Christmas Day...
And its never too early to learn how to drift...or too cold.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
So 2010 is almost done. I look back and think WTF?
I feel as though I'm still recovering from 2009, and a whole year has come and gone.
Let's face it: for me 2010 sucked. I worked twice as hard at the day job due to having out staff cut. Those that were left (my boss and I) had to handle almost double the workload.
My family life has pretty much completely shattered. I no longer have the goodwill of my remaining biological family, and whatever goodwill was left with my own family, is pretty much gone. Even the boy hates me, for in the past week, I've been told at least once a day...that "I don't like you anymore...I just like mom."
Financially, well, at least I'm like the rest of the United States....trying to tighten the belt and live lean. Problem is, I'm the only one in the house that seems to get that.
Hobbies? Sold the cars...sold the long glass....all to fund the family.
Sex Life? yeah right....
Well, at least the animals still like me.
Fuck you 2010
I feel as though I'm still recovering from 2009, and a whole year has come and gone.
Let's face it: for me 2010 sucked. I worked twice as hard at the day job due to having out staff cut. Those that were left (my boss and I) had to handle almost double the workload.
My family life has pretty much completely shattered. I no longer have the goodwill of my remaining biological family, and whatever goodwill was left with my own family, is pretty much gone. Even the boy hates me, for in the past week, I've been told at least once a day...that "I don't like you anymore...I just like mom."
Financially, well, at least I'm like the rest of the United States....trying to tighten the belt and live lean. Problem is, I'm the only one in the house that seems to get that.
Hobbies? Sold the cars...sold the long glass....all to fund the family.
Sex Life? yeah right....
Well, at least the animals still like me.
Fuck you 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
dramatic cat...is dramatic
I'm sitting here with the beginnings of an awesome head cold going through some old pictures for a portfolio collection that I was asked to put together.
Found some interesting stuff that I passed on the first go round...
I kinda like this...its a wee bit shaky due to Max never staying still, but I like it because well...he's giving me the stink eye and I got it on film...err...pixels...err...whatever.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
What started it all
I can never take a way the wrongs I've dealt my father, nor can I go back and experience the joys we've shared. This camera, has seen 3 continents, 5 countries, and has taken a tumble down a mountaintop. My Pop taught me how to use it when I was a kid,
Despite my usage, it still works.
Me and my Pop have been thru more than I can imagine, and while we aren't speaking now, I hope that we can still work.
Sorry Pops.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
HP musings.
So on December 4th...I actually shot people I didn't know. I was one of the shooters for the Help Portrait event that took place all over the world. By now, you may have heard about it, but in case you haven't: the gist of it is to find someone in need, take their portrait, print their portrait, and give it to them.
The homeless, the infirm, abused kids, single moms...ex cons. Doesn't matter. It's about giving someone, something back: be it dignity, be it being pampered for a day...
Actually, I think the slogan for the 2010 shoot was "a picture IS worth."
SO anyway...I've been post processing a bunch of the behind the scenes shots...
they're up on flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eeeksnyc/sets/72157625414436405/
and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eeeksnyc/sets/72157625554216028/
I shot with the NYC kids this year...and had a great time. Met some great people, and in some small way, I hope that I helped some of the Community Access people feel a bit better about things. I learned a lot from the other shooters...and suprised myself a bit, and like most things photographic: I have some severe gear lust....hahah.
So maybe doing something like this, while a pain in the ass for me travel wise...maybe this was something good. Maybe I'm not such an asshole...
Thing is: even after the shoot...I came home to an angry girlfriend...coz I wasn't home to get the tree with her and the boy. Apparently, I'm not home a lot between work and well..work. I have nothing else, just work.
I guess, I'm an asshole after all.
The homeless, the infirm, abused kids, single moms...ex cons. Doesn't matter. It's about giving someone, something back: be it dignity, be it being pampered for a day...
Actually, I think the slogan for the 2010 shoot was "a picture IS worth."
SO anyway...I've been post processing a bunch of the behind the scenes shots...
they're up on flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eeeksnyc/sets/72157625414436405/
and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eeeksnyc/sets/72157625554216028/
I shot with the NYC kids this year...and had a great time. Met some great people, and in some small way, I hope that I helped some of the Community Access people feel a bit better about things. I learned a lot from the other shooters...and suprised myself a bit, and like most things photographic: I have some severe gear lust....hahah.
So maybe doing something like this, while a pain in the ass for me travel wise...maybe this was something good. Maybe I'm not such an asshole...
Thing is: even after the shoot...I came home to an angry girlfriend...coz I wasn't home to get the tree with her and the boy. Apparently, I'm not home a lot between work and well..work. I have nothing else, just work.
I guess, I'm an asshole after all.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
One of the last frames...
5D dead
So today was the first day of The Boy's basketball clinic. Had the 5D all charged up...fresh CF cards in hand...and my trusty 28-70 2.8L and adapted Nikkor Q 135 ready to go...
Got some test shots out just to feel out flash distance and went to switch from the Canon to the Nikkor for the longer shots.
WHen the time came for the fun to start...I went to go twist the Nikkor off...No joy...it just kinda rattled in there....
RUH-ROH....
jiggled it a bit and got it off...looks like the adaptor ring got hung up on the lens mount pins...to my shock and chagrin...the first one had been squished in...and the plastic around it deformed slightly, preventing it from popping back up.
I tried to mount the canon on...and work the lens bayonet a few times...no joy... ERR01.
I tried to pop out the pin with a fine tip ball point pen....no joy
When I got home I cleaned out the area and applied contact cleaner/lube (very carefully) and tried to work out the pin with a small safety pin....no joy
Now...I have no joy.
Why is this a big deal? I was just complaining that I suck and that I haven't had anything worth shooting...But the timing? Couldn't have been worse.
Got a couple of projects coming up that I wanted to do some scouting/preshooting for...and now...my only body, my beloved 5D classic....est morte.
Off to phototech in nyc tomorrow to see what witchcraft they can weave on this carcass of a Canon
Got some test shots out just to feel out flash distance and went to switch from the Canon to the Nikkor for the longer shots.
WHen the time came for the fun to start...I went to go twist the Nikkor off...No joy...it just kinda rattled in there....
RUH-ROH....
jiggled it a bit and got it off...looks like the adaptor ring got hung up on the lens mount pins...to my shock and chagrin...the first one had been squished in...and the plastic around it deformed slightly, preventing it from popping back up.
I tried to mount the canon on...and work the lens bayonet a few times...no joy... ERR01.
I tried to pop out the pin with a fine tip ball point pen....no joy
When I got home I cleaned out the area and applied contact cleaner/lube (very carefully) and tried to work out the pin with a small safety pin....no joy
Now...I have no joy.
Why is this a big deal? I was just complaining that I suck and that I haven't had anything worth shooting...But the timing? Couldn't have been worse.
Got a couple of projects coming up that I wanted to do some scouting/preshooting for...and now...my only body, my beloved 5D classic....est morte.
Off to phototech in nyc tomorrow to see what witchcraft they can weave on this carcass of a Canon
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Inspiration and Depression
So today was the start of the PDN PhotoExpo at the Jacob Javits Convention Center here in lovely NYC. Being an upcoming photographer, I look forward to this. I got my freebie expo badge, and was looking forward to seeing Chase Jarvis' keynote...but alas, the dayjob beckons.
As far as dayjobs go...mine is pretty cool. I'm a studio engineer. I play with sound. I make thing louder. I hang with musicians. Fairly low stress, and I almost never have to take work home with me. Sometimes the hours can be a drag, but quite frankly, the gig is still fun most days, and I'm damn good at what I do.
But still, I've been looking for a while now for a different creative outlet. Something...anything. For a while, it was cars...making them go faster....driving the piss out of them....going to shows...and yes, some illegal racing. I guess it wasn't really a "creative" outlet so much as an adrenalin thing.
But being a dad now, I've had to tone down that hobby...Sold the show car...sold the autocross car. Now, we drive a station wagon (minivans be damned).
I was watching the keynote today via the web from the studio...Mr Jarvis had assembled basically all the shooters I follow. Vincent Laforet, Jasmine Star, Joey Lawrence, Zack Arias, and photo editor Rob Haggert. They all spoke of creativity and how they individually came up and where they were now. Also, where they wanted to go with this new social network that we have. Ahh...the power of the interweb!
Got me thinking...where do I want to go now? What would I want to shoot...How do I want to shoot....
But most of all, where's the juice now?
I'm a pretty okay shooter technically. I've got a handful of frames I'm proud of. I've shot a handful of events in NYC. I can take a pretty good portrait of my kid and the woman....but am I a photographer? Have I gotten paid for my images? No. But there has been a decent amount of interest.
Personally, things could be better. Things could also be worse. I got back into the photography hobby when the Woman gifted me with a Canon Rebel XT a few years back. Yes, it was silver, but it was awesome. I quickly got gear lust, and at the time started to sell car parts for lenses and accessories. I shot everything I could just to learn the camera and what it could do. Thinking back, I never took the thing out of the M mode, but I was having fun...and learning lots.
Then, things in my personal life took a dump. The Woman left me and took the Boy. They moved clear over to the other side of the country...(ironically, in Mssr. Chase's backyard of Seattle...and even more ironically, where my ex-ex wound up with her newfound hubby). I was crushed...utterly fucked up and depressed. But I was still shooting, learning...drowning my sorrows in shutter clicks. But then, I hit a wall...I just couldn't shoot with that camera anymore. SHE had given it to me....it reminded me of them...I couldn't touch it.
So I put it down...didn't touch the thing. All my shiny toys started to collect dust. I drank...a lot. Cried even more....started to shut down.
I saw an ad on Craigslist for a 5D and I snapped it up to try and enjoy it. And for a while, I did. I shot events...a shit-ton of street stuff...and it started to chip away at the depression.
Fast forwarding to now, I'm still shooting that 5D...I've sold some glass, gotten others. I've shot a ton of street stuff...some artist visits at the day job...and most importantly, The Woman and the Boy are back in my life...on the same coast...in the same house.
I was happy then...but now I'm not. The Woman and me, while we're not fighting and outright hating each other, are not well. We don't talk, we don't share the same bed, we barely have any physical contact. I'm angry at shit I didn't give a fuck about. I don't give a fuck about things I should. I still try and shoot, but it really is all crap.
I'm depressed she tells me. But usually, I'm able to turn that depression into some sort of creativity, be it musical, mechanical, or ocular...
But now, I'm just dry.
Bone dry.
I can still eke out a decent frame, but I find myself wanting to do other things. I need to branch out. Shoot other shit. Take a chance.
Chase and Zack brought that out in the keynote. Jasmine Star started out with almost no gear but crazy talent. Joey L had the confidence and vision to just do it.
Why can't I?
Why do I stop myself?
What's it gonna take to get me rolling again? Not just in photography, but with my life too....
When can I turn the Depression into Inspiration again? Or was that all a fluke in the past.
And, man, I miss my cars.
As far as dayjobs go...mine is pretty cool. I'm a studio engineer. I play with sound. I make thing louder. I hang with musicians. Fairly low stress, and I almost never have to take work home with me. Sometimes the hours can be a drag, but quite frankly, the gig is still fun most days, and I'm damn good at what I do.
But still, I've been looking for a while now for a different creative outlet. Something...anything. For a while, it was cars...making them go faster....driving the piss out of them....going to shows...and yes, some illegal racing. I guess it wasn't really a "creative" outlet so much as an adrenalin thing.
But being a dad now, I've had to tone down that hobby...Sold the show car...sold the autocross car. Now, we drive a station wagon (minivans be damned).
I was watching the keynote today via the web from the studio...Mr Jarvis had assembled basically all the shooters I follow. Vincent Laforet, Jasmine Star, Joey Lawrence, Zack Arias, and photo editor Rob Haggert. They all spoke of creativity and how they individually came up and where they were now. Also, where they wanted to go with this new social network that we have. Ahh...the power of the interweb!
Got me thinking...where do I want to go now? What would I want to shoot...How do I want to shoot....
But most of all, where's the juice now?
I'm a pretty okay shooter technically. I've got a handful of frames I'm proud of. I've shot a handful of events in NYC. I can take a pretty good portrait of my kid and the woman....but am I a photographer? Have I gotten paid for my images? No. But there has been a decent amount of interest.
Personally, things could be better. Things could also be worse. I got back into the photography hobby when the Woman gifted me with a Canon Rebel XT a few years back. Yes, it was silver, but it was awesome. I quickly got gear lust, and at the time started to sell car parts for lenses and accessories. I shot everything I could just to learn the camera and what it could do. Thinking back, I never took the thing out of the M mode, but I was having fun...and learning lots.
Then, things in my personal life took a dump. The Woman left me and took the Boy. They moved clear over to the other side of the country...(ironically, in Mssr. Chase's backyard of Seattle...and even more ironically, where my ex-ex wound up with her newfound hubby). I was crushed...utterly fucked up and depressed. But I was still shooting, learning...drowning my sorrows in shutter clicks. But then, I hit a wall...I just couldn't shoot with that camera anymore. SHE had given it to me....it reminded me of them...I couldn't touch it.
So I put it down...didn't touch the thing. All my shiny toys started to collect dust. I drank...a lot. Cried even more....started to shut down.
I saw an ad on Craigslist for a 5D and I snapped it up to try and enjoy it. And for a while, I did. I shot events...a shit-ton of street stuff...and it started to chip away at the depression.
Fast forwarding to now, I'm still shooting that 5D...I've sold some glass, gotten others. I've shot a ton of street stuff...some artist visits at the day job...and most importantly, The Woman and the Boy are back in my life...on the same coast...in the same house.
I was happy then...but now I'm not. The Woman and me, while we're not fighting and outright hating each other, are not well. We don't talk, we don't share the same bed, we barely have any physical contact. I'm angry at shit I didn't give a fuck about. I don't give a fuck about things I should. I still try and shoot, but it really is all crap.
I'm depressed she tells me. But usually, I'm able to turn that depression into some sort of creativity, be it musical, mechanical, or ocular...
But now, I'm just dry.
Bone dry.
I can still eke out a decent frame, but I find myself wanting to do other things. I need to branch out. Shoot other shit. Take a chance.
Chase and Zack brought that out in the keynote. Jasmine Star started out with almost no gear but crazy talent. Joey L had the confidence and vision to just do it.
Why can't I?
Why do I stop myself?
What's it gonna take to get me rolling again? Not just in photography, but with my life too....
When can I turn the Depression into Inspiration again? Or was that all a fluke in the past.
And, man, I miss my cars.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
yep...
Not even a Hello...
When I came home.
First thing was that she complained that I left the leftovers from The Boy's breakfast out.
Next thing was telling me to wake up *a little earlier* so I can show her how to fold down the back seat....
Nevermind the email from earlier today to coil up the hose and stuff....
Who says romance is dead.
When I came home.
First thing was that she complained that I left the leftovers from The Boy's breakfast out.
Next thing was telling me to wake up *a little earlier* so I can show her how to fold down the back seat....
Nevermind the email from earlier today to coil up the hose and stuff....
Who says romance is dead.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
midtown sunset-4659
My unfortunate view of the "Golden Hour" on most days...from someone else's office...My cube is landlocked...no windows.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Happy Birthday T!
Today is The Woman's birthday. She has had a rough run up to it this year, but, as she always does...T is sailing through adversity with her usual style and grace.
We've had our problems, and continue to do so, but I still love her with all of my heart. She is an incredible mom to V, and even through all we've been through, she's still the one I want to see first thing when I wake up in the morning...
Happy Birthday!
We've had our problems, and continue to do so, but I still love her with all of my heart. She is an incredible mom to V, and even through all we've been through, she's still the one I want to see first thing when I wake up in the morning...
Happy Birthday!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
NYC in the fall
I'm still at work listening to Chet Baker's rendition of These Foolish Things....
Its a lovely early fall/late summer-ish evening in New York. The kind of night that for some reason I always held as the most romantic time in New York.
But really, for New York, when ISN'T it romantic.
Anyway, just brings back memories...
jus' sayin'
Its a lovely early fall/late summer-ish evening in New York. The kind of night that for some reason I always held as the most romantic time in New York.
But really, for New York, when ISN'T it romantic.
Anyway, just brings back memories...
jus' sayin'
Monday, September 6, 2010
yesterday, I attempted to act amorously towards my mate....she told me I should see a shrink for my mood swings.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
do you do your own edits?
Most times, yes, I do. But at other times, I have help...
Japanese fella...good egg.
Japanese fella...good egg.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
I love how my way of keeping involved with my SO is by peeping her facebook and tumblr.
that's wrong aint it?
that's wrong aint it?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Five Years
Coming up on five years with the Woman...its been both wonderful, and nerve wracking. A joy and a terror....Together, we've been at our highest and lowest points....but we're still together mostly...bruised and battered sure, but together I think. Right?
once beautiful-3706
Fell asleep and overshot my bus stop on the way home. Was a little pissed, but as I came upon the local car repair joint, I noticed that the back lot of the garage was this conucopia of old cars...
Most intriguing was this...At the time, I didn't know what it was, but have since found out it was a Mazda cosmos, one of the first rotary engined sports cars.
I loved the lines of the car...almost Lotus like...Obviously, time has taken its toll...but it looks intact if anyone wanted to bring her back.
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Boy gave me his hat to wear because, and I quote: "Your head looks funny in the back. This way, no one will see it."
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Forever 21 in NYC
Ahh yes, the Mecca of cheap couture comes to the Mall like environs of Times Square NYC. Two cool things about it:
1: they leave their doors open with the AC blasting out onto the hot city sidewalk....not very efficient...but a damn nice treat when walking past it..
2: they have the giant sign on the front of it with a 50ft woman talking Polaroid shots of people like these lovelies...looking up at the sign thats taking pictures of them....
1: they leave their doors open with the AC blasting out onto the hot city sidewalk....not very efficient...but a damn nice treat when walking past it..
2: they have the giant sign on the front of it with a 50ft woman talking Polaroid shots of people like these lovelies...looking up at the sign thats taking pictures of them....
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
I like this....I think it's sweet...
Nice when a friend or someone you know meets the person they were supposed to be with.
Makes you feel all fuzzy inside. Makes me kinda wonder what the hell is going on with my personal life.
But anyway..here's the pic.
Makes you feel all fuzzy inside. Makes me kinda wonder what the hell is going on with my personal life.
But anyway..here's the pic.
Now, I'm not the best photographer in the world...I actually think I'm decent. But I've been recently going through some websites of *shoots* that honestly....well, they suck.
Technically they're horribly underexposed...Compositionally, they look like snap shots....Maybe that's the look they're going for, I dunno.
It was supposed to be for a fashion type thing for a young designer. Maybe they were going for that gritty, downtown, crap-chic that everybody likes, but honestly, don't you have to have a good image first.
I don't know if I could do better. But just looking at them...it just felt all wrong...
And I feel sorry for the designer who had to pay for it.
*shrug*
Technically they're horribly underexposed...Compositionally, they look like snap shots....Maybe that's the look they're going for, I dunno.
It was supposed to be for a fashion type thing for a young designer. Maybe they were going for that gritty, downtown, crap-chic that everybody likes, but honestly, don't you have to have a good image first.
I don't know if I could do better. But just looking at them...it just felt all wrong...
And I feel sorry for the designer who had to pay for it.
*shrug*
Sunday, June 27, 2010
they sure grow quick.
I remember when the Boy could actually FIT into something this size. So does he. Apparently, he thinks he still can....
Good Luck...LOL
Friday, June 25, 2010
already tanned
1 Day into his summer vacation, and he's already tanned....
Sigmalux on 5Dmk1
ISO 400 f1/8 @ 1/100
use wet
Seen on a kid's inflatable ride.
Digging the Sigmalux. I used to think it was front focusing, but now I'm thinking its my technique. That 1.4 DOF is RAZOR thin on a 5D.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
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