All the best Cowboys have Daddy issues...

"I'm betting dreams upon my paper wings,

because flying isn't just for kings.

I take the stairs to the very top floor -

I paid the super to leave open the door.

A perfect sunset is sinking in the sky."

- Senses Fail

On a lighter note,

Southern Ink Xposure, tattoo convention, was great.
Inspiring, on another level.

So while I still wield my camera in one hand,
I'll practice my sketching, and hopefully start apprenticing under a tattoo artist in a year or so.
Life has it's twists and turns.
Nothing is certain, but Death and Tattoos.
Seriously.

It is a busy year.
Understatement, that... with countless shows and events to photograph.
Add in moving house, to that list.
Still, I'd like to get away for a bit.
Not overseas (although that would be amazing - let's be realistic),
just locally... up the West Coast.
Camping, or car-ing.

And, fuuuu-, people getting chomped over at my favourite swimming spot.God damn.
Fish Hoek, I love you.
Please love me back.
Every other beach in Cape Town is, well, shit.
With cold water, and cold water.
And gross sand.
But, cold water.

Now for a Nurse tattoo,
and a chest-piece.
Yes please.

Cheers

Luke Daniel ©

Generic New Years post, or...

End of 2009.
Strange how we often blame being tired and run-down on the fact that it’s the end of a long, hard year (obviously).
But, ya know, really… it doesn’t make sense.
The new year’s just a few hours away – energy levels won’t suddenly explode.Give us till… winter.
Yeah, that’s it.
In autumn things will start swinging, and rocking, and rolling.

But, let’s not end with pessimism.
We’ll talk about resolutions, and blank pages, ready to be written.
It’s all true.
So, 2010, full of endless possibilities – all silver, and gold.
Believe.

For now, I’ll treat it like another day, with the subconscious knowledge of it being a new year… *cringe* a new beginning *cringe*.
I like the term, ‘continuation’, better.
Still with blank pages, but not ignoring past successes and failures.
Learning from mistakes, swimming in success… keep it going.

2010 – Lack of sleep, a lot of hustle, even more introspection and less retrospection.
Time for the future… history in the making.

Cheers (and, happy New Year – drive safe, so you can have a 2010)

“Life is such a fucking roller coaster then it drops.
But what should I scream for?
This is my theme park.
My minds shine even when my thoughts seem dark.
Shhh, my foot’s sleeping on the gas -
no brake pads, no such thing as last.”

- Lil Wayne

Die Antwoord @ Discko K, 17 December 2009.

Luke Daniel ©

Ya know...

...we could talk about dirty streets and night time splendor,
but,
I guess understanding will be a problem.

Understanding and comprehending.

I’d like to have a relationship with you,
over there,
in the big shiny car,
and you,
with your torn jeans and broken shoes.

I’m sure that’d make me cry, and smile.
I’d probably climb out of leather seats, bearing torn jeans.
Or, something like that.

Let’s talk about daily strain, and evening unrest.
It’s best that I see you this way.
I think it’ll do us both good, to live and to die, and to think about life and death.
The kind that occurs daily, of course.

Lust and misfortune, sun stroke and debt.
This life is for the living.

(Yes Sir! Mister Machine
Zula Bar, Cape Town, 5 November 2009)

© Luke Daniel

Study.Money.Marry.Kids.Retire.Die.

Actually, it sounded better in my head...
When I say better,
of course I mean worse.
Well, in context.

Watched the Fokofpolisiekar Documentary on Friday night.
It's well beyond awesome.
I could go on, and on, and on...
But, seriously, just watch it.
At the risk of sounding melodramatic,
I got quite emotional during some scenes.
Then again,
I was seeing them perform live,
when I was 13 years old.
Back in the day...
Impact on my life was unquantifiable.

Again, Liam Lynch's photography warmed me up inside.

Then,
jeans got dirty.
My eyes became heavier.
Chest tightened up,
and my left hand acquired more damage.
What a weekend.

"Die hoofkantoor,
'n ereksie wat skeur
deur die vuilwolk vlies,
van die horisonlyn.
Die maatskappy is lief vir my."

- Fokofpolisiekar

© Luke Daniel

It's been too long.

Funnily enough,
this is how I've started most of my recent blog posts.
Explaining that I've been busy,
and that time has been tight.
When I say tight, I mean...

Anyway,
I've been busy.

At least it's the kind of busy which takes me into the streets.
I mean, the kind of busy that allows you to relate to depravity,
even if only for one second.
To relate, not to observe.
That's a relationship.
To have dirt under my nails,
and wear a suit.
That's living.
Laughing and crying.
All that.

Nothing much has changed.
Everything can change.
Everything is changing.

"Shake me into the night,
and I'm an easy lover.
Take me into the fight,
and I'm an easy brother.
And I'm on fire."

- Kasabian



© Luke Daniel

Let's go, week. Monday, eh?

"He lives in his own heaven,
collects it to go from the seven eleven.
Well he's out all night to collect a fare.
Just so long, just so long it don't mess up his hair."

- Billy Idol

I couldn't have said it better.
But I'm tired of drinking Ricoffee,
and measuring walls.

The studio is getting there,
slowly but surely.
Another trip to the hardware (mega)store is needed.
Then, fabrics.
Then, who knows?

We'll cross that bridge,
before it burns.

Oh, PS: Below - Darling, darling.

Cheers



© Luke Daniel

Everyday...

... I'm hustling.

Today's a perfect example.
That's why this is typed at the speed of light.
Fingers blur.
Letters, click, letters, space.
More.

That's probably not what Rick Ross meant,
and even referencing a rapper makes me cringe.
But,
some things are just too true for routine pride.

And to think, I was going to quote Axl Rose,
man, seconds change everything.
This is what happens when you talk to gangstars.
Yeah, stars.
Superstars.

© Luke Daniel