nabbott blog

Random political and economic thought of the day. Only one of the three candidates left in this race is still basing decisions on what IS the best policy. He may lose because he isn't doing a great job of pandering, but he has my respect. Tom Friedman in the NY Times

Also, read this one over eggs at the Sunrise Diner this morning. Bill Clinton isn't that bad, but I just like Hillary less and less every day. Ryan Lizza in The New Yorker

"Do you realize—that everyone you know someday will die?"

Someone Twittered this song lyric—from a favorite song of mine—and I found this beautiful bit of writing. Ted Jillson in McSweeney's

Back Window View, Brooklyn, NY.

Posted by nmablog at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sat on the runway at Chicago O'Hare for a couple hours the other night. We pulled on to the runway for take-off, but shut down and sat through a huge thunderstorm. I was on the way home from visiting my amazing Grandparents in Atlanta. We went to a production of The Wizard of Oz put on by—and at—the Roswell, GA senior center. It was amazing how much fun and how free of vanity the actors were. Bravo to living life and having fun.

Sunrise at LGA.

Almost taking off from ORD.

Storm at ORD.

Posted by nmablog at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thanks to the Daily Show I know that OUR President said to the Pope, "Awesome speech." Brilliant and insightful response dude.

Over breakfast I read a fabulous, subtle, ironic and smart profile of Errol Morris in GQ Magazine. "Fog of War" is among my favorite films—I've got high hopes for his new movie "Standard Operating Procedure".

I like Shay Williams too.

I'm in the process of photo editing some stuff from the winter. Here are some faces from one night at the X-Games.

People get in your way a lot at events. So I shot enough action to make a story, then went on to the people around me.

Other photographers, like Jay Michelfelder (who's website is apparently down.)

And legendary action photog Scott Markewitz.

Skier TJ Schiller, in the crowd due to a knee injury.

Blogger, comedian, skier and fellow dislocator of hips John Symms (Napa Bombs FTW!)

Peter Olenick still giving some high fives with his Empire Gloves, despite being a little bummed about his run.

Colby James West.

Posted by nmablog at 01:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There are a lot of fucking good photographers out there. 297 of them amassed, one photograph apiece, at ilikethesephotos.com by Rob Haggart who used to be the Photo Director at Men's Health and Outside Magazines and now does a bunch of stuff including the blog A Photo Editor. (And yes, I have a shot buried in there somewhere. Thanks to Ally and Katrina for that one!)

On a historical note, and more important to me in my personal growth, there was a very interesting profileof Robert Frank in Vanity Fair last month, although I read it today due to travel schedules. I'm looking forward to teh re-issue of his book The Americans in May.

I've got a little rant about sentimentality stewing in my brain, but in the meantime, check out these two videos.

Part of "Pull My Daisy" film by Robert Frank.

Part of Robert Frank's documentary about the Rolling Stones "Cocksucker Blues".

Posted by nmablog at 06:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It used to be that I hurried home for companionship. But I have friends all over the world and sometimes this place—where I sit, I type, where I plan my travels, where I sort through the captured moments of my experiences, and I find myself at this moment—is the loneliest place possible. I want to get up and go.

Still there's never any place that can serve as a proxy for home: clean clothes, picking my own music, walking around naked, juggling a soccer ball in the living room, doing the dishes tomorrow, twenty photo books, a hundred magazines, falling asleep on the couch, vacuuming my own messes, any shoes I want, broccoli for lunch, coffee for dinner, ice cream at midnight.

At rest. In motion. (Stockholm)

Bankomat. (Stockholm)

Statue of Liberty from Flight 684.

Posted by nmablog at 05:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A last post before I go home. Hanging in Stockholm for a couple of days. Some pictures.

With the contest done, Hatveit and Candide kicked it on the mini ramp while Blake Jorgenson—an amazing photographer with a new gallery in Whistler—enjoys a cold one in beautiful Åre.

Jersey Mike and Peter in the elevator.

Stockholm.

People.

Shapes.

Had a dance party with Shay WIll and Colby West last night for Colby's birthday. Party Shay was in effect all week long.

Stockholm building that looks like a diner.

Colby and the beginnings of spring.

Söt . Or maybe Gullig. My Swedska is kind of weak.

This is the rest of the crew, they went home today. They ate McDonald's yesterday and we all went to TGI Friday's for dinner. Horrible.

Posted by nmablog at 06:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Last 48 hours are a full blur.

I wrote this at sometime during the evening:

At some point yesterday evening, while it was still light out, it snowed in Are Sweden. I was working on my slide show for the Jon Olsson SuperSession ski/photo/video contest, so despite not sleeping since 8 am yesterday, I didn't notice until after sunrise today. I'm currently writing this blog at 6 AM here in Sweden as my show exports. I had an hour of panic while Final Cut stopped working, a huge learning curve as I'd never used Final Cut before noon yesterday, tragedy as part of our crew came home from the bar with the news that their close friend Wallace from Aspen had died while snowboarding. Fuck, that will overwhelm my general artistic dissatisfaction and make me happy to just be creating something—I'm so happy and wired right now.

All that was a part of the craziness. And after a two hour nap I spent the whole day alternately telling myself all was fine and stressing about better shots I left out of the show and all the other technical difficulties. Damian, Colby and I grabbed an early dinner, where I basically laughed my ass off at two of the best dudes I know, then we were driven to the show. On stage, in front of so many people I was getting ready to be super nervous when I was told our show was first. It played before I could even stress. Then, shit all the other shows went off. Lots of comedy (Peter and Colby especially) and a really fucking well done movie courtesy of Simon, Riley and Blake. A long drawn out judging left me super nervous, but in the end, our team—Sammy Carlson, Dom Janiszewski, and myself—we're judged at the top.

I'll say again that this contest is so amazing because I just wanted to do a great job and push everyone else to do their best. I would have been happy finishing last since I tried my hardest. Anyway, I'm delirious and haven't slept and am not going to edit this. Here is my slideshow and portion of the Team Sammy presentation.

Thanks again to everyone here! I mean it, everyone. Peter and Colby and the boys are giving me a tour of Stockholm for the next two nights, but I can't wait to get home to Brooklyn either. Peace. -Nate.

Posted by nmablog at 09:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

My apologies for not updating this here blog more often. I'd post more often if I wasn't so busy drinking. Talk to you next week from rehab!

Untitled #1. (Beer)

Untitled #2. (Girl Pants with PK Hunder)

Posted by nmablog at 02:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)