argonautphoto

THIS BLOG IS DEAD - NEW WORDPRESS BLOG at aaronhuey.com/blog

2009-10-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

WAR IS THE GREATEST FAILURE OF MANKIND

2009-03-02T22:50:00.000-08:00

Tim, age 28, Air Force combat controller with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, was killed Feb. 20 in Oruzgan province of Afghanistan after his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, which was followed by small arms fire. Tim is survived by his wife, Meagan, and year-old son Timmy Jr.

TRIPTYCH

2009-02-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

a new blog of my photo triptychs can be found at:
http://phototriptych.blogspot.com/

A NEW BLOG IS BORN

2009-01-27T19:14:00.000-08:00

http://googlepoetranslation.blogspot.com/

Dear friends,

If you, like us, sometimes use Google Translate to look at foreign web pages, and if you, like us, sometimes stumble upon inadvertent poetry in the process, we invite you to post it* here: http://googlepoetranslation.blogspot.com
Recent important works:
-"Her husband is a family goat"**
-"The Juicy Blanket K"
-"All vehicles without a run for Russia!"
-"De Biesbosch in Holland"

thankings,
Aaron, Mac, and Damon

please send edited submissions for future consideration (be liberal with your deletions in lengthy text blocks)

Kristin Moore-Huey: my beautiful bourqa'd bride

2009-01-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

New photos from Yemen of my wife in full Niqab.

CALIFORNIA WILD FIRES

2008-12-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

worked the frontlines of the LA wildfires 2 weeks ago for Harper's. Its amazing what kind of access a $20 flashing light on the roof of your car (plugged into your cigarette lighter) can get you.

SATANIC PERUVIAN SHAMAN FACE WARMERS

2008-10-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

i picked these up on my last assignment in peru. warm and stylish. and a little satanic.

SALVATION MOUNTAIN WITH DIVA ZAPPA ND WILSON BETHEL

2008-10-15T18:16:00.001-07:00

Wow.

Leonard Knight.

Im not a Christian, but this man is a saint. Or maybe more like an American Sadhu.

Salvation Mountain is a giant, rainbow colored, man-made, mountain East of Niland, California, near the Salton Sea. It was made from adobe, straw, and thousands gallons of paint by 77 year old Leonard Knight to convey the message that "God Loves Everyone". Leonard refuses donations of money or labor from supporters who wish to modify his message of universal love to favor or disfavor particular churches, and rejects fear based faith. He estimates that he has used over 200,000 gallons of paint on the mountain and surrounding structures. Steps cut into the side of the hill lead up a yellow brick road to the summit which is topped by a cross. Once labeled an environmental hazard, the hill was threatened with removal by Imperial County. In recent years, the furor seems to have died down and the project has been designated by the Folk Art Society of America as a site worthy of preservation and protection. Although the project is an unauthorized one on state land, Salvation Mountain was placed under protection in 2002 when Senator Barbara Boxer entered it into the Congressional Record as a national treasure. Knight lives fulltime at the site in a small cabin mounted on the rear of a scripture encrusted two-ton truck.

Salvation Mountain was featured in the 2007 film "Into the Wild."

NEW PHOTOS TO BE ADDED THIS WEEKEND

I just returned from 3 days helping Leonard move hay bales (with my good friends Wilson Bethel and Diva Zappa ), mix adobe and patch holes in his homemade monument to Universal Love. Trippppy. We slept inside Leonard's giant bee hive-like structure filled with florescent trees. Take a look:

Directions from Los Angeles to Salvation Mountain: (200 miles), East on Interstate 5 past Palm Springs and Indio, south on 86S Expressway, Route 111 to Niland, east on Main Street to Salvation Mountain.

THE TRANSCENDENT MOSH PIT OF THE SUFIS

2008-05-03T03:47:00.000-07:00

Discussed: The annihilation of all worldly things, Jay-Z, Chechnya, snake licking, Imam Hussein’s Birthday, smelly dreadlocks, love poems, the sky god, embarrassment, injury, and death.

I knew I was in pretty good with the Sufis when they started putting their snakes on my head. They don’t just give their snakes to anyone you know. It was Imam Hussein’s birthday, I was in Cairo, Egypt at the place his head is supposed to be buried, and I was 10 hours into my second night of dancing. I had meant to be there making photographs for a global look at Sufism, but 10 minutes into the first night I was dancing. For one thing it was the only way I was going to get to stay, but it was also a steady stream of some of the raddest beats I had ever heard. Id even go so far as to call it one of the top ten dance floors on the planet. With a heavy metal violin, a distortion pedal for the echoing microphone, tambourines, and reed flutes raging on for 12-hour sets, the musicians created a religious Mosh pit the likes of which I could never have imagined.

Who are the Sufis? The Sufis are group of men and women who believe that they can access God directly through dance, music, poetry, and chanting (that’s the super simplified version). Sufis are as diverse as the countries they live in, taking on many shapes and forms, adhering to a wide range of beliefs. Sufis are most likely Muslim, and can be either Sunni or Shia, though in the West there are newer lineages of Christian or vaguely new age Sufis. You can find Sufis any where from Afghanistan to Vermont, Spain, India, Egypt, Chechnya, Iran, Mali, anywhere Islam exists (though, again, many groups don’t believe it must be linked directly to Islam). Most westerners are familiar with the Dervishes who rotate on a celestial axis until they are in tune with the Universe - in the whirling they find a still center, which they can remain in for hours without dizzying. In that place the world is annihilated and they are at peace/oneness/bliss. Rumi is also a familiar name to many who have read his poems. He is famous for declaring that his “religion is love,” and to many he is grand master of the Sufis.

So on this night of worldly annihilation, in the old City of Cairo, I found myself trying to be in the world and out of it at the same time, trying to shoot and dance at the same time, and though I got pretty good at it, I often had to just and put the camera down. Letting go of my life raft/professional identity, dramatically helped my street cred with the more hardcore of the Sufis, and soon they were pulling me around wanting me to dance in the middle of the various posses that had formed. The band also wanted me to be their mascot from time to time, insisting, as though I were their circus pony, that I dance right in front of the band. “Dance pony! Dance!” And so it went for the rest of the night, and the next as well, until all accepted me. I ate with the Sheikh, I hung with the face piercers, I befriended the snake charmers, and the smelly dreadlocked street Sufis, and eventually I even won over a few of the big turbaned Arabs with their long staffs and stern faces.

So… If you should find yourself in the middle of a Sufi Moulid celebration here is how to survive the night:

THE ESSENTIAL MOVES

(Though listed individually do remember that combos are huge, so string together as many moves as you can handle)

The “DERVISH” – This classic move is a Rumi favorite, all you have to do is spin. Can range from classical and refined like the dervishes of Turkey, or loose and wild like the hashish-baked Sufis of Pakistan. Bonus points for wearing an all red robe, or all green robe, or a patchwork of colors.

The “TRIPPER” – Tilt back on your heels and rotate around all blissed out with your eyes closed, the larger you can make your rotations the more points you get. (Beware, this move is disorienting, more so than “the dervish,” and its easy to fall over doing this one once you get into it)

The “AIR GUITAR” – I think you have to be an old man with a cane and a big beard to do this one. I saw a toothless old saint wailing away on his cane turned upside down. I don’t know if he meant it to look like a guitar, but it did.

The “NEEDLE IN THE FACE” – (see photo) Pretty straight forward, just find a big sewing needle and stick it through your cheek. Once you have done this you can pretty much just sway back and forth wincing and will be accepted, but you get extra points if you add extra moves on top.

The “HIP-HOP” – Imagine you are at a Jay-Z show. One arm is extended palm down pumping the air like you are spanking an imaginary ass somewhere out in front of you at the same height as your head or higher.

The “PIOUS ONE” – Both hands out 10-20 inches from chest palms angled up towards your face like you are offering prayers. This is a good one to combine with “the tripper.”

The “CAPE CANVERAL” – This move should be used often, preferable when you hear the word Allah in a song. It is as simple at pointing straight up into the air to where the sky god lives and where a space shuttle may be seen were you watching a launch. A sort of heavenly “shout out.” Again, a good move if people start getting all self-righteous with you. Just remind them what’s up there (a space shuttle).

The “ALARM CLOCK” (AKA: WAKE UP CALL) - My favorite guys on the dance floor used this move to wake up the gawkers on the sidelines. It usually involved a loud surprising clap right in front of someone’s face or slamming a hand or cane against a pole close to your head. The message is wake up! You are sleep walking through life! “Wake up call” is a good one to disorient people who are confused about you being there and may want to question you. Simply clap a few times in their face, point to the sky, and start twirling around with your eyes closed and they will stop asking you if you are Muslim. If they don’t just grab your friend the “needle in the face guy” and he’ll tell them you’re cool.

The “HEART THROB” – This is also a very pious move, and is as simple as making a rhythmic patting over your heart with your hand while looking someone in the eye as if to say “I’m feeli’n it brother right here brother” This often helps when people are scowling at you because they think you are faking it or are too unclean to be in their presence. Just smile so big that you shame them out of their righteousness and use a double hand pump if you have to for emphasis.

The “ANYTHING WITH A SNAKE MOVE” - Dangle snakes over the singer’s head, or hold a snake between your teeth dangling it down your chin, or just drape them over your head. Extra points for kissing the snake’s mouth, licking the snake, sucking on its head, or wrapping it around the sewing needle sticking through your cheek. (I saw all these things)

The “FACE OFF” – (See video) Rocking back and forth several feet each way (you can make a step with your feet as you do this) a Sufi may begin to get up in your grill making a grunting sound each time he comes close. This can be a grunt or an Allah and can be either a head butt or just really close face time (don’t worry he wont kiss you). It’s a test. Don’t back down. Grunt back or say whatever he is saying. Once you have stood your ground you are in for good.

Disclaimer: These moves are all for trained professionals and fools only, please do not attempt this your self, it could result in embarrassment, injury, or death.

MORE PHOTOS TO COME

MOTHER RUSSIA

2008-04-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

when I am not shooting photos I am dressing in an all white track suit and drinking champagne

cut and paste this link to see more: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13708744@N05/sets/

ON ASSIGNMENT IN ITALY

2008-03-18T10:22:00.001-07:00

LIVE FROM BEIRUT

2008-01-31T08:41:00.000-08:00

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT BEFORE HEZBOLLAH TAKES YOUR CAMERAS AND DELETES ALL YOUR PHOTOS (HEZBOLLAH DOESNT KNOW ABOUT SAN DISC RESCUE PRO)

FADER'S 50

2008-01-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

I was recently part of Current TV & FADER Films: The Future of Non-Fiction Film

"An exclusive day of dialogue on the The Future of Non-Fiction Film with 50 of the brightest non-fiction filmmakers at Tribeca Cinemas. Discussion and screenings of attendees' works and a keynote speech by former Vice President Al Gore."

We appear this month in Fader

AARON AND KRISTIN IN KABUL, APRIL 2007

2007-12-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

SCROLL DOWN TO AUGUST 26 - NEW PHOTOS

2007-12-19T20:28:00.000-08:00

HITCHHIKING THE TRANS-SIBERIAN HIGHWAY

2007-12-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

These images are from a National Geographic Expedition Council Grant project in Russia. 7,000 miles, 7 Time zones, and lots of dudes in Adidas track suits with gold teeth and tattoos.

Story will be published in summer 2008.

COMMUNIST MURAL IN SIBERIA

PHOTOGRAPHING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BUDDHIST DATSUN GATE NEAR ULAN-UDE

CAVIAR AND KARAOKE IN VLADIVOSTOK

HITCHHIKING IN TUVA

HIKING IN THE ERGAKI MOUNTAINS

RANDOM MONKEY BUSINESS

2007-12-16T11:37:00.001-08:00

Swinging from a chandelier at the Pretty Parlor, Seattle, WA

BLUE VS. RED

2007-09-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

BURNING MAN 2007

RED AND BLUE TEAM PHOTO

AARON HUEY IS A GOLDEN LION

BLUE TEAM AT SUNRISE

BATTLE!

MAN AND WIFE

HUEY-MOORE WEDDING PART 2 (USA VERSION)

2007-08-26T00:22:00.000-07:00

KRISTIN AND I CELEBRATED OUR GLORIOUS UNION AS MAN AND WIFE
AUG 18. THIS IS OUR FORMAL PORTRAIT.

CUTTING THE CAKE

PARTY INVITATION

LO-FI PARTY

KATE AND JAPH "IN THE PHOTO BOOTH"

AZUR AND SQUIRREL

TIM AND MAHALIE

MORRISON/HUEY/HAINES FAMILY

BRIDE AND GROOM

PAUL KELLEY

HUEYHAUS KIDS

MORE PHOTO BOOTH SHOTS AT: www.flickr.com/photos/13708744@N05/sets/72157603501734380/

HOME ON THE REZ

2007-08-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

PINE RIDGE, SOUTH DAKOTA

Ive been here a week now and have set up a tent in the back yard of (ex?) Wild Boyz member Boy Howdy (AKA: Gabe Dreamer). His mother, Dar, has taken me in like a member of the family. It’s a safe place, if you don’t run from Queenie, a 15 year old pitbull (with ground dragging udders), who occasionally bites. When the wind blows just right it smells like a dead cat.

This place has chewed me up and spit me out so many times. But it is changing me.

I used to think this was the most depressing place Id ever seen. Its still tough, no doubt, but there is something that makes me happy here now. I guess its family. I have that here now. I have it in a dozen house that let me walk in and out at will. I have it at the homes that feed me, and tell me their greatest hopes and fears, I have it in the mothers who have adopted me and tell me they love me when I sit down next to them on the broken concrete steps of their homes.

In Manderson (Murderville) my people welcome me. A strange place to call home, but that is what it has become. Two families want to oficially adopt me into the tribe and it makes me question many things. Do I deserve that honor? Can I handle that kind of commitment? Will it stop me from telling the story that needs to be told? Already there is guilt and a feeling that I may not have a right to tell this story.

In one of those homes, the Ghost house, JJ has infantigo, crusting scabs that ooze puss, all over his chin. You get weird shit out here. Bed bugs, Infantigo, lung problems from black mold, gang green, but the worst is the vertigo. It may just be us Washichu that get it. Its easy to get confused on the rez. If you show up here and think you know where you are then you are definitely lost. This place is too complex to feel solid, too layered, too hurt, too sad, too strong.