New York City - the Oculus at the World Trade Center

Since I began my journey with Chasing the MM I’ve wanted to bring the work to New York. A place I spent most of my twenties. This year 2020, the most complicated year became that year. Two years after Chasing the MM was salvaged it is presented through MvVO Ad Show in NYC during the most difficult time America and the world is going through. I pray Chasing the MM is simply a light, a glimmer of hope, a reason to dream. We are all placed in this world, designed before we were put in our mothers womb to play an integral role.

“"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

“"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

MM 1547 - Tangier Morocco

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MM 700 - Seven Falls, Colorado

Photos by Claire Kho and Bridget Kenny

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

So excited to have been a part of this show with the Atlanta Photography Group. It is a blessing to bring Chasing the MM to Atlanta. I look forward to continuous opportunities like these. Earlier in the year, I was also a part of the Other Art Fair in Los Angeles, my hometown and where Chasing the MM was discovered and salvaged.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport November 2019 - Atlanta, GA

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MM 314 - California Poppies

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The Other Art Fair March 2019 - Los Angeles, CA

Denmark & Spain

Copenhagen > Barcelona > Madrid | September 2018

MM 952 - Louisiana Museum of Modern Art x Nivå Bugt

I have been wanting to go to Denmark for quite some time, Copenhagen to be exact.  I love to bike and I’ve heard of the bike lanes and I’ve heard of the bike culture.  My friend Corie became a freelancer so her schedule was up for grabs.  She kept singing about Spain, I decided to jump on it.  I booked a flight to Copenhagen and booked out of Madrid, Spain.  Then I told her I booked a trip to Copenhagen and I'm leaving back to LA from Madrid if you’re game.  She was game. So was Kristi.  We all went to Brooks Institute of Photography together so I knew they would be okay with my slow photo pace. Actually Kristi is embarking on a brand called Lost Annabel inspired by me being a block or two away everywhere we went.  

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We travled to Copenhagen for 5 days.  The first 2 days was raining and then I was able to rent a bike.  We rented for 2 days.  And I even woke up before 9am to go for a ride by myself as well.  I know RIGHT! If you know me, I don’t wake up before 11am… “I am an artist” HAHA. We ate a lot of Kebab in Copenhagen. Its called Kebabistan.  Its the best kebab place EVER. It kinda really is cuz I had a lot living in NYC.  I would consider myself a pretty good food critic.  In college my friend Lauren, she would stare at me eat, she taught me to eat with my mouth closed, but she also noticed every bite I took had to be perfect like if there was meat rice and sauce and veggie each bite has to have a little bit of everything.… back to my trip. We went to a museum Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.  There is a glass window panel of maybe 6 windows that is absolutely stunning and a view of the ocean Nivå Bugt that is quite unforgettable.  Its so open and it was so serene blue.  Light blue but just muted enough to give you the peace you seek. And we just biked.  Oh! We saw Tortus shop. He’s a pottery guy that is pretty gorgeous if you don’t know, follow him on instagram. 

One place I had to go to was the Grundtvig's Church! It is…… gorgeous. I tried to capture what I could but with the Argus being on a 50mm lens I couldn’t exactly get the whole feel of the church. But I am pretty happy with the many different versions I have on film.

Shot with Iphone 8

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MM 1050 - 출애굽기 13:21

MM 994 - Gothic Quarter Barcelona, Spain

Spain. Barcelona and Madrid. Madrid over Barcelona for sure, for me.  I think it was just being in Barcelona at midnight and getting into our air bnb in Gothic Quarter just wasn’t….. fun.  But Barcelona is very romantic.  I was disappointed in the church being sold out and so much construction was going on. I didn’t really take any pics of it. What I found interesting was the window curtains were on the outside rather than the inside. I had ramen in Barcelona lol.  Girl needed her fix. And we ate at an amazing restaurant called Cafe Lolea. It was right around the corner from our air bnb and it was the best risotto I have ever had.  Truffle. Period.  I know ppl always say the best blah blah blah, but guys truffle. Ok. The pastries were also bombb at La Colmena. 

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Madrid! It was only for 2 days, but it was so pastel gorgeous.  Corie our bada$$ rented a motorcycle so Kristi and I spent our day quite easy breezy.  I’m not too close with Krisit, but I photographed her A LOT in college, I photographed a lot of pretty people in college. I took some new pics of her with the my iPhone and we spent most of our morning.. I mean like lunch ish at the bicycle cafe. Then we walked around and went to Centro Centro.  This is like a government building but it was also like a We Work and Empire State Building?….. For only 3 euros! The view…. well.. here is the view. Yea… I went ham.

Take away from my trip to Denmark and Spain. Three is perfect. Three is buffer.  Three is cheaper.  Three is better communication and you can leave the other one with the other if you need to step away for the day.  Copenhagen, I want to go again in the summer and eat Kebabistan every day.  Barcelona, super romantic, but I’m good. Madrid. Must again. Kristi and Corie went down south of Spain after I left and they absolutely loved it, so maybe more country side and a 1 or 2 days pit stop in Madrid.  I loved the colors in Madrid.  

Thank you for reading. I thank God for my trips and blessing me with finances in all the odd jobs and photoshoots I do on the regular. I want to remind you I am just a messenger, a vessel, given the gift to create to inspire other artists, for other to find peace through the photographs and simply experience the wonderful world he’s created for us and through us. Peace and love.  You are a child of God. Tak and adios. 

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6 images above all from Centro Centro Madrid, Spain

First CTMM Show and we're flyin' solo

Last week. Something magical happened. I had my first solo show. I’ve had a group show at Samy’s Camera in Santa Barbara during college, but I’ve never had a solo show. Since heading back to film, doors have been opening in places I never really imagined. I am excited for the future and the vision. I’m ecstatic to share new work and I’m eager to continue this path. The show was at Team One Agency, a sister agency of Saatchi and Saatchi and an advertising agency located in Los Angeles, California.

It was quite an amazing turn out. I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of work, out of their day to come see the show. What really got to me was the whole process. And as I write this I feel my eyes watering. It is an amazing blessing I am gifted with this talent and I am honored to to be able to show the world. My childhood friend Nicole works at Team One and she mentioned they have a new gallery every couple months and they do an opening night with wine and food and everything. She’s been watching me develop my work and told me to tell her when I was ready. After Colorado, I said “Annabel we CANNOT sulk your work to the ground. Regardless what you feel whether you think you’re ready or not it doesn’t matter this is the retirement plan it’s a forever process, so go and shine the light God gifted you!” And I knew I was ready to introduce Chasing the MM to the world after Colorado. Nicole sent an email out to the creatives that handle the gallery. They were just as ecstatic as I am every time I scan a new roll of film. 

I am truly thankful to be in this moment with photography. There were times I despised it and I hated it and I didn’t understand why I decided to go in this path and now it’s clearer every day. I ask all of you creatives from any field to always look and fight for the bliss and always find the simple joy your craft gives you and follow it heavily! When I was printing these images, it was the first time using a huge roll paper and it was the first time printing these images big. I was trying to control my eyes and not look like a crazy person sobbing at the lab. Seeing the prints huge, my heart opened to the next opportunities to come and excited for the new photographs I will share. I am so happy to be in this moment and to experience that bliss every other moment is a tremendous blessing. Thank you friends and family and thank you God for planting this gift in me. I am just a vessel of yours. Take it to the next level, I’m ready! 

I am currently trying to process everything in words of how “The gift” is a gift. Stay tuned, you can either subscribe to get emails whenever I write a blog post, or follow me on instagram @a_____park and follow the hashtag #chasingthemm.

Featured Cities -

New York USA | Colorado USA | California USA | Arizona USA | Copenhagen DENMARK | Barcelona SPAIN | Havana CUBA

Photography by Elaine Lee Photography Now here is a fun fact. Elaine is my friends mom, who worked as a producer at a commercial photo studio in Los Angeles. I started shooting photography in 10th grade and I asked Elaine, what she thought of my photographs. She said I had talent! It’s been a world wind, but I would never take it back for anything. Thank you Elaine for clarity in this path! You are an angel that helped guide the path. BTW the video below is also by her son, the brother of my high school friend, Elisha. Elisha and Cliff and Elaine are all photographers! How cool. They are literally the coolest family, a family of photographers!

Film by Cliff William Fong

Images coming soon - Copenhagen, Denmark - Christmas 2018

BARCELONA | MADRID | MOROCCO - 2019

CO, USA

Playing and composing, always learning

Colorado was never in my plans, but always in the back of my head as a possible long lay over and to explore a day or two.  But I had the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy it when my college roommate, Barbie invited me to her wedding. My friend Angela who is an amazing hair stylist in Hollywood joined me on this "Two LA Korean girls go to Colorado." Sounds like a good TV episode haha.  Well... first night we went to the WRONG double tree, there were 2 on the same road... I'm not kidding look at this map!  At least they're close! Also, I'll let you know if I start writing my life in tv form. 

MM 713 - Red Rocks CO, USA

I was so dumbfounded by the clouds in Colorado.  I kept calling them marshmallows and I swear I wasn't high.. For most of this trip haha. Angie is a great travel buddy, we were open to each others options and she was really interested in Colorado.  We went to Red Rocks and hung out in Denver Downtown.  We drove to Lake George where Tracy was getting married.  The drive was amazing! Marshmallows everywhere and I was bumpin Gangster's Paradise for 80% of the drive.  

MM 720 - CO, USA

I played with my Nikon L35 throughout the wedding.  It was fun playing with the point and shoot while slightly tipsy. It also matched my outfit quite well. Black on black on black haha. I ended up leaving the L35 there on the rocks where the vendors were unloading and loading.  Angie and I went back the next morning and when we found it, I said hey we only live once. Ha I know so cheesy.  I started double exposing the clouds and I developed some magical shots I'll never forget.  I was blown away, Tracy was blown away, I'm pretty sure both of us just stared at these photos for a long while, me in LA her in CO.  I felt so thankful to have found the camera on the same stoop, it's was really the film not the camera.  I knew the hired photographer captured amazing black and whites already, so I thought why not. Let's have fun and take this film to another level and give it the opportunity to develop magic and I'm pretty amazed with the images itself and even the placement of the clouds.  

I used old Tri X that was 15 years old, probably from when Tracy and I were in college using them.  I used D76 Monobath and it was so simple.  I upped the temperature 20 degrees to "adjust" for the expired film. 

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The wedding was beautiful and I got to meet Ken, I mean Ben for the first time. So happy my beautiful Barbie I mean Tracy found her Ken I mean Ben Haha! Love them so much! Tracy was my first model for so many projects in college, it's really beautiful and heartwarming that I can produce these images for her on one of the most special days of her life. 

MM 708 - Garden of the Gods CO, USA

After the wedding, we went to Garden of the Gods.  It was CRAZY.  It was hailing and we were so scared sh1tle$$!! I told Angie we gotta run to the car.  Los Angeles girls in hail awww nahhhhhhh! We don't even know what to do in rain. At least I don't.  Rain in LA or NY, both are just terrifying to me. We sat in the car for a good 40 minutes and finally decided to drive off to Seven Falls.  During the drive out of the park, we stopped for a couple quick shots. 

Seven Falls was pretty cool, I'm not into hiking, Runyon Canynoooo LOL.  It was a nice, easy walk up and the weather was chilly and gloomy.  The hail had stopped by then or in that area.  I had Angie stop at Wendy's for a frosty. I thought we (at least I) deserved one after all that hail..  Angie went up this longgggg talll staircase at Seven Falls, I didn't bother. I didn't even tell her, haha I figured she'd probably realize and come down at some point.  Regardless, I got some amazing shots of the clouds overlapping the mountains.  I used a lot of Ektar on this trip, it carries more saturation and when there are accidents along the process, I think the tones are fun to play to with.

MM 700 - Seven Falls CO, USA

I dropped the Argus and some magic vignette happened along the film.  There is a shot of Echo park from my recent roll in LA where I did the same thing!  I need to be careful when I get out of the car, or should I be even more careless?!  Both times happened getting out of the car. I don't mind the camera dropping if these effects are raw and natural and the camera doesn't break.  TBH I don't think it will break, the Argus is nicknamed "the brick." 

See the before and after of MM 683 below! My friend named it Cerebral Clouds.  I think that's a perfect name for 683.

Raw MM 683 - Raw Scan / Straight out of the scanner

MM 683 - CO, USA Double exposure and camera dropped and opened on this part of the film. 

A friend asked me a while ago, " How do you know when to stop editing?"  I think it's similar to a lot of things and a comparable feeling we get in our everyday life.  When we eat dinner, we find ourselves getting full and we stop, we feel the end of a tv show where you already feel anxious for next weeks episode, and you get that feeling when you're at your last drink for the night.  It's in your head and it's in your heart. Sometimes they speak to each other for me. When they agree, I stop. When they don't I try to work with either or, but they end up coming to an agreement or the image is simply disregarded or maybe stays raw. 

MM 711 - Garden of the Gods CO, USA

I feel grateful to be in this delight with photography.  To enjoy it and to learn from each roll, each process, each scan and each frame. It's really surreal to feel the bliss again after a decade of shooting.  I feel like i'm playing the piano and composing the music along the way.  There are so many flaws, dust, developing water marks, over exposure, dropping cameras, but I find them unique and beautiful in my photographs, so I'll take them as I go and work with them. 

You are welcome to buy prints now under "prints" and I opened a new gallery section called RAW MM.  These are develop to scan to print, no editing or color correction.  Just cropping and selective dust removal.

RAW MM 704 Clouds (y) x clouds (x)

RAW MM 705 - Two Bear Marshmallows

Next post will be dedicated to LA and bike rides, following a summer trip in NYC, I recently just came back from.  To view more Colorado pics go to Image Gallery Man.

Peace and Love. 

a. park