Laura Chang 7/12/15 Laura Chang 7/12/15

Travel Diaries: St. Maarten - Entry Two

Well, it only took me 3 months to put together this video, but better late than never!

Here's a recap of all the wonderful activities, on AND off land!! Looking back, this trip was truly one of a kind! We went ziplining at Loterie Farm, jet skiing and parasailing at Orient Bay, snorkeling at Creole Rock, swimming in Pinel Island and Anguilla ...and MORE.

<3,
Laura

PS: Make sure you do my GoPro justice and watch it in HD! :)

July 15 Update: I had to make little tweaks to the video and it now includes location tags so you know which part of the island we were exploring. :) Anguilla section also edited. ENJOY!!

Laura Chang 6/21/15 Laura Chang 6/21/15

Lavender by the Bay

I've always wanted to visit a flower field-- and dream of being in Holland surrounded by tulips, which I will one day make happen. BUT in the meantime, here's Laura in New York City. So, when I discovered I could drive a few miles out east and pretend to be in Europe, I had to make it happen!

Lavender by the Bay is filled with 17 acres of English and French lavender-- truly a flower lover's dream come true. Located in East Marion, New York, it is quite the drive out to the tip of Long Island. From Queens it took two hours, but it was extremely worth it! (Thank you to my favorite brother who did the driving!)

It was a cloudy day, but I was blessed with sunshine when the rays cracked through the thick clouds and unveiled blue skies on Saturday. Lavender aroma filled the air and while it is known to be a stress reliever, it was the sight that soothed my mind. The flower field blooms in three waves and I arrived at the beginning of lavender season. To find out more about the three blooms, click here.

I happened to visit the farm during its first wave, called the First English Bloom, which starts mid to late June. During my visit, only a section of the many acres were filled with varying shades of purple and white flowers. The owners actually recommends people visit early July, during the second wave, because that is when the farm looks most impressive with its French lavender.

Though I didn't go during the "recommended" time, I don't feel like I missed anything. Open 9AM to 5PM and seven days a week, I wanted the field to be empty when I arrived. I got there at 9:30AM with hardly anyone there, some grey skies and buzzing bees. With only a few acres of purple, it was still enough to get gorgeous photos!

During the summer blooming season there is an $8 entry fee to walk in the fields. It becomes credit that can be used in their store. You can buy lavender in various forms: dried, potted, fresh-cut, you name it! Beyond that, there's lavender scones, lotion, soap and even HONEY made from the farm's own beehives. Where there are bees, there are beehives with sweet, sweet honey.

Although bees in general are terrifying when they fly undesirably close to you, I was happy to see them pollinating, feasting, and doing what bees are meant to do. I'm not an expert on the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) where an estimated 10 million honey beehives have mysteriously declined over the last six years, but it doesn't take a scientist to realize that this world is changing. It has been changing for centuries.

While the cause of CCD remains unknown, there are theories that lethal amounts of pesticides and fungicides play a role in their decline. In recent articles, a small parasite may be to blame for the worldwide decline of these bees. This is all sad news to hear and even more devastating to believe.

I know this blogpost took an unexpected turn. At first I thought I'd share what a beautiful experience I had at Lavender by the Bay. I did not expect to mention the death of honeybees, but I realized that what I am seeing in my visions today may not be the same as what future generations will see. One of the most beautiful things about a garden is the life that it attracts. Where there are flowers, there are bees, and many more insects that thrive in this ecosystem.

I am just one girl trying to find the beauty that exists in this world-- and we are losing a lot of beauty. The worst part is, I don't know if it can all be saved. We've got 99+ problems and CCD is just one of them.

I'm grateful for the existence of Lavender by the Bay and I'll be back to absorb its beauty again.

<3
Laura

Laura Chang 5/26/15 Laura Chang 5/26/15

"Please Touch the Art" by Jeppe Hein

"Please Touch the Art" is Brooklyn Bridge Park's latest outdoor art installment by Danish artist, Jeppe Hein. He isn't kidding about wanting you to get active with his work. There are three main parts to this collection: Appearing Rooms, Mirror Labyrinth and 16 Modified Social Benches. I love that this was spread throughout the park so that you can explore and find each piece on your own.

"Please Touch the Art" is Brooklyn Bridge Park's latest outdoor art installment by Danish artist, Jeppe Hein. He isn't kidding about wanting you to get active with his work. Spread across the park are three parts to this collection: Appearing Rooms, Mirror Labyrinth and 16 Modified Social Benches.

Appearing Rooms

This one unleashed my inner child and I had just as much fun as the kids behind me! There are four chambers to this installment and they're timed so that you have a few seconds to walk in without getting wet. Each chamber takes turn surging a water barrier until all walls are up and you're surrounded! You'll get a little sprayed, but you won't be soaked when you stand at the center of a room. And, If you're like the kids playing behind me, you can also not give a damn and charge right through the walls because it's only water after all!

Consider this a warning! These photos were taken at 10AM, and it got extremely crowded by noon! This became a water park for the little kids suited up and ready to charge in their swimwear.

This one is located right at the entrance of the park, so you can't miss it!

Mirror Labyrinth

When you say Labyrinth, I think of a maze, but this was most definitely not a maze. It's much smaller than I imagined, but still very cool to walk through! The shards of metal mirrors are placed in circular pathways that guide you without getting lost or confused. I enjoyed seeing pieces of other people's reflections as I walked through and saw my own. This definitely makes you think of the world you're surrounded by and how beautiful each piece can be. If only this could be bigger!!

The mirrors are located near Pier 3 of Brooklyn Bridge Park so you'll need to walk a little deeper to get to this one!

16 Modified Social Benches

Last but not least (and certainly the most spread out) are the 16 bright, fun and very orange sculptures. They are inspired by the average social bench, but with twists and turns. You can sit on them, but comfort was disregarded in some!

I did not walk through and look for every bench, but you knew one was coming up ahead because of its obnoxious color! You really can't miss it.

"Please Touch the Art" will be available until April 17, 2016! Touch everything and look for all the benches! (Click here for the Map)

That's all for now! Happy Memorial Day!

Love,
Laura

Laura Chang 5/17/15 Laura Chang 5/17/15

Kamri, The Gallery and My Inspirations

Today my work was featured in a gallery where I met some of the most inspirational people.

I thank my parents, my family and friends. Thank you to everyone who came to the gallery today and thank you to all who have inspired me, influenced me, and supported my photography.

Kamri

Today my work was featured in a gallery where I met some of the most inspirational people. And by inspirational, I mean this young and beautiful girl, Kamri Carter.

"Mom...According to Us" shared artwork that ranged from paintings to poetry, photographs and more. 100% of all art proceeds from this gallery went to #StephsGirls. Stephanie Lee is survived by her two beautiful daughters, Kamri and Marchelle. Although the gallery was for them, I realized that it was a beautiful experience that was very much for me, too. I thank Kamri and her family for giving me the chance to explore my work and to share my love and compassion for flowers, nature, and anything that catches my attention. This was a beautiful chance to share what are in my visions.

The Gallery

But before I continue...here's a look at today's gallery. If the title cannot be clear enough, the gallery was all about our definition of "Mom." Vicky Jordan of PureWorks put together such an amazing and well curated gallery.

My work:

Moms are constant gardeners as they shower us with unconditional love. No matter what season, they nurture us so that we bloom into our best selves-- in the heat of summer and in the dead of winter. These photographs were taken during all four … — Moms are constant gardeners as they shower us with unconditional love.
No matter what season, they nurture us so that we bloom into our best selves-- in the heat of summer and in the dead of winter. These photographs were taken during all four seasons of New York City: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. "Love" is the flower that is never out of season.

The turnout was amazing and I am truly grateful for every single person who stopped by-- from all walks of my life. Even though my mom is overseas and she couldn't be here today, I was blessed with all the people who did come through. For that, I thank you all!

My Inspirations

My parents have been an inspiration to me and are truly the biggest supporters. It was after I selected my photos that I realized how often I photograph flowers. Interestingly enough, three out of the five photographs I submitted were taken in my very own backyard.

To others, it is a modestly sized garden, but to me, it was always very large and filled with dreams. I grew up playing in it and occasionally watering the plants. I have summer BBQs there and not to forget...I feed my blood to all the mosquitoes that I can't fend off there, too! My father tends the garden and he is a huge reason why I grew up surrounded by beautiful green grass and flowers that bloom from Spring through the end of Summer.

When I got home today, and right before the sun completely set, I lit a little something to remind myself of how far I've come and to continue to spark my dreams. This garden is not much, but really it is all I need. My father always says that he's sorry he couldn't give me more, but I don't need more. My parents have given me everything that I could have ever imagined and that is already all the more that I need.

I thank my parents, my family and friends. Thank you to everyone who came to the gallery today and thank you to all who have inspired me, influenced me, and supported my photography.

<3,
Laura

Laura Chang 5/3/15 Laura Chang 5/3/15

A Weekend of Visual Thinking

This weekend unintentionally challenged my visual thinking. From a visit to an Art Gallery on Saturday to a picnic in Central Park on Sunday, I walked out of both with a new view of this world. I was surrounded by details that forced me to see what was before me in a different way. Hard to explain, but what I saw was inspiring for me and it got me thinking angles, color palettes, and a different vision-- someone else's vision. See below! :)

"Sunset" by Mary Heilmann — "Sunset" by Mary Heilmann

Saturday

I was excited to go to the New Whitney Museum of Art. The line was out the door and around the block, but luckily I was able to head straight inside with the help of membership benefits. It was glorious to skip the line, but that didn't mean it wasn't crowded inside.

To be honest, I don't do as well when there's a large crowd of people walking in front of what I'm trying to absorb, so I will definitely be going back at an earlier time of day, where it will hopefully be less crowded.

Hands down, the most intriguing display were these colorful chairs. It's by Mary Heilmann and she calls this "Sunset." I probably spent the most time sitting and walking around that area. I loved that I could touch and see. I can feel time passing by before my eyes. I probably could sit there until sunset, too.

I didn't take too many photos of the other artworks, but there was an entire section called "America is Hard to See" and it literally was a reexamination of art in America.

From how the circus became a popular means of entertainment to a photograph of a boxing match post World War II, I couldn't believe how disgusted I was. Nearly six decades later and we have not changed. Ironically, I saw this post- WWII painting of two boxers (Firpo and Dempsey) in a ring the same night of the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao match. Why is violence so entertaining? There is hype and we find excitement in a contained human beating. Who can take a punch or a nasty uppercut? It's televised, and the victor will be famous. Oh-- and let's not forget the $$ that comes with that KNOCKOUT fist.

Boxing isn't my cup of tea, so I'm not condoning those who love it! I just did not walk into the Whitney expecting to come out thinking about boxing and violence, but the exhibit did a wonderful job in showing me how so much and so little has changed in America. Art documents history and preserves that time period for the future to understand and reevaluate. America. It's not perfect and it's definitely not all glory and dream-like.

Sunday

Sunday was literally a walk in the park. I had a calm and peaceful picnic in the Cherry Hill section of Central Park. I love how enthusiastic my friends are about keeping the visuals pleasant and sexy to another's eyes. In this age of social media, it almost seems like you have to post a photo to prove to the world how "interesting" and "awesome" your life is. Well, not going to lie, we did out best to show our "friends" on social media just how pleasant our day was, but it wasn't entirely our only intention-- at least not mine. I just wanted to enjoy spring and take as many photographs as possible, the really pretty kind you'd find in a magazine.

This display was a team effort, and I loved seeing how their brains worked. I did the cucumber sandwiches, but let me tell you...they did the rest! Floral arrangement is a skill, but can you plate meat/cheese/crackers from scratch?

So we took a few photos...

Or maybe we took a lot more than we led on...

We take Food Photography very seriously... ;)

Don't worry, we didn't take photos of what it looked like AFTER because there was nothing left to take. We devoured it all.

The bottom line: I've been mind blown with great visuals this weekend. I saw what others created and here I am showing you what were in my visions. Afterall, Art is not what you see, but what you want others to see.

Love,
Laura <3

The earth without "art" is just "eh."