Photo Thing Friday!

Dear Reader,

As the graduation date of one of my good friends approaches (it’s tomorrow, actually, WOOOO!!!) I can’t help but think of my own.  We didn’t really know what to do that day as we bounced around in the back halls of Arco Arena.  College being what it is, I didn’t know most of the faces I saw back there, but eventually I recognized one.  And another.  And another.  And I started to smile.  While the other groups gathered around had various things with them, from cell phones to flowers, there was my group with the only thing they really wanted on this day: cameras. Point and shoots, SLRs, even an old film camera one guy had strapped under his robe so he could whip out and take a crowd shot, that is just how we rolled.  There were my fellow photography nerds crowded around and excited to finally be walking those last few steps and be done with schooling.

Fools, all of us, to ever believe we would be done with schooling.

There is ALWAYS more to learn and some of the best things I know how to do I figured out after I left the campus.  Once it was just me and my camera I started to experiment more and more.  Without the pressure of shooting for a specific class along with doing reading for Professor So and So and doing a paper for Professor What’s Her Face, who totally gave me an A btw, I was left to explore more of what I wanted.  But when that wasn’t enough I went in search of better resources.  A whole new kind of classroom.

Dear Reader, let Nikon show you the way.

It’s not the only resource out there.  Hell, maybe it’s not the best either, I don’t know.  What I do know is that I shoot Nikon and love it. Through their site (and their actual Nikon School if you want to throw down some dough) they regularly throw up tips, tricks, and techniques so anyone can become a better shooter.  I don’t care if you threw down the cash for your own SLR or have nothing more than a cell phone camera, everyone can do something more with whatever you may have at hand.

So go forth, be bold and embark on a new learning experience. Grab a hold of the Canon you’ve had for years or the pretty pink Fuji you got for your birthday and head on over to the site. Don’t sorry, they won’t crash your computer if you’re not using a Nikon, it can be your little secret. Get some digital learning with your digital medium and we can get all digitally together. I’ll be there along with you, taking furious notes like a freshman all over again, because I’ve heard the cheering of the crowd and felt the graduation cap on my head already. I walked with my fellow students and was given the kudos for a job well done. Then the cap came off, the arena was emptied, and I walked out into the real world. And here, for me and for anyone else interested, the learning never stops.

Nerdy Thing Thursday!

Hello, Dear Reader!

It’s time once again for Nerdy Thing Thursday, and what a treat it is this week.  I had something in mind a few days ago and was all set to throw it out there.  It was going to be magical, wonderful, beautiful, and a lot of other things that end with the letter l.  But instead, I saw a small note on Facebook earlier today, and now I’m bringing you something FREAKIN’ AWESOME.

Dear Reader, THE IRON MAN 2 TRAILER HAS ARRIVED!

Please, take a few minutes and go witness the epic glory of this trailer.  I’ll wait.

Duu duu du du duu duu duuuuu du du du du DU da du du du du….. (can you name that tune?)

Alright, you should be back by now.  Do you feel better?  Refreshed?  Perhaps you even feel like a better human being?

It’s been well documented in this blog that I’m a bit of a comic nerd.  By a bit, of course, I mean a totally huge slightly obsessive comic book nerd.  I started with the X-Men and they will always hold a special place in my geeky heart but over the last few years I’ve really come to enjoy Iron Man.

Captain America typically gets the credit for being the “ideal” American.  It’s sort of written into his name, which just seems like cheating.  He’s an upstanding citizen (most of the time, I won’t bore you with details of when he’s not), he’s immensely patriotic, loyal to his friends, always displays the highest level of manners and respect to those around him.  He’s just a nice guy.  Tony Stark is not.

Stark, a.k.a Iron Man, is a corporate man.  A captain of industry.  A man who uses his immense intelligence to create amazing technology and make mounds of money while also living a double life as a super hero.  Alright, yes, Tony probably drinks too much, loves women a bit too much, and is a cocky jackass sometimes.  But even with that, why isn’t HE considered the ideal American?!  Tony Stark embodies the pinnacle of our capitalist society.  For all of the good he does Captain America goes home at night to, I don’t know, pump iron or something.  Tony Stark helps save the world then goes back to the office to run his company.  A company that keeps thousands of people employed, well paid, and contributing to our society.  He’s not perfect but perfection is an illusion.  Trying to be perfect just makes it all the more devastating when the cracks in your lie start to show.  Tony Stark doesn’t pretend to be perfect, he accepts who he is, accepts his greatness, and works on his shortcomings to be a better person.  Everyone could use a little more of that goodness.  On May 7th, 2010, we’ll finally get it.

The “Cool” Adults Lied.

That’s all I can really take away from it.  It was all lies.

I heard it on the radio.  In sitcoms.  There was probably even a Dilbert comic out there somewhere about it.

Holiday work parties suck.  Or, rather, they’re supposed to, according to cool adults and the media they produce.  What a bunch of bullshit!

I have now had two holiday parties.  The first one, interestingly enough, was about a year ago (HAHAHA GET IT?!)  It was a catered breakfast that we enjoyed on site.  It wasn’t the most amazing event of my life, that’s for sure.  The heavens didn’t part, cherubs didn’t descend to grace me with their other worldly joys.  It wasn’t great, it wasn’t bad, it just sort of was.

Recently, I got my second taste of this time-honored tradition.  It was nothing fancy, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  We had a pretty late lunch at a nice local restaurant.  There was a lot of great conversations, definitely some lol-ing, gift card raffles a plenty, and just an overall good time. I know it’s not the typical “party” since it was more of a meal deal, but it was our holiday gathering.  It wasn’t awkward, there was no drama, there weren’t any moments of uneasiness that lead to so many sitcom laugh track moments.  At least there wasn’t any of that for me, and that’s what matters. 

The Power of Government: Make My TV Better!

I’m not immune to the issues of the world.  Or, more specifically, the issues and topics of great importance to my country.  I know that Congress, the Senate, the President, and so many others from coast to coast are worried, hopeful, screaming, debating, and just flat-out thinking about health care.  I think about it too and have my own ideas on the matter.

But I can’t hear them OVER THE SUPER LOUD COMMERCIALS ON TV!  NO, I DO NOT WANT YOUR MAGIC JACK!  I DO NOT WANT OUR DIABETIC TESTING SUPPLIES, YOUR JITTERBUG, OR YOUR SNUGGIES!

Wait, no, I sort of do want a Snuggie.

I heard this was going to be brought up in those hallowed halls of our great American system but I just read this little tidbit about it finally happening.  There could be a vote as early as tomorrow, if things don’t get sidetracked.  I understand that a lot of people are worrying about more important things that our government is involved in.  And with good reason, there is a lot to think about and really worry about.  But I can’t help being happy about this piece of legislation.

We watch a lot of TV in my house, it’s a great way to unwind and it provides a lot of smiles and a lot of great things to talk about and examine (*ahem* Criminal Minds is AMAZING).  And with all the commercials I come across I can’t tell you how often I’ve had to wear my annoyed face (not a good look for me, btw) and turn it down only to have to turn it back up in 45 seconds.  It’s insane, and the wonderful speaker system I’m lucky enough to enjoy goes from being a blessing to a curse very quickly.  So thank you, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, for understanding that it’s the little things in life that make the masses happy.

Photo Thing Friday!

What is that?  Two posts in two days?  That’s right!

Much (or exactly) like Nerdy Thing Thursday, Photo Thing Friday will highlight anything I find awesome.  The only difference here is that I’m going to highlight people, movements, technology, or anything else I find newsworthy as long as it relates to photography.  Easy enough yes?

Dear Reader, today I bring you the future of photographic technology.  Or, one possible future, I’ve seen and read enough sci-fi to ever really believe that things are set in stone.  I hadn’t heard about computational photography until a few days ago but now I’m really curious to see it evolve.  Basically, what researchers are doing with camera technology is going to allow us to change almost EVERYTHING about a camera and an image right in our hands.  Love changing lenses for different effects?  Do you get a small thrill knowing that an image will look just so with a different filter?  Well, what if you could change selectively change the lighting by changing the sensor on the fly?  Maybe the processor?  What if you could modify things on an almost Photoshop level by manipulating the camera in your hand?  It’s like Legos all over again.  We will be able to build a custom camera on the fly and have control of things we didn’t think were possible.

Interested?

Maybe I’m taking the basic concept, as I understand it, and am pulling and pushing it into something fantastic (to me) but not something that the researchers are thinking of right now.  Well tough cookies.  That’s what I do.  Because, this is important, I’m a photographer.  I’m the end-user.  Whatever crazy mad scientist stuff they are doing will ultimately live or die because people like me buy or don’t buy.  I wish I could understand what they’re doing on their level but I sure as hell don’t. The research into the DEEP end of light fields and optics and gnomes (for all I know) is beyond me.  What I can do is pay attention and when these brilliant people see fit to toss a nugget of possibility my way I can enjoy it.  And what tasty morsels they are.

Nerdy Thing Thursday!

WELCOME!

Does the title sound like something regular?  Like something that has happened before?  Every Thursday, perhaps?  Well, it’s not.  This is the VERY FIRST Nerdy Thing Thursday!  Inspired by some other great blogs out there that have regular postings with a theme (I’m looking at you Ex Hot Girl) I decided to stick to my idea of letting you, Good Reader, into my life and my mind. If I’m ever going to realize the dreams of being a photographer it will be on my terms. Now where are those terms….hold on…right here. OK, the terms, “you will not do everything you’re ’supposed’ to do as a provider of a service. You have a personality and you will let people see it. This personality influences everything you do and considering the artistic nature of photography your influences DO change your art.” Those aren’t all of the terms of course, but that is the relevant part. What’s that? You want to hear ALL the terms. Well then, sit, Dear Reader, and let me enlighten you.

J/K. No one wants to hear them all. That’s not why we’re here anyways. ONWARD.

What makes a nerdy thing? Anything I want! Anything funny, interesting, and/or generally amusing. Anything dealing with science, technology, comics, video games, art, etc. Basically, I’m a nerd, so by extension things I like become nerdy things.

Today I bring you one of my favorite webcomics. Breaking from the typical comic mold, this site relies on photography instead of illustration. Sometimes they are thought-provoking. Other times, they can be pretty damn funny (as long as you’re into dark humor!) Still other times they can be downright weird. Always cool, always interesting, always a great sinkhole waste of valuable time, Dear Reader, I give you: A Softer World.

The fact that this comic uses photography was the first thing that really made me pay attention to it.  The images aren’t always in focus, or, really, good.  I understand that there are many people out there who have a specific vision of photography, who might say that pictures always need to be crisp and clear and use great lighting to display a person/object/landscape/bomb/sword/treasure chest/ca….wait…nevermind.  That’s what happens when I’m trying to think and write while listening to Pawn Stars. Terrible writing aside, I think you get my point. To anyone who thinks that I invite them to see just how powerful A Softer World is.  The meaning of the text is completely changed by the images and the emotion of the images are equally changed by the text.  These images can convey wonder, wisdom, loneliness, humor, and dozens of other feelings without ever showing you a “clean” subject.  Give it a shot and be amazed.  AMAZED.

(It’s amazing)

On Disney Music and the Joys of Memory

Thanks to a posting by my friend Andri on Facebook I was introduced to Grooveshark.  While I could go on at great length about this website I assure you that I won’t (you lucky dogs you!)  The reason I mention it at all is because this wonderful site, which allows me to stream almost any song I can think of, was blasting wonderful melodies into my brain meat while I sat in my cubicle at work today and I suddenly thought, “I wonder if there are Disney songs on here…”  Lo and behold, there were!  From the opening vocals of Circle of Life from The Lion King to the amazing harmony of A Whole New World (from Aladdin, for those of you who are LAME and don’t know) I was instantly transported.  Certain Disney movies were staples of my childhood.  I take an odd bit of pride in being able to recite almost all of Aladdin and the vast majority (like, 90%!) of The Lion King from memory.  Every line, every song, every random sound and motion of the characters, all of it.  Sure, it’s not Shakespeare on the London stage, but it’s pretty damn close!  Especially to us Americans.  These movies helped define my childhood, which was pretty hardxcore (yes, spelled just like that) and was filled with enough issues as to make me cherish the great parts I did have.

This whole experience got me thinking about life and how interesting our brains are.  You say you want time travel?  You say you want the wonders of steam punk or Star Trek in our time?  Look no further then that gray matter you have stuffed in your skull!  Unless you’re a zombie and an eager monster has had his way with your lunch box of a head that is.  But, that aside, time travel is real!  We are all carrying around triggers in our heads that can and will take us back.  Smells, sounds, people, songs, you don’t really know what will set you off until you’ve experienced it and once you do you will want to hold on to it.  I felt this when I heard those songs and I was instantly calmer, smiling, singing like an idiot, and happy.  I was a sorry sight for sure: a grown man doing paperwork while listening to “kids” music, but I was HAPPY with my memories.  This got me thinking of other things which could cause this same reaction and I could not help but think of what I am doing personally.  Photography, in its most basic form, captures a piece of time.  Maybe an image I shoot won’t mean anything to anyone, not even me, but imagine pictures from your wedding.  For those of you who are married this won’t be hard, for all you single folk, just play along and stay with me here.  Those images, carefully crafted, are a window into your past.  The look on a bridesmaid’s face could take you right back to that moment.  It could remind you of a quirk you had forgotten about that wonderful person you chose to have you there on your special day.  The sight of your family, of all your friends, gathered there and captured perfectly could (dare I say, SHOULD) bring up all the happy memories of that wonderful day.  Your memories, though useful, are crowded over with the latest project from work, the chores yet to be done, the disgust you’re carrying for the latest tween sensation (*ahem* I’m looking at you Twilight fanatics), all things which get in the way of really feeling the strong emotions from that day.  But when you’re confronted with your wedding album, with all those images, it can take you right back to it.  That’s the power of great wedding photographs.  They can make you smile, laugh, feel an almost dizzying sense of joy from deep within yourself that you had forgotten even existed.  Anything that precious should be seen for what it is.  Something so important it’s worth striving for, holding on to, and yes, even singing about.

PS: I’ve actually read all the Twilight books.  The first movie was crap, but I want to see New Moon.  Yes, I feel dirty admitting it.

MORE STUFF! Just because I mentioned it above, if you want to see some fantastic examples of steam punk and appreciate an amazing photographer at the same time just click right here!

The Road Gets Longer and Longer….

While my updates on this site may be sporadic and not always on the topic of photography there is always more going on in the background.  More reading, more studying, more list making, and more planning, all in the name of my future in photography.  There is also a lot of frustration, confusion, worry, and me generally wondering “WTF!?”

I previously wrote about a great book called the Photographer’s Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business. I liked the book the first time I wrote about it and I like it even more now.

What I most definitely do NOT like is how the more I learn the longer this path feels. This isn’t a yellow brick road I’m walking down, this sucker is lined with cash. Cash that I do not have. Whereas so many people my age spent all their credit buying random electronics and clothes while not worrying about the consequences I spent mine on camera gear, paper, film, and tuition. Sounds pretty reasonable doesn’t it? Well, it wasn’t. “What’s this? More film for one class and memory cards for another? SURE! WHY NOT!? I don’t really need to print all 300 of these photos but I’m going to do it anyways because I want to see how pretty they are! YAY ME!!!” Little by little my wasteful spending built up, hidden behind the thin veil of necessity.  And now here it is, biting me in the ass. To get this photo venture off the ground in a real way I need money. To get this money I need to be out of debt. A debt that I really dug myself into finishing the photo degree which I wanted so I could make money from my images. Hell of a circle isn’t it?

I’m not giving up; this post isn’t about that at all. I just want to look back on these words in the future and know that without a doubt this was when one of the big realities of what I’m trying to do hit me. Here, in debt, with the national economy falling apart, with everyone I know hurting for cash, I was spending hours researching, reading, planning for and working towards something which will never get where I want without funding. It sounds a bit stupid, I’ll admit. But where’s the joy in life if you don’t do something stupid every now and then?

Wrestle that Ape!

Imagine, if you will, an ape.  A big ol’ husky ape.  With powerful legs, defined arms, a vicious looking slobbery smile, and a crazy pee-in-his-pants laugh.  I know apes don’t wear pants, but just let that go.  This beast is laughing at me because he represents something I’ve had to fight with my whole life.  That’s right folks, tattooed across his chest in the old English style loved by many of my people is the word “Fitness”.  Whereas many people had a great time as kids when they could eat whatever they wanted and run around like insane jack rabbits and never give a thought to any given ounce on them I never experienced that.  I was a husky kid (which is just a nice way of saying fat) and I maintained an above average weight from the get go.

Over the last few years I’ve worked hard to get it down.  I did the Atkins diet to great success and have recently been able to maintain a weight that isn’t terribly fluffy.  Now now, before anyone writes anything, I’m not maintaining it by continuing the Atkins lifestyle.  I’ve heard all the talk about why it’s “bad” and this isn’t the time or place for THAT debate.  Anyways, perhaps you’re wondering if there is a point to all this.  Well yes, true believers, there is.  I discovered when I shot my very first solo wedding that photography can, and in my case, will, be a very physical thing.  Besides the fact that I’m on my feet for hours at a time I don’t hold back when I see a hurdle between me and getting the shot I want.  Photography is my own little war.  The twist of the lens to my camera body gives a satisfying “click!” which is not entirely different from the cocking of a gun.  I’ve had to run from one location ( or trench, if you will) to another.  I sweat, I move, I jump up on sturdy items and I’ve dropped flat to the ground on more than one occasion.  My camera is my weapon.  A perfect image is my spoil of war.  It’s a damn workout doing what I do and I’m happy with that.  I’m sure other photographers might read this and think I’m crazy or that I’m lying but anyone who has seen me shoot and seen the sweat on my brow knows that I’ve worked for my shots.

So, with all this in mind, I need to run.  Run more, that is.  I’ve been running for a while and I’ve found that it’s the only exercise that I can do regularly and enjoy.  The issue with this is that this great ape called Fitness is hiding behind a wall I’ve aptly named “Lazy Ass.”  As important, for myself and for my work, as being fit is I’ve always had a lazy streak that is hard to overcome.  But I’ve gotten pretty far towards this goal and I will reach it eventually.  This is my newest promise to myself that I WILL do better, I WILL run more, I will be more flexible a year from now then I have ever been in years past.  So laugh all you want ape.  You smelly beacon of my better future.  You…wait…beacon.  Sounds like…bacon.  Mmmm….bacon.  Oh this is going to be difficult…

Rant: Movie Theatre

Just a few hours ago, I went to see The Men Who Stare at Goats with Kellie and Gabe.  I wish I could give you a quick review of the movie but I don’t feel that it would be fair.  It just wouldn’t be right to review this movie when the whole experience was BRUTALLY B****-SLAPPED BY TWO JACKASS IDIOTS.  Allow me, dear readers, to describe our experience.

Above our seats and to the left there were these two mid-20’s, fat, loud, assholes.  It seemed as if they didn’t get really bad until half way through the film but when they picked it up they really did it with gusto.  It wasn’t enough for them to just talk to each other during the film, which they did at length, but they also felt that it was a GREAT idea to make jokes AT the screen.  They finished sentences for the characters because they were just convinced that the supplied dialogue wasn’t quite good enough.  This, of course, led them to giggle at their own cleverness like two young school girls.  Add to that three phone calls answered between the two of them throughout the film and you can see why I was annoyed.  I have an incredible ability to block things out but on occasion the actions of others just slip and slither into my brain to fester.  I really do mean fester, since I’m much more annoyed and disturbed by their amazing lack of manners now then I was sitting in the theatre.

By wait, beloved readers, there is one more thing.  The shining gem of their assholeish (yes, it’s a word now) actions.  The piece de resistance came right near the end of the film.  One of the humpty dumpty duo was already out wandering the lobby with his phone, leaving a certain someone on their own.  This is when we heard it, all of us, since it was pretty damn loud.  Can you guess?  The “CLANK!” of a glass bottle hitting the concrete floor.  Do they sell anything in a glass bottle at the concession stand?  Not at all.  My friends and I have enjoyed movies after having a few drinks and I can attest that there is a certain joy in doing this but when you bring bottles into the theater and use the alcohol to compound your own innate lack of manners and blinding stupidity I just have no room to forgive you.

You know, I feel better just getting it out.  Thanks for listening