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Dropping off the face of the earth | Jan 03rd
Ethiopia
As you can see the GPS on my site indicates I am back home from Africa and curled up in a blanket trying to breathe the cold air in Canada.
I took home a 500 gig hard drive full of gold. I have a journal full of names, notes, stories, beliefs. I have a stomach full of Mcdonald’s, because I ate nothing but rice and porridge for a month while in the bush of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia. I’ll never try to be ‘extreme’ or ‘grass roots’ living in a hut, I lay on my back every night thinking about sinking my teeth into some greesy fast food.
I spent two months in the country in total (I was in the North of the country adding to my Holy Men series after finishing in the tribal area). I made it home right before Christmas to my family in Ontario, Canada.
I will be releasing all the tribal photographs at once in a series with words, behind the scenes images and video. I think it’s my best work yet… I have put more thought, effort, stress, blood (and money!) into getting these images than anything else I’ve done. What matters is all that is over, and I have a pile of images with me now. The struggle is temporary but the pictures are around forever. (Or until my hard drive crashes… but it is all backed up several times over…)
Wish I could share the images as they come, but I feel this story is too special for that and needs to be released all at once in order to make sense.
I have to thank too many people, but I think the most would be my friend/ assistant Ryan. He literally got lost in jungles, climbed mountains, fought off tribal warriors, and ate the same disgusting food I did, except he was holding my big stupid light on a stick the whole time.
On some other notes-
Twilight
Thanks everyone for sending in their Twilight pictures. I missed to majority of my advertisements up on the street while living in the bush.
And special props to Cory Smith and Zach Hodges who went all out to make these tributes!!
Benjamin Bates- Forever Running
While I was away, Benjamin released his newest single Forever Running. I put a behind the scenes video online before I left, (check out the earlier blog post for more info). But now the real video is online and on television. If you live in Europe request the video on TMF! Check it out on youtube below.
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Chelsea:(Jan 04th - 00:01) Wow!  I can´t wait to see the whole story.  I am so glad to hear you made it back safely and had a good trip!
ivan:(Jan 04th - 08:14) yeah finally!  I´ve been checking this thing for like 2 weeks for an update. how do you plan these trips?  I imagine there would be so much involved..
Katie:(Jan 04th - 18:08) Yay! I have been waiting toooo tooooo long for you to get back and to be able to see everything! The whole story sounds so exciting.
Katie:(Jan 04th - 18:08) Yay! I have been waiting toooo tooooo long for you to get back and to be able to see everything! The whole story sounds so exciting.
Jeni:(Jan 04th - 18:53) Can´t wait to see the images! Sounds great, I love that there is such a story behind your image. Looking forward to purchasing your tutorial too! :-)
Chris Oquist:(Jan 04th - 19:46) Joey, welcome back and congratulations on a successful trip! Can´t wait to see the results of what sounds like a mind-blowing experience. I know the feeling of coming home with great pictures and it´s fantastic - bask in it! When I came back from hiking through South China last summer I just stared at my monitor for hours and hours. I can´t imagine what it would feel like had I been living in a hut (sounds like a fun "struggle" though).. Enjoy the junk food and can´t wait to see what you´ve illuminated! Chris
Paul:(Jan 04th - 22:55) Hey Joey - really looking forward to seeing the images from your trip.
Naomi Lir:(Jan 05th - 19:17) heyy! There I am! That´s so cool. I´m glad you like the pics. Too bad you didn´t get to see your ads up everywhere. You can probably see some still up in parts of the city; they were everywhere on the sides of buildings. oh and you have a really interesting/exciting life. It´s cool. And you´re so young...well, you look young. I don´t actually know how old you are lolz
so:(Jan 07th - 23:40) Can i have your autograph
some guy:(Jan 08th - 06:49) while i think much of your work is great, im sorry to say that might be the worst song i have ever heard. haha
foo:(Jan 08th - 16:56) I found your site through Zack Hodges tribute photo. Image that. Being inspired by a 17 year old. Great work.
Vinnie:(Jan 08th - 17:12) Those chicks DIG the open shirt!
Jeannie:(Jan 09th - 05:51) Joey, glad you´re back. I had been checking your blog weekly for updates. Hope you get to work on the New Moon posters as well.
Yury:(Jan 09th - 21:12) Joey! Welcome back! May I ask, which e-mail do you use? I´ve sent smth to joey [at] joeyl.com but still no response. Hope to see one soon :)
Marie:(Jan 10th - 01:11) I discovered your site a couple of months ago with a video of the making of the Twilight poster! I have to say that I discovered something wonderful! I´m really amazed by your work, the very best I know for my part! If you come in prov. of quebec for a little travel for pics, tell me pleaseeee!!!!!!
Kristian Solli:(Jan 10th - 21:36) Sounds awesome! I´m really looking forward to see some behind the scenes shots.
rhys:(Jan 13th - 20:24) sounds like an amazing adventure--really looking forward to seeing your stuff! have been checking every day! peace Rhys
cfimages:(Jan 14th - 13:52) Looking forward to seeing the Africa shots.
Elena Hernandez:(Jan 17th - 07:56) Hey Joey! Glad you made it back home safe and sound!  McDonalds ROCKS lol... I look forward to the adventures of JOEY in the BUSH...errrr JUNGLE...errr Safari Time...lol HUGS ELena
Robert Drobek:(Jan 17th - 15:59) Hi Joey, Welcome back from the wilds of Africa, glad to see you back safe. But be careful with the McD food ;) That stuff will kill ya :) Can?t wait to see the African shots. Take care and all the best Robert in Denmark
Tanya:(Jan 17th - 21:54) Hey joe, happy to hear you got back in one piece. Nice to hear you got back for christmas. All the best for 2009 xx -Tanya, Ireland
Bernie:(Jan 22nd - 18:30) Add another tribute except its a maternity tribute, your rock dude!! Cheers from Sudbury,ON http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernieaho/3217982574/
Larissa Frankevych:(Jan 27th - 21:59) You are very gifted, I love looking at your photography! It must be amazing working with different and inspiring people from all walks of life!
Dominoe Imus:(Feb 02nd - 18:46) I hope you do the photography for New Moon-- and do the post-processing, ´cause you can do a much better job than what they did.  For sure.
Shaun:(Mar 15th - 09:45) Hey, I did my own version of the Twilight poster forever ago.. check it out here... http://shaunaustin.com/edward2.jpg
Your:(Dec 11th - 15:15) Impossible Unemployment,see upon along while individual bring direct dinner radio entry empty exchange match throw treaty battle wonder politics political appointment extend sound building issue son administration channel degree museum increase music sometimes mine near belong energy shake whole compare relative confidence bedroom art working inside become very mind good property regulation think attractive holiday establishment desk tax since plastic more customer be month place research highly