Just a shutter click away...

KNCKT–The Movie

Andraz — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:53:44 +0000

I can proudly inform you that our first movie KNCKT is finally out. Click on the photo below to visit our KNCKT page and see the entire movie. It was a long journey full of ups and downs. We learned a lot and we still have much to learn. Our next one will be even better. Thanks to all the people involved and all the ones who supported us along the way. Now watch it.

Los Angeles to San Francisco

Andraz — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:51:30 +0000

I continued my trip from where the Route 66 left me on Santa Monica pier. The route 395 was next, which lead me through Death Valley and Yosemite park. And some other amazing places along the way. Alabama Hills, Keeler a hippie town, a mining ghost town named Bodie, Big Sur… I then turned to the coast and drove on Highway 1. Before finishing my journey in San Francisco.

It truly was an amazing experience one that will stay with me for a long time.

Some numbers:

- 5373 miles driven or 8647km

- 21 total days spent driving from New York to San Francisco

- 13 number of crossed states

- 10 Hamburgers eaten (a relatively low number of which I’m proud)

- 9 nights slept in a car

- 5 close encounters with wildlife

- 2 animals hit (a suicidal deer acquainted with the front door mirror and an owl grazed the roof)

- 1 brutal hangover after a rather crazy night in Chicago

- 1 near death experience in Two Guns Arizona after almost being shot

Click on a photo for a larger view.

The Main Street Of America–The End

Andraz — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:23:00 +0000

So there I was near the end. With only Las Vegas (not a part of Route 66 but a small detour) and Los Angeles in my way. Time was passing fast. And I can only remember when at the beginning I was foolishly thinking that three weeks of renting are going to be way too much. Dreading that i wouldn’t know what to do with my spare time. I could have easily spent three months exploring and searching. There is something about the open road, listening to good music, eating crappy food, sleeping in questionable motels, meeting new people, seeing new places and the ability to steer wherever your heart desires that just feels so right. And what could be better for the end then getting lost in the City of Lights and finishing in the City of Angels. Though to be honest the first one looses a lot of it’s glamour when the first sunrays of the morning sun hit the city streets. And the second really doesn’t have much in common with any kind or form of angels.

Click on a photo for a larger view.

Nice refreshing soak before hitting the road… errrr on second thought maybe not.

Your hero for a buck…

Even McDonalds is pimped up in Vegas. Look at all that bling…

Scattered dreams…

Seriously which couple reads this sign and goes hmmm yes this is the place…

Bitter sweet end…

The Main Street Of America–Part III

Andraz — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:48:13 +0000

Heading on in search of a rabbit. For miles before you could see it silhouettes of a rabbit with miles left appear a long the way. When you finally arrive in to a town conveniently named Jackrabbit you find your prise. A big bunny on a bill-board.

Before turning slightly off route to visit an Indian village on the bottom of a Grand Canyon. I stopped in one more ghost town. I pulled up next to the fence with a big DO NOT TRESSPASS sign bolted on to it. Had a quick look around haven’t seen anything really interesting so I decided to move on. But when I was driving away I see this big pillar with a cowboy waiving two guns in his hands. So I sad to myself why not. I stop the car put it in reverse and back up to the fence and stop just in-front of it. I get out of the car and just when I was about to casually snap away this big burly man comes rushing through the trailer doors. All fine until I noticed a gun, a freakin huge gun in his hand. Then he said to me in a thick southern accent. ‘’Do you know I was just about to shoot you?’’ And since I was totally caught off-guard all I could muster up was ‘’Really’’ Apparently some other folks have done that in the past and he wouldn’t let that happen to him again. Gun aside he turned out to be a nice guy and allowed me to snap away even told me about couple of nice spots along my way. I still wasn’t brave enough to take his portrait though. Oh the town name was Two Guns, go figure.

Click on a photo for a larger view.

Is this photo worth eating a bullet… I’ll let you be the judge of that.

The beginning of a nice 20km walk to the Havasupai Indians on the bottom of the Canyon.

My trusty companion Fido accompanied me from about half way all the way to the end. (And no that’s not his real name)

The Main Street Of America–Part II

Andraz — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:19:03 +0000

Leaving Missouri the road takes you through most enchanting places that look like abandoned movie scenes straight from a thriller. You can find ghost towns all along the once famous route. And there is something about those places. They don’t offer much at first glance. But the more you explore and look at them the more unveiling they become. Their mystery is transformed in to some kind of strange beauty. From Oklahoma to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona mile after mile you become more and more attached to the road and the places around it. Magical Santa Fe with it’s Adobe style, two day mountain biking adventure in Taos, Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque and petrified wood forest in Arizona. And the road still goes on and on…

Click on a photo for a larger view.

The Main Street Of America–Part I

Andraz — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:42:47 +0000

This is not going to be a detailed description of Route 66. It’s not going to be a geography lesson. It’s not going to be a history lesson either. Nor is it going to be a professional reportage of any kind. It is just a piece on a guy in a car with a desire to have an adventure along his explorations. For those of you who were hoping on getting a turn by turn guide… Well there’s plenty of information on the web and there’s a ton of books ready for your fingertips. I would start with wiki site.

I have left all my professional gear back at my base camp and continued with my digital compact and film camera. I didn’t want to be held down by my profession. I just wanted to have a drive, to have a road trip, to have fun. It is for that reason that is hard to explain what Route 66 is. It is an individual experience. A feeling only familiar to the ones who actually got in to a car and drove it. And it is also for that reason, that is almost pointless to try and put the trip in to words or even pictures. Each individual would and has experienced it differently. Seen different things on the same road. And at the end of the road discovered different things mainly about themselves.

This is my story, my feelings, my Mother Road…

Click on photo for a larger view.

KNCKT – The story begins…

Andraz — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:04:58 +0000

KNCKT is a collaboration between FunnyFarm Media and andrazblaznik.com with ben.si

Early in 2011 we were presented with a challenge of creating a short film about boxing. We approached the story through the eyes of a boxer, training and mentally preparing himself for his next match. But we didn’t want to leave it just at that. That’s why we also prepared a dedicated website showcasing everything form the full movie, behind the scenes, background story and some more surprises.
Click on the photo below to enjoy the site and watch the trailer for a start. Full movie and behind the scenes to follow soon.

KNCKT it has to be 100% or 0%

Chicago–The Digital Files

Andraz — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:17:27 +0000

Heading from New York I started my route in Chicago. Not just any route, but the mother of all of them. The Route 66. Couple of days prior to my arrival I managed to arrange and try yet another first for me. Couch surfing. Long ago I heard stories about this magical site where you can fix yourself a sleepover for a day or two with the locals. And the best part next to local knowledge is the fact that sleeping arrangements are free of charge. Shure you might have to sleep on the floor or a couch. If you’re really lucky you might even get a bed. You might share your resting place with another fellow traveller or even a house pet. But the experience you get in return is something different and new if not short of amazing. Such was my story. I stayed with a nice guy named Mox. And just like any good host he took me out on the first night. So strait to Oktoberfest we went. Oh did I mentioned the Fest was held inside a church where rock bands were playing loud music and bartenders were serving proper alcohol. Only in the States. But hey who am I to complain. So as they say when in Rome do as the Romans do I went along. From the beginning to the glorious end. There might have been some chocolate cake smearing all over our faces in the middle of our escapades. All I know I woke up with what can only be described as the mother of all hangovers. How appropriate. The rest of my short stay in the Windy City was spent redeeming my battered head and exploring the city. I mostly shot on film so most of the photos will follow later in the program. Here are some digital outtakes. Click on the photo for larger view.

The rise and the fall…

New York –The Digital Files

Andraz — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:34:30 +0000

The Digital Files is a series of photos taken with my compact digital camera on my journey starting in Cuba, then traveling across the United States and Central America. With me I also carry a 80’s SLR packed with about 50+ rolls of film. The plan was to shoot digital for its quickness and web application. And shoot film… Well because it’s fun. There is something in having a camera with no autofocus, manual film cocking and no preview of your taken photo. Those of you who ever shot or are still shooting this way know what I’m on about. And for the rest there’s no point in trying to make you understand. It is what it is, a statement, a feeling, an experience. So what you are about to see in the next couple of weeks are digital snapshots which will later (when I return and develop and process all the film) be accompanied by photos taken on film.

New York is a magical city. Some people like it others will say it’s to crowded, to loud, to big, to… What I can say with certainty is this, it’s the type of city that will not leave you cold. You will either love it, or hate it. As for me it was love at first sight. Click on the photo for a larger view.

Ghosts of Havana

Andraz — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:03:35 +0000

When darkness fills Havana’s streets shadows start to move and and reality mixes with fantasy…