Seal Beach, CA.

Torrance, CA

Check out the photo essay called “Animal Spirits “.  Its shows faces and shares stories of the recession from people in their 20′s and 30′s in NYC.

All photos were taken by Ahmed Klink.

We will always love Buddy Holly. This is my very favorite of all of his songs.

I do like this cover tribute to the song as well:

Rogue Wave’s version of Everyday

I was so delighted when Elle Girl Korea asked to do an interview with me to introduce me to their readers. I really love the photography in that magazine, so this was an honor for me to be included in the December publication. Here is the interview in English:

Describe what you do. I enjoy taking pictures of everything and everyone. I use my camera as a communication tool to express myself and relate to others.

Describe how you came to do it. My mom and dad kept a really nice Nikon camera hidden in a desk and only took it out on special occasions such as Christmas and the first day of school. I  knew I loved art class, but wasn’t the best drawer. My dad was an architect and my mom was a sociology major in college. I knew I wanted to do something creative and work with people, but wanted to be my own person and not go down the same career paths they did. I decided to ask to use my parent’s special camera that they never used and started photographing my cats, friends and nature. I took a photography class in Jr. High school and ever since then I have been in love with taking pictures.

Tell us why you do what you do. I love having deep conversations with people about life, relationships, and spirituality.  Being the one that holds the camera during an encounter with someone gives me a feeling of great purpose because I have the opportunity to record someone as they are in any given moment and share that moment with them forever. Life is valuable and all the emotions that we have are beautiful, even if they may not be the easiest to deal with. I try to become insightful when I am photographing someone to see what is going on beneath the surface and try to hear what they are saying to me without speaking.

What is the most important thing of your work? I think having fun interacting with my subjects is the most important part. It is very important the the subject and I can connect on some level and be in an environment that we feel comfortable to create something special. I am obsessed with bright colors and the feeling of openness and space. In my pictures I tend to put people in front of beautiful colors which creates a beautiful stage for them to be inspired by. I love traveling and going on trips with friends. There is so much to be said about the joy of discovering new people, places, and things!

What are you working on right now? Right now I am working on taking pictures that are special to me. If I go for a walk, I will take my camera and find beautiful things to photograph that comfort me and bring me a sense of peace. Since I usually photograph people, it is a pleasant change to take pictures of things that are still. There is something nice about things that are stable and constant. I am drawn to simple things that are beautiful, and unique or funny in their own way.

What’s your favorite object/camera? My favorite object is friendship bracelet string. It comes in any color you can imagine and you can create a lot of beautiful things for your friends with it. I am really excited about the Fuji 645 with the 60mm lens on it.  I just got the camera and am having so much fun with it because it is lightweight and able to shoot high quality pictures like other medium format cameras. I prefer using film over digital cameras because of the richness of the color.

What’s your favorite/biggest project? My biggest project is learning how to do video. I am in love with the idea of doing in depth portraits of people and telling stories about their lives and relationships using moving pictures and sound. It is a big project that is going to take time, but I know I will really enjoy it.

What puts you in the mood to create? Awesome music and drawing with crayons in my sketchbook. I love being outside in the sunshine.

What artist do you admire? I admire Jessica Williams (paperheart.org) because she creates a beautiful world in her artwork that is fun to visit. We have been friends since we took a photography class together in San Fransisco in 2003 and I have enjoyed seeing her work’s evolution since we were younger. I admire her honesty and vulnerability which creates artwork that is very meaningful and easy to relate to on a deep intuitive level.

Where do you live now, and where do you consider home? I live in Long Beach, California, which is in Los Angeles County. I consider Orange County my home.

What are the 3 things we must do in your city? You must go to see the Griffith Observatory, the Getty Museum, and the Huntington Library Gardens. All of those places are so inspirational.

Name the thing you can’t live without. Purring kittens who lay on your neck as you fall asleep.

Tell us a secret. I am afraid of failure.

Tell us what your dream is. I want to have a happy family of my own and take lots of pictures.

Here is the picture Andy chose of mine. It is of Kenneth Pattengale, a music composer from Eagle Rock California. The pictures below are some of my favorite from the series.

, originally uploaded by mary amor.

and just so you know, I have a lot of colors.

!!ATTN. Due to circumstances beyond my control and the overall positive response, I am no longer able to offer these bracelets for $1. If you still desire one, please send $5 via PayPal to amor.mary@yahoo.com. If you are outside of the US, please send $6 USD. I would still be very happy to make you one! : )