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It was sitting right there on the shelf. Of course, this was before I knew that I even had an interest in photography or I probably would have paid more attention. Sitting there on the Barnes & Noble shelf was a very cool looking magazine called JPG. I thought it was a clever name and it had a cool cover (of a wrestler, if I remember right) but I didn’t even give it a second glance. Maybe something in my subconscious knew something that it didn’t want me to realize (that little bastard…) because I never forgot that moment or that magazine.
Flash forward to two weeks ago and the scene I just described for you bounced through my brain for some unknown reason. When it did I went looking for a website to put with the JPG name. I found it, and it’s more awesome than I could have guessed.
The images just flew at me. New styles, new perspective, new views from around the world. I loved so many of them but they are only half of the reason the site is cool. The rest of JPG’s greatness comes from these little words, “You could be published in JPG Magazine!” These people, in their great wisdom, recognized that while professional photographers gracing the covers of professional photography magazines is all well and good there is also an amazing number of people who are buying increasingly professional cameras. These people may have a truly moving image just tucked away somewhere that deserves to be published, and now they have their chance.
I don’t pretend to know with any level of certainty that this is the first magazine to do something like this but I love that it exists anyways. If it didn’t, I would have never seen this, this, orrrrr this. And come on, who doesn’t want to see stuff like that? 
I’m pretty exhausted right now. I spent the weekend at the Sacramento Anime Convention rubbing shoulders with those like me. With those who love anime, comic books, cartoons, drawing and art. I had a chance, with a few bills in my wallet, to support some new talent. Most people might not think of their spending money like that but I do. As a photographer, I understand the difference it can make to some people when others willingly pay for your work.
I didn’t really decide to start buying pieces of art. I have been out to galleries and seen things that I’ve wanted, photographs and paintings and sculptures of various sorts, but the prices there were for serious collectors. At least, it felt that way. I’m by no means a rich man but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to support people and their passion. If you read my previous post you know that I was lucky enough at the Yaoi Con to meet Jo Chen. I knew and loved her work from the Marvel series Runaways and I was able to buy these two pieces:
Pretty cool right? I sure thought so. Jo Chen is well established. Her work is amazing and I was excited to meet her after having already seen her work on the covers of the Runaways and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Serenity issues I already own. This was like meeting a movie star for me; this was meeting someone I appreciate and respect because of their work. By buying her prints it was like me buying a movie because I love a specific actor or director. I know I already supported her work by buying the issues but this was a much more direct way to show her appreciation and to support her in the hopes that she’ll make more.
And that’s the key. To support people. To support artists, local or not, so they can continue to make the great things that I enjoy. This weekend I met plenty of amazing artists and one of them was named Sarah Straub. I walked by table after table of artwork and while I appreciated it all it wasn’t until I glanced down at her prints that I said, “wow.” Even now, I don’t know what it was in those images that made me feel this way, but they did bring out that response in me. There was one, specifically, that made me feel something, and that’s the mark of true art. Her work hasn’t been used as widely as Chen’s but it’s exciting to find her and to think, “yes, she can make it, if she keeps at it.” Being a life long nerd and comic reader doesn’t make me an expert or anything but I’d like to think I found something great. And with that thought came my desire to support her, however I could. So I bought this:
I love this print. Mostly, I love it because I love Gambit. (Quick side note: Gambit, as portrayed in the Wolverine movie, was TERRIBLE. That is NOT how he is and I hope that anyone who reads this understands that!) This wasn’t the piece that made me stop and stare, this was just the one that I wanted to see on my wall. The print that made me stop and stare, the one that made me feel a little weirded out, was this one:
When an image pulls out an emotional response from me instantly I know it’s something special. Both Sarah and Jo do this. One is doing great works for worldwide companies. The other is doing her best to meet people at a small table in the hallway of a local convention. Whatever they may be doing I love having the opportunity to support them, even if it’s just with a few bucks. Money speaks, now more then ever. I want mine to say, “thank you, I love this, please keep going.”
To all the artists. To all the painters, digital artists, photographers, writers, anyone who creates anything that expresses how they feel, don’t ever stop. Ever.
No interesting links today guys. No ramblings on a new technology, a new photographer, or anything like that. Nope. This one is just about me.
I spent today, the first day of 2010, doing just about nothing. I really mean that. I woke up tired and just rode that wave all day. I watched more TV than is healthy, played video games, and just generally vegged out. I didn’t even go running, which I feel guilty about. Now, I’m sure some people would love a day to just do nothing and I’m really happy that I am in a position where I can actually have that. But if I’m being honest I must say this: I hated it. I feel like I wasted this day, overall. I just didn’t get anything accomplished and that knowledge is weighing on me right now.
What does this have to do with anything? Well, throughout the day I kept thinking about my photography. What I’ve done, what I’m currently working on, and what I want to do in the future. The bottom line that I came to was that I’m not doing enough. Nowhere near enough. I’m slacking, and I hate it, but so far I haven’t been pushing myself to do more. So, here and now, I’m going to make a small outline. Just some things that I want to work harder on. IF you have to, I suppose you could call these new years resolutions. That’s a big if, and no one is forcing you to. So, without further ado, may I present to you:
Looking Forward: 2010
(applause! Wooooo!! YAY!)
1. I will do much more to pull myself out of debt. This seems like something most people want to do right now considering the state of the economy but in thinking about my future I started to see how important it is for my photo work. Not too long ago I worked out a business plan for myself and one of the items in there was a rough estimate of how much it would take me to really get going. It was a lot. I said, “Okay, it’s a lot, but I’ll work on paying things down and it’ll all work out.” Well it hasn’t. I’m not doing enough. I will do more. It’s time to budget EVERYTHING. *tears* The good times, as they say, are over. As Blink 182 once put it: well I guess this is growing up.
2. I will go to many, many more Second Saturday events. I’m not sure how many people out there know what that means, so in a nutshell, Second Saturdays are held in downtown Sacramento (and other cities I’ve heard) on a monthly basis. On those evenings the galleries typically change all their shows, people are all around, there is music in the air and a lot of interesting things to be found. It’s like a block party out there on a good night, especially during the warmer months. I have never once gone out there and not been inspired to shoot. I’ve witnessed new photographic work, paintings, sculptures, interpretive dance (which was a bit weird), even live art shows with people creating pieces right there on the street. It’s just so amazing to be surrounded by people from all walks of life who appreciate art. It fills me with a desire to be better and do more. I want that.
3. Shoot. Shoot shoot shoot. Shoot for nothing. Shoot for practice. Shoot even if it’s just to test something out and then delete it. Shoot if I’m getting paid, of course. Just press the shutter. One of my professors in college, who due to my terrible memory will remain nameless, once commented on how low the requirements were in some of the classes. How few photographs we actually had to produce during the semester. If he had his way (oh! It was a male! That I remember!) we would be producing three or four times the requirement. I’ve found that with few exceptions if I don’t have a specific event to shoot for I don’t touch my cameras. Not that I don’t have ideas for things I want to create or that I want to practice, I just don’t get off my ass. That ends now.
4. Organize the last 7 years of my life. That is, roughly, how long I’ve been shooting. Between college work and everything that has come afterwards I think I’m up to two external hard drives, my laptop hard drive, my old desktop hard drive, several backup discs, and at least one thumb drive. I think. I’m pretty sure. This simply will not do.
5. Finish writing a short story. Writing is something I’ve done on and off for a while. I guess it was inevitable considering how much I’ve read in my life that I would at some point think, “hey, I bet I can do that!” Well, I’ve tried, and it quickly became clear how wide the gap between “doing it” and “doing it well” really is. Regardless, I want to really create something I’m proud of this year. I’ve mentioned before how so many different things inspire me and influence my photography. The reason for this, I suppose, is that even if something isn’t photo related many things expand my creativity and that’s the source of my best work. Writing is just one more way to do that very thing.
6. Revamp this here blog. This one. Right here. The thing you’re reading. It can be better. When I started this site I didn’t really know what I was doing. I had just scratched the surface of blogging and while I in no way regret my decision to start it how I did I’ve learned a lot that I want to implement. There will be a 2.0 version in the near future. It’s going to be awesome.
7. Enter some photo contests. This one is really related to #3 above but since I’ve already resolved to do that I should at least put a little competition into it. I imagine it will push me to be my best, even more so that is, and if by some chance I manage to win something along the way I wouldn’t turn it down. Especially if it’s a great cash prize, which would do much to help me achieve #1.
8. Have fun with my photos! Now, don’t yell at me, I know this more than any other sounds like a, “well duh you dumb ass” thing to say. But when photography stops being fun for me is the day I stop doing it. I hope that day never comes.
There were a lot of things I heard about in college, from students and professors, that does me no good at all. I took classes that were a waste of time, listened to advice that is pretty much worthless now, and even got a bit of a smug smile from thinking, “I’ll never need this, ever.” Some of these things I don’t care to even mention because, frankly, I was right. What does get to me are the things I was told and knew were important but didn’t give the necessary attention to. Right now, specifically, I’m talking about networking.
It makes perfect sense. Be nice, meet people, leave a good impression. You never know when people will talk about you and what may come of it. This is when you want people to talk about you behind your back. I’ve been a little amazed over the past two weeks at how many connections have come to light. Let’s break it down: Andri, an amazing networker, knew Adam. I knew Andri from college and somehow my name came up since Adam was looking for someone to shoot some photos for a VHCLE article. I went and did that last Saturday and while talking with Adam I found out that he is old friends with a guy named Robbie. The only reason this is interesting is that I know Robbie as a coworker at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Adam even used to play with Robbie in a sweet Sacramento band, The New Humans.
And then, on Tuesday, I got a smaller dose of this same thing when I went to this amazing shop near my office called Le Petite Paris. I was speaking to Nicole, the owner, and she noticed that I had a lunch meeting with Adam on Monday (we were trying to get my photos to his hard drive, which was another issue all together). I knew that he really liked that place so it wouldn’t surprise me if they had met. I came to find out that Nicole’s daughter did some program at the YMCA, where Adam works, so there was an extra connection there as well.
One week, multiple connections, and so many good things that came from them. I should have listened more. I should have made more of an effort to get to know and keep in touch with so many of the great people I’ve met at various points in my life. I’ve been lucky enough to see first hand just how great knowing people can be. I’ll be keeping that in mind from now on.
Okay, this post really has nothing to do with Reading Rainbow. Just reading.
Also, this post has almost nothing to do with photography. This is just a, “get to know the photographer/blogger” sort of post.
Reading has been very important to me throughout my life. I always did really well in school and it wasn’t until I got a bit older that I started to believe my success was based in my early love of reading. I still remember when I got my first comic book. It was, of course, an X-Men comic that I picked up at a KB Toy Store. Old school, I know, KB isn’t even around anymore as far as I know, but that specific issue is still in my collection. What’s that? A whole collection? That’s right. I haven’t counted them (and probably never will) but it has to be easily in the thousands by now. One of my previous posts was about my attempt to organize my beloved issues and just having to see them all made me really confront how many I have and how quickly I’m going to run out of room to house them. What’s that you say? Put them in the garage? Perish the thought! No, I will not. The heat and cold would do far too much damage.
I fear I’m getting very far away from the point of this whole post. Forgive me…
So, reading. Yes. It’s very important. I had the idea to write about this after posting on a discussion over at 20 Something Bloggers. Through an extremely unfair conversion of events I was just FORCED to try to list my top 5 books of all time. Let me get this out of the way: this is impossible. Really, just unacceptably impossible. Besides the fact that this list could change constantly since I’m reading multiple magazines (currently Esquire and Runner’s World), books (just finished Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk) and various manga/comics (rereading X-Force and The Gentleman’s Alliance Cross vol 5) I would be hard pressed to choose among all the things I have ever read. But hard pressed I was, and the list was made. Sort of.
1. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I seem to read it every year and I can’t put it down EVERY TIME.
2. X-Men. I know, I’m breaking the general rule, but I love it so much. Especially when written by Joss Whedon or Brian Michael Bendis.
3. The Harry Potter series. I don’t think I have to explain anything further here.
4. Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk
5. I’m trying so hard to come up with a solid #5 and I can’t do it. I guess this is just an open slot!
I’m sure you’ll hear more about my love affair with reading later. As I said, the reading never stops.
I’ve had the technical school training. I’ve shot on my own. I’ve read books on photography. I’ve read blogs/websites/magazines about photography. With all this under my belt I’ve come to one conclusion: that the best way to learn is to study actual photographers. There is just something about seeing the work of others, reading their thoughts, and just trying my hardest to squeeze any information out of a wedding photographer’s website that makes my mind work in a very productive way. So in this post I want to share some of the best wedding photographers I’ve found out there. Check them out, and be amazed!
Jasmine Star
I’m sorry everyone else, but she’s easily my favorite. From how open and honest her blog is about her work and life to the amazing photographs, Jasmine does it all. She’s a constant source of inspiration.
Mike Colon
Finally, someone who isn’t afraid of grain! His style just caught my eye so fast I knew I wanted to follow his work and pick up a few things. So many of his images just have this classic quality that makes me feel like the wedding somehow fell through a time warp and really took place decades ago. I half expect to see Frank Sinatra in the background. But of course, it doesn’t happen, all I get is beautiful shot after beautiful shot. (oh no!)
Dane Sanders
Let me get this out of the way: his photographs are just beautiful. There, it’s said, it’s the truth, and it’s done. What Dane does better then anyone (for me anyways) is display an ability to anticipate, adapt, and fully explore new ways to do business as a photographer. His book, Fast Track Photographer, was one of the most eye opening books I’ve ever read. If anyone reading this wants to start any kind of photography business I highly recommend it. If you’re looking to start a wedding photography business it’s 100% essential!
The Becker
The Becker has an eye that can’t be denied. The vast majority of his images look like they belong in a magazine, like they were carefully crafted in the perfect studio setting. But they weren’t, this is just how good he is.
Ed Pingol
What can I say about Ed Pingol? Personally, he’s the model for what modern wedding photography can be. He is a master of creative angles and has had more “how the hell did he do that?!” shots then anyone else I have ever seen. Check him out!
It’s like getting a little pebble in your shoe. A small one that isn’t big enough for you to stop mid step and take care of it but you still notice it. Imagine that feeling but in the back of your mind. Maybe it’s that bit of dusting you’ve put off for a long time, or the photo album you’ve wanted to put together for ages. In my case the nagging, this little pebble of annoyance, was caused by my comic books. That’s right, comics, my beloved vice consists of small bound volumes of beautifully drawn visual stories. Not just a few either, several hundred that I’ve collected over the years.
I still remember my first comic. I got it at a KB Toys store when I was in the third grade. X-Men #14, specifically. I can still recall almost every detail of every page of that issue, which is just a testament to how many times I read it. Thanks to that comic I discovered the joys of reading. I fully attribute my long standing love of literature, of visual storytelling, and art in general to the X-Men. I won’t go into too much detail about my early life (just yet, maybe later) but with all the various things going on reading was a constant companion and remains one to this day.
So why was it bugging me? Because like so many other things in my life I had neglected to organize. I had boxes everywhere, random groupings of issues separated throughout my room, and just a general level of, “ugh!” with my possessions. So today I decided to break down that pebble and finally get some of my mess in order. And you know what? It was pretty amazing. There’s nothing like getting your life in order. Yes, even if it’s “just” organizing comic books.
It isn’t just a line burned into my brain thanks to television. The more you, or I, know, the better informed we become and the more options we have. And options are something you really want when asking for advice, looking for inspiration, or just taking stock of good things in your life. One of the things I know is that I met a lot of amazing people while in college. Perhaps I didn’t fully realize the greatness of those around me but I’d like to think somewhere in my subconscious I knew. How else could I explain that those who stick out in my mind are still an email away years after graduation?
One of these amazing people is named Andri Tambunan. When I was happily bouncing from photography class to photography class in school Andri was amazingly focused. I remember being somewhat intimidated by how far along he was in his own personal photography journey, and I still am. While I was learning about different kinds of photography for the first time he was doing professional level work living the life of an established photographer. In fact, my first memory of him wasn’t even from a class he was taking. We took a class trip to a local collaborative photography studio and while there I noticed someone quietly hanging framed images. That person was Andri setting up for a solo show. I did my best to help him with grunt labor and was blown away by his portraits. That was the first photography show I ever went to and it left a permanent impression on me.
Perhaps, if you’ve made it this far, you’re wondering why I’m even writing about this. Well, good reader, I have two reasons:
1. This is my blog, about my journey, and it’s going to be filled with stories about fantastic photographers from my past and present.
2. He has a new photography show which will amaze you!
His new photography exhibit kicked off a few nights ago at Beatnik Studios (more on them later) and has a different sort of kick off this Saturday when he’ll be meeting and greeting visitors during the Second Saturday Art Walk. In his own words:
“I am really excited to display this new body of works. I have printed 40 images from my trip last year that embodied many experiences and several documentaries such as Mumbai terrorist attack, HIV/AIDS in Papua, China’s Modernization, Pilgrimage to Tibet, Nepal’s Annapurna Sanctuary, etc. In a way, this exhibition is my debut into documentary and photojournalistic photography.”
Please, if you love photography, art, or just meeting fantastic new people who will change your life, go to this show. Artists who are truly talented enough to find beauty in the face of tragedy are few and far between. I’m happy to call one of them my friend.
http://www.andritambunanphotography.com/index2.php
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1294045
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