Hi all, this is a very important post for ooamerica.com as it is the LAST. But it is also the first of two things: the announcement of the launch of http://www.ooaworld.com, and of an entire new adventure, in Asia this time.

Expect to see a similar, and hopefully improved – and certainly more ‘exotic’ (at least for some of you) – mix of photos, videos, writing, art and more! This trip will take us, yes us, from Japan to India, over the course of the next months.

All content will be posted on http://www.ooaworld.com and http://www.facebook.com/ooaworld and more specifically http://www.ooaworld.com/asia ; the ooamerica project in its entirety as it is posted here will also be hosted on the same site, http://www.ooaworld.com/america ; you can also find other photo and art content which is not linked to any particular geographic ‘ooa’ project.

I guess you see where I’m going with this, and I’m hoping this new website will serve as an improved, more malleable, and more engaging, digital canvas for current works, and the (hopefully) many works to come soon, and in the future.

The new website is by no means ‘finished’, and I will continue working to improve it over time, so I hope all of you will peruse it leniently, and as always, any feedback is welcome! I’m aware that it is far from perfect, and the design remains to be polished, but I’ve done my best to get it to be minimally functional in time for this new journey. Unfortunately though, I doubt I’ll have much time to do any significant improvements for the duration of the ooAsia travels.

Among the main new features on http://www.ooaworld.com:

-        Different sections corresponding to world regions and long-form trips / projects, currently featuring ooAmerica and ooAsia.

-        New photo and gallery pages which facilitate browsing and finding content by category and genre, although these will be further improved.

-        A secure shopping function which enables to buy 4×6 prints of photos and artwork, – this feature is by no means perfect; I encourage users to view it as a way to show support to ooaworld.

-        A new video player which makes it easy to browse through videos and playlists.

-        Possibility to register with the site and subscribe to email updates – this will also enable membership features and capabilities in the future (please note if you are a wordpress.com subscriber you should continue to receive updates seamlessly, however should you opt to register directly on ooaworld.com, you may unsubscribe from WordPress Jetpack updates to avoid receiving duplicate emails).

-        Self-hosted, which makes the site more flexible for future improvements, but also makes it more vulnerable to bugs – I’m crossing my fingers for now and apologize in advance for any inconvenience!

Among the features to be eventually implemented, there are many others:

-        Color-coded backgrounds for different world regions.

-        Improved navigation menus and browsing.

-        Social Login to register / login from your preferred social media.

-        Improved map features and geographic navigation.

-        Features for members to be able to actively contribute to the story, and share their own.

-        Intra-links are not all up to date, as well as post thumbnails.

-        Etc. Suggestions welcome! Thanks!

ooAmerica, the Movie, and on to ooAsia

A word about the ooAmerica movie: it is ‘finished,’ and currently lasts about 35min – due to lack of time prior to the departure I have not yet posted it, but I hope to share this with all of you as soon as time and connectivity permit. (By the way, the two last set of American Portraits will be posted on ooaworld.com).

The movie showcases the “What’s your philosophy in life?” answers of many Americans, from nearly every state I visited. Its production has undoubtedly suffered from lack of time-slash-resources, but also inexperience, laziness, and simply put my cruel lack of ability; and yet, in some other respects, I’m satisfied with its genre and tone, which may not please all, but is close to what I had originally envisioned.

I do not bar revisiting it in the future, and I’m sure the ooAsia project will bring its share of images, footage and ideas, which will in return fuel this project. In fact, I’ll be seeking to build upon the foundations of ooAmerica, and along with your help, rise up and beyond!

Check out http://www.ooaworld.com and http://www.ooaworld.com/asia to find out more! Thanks!

For more information on these portraits and the project read previous posts in the series.

Featured here, and special thanks to them (city corresponds to where I met them, not always where they’re from):

8) North Glacier

-       Brian, Butte MT, spins sports betting balls

-       CallMeMaybe, Blackfoot ID, did not speak English, will call back

-       Dan, Buffalo WY, showed me how to re-hoof a horse

-       Dave, Blackfoot ID, and child

-       Dean, Butte MT, “Love, in action and words”

-       Jay, Glacier MT, from Thailand, “Be happy”

-       Jessie, Butte MT, was late for work but gave some time

-       Richard and John, Missoula MT, from the Bay Area, where else

-       Shiyalo?, Glacier MT, from Thailand, studying to be a judge

-       Skater boy, Blackfoot ID

-       Suzette, Butte MT

2013 promises to be an exciting year for ooamerica.com, with the final posts of the American Portraits series, the upcoming release of the movie / documentary, a fully revamped website, and a brand new adventure to another part of the world. More details soon and thanks for your support!

Seventh set of American ‘portraits’ featuring interviewees during the USA road-trip(s): two ‘regions,’ Deserts and Rockies, including people met in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

The following blurb of text is the same for other posts in this American portraits series, spare yourself the second read!

These will serve as way of introduction for some of the interviewees featured in the movie and hopefully give viewers an idea of the demographics encountered – and through that shed light on the possible biases or commonalities in the selection of people met along the road, as well as their answers. Though I sought to interview a wide array of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds, I’m aware of some of the limitations or under-representations in the selection of people featured (ie: fewer women than men were willing to be interviewed on camera, and some ‘types’ of people such as public servants or perhaps more influential people are less likely to give an interview to a road-running stranger driving across the country in a white minivan – nobody should, really).

Why quote-unquote ‘portraits’?

I hadn’t set out to do a series of photo portraits (though I should have – and will correct this deficiency in future projects) so these were taken on the fly, ‘as a way to get the focus right’ in the seconds before a video interview. And most of these (due to forgetfulness at the time) are simply screenshots from the video interviews. All pictures were treated similarly in LightRoom using a unique adjustment of contrasting and sharpening so please excuse their coarseness – I suppose this is my guilt-felt excuse for the untailored esthetic of these shots.

Featured here, and special thanks to them (city corresponds to where I met them, not always where they’re from):

Deserts and Rockies:

-       Canadian biker, Meteor Crater NM, rides a Vulcan

-       Jennifer, Meteor Crater NM, drives cross-country for her job

-       Rocky, Fort Worth TX, cowboy

-       Tyler, Roswell NM, waiter

-       Deborah, Meeker CO, “Republicans are evil”

-       Derek, Dinosaur UT, truck driver

-       Don, Meeker CO, rancher

-       Itchy, Boulder CO, smiling on

-       Jessie, Ogden UT, “be grateful to your parents”

-       Merlin, Denver CO, book wizard

-       Nick, Boulder CO, skater

-       Rich, Dinosaur UT, Native American

-       Chris and Candice, Nederland CO, cosmically-bound

-       Robert, Dinosaur UT, truck driver

-       Spliffman, Boulder CO, rolling on

Happy 2013!

The following blurb of text is the same for other posts in this American portraits series, spare yourself the second read and please share!

These will serve as way of introduction for some of the interviewees featured in the movie and hopefully give viewers an idea of the demographics encountered – and through that shed light on the possible biases or commonalities in the selection of people met along the road, as well as their answers. Though I sought to interview a wide array of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds, I’m aware of some of the limitations or under-representations in the selection of people featured (ie: fewer women than men were willing to be interviewed on camera, and some ‘types’ of people such as public servants or perhaps more influential people are less likely to give an interview to a road-running stranger driving across the country in a white minivan – nobody should, really).

Why quote-unquote ‘portraits’?

I hadn’t set out to do a series of photo portraits (though I should have – and will correct this deficiency in future projects) so these were taken on the fly, ‘as a way to get the focus right’ in the seconds before a video interview. And most of these (due to forgetfulness at the time) are simply screenshots from the video interviews. All pictures were treated similarly in LightRoom using a unique adjustment of contrasting and sharpening so please excuse their coarseness – I suppose this is my guilt-felt excuse for the untailored esthetic of these shots.

Featured here, and special thanks to them (city corresponds to where I met them, not always where they’re from):

Midwest and Heartland:

-       Abbie, Chicago IL, believes in karma

-       Dan, Mammoth Caves KY, car ferry operator

-       MaryLou ‘Pinkie’, TN, owns Mary Lou Stitches and loves Harleys

-       Paris, Indianapolis IN, speaking of the devil

-       Brewing receptionist, Kansas City MO, “corporate beer sucks”

-       Kansas University students, Lawrence KS, “don’t worry be hippie”

-       Helen, Middle of the US, KS, works at the Visitor Center

-       Keelie, Lawrence KS, mother – and her son

-       Peggy, Mitchell SD, has a view on the Corn Palace

-       Ramel, Kansas City MO, street cleaner

The following blurb of text is the same for other posts in this American portraits series, spare yourself the second read and please share!

These will serve as way of introduction for some of the interviewees featured in the movie and hopefully give viewers an idea of the demographics encountered – and through that shed light on the possible biases or commonalities in the selection of people met along the road, as well as their answers. Though I sought to interview a wide array of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds, I’m aware of some of the limitations or under-representations in the selection of people featured (ie: fewer women than men were willing to be interviewed on camera, and some ‘types’ of people such as public servants or perhaps more influential people are less likely to give an interview to a road-running stranger driving across the country in a white minivan – nobody should, really).

Why quote-unquote ‘portraits’?

I hadn’t set out to do a series of photo portraits (though I should have – and will correct this deficiency in future projects) so these were taken on the fly, ‘as a way to get the focus right’ in the seconds before a video interview. And most of these (due to forgetfulness at the time) are simply screenshots from the video interviews. All pictures were treated similarly in LightRoom using a unique adjustment of contrasting and sharpening so please excuse their coarseness – I suppose this is my guilt-felt excuse for the untailored esthetic of these shots.

Featured here, and special thanks to them (city corresponds to where I met them, not always where they’re from):

Atlanta:

-       Gregory, Atlanta GA, unemployed

-       Mushi (?), Atlanta GA, from Israel, involved in Talmudic studies

-       Andar, Atlanta GA, tourist from India

-       Antoine, Atlanta GA, international student

-       Lalla, Atlanta GA, valet and former monk

-       Cortez, Atlanta GA, “thirty six and black and sexy”

-       Andrew, Atlanta GA, restaurant co-owner, survived a coma

-       Anna, Atlanta GA, world traveler and “no one in particular”

Carbon Hill, AL:

-       Lacey, Carbon Hill AL, Pizza guy

-       Daryl, Carbon Hill AL, brick-layer

-       Judy, Carbon Hill AL, loves the Lord

Tupelo and Memphis:

-       Show car driver, Memphis MS

-       Charlene, Memphis MS

-       Christopher, Memphis MS, horse carriage driver

-       Kara, Tupelo MS

-       Jamie, Tupelo MS, works at a bar

-       John, Tupelo MS, has a story untold

-       James, Memphis MS, people should be treated equally

-       Lydia and George, Natchez MS, “C’est la vie…”

Arkansas and Branson, MO:

-       Phil, Little Rock AK, security

-       Robert Smith, Ozarks AK, focused on living

-       Rick, Branson MO, contemplative fisher

The following blurb of text is the same for other posts in this American portraits series, spare yourself the second read and please share!

These will serve as way of introduction for some of the interviewees featured in the movie and hopefully give viewers an idea of the demographics encountered – and through that shed light on the possible biases or commonalities in the selection of people met along the road, as well as their answers. Though I sought to interview a wide array of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds, I’m aware of some of the limitations or under-representations in the selection of people featured (ie: fewer women than men were willing to be interviewed on camera, and some ‘types’ of people such as public servants or perhaps more influential people are less likely to give an interview to a road-running stranger driving across the country in a white minivan – nobody should, really).

Why quote-unquote ‘portraits’?

I hadn’t set out to do a series of photo portraits (though I should have – and will correct this deficiency in future projects) so these were taken on the fly, ‘as a way to get the focus right’ in the seconds before a video interview. And most of these (due to forgetfulness at the time) are simply screenshots from the video interviews. All pictures were treated similarly in LightRoom using a unique adjustment of contrasting and sharpening so please excuse their coarseness – I suppose these are my apologies for the untailored esthetic of these shots.

Featured here, and special thanks to them (city corresponds to where I met them, not always where they’re from):

-       Armless Artist, Athens GA

-       Dan, Athens GA, biker who prefers to be useless

-       Michelle and John, Athens GA, UGA students

-       Jere, Hilton Head SC, professor

-       Kay (Roller), Hilton Head SC, school teacher

-       Elizabeth and Theresa?, Hilton Head SC, community workers

-       James (Roller), Hilton Head SC, from Ohio, founded a construction business

-       Pat (Judson Roller), Hilton Head SC, her bikini looks nearly keeled over a US navy boat full of horny officers on return from duty

-       Martinez, Savannah GA, Desert Storm vet

-       Brian, Savannah GA, media outreach for Occupy Savannah

-       Eileen (Boyard), Savannah GA, coffee bar waitress

-       Street cleaner, Athens GA

-       Spencer, Athens GA, UGA student

The following blurb of text is the same for other posts in this American portraits series, spare yourself the second read and please share!

These will serve as way of introduction for some of the interviewees featured in the movie and hopefully give viewers an idea of the demographics encountered – and through that shed light on the possible biases or commonalities in the selection of people met along the road, as well as their answers. Though I sought to interview a wide array of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds, I’m aware of some of the limitations or under-representations in the selection of people featured (ie: fewer women than men were willing to be interviewed on camera, and some ‘types’ of people such as public servants or perhaps more influential people are less likely to give an interview to a road-running stranger driving across the country in a white minivan – nobody should, really).

Why quote-unquote ‘portraits’?

I hadn’t set out to do a series of photo portraits (though I should have – and will correct this deficiency in future projects) so these were taken on the fly, ‘as a way to get the focus right’ in the seconds before a video interview. And most of these (due to forgetfulness at the time) are simply screenshots from the video interviews. All pictures were treated similarly in LightRoom using a unique adjustment of contrasting and sharpening so please excuse their coarseness – I suppose this is a guilt-felt excuse for the untailored esthetic of these shots.

Featured here, and special thanks to them (city corresponds to where I met them, not always where they’re from):

-       Hip-hop artist, Miami, self-proclaimed billionaire philanthropist

-       Amzie, New Orleans LA, snake-eyed artist

-       Bob, Magic Kingdom Orlando FL, gas clerk

-       Hip-Hop artist 2, Miami, was shafted in a music deal by Beyonce and Jay-Z

-       Clyde, New Orleans, one-man-band

-       Fabio, Miami, originally from Brazil, has lived in Miami for the last 12 years

-       George, A Shell in Florida, gas clerk and grandiloquent speaker

-       George, Miami FL, woodshop owner

Slater has won the Association of Surfing Professionals’ (ASP) World Champion title a record 11 times, including five consecutive titles from 1994-98. So I asked him if he was willing to answer the ooamerica “What’s your philosophy in life?” question:

+ I ran into a ‘celebrity’ who was willing to answer the question “What’s your philosophy in life?” so will be posting a surprise ‘Epilogue’ video very soon.

The following 2 paragraphs are the same for other posts in this American portraits series, spare yourself the second read and please share!

These will serve as way of introduction for some of the interviewees featured in the movie and hopefully give viewers an idea of the demographics encountered – and through that shed light on the possible biases or commonalities in the selection of people met along the road, as well as their answers. Though I sought to interview a wide array of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds, I’m aware of some of the limitations or under-representations in the selection of people featured (ie: fewer women than men were willing to be interviewed on camera, and some ‘types’ of people such as public servants or perhaps more influential people are less likely to give an interview to a road-running stranger driving across the country in a white minivan – nobody should, really).

Why quote-unquote ‘portraits’?

I hadn’t set out to do a series of photo portraits (though I should have – and will correct this deficiency in future projects) so these were taken on the fly, ‘as a way to get the focus right’ in the seconds before a video interview. And most of these (due to forgetfulness at the time) are simply screenshots from the video interviews. All pictures were treated similarly in LightRoom using a unique adjustment of contrasting and sharpening so please excuse their coarseness – I suppose this is a guilt-felt excuse for the untailored esthetic of these shots.

Featured here, and special thanks to them (city corresponds to where I met them, not always where they’re from):

1) Williamsburg VA and Chapel Hill NC

-       Carolyn, Chapel Hill NC, French teacher

-       Cow-boy, Chapel Hill NC, epicurean

-       Kerry, Williamsburg VA, works at hot dog shop

-       John, Chapel Hill NC, University of North Carolina undergrad

-       Jordan, Chapel Hill NC, schoolboy

-       Ruby, Chapel Hill NC, Duke undergrad

-       Steven, Williamsburg VA, (from Las Vegas), siderunner during professional runner Jason Lester’s cross-country run

2) Myrtle Beach SC

-       Britney and Kyle, Myrtle Beach SC, expecting couple

-       Jack, SC, fisher

-       Jere, Hilton Head SC, son of stone mason, sociology professor

-       Kay, Hilton Head SC, school teacher,

-       Meredith, Myrtle Beach SC, certified trainer at Olive Garden, aspiring cosmetologist

-       Shawn (Parrington), Isle of Palms SC, recently lost a family member

-       Whitney, Myrtle Beach NC, product sales manager for girl scouts

3) Allendale SC

-       Chantale, Allendale SC, diner waitress

-       Crystal and kids, Allendale SC, South Carolinian public servant

-       Deli manager, Allendale SC

-       Emily, Will and K, Allendale SC, Church volunteer

-       Hustler, Allendale SC, misses having a purpose

-       Jim Boone, Allendale SC, hunting lodge owner

-       Joanna, Allendale SC, community worker

-       Joey, Allendale SC, pastor and community worker

-       Tucker, Allendale SC, high school soccer player and Church volunteer

-       Will and Melissa, Allendale SC, soccer coach and artist

These will serve as way of introduction for some of the interviewees featured in the movie and hopefully give viewers an idea of the demographics encountered – and through that shed light on the possible biases or commonalities in the selection of people met along the road, as well as their answers. Though I sought to interview a wide array of people from different socio-cultural backgrounds, I’m aware of some of the limitations or under-representations in the selection of people featured (ie: fewer women than men were willing to be interviewed on camera, and some ‘types’ of people such as public servants or perhaps more influential people are less likely to give an interview to a road-running stranger driving across the country in a white minivan – nobody should, really).

Why quote-unquote ‘portraits’?

I hadn’t set out to do a series of photo portraits (though I should have – and will correct this deficiency in future projects) so these were taken on the fly, ‘as a way to get the focus right’ in the seconds before a video interview. And most of these (due to forgetfulness at the time) are simply screenshots from the video interviews. All pictures were treated similarly in LightRoom using a unique adjustment of contrasting and sharpening so please excuse their coarseness – I suppose this is a guilt-felt excuse for the untailored esthetic of these shots.

The above blurb of text will be the same for other posts in this American portraits series, spare yourself the second read and please share!

Featured here, and special thanks to them (city corresponds to where I met them, not always where they’re from):

-       Christie, Washington D.C., historically-garbed volunteer

-       David, Washington D.C., circumcision ban activist

-       Jay, Washington D.C., premium cab service driver

-       Jonathan, Philadelphia, barista

-       Matt, Philadelphia, barista

-       Michael, Philadelphia, law school teacher at Rutgers

-       Richard, New York, highway maintenance supervisor

-       Robert, Washington D.C., White House peace tent activist