Best Albums of 2022 (IMHO)

2022 was a solid year for music: we had new Kendrick, a Beyoncé record, another great Thom Yorke side project, and a real, honest to God renaissance in the hardcore/punk space. Heck, even nu metal had a resurgence, fueled by TikTok and new LP releases from Korn and Slipknot. All this to say, there was a ton of stuff to get into, and get into a ton of stuff, I did. With that said, here are my top 20 albums of 2022:

#20. Bladee & Ecco2k: Crest

Bladee and Ecco2k team up for one of the sweetest synth pop albums of the year.

#19. Denzel Curry: Melt My Eyes See Your Future

Ever an artistic shapeshifter, Curry leans into a more subtle, understated sound on this record. It’s a more personal project that grew on me the more I listened to it.

#18. Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul: Topical Dancer

“Don’t say, ‘but where are you really from?’. Say, ‘I don’t see color.’ Don’t say, ‘nice pair.’ Say, ‘I love the symmetry of you.’ Don’t say, ‘but I’m allowed to say that because I grew up in a black neighborhood.’ Say, ‘my n…..eighbor.’ …..Don’t say, ‘I would like a black americano.’ Say, ‘I’ll have an African American please.’”

Lol.

#17. Petrol Girls: Baby

London punk rockers Petrol Girls return with a politically charged fever dream of a record.

#16. foxtails: Fawn

Midwest emo + shoegaze + violin + screamo, if that makes sense? There’s also some beautiful, sometimes devastating lyricism to be had here.

#15. Banshee: Fairy Metal

When asked who her biggest influences were, Banshee cited Septicflesh and Megan Thee Stallion, and, sonically, I think that sums up this album pretty well. She plays with a potent mix of hyperpop, trap, atmospheric black metal, and industrial on this lean 9 track, 21 minute record.

#14. Thee Oh Sees: A Foul Form

Punk is back, baby! And one of the best hardcore records of the year came from… *checks notes* …Thee Oh Sees?? I knew they were adept shapeshifters, but I wasn’t expecting one of the tightest rock albums of the year to come from these guys. But hey, the Lord works in mysterious ways…

#13. Grace Ives: Janky Star

Ives’ sophomore LP is an extremely mature pop record that really aged well for me since it dropped in June. The sharp lyricism and snappy beats on tracks like “Angel Of Business” and “Loose” continue to get me every time.

#12. CMAT: If My Wife New I’d Be Dead

Irish singer/songwriter Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson’s debut record is pure pop country bliss. In a genre in dire need of new faces and fresh ideas, CMAT is a shining beacon of hope.

#11. Undeath: It’s Time…To Rise from the Grave

Speaking of fresh faces, death metal is another genre that’s historically been a pretty small, somewhat insulated circle. Many newcomers to the metal scene pillage death metal tropes for their own deathcore purposes (looking at you, Lorna Shore and Chelsea Grin) but never actually make pure death metal. That’s why this Undeath record is so fun: it stands on the shoulders of death metal stalwarts like Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel while breathing new life into an area of extreme metal rarely explored by newer bands.

#10. DOMi & JD BECK: NOT TiGHT

Zoomers DOMi and JD BECK really woke up one day and said “let’s make the best jazz album of the year.” This thing slaps. From the production to the drums to the intricate yet catchy melodies, it’s got it all. It’s loaded with excellent features from the likes of Thundercat, Anderson .Paak, and Mac DeMarco too.

#9. Fred again..: Actual Life 2 Piano (February 2 - October 15 2021) - EP

An offshoot of Fred’s Actual Life series, this short EP is comprised of 5 piano driven tracks accented by atmospheric synths and various audio samples. It took me a few listens to really get what was going on here, but once it clicked, I was enthralled. There’s just something so beautifully human and raw about these tracks to the point where my spirit feels nourished by them. There have been days where I’ve listened to this little EP on repeat for hours lol.

#8. The Smile: A Light for Attracting Attention

Thom Yorke’s prolificacy isn’t always to his benefit (see: The Eraser). This is absolutely not the case with his new side project The Smile, however. Fans of Radiohead and Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes will find a lot to love on this record, as will fans of experimental music in general.

#7. Lupe Fiasco: DRILL MUSIC IN ZION

Though I was aware of his singles, I was never a huge Lupe Fiasco fan growing up, so the fact he was dropping yet another album didn’t really excite me all that much—especially in a year in which we were getting new releases from the likes of Kendrick, Denzel Curry, Pusha T, Black Thought, and Earl Sweatshirt. Then I actually sat down and listened to the album…and was completely blindsided. This record is pointed and inspired, wielding the sharpest lyricism I’ve heard in a minute—and the flows/beats are great too.

#6. Hinako Omori: A Journey…

This ambient record from Japanese composer/producer Hinako Omori was my go-to album for editing/deep flow state work this year. It’s soothing, subtle, and endlessly beautiful. The shimmering synths weave effortlessly in and out, back and forth, almost resembling a living, breathing organism, and the etherial vocals add an eerie yet calming dimension. Fans of artists like Grouper, Andy Stott, and Holly Herndon will no doubt enjoy this release.

#5. Chat Pile: God’s Country

With God’s Country, sludge metal newcomers Chat Pile came through with one of the most horrifying records of the year. Frontman Raygun Busch’s frantic, yelping screams paired with absolutely devastating lyricism makes for some of the most moving art I’ve experienced this decade. A variety of “real American horror stor[ies]” are covered, including the industrial meat industry and homelessness.

“Why do people have to live outside? I couldn’t survive out on the streets. I’ve never had to push all my shit around in a shopping cart. Have you?…Why do people have to live outside when there are buildings all around us?…We have the resources. We have the means. Why? Why? Why? Why do people have to live outside?”

#4. ROSALÍA: MOTOMAMI

Spanish pop sensation ROSALÍA took a ton of risks on MOTOMAMI and it worked. The opening track alone, “SAOKO”, is worth the price of entry. There’s some hectic jazz grooves in there, some diabolically nasty synth bass lines, and a reggaeton beat that goes extremely hard. The rest of the album is fantastic, too. In short, this record is a LOT. I can honestly say I’ve never heard anything quite like it. There’s not much in the way of a coherent theme sonically, but man…it’s just so much fun. The eclectic styles on display really play into ROSALÍA’s excellent vocal range, and her delivery is stunningly beautiful. Hot take: I think she has the best voice in all of pop right now.

#3. OFF!: Free LSD

Hardcore veteran Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) and co. are back with their biggest, most ambitious record yet. This 20 track, 38 minute album goes hard from the get-go—but not always in the ways you might expect from OFF!. This time around, they dabble with atmospheric effects to produce a more psychedelic sound. It’s polished and slightly more approachable than a classic hardcore album, yet still heavy and chaotic. It’s by far some of the most progressive hardcore I’ve heard in the past few years, and to have it come from Keith Morris just feels so damn good.

#2. Soul Glo: Diaspora Problems

If Keith Morris is doing the Lord’s work of ushering in a new era of hardcore, then Soul Glo are keeping the light on for all the old heads who just want to mosh as hard as they possibly can. This record is lean, mean, and tough as nails. The drums and bass are big and loud, Pierce Jordan’s snarling, hectic vocals are the wildest thing I’ve heard since H.R., and the guitars are as heavy as they come. That’s not to say they’re dogmatic in their pursuit of well-trodden hardcore tropes, though, as evidenced by the use of horns, synths, and various audio samples on certain tracks. Lyrically, Jordan utilizes a diabolically powerful mix of bleak humor and sharp social commentary. If this year is a sign of anything, it’s that punk is in fantastic hands.

#1. Black Dresses: Forget Your Own Face

Don’t let its slight 20 minute runtime fool you; this record is an absolute face-melter of an experience. Mixing glitchy noise-pop and fuzzed out electro-hardcore, this album is very obviously an exercise in catharsis, if not for the listener then most certainly for the duo who made it. From the day it came out, this record grabbed my attention and never let go. Listening to tracks like “Money Makes You Stupid” and “U_U2” for the first time was a formative experience—and that’s saying something as someone who’s consumed a ton of different types of music in his adult life. In short, this record messed me up in the best way possible.

And there you have it! My top 20 albums of 2022. Here’s a playlist with a sampling of songs from each album:

And here are some honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the cut: Big Thief: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, Otoboke Beaver: Super Champion, Kenny Beats: LOUIE, Pusha T: It’s Almost Dry, Black Country, New Road: Ants From Up There, Ghost: IMPERA, and Kendrick Lamar: Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.

Thoughts, Recent Work, and Other Nice Things, Part 4

I’ve been thinking about this question lately: what does it mean to have faith as someone who follows Jesus? And faith in what, exactly? And how does that change things? I grew up learning that faith alone in Jesus alone was what saved us. Oh, and “here’s a list of things that people who have faith do, so make sure to do these things to prove you have faith.” Faith was at once something that saved us, but was also a buzzword weaponized against those who didn’t look the part. It was almost as though the spiritual leaders I grew up listening to were worried that faith alone in Jesus alone wasn’t enough, and so they felt it necessary to hedge their bets and make sure everyone had enough “faith” to get into heaven by correlating behavior with levels of faithfulness. After a while, the word lost all meaning for me. I was tired of the “it is finished (but not really)” narrative that seemed to be playing out around me (and within me). It was never enough. I was never enough. I was trying SO hard but never measured up. The dialogue in my head was suffocating: “they told me my behavior would change, that my heart would change if I just had enough faith, so it must be that my faith sucks because I suck. And if my faith sucks, then what does that say about my relationship with God? Nothing changes and it never will.”

But over the last several years, I’ve sought to actually figure out what it means to have faith, and why it actually matters. If Jesus really did come and literally kill the power of sin and death, what does that mean for me? Is it really and truly finished, as He said? What, exactly, is finished? I could talk for hours and days about this topic but I’ll try to keep it short. I believe that when Jesus said “it is finished”, it meant something. IT. MEANT. SOMETHING. When I sat down and tried to read the gospels with fresh eyes (as best one who went to Bible college can lol), I noticed that, during His ministry on earth, Jesus was building an argument, a reason for why He was here. It’s straightforward but extremely powerful. The argument goes like this:

“Mankind has a need.” And that need is universal, regardless of status, religious prowess, “faithfulness,” sinfulness, creed, or worldview. The Sermon on the Mount is a prime example of this. If you’re not familiar, it’s basically where Jesus took the Jewish law and walked everyone in attendance through it with the goal of pointing out that EVERY SINGLE PERSON is guilty of ALL of the law (“oh, you’ve never murdered? That’s great. But I tell you this: if you’ve hated your brother, you’re guilty of murder”). At one point in Jesus’s ministry, the disciples approached Him, distraught, throwing their proverbial hands up in the air as they asked, “ok Jesus, then who can be saved? You’ve gone to great lengths to show everyone that they’ll never be good enough to get to heaven.” Jesus’ response is EVERYTHING: “with man, it’s impossible. but with God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.” I can envision the knowing smile on His face as He said those words. And that brings us to the next part of the argument:

“I (Jesus) meet that need.” Jesus, knowing full well that no one could get to God on their own, died in everyone’s place, thereby ELIMINATING our need to measure up. When He said “it is finished,” He was ONCE and FOR ALL proclaiming victory over darkness and an END to the need for man to meet God’s standards (not that it was a realistic endeavor in the first place). When He said that while hanging on the cross, something clicked within the minds of His followers. He was never there to condemn them or to guilt them into changing their behavior. In fact, it was never about their behavior or their actions or reducing how many sins they committed. It was ALWAYS about giving them the beautiful gift of peace with God. A society that was motivated and ruled by religious fear and piety was instantly turned on its head by this radically good news that MAN’S STRIVING TO GET TO GOD WAS OVER. The veil was torn and the holiest of holies, God’s dwelling place, was shown not to be in a temple made with hands but within the hearts and minds of men. And the best part? All one has to do to receive this gift is have FAITH that IT IS FINISHED. That’s it. There is no work to be done but the work of receiving peace and rest that comes with knowing that there’s nothing we can do that will pull us closer to or push us further from God. And you know what? That’s a radical concept. In our goal-oriented western society, rest, peace, and freedom are things to be earned, not charitably received. It doesn’t feel natural at all. I feel like I need to earn God’s approval still. I’ve always known in my head that faith alone in Jesus alone was enough, but my heart was afraid it wasn’t. I don’t think that’s uncommon for a lot of people who grew up in the church. I believe that the ongoing act of faith is simply to lean into the truth of who I am because of Jesus.

Ultimately, “it is finished” was a proclamation of an identity change. No longer am I a sinner, a faithless failure, a work-in-progress, but rather a brother, co-heir, and friend of God, complete and perfect in His eyes. And that identity is sealed. Nothing I do can make me more or less any of those things. And if that’s true, that changes everything. The voices of “not enough” can go screw themselves. They’re liars, seeking to drag a bloodied Jesus naked through the streets again. His death and resurrection are the final word. Don’t let any voice, internal or otherwise, tell you that they’re merely the first step on the journey or a piece to the puzzle of faith. To hell with that. And if you think that’s harsh, I would encourage you to read Galatians. Never forget that the darkness hates your freedom and seeks to steal, kill, and destroy your peace, joy, and rest by attacking your identity. Don’t entertain the lies. Cling to the truth of the matter: It is, in actual fact, finished, and that is very, very good news.

Sorry for all the words and stream-of-consciousness messiness. This stuff has been bouncing around in my head lately and I felt the need to get it all out on paper (blog post?). My mind is oftentimes a place in which negative narratives thrive, but lately that hasn’t been the case in large part due to this lovely stuff bouncing around in there. I hope this encourages you. Here are a few photos from last week’s proposal session at Manhattan Beach that make me happy:

The Perfect Wedding Playlist

As many of you know, I love music. I play music. I listen to music. I read about music. I research my favorite artists who make music. I post a song every day on my story known as the “Groove of the Day.” The world is simply a better place because of music. You know what else is a better place because of music? Weddings! But you can’t just make any old playlist and call it wedding-ready. This isn’t a time for haphazard, sloppy curating! There’s an art to it, a feel that one must have to delicately and artfully assemble the pieces to make a beautiful mosaic of songs that set the mood on the big day. Look, I’m going to shoot straight here: I don’t claim to have mastered this art. In fact, I have no idea what I’m doing. My sister rejected almost every suggestion I offered up for her wedding playlist. Apparently not everyone thinks Father John Misty is appropriate wedding music. But I digress! The goal of these few short minutes we have together today is to explore how one might create the perfect wedding playlist. Let’s take a crack at this and see where we end up. This could be a triumph, or it could be an absolute disaster. Either way, it’ll be fun. You ready? Ok, let’s get started…

The playlist we’re going to make is for the reception. Most couples have the first dance music locked down so we won’t mess with that. Here’s what I’m thinking as far as structure goes: Start with a banger or three, then mix in some tried and true classics with a smattering of more modern tunes. Simple enough, right? Let’s dive in…

1. “Shut Up Kiss Me” by Angel Olsen

   This song is so much fun. The upbeat melody, adorable lyrics, crunchy guitars, and sticky chorus are everything you could want from a rock song about love. It really is a certified banger and a great opener.

2. “Glory of True Love” by John Prine

   Master lyricist John Prine really hit a home run with this one. It’s an upbeat country tune in which the timeless beauty of love takes center stage.

3. “Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town” by Talking Heads

   David Byrne wailing away about the joys of love + groovy guitar/bass licks + steel drums = on this playlist.

4. “Purple Sun” by Cannons

   This synth-based, reggae-inspired pop track is the perfect respite after the three bangers we just started with. It’s moody, sensual, and incredibly catchy.

5. “Willow” by Taylor Swift

   The first four tunes aren’t chart toppers and we don’t want to alienate our lovely guests, so we’ll reel ‘em back in with some T-Swift and we’re all Gucci.

6. “All I See” by Mutemath

   This track is absolutely beautiful. It’s a slow burner but never boring. Paul Meany is a highly underrated songwriter with a knack for sweet, clever lyrics.

7. “Still Into You” by Paramore

   Ok, let’s pick up the pace a little bit with some classic Paramore. Hayley Williams delivers a passionate pop-punk anthem to committed love on this one.

8. “She Treats Me Well” by Ben Howard

   Ben paints a beautiful picture of a significant other’s love being the grounding force in the chaos of life. It’s a slow jam so I figure it’ll fit nicely after Paramore.

9. “Intentions (feat. Quavo)” by Justin Bieber

   Endlessly catchy, cute lyrics, everyone knows it. Welcome to the team, Justin.

10. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley

    Classic is an understatement. This iconic love song just has to be on this playlist.

11. “Real Love Baby” by Father John Misty

    I think FJM wrote one of the best love songs ever when he wrote “I Love You, Honeybear”. It’s probably not the best wedding reception music, though. And yes, that’s the one I suggested to my sister for her playlist and she rightly declined (I was being facetious, of course). But this one here is perfectly appropriate for the occasion.

12. “End of the Night (feat. Doubleboy) by Robert Parker

    Ok, back to the big, moody retro wave bops. This one sounds like it’s off a soundtrack of a 1980’s action/adventure movie. Just a really good time.

13. “Love Is Mystical” by Cold War Kids

    This piano-centric, driving west coast rock tune is the perfect chaser for “End of the Night”.

14. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder

    We’re gonna go with another classic here. It’s a safe pick but an essential one, IMHO.

15. “Say My Name” by Tove Styrke

    The chorus reels me in every time I hear it. So sweet, so dorky—but in the best way.

16. “My Kind of Woman” by Mac DeMarco

    This fine offering from Mac DeMarco is perfect wedding reception material.

17. “Love Song” by 311

    Look, love ‘em or hate ‘em, 311 wrote a dang good song here. This one is non-negotiable. Straight to the list.

18. “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin

    The opening bass synth line is unmistakeable. Instant nostalgia and good vibes.

19. “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison

    This seems like a good spot for a more upbeat tune and this one fits the bill perfectly.

20. “the light is coming (feat. Nicki Minaj)” by Ariana Grande

    This song is a beautiful, joyous celebration of light overcoming the darkness; it’s so life-affirming and uplifting. The album it’s found on, Sweetener, is one of my favorite pop albums of all time.

21. “Heaven” by Bryan Adams

    Bryan Adams is always good for an epic, arena-ready rock ballad about life and love. This might be his best.

22. “claws” by Charli XCX

    Ok this one might be a little edgy, but if Charli is your jam, then “claws” is an obvious choice for this playlist. The melodies are nice and bright and her lyricism is on-point.

23. “Soul Meets Body” by Death Cab for Cutie

    I’m having a hard time deciding between this one and “I Will Follow You Into the Dark”, but I think we’ll go with “Soul Meets Body” because it’s a little more approachable. The whole “the universe is bleak and void of meaning except in the love we have for one another” thing on IWFYITD is cute but might be a bit of a non-starter for some.

24. “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles

    ‘Sweet’ is an understatement.

25. “After Dark” by Mr. Kitty

    “After Dark” is a nocturnal, brooding synth pop tune about love at first sight. The tension in the lyrics and driving synths is intoxicating.

26. “Baby, Baby” by Amy Grant

    This early ‘90s pop hit is an absolute banger.

27. “My Girl” by The Temptations

    It wouldn’t be a solid wedding playlist without this one.

28. “Must Have Done Something Right” by Relient K

    Remember these guys? Their witty pop-rock prowess is on full display here.

29. “Right Down the Line” by Gerry Rafferty

    If you watched Euphoria then you’re probably familiar with this tune. It’s a classic love song and deserves a spot on our playlist.

30. “telepatía” by Kali Uchis

    This gorgeous song is about two long-distance lovers yearning to be together again. I think this playlist needs an R&B slow jam and “telepatía” is about as good as they come.

31. “I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher

    Still great after all these years.

32. “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash

    I’m a sucker for Johnny Cash.

33. “I Can’t Get Enough” by Benny Blanco, Tiny, Selena Gomez, & J Balvin

    I wouldn’t classify this as a true banger but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. It’s one of the more underrated pop songs out there.

34. “At Last” by Etta James

    We all know it and love it. Etta James’ classic is the perfect closer.

And there it is, a wedding playlist. I think we executed our plan to mix tried and true classics with some newer releases reasonably well—and we took some risks along the way. I had way too much fun doing this lol.

Thoughts, Recent Work, and Other Nice Things, Part 3

I’ve been making it a point lately to watch some movies that have been on my “to-watch” list for a while now.

Here are the ones I just finished recently:

• Perfect Blue (1997, directed by Satoshi Kon)

  • You ever see Black Swan? How about Requiem for a Dream? Let’s just say Darren Aronofsky took some notes. 9.5/10

• Anomalisa (2015, directed by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson)

  • This one is gonna stick with me for a while. Can’t say I loved watching it, but I’m glad I did. Charlie Kaufman will do that to ya, I suppose. 8.7/10

Here’s a nice headshot of Brandon that I took last Saturday:

The Sigma 85mm F/1.4 Art lens is absolutely otherworldly. If you’re a fellow photographer, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Tack sharp wide open and looks clean throughout the aperture spectrum. Ok, back to the movies…

• Licorice Pizza (2021, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)

  • I really enjoyed this one. Bradley Cooper had me DYING. PTA’s range never ceases to amaze me. 8.5/10

• The Darjeeling Limited (2007, directed by Wes Anderson)

  • Not my favorite Wes Anderson movie but it had its moments. 6.7/10

• Rushmore (1998, directed by Wes Anderson)

  • “Were you in the shit?” “Yeah, I was in the shit.” 9/10

• The Breakfast Club (1985, directed by John Hughs. I know, how am I just now seeing this movie?)

  • Outdated social norms aside, I like how dialogue driven this one is. Judd Nelson is worth the price of entry alone. 7/10

• Garden State (2004, directed by Zach Braff)

  • Wasn’t expecting to like this one as much as I did. I think Braff pulled off a really delicate high-wire act that could’ve gone horribly wrong—and in his directorial debut, too! Soundtrack is great as well. 8.2/10

• French Dispatch (2021, directed by Wes Anderson)

  • Wes does the vignette thing extremely well. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Moses Rosenthaler vignette is my fave. 9.2/10

• Boogie Nights (1997, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson)

  • Talk about a pebble in the shoe… Friggin PTA, man. One of the saddest movies I’ve ever seen. 8.9/10

So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. Let’s wrap this up with a few photos:

Thoughts, Recent Work, and Other Nice Things, Part 2

An author I follow on Instagram named Scott Erickson posted some thoughts on Mary Magdalene finding the risen Jesus first. He outlined the darkness she’d experienced at the hands demons and contrasted that hellish time of separation from her innate dignity with the light that Jesus brought into her life. She knew what it meant to stare into the abyss and have it stare back. She was enveloped in darkness to the extent that her identity was stolen from her. She wasn’t herself before Jesus met her. So when He died, one could imagine that it would’ve been especially hard for her. To know such evil and such grace in the same life is a powerful thing. Scott puts forth a theory that Jesus showed Himself to her first because she knew what it meant to see the light in the dark, to find life within a tomb. This line really got me: “Maybe this is why when the men looked into the tomb they only saw dirty laundry, but when Mary looked into the tomb she saw angels, because she was not unfamiliar with being able to see in the dark.”

Scott’s Instagram handle is @scottthepainter. Definitely a good follow. Ok, onto a few fun photos I found while doing some spring cleaning:

Sarah's Senior Pictures

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of shooting my friend Sarah's senior pictures. She's a Criminal Justice major from Cal State Fullerton who has a sweet disposition and a huge heart. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot!

Thoughts, Recent Work, and Other Nice Things

Whoa, time flies. Have I really been this bad at updating my blog?

*Hastily puts down decaf and grabs iPhone*                                                                                                     "Siri, remind me to update my blog weekly."                                                                                                   "Zack, you and I both know that you'll procrastinate, whether or not I remind you to update your blog weekly. Adding it to your reminders..."

Yikes. Even my phone can see right through me. Anyway, I've had a lot of jobs lately and I'd love to share some of my favorite photos from those shoots. Well, love is the wrong word. More like need. I need to share them, the same way a depressive needs to get up and just do something. And I know it's time to post another blog entry anyway. Something about two birds and a stone. I know I should post more, but every time the ideas of posting pictures and writing for my blog rise to the surface of my consciousness, they're met with the crippling opposition of a mental block. For some reason, I just really don't like sharing pictures. Perhaps it's because I hate my photos. Perhaps it's because I hate everyone else's, and I know that I'm just adding to the noise with each upload. Angst, selfishness, self-consciousness, assorted insecurities, and fear. Oh, woe is me, the suffering artist, wasting away and decaying, trapped inside his own gifted intellect, forever exiled on the island of self-preservation and intense self-centeredness under the guise of false humility and self-hatred. And this all for one singular, all important purpose that fuels my existence: so that people would like me. Jesus hated the pursuit of the praise of man. So fickle, so cancerous. I'm so sorry guys, Birdman was on sale at Target for five bucks. Here's some of my recent work! 

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David and Jamie's Engagement Shoot

The other day I had the privilege of shooting David and Jamie's engagement photos. Engagement shoots are always fun, especially when you're photographing fellow creatives. Both David and Jamie are videographers by trade, and excellent ones at that! These guys are also great friends of mine who've really encouraged me in the Lord through their relationship and personal walks with Jesus. It's awesome to see how the Lord has led them to each other and drawn them closer to Him in the process. Can't wait to photograph their wedding in a few weeks! 

Hello, Old Friend

I'm back to doing what I love: photography. I stepped away from it all for a bit, and I'm actually sad I did so. This is where I belong; this is where I must be. So, all gooey emotions and sentimentality aside, I'd like to welcome you to my new blog and website. Feel free to browse my portfolio, read my "About" page, and check my blog regularly for new updates and random thoughts on photography and life in general. Here's a picture I took with my iPhone from a backpacking trip. 

Blessings, Zack