Awkward Israel

Summer of 2007, Alex and I went to on Birthright to discover our Jewish roots in the holiest of all lands. This awkward video was taken during lunch with Marla and Ben, one of our Israeli soldiers.

I especially appreciate Alex's frustration once the awkward video bandit is revealed.


I hate drinking orange juice after brushing my teeth...it's worse than when you eat a banana and your teeth get grainy (???!!)

Awkward Stairmaster

People do strange things in inappropriate places all the time. The beauty of traveling is that you always have your camera on you. Like in this instance in Istanbul at a museum...

TIP: pretend to take a photo of someone while you secretly video the awkward.

Awkward Canary Islands Self Timer

"Go Crazy"

Classic.

Sleazy Spanish!

This video illustrates the highlights of being an American girl in Spain.

The Birthday Cake

This isn't awkward...it's just amazing.

THE SET UP: Paul Schindler's 60th birthday party...a massive event with hundreds of people dressed in formal attire. In the corner we spot a beautifully decorated birthday cake...

The Awkward Shot?!

It wasn't until I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain that I discovered a shot of alcohol can make one awkward....Well it always did, but not like this.

Cut to two weeks earlier than this video...my friend Ian and I went to this bar that has a list of 100 "Chupitos" for 1.50 Euro. This was quite the bargain. With over 100 combinations of alcohol, we were overwhelmed and indecisive. We asked our bar tender for 2 of the craziest/best shots they have. He started us off with a shot of rum that was mysteriuosly blue, and had fresh whipped cream on top. This was interesting, fun and unique...sure.
We realized this was the "best" shot, after we got the next one (which by default was classified "crazy").

Two weeks later...I overhype this bar to Nikki and Tali, explain how amazing this shot is and video the magic.

Awkward Video Virgin

NOTE: Schindler's eyes and face of "I know exactly what you're doing...", but as the true friend that she is, she didn't say a peep!

(a peep I tell ya!)

TIP: "Do a funny face...funnier..."

Ode to funny face:
We all know how and when to utilize one of the 'funnies" from our arsenal of faces. What we don't expect is a video to capture the transitions between cringes, open mouth, stick-out-tongue-face and rolled back eyes mid seizure while being an indentured servant.

Have you ever been to Disneyland?

I was walking in New York, right along Central Park. It was a gorgeous day. The perfect Sunday really...I walked through the park listening to music, stopped and read a book (Outliers by Malcom Gladwell), ate a fresh salad I compiled at Whole Foods and enjoyed the sun. After the long stroll my legs felt weak, really weak, so I decided to hail a cab. I dont have one of those loud whistles, so I just put my hand out high towards the clouds. "Please pick me", I said to myself. The cab pulled up to my apartment and I realized I ran out of cash!!! He then said I could use the credit card machine that is built into the Taxi. I said "Phew" and used my credit card instead.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I went Back to the Phew-ture.

Awkward SERIOUS

New Years 2008, the party is getting wild. Maybe even too wild...I had to calm it down and tell everyone to get SERIOUS for a photograph.

As a photographer, I wanted no expression from my subjects, just stone cold serious faces.

In the height of new year's elation, this facial expression can only be conquered by those with incredible facial discipline.

TIP: "Get serious. Everyone pose dead serious."

...and don't forget the fake "Countdown"---1, 2...

Number 1 Mets Fan

As Dodgers fans at the Mets game tonight, we were unfortunate to sit next to the number one Mets fan who would not refrain from SCREAMING in our faces...

Awkward Race

Watch Riley, Man in Pink, challenge the local roller skate challengers...

"The Simpsons"

The Simpsons are getting paid for this merchandise... for sure.

Awkward Self-Timer Group Shot

Classic.

Awkward Globalization

Starbucks here and Starbucks there.

Alaska.

Terrible T-Shirts

In Hawaii, reading aloud the not-so-funny t-shirts.

Awkward Strangers

TIP: Pose complete strangers for a picture and it's 'awkward bound'.

In this instance, two friends were visiting us. A random girl who was visiting someone else, was in our room and I asked her to take a photo with our visiting friends.

Awkward Post 4th of July BBQ Street Pose

"It's not working..."

You'll never trust these words again!

The street pose has always fascinated me. To magnify their small presence in a big street, friends often utilize their arms and hands to illustrate an 'interesting' pose for the camera. Nothing screams, "I'm in the street" like a posing your arms.

The streets really know how to deliver the awkward.

4th of July, O'Nine

4th of July BBQ Awkward Video Classic

Irresistible!

4th of July, 2009

Awkward Kaipo

In Russia, Kaipo (one of our teachers who lead us on the fantastic graduating high school trip), was not to fond of awkward video.

Me: "You've been struck by the awkward video bandit. What do you have to say??"
Kaipo: "I'm going to destroy your camera... I'm going to destroy you"

June, 2004

Awkward Streeet Seller

In Russia, a street seller offers us her goods.

June, 2004

Awkward Set Up

Graham aiding me in setting up Sally and "getting her!"

TIP:

Find a friend and and let him/her encourage the awkward. Like any sport, 2 against 1 will almost always end in a victory for the team.

June, 2004

Akwkward Ice Cream

In Russia, as Melissa was enjoying her Ice-Cream-Treat, an awkward video was in order.

Special thanks to Adam for licking her face (twice), and to Kirill for including "taking a nap" in his proposal for our night's itinerary.

TIP:
If one is eating anything that melts on a stick, the awkward video bandit should act as a vulcher awaiting its vulnerable prey...

PS I'd prefer to take a nap and then have dinner.

June, 2004

Awkward Sleeping Beauty

In Russia, Berkus fell asleep and Graham wakes him up oh so unpleasantly.


June , 2004

Once your friends know, they will get creative.

D LEE wins with my favorite response to an awkward video: "It's not awkward baby, keep on rollin'"

This is one of my all time favorites, so I will tag it under "Jerry". THE BEST, JERRY THE BEST!

Awkward Lua

Yelling awkward video at who that aren't posing for a picture but doing awkward things.

Sept. 3rd 2004

Awkward Reunion

Ryan and Dan went to Camp together. Many years later they stumble upon each other in college.

I posed them together and let the awkward do the talking. Yes, dude yes!

Sept 17th 2004

Friends Help Plot the Awkward

Once you've fooled your friends enough times, they will want in.

This video exemplifies how to include friends that are "posing in the picture" with the true awkward-video-target.

A Happy Halloween always leaves room for awkward.

"BUSTED!"

October 31st 2004

The Accidental Awkward

An unintentional-self-awkward video.

While roller skating at the same party, I thought I was taking a photograph (hence the "mouth open face"), but really I was fooled by my inner-awkward-video-bandit.

Alex, KING of the Roller Skates

In Feb 2008, for Schindler's birthday party, we went roller skating!

For many of us, this was our first time since we were young tots....Including Alex.


This certainly qualifies as an awkward video, but we'll file this one under UNNATURAL ACTS CAUGHT ON TAPE

A True-Awk

When you give someone your camera and they don't know how to use it, the result = a true awkward video, starring yourself.

Kohoutek, Pitzer College, April 2008

I Know This Is A Video And You're Making It Awkward

Your friends will catch on...

They will think they know it's a video, but there is always a toss up of uncertainty.

The right friends will still make the video worthwhile with randomness:

"one time I ate it, I ate a pancake and it taste like a waffle"

Summer, 2004--the JPo's Graduation BBQ

The Awkward Bowler

Sometimes you wish you had your camera with you.

Sometimes you have your camera with you.


NOTE:
1. Awkward shoulder movements
2. He gets a strike
3. He has a mustache

The Group Self-Timer Awkward

TIP: Take a series of group (everyone; including yourself) self-timer pictures. When they are least suspecting it, flip it to video and reap the awkward.

NOTE:
1. You are in it, so they don't see it coming
2. You can encourage them to go "crazy" by acting "crazy" yourself
3. This works almost every time

February 2008

The "Slow Motion" Awkward

The "Slow Motion Awkward" can be filed under classic. We've all done it and can recognize how unnatural slow motion is on video. You are doing slow motion to pose for a picture, period. Flip it to capture a video instead, now that's awkward baby...

October 30th, 2004

Awkward Hillel

TIP: Take an already awkward circumstance and use it to your advantage.

Posing your closest friends with unfamiliar attendees at the Hillel of the Claremont Colleges Freshmen class social mixer.

NOTE: The Name Tags (an obvious nudge that an awkward video should be taken)
August 29th, 2004

The Classic Awkward

I'd like to start by sharing an old time classic from the year of "Awkward Video's" conception.

One summer night in August, 2004...

Introduction and Definition

What is an "Awkward Video!"??

The answer is simple:

When people pose for a photo, they look awkward. When cameras "malfunction", recipients of a photograph strive to stay "posed". The lapse of time"posing" while the "malfunctioning" takes place is an inviting opportunity for the "Awkward Video Bandits" (AKA "Awkward Video" plotters).

It is important to throw in random words like, "I dont think my camera is working...", "I don't get why it's not taking it!" or even, "OK act CRAZY for this one!"

The icing on the cake is to exclaim "Awkward Video!" at the appropriate moment, in order to cash in on the "post-they-already-know-it's-an-awkward-video" awkwardness.