Mom...According to Us
MY NEXT ART SHOW: Mothers...my mother means everything to me.
On May 17, I will be sharing my passion for photography at an event for a very special cause. Mom...According To Us will be an art show AND sale where 100% of all proceeds go directly to two siblings who have lost their mother to cancer. Click on the links to find out more details about the event, and about Stephanie Lee's battle with cancer. Meet other artists like me who are sharing our creative visions.
WHEN: Sunday, May 17 at 3PM
WHERE: Creative Chaos Inc. 28 Jay St, Brooklyn, New York 11201
Hope you can join and support me and all the participating artists.
Travel Diaries: Saint Maarten - Entry One
Beyond the sun's shine, I felt the ocean's breathe
pulsating through the turquoise sea,
sending ripples over white sand below my feet.
Beyond the sun's shine, I felt the ocean's breathe
pulsating through the turquoise sea,
sending ripples over white sand below my feet.
With my mind at peace,
waters waved at me knee-deep.
And every breeze whispered for me to never leave.
And what if?
What if I were just like them?
Neither here nor there, but never to leave.
What if I just laid in the waters, floating to places that only currents can take me.
But, they do depart from this island.
Not even the water stay forever.
Some wash ashore and sink beneath sand.
Some choose the sky and vanish with sunshine,
Others, like me, sail away together back into the depths of the sea.
I prefer to be the sun. Another visitor of this vision that I seek.
I'll rise again tomorrow so that I can see earth, wind and sky where I choose, casting smiles on me.
Love,
Laura
Check out my full vision of St. Maarten by clicking here.
In My Visions: One Year Later
It has been ONE year of In My Visions and I can't believe it! It still feels like yesterday when I was figuring out what I should or could or would be doing with my photography. I mean I still am figuring it out, but one year later, I feel nothing but pride, gratitude and excitement. Most of all, I feel happiness. I had to start somewhere and I am glad I did that a year ago. A year ago I told myself that "eventually" I would do it, but eventually is now and there's no better time like now to start doing what I love to do.
A year ago I told myself that "Eventually" I would do it, but eventually is now. - Laura Chang
It has been ONE year of In My Visions and I can't believe it! It still feels like yesterday when I was figuring out what I should or could or would be doing with my photography. I mean I still am figuring it out, but one year later, I feel nothing but pride, gratitude and excitement. Most of all, I feel happiness. I had to start somewhere and I am glad I did that a year ago. A year ago I told myself that "eventually" I would do it, but eventually is now. There's no better time like now to start doing what I love to do.
There is never a "right" time to start anything. As cliché as this sounds, you really do find love when you follow your passion. It's not that I went blindly down this path, but rather I didn't know where to start and where it would lead to. This website has changed me more than I could have ever expected. I wanted a place to call my own and I wanted a place that I could post whatever I wanted to post. I just wanted to share my world to whomever came across it. I was shy. I was afraid. I didn't want criticism and I didn't want praise. I just wanted to start something-- do something-- for myself.
A year ago, I dreamt of traveling the world (which I still am dreaming of because clearly I did not see the entire world in just one year). I also dreamt of sharing my visions, one photo at a time. I didn't have a specific identity, and I didn't know what my niche was. There are photographers who only photograph people, or only photograph landscape or only photograph in black and white. What am I? I didn't know what I was at the time and it doesn't matter what I am now. What changed was that I stopped trying to figure whatever "it" was and I just started doing it.
Before I began this website, I had tons of photos and no where to showcase them. My intentions were never to declare myself a professional by having my own website, but really to start a timeline of my journey in life through my photography. Having something visually laid out helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses, what I need to work on and what my fortes are. But above it all, I archived what my photographic style looked like then and what it will eventually look like when I'm older. It isn't about posting and updating every week, but it's about seeing something collectively at my own pace.
This is my personal album. You see it for what it is and it doesn't matter if i've impressed you. What matters is that you took your time to see what I see. And maybe I got to take your mind off the negative, the misery or the sadness you might be going through because in that flicker of a second, my photograph showed you love, joy, passion, color and the beauty that exists in this world.
And there lies an understanding-- a mark on a day in a year when I realized the meaning of my work. All this is, is my happiness filled up on a website, spaced evenly, and readily available just clicks away.
Thank you to my family, friends, inspirations and to all who read and take time to see what are in my visions.
Eventually,
<3 Laura
Travel Diaries: Taste of Taiwan
Back in September, I had a grand total of four full days in Taiwan. I flew back to vacation in the Philippines, but I knew that I had to stop by Taiwan first to see the family I hardly get to see. The first day was spent in the Zhong Li district where my Grandma lives, then followed by 3 wander-ful days in Taipei, Taiwan. It wasn't easy visiting my mother's country for such a short amount of time, but I made the most of it every day. Here's a taste of what was on my tastebuds and in my visions.
Back in September, I had a grand total of four full days in Taiwan. I flew back to vacation in the Philippines, but I knew that I had to stop by Taiwan first to see the family I hardly get to see. The first day was spent in the Zhong Li district where my Grandma lives, then followed by 3 wander-ful days in Taipei, Taiwan. It wasn't easy visiting my mother's country for such a short amount of time, but I made the most of it every day. Here's a taste of what was on my tastebuds and in my visions.
The Savory
Salty Soy Milk (L) and Fan Tuan (R)
My breakfast consisted of my favorite two-part meal: Soy milk and Fan Tuan.
Part I: Soy Milk is only sweet if you add sugar. I prefer to have it savory when vinegar is added to the soy milk and something scientific, but wonderful happens. The milk curdles and thickens up. It is then topped with pork floss, scallions and fried cruller (you tiao). I absolutely love how soupy and light this breakfast is.
Part II: Fan Tuan is literally a ball of glutenous rice stuffed with two ingredients already mentioned in the savory soy milk. It includes pork floss, fried cruller and pickled vegetables. The chewy ball is simple to make, but compliments the soy milk.
Shilin Night Market
I was in the famous Shilin Night Market for only one of the four days in Taiwan. The two wonderful activities you can do at any night market is shop and eat! From cheap knock-off clothing, accessories and electronics to inexpensive and delicious street delicacies, the night market is the place to be if you're ever in Taiwan. Grab a snack and eat it while you shop because the streets are filled with vendor after vendor, block after block.
Now on to the food!
A MUST-TRY: Here you will find the "stinkiest" tofu in the world. That's right. Stinky Tofu. The name says it all. Sure, it has an unfamiliar smell, but it is only due to the fermentation process that the tofu undergoes. For the record, I personally find the smell to be delightful! The tofu is soaked in soy sauce, spices and topped with pickled cabbage. You have to try this, but beware of that smell!
Stinky Tofu: The name is self explanatory. Yes, there's a pungent smell, but when you love to eat it, you really don't find it all that "stinky."
The best part about the Shilin Night Market is that it has an indoor, air conditioned food court! Like how it is outside, the inside is jam-packed with vendor after vendor. Asians just know how to not waste any space. Keep in mind how hot and humid Taiwan is, particularly in the summer time. Although I went in September, I almost couldn't stand the temperature! Every inch of every vendor had heat exhausting from the sides. That mixed with the humidity made me so grateful to have an indoor, sit-down spot where I could eat in AC peace without feeling like a sweaty wild monkey.
Chinese watercress (L) and Fishball noodle soup (R)
Soup Dumplings are a must have, especially at the world famous Ding Tai Fung located in Taipei 101. They make the perfect dough because that dumpling skin is perfectly chewy and tender, but thick enough to withstand any poke when you pick it up. Trust me, I did a poke test with my chopsticks! It's not easy to tear!
If you've had soup dumplings before, you'd know the struggle i'm referring to when you try picking them up delicately with chosen utensil. You try not to tear its membrane, but oftentimes a tiny hole rips open, spilling the best substance of the entire dish...THE SOUP. Devastating.
Check out the masters at work making the soup dumplings.
Dessert
One of the best Taiwanese creations that went viral around the world is Bubble Tea. I had it at least 3 times in Taiwan, but didn't even think to take a photo of my drink when I got there because I can have it any time on any day in the States! So, without further ado, I wanted to show you some of my favorite sweets that I can only get in Taiwan.
Ice Monster
If you're ever visiting Taipei, you have to go to Ice Monster to taste the ultimate Taiwanese Icy treat. My two top flavors are the Mango and Bubble Tea bowls!
Bubble Tea Shaved Ice
The ice is blended with your selected flavor and topped with ice cream, pudding and fresh fruit! Of course the bubble tea version has tea flavored ice, tapioca pearls and milk pudding. It's literally two in one and the best of both things I love!
You'll notice in my photo below that I also got the strawberry flavor, but that did not top mango. The mangos in Asia are sweeter and softer, larger and juicier! Every bite was absolutely the perfect bite!
Popsicles in assortment of flavors: Passion Fruit, Honeydew, Mango and Strawberry (Also from Ice Monster)
Hello Kitty Restaurant and Dining
A trip to Asia isn't complete without a sighting of the beloved Japanese Hello Kitty. I didn't just have a sighting though. I found a full on Hello Kitty themed restaurant located in Taiwan! I didn't order anything from here because I was saving my appetite, but I had to go inside to check it out. I wanted to see what Kitty Kreations the cafe created of Kitty. Hello!
Hey, Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!
When in Zhong Li...
My first day in Taiwan was spent in Zhong Li where my Grandma resides.
In efforts to fight my jetlag, I asked my aunt to take me a cafe for some coffee. I can't remember the name of this location, but it was definitely Euro-American influenced. Coffee and ice cream are both universal! You can't go wrong with waffles covered with ice cream, fresh bananas, drizzle of chocolate fudge and a cherry on top!
Fruit
Although Zhong Li is not a popular tourist destination in Taiwan, it is still the district where my Grandma resides. It has its own hustle and bustle. She conveniently lives on a block where fruit vendors sell their best on display!
I cannot go a day without eating some kind of fruit so whenever I'm there, I shop around and look for the most "exotic" fruit of Asia. My favorite fruit is the wax jambu! The imports in NY just aren't the same. The texture of this fruit is best described with an apple's crispness, but more in line with a watermelon's flesh. The color inside is white and it is pit-less.
I only ask for one thing when I arrive in Taiwan and that is a plate of wax jambu! September is not the peak season for this fruit, so I begged my aunts to please find as many as they can buy. Of course they spoiled me from Zhong Li to Taipei, and I had several every day for four days in a row!
Wax Jambu
Custard Apple aka "Buddha's Head"
This fruit market is where people make a living every day, selling fruit to the locals. It was absolutely refreshing seeing them sell with a contagious smile. Now of course they didn't know who I was, but they sure knew who my Grandma was and welcomed me to look around.
Hope you enjoyed this post! Four days in Taiwan, filled with family and my favorite foods!
Love,
Laura
Enlighten Me
Lights are always one of my favorite subjects to capture. Today, I realized why I truly have a fascination with colorful lights, almost like I understood the true meaning of Christmas (except I'm not even Christian.) So, what do they remind me of? My daydreams.
Lights are always one of my favorite subjects to capture. Today, I realized why I truly have a fascination with colorful lights, almost like I understood the true meaning of Christmas (except I'm not even Christian.) So, what do they remind me of? My daydreams.
Lights always remind me of that sudden moment when I snap out of a daydream and back to reality. My blurry vision refocuses on what is before me. And as it adjusts, everything on the side, foreground and background becomes the blur because all I am looking at is just one thing. What I see here in these photos are exactly what are in my visions during that instantaneous and transitional moment.
Here are some of my favorite shots from tonight's wander-ful walk through the neighborhood. Enjoy my version of holiday lights and see what are In My Visions.
I spy Rudolph lit up in LED, but look at all the lights!
Jamaica Ave, Queens
Happy Holidays!
Laura
