Thailand

Hello, Max reporting from the streets of Bangkok. Hit me up if your passing through. I'm located Soi 1 (nung) Samsen Road at the Riverline Inn. Make it quick as i'm leaving for Vietnam Ho Chi Mihn on the 24th of October.

A lot has happend and changed with 'me' in the last month. The ideas of who i am and where i'm going are becoming much more solid. This is due to a 10 day meditation retreat in the South of Thailand at Wat Suan Mok ( http://www.suanmokkh.org/ ) where with silent response myself and 30 odd other farang (westerners) were bestow with the teaching of Buddhadasa Bhikkhu.

Basically I want to do good without any intent of self gain. For example volunteer my time and mind to good causes. Pick up those pieces of rubbish on the street. Listen to and help people in need.

Also, make time for my beautiful family and friends who have provided, supported and encouraged me. An those especially magic parents who raised me without much thanks.

Within all this giving, i'm giving time to myself. Meditation, yoga and early morning rises are becoming daily routines. Less relying on self-intoxication to relax my mind and body.

Of course this all happens with action. To intellectualize and ponder everything brings out just as much doubt and un-action for me. Thus this blog post is to up-date yourself on my mind state not to preach my newly found lifestyle.

Please enjoy the below photo that was taken 2.30am 22nd of October on a Canal right near my Guest House. Then a photo of artist's work who paints how i photograph. Then monkey with Cat. Followed by music magic man from Chang Mai

Much love to all,

Max

Nearly Birthday Time!

I didn't actually take this photo but i think it is sensational! Please check out their range of brilliant quotes and plackards.

So i'm in Bangkok still. I'm meeting a friend, Anna, today and we are doing a bit of touring. Other wise life is all good and fun. Just spent the last 3 days relaxing by a river and keeping it simple. No noise, no people, just rain and book reading. Super peacefull.

Amsterdam

Currently my ship is sailing smoothly in London. I've just been hit by a wave of amazing tunes brought to me by Brooklyn psychedelic gospel rockers Yeasayer.

What was before this? Lets go back to a place in Switzerland called Nyon.

The sunset swimming across Lake Geneva and hitting the Mont Blanc on the way to bed. A paradise for 10 days.

Flying to Amsterdam














Bam! I jumped on a plane and left paradise to arrive in Amsterdam. A place for the wicked, crazy and highly 'energised'. Sean and I stayed in two Hostels, one was a Christian hostel in the red light district. In the very same street you could pay get your rocks off for €30 as well as get a good nights sleep at the hostel for €18, an that includes breakfast. Here we met up with lovely Francesca and her friends Sophie and Marte. We did the usual Amsterdam fun things.....i'll leave that to your imaginations
Sean on a bike

Amsterdam is a beauty of a city. Filled with so much character in one tiny spot.








Sean by the Canal



Lets time warp back to my first time in Berlin. Remember Melt festival? Bjork and Hotchip were playing. Well i had a bunch of disposable camera images printed. An wow i don't remember any of the photos being taken, but here is the last and best image from the reel. It contains our very excited Austrian friends who were all party party party love party love party party love love and party. Fun times. |

Nyon

Nyon, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Nyon! This is Lili, Noemie and myself having a fantastic time beneath the sprinkler. Magic in Nyon.

Berlin Radar

Berlin Radar, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Berlin Berlin! Yep it was amazing. An will be upon my return. Currently i'm nestled between the Jura Mountains, Lake Geneva and THE Alps in Switzerland. Life couldn't be any better.

The lovely Parson and Piguet family have welcomed me into their family through food, music, conversation and adventures. Chris, alpha male, is a translator (French to English) for a local music festival called Paleo ( http://www.2008.paleo.ch/ ) which i came especially to Switzeland for. Imagine 5 days of music from around the globe: Ben Harper, Mika, The Wombats, Manu Chao, lots of French bands, REM and stacks more. Mix it with rain, mud, dancing till 6am, Chocolate waffels and beautiful surrounds. That is Paleo.

My next stop is to meet up with Sean in Amsterdam from the 7-13th and then scoot off to Berlin to see Sigur Ros on the 13th (http://www.myspace.com/sigurros) and then bustle my way to London. An ohhh i see that Edinborough Fringe is happening...i just might make my way there!

Maxo

berlin street

berlin street, originally uploaded by m2photos.

A photo from the streets

Max in Berlin

Max in Berlin, originally uploaded by m2photos.

This is my room, with loft and all. The double windows are superb. Keep the sound out like a treat! Only if we had this in 118 Westgarth st hey Ed, Casta and Bron?

Maxo

For the kids

Glass Music, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Ha-lor-oo,

Ah huh. Yep i've made it to Berlin. Up and away from the USA and into the European style. Goodbye 'pick up trucks' that pull tanks and hello VW golf, goodbye NO parks and hello lots of GREEN!, goodbye testosterone bling and hello senstivie insight.

An oh it is a bloody and glorious mess here! As well as a beautiful city that has grungey and quirky under belly like ive never seen. The photo is from a performance the beautiful Nicola (friend who is putting me up) took me to. This brilliant man played a pane of glass and proceeded to break it over his head/face twice. Magic

The list of things i thus far love about Berlin:
- Bikes are given such time of day, crossing infront of traffic, bike lanes every where and Berlin is flat so no ass busting rides in stores.
- You can drink anywhere, and legally. On the streets, buses, trams and trains.
- So many parks and memorial sites to WWII
- Most people speak English ( I am learning more German!)
- Looseness of laws allow for a lot more creativity.

Much love

Monster Pop

Monster Pop, originally uploaded by LostSouls.

now this is what i want to do...its not one of my pictures but it is ace!

Monster Pop

Monster Pop, originally uploaded by LostSouls.

now this is what i want to do...its not one of my pictures but it is ace!

Montreal

Montreal Monique, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Meet Monique. She is beautiful, intelligent, adventurous and she would try to convince to add naive to that list.

Monique, Hector and I hung out for 4 days around Montreal. They looked after me when i came down with a migraine. Monique had this Peppermint oil placed it on my temples, palms and forehead. Think of a slow burning flame that leaps from tree to tree to a total inferno...that was the feeling my forehead went through. Luckily enough it distracted my mind from the pain in my brain.

We all road bikes around and went out together making music. An we can miss out on Stephane, my French room mate who made banks look socially acceptable for a living (i'm saying it in these words for dramatic affect Stephane!).

All in all i'd loved to stay at Montreal longer except there were no rooms to stay in...as everyone was seeing the international Jazz festival. The worlds biggest actually - http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/ .

Now i'm back in NYC and planning what is next. Do i stay longer in NYC? It really depends on if i can find my Eurail ticket....please god please let it be here in Brooklyn some where!

Much love,

Max

Maine

maine, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Hello all,

A lot has happend since i last posted. Let that be emotionally,physically and my geographic location.

I've been up to Maine and further up to Montreal and now i'm back to NYC. An wow the USA and Quebec Canada are a tale of two VERY different places. Even a skin-minny like me felt comfortable with my masculinity in Montreal.

I have a little story about a party we went to in Maine:

A misty evening envelops our Nissan and allows for 2 meters of sight around us. Piloted by a phone wielding, cigerette smoking, alcohol drinking 19 year old princess. Think Ms Hilton minus the dollars. We pull up to the house through the stone gate. The cars parked, or monster trucks, tower 3 feet higher than my 5'6". Hmm my stomach goes. Ok ok...open mind, open mind! They are just people no problems.

We all embark down the hill to the barn. Rusted tools, wooden floors and AC/DC blasting from a 80's bronco. The people. Male. Muscle dogs. Budwiser beer. Baseball caps. Their Boston Celtics had just won the national basketball. Alcoholic intoxication was a must.
The second person i introduce myself says indearingly "Ohy yorah fram Austrayah?"
Quizzically i reply "yeh."
With a jelly roll of the drunk hand he bitch slaps me and drawls "Welcarm to Armerica."
Now i know why i love Americans.

Funily enough all Americans i tell this story to say: "Remember thats not what all American's are like. Don't leave telling people thats its."
It seems USA citizens are worried about their international perception.

Catch ya. Max

leaving NYC

leaving NYC, originally uploaded by m2photos.

I'm off to Maine and then onto Montreal. Maine is a the last state before before Canada begins. Ohh i'm looking forward to the fresh air and sound of silence.

Life has been a bit hard and sad of recent. The distance to Melbourne makes it very hard to communicate with people and travelling solo can be quite lonely. Luckily i've had the support of many beautiful Melbourne beings and thus my roller coaster ride is travelling up towards happiness!

Two nights ago i went to SLIP. An today i go SLIPping again. There i'll record music with other magic music makers.

Keep well people.

Max

Fantastic Melbourne Based Animator

Wow! Ingrid's work is amazing. After sharing some recordings with my dear friend Adam Hunt he forward on this website:
http://www.agastopia.com/

Prolific in quality and amazing imagery. Apocalyptic land scapes juxtaposed with beauty sparse music.

M

You and Me Collaborating?

Our world.jpg, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Hello Creative Cats,

I want you! For collaborating on art . Think photography, surrealism, spontaneity and ridiculousness.

Proposal:
"Currently Max is on a round the world trip. With plans to journey across New York, London and Berlin and create a complementary series to ConTXTual. Andrew will visit “picturesque” landmarks and juxtaposed them with the local residents, to provide a fresh and surreal perspective of habitually photographed landmarks."

If this is you contact Max

digitalandanalog@gmail.com

Artists of Inspiration:
Spence Tunick
Gregory Crewdson
Jeff Wall

Links:
My exhibition work Contextual- http://home.exetel.com.au/m2photograph/ConTXTual.html
My flickr account-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/m2photography/

Comments

Hey dude-stars,

If you like or hate what you see feel free to leave a comment so we can communication!

M

NYC Williamsburg- Gardening + Trash

NYC-willamburg-6, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Now that we have cleaned it all up. Its time to carry the 3 massive bags of weeds, broken glass, old tools and bottles up three flights of fire exit to the sweet apartment for final front road dumpidge. The three ladies in this short are Alex, Ruth and Lauren from right to left. They are some creative dynamo's from the Willamsburg area that i met last week. Photographers, painters and artists a like. It was a chance meeting and now i'm helping them with their art and creative stalls at a flea market in the coming weeks. I'll hook you all up with some goodies from there soon. Much love Maxo

NYC Williamsburg- Jumping + Gardening

NYC-willamburg-1, originally uploaded by m2photos.

max jumping into the gardening action!

NYC Williamsburg- Gardening

NYC-willamburg-2, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Here we are all getting Green thumb on the back yard. dig dig and digging so we can clean it all up and have a BBQ in future.

Willamsburg- gardening

NYC-willamburg-5, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Here my newly made friend Lauren is bring down a trash bag for us to dump all the weeds into!

NYC Break Dancers

NYC Break Dancers, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Here is a hippity hop crew doing it old school style. MJ busting out the rythems whilst people break it up free style. This girl was forced by her friends from a school group to jump on in after the guy in the white shirt(RHS) said "can any one dance? I said get out here sister!"

M

Max on Brooklyn Bridge

NYC-3, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Yep- thats me. Contemplative...

NYCity!

NYC-1, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Hey, Well i've docked in at New York City into the wonder Griffith's appartment in Bayridge Brooklyn( 30 min train ride from city). I was luckily greeted with open arms by Judy at the airport and have been supported, feed and shown around by her ever since.

My first few days in New York were very emotional and the adreniline from LA and travel dried up and everything hit home. A big bit of home sickness came flying my way!

Ever since i've met some beautiful people. Namely Ruth, Lauren and Eva from the Willamsburg area (pretty much a grungyier Northcote). Our lines crossed when i was walking around asking people about doing some artistic collaborations. So tonight we are shaving Lauren's head...and possibly mine?

New York so far is endless and boundless. The public transport system run's 24/7 and it is MASSIVE! Food is the same price as Melbourne, resonabley priced, and people are very helpful. The aussie accent probably helps ;)

Thats over for now. Keep well and watch for the next post some hair shaving pics coming up!

Maxo

Ariel and Max

ariel_pics-19, originally uploaded by m2photos.

This is Ariel and myself (Max) at the Venice Beach walls. Went swimming and am trying to stay out of the sun for fear of more burning...the water is dirty red and brown at the moment. A local Hispanic man told me it occurs when the moon is full. Not full now. Off to NY tomorrow...certainly a change of scene.

M

Ariel (AGO) Artist

Ariel (AGO) Artist, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Meet Ariel, a superb gentlemen/graffiti artist from Argentina. I've been staying at Venice Beach Hostel where we met- we've been exploring galleries and graf sites.

He is working on a lil something for me...;)....for you? ;)

Peace. M

LA Firstday

LA_firstday-3, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Dance Circle

LA firstday

LA_firstday-1, originally uploaded by m2photos.

Three guys going solo on the beach at the dance circle. From Left: Rudy, Emile and Sky. Fantastic peeps

LA_firstday

LA_firstday-2, originally uploaded by m2photos.

LA Dance circle. Shaun with Ms Blue she told me she was a famous porn star....

LA- First Day

Phew! 26th of May was a mega day for me! 16 hours of flying, 5 hours of dancing, 5 hours of sleep, meeting lots of people and partying.

Upon arriving at LAX i was picked up and driven to Venice Beach Hostel (after missing my personal lift....embarssing) then went straigh to the beach where roller dancers and drumming circles were taking place. Ah yes- hippes and street crawlers. My kind of people!

With the smallest modesty i owned the dance floor at the dance circle for some 4-5 hours. Oh and the sun is gorgeous if not burning and deceiving. I'm THAT white english lobster boy.