Lining Ducks Up

Or should I say, ducks lining up? I haven't shot in film for about a year, and recently, I came to acquire a new (old) camera, a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex, that's gotten me excited about film again. Since shooting with this camera, I've scanned 2 rolls of film, that I'm really excited about. I have over 16 rolls of 120mm film that need to be processed, scanned, and cataloged. So aside from my regular 8-10hr job, I will continue to work on the film I have at hand.

I almost forgot, I have over 20 rolls of 35mm film that has already been scanned but still needs to be cataloged. This is my life now.

Here's a few shots from a roll I scanned recently:

The last image of your's truly was taken by Michelle Corvino, I'm taking a photo of her with her 35mm Minolta SLR.

In a Moving Transition

I've been taking a haitus on taking and processing photos lately. Its been a little tough from taking photos everyday to not taking any at all. For the past month, I've been in a moving transition and its been quite difficult to imagine taking photos right now. This time has been a good opportunity for growth in other areas and wrapping my mind around other projects. Anyway, in the meantime, here are a some random photos I've taken from the past few months.

In a month or so, I'll get back to it, I still need to get about eight rolls of 120mm, most of which are probably going to cost a pretty penny (C-41 Process). I have a few other images that still need to be uploaded and re-scanned. My scanner isn't doing the best job at scanning color film the moment... so I probably should work on a budget for that.

In anycase, that's it for now I guess... until I can move and get everything back together.

Cheers.

Santa Monica

A few photos snapped at Santa Monica in CA.

The end.

With my Cousin

On her rooftop in Hoboken New Jersey

NJ&NY 2011

A view from Hoboken New Jersey into New York

Some people swear by the places they live. Where they grew up, where they've spent their lives. I've been to many cities and experienced many different cultures here in America. To me, there seems to be a pattern in the way people interact with each other. That if the population density is thicker, people tend to be more welcoming or friendly (depending on the context of the area, but I'm speaking in more possible innaccurate generalities). This is what I loved about New York. The people.

A few months ago, I flew to NYC to see my cousin get married. I grew up with him and I was able to spend a decent amount of time with my cousins while I was there. The day after the wedding, Kristine, took me into the glorious city and it was a thrilling experience. I wasn't able to take many photos because of the snow and the constant worry that my camera is bound to break soon. These are some of the photos I took on that trip.

Speaking of which, it snowed in NY while I was there.

The snow was cold. I had this great idea of lining my shoes with a plastic bag to prevent water from seeping in... it eventually did but I was so enthralled to be in snowfall that I forgot that it was cold at times.

We rode the NYC subway system.

We went to a Moraccan restautant. It was great.

That was Bryan

Brittany

Kristine

We took the subway back then walked again through the snow. Wet shoes and pants.

I had so much fun with my cousins. Thanks Bryan and Kristine for taking me out to see part of the city. Come to California!

Beach Dogs

Pholkraphy Excerpt 3

Jason

Anne

Anne recently got accepted as an intern in a professional photographer's firm. See her stuff at http://annesophiaphotography.blogspot.com/. I'm really excited for this opportunity for her.

Warm Lights

That was an scary and amazing night.

I just wrote about being blessed... and I am. Even in cold nights like this, I long for warm lights.

His and Hers

This first photo was taken in Avila Beach

I recently went up north to get away from Orange County and just be. I went around and took photographs of places, things, dogs... people.

I find old couples endearing to a point of hope. Hope in that God would bring someone in my life to be able to love, be with, and share our lives together. At one point, I thought I knew what God wanted, but here I am... just not knowing at all.

This photo was taken in Pismo Beach

Now here I am, just praying that I'll be okay. I know I'll be.

Feet

Sometimes, I imagine the water enveloping my feet even when I'm not at the beach.

I met Danny Pudi

I met Danny Pudi today, he is part of the main cast of Community, a T.V. comedy that revolves around a study group within a community college. He plays Abed, who, on the surface seems to be a person with an affinity for T.V. and Movies. Danny has such great comedic timing with this character that he's such a quotable character within the show. Actually, after evaluating who my favorite character would be... I'm realizing more and more that I really like Abed, followed by Troy, Britta, Pierce, Jeff, Shirley, and Anne. (Actually, this list gets refactored based on the episode, but Abed and Troy remain my favorite characters on the show.)

So I asked him if I could take a photo of him, actually, I've never really met a celebrity before him. Moreover, an actor who I actually appreciate in their art. My friends and I were at a coffee shop and he was there on his computer with his headphones on. After ordering our coffee and hanging out there for a few moments, I told my friends, "I'm going to ask if I could take his picture." They replied immediately, "Wait till we leave." I think that implied that they did not want to be embarassed by me, asking for a photo. Asking a stranger for a photo is quite an awkward situation in itself, but asking a celebrity is on a whole different level. My friends finished their coffee and left me. I thought to myself, as I was sipping on my cup, "why do I want to do this?" I realized immediately that I was just a guy who appreciated this man's work. I wanted to show my appreciation to him, but also ask him a few things...

I stood up, returned my finished cup on the bar counter, stood next to him. He was sitting intently, watching something on his laptop. After a few moments, I waved into his peripheral to catch his attention and said, "hi." He responded with a smile and shook my hand. It felt like an awkward situation to be in but also somewhat normal... as there seemed to me, to be no other alternative to get his attention. If he didn't want to respond and have a small conversation, he could have waved and ignored me. He didn't and I really appreciated his willingness to indulge my curiousity of him.

I immediately asked him if I could take a photo of him. He said, "Yeah, it's okay." I also mentioned that I had a few questions...

I asked him, "how does it feel to be on an amazing show?" Danny just smiled and enthusiastically replied, "It's great!" I asked him, "...about your character's development, Abed to me started off as a one dimentional character, through the past two seasons, he's been getting more depth. Did you talk to the screen writers about this?" He mentioned that it was the screenwriters that developed the character; "Having eight main characters to develop is tough when you have only so much time. With the introduction of Abed's father and some situations, they've (screen writers) definitely built up my character." Then I was curious about his comedic partner Troy, played by Donald Glover, "About Donald..." Danny: "Yes?" ..."you two have such great comedic timing... where does that come from, how does that happen?" He smiled and said, "It's the job." I laughed and I appreciated such a straight-forward answer. He's a professional that's courteous, and welcoming. I really appreciated the conversation we had. I stood up and gestured my arm into a hand shake and upon recieving the grasp of his palm, introduced myself, so did he. I think he thought I didn't know his name, I just didn't want to say "Abed" over "Danny." I didn't want to assume what to call him, because I didn't know him as a person all.

I lifted my camera and my friend Jared was there and he shook Danny's hand and said, "I'm a big fan of your work." Then Danny asked if I wanted to be in the picture, so Jared offered to take the picture.

That's the photo you see up there.

Then I asked Danny if I could take his photo alone. He said, "sure." So I did. I wish I was a little more calm to take that picture in that low light.

Thanks Danny for being a great guy and engaging in an awkward moment. I really wish this portrait came out better, it doesn't do him justice.

From the Main Blog: Late Night Writing

Late Night Writing is a photo/literary work I published on my main blog. Here's a preview:

"The Water Runner"

He took off like the wind! A whiffle of his tail, the quickness of his limbs, boy oh boy! What a fast dog. He was a water runner, a fetcher, a go getter. Waves couldn't catch a hair off him. He ran with such freedom and the shoreline roared, "shooosh." I heard the waves say, "GO!" This quadruped was gifted, this dog had wings.

Read more...

Submitted to Pictory

I haven't been able to post any pictures from the past 4 days... mostly because I didn't feel like taking photos. It's been a difficult season in my life.

Anyway, in other news, I sent in a submission to Pictory, which is an online photo magazine curated and edited by Laura Brunow Miner. Right now, my submission is listed as an example on the "Platonic Love Stories," the picture features one of my dear friends Jacque, I just briefly talk about how our friendship is. I love the format of Pictory, in fact, I enjoyed it so much that much of my design decisions for this photoblog were based off of Pictory.

Maybe I should tell more stories with each pictures.

Sand, Sun, Water.

Yesterday, I spent some time at the beach to collect some thoughts and process through a few things. It was mild and peaceful; the weather was forgiving of my warmer settled soft body. A time in the word, a time in thought, a time in prayer in reverence to God. A time to create, or essentially try to capture and experience the vast beauty of this scene.

It was good time. I read through 2 Corinthians and was particularly encouraged by 1:4, in knowing that God comforts us in hope that we, in His love, would be able to do the same for our brothers. I am in hope that I don't lose sight of His glory in the things I am going through.

p.s. {I didn't even attempt to take pictures on Friday, there are some moments better left experienced than taken photos of.}

My Niece

Grand Canyon

It's amazing how deep this canyon can be. I remember coming there and realizing that I am so small compared to this world. These photos were taken at the Grand Canyon in 2007.

I caught myself breath taken, seeing such beauty. I've seen that beauty before. Right now I find myself thinking of how I interact or relate to beauty. I think man¹ longs for a relationship with something beautiful. To me God is beautiful. I've been in a relationship with Him and it's overwhelming, the love and grace I feel from such a person. I believe aesthetically, beauty provokes emotion, an object² can be just beautiful. As an object isn't necessarily beautiful intrinsicly, but it's beautiful based on preference; however, that preference for beauty, I believe, is measured in relation to a more purer form of beauty.

This, my friends, to me... is beautiful.

I believe that a person is beautiful based on the depth of their character in relation to a purer form. As I've encountered such depth and such beauty in my life, I found myself blessed.

¹ "Man", as mankind.

² Object, as subject

Waiting

I remember taking a series of self portraits on February 14, 2009 thinking about love and what God was doing in my life at the time. I was praying that He would move my heart in some way. God did, God has, and God is continuing to move my heart to Him.

The Sky is Falling