Axel Von Tungeln and I have been friends since 2010. Yet like many others do, we constantly stay busy. This year I aim to change that; this is the second entry in “A Few of my Friends” photo series.
Axel and I have been friends for roughly seven years. I met him in a digital video production class right after graduating high school. At first I didn’t know what to think of the guy. He had long hair and wore gold rimmed aviators inside. Baggy clothes with Oklahoma red cigarettes peering from his right pocket. However I’m glad we started talking in that class because I met one of the most interesting characters with the biggest laugh. He will do anything for anyone no questions asked.
This day we started it off where it felt right. We went to Raising Canes. This place always reminds me of Axel because it was his first job and he used to always tell us how awesome it was. As we ate our food and caught up, he had me quickly laughing. He’s one of those people who can make outlandish statements with his southern Louisiana drawl.
We got back to my place and had a few drinks, talking about the past, ex girlfriends, video games, movies,and what it means to be creative.
Me: “When’s the last time we saw one another?”
Axel: “I would say it would have to be around thanksgiving, so in November.”
M: “What’s the one thing you’ve learned since I’ve seen you last”?
A: “I’m stubborn in the sense that if I’m not passionate about something I wont do it. (Laughs) Ive learned to bake a lot of bread. Hmm I’m a bit of a boss, I’ve learned that.
M: If you could talk to your sixteen year old self, what would be said?
A: I’ve always maintained that id get in a fight with myself. We’d have such different perspectives on things. The sixteen year old would say “why haven’t things gone according to plan?” Well you’re young and dumb and the world doesn’t work the way you think it does.
My 16 year old self would then say “shut up old man!”
Axel has always had a way of skirting the line between being funny and sometimes a bit morose. I remember when we had class together sometimes I’d joke with him of being Eeyore Axel. He mentioned to me on this occasion about how he’s always envied my positive attitude. I told him anytime he needed a pick me up to call me. When I brought out my camera, we’d had a bit too much of Maker’s Mark. I’m proud of the way these turned out though! It captures his character pretty well
He had me laughing hysterically! He knows how to animate a story
I joked with him because now appearance wise we have switched places.
David McEntire 