Peonies from Mom

One Sunday afternoon while walking through Trader Joe's my mom and I came across peonies for sale.  I'd never gotten peonies before and had no idea the scope of what the tiny pink bulbs were capable of.  My mom bought me two bouquets of the very showy flower to enjoy at my desk.  For two weeks the flowers did not disappoint for one second.  This picture was taken after the height of their colorful explosion.  The bright, vivacious bold pink is replaced by this soft, delicate pink as they begin to fade out of existence.  The whole experience with the flowers was magical from beginning to end.  It was a fun day, fun present and great memory!

Bane of My Existence

So these are the official first 4x5 negatives I have produced.  I'd be so happy if the next words in this entry were -- "and they came out perfectly," however, those will not be the words I am going to choose because then I'd be lying.  Let's just say the photo fairies were busy while I was working on my project.  I think they smell fear.  The process to develop my negatives was a success -- I know this because my partner/friend Lan processed her film with mine.  There was one minor detail of a difference, her pictures were properly exposed and mine were not.  For some reason unbeknown to me, my pictures were all completely underexposed.  Apparently, this was a professional photo fairy hit on my film -- so sly and under the radar that I could not even detect the point at which failure took place.  Both Lan and I shot on the same day with the same camera at the same location.  Apparently, she paid the photo fairies off.  For now, these negatives will be used to complete this project.  And I will, at some point in the future, be re-shooting these boring informational shots one more time for a grade higher than "F".  Boooooo!  Stupid photo fairies.

Zen

I really wanted this shot to be about the lotus sculpture.  I wanted it to be ethereal with the hope that the modern windows on the building behind it are inconsequential.  I thought that adorning the outskirts of a property with these was such an interesting choice.  This particular structure is a temple.  I'm uncertain of the exact faith associated with this temple but whomever designed it did a great job.  There are also lion statues within the gates of the premises but I wasn't daring enough to walk in and take pictures of those.  Maybe some day in the future I will because they have so much character.


Well tonight I am going to attempt to develop my first set of 4x5 negatives.  I'm trying to stay centered and Zen in a way because the process is done completely in the dark and one wrong step and it's back to step one -- re-shoot!  My teacher says that when things go wrong while we're developing or shooting it's actually "photo fairies" messing with us.  For some reason I really like the idea of these little invisible fairies destroying my work, most likely, it's because of my subsequent innocence even if my defense is based on a mythological creature.  Plus, photo fairies is just plain fun to say.

Bon Jour!

Bon jour from Irvine, France!  This is the interior of a French crepe restaurant across the street from my apartment.  I love the moment I cross the threshold because I immediately feel as if I've been transported to Paris, France.  I realize real Parisian restaurants would probably not be quite so stereotypical but I like to pretend.  There's always old happy French music playing lightly in the background as the smell of freshly made crepes fill the air.  Truly a fun place to visit!  

Submarine Confessions

This picture was taken with my camera phone while at Disneyland.  I really like the fact that the viewer has absolutely no context to put with this portrait.  The picture is of my friend Randy as he peered out of one of the submarine windows on the Finding Nemo ride.  The diffused light lit his face so uniquely that only the most vital parts of the picture are highlighted.  I love this picture because it caught him in a moment.  To me the picture has an almost confessional type aspect to it because of his introspective expression and the posture of his hands.  

Shining Hallway

I took this picture outside of my door at my apartment.  Every time I'm coming or going all I can imagine is The Shining when the blood starts spilling down the hallway and those creepy twins are there.  I know one of these days I'm going to glance over and they will be there waiting for me with their scary twin ugly dresses.  "Redrum" may be written on my door, yikes!  In reality the hallway looks more like the picture below:

Darn overactive imagination!


Last night I picked up my equipment to shoot the 4x5 assignment with my partner Lan this weekend.  It's sure to be a fun time.  I can't see us not laughing our butts off while we remember to try and make all of the necessary adjustments and follow all of the rules we've been given WHILE simultaneously not breaking the brand new $5,000 camera we're going to be using.  Should be a fun day or two, depending on how much we get done on Saturday.

Hell Week

At first glance this basket full of groceries appears to be a happy colorful bunch, right?  Underneath that colorful exterior lies the enemy. I have been detoxing this week from all the bad foods I love so much.  This image depicts my weapons against my war on bad food.  The beginning of the week was awesome fast one day have this crazy spinach/banana/celery/mango energy filled smoothie the next day, followed by a continuous flow of healthy, raw veggies and fruits.  Well now, I find myself on day four of this war and I loath my weapons.  I dream of cheeseburgers, fries, and sourdough bread.  It seems funny that such happy looking fruits and vegetables can be such hell.  I'm just trying to keep my eye on the ball at this point.  The week is not much longer.  Today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday-- DEAR GOD who am I kidding?!  I'm not even halfway... or I am exactly half way -- and the path to the end of the road seems so far.


I cannot wait until I start printing this semester so I can post more of my black and white pictures.  Things that I am artistically very proud of.  So far there have been several shots I've posted that I loved a lot but still doesn't seem as rewarding because all I did was push a button on my phone.  Over the next month I should start having fun stuff to post.  I'm so excited!

The forest...

It was so foggy this morning when Rowdy and I ventured out for our first experience with the day.  As I walked, I noticed how forest-like the trees seemed down our street.  The funny part is that these are actually just trees that line the outside of a bunch of industrial buildings.  But angling the shot up and cropping out context made it feel like we had a forest outside the front door.  I just wish it had been slightly more in focus.

Beautiful Weed

I know I said I was going to move away from flowers and more into a variety, however, I found two more flowers that were incredibly pretty.  One strangely was a weed of all things.  The detail in the spiny leaves intrigued me.  The hibiscus to the right just looked perfect with the bloom above it and the leaf in front.  I couldn't resist.

Dusk

This was Sunday night.  Driving in the car, running errands with Chuck.  The sky seemed to reflect the relaxed feel the evening had to it.  While driving through this neighborhood you could hear kids getting in the last of their play time before bed.  It was a great night.  

I've been thinking about my calendar theme for my class and am sort of disconnected to it.  I am envious of Lan's theme of shoes on people's feet.  It's so humanistic and easily connects with people.  I'm afraid my shadows as a design element do not really have the same impact.  I will keep thinking.  Maybe I can come up with something better.

My New 4x5 Love

I took this picture from under a dark cloth draped over the 4x5 camera.  It is a 4x5 camera because that is the size of the negative -- 4 inches by 5 inches.  During class our teacher told us we would fall in love with this camera.  Although, I still have yet to create any images with this camera, I think we might be in the beginning stages of a beautiful relationship.  This picture is the back element where you focus your image.  The particular image captured here is from the balcony of my apartment but upside down, with a slight ghost reflection of me taking the picture.  The world is a different place when you look at the back element.  Simply changing the orientation of the world does automatically cause you to see everything in a new light.  I can only imagine the fun I'm going to have with this camera.  It is still a little intimidating because of all it's moving parts, but a little practice should be just the cure for that!

Skateboarding Wishes and Kitty Chasing Dreams

I am trying to refrain from posting pictures of Rowdy to a minimum but sometimes he's just irresistible.  


Skateboarding with Chuck is one of his most favorite past times.  I really liked the moment this picture captured.  It almost appears as if the skateboard is a thought he's having.  This was post skateboarding -- hence, the huge doggy smile.  It was a good trip to the park.

GuadaLoupe

This is my newly purchased loupe (technically pronounced "loop").  In class, my teacher refers to it as "Lupe," therefore, I have named mine GuadaLoupe.  We will eventually be using this tool to focus our 4x5 cameras in the field while shooting.  For now, it's a fun toy to play with on my desk.  You'd be shocked how much dust there is on things that you can not see normally.  Pictured here, GuadaLoupe is showing the obscured view through my office window.  


I can't believe how weeks are just flying by since school started.  Next week we will already be a quarter of the way through the semester.  I think I need everything to just slow down a little.  There are too many projects to do when everything is going at such a fast pace.

Good Morning Up Close

While I was walking Rowdy in the park the sun was just waking up.  The light was beautiful.  All of the flowers were being lit in the most flattering way.  The way the sun beamed through the delicate petals enunciated every intricate detail.  I took many different shots of both flowers.  However, I noticed that the closer the camera, the more interesting the shot.


This image was taken with the camera on my phone.  While I'm drawn to subjects such as these, I need to start finding subjects that are more interesting.  I would like to start shooting more of a variety so that I have a larger array of things to post.  I am concerned that my comfort zone is holding me back from challenging myself to be better and grow in new ways.  My mission for this next week is to find images that tell a story or make you stop and take notice.

Getty Villa

The first time I ever visited the Getty Villa was with Nina and it was magical.  I had never been to a museum that I'd wanted to live at before.  I was immediately captivated. My imagination was off and running... there I was walking the grounds in a toga, with nothing on my schedule but enjoying the gardens, lounging in the water and maybe socializing.  This is also the reason I love this picture taken with my 35mm camera.  I feel like the statue depicts a moment captured from a day in the life at the Villa.  I wanted to remove this statue, then take her place upon the rock.  Of course, I would prefer a few more clothes considering how many visitors are at the Villa -- but the ambiance and state of mind that the figure portrays just seems idyll.

The gardens are amazing.  Every flower and leaf is perfectly manicured.  The entire location is a photo shoot waiting to happen.  I spent hours taking pictures and could go back and spend numerous more hours trying to capture even more of the magic on film.

Time with Family...

Chuck's niece, Chloe (nicknamed "Ladybug"), had her 
first birthday earlier this year.  The pictures have been living in suspended animation in a 35mm film canister for months now.  I just received these pictures back this week.  I am disappointed that I didn't have a flash that day because the lighting was just a tad on the poor side and put a great number of limitations on what I could shoot.  




In my day to day life I take mental pictures of things I want to remember.  Sometimes I take these "pictures" when someone is deep in thought and removed from the world around them, sometimes it's a mom kissing their baby on the cheek, and sometimes it's when a person is doing something unaware that anyone else is watching.  My friend Megan said that she had this realization that there are a finite number of emotions that we as humans feel and because of that we are able to relate to each other.  I think this theory also applies to these moments.  For moments worthy of mental pictures -- the beauty is in the ability to see what someone else is most likely feeling.  I am intrigued by pictures that pull me in.  How did the stuffed monkey end up on the floor?  Who was playing with it last?  Why did he/she decide to leave it there?  What was this person thinking or feeling?  I can feel that just in the expression.  Photography is a tool used to convey the human spirit and the many moments that we can't appreciate in depth because life is always moving so fast.

Carlsbad

Today I have decided to post more pictures than trying to choose just one or two.  I just received these pictures back from being developed.  It feels like I just took them all over again.  I have another roll from the Getty Villa that I will post from tomorrow that I am already excited about.  These pictures were taken with 35 mm film in Carlsbad.  I had never been to Carlsbad before and the first time was remarkable!  It was a really fun day.  There are so many flowers ready for a close up that one could easily be overwhelmed by the possibilities.

(Click on the pictures to see the best resolution.)

Parking Lot Perk

Randomly planted in the middle of a parking lot, this Purple Fountain Grass gracefully blew in the wind.   I captured this image while we were out and about running errands.  I used the camera on my phone then slightly cropped it on the computer.


P.S. And a thank you to Chuck for his sleuthing skills.  He very insightfully suggested to search "Purple long hairy flowers" to help me find the name of this plant online.  Next step, induction into the Geek Squad!

Aww the Weekend...

The sky is so impressive.  It's vast and breathtaking at times.  As the day was coming to an end the clouds were magical.  On this side of the sky it seemed like a lot of day time remained.  But a turn to the west told another story.  This is by far my most favorite time of day -- usually it finally cools down, you can smell people cooking dinner and it's time to relax.  As an added bonus, beautiful colors bounce off the clouds in one grand finale before going to sleep and resting for the next day.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I finally came up with a plan that was acceptable for the theme of my calendar.  Over the next 16 weeks I will be attempting to create a calendar using pictures of design elements created by shadows.  It was very difficult to think of something that was interesting, possibly profitable, and logistically feasible.  I'm excited to finally get started using formats other than 35mm.


I'm also looking forward to all the new techniques I'm going to learn in my Photo 187 class.  My hope is that the techniques will fold nicely into my project this semester.  I want to be able to print like a pro and get every shot exactly how I want it.


I took this picture while I was waiting for Chuck to get out of class last night.  I was in the car fooling around with the camera on my phone.  It was dark so the lights in the car became blurred when I moved it around as the picture was being taken.  I then altered it slightly to make it more interesting using Picasa.  It's a good thing I'm so easily amused.  I think once I realized what I could do with my phone, I literally took pictures of lights like this for about 45 minutes trying to get a pattern I really really liked.  I suppose it could also be categorized as OCD... but since no medical evaluation has officially been conducted I will just call it amusement.


Thank goodness it's Friday.  I'm so exhausted from this week. Can't wait to sleep in tomorrow!

downward spiral...

Yesterday I discussed my ideas for the theme of my calendar with my art director (aka teacher).  Sadly, none of the ideas I came up with work.  I am now scrambling to try and come up with a concept to propose that will be interesting and profitable.  The hard part is things that sell well are marketed towards a less sophisticated taste than what I'd like to shoot.  After some research, I found one sites best selling calendars to include rainbows, NASCAR, cat naps, and The Wizard of Oz.  I'm concerned that this information indicates a serious problem with the constant decrease in society's sophistication on the whole.  Seriously!?  An entire calendar about cats napping!?  Dear God!  I need something that would be classy, sophisticated, interesting, and original.  Megan had another great idea about taking pictures of stuff that was found.  I'd have to figure out a way to incorporate that in without words though.  She also suggested a fire station.  I think there could be many things that I could do with shapes and objects at a fire station.  I'm also toying with trying to figure out if I could do an entire calendar composed of images of reflections.  It could be interesting if the reflection is framed in an interesting way.  For example, a puddle on a sidewalk with a reflection of a bright sky with big white clouds.  This concept could work with some powerful things. The hard part would be finding the images.  Maybe I could do design elements found in shadows -- akin to Tuesday's post picture.  Need to brainstorm!

The Key to the Argument

This is a picture of the solution to an argument.  We only have one mail key assigned for our apartment and Chuck simply requested a copy of it so he too could pick up the mail.  Strangely, instead of saying, "Sure thing!" I instead decided to argue.  For some unknown reason, I decided that it was insulting to ask for a key because it insinuates I'm not responsible enough to get the mail on a daily basis.  In my head, I was thinking -- "this is ridiculous... stop talking" -- and yet the words continued to fall out my mouth.  It was like having an out of body experience.  Finally after hanging up the phone my pragmatic side took the reins again and I sent this picture as an apology.  It seemed only fitting that I received a picture of myself in return with the words "I'm a bigger trouble maker."  Guilty as charged!  ;)

Pseudo Monday AKA Tuesday

Back to work.  Now I'm suffering from the post traumatic stress of having a great weekend.  Made it to Julie's BBQ a mere two and a half hours late.  Luckily for me, just in time for food!  ;)  Had a great time hanging out watching her little one who is partial to the Baskin-Robbins commercial with the "Ice Cream and Cake and Cake" song.  Who, while only 14 months under his belt on this planet, still has better rhythm than myself!  His skills were proven when the song came on and his little arms went up and he started to do the baby version of raising the roof.  Absolutely adorable!


The rest of the weekend was relaxed and full of a lot of nothing -- just the way I like it!  I finally finished the third book in the Twilight series and was pleasantly surprised that my new obsession was so captivating.  It's so strange when you think you're going to hate something and it ends up being your new favorite thing instead.  I was so anti-Twilight...then there was some sort of subconscious element to the writing that sucked me in and brainwashed me into loving it.  Oh well.  I'll just accept and move on.


This is a picture of the entrance to my building at work.  These buildings are surprisingly ordinary and cookie cutter from the outside but you can never underestimate buildings from the outside -- just like books and covers.  There is usually at least one or two elements worthy of a picture.  The role lines play in architecture is inspiring.  Without fail, they will always catch my eye for some reason.

Labor Day...

Not much real labor involved with today's activities.  Started the day off taking Rowdy for a walk in the park by our place.  We were shortly joined later by Chuck on his skateboard -- then Rowdy did the most labor pulling Chuck around on his skateboard.  Pretty nice day out there!   A little bit hot but not unbearable.  Guess it's time to get my side dish started for Julie's BBQ.  


I love not having to work on Mondays!

Cutting it Close

Ahhh! Where did the day go!?  Almost just missed the end of it!

Walking in a Spiderweb

Spiders scare the heck out of me.  Unfortunately, this weather has brought an onslaught of little critters that are nothing but creepy.  I think webs are impressive works of art with nature as their only art teacher.  Its hard to imagine being born with an innate ability to create something with equal components of symmetry, beauty and architecture.  I'm working on appreciating the spiders as much as their work.  

Rooftop

The rooftop of our apartment complex suffers from being vastly underutilized.  It serves as the visitor parking area and excess parking for residents and that's it.  Cars are parked, people walk inside and the view is completely wasted.  If it were my building I would have made a space for relaxing and enjoying my surroundings.  It's so quiet and beautiful.  At night all the city lights twinkle and in the distance  and you can see anonymous stoplights turning to green.  I could spend a lot of time up there if I didn't look like a weirdo hanging out on the roof with the empty cars. 

Sunshine and Lollipops!

Today this camera was waiting on my desk when I arrived at work because a passionate photographer believes in what I can achieve.  I am so excited to see what I can do with this amazing tool!  I've never used this format before and cannot wait to see what it is capable of.  

I was told that this camera's specialty is portraits.   Now I just need some willing portraitees!  Smile!  :D  Click!

Last night as I was driving I somehow started thinking about how people laugh.  I could hear in my head exactly how my friend Nina laughs.  I haven't seen her in person for about six months now and I was wondering if I could still imagine her boisterous laugh.  To my surprise, it was very easy to do.  Then I tried to imagine, one by one, each family member or friend, present or past, laughing.  Before I knew it I was driving with a big smile on my face.  A feeling of happiness and contentment washed over me.  Something about imagining your friends and loved ones in their happiest state is contagious.  It is such a fun thing to do.  Next time I am feeling a little down or my day is going badly I have a new tactic to turn it around.  My friends and loved ones laughing whenever I want.  What a great feeling!

Something that Changes the Landscape of Thought

Waking up inspired is an amazing feeling.  I'm glad it doesn't happen everyday because I'd take it for granted and it wouldn't be as impressive.  

My inspiration was hatched after a night out with my friend Megan.  I love spending time with friends you've known forever.  It is especially rewarding when you realize all over again why you became friends in the first place.  Friendship is one of the most precious gifts we are given as a human. Last night Megan and I saw a movie, had dinner and just had great conversations.  We have been friends since we were 17/18.  Who knew one could bond with someone whilst working at a fried fish taco joint?!  I guess when you're in the oil filled trenches you need allies to make it through.  

Funny how many memories are attached with that place.  One that immediately comes to mind (coincidentally also one of the lowest points of my integrity) was the day I donned a fish taco costume in the middle of August.  Soon after walking into the public dressed as an animated fish taco who strangely had a mustache, I was immediately harassed by 12-year-old boys.  Their plan of action was simple yet effective, hit the fish taco (a.k.a me!) in the back of my head and tail just out of my fish-eyed field of vision.  Oh good times.  Makes me feel fortunate for my current, non-theatrical, position in my boring office.  

Mundane Beauty

I love the beauty in mundane things.  It makes me incredibly happy when I am able to capture that beauty through photography.  I feel like being able to see this beauty in everyday moments makes me appreciate the world in the best light possible.  

Sometimes I think my dog Rowdy has the most loving, innocent, inquisitive view of the world.  It would be amazing if I could always see everything as curiously as he does.