I made a new friend today, his name is Michael David Friberg. We know more about one another now and you know, it’s great. No really though, it’s quite awesome. Thanks man for initiating our conversation. We are going to round up a bunch of other awesome photog’s for a big awesome dinner sometime in NYC.

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michaeldavidfriberg:

Photo by Tony Luong

Ok this is going to be a bit of a rant but I’m about to climb up on my soap box and say some stuff, ok?

I have been feeling more and more like I don’t have a community of photographers to share work with, bounce ideas off of, rant to etc etc. And by community, I mean a real community. Not a bunch of guys sitting around pressing like on each others tumblr posts. The first person I ever got past the internet wall with was Jake Stangel. That is a testament to Jake, not me. He makes relationships happen. I remember he called me when I had never met him in real life. It was awkward but now we have a great REAL LIFE RELATIONSHIP. I found myself saying some photographer was a “friend” the other day and then it dawned on me that we had never really communicated beyond 140 character bursts and the ocasional reblog. The internet is an incredible tool but it can also serve to isolate you while simultaneously making you think you are connected. 

Yesterday, Tony Luong emailed me about getting a post card and I decided to break the awkward social media wall and write a long awkward email about myself and my work. I did this because I really like Tony’s work and I feel like we have a lot in common and he seems like a cool guy that wears a lot of bow ties. Tony emailed me back with a bunch of stuff about himself that I had no idea about. Now, i’m not saying we are best friends but I know a bit more about him than I did before. So, reach out is all i’m saying. I know it can be awkward or whatever and sometimes the internet seems like one giant circle jerk but community and relationships are super important. End rant.