. Catching up with old friends, filling in the days with memories I would never forget.
SASHAMARIE x ACD GALLERY POP UP
Happy Birthday Pops, love you.
Each day was a learning lesson, I’ve felt like I was not doing enough for others, giving myself away for happiness when honestly I needed to invest that into myself. I was leaving myself with nothing in hand. Accepting change and letting go of something that is out of my control. Letting things take its course, recognizing my emotions and understanding why I’m feeling that way. To stop running away from negatives and accepting what has been done. Recognizing and taking in credit for the work I’ve done, being proud what I’ve created and the progress I’ve made for myself. Even though I’m still figuring this whole life out, I know I’m getting some where I needed to be. This year, definitely going to document more through out my life with the use of photos or small videos. Whether if its trips through my day, music, or trips to places I’ve never been. So cheers, to 2022 and new beginnings.