Meanwhile in Australia

It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

I’m currently at the Puckapunyal Combined Arms Training Center in Victoria, Australia. It’s in the middle of nowhere and even the Aussies agree that we’re in a bit of a shithole. I’m not staying in a fancy hotel, but I’m not living in a tent. The living conditions are adequate, open squad bays. The water is hot and the washers/dryers work just fine. Aussie food isn’t half bad and I’m embedded with a squad-sized element of Marines for the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting 2012. It’s not a bad gig.

There are a lot of political pitfalls for writing for a military newspaper, while being a photojournalist on a bigger defense media stage. I’m restricted from being as creative as I’d like to be. For example, the photo above would never see the light of day on a military stage. Military editors and public affairs officers would assume that the military condones smoking and breaking the rules. Yes, it’s really that ridiculous. On the other side of things, working with foreign media is a pain in the ass entirely. I don’t particularly enjoy dealing with the condescending tone of someone to whom I do not report. It’s a passive aggressive chess match.

Beyond all of that jazz, we’re shooting a lot of rounds. Whether it’s your typical M4 and M16A4 to the M249 SAW, M240B, Steyr A1, M27 IAR (H&K 416) or anything else, this is a damn good time. I haven’t had the opportunity to party it up in Melbourne because we’re limited to the training area, but I do spend time at our local “boozer” aboard the camp. I’ve met people from different walks of life. There are 16 countries here and the language barrier goes out of the window when alcohol is involved. Ironically, I spend most of my time drinking with the Japanese shooting team.

Internet is limited so my time online will be sparse. I am alive and I am well. I’ll be back at the end of the month. Don’t forget about fameONE, kids.

Peace.

Third Reicht of Awesomeness

A year ago, when I was contemplating transitioning out of the Marine Corps, I didn’t have much of a plan. I had a job or two lined up that would have paid me a lot more than I’m making now, but they were just fillers. There was nothing concrete for me to truly sink my teeth into. Although there have been brief moments when I rethought my decision to reenlist for another four years, I can honestly say that the decision was not made in vain. Now that I have reenlisted, and I’m in a job field that can provide long term payoff well after I end this chapter in military life, I can see a bit more clearly.

What began as a hobby is snowballing into something much more. I’ve always been interested in cameras and photography as a whole. The idea of capturing life in a still image has amazed me since I was old enough to remember. As I got older, and I began to explore my own creative muses through graffiti, DJ’ing, breakdancing, fashion and, most importantly, cars; the hobby that I once flirted with began to play a larger role in my life. Now that I’m in a career field that requires me to take photos of anything and everything Marine Corps related, I am always finding new ways to tweak my craft and experiment with different equipment.

Now is the time where I need to truly make that five year plan that career retention specialists in the Marine Corps are always ranting and raving about. Understandably, their aim is for Marines to develop this plan for their military career, but the concept and procedure translates well into my goal in becoming a successful civilian. I don’t wish to view success simply as monetary worth, but to be fully content with the career I adopt as my own post-military. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, photojournalism is where I’ll be. Now, what to cover is another story altogether, but I would hold no qualms if I remain in the realm of my loves and interests.

In reality, I could easily continue my coverage of the tuning scene, whether here in Japan or elsewhere. However, I’d like to remain in Japan. Fashion would be a much harder market to break into, no matter where I am, but I’d like to remain in Japan. My portrait photography, by my standards, sucks. It’s catalog and bland. I more or less began dabbling in the field only to play with my camera a bit. However, considering my current work schedule, it would be the easiest to pursue. Whether editorial fashion or photoerotica, I can always make time to schedule a shoot around whatever insane schedule I’m working (so long as I’m locally accessible and not in, say, Thailand, or something).

My desire to remain in Japan is largely due to the fact that I’ve spent most of my adult life here. I’m managing to fit in some place where I don’t fit in at all. Nearly everything about this country peaks my interest; the rich history, fashion, tuning scene, corrupt government, Yakuza; absolutely everything. And when it ties to what I’m doing professionally, I feel as though I can make it work to the point where it sustains my lifestyle of cars, cameras, fashion and beautiful muses to photograph.

I love my life, and I’ll love it even more when I put all the pieces in place for a rather huge transition.

Input?