now available at every newsstand (in Viet Nam)

In my first week in Viet Nam, I took shots at the opening of a new location of Australian fashion label "Contraband". One of those shots is featured as part of a 2-page spread in the December issue of "Tiêu & Dùng" - a fashion-oriented supplement to the Viet Nam Economic Times. Below, you can see the photo as is:


The clothing designer is Simmone Fairhead, who also designs for "Things of Substance" (boutiques in Ha Noi & Saigon). The rockin' graphic design is by Bethany Bauman (below):



In this next shot, I'm sporting a Bethany-Bauman-designed "Things of Substance" T-shirt at one of my gigs at the Ha Noi International Women's club Bazaar. It's holiday apparel with the portrait of Ho Chi Minh screen-printed thrice . . . go figure.

Photo below courtesy of Brent Durksen:


The new Contraband shop can be found at:
23 Nha Chung
Ha Noi, Viet Nam
+844 9289891

thin.line.film.fest

Documentary-inspired and straddling the "thin line" between fact & fiction, the Thin Line Film Festival was Denton's first international film festival. Four days of parties, an industry conference, and over 50 films marked Thin Line's inaugural year. The people responsible for the action were none other than the friendly folks at Texas Filmmakers, a non-profit organization created to assist the aspiring filmmaker. As with any event of this caliber, there was much help from sponsors including the Texas Film Commission, AFI International Film Festival, Panavision, and helping us ride in style: Don's Racing Limos of Dallas (pictured below)


Part of the Industry Trade-show and conference included twenty workshops put on by presenters such as film composer Mark Menza (pictured below):


Interior shot of the campus theater (below), one of Denton's historic theaters converted labor day weekend for watching films.


The Texas Filmmakers haved moved into a new office near the historic downtown square.
405 S. Elm St., Suite 102
Denton, TX 76201
214.727.3567

a history with Sitmom Records

Good Music. Jazz. Fusion. Funky. Tight. The Best! That's what you can expect from Sitmom Records. Have a listen to Norwegian singer and band leader Hildegunn Gjedrem (pictured above), once Downbeat Magazine's Best Jazz Vocalist and guest artist at the 2008 IAJE conference in Toronto. Go on tour with Snarky Puppy and let their ensemble work move you.

Give your ears some candy and check out Mike League's PHAT bass lines at one of the Dallas Metroplex's best music venues: Hailey's Club. And if you find yourself in Brooklyn, New York say hello to one of Sitmom's favorite partners in crime: Sarah Renfro (pictured below) and her new recording project Twig & Owl:


Talented hands of Jay Jennings, now touring with Polyphonic Spree in this shot (below) on flügel:



NBC News Release of Snarky Puppy's "Pan" Series collaboration with Sarah Renfro:


A slideshow of my music photography is also featured on Richards Bros Music.

michalgarcia.com in Viet Nam

It's a very exciting time to be in Viet Nam - from the booming international business to the motorbikes whizzing by, there's a surprise around every corner. I made the very long move from Texas to Asia this past September and had my first freelance job in Viet Nam at Club 51, near the Ha Noi Opera House. Scandinavia's largest dairy company, Arla Foods, was having a chic launch party with a number of news photographers running around shooting photos, and interviewing the guests. Arla's press release can be found here.

My client and the event-host, Leonito (part of Grey Global Group) is an ad agency in Viet Nam with offices in Saigon, and a beautiful new location in Ha Noi - overlooking Westlake. After a few speeches from Arla representatives and the Danish ambassador, Danish and Vietnamese children acted out a very cute drama with a traditional Vietnamese flair (pictured below):


hey, that's not milk! There was also plentiful wine served that night:

Leonito Brand Communications operates in partnership with GREY group, a WPP company.

Ho Chi Minh City
7th Floor, 275-B Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Hanoi
No. 6a, Lane 30, Tay Ho Street, Tay Ho District, Ha Noi
Tel. +84 4 258 0276

fashion photographer gone food

I recently had a photograph published in Fashion/Lifestyle publication Paper City Magazine (Dallas, Texas). True to my heritage, it's of a taco. But not any taco! Recently, this work was used for the opening and website of a new restaurant in Dallas called Urban Taco

Now the restaurant's won a "Best of Dallas" award, as well as having been featured in Modern Luxury, the Dallas Morning News, and recommended by the AFI International Film Festival. It's an upscale, modern Mexican taquería located in Mockingbird Station, Dallas. The food's good too, in case you're wondering. After I photographed it, I ate it. mmm...
My compliments to the chef.

Owner: SMU grad Markus Pineyro
Chef: Fernand Huerta

Two of my favorite shots from the job: