Another season ends and other approaches

It has been a tumultuous season for me as of late. But as I look in the mirror, I see the changes have been the result of a needed re-direction. Hindsight being 20/20.....I still have a black eye, but as all things do, it's healing.

The blog will get updated a little more now, as I have been able to pick up the camera and begin to create again. I suppose every few weeks will be a start. If you are a recent discoverer of me, then you can go to the Next Level photo to see more images in the gallery. I also have a Facebook page as well as a Twitter feed. Then again....who doesn't?

If you need images, PLEASE CONTACT ME!

Missing In Action

Yeah...the goal is three blog posts a week. I kind of miss it every once and a while.

For the past several weeks, I have actually been shooting for other people. Last weekend, I was in Springfield MA shooting a JAMFest Nationals Cheer/Dance competition. Yesterday was a baseball/softball league.

Friday I did shoot a few pictures for my daughter and her friend, but I don't have them processed yet.

Hopefully I can try and get something going this week since the photos have been a bit bare in the past few weeks....not so good for a photography related blog is it?

In the presence of greatness

Wow. I was excited when Chase Jarvis followed me on Twitter. Now Mark J. Rebilas added me. I have seen Mark's work over on SportShooter for a few years now and regularly read his blog. Mark embellishes the sports work I want to achieve and Chase is the visioneer that I hope to become.

Now, if I can only find that twitter-elixer that has the magic of osmosis via the web......

Chatham report

Well, it was slow....painfully slow.

We had 6 or 7 students show up to get re-takes of the yearbook pictures. Two issues were glaringly obvious.
1) We didn't have any signage set up. The posters were sent, but not displayed. One of the Chatham University yearbook staff members did get a couple up, but we were half way through the session. 3 or 4 students had to be BEGGED (seriously, we begged them) to get pictures taken.
2) We were competing against the Pittsburgh Steelers super bowl victory parade just a few miles away in downtown.

For me, the highlight was being to see a very small portion of the former home of Andrew Mellon. The Mellon name is prominent in Pittsburgh, so to see how the uber rich lived, was a treat. It's not an opulent mansion. At least not in my mind. But it's large and comfortable. The door way arches on the main floor looked to be made of carved Granite. There was a dining room that had incredible carved marble fireplace mantle. The details of the carved stone over each doorway was also very amazing. We didn't venture far. But it's a neat house and I would love to have a full tour some day.

Because you don't know enough about me

I decided to add a Twitter feed to the blog....it's just under my profile right now. I might move it to the top since it's a more dynamic....time relevant though. I linked it to my facebook page as well.

Why? Why not I suppose.

Asking for a little patience for Christmas

Late Tuesday night, Lightroom started to act a little funny. Might have been coincidence. I was tired and decided to call it a day.....night.....? The next day, the computer wouldn't work. Soooo, I am dutifully trying to get my computer back in working order so I can finish orders in time for Christmas.

Thank you.

Difference of opinions

After I finished a home project this week I decided to put some of my prints in frames and hang them on the wall in our stairwell. I already had the frames and a lot of prints in sitting in envelopes in a box. The frames are the very simple, very cheap plastic frames you find at a local pharmacy/convenience store in your neighborhood. Most of my prints were 8x12's and the frames were 8x10.

Oops.

I ended up selecting a dozen or so prints that I could trim down to 8x10 size and put into the frames. On the wall, I measured out the start and end frame locations and did my division, then I marked the nail holes. Well, lets just say I got very lucky. I didn't take into account the width of the frames and really by pure luck, I was able to fit the frames in/on the wall side by side.....but only if they were portrait oriented (up and down). The landscape (side to side) frames won't fit on that line on that side of the wall. So I decided to put the landscape frames on the other side of the staircase.

At the bottom of the staircase is our entry way, (where I lay some marble tiles), is an 8 foot wide wall that is about 10 feet tall. I have great plans for that wall, but for now, I will put some pictures there. Actually, three pictures, in one frame. This framed picture set is what the Potter & Raccoon Red Devil Senior Cheerleaders received from me this year. Here is my daughters version.



Yes she's a cheerleader and no, the pictures aren't really that cheery. Sure, it has caused some consternation among the viewers of the picture set. Honestly, I like the fact that those images of her are different. I like different. I also like that it brings about discussion among those that are not afraid to voice their opinions. It doesn't hurt my feelings that viewers don't like it, but not everyone is willing to say how they feel. Well, not to my face anyway. So thus continues my foray into the world of art. It is subjective after all.

Growing pains

This is a good parallel post to the agony one below.

Now that I am using Lightroom 2 (and it's working again) I have been trying to use it for more tasks then just editing images. Hoping in that in the long run, it will save me some time.

If this week is any indication, it will not save time nor does it give me confidence that all is well in the land of Oz.

Of course, my week started out by my Lightroom 2 catalog getting corrupt and me not being able to work for a few days. When I did get it fixed, I was two days behind. Not good.

Of course, rather than using my old way of doing things, I decided to put into action a new way of dong things. Not good.

So here I am, Thursday night and I am not even 25% of the way into my editing. I also have a game on Saturday then a wedding.

I know I said I would have pictures up today....and I will. Just much later then I was hoping.

I'm still here

Wow, didn't realize it had been so many days since my last post. I do have some football pictures that will be coming forth, possibly tonight. The rest will be on the web site gallery pages.

The week that is to come, and the day that was

This week and next will be very full. Come to think of it, I don't have an opening until....November 3rd.

I will be at the Hookstown Fair Mon/Tues. Check out the gallery and this blog for some of those pictures. Soccer and football/cheer practices are several times a week and games are soon to be upon us. I think Friday nights are my only free time and I wouldn't have it any other way.

But in the non-photo, non-sports calendar....I have a floor to lay, door to put in, tile to put down and possibly a bathroom to finish. Painting is in there too, but I don't know where to fit it in.

For today, we took a little jaunt over to the dog park. A few shots below from that trip. More will be in the photo gallery. I also did a portrait session of a cheerleader this evening as the sun set.

This first picture isn't a typical "cheer" picture, but I like the attitude. It works for me.

Attitude


Sky's the limit



A few shots from the Dog Park.

Protected


Same Genus, different family


Dog on the run

Moving forward

Today my exciting task is to begin the process of pricing. I have some (actually most) of my prices set for this year already. But I need to really nail down what I do, and what that value is to my clients.

Right now, all my prices are in an Excel spreadsheet. I have to cross reference all my event and session offerings with the text that will appear on the web site. I won't bore my clients with the details on the site. But each offering that has a corresponding base price displayed, will have a link to a document that has more details. Strange thing about service related businesses, the prices are negotiable.

Once I have my prices all in line, I will get the spreadsheets printed to a .pdf file. Funny thing about that is that I am also going to need to format the sheets with the logo, contact info and such. I.E. custom headers and footers. Then the smart thing to do is print them all out and have someone else proof them. If it masses muster, I upload the new price page and the associated price sheets for all the world to see.

Ohhh, can't wait to get started......

I think I'm ready

Well, I should have posted this BEFORE I sent the site to everyone, but as it is, I didn't. The site is now live and ready for business. I still have a few photo galleries to put up and might tweak the look of the site over the next six months or so. I love having a web presence. But I just can't put in code what I envision in my mind. So I usually have to compromise features versus availability. But regardless, it's about the images. If I spend lots of time on the web site, I am not out taking pictures. Which is of course the essence.

I do thank everyone for stopping by and spending a few minutes with me, on the site.

Weekly update

I've been back in New Brighton/Pittsburgh for a few days and am getting back into the SAHD swing of things. Here is a simple summary.

I worked on the web site on the airplane, but I am having issues with the menu system. Hopefully, I can get it worked out by the end of the week. Honestly, it's a simple thing, but since I am not a web designer, it will take ME some time to sort the problem out and fix it. I also have not been able to attempt the integration of the sales or the blog into the current web site yet. That will push me back another several days now.

I did however get the design and look of the photo galleries finalized and set. I created them using Adobe Lightroom 1.4 which makes for gallery creation pretty sweet.

I hope to get back into shooting very very soon. In an earlier post I have had a few phone calls wondering when I will be available. It makes me happy that I have something to offer people. Not to mention, high school seniors need their pictures too, but that is a small window of opportunity that I must take advantage of right now.

On the home front, the kids are swimming, I am doing laundry and getting my chef's hat to fit right and enjoying the smell of bleach in my laundry chores. Hopefully it will stop raining long enough to dry the grass out so I cam mow it.....before we need a tractor and implements.

Trip summary

Beginning May 1, 2008 I spent the majority of 9 weeks among the Tamarack and Red Fir trees. I woke to the flowing waters of the Naches River in the Wenatchee National Forest not far from Chinook Pass and Mount Rainer. I also ventured to the desert region of the Columbia Basin where sand and nuclear energy co-exist among the flowing waters of the mighty Columbia River. Where wind blown tumbleweeds and sage brush become yard decorations. I was back home in state of Washington.

Goal one was to help a family member with some projects after his retirement. A secondary goal for me was to bring my kids here for their summer vacation. That second goal sadly, failed to materialize.

Of course, I brought my camera equipment to shoot when I could. I tried to save a little money, but I ended up buying some more light stands, a bike from Craigslist and a few dinners. Never resting (photographically speaking), I talked to a lot of people to see if I could take their portraits. Suffice to say, the Yakima/Naches area of Washington is a veritable vacuum of talent. There isn't much here. I even tried to get a MUA (Makeup Artist) to work a shoot, but she didn't find it important to check her messages except once a month. Maybe she was busy, maybe not, either way, it could have been communicated. A few people I wanted to shoot, one was very interested, and kept saying so, but would never commit. Wish I could have that time back. Another was so rude you would have thought I almost ran over her child in the driveway. The project I mentioned MANY MANY weeks ago, will not get done. I had planned on getting environmental portraits of employees of the two restaurants up here in the valley. I planned several poses out for specific people too. But because of their schedules and mine, it will not happen. I will put the idea in my idea book, and hopefully excecute it at another time and or place.

On the other hand, things were/are going well back in New Brighton/Pittsburgh. First, I was selected by Fe Gallery as one of 250 artists to represent Pittsburgh in a 250 year anniversary celebration/project. Secondly, the building where I was planning on putting in a second photo studio is still open and the owner wants to make sure I will be up and running when I get back or soon there after. Still, that "project" is going on seven months overdue. Also worth mentioning, one of the models I shot with in the spring wants to set up another session. She is/has worked with another local photographer because of my images he saw on her MySpace page. Finally, my MUA (well, she's not MINE, but it's the only MUA I work with), wants to shoot with me too. So things are significantly more promising in "da 'Burgh" than here in "the valley".

I did however get to spend some great times with my family here in WA. I attended a graduation, made it for mothers day, did a little golfing (pictures actually) and a family reunion coinciding with a school reunion. Most importantly, I had a great weekend with my wife when she visited for the graduation.

Regarding physical labor, I have shoveled about 7 tons of sand/gravel, screwed in 150+ pounds of 3 inch deck screws and bent more 20 penny nails than I care to admit. I have cut, chopped and loaded hundreds of feet of wood (did I say hundreds?). Painted walls, decks, railings and even myself. After I bought the CraigsList bike, I started riding it. Usually a couple of times a week. But near the end of my "tour" I was riding every day. My longest ride was 15 miles one way (up hill into the wind)(30 mile round trip). Many rides were 10-12 miles on average. Traffic wasn't a big deal, but the wind was. It always seemed to happen to blow towards me regardless of when I rode. Uphill, into the wind just really sucks.

This is not a "look what I have done" posting. It is to inform you all of my summer thus far. I haven't had an epiphany, nor have the clouds parted for the voice of God. However, I have learned a little about my family, my friends, and myself. Not since Air Force Basic Training and Tech School have I worked so hard (physically and mentally) for so long. (By the way, Basic Training is where I learned that the mind gives up sooner than the body). I hope these mini lessons can translate well to running my photography business and I eventually become very, very successful. I am coming to the conclusion that the world needs wood cutters, painters and construction workers. It also needs photographers, in which I plan to add myself to that list.

The real cost of flying

Tomorrow (Wed 7/9/08) I fly back to the Pittsburgh area. Today, I am agonizing over a box that needs to be shipped back. I shipped it here via US Postal Mail for $45. Via UPS it will cost $60. I am sure all rates have increased in the past 60 days, but damn, that's an OUCH.

My dilemma is to check it as my second checked bag on US Air, or to ship it via USPS or UPS. As a US Air preferred member, I get free checked bags. I don't have to pay the fee that US Air charges.

The big problem is that US Air charges for their "service" of carrying your baggage, but they WILL NOT ensure that it won't be stolen, delayed or damaged. Yet the US Postal Service, UPS, DHL and FedEx WILL guarantee your shipment will arrive as expected and in good shape. At least with everyone but the airlines it appears that you can get insurance on your shipments. US Air and other airlines, absolutely not especially if it's anything of value (like camera equipment).

So I can ship for free, and possibly have my items pilfered from the thieves that work at the airports. Or I can pay $60 to have peace of mind.

We should NOT have to deal with this in the "POST 9/11 era". There is so much damn security EVERYWHERE, yet the least secure areas are actually the airports.

Weekend update

It's mothers day. Happy day to all the mothers out there.

I went to a youth soccer game yesterday but didn't shoot any pictures. Today I went to an adult soccer game and did shoot, about 550 +/- pictures. I haven't gone through them, hopefully I will get time this week and get a few up here on the blog next weekend.

View from the rooftop

Well, there aren't any angels singing, but the view is mighty nice.

I have several pictures to post, but have to wait for a better internet connection. It should happen this weekend. Just an FYI.

I was roofing Mon/Tue/Wed. It's an experience and I cannot say it's something I would want to do for any length of time.

Wednesday I was coming off the ladder carrying a bundle of roofing shingles. I stepped onto the ground and stepped on a support board and my ankle twisted and POPPED. I fell to the ground, and the shingles landed on my head.

Don't worry, the shingles were fine.

My ankle is bruised, swollen to about a baseball and hurts to walk. Life is good. I was also hit in the face by a shingle that caught the wind and smacked me in the lip. No blood, so it doesn't count.

Today I dug a dozen holes for a wheel chair ramp/deck. All I can say is GET A FOUR YEAR DEGREE.

I can't wait to get back shooting again.

Upcoming week

I won't be posting much this week because I am getting ready for a trip back to the Northwest. Once there, I may slow my postings down to one or two posts a week (or less) and very few if any images. The biggest reason will be from limited Internet access and the speeds will not be what I am used to (satellite Internet connections are limited to total usage and not by speed). Also, the photo opportunities may be significantly less.

Do not fear, I don't plan on being totally off the grid.

Wonderous spring

I have been so busy working on home projects I have missed out on several days of great photography. It has been truly beautiful these past few days. Temperature, clouds or no clouds. I need to be shooting not hammering and framing....UGH.

OUR point and shoot camera (needs replacing)

After shooting for several years with my dSLR cameras, I got to use my wifes point and shoot. It actually takes pretty nice pictures, if you are 5 feet from your subject. Tonight however, was in difficult lighting, and 15-20+ feet.

My daughter and I went to the Avril Lavigne concert (opened by Boys Like Girls). She has been wanting to go for three or four years now and the timing was right. Actually, she is old enough now. I emptied out the bucket I put all my spare change in and was able to afford tickets. Granted, it was about 4 years worth of spare change. But change nonetheless.

It was her first concert and we ended up on the floor, in the corner, 15 feet from the stage.

How cool is that?

The bus. Not hers, but part of the tour.


Almost as close as you can get. Front and center is the primo seats, but I wasn't thinking or else we could have gotten pretty close to F&C.


Avril and my daughter (unfortunately not next to each other).


Cell phones replaced Bic's. It was pretty funny to actually see.


Proof we were there.


If our arms were only 15 feet long.


Rock on Avril.


Only something an adult would notice...a great security staff.


Even center stage was close.


I think I need to invest in another point and shoot, but significantly better quality....sigh.

Final words:
I know I have permanent hearing loss from this concert. It was VERY loud, which also means I am getting older. I don't mind the loud. I mind the hearing loss. I was also expecting a questionable show. But her voice has definitely gotten better. I have seen some live performances of her and it wasn't all that great. But I think Avril has learned what her limits are singing live and she has also worked on her voice. I am sure she has a good sound board crew too. But I was happy with the concert and would go again.

Did you say something.......huh.....TURN THAT BELL OFF dammit!

(too much) Time on my hands

I am supposed to be doing taxes right now, but instead I am surfing the web. I thought I would share some of what I found

From Poop and Boogies
Why does bright light cause some people to sneeze?

Looking at the Sun Can Trigger a Sneeze


From The Blogfathers
Raising tri-lingual children

From the Best of Craigslist comes a Mastiff with a problem. I laughed so hard I cried.

sick, very sick

Been in bed 4 of the past 5 days.
VERY sick.

Sitting....waiting

I am in a coffee shop here in town waiting for my vehicle to be inspected. The van sits across the street up on the lift. It's been up there for a while now, I an can see the dollar signs rising from the technician. The fee for the inspection is $53. But the gal that took my appointment also added "unless there's something wrong". Ohh, those are bad words to hear. I can only imagine what they could find.

Hopefully, I will be able to get the keys, pay the fee and get my state required inspection stickers on the windshield.

The snow started for fall early this morning as rain, then turned to snow. It's been falling non stop for 6-8 hours. It's not a heavy snow, but steady and small little flakes.

School is out and I am sure the kids are tearing up the house. The grandparents are home. It should be somewhat interesting on the total tension level this afternoon after the four of them have been together all day. I am also supposed to be heading to the studio to do some more work on the ceiling. I also have to put up more drywall in a stairway at home.....sigh....I just want to take pictures.

This is what I meant

(THIS IS AN EXPLICIT POST, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!)

I was on a forum a few minutes ago and read something that articulates so much of what we as photographers want to see from our models.

Kevlar Vest Girl wrote: (KVG is a frequent contributor to the Model Mayhem web site)

Good models are very much like good dancers and good actors and good musicians. They feel what they do, they express themselves in the moment before the camera. I don't see any of that in your portfolio. I see a pretty girl that wants to be a model but doesn't know how to be a model. If you are posing for someone that wants you to look sexy, you need to feel that penis inside you and roll with your thoughts and feelings. Very difficult to do with someone staring at you. If the shot calls for wicked bad, you need to see yourself slapping the shit out of your mother because she cooked the beans too long and now they're to dry to eat. If the shot calls for innocent, you need to re-live the time when you were 8 and your dad tucked you into bed right after your bath and gave you a kiss and said you would be his princess forever. If the scene requires you to be sad, make it true that right after your dad said you would be his princess forever, his heart exploded and he died right on top of you.

Body language and expression don't come from some dumb ass photographer telling you to be sexy and work it, they come from inside the vault of your life experience. You have it in you, getting over being too chicken to let us see it is what makes the difference.

Spreads like wildfire

I once worked with a guy that was an NBC specialist in the Army. NBC is "nuclear, chemical and biological". I went through very little training regarding NBC compared to his training. He knew more than anyone would want to know about the stuff. One of the things he had said, that if there was a large scale military like, chemical or biological incident, wherever you happened to be, is to "run to the cloud". As opposed to run away from the accident. The fallout would be so horrible, that one would not want to live through it. So "running to the cloud" would ensure you wouldn't be around to see the fallout.

With that lovely preface, as I am online this past week or so. I have noticed the speed and ferocity of this current sick bug spreading across the US of A. I know, or have read about, people from California to Maine that are sick. I was sick last week and I still am not 100%. But Thursday, Friday and Saturday I was out. Today, my wife came home with something. It's only a matter of time for the kids and in-laws to get it.

Insecurity

Okay, like MySpace has a crappy interface and it's full of crap so I don't post there often. I do post more frequently on this blog. If you want it (the MySpace page), drop me an email.

I got sidelined on getting the 2nd studio ready because the (in)significant other of the building (Salon) owner had a tiz that a guy (me) was helping his woman out for free. Apparently he's the jealous/controlling type. GET OVER IT DUDE. I'm putting up insulation and ceiling tiles cuz you ain't doin it. I need the place to make some MONAY so I can give it all to your GF.

UGHGHGHG

Then today I got a call about the valentines day shoot on Sunday Feb 3rd. We had three signed up right away, then TWO dropped out and flaked on me. DAMMIT

So everything was bright and sunshiny last week now it looks like it's a typical week in good old Western PA.

And I still have a cough that won't go away.

Opportunities abound if you recognize them

It might sound like I am ready to throw in the towel. Quite the contrary. This photography "hobby" as a few family members have put it, is slowly getting to the point of perpetual motion.

It's a common thought to say that the business of photography is 90% business and 10% taking pictures. I can feel that now. I am realizing the amount of time and effort it takes to keep a photography business moving forward. Or in this case, just moving. It will take even more time and effort once I move into the realm of only accepting paid shoots versus the TF* shoots I do right now. TF means "Time For". The model usually gives me their time and I give them a CD or selected prints of our time together. When one is starting out, all talent usually gives their time for experience and material. Once you get to a certain point, you can begin to command fee's for your talent.

Saturday night, I was at a corporate party. In the crowd was a woman with long straight black hair. She was different than everyone else which is possibly why she caught my eye.

Forward to her leaving.

As she was leaving, I happened to be waling out to get my portfolio to show a few people. I struck up a quick conversation and asked if she would ever pose for me. Not sure if she thought it was a pick up line or if I was sincere. But her mom happened to say that her other daughter was a makeup artist. So I suggested that the two of them give me a call for a shoot. We'll see if that happens. I did get the card of the MUA daughter. Still waiting for a reply.

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with two makeup artists. One happened to message me today and tell me her car had died and she won't be able to make it to the appointment. So I called her immediately to see about alternative meet times. During the conversation, she mentioned that some of her friends already know about me and would like to work with me.

I kind of had to stop and take a pause.

Short backstory:
((Not long ago, as I was thinking about getting into the fashion photo biz, I remember seeing a conversation on a web site about photographer ethics. This industry is so small, that your reputation will spread California wildfire fast. Right now, it seems that my reputation, or at least the style and quality of my work is nothing but positive.))

Even though I was surprised to hear that others know about me, I was pleased to know my name is being circulated and that I might get work from it.

Again, I am highly motivated and will not slow much in the pursuit to realize my dream.

The way life is (pt II)

Part one here.

It's kind of cool how things change and morph into other things. Not always in your favor though.

When I received permission to shoot in the middle school last week, I had to ensure that the images wouldn't be used outside the classroom. I agreed, thinking there would be of images of the students, teachers and administration. Well, that didn't turn out to be. There are only a few images of people overall. A few students didn't take any pictures of another human. Everything was a static object for them. So after the shoot, yesterday actually, I pushed the envelope, as I often do.....and asked for permission to use some of the static images outside the classroom setting. Some of the images the kids took turned out pretty cool and I wanted to share them with you all. But, because of the prior agreement and the subsequent response today, I cannot share those with you. Sorry about that.

So in the voice of the Sienfeld Soup Nazi, "NO PICTURES FOR YOU!"

Including lunch

I was reading an article about a photography workshop a few weeks ago and was going to do a bit of research about it. Well, I got an email this morning about just that workshop. There is no doubt that the information learned is well worth the price of admission.

One of the workshops was two days, six models and obviously instruction from one of the masters of fashion photography. The price, $2,999.00. AND includes a gourmet lunch. Oh, I laughed out loud at that. Gourmet lunch. BWAHAHAHHA

Now where do I sign up........

The way life is

I delivered 12 mounted prints to the middle school today. They will be up in the main entrance display case tomorrow sometime.

The motto they are using is "Focus on your career" and I was told today, that I was the inspiration for that motto.....how cool is that?

Anyway, my thought was to put the pictures up in the display case and only identify them by a number or letter. Then sometime mid week the pictures would be displayed again on the CCTV system for school announcements. All the students would then vote on their favorite images.

I was executively trumped.

The school counselor decided that a competition wasn't in the best interest of the kids and that they should all be proud of their accomplishment and for it to not turn into a competition. Since they have to compete in so many other things in life at that age. Also, I did take some creative license to most of the images that I selected. Because of that, they are no longer 100% student work.

I must say, I agree with her. But I was still a bit bummed. That goes to show, that there are two ways to look at things. More actually, but in this case, there are two.

She saw it through the eyes of a middle school student. I see it through the eyes of a photographer where every image I take is competitive. I have to be able to get the best shot to make the front cover, or even inside an issue of a magazine. Or be the best photographer available for a wedding or even a team sports portrait. It is all about competition at my level. But for the student. Maybe not so much, for this particular activity.

Symptoms of a starving artist

Otherwise known as: the unemployed.

I was going over my numerous bookmarks.....or "favorites" for you IE users. Here are some that I liked. Now, I don't spend vast amounts of time on the below sites, but I return to them somewhat often enough to know what the are about. Dooce however, I am a regular customer.

I do have a lot of time on my hands and I always keep myself entertained. Of course, the www is full of entertainment and I prefer blogs.

Of course, the gold standard in personal blogs is over at Dooce
Personal blogs:
http://www.dooce.com
http://lottakids.blogspot.com/2008/01/playground-mafia.html
Main site here:
http://lottakids.blogspot.com/index.html
http://marriedwithdinner.com/
http://amy-elle.net/blog/
http://fakinggoodbreeding.blogspot.com/
Business related:
http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/
Fashion
http://www.myfashionlife.com/
http://model-misbehaviour.blogspot.com/
Photography/Photographers
http://photobag.blogspot.com/
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/bestseatinthehouse/
http://www.centeravenueimaging.com/wordpress/
http://www.strobist.com
((NOTE=The link below, londonandrews has some nudity, so it is NOT work safe))
http://londonandrews.blogspot.com/
Organ donation
My own donation blog ended it's life Oct. 9th 2007. Since then it has received 176 hits. About the same average amount as when I was actually posting every day.
http://causaleffect.blogspot.com/
FYI, there are 97,956 people waiting for an organ transplant right now (as of 1:58 pm 16jan08) Numbers courtesy of OPTN.org.

Just a brisk little walk

Well, I am beginning the recovery process from my discovery yesterday. Even though I am still reeling form the loss of 1200-1500 images, I have to revise a few procedures and just move on. I suppose it is inevitable for one to have a loss, it's how you recover that makes a difference. At least that's what I am telling myself.

I went up to the storage unit today to help the in-law get a canopy on the truck. I like being the passenger because I get to scout for locations of future shoots. A few places I see all the time on this drive is an old abandoned one room school house. Complete with red door. But it looks to be in pretty bad shape so I am sure there will be no option to shoot from the inside. But from the outside with the weathered wood, could be a fine place in which to shoot. There was also a 1958 tow truck on the property where we have storage. By itself, it's a neat prop. But it needs to be put in a field or driveway to be really usable for my purposes. Next to the storage site is also a welding and fabrication shop. I will have to stop by one day to see if I could shoot there. I like images with a great looking model and a grungy, sparks flying, dirty background. HOT, right.

On the way back from storage, I asked the in-law to drop me off downtown so I could stop in and talk to Melissa at her hair salon called Head to Toes. But the door was locked, for the third day in a row. Not sure what's going on, so I called and left a message to see if everything was okay. I want to get the 2nd floor usable so I can shoot some valentines day photos in a few weeks.

Since the salon was closed, I headed to the Hot Dog Shoppe and had a burger and Pepsi. When I was leaving, Kayela came on duty. I want to get her on a shoot and we have been trying to match schedules for several weeks. There MIGHT be a chance on Tuesday afternoon.

I didn't stay long and headed up town to cross the street. As I was nearing the corner, a man was taking a picture of his paint job of a new business opening up. But he was using a cell phone. SO I offered to shoot the facade, since I was a photographer. We chatted and exchanged biz cards. Then the business owner came out and I talked to him. He will be a coffee bean roaster. Not a coffee shop, but a custom roaster. You can get your favorite bean and have them custom roast and grind it. So in 10 minutes, you can have freshly roasted beans in a bag to go. I don't drink coffee, but I bet for those that do, it will be pretty dang tasty. Of course, I offered my services for product shots and advertisements etc.

Opportunity. Once you recognize it. You have to grasp it.

Don't make spaghetti naked

The daughter had a few friends over this week. So today we were making some arts and crafts thingys. Of course it required hardware in the name of a hot glue gun. So I broke it out and let it heat up. But the trigger to advance the glue stick wouldn't work which required me to push on the end of the glue stick to get hot glue out.

No problem.

At least until the second to the last item to be glued. That's when I decided to try and glue my thumb. Son of a *&^*(# that hurts.

When I touched my thumb to the hot tip, the hot glue and the item stuck to my thumb. Which as a reaction, I tried to shake it off. Well, when that happened, the item flew off and landed on and stuck to my bare foot.

Son of a *&^*(# that hurts.

After it's all said and done, hot glue causes second degree burns on skin. My right thumb is bandaged up with a one inch x 1/8th inch blister.

Week in review

I took a few days off for Christmas. I suppose you all did too.

I never did meet up with the Pittsburgh ex-pat turned SoCal model. But really, I am just another person she meets in her everyday life. Family and close friends should come much sooner than little ol' me.

Maybe if I ever get to Hollywood we can do lunch..... LOL....ROFL

This evening, I stopped at a dive store in the area to ask about an underwater photography course, they all laughed. (Hmmm, bad sign?). The gal running the store, Jen, asked what type of camera I had. Which I answered. Then she asked if I knew how much housings were for them. I just happened to know that and responded. ((An "underwater housing" is what a camera will be placed into, when you submerge)). They are impressive pieces of equipment and cost about two to 4 times the amount of a camera. $1,600 to $8,000 dollars. Plus, it depends on the model of your camera.

She was shocked that I knew housing prices, so I think they took me a little more seriously at that point. No problem.

But first, before I can be underwater photo certified. I have to be able to SCUBA dive. In which the course will cost $450. Welllll, that puts my plan on the long track more than a short track.

I never did find out about the cost of the underwater photography course either....

With so many things going on, I seem to have forgotten one of the most significant....a BUSINESS PLAN. I need to get one together. Right now, things are in my head and that's a dangerous place for things to be. Mostly since it's based on supposition and dreams. Not much to hand a hat one for sure. I need to really put things down on paper so I can see the reality of it. The good, bad and the ugly.

Christmas was very good to us this year. I get rather melancholy at Christmas. In all honesty I see all the excess gifts and it upsets me a bit. I don't like the amount of money spent on my kids or myself.....but I sure still like to buy things. Not sure where that falls into Freud's psychology though.

I say every year that next year we are buying only three gifts. Like the wise men. I suppose things would be a little better if we would just remember the reason for the season. CHRIST(mas). Even though some say Christmas, the trees and other surrounding festivities are pagan in nature. I see it as a celebration of the birth of Jesus. A birthday. Let's celebrate it.

Not to mention, if we hadn't bought all those gifts, I am pretty sure we could have purchased 2 or as many as 4 tickets back home to Washington in June. But for some reason, no one will listen to me when I make medium term plans.

Strange.

I haven't posted many pictures in the last week or so. I have some from Christmas eve and Christmas day. I also convinced my bride to put on a red silky nighty and strike a few poses. All in good taste. Out of the 20 or so shots, I was able top pull two good ones out. Of course, she will NOT let me show those. So you will have to take my word for it that they turned out nice.

It's funny. Many photographers have their families pose for pictures so they can get the practice. My family says hell no, go find a model to shoot.

Done. My first model session is on Jan 5th. Complete with a Makeup Artist. I can't wait. I think we are all excited about it. I of course will post some shots after it happens.

Reality bites and dreams don't put food on the table

MUCH to the chagrin of my family, I have spent the vast majority of this weekend on the computer. I have been immersing myself in images. Hundreds of portfolios and web sites, THOUSANDS of images. To 99.995 percent of the world, it's a true waste of time. To me, I am 50/50.

Step back.

My former blog gets more traffic than this current one. I guess it's true, sex and controversy sells. No sex here. The controversy is coming up. Then I will re-evaluate the sex part......

I did some data mining to pull some names from the local talent and I sent them some messages. Hopefully I can at least get one or two to respond. I don't care which one's either. I need some talent to work with. My time's a wastin'.

I realized my current portfolio is pretty substandard. Either that means I suck as a photographer or I just need models/talent that can stretch my capabilities and get some results that are worth displaying. That is why I was looking at as many images as possible. It was a bit of an information overdose. I looked at so many images that nothing really sticks out. Well, a few do, but I can't put them here....still, I hope that when the time comes, I can draw from those images and create my own.

Photographing seniors and weddings pay the bills for most people. That is where I will probably make a stake. But I have things I want to bring to the table. Things that I dream will make a name for myself. It's going to be a great ride once the boat comes in.

As I move forward in the pursuit of being a full time professional photographer. I know my vision. I see the challenges. But I am still living in the dream. It doesn't let my kids eat when I say "but I want to do....." I have to begin to perform. I have to produce images that are compelling. What I do will speak more for me than anything.

I do have something to prove.

For now, I give you these:

It's late, I'll start tomorrow

I'm tossing in my hat.....again.