There are places that immediately distinguish themselves as one of a kind. When getting my first glance of Salvation Mountain just outside of Niland, California it was clear that we were about to experience something we wouldn't soon forget.
Created by Leonard Knight, Salvation Mountain is a shrine created from hay bails, old telephone poles, and layers upon layers of paint. Everything at the site has been decorated in such bright colors it gives the impression of a cartoon-like atmosphere. Leonard lives at the site, and despite being in his eighties now is more than happy to give you a personal tour and share his stories.
I first heard about Salvation Mountain after watching Into the Wild - a portion of the film takes place in Slab City which you can see from the site. At first I expected Leonard Knight to be overly eccentric, maybe even a little scary, but the reality is that all that apprehension disappears when meeting him face to face. He wasn't pushy about religion and he didn't seem to have any motive for making money from the visits, instead he was simply proud to share and talk about what has become his masterpiece.
I think the photographs speak volumes about the level of detail and originality that exist in this quiet site off the eastern shore of the Salton Sea. It was undoubtedly one of the biggest highlights from our 2009 cross country road trip.
Issue 13: Sunlight by Harlem Shakes This was a rare find for me. The kind of song you think you might like just by the cover art, but end up discovering entirely by accident while clicking through a chain of recommendations on iTunes. It's now been on regular rotation for the last month.
Sunlight kicks off with an almost predictable sound. I would mistake it for the wrong song when I first heard it, but when the chorus came I was amazed I hadn't heard this sooner. Crisp, heavy, and with a lyrical rhythm that'll stick in your head all afternoon, Sunlight is like a friendlier cousin of an MGMT track.
From Harlem Shakes first debut album, Technicolor Health, I think this is an inspired single that you'll want to have on repeat too. If you're anything like me, you're bound to appreciate how happy it makes you feel.
On November 18, Editing Luke received its 100,000th visitor since debuting on May 31, 2007. This milestone adds to an already exciting year in which my little stake of online property gained some new ground, went through some renovations, and moved a few rungs up the ladder.
This year began with a bang as my portfolio site was launched at editingluke.com. In May I made my 500th post, in August my online video views rolled passed one million, and now my blog views have reached 6 figures. I've always been quick to advertise these steps along the way because I've wanted to make it clear that I don't take any of them for granted. It's also been a big part of the motivation since establishing this site in film school, that I was always challenging myself, growing, and working towards the goals I've set out to achieve personally and professionally.
Sharing bits and pieces of my work or my ideas or my goals isn't always easy, and this site has taken on various incarnations as I've often struggled to find a balance between personal promotion and creating broader entertainment. The truth is that I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't enjoying it though.
So, thank you for sharing in the milestones and for continuing to make them a reality. Thank you for offering feedback and advice. Thank you for making my site more interesting with each passing year. And most importantly, thank you for fueling my ambitions and often giving me the extra motivation I crave to push myself harder and further than I would otherwise. Cheers to you 100,000 times!
