WHY DO ARTISTS STAY UP LATE

I have no idea . 

I have no idea why artists stay up late . I only know why I stay up late . I'm also sure there are many scientific analysis dedicated to this idea , but I just haven't read any of it . 

Oh . When I said I know why  I stay up late ? I don't actually know for sure . I have several theories . 

1. Because of the nature of the hip hop dance life :

Hip Hop dancing happens mostly at night . Not just for me but for most people that I know . It is different for kids now , but when I was on a competitive dance team first learning how to dance , me and everyone I knew had a whole other life during the day time . Some dancers were students , some dancers had jobs , lots of dancers were student who had jobs . People had a life to live during the day so we all agreed to carve out hours in our nights to rehearse . These rehearsals usually starts at 8 or 9 but when it ends depends on how close we were to competition . A light rehearsal schedule is three times a week from 8pm to 12am and a hard schedule is seven days a week for three weeks from 8pm to 6am . That was the schedule when I was doing competitive dancing in the underground SoCal scene for seven years and also the usual schedule as I danced professionally for 6 years . Fifteen years of training hard and staying up late , my body thinks 12 am is just another lunch break . 

2. Because of Coffee :

I like it , it keeps me awake . It's probably not the main reason I stay up late , but I'm sure it's not helping the cause.

3. Because of the Freedom :

This reason is less pragmatic than the other two but I find it most likely . It is probably true that my body and brain has been conditioned to be active after hours because of dance , and it's also probably true that the coffee residuals from 4pm is still hanging out in my blood vessels at 2am refusing to leave the club and want to keep the party going . But I really believe that the reason why I like being up late is because of the freedom .

Late at night , I can finally let my brain do whatever it wants to do . During the day time , business operating hours , I like many other people , have life chores to attend to . Besides already having work , school , family , or any combination of those things , there are so many different other life stuff that demand our brain power and attention . It is practically impossible to delegate any grey matter to focus on anything but getting to the bank before 5pm , going to the market before going home to make dinner , meet for a birthday , and so on and so on to an infinite amount of possible items on the to do list .  

The beauty of 2am is that my options for things to do are cut significantly . Most business's are closed meaning errands will have to wait . Most people are sleeping or at least not around you . The world is darker and quieter and your mind can finally have some room to stretch out and breath a little bit . It can be a productive time where I am able to read , do an endless amount of editing or brainstorming or choreographing . It could be a time more free to be inspired , to surf the internet or wander aimlessly physically and/or mentally . This works best at 2am vs 2pm because there is nothing to interrupt a train of thought at 2am . Many creative will tell you about momentum , that once you have an idea that excites you , you have to ride that wave till it reaches shore and absorbs into the sand because if you fall off that wave due to a call from Time Warner Cable at 2pm about your stupid internet connection , that wave could go missing forever . or at least you will have to paddle out there for a long time before it comes again .  

The world is asleep , and I can a little bit more free . 

Photographer | JUSTFENG

MODEL | Pat Lucey

STYLIST | Joanna David

ON MY WAY

When I was young , there was a man who showed me this photo . The man said that the photo was of a place that existed but was very far from here . It was amazing , and even though I didn't recognize where it was , I instantly knew I wanted to go there . It was perfect . 

As a child , I didn't know the words yet to describe what I saw and now looking back , I'm left with just a vague feeling . The details of the photos are gone from me but every now and then I'll catch a glimpse of something or someone as a sign that I might be heading in that direction .

HOW TO QUIT SMOKING

It's been three years since my last cigarette . It was Dec 31st 2013 and I was standing on the rooftop of a club in Taiwan watching fire works fly off Taipei 101 . There's something poetic about quitting smoking in the New Year . Its sort of a nice bench mark to life , the way that chapters separates books or sleep separates days . 

As poetic as the line would be , I didn't make the decision to quit on Dec 31st 2013 . I decided to quit exactly 2 months and 2 week before that . I made a decision that night and also came up with the 10 week plan to quit smoking . 

Here's the plan 

• wk 1 & 2 - cut to 2 cigs a day 
• wk 3 & 4- cut to 1 cig a day 
• wk 5 & 6 - cut to 1 cig every other day 
• wk 6 & 8 - cut to 1 cig a week
• wk 8 & 10 - cut to 1 cig until January 1st 

Here's the thing

• THE PLAN DOESN'T MATTER 

I've tried quitting 1 time before and I had a plan . it lasted 3 weeks . And It wasn't as if the plan wasn't as good or I got better at making plans . The difference was that the REASON FOR THE DECISION was much much better .

The path to a smoke free life isn't quite as painful as dealing with some real life issues such as poverty , terminal disease , or even just addictions to harder drugs . BUT ! it is relentlessly irritating and annoying to the maximum extreme . You need an extremely good reason to quit . Not only does it have to be good , it has to be truthful . 

Here's the thing . To all those people that like to scold smokers , or fake cough around smokers , or spit out the facts describing the bad health effects of smoking : You are doing no one any favors . As a smoker , I know that some people don't like it and I know all of the PSAs about the health factors that come with smoking . I'm the one coughing at night making my nails yellow and making all my stuff smell like cigarettes. I KNOW . Most people know all that stuff before they light up their first cig , it's not going to make me quit because someone else reminded me of that information . 

There were plenty of times where I got weak and wanted a smoke , it happened 20 times a day . I can try to keep busy , stay away from smokers , chew gum , whatever . Won't help , it's too easy to smoke . Even when I finished the plan and had stopped smoking for a couple months , I still get weak . and want to smoke . After a year or two , on a Tuesday , in the afternoon , at taco bell , I got weak and wanted to smoke . 

The reason to quit smoking has to be so honest and so strong that it can withstand that kind of temptation . Cigarettes are everywhere . Depending on where you are , it's a quick walk or drive and 10 bucks away to smoking heaven . Usually theres a guy within a couple steps you can bum one from . If you're a hot guy or girl , cigarettes will just be offered to you when you're out . 

The reason to quit smoking also has to be deeply personal . It has to sit along side you in the darkness and hold you while you're tossing and turning trying to think about something else besides smoking . ANYTHING ELSE . Thats why no matter what people say to you , it's not going to be strong enough to get you through it . Or if the reason you pick isn't something that honestly grabs you in the depths of your soul , you won't last long term .  

This may be just me , the 10 week plan gave me a structure but having that reason was how I was able to get through it . The urge does ease off after time but the temptation doesn't ever go away . Or it hasn't for me at least . The addiction may have gotten weaker , or maybe I got stronger , but the fight is still happening quietly , discreetly in the back of my mind . 

NEOCLASSICS LOOKBOOK SPRING 2016

This is a photoshoot I did recently for the Neoclassics lookbook spring 2016 . Last year , I was modeling for Neoclassic's lookbook and now i'm standing behind the lens shooting it . Its been a crazy year in between these shoots . It sort of bookends the year I've had and the transformation that I've taken on . 

Side note . Its the middle of February and Los Angeles just had a string of 89 degree days . What the heck . 

Side Side note . Its about to rain today . WHAT ?!

MONEY DANCE

*** the video above is a dance video choreographed and directed by Lando Wilkins to a song by AV Compton for the DanceOn Network . The photos below are some shots that I took during the recording of this video . It was just an idea that Lando and I wanted to play around with and test out . This blog post is related to these photos and video . Barely . Like maybe 10% ... probably less . 

....................

Listing format to make a story and point 

....................

• I started dancing because I thought it was cool
• I thought it would help me meet interesting people (girls)
• I've been dancing for 15 years 
• Competitively for 15 years
• Professionally for 7 years 
• Half of my dance career was getting better so that I can win competitions
• I did
• Half of my dance career was getting better so that I can do well and make money 
• I am
• There had been many amazing experiences and accomplishments
• This past year I won another major competition 
• It was great
• It was nice
• Something was missing 
• It didn't feel as satisfying as I thought it would be
• I'm not sure what it was
• But ...
• i'm looking at this list
• and ...
• I've never trained just to enjoy the growth
• Or this is dumb and lists are stupid 

....................

The End

Featured dancers/models : Chanel Malvar , Katie Franko , Sabrina Fernandez

AT THE EDGE OF THE SPOTLIGHT

People always look at the spot light . Its kind of the point . The entire existence of a spot light is so that people know what they're suppose to be looking at and focusing on . Its what important . If the spot light is turned on and you're not looking at it , then the spot light has failed its single purpose in life and will fade away and lay in it's coffin with unequivocal shame next to all those things that existed past it's usefulness like payphones , or Nicolas Cage movies .

This is why actors are the celebrities . Rarely the directors , writers , and costume designers for whom the actors will not know what to do , say , or wear , get recognition . Its an entertainment credit structure we all read the memo about and signed . That's why actors sell out box offices . You never heard about the hot blond screen writer blazing the summer block buster with her curvy metaphors and busty wit . 

Its all changing . Music producers sell out stadiums , photographers getting work because of an audience they've build , and people are finding videos to watch based on the creators of those videos as well as who's in it .  

I understand there are differences in the industries and histories behind all these mediums . I wrote and then deleted this huge long thing explaining the size of the village it takes to make a feature length motion picture verses a vlog and big production photography verses the Iphone camera with good wifi . I deleted all that because it's been far enough into the movement that I believe everyone already understands all that and is already on board with it . Keeping all that rhetoric would just be me on a plane in 2016 , explaining to everyone how a seat belt works .

To finish a short story long , I just wanted to post about this because I , personally , am very excited and proud to be living in this time . A time where it's much more accessible and possible to choose a creative life and work in an creative industry because more areas of the creative process are given more attention and respect .  A time where the spotlight got a little bigger , and gives a little warmth to the people working around the spotlight . 

...................................................

Below are some overly dramatic photos of the company Vibrvncy with their sexy camera equipment working hard behind the lens to bring you coverage of a dance competition VIBE XXI . 

Vibrvncy Taking Its First Steps

This past Sunday marks the official beginning of VIBRVNCY , a full service creative , multimedia production agency . Founded by Jon Shih , it's a collection of uniquely talented individuals with a wide variety of skills that provides a service to conceive , create , and finalize ideas . With experience ranging from event coverage to branding and design , we got what you need . 

L to R : Chad Mayate , Jon Shih , Nick Kim , Jino Abad , Courtney Yeh , Jonnelle Monzon , Gerald Nonado , T Watch , Feng , Dani Chang (missing Yosuke Murakami)

There is such a variety of people in this company , i'm compelled to kind of explain the range of experiences we have here . If reading is not your top 3 favorite things to do , I will do it in list form to make it more palatable . If that is asking too much of you , well , crap . 

• We have Videographers , Photographers , Designers , Producers , Men , Women , Extroverts , Introverts , Laker Fans , Star War Fans , People that love ice cream and People that are lactose Intolerant . 
• We have people that work conceptually and people that work technically , Some of which do both .
• Some of us had traditional school and training for art
• Some of us learn it on our own 
• We all grew up in different parts of the world : Hong Kong , Thailand , New York , San Francisco , and Los Angeles . 
• We all came up working in different fields ranging from medical IT and corporate distribution to creative director of a dance lifestyle brand and director and choreographer of music artists . 
• We are represented in Los Angeles , New York and soon Thailand and Japan . 
• We are all excited when we go on ice cream runs during editing breaks 
• 8 people have done competitive organized dancing
• 2 of which do it professionally 
• We all have shot nerf guns
• We all have shot shots
• We have collectively worked for Fashion Brands , Lifestyle Brands , Energy drinks , Music Artists , Dance Artists and more
• We have collectively been published on TV , Social media , and Print . 
• We all got here in different ways but we are all here now together .

We got hats and shirts , it's official 

I , personally , have taken a twisted and windy road to this group . From years of being creative in a different field , I've found my life and ambitions changing and needed something different. While the old door hasn't closed , Its a pleasure and honor to open this new door with such a gifted and warm hearted group of individuals .  

Road to Vibe and website launch 

To Our New Adventure ! 

DO . DOING . DO IT

Over thinking , laziness , excuses , fear , lack of confidence, not enough talent , not enough skill , not enough time , or name any other reason you can think of for why people don't manifest their ideas or projects . I have probably used all of them at some point , and some of them I have on heavy rotation . 

This is why , to work over some of those hurdles , I've presented some creative challenges for myself to tackle every day . First , I will be doing a Snapchat (@justfeng) mission everyday either created by myself or from a recommendation . Second , I will be carrying a point and shoot with me just about everywhere I go shooting through out the day and at the end of the day I will post something new on Instagram . Third , on top of doing photoshoot blog posts twice a week , I will be adding a topic to write about that connects to those photos . 

This brings me (SEGWAY) of course to the quick test shoot I did with this lovely couple . Introducing to you first : Sof the Barber aka. STAYGOLD31

Sof is a distinguished barber based in Los Angeles with a home base at Grey Matter in NoHo and then at The Lab in West Covina . She has quite a following as a female barber in a male dominated industry as well as having the double talent of doing salon style cuts . She hustles and also is a budding filmmaker constantly creating shorts and videos .

What impresses upon me the most while being around her (full disclosure : I haven't known her a long time) , is that even busy with her career as a barber , every time I'm around her , she's shooting . She's got a lot going for her already and she's still building her rep and clientele , but she's still putting in the time and work to learn something new . Respect . 

There is so many things to tell you about this next person here , first of which is her name : Valerie Ramirez 

Val is an owner of a multi purpose multi creative studio named The Lab in West Covina . The lab feature as a :

• kickboxing (there's a ring)
• fitness (there's a gym)
• Tumbling/tricking/bboying (there's a padded room)
• barbershop (there's a barber chair with a vanity mirror) 
• and dance (there's three dance studios) center .

And if that wasn't enough to fill 24 hours in a day , she was working as a styling assistant for JoyRich , and now moonlighting as a barber . She's also a professional dancer with a killer sense of style and a rapier wit . She has incredible creative vision and CLEARLY gets shit done . 

And that's the thing about Val that I love most . She thinks of a project , makes a decision , and gets it done . Its a trait that I truly admire . 

The power couple . 

HIS NAME IS JOE

This is Joe Krausz and he's got skills . He's a professional dancer , a muay thai fighter , a personal trainer , a gym owner , and a print model . We spent an early morning shooting a couple of looks for his portfolio and his website which will be launching soon . 

TRENCHCOAT THURSDAYS

Meet Samantha Beckett . A professional and a pleasure to work with . 

BONUS

SPRAYGROUND X VIBRVNCY

The video above and photos below were created for the marketing of SPRAYGROUND's new Back to the Future inspired backpacks .  This was a crazy sprint of a project where we received the project on Thursday and had to finish it , get it approved and then released by the backpack's launch day : next Friday . Giving us a total of 8 days to get all the concept , preproduction , blah blah blah done . Thank goodness to all of our friends and their amazing hearts for lending us a hand and making themselves available to get this done . So proud of the team ! Credits below .

***disclaimer : These are just the photos that I took , there are also photos shot by Jonnelle Monzon , Jon Shih and Mike Tang being used for this campaign 

Creative and Production | VIBRVNCY 

Models | Shay Maria , Smac , Neka Stephens , Sheela Awe 

MUA | Shawna Kim

Cars | Ryan Conferido & Barrett Mitchell

Drivers , Assistant , BTS | Aris Paracuelles 

LYDIA PAEK | ON THE BLOCK

Sidewalk vibes

LYDIA PAEK | ALL GROWN

Little story . It was 2008 and I've been out of college for about 2 years , worked in a bank for about 1 year and been dancing for 7 years . Even though I was dancing on two teams while working at the bank at this point , I was going to call it quits on the late night rehearsals and concentrate on work . It was then that Lydia invited me to come session with Quest Crew at the Quest learning center down the street from my house . That course of action completely changed how my life turned out. I've known the Quest guys individually for a couple of years now , but it wasn't until Lydia (who i've known for a while now) invited me to go session with them that's led me to where I am today . 

She's a multi talented Singer , writer , dancer , artist that is just killin' the game right now . Its been a long way since she was the girl I had to pick up to practice because she couldn't drive yet , and i'm proud and thankful that we are still friends .

Cheers

ARDEN CHO X JUSTFENG 03

The many faces of Arden Cho

AT HOME WITH SHEELA AWE

ARDEN CHO X JUSTFENG PT2

This is the second look I did with Miss Arden Cho . I love shooting her because she can switch up moods and vibes on a dime . We listened to the Beatles "Abbey Road" Vinyl while it was raining outside .

It was kind of great . 

Arden Cho in the house

HAPPY HOLIDAYS all you wonderful readers and text skimmers . One of my favorite things about the holiday season is that , with all the holiday madness , friends from near and far seem to be able to make time for visiting and catching up . I was pleasantly surprised with this particular blast from the past . Arden Cho

You might know her as Kira from MTV's hit show teen wolf , or recognized her from her voice and songs on youtube , but I know her as that girl i partnered up with for beer pong one time and kicked Steve Terada and Ryan Higa's butt (don't ask them , they'll lie). That was five years ago , and over some food and photos we were able to catch up . This is the first look of five different looks we quickly did here . More to come later

So glad our paths were able to cross again . 

JUSTFENG x EMOJILIQUIDS

i recently shot some marketing material for a vape juice company called Emojiliquids . Collaborating with Lydia Paek on directing some of these images, it was awesome working with her again . More on that later .

 I love the way vape smoke looks in photos and have recently starting to use vapes for this reason . Thank you to Emojiliquids for hooking me up with the Fuchai Sigelei mod and all the sweet flavors . My favorite is the water melon sour patch . 

HER NAME IS CHARLOTTE

If you can somehow look at these photos while imagining her speaking with a British accent , I think it would help you enjoy it much more . She'll probably be saying something about loving football and Harry-styles and or Harry Potter .  Did I get that right Charlotte ?

HEYYEH x EVERLANE x JUSTFENG

HeyYeh and i discovered this amazing brand based in SF recently . There will be more about it later but for now , check out this amazing black trench coat perfect for winter time anywhere that isn't southern California .