My visual/ cultural experience by Kristine Edinchikyan

This trip to London has been one of the best experiences in my life so far. From the second that i arrived in London i was amazed by all of the beauty and history in the city. Everywhere i walked there was something new and exciting to discover. I came out of this experience having learned more than I could have possibly expected. Having grown up and lived in the same place my entire life I had no idea that a culture could be so different and welcoming. I loved every moment of my experience and I know that I'll always remember the wonderful people and places we went to along the way.

Kristine Edinchikyan

Architecture

Woodbury University

My Visual/Cultural Experience by Aaron Lopez

So, It's my last day here in LONDON! It's been a great journey, full of unforgettable memories. The only regret is not spending my pounds wisely. haha. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the company of my fellow Woodbury classmates. There were some ups and downs, highs and lows, and times of feeling dead tired. Walking around London, I realized that the world really is a small place. Many of my classmates met people that were from California and some of them even ran into people they knew. It was crazy. It only took a day to get accustomed to the vast city of London. It felt so much like LA. The best moments for me were the photo exhibitions. Exposed at the TATE MODERN, Sally Mann at the PHOTOGRAPHERS GALLERY, and the Wolfgang Tillman at The SERPENTINE. It was amazing seeing work by artist that inspire me to take photographs. The 3-day letter press workshop was also another favorite. The simple Galley Press was my favorite thing to use. I couldn't stop thinking of things to do with it. London is a great city and the small things make it better. The pubs, the laughs, the drinks, and the friends made this trip amazing. London should expect many more visits from me in the future.

-Aaron Lopez
Woodbury University
Graphic Design

My visual/cultural experience by Jenn Nassef

It was about a year ago when the anticipation of the London trip began to build. I had never left the country before, and when I heard about this trip I knew I was that much closer to the beginning of my travel journeys I have always dreamed of. Experiencing a new country and interacting with their customs in a visual and cultural manner allowed us to perceive the city of London in a new perspective beyond the typical tourist's eye.
We were able to see many of the iconic landmarks and distinct aspects of London on our endless walks through the streets of London where locals rushed by and tourists roamed. The underground took us quickly to the many locations that we stopped to admire historic churches, vast castles, the infamous London eye, the towering Big Ben, and many other beautiful landmarks throughout the city and along the Thames river.The very first thing that I immediately associated London with was the rustic bricks that built a majority of the city. The unique colors and textures within these bricks were a form of art in themselves that held many stories of the past and revealed a sense of time. Unlike the urban sensation we live amongst on a daily basis, the city of London captured a sense of the past.
Being exposed to the variety of artwork within the galleries and museums we visited was an amazing opportunity and particularly inspirational. Simply walking through the streets of London was a gallery of local art in itself.The people of London and it's visitors also made this trip an amazing experience. There were so many friendly locals that shared London tips and tricks to making the most out of the city and what it has to offer. It didn't take long before I caught on to the London lingo. Cheers to the girl that fulfilled my coffee shop cravings; never had a better ice chai latte with "soya" milk.
I am more than grateful to have had the opportunity to travel to London and spend two weeks experiencing a new culture with friends from home, as well as the friends made throughout our time spent in the city. I feel as though I was able to grow as an individual by encountering an unfamiliar atmosphere and acquiring new skills. Traveling is a passion of mine, and this trip was a great way to begin the dreams I have always possessed.

Jenn Nassef

My visual/cultural experience by Leila Amer

While visiting London, I liked the fact that we were not in a major tourist area. It allowed for us the chance to roam the city like a local would. We would use the Underground as our major form of transportation and would often find ourselves alongside businessmen on their way to work. We would eat at local restaurants or pubs and listen to the locals talk amongst themselves, often times about the World Cup.

Even though we were allowed to act like tourists on the weekend, visiting the London Eye and Big Ben, it was great to get an alternative view of the city. It was so interesting visiting all the different galleries and observing the various styles of work that artists possess. The Sally Mann exhibit was my favorite. To see her work in person and witness the quality and the contrast of the prints was pretty amazing.

Even just walking around the city was a visual experience in itself. Some of the buildings were so detailed and incredible to look at. There were people from all walks of life passing by you on the streets and it was interesting to see how or if their mannerisms were different than our own. It was also quite interesting to see graffiti and how, for the most part, it was more for the sake of art than for vandalism. I never did find a Banksy piece, but I was able to see some pretty neat pieces while visiting Brick Lane.

All in all I had a wonderful London experience. I was able to spend time with old and dear friends as well as make some new and exciting friends. It was definitely a great way to spend two weeks in London.

Photo by: Naveen

Leila Amer

Woodbury University

Graphic Design

My visual/cultural experience by Kim Galanto

London was no doubt the highlight of my summer... no, my year. It was my first visit to Europe and I wouldn't change a thing. Every day was an adventure; every view, an inspiration; every experience, a new one. I'm very proud of myself as I worked hard, played harder, and took advantage of this wonderful opportunity. I saw, I listened, I learned. In just a short amount of time, a little over two weeks, I could honestly say that even if just little bit, I grew as a person, as an artist and as a designer. Simply put, my visual & cultural experience in London 2010 was good times with good peoples & I miss it already.

yes, please.

- Kim Galanto, Woodbury University, Graphic Design.

My visual/cultural experience by Naveen Gowda

My London experience changed my way of seeing the world. It opened my eyes in ways I would have never imagined. As this was the first time I have been out of the country in over ten years, I had some great expectations for both the city and for myself.

I was blown away. Not only did London live up to my anticipations, it induced much growth in me, personally. I can sincerely say that this trip has made me a better artist and photographer, a better designer, and a better and more worldly person otherwise. I had fun with my classmates, I had a great time meeting new people, and I got to see and hear and do things that, as a whole, summed up to nothing but an amazing visit.


-Naveen Gowda

My visual/cultural experience by Jenni Vo

How often does one get to travel approximately five-thousand miles overseas to arrive in the beautiful city known as London? In my case, never before until now.
The instant I exited the airport and took my first steps in London, everything was a real eye-opener! The taxi cabs, the cars, the roads, the signs, the people, the accents, the slang, food, buildings, everything! It was quite amazing. Everything was so different and beautiful. Large old yet detailed loom up over the city and red telephone booths accompany every corner of the streets and there are just so many people! Here I thought L.A was so crowded, and boy I felt silly comparing it to how London is. Night life in London is just as lively and crowded as it is during the day. The experience I had in London really opened my eyes to how different the world outside of the States really is.

How to describe London? Fast. Mind-blowingly fast. People are rushing in every direction, cars speed up when they see people (100 points for every-time they actually hit a pedestrian, the tube (subway) speeds in and out, lights flip on and off. London is also very sophisticated. People are always well dressed 24/7. You will see men walking around in business suits, tuxedos, ties, sometimes even top hats! Women are very stylish and trendy and almost no one wears anything casual such as jeans or tank tops. Instead they are in fancy blouses, skirts, dresses, and heels.

Traveling is a definite unique experience as well. Almost no one travels on wheels, unless of course its by taxi, bus, or bikes. Part of the culture that we experienced was traveling on foot. Driving is a most definite nightmare because of how small the streets are as well as how busy it gets in London.


Because I have never before experienced being so far away from home, navigating was quite a challenge as well as a nightmare for me at first. Never before have I taken so many forms of transportation from buses, the tube (subway), taxi, or train. However, because of these challenges, London is now the most exciting adventure and exhilarating experience I have ever had. London is so different from anything I have ever seen back home and its definitely inspirational in every way!



-Jenni Vo
Woodbury University
Graphic Design

My visual/cultural experience by Ambar Gomez

The fact that we treated the two weeks we were in London as “student photographers” and not tourists changed everything. It forced me to look closer at the city and the culture. There were a lot of things that I expected to see when I arrived in London, the double decker buses, the London Eye, old fashioned taxis, and the changing of the guards. Each day we went out and did things that tourists would do and things that tourists wouldn’t do, but I feel like we gained so much more than just getting a picture next to Big Ben. We explored the city by day and by night. We interacted with people who live in London. We visited museums, which inspired me in ways that words cannot describe. I will never forget London, it changed me as a photographer and as a designer.

Ambar Gomez,
Woodbury University,
Graphic Design

My visual/cultural experience by Elizabeth Sweeney

I had never traveled outside of the country before so in all honesty, I wasn’t sure what to expect. All I knew was I wanted to take it all in. I signed up for my visa, packed my bags, boarded a plane and began a trip that I didn’t know what to expect or what to prepare for. Shortly after arriving I immediately fell in love with the city. People that surrounded us in the subway were so eager to start conversations, help carry bags and give good directions. After settling in, the first thing I wanted to do was leave my tainted-pink room behind and explore the city. Ever since then, I hadn’t stopped. This trip opened my eyes to all of the opportunities and possibilities outside of the states that only London could offer. The rich history, architecture, and graphics that the city had to offer were breathtaking and unforgettable. The culture, adventures, and encounters were worth all of the overtime shifts I had to suffer through to afford such a trip. Through this experience my perspective on life and design changed and altered to a standard I could integrate daily and to an experience I would never forget.



Elizabeth Sweeney
Woodbury University
Graphic Design

Misc London Snaps

London Sites by Elizabeth Sweeney

Changing of the guards

Early Saturday morning Amber, Brenda &I woke up to go see the changing of the guards. The changing of the guards only happens two months out of the year, so we couldn’t miss this opportunity. Attending on a weekend was perhaps not as wise as a decision to watching on a weekday because everyone in the city decided to show up that morning. When the ceremony began we were all kept out of the street onto the sidewalk trying to catch a glimpse. Then what seemed like at least 50 guards marched down the street with music playing all in such prestige manner. They marched passed the crowds, past the fountain, and past the gates right outside of the palace. They then began changing positions in a rehearsed manner for what seemed like thirty minuets. Within this time we were able to document with pictures. Overall, I couldn’t believe such a procedure goes into a simple shift change. This was certainly a limited event that was worth seeing and experiencing.




Elizabeth Sweeney
Woodbury University
Graphic Design

London Alphabet by Aaron Lopez.

I must first admit that this project slipped my mind a couple of time, But when I did remember I tried to find letters that I saw in the would capture the feeling of London. London is a mix of beautiful architecture, contemporary art galleries, exquisite museums, and graffiti. I'll let you figure out those letters. They shouldn't be hard at all. :D

-Aaron Lopez
Woodbury University
Graphic Design