Transience

It is time to move on. I have far too many accounts to keep up with, so I am moving my photo-journal to flickr only. As far as photography goes, I draw so much more inspiration from other photographers there, plus I can follow the work of old professors and peers as well. I highly recommend getting an account on flickr if you are interested in photography/art. I am also considering doing another 365 project, but this time with self-portraits. My reason for this is to work on compositions with people, and lighting, of course. Anyone else up for the challenge? Lastly, I am subscribed to all you fellow bloggers via google reader, so I will still be reading your posts as my normal morning routine.

Signing out-

Lauralani

The other weekend we went bowling with Tony's family. This was my first time seeing the alley after some much needed renovations. I could not resist snagging a few photos with this bench before it was bombarded by teenagers eating hot dogs and chili fries.

Wow, this weekend can only be described as insanely HOT! The coolest place I found to be was in the truck after the AC had kicked in. Even after jumping in the pool, I found myself saying "it is too hot to be in the pool!"

You know it you are pathetic when all you have to write about is the crappy weather.

Moving right along, I would like to announce that here will be another Art Show this Friday evening from 6-9pm at the Carriage Inn Banquet hall. This will be the first time the underground artists will braze the surface of the public realm. Wish us luck!

To be perfectly honest, I have been wanting to quit this blog. I told Tony last night that I quit, and he told me that I should keep doing it because it was my thing. Frankly, I am not interested. Photography is my passion, but I don't know that posting photos here on livejournal with a bunch of jumbo about my life is really filling any gaps. I'm not quite sure what to do. I need more, or something, or from something.


I don't know.

It feels like the past few weekends have been completely jam packed full of stuff to do. Friday night after work we went on a bike ride with the few people that made it out for the "Fun Ride." Afterward, we gathered at our house for a few drinks to end on an early night.

Saturday we headed out to Lancaster for the No Pants Festival. There were quite a few bands playing in two different areas, with quite a few good ones! The inside was mostly acoustic while the outdoors was mainly punk and rock n rollers. After Lonely Desert Station played, we decided on a whim to drive to Hollywood for Explosions in the Sky. As we headed to the ticketing booth, we noticed the dreaded SOLD OUT looming above the windows. Crushed, we tried to figure out a different way of getting in. I noticed a vulnerable security guard near the smoking section to the bottom floor, and begged him to let us sneak past if we gave him cash right then and there. The result? Another fucking AMAZING show for a measly twenty bucks! :)

Yesterday we decided it was the perfect day to spend at the pool, and it was. I'm completely exhausted. This weekend, although we do plan on camping, we plan to do absolutely nothing but relax, maybe fish, and watch the fireworks in Independence. What an ideal place to be on the fourth of July, eh?

No more! I'm getting too old for all this. I hope everyone had a great weekend. We are looking forward to a short week and a great holiday next weekend. Whew!

They arrived ever so swiftly this year. Last year they took a little over a month, this time only a few days. Yesterday I also received word that my baby sister and Carter will also be joining us, tickets have already been purchased. I hope someday my entire family can experience it together.

On another note, Happy 50th Birthday to my dear mother! She still looks like her daughters. Age is nothing but a number.

Stiff as a board.

I'm interested in viewing myself doing things I wouldn't normally think about photographing. How do the parts on the shelf see people reaching for them? What does it look like from the soy milk's perspective in the rear of the fridge?

Cellar door?









On a completely different note, I talked to the events coordinator at the Carriage Inn, and she is interested in me putting together another art show. Who's with me?

What is it with photographers taking smiling photographs of models, or capturing the happiest families and portraits with a baby in a dresser? Digital photography has already presented such instances of false realities, as most photographer "edit" their images in photoshop to make them look "better", which in all actuality is altering the original half genuine scene. It is bad enough that we as human beings put on our facade as another human or a camera confronts us. We immediately talk in a higher pitch, force a smile and pretend like everything is fine. A photograph can already be a constructed scene, so why not use those scenes to present an emotion or confront political issues that are not being heard?

As I browse back through the photographs in my journal, I realize that there really are no fake smiles of people pretending their memories were happy. There might be acting, but for the most part it is a depiction of something real, that was truly felt, or an ugly face we would never want put on our grandparents wall.

Thank you blowfish.

Buy your Burning Man ticket, and join me with thousands of other fascinating individuals while we live art and walk through dreams.

Yeah, not as exciting as some people think in my opinion. I'm not sure where the satisfaction comes from taking apart, re-machining, and putting back together one of these puppies. I guess it would be the same joy that comes from legos? Perhaps the one bonus is that it is a photo of something other than just myself, a different focus for a change?

Well, the week is officially in full swing. The art show was so incredibly fabulous, I really don't even know where to begin. One of my best friends from High School, Jessica Coan, was able to make the journey down to Ridgecrest from Reno to show a series of paintings she just finished. (The paintings were remarkable by the way, one of my favorites for sure.) Not only that, we had a total of 15 artists who showed work! This, my friends, is an incredible achievement. In case you don't know the history of the Art Shows in Ridgecrest, let me take you back to the winter of 2006. It was at this time that I had my first Art Show, showing only some night photography that I had done as gifts for my family and a few friends. There were only about 10 photos, 9 guests, and the same refreshments and wine. This past show there were 15 artists showing mostly full bodies of work, with around 50 guests and a DJ. I'm beginning to think that I am in the wrong business! I should be a party thrower. Hah. No, but I am so pleased with the turnout, and the artwork is definitely evolving from slightly amateur to much more enticing and professional work with much more behind it than meets the eye!

One thing I would like to change, is for the artists to be more involved in critiquing each others work. From my experience in college, this is something we did at least two or three times before showing a completed body of work. It was in this way, we were able to make changes to allow for a more successful overall composition.

Enough of my rambling for now. Thanks to everyone who participated and came to support us! For now, I will focus on something else that is very exciting: Grizzly Bear...

My wonderful friends Cameron and Kristen just got back from a week and a half in Tokyo. I was fortunate enough to receive this beautiful hair piece and a hard rock shirt as a gift from them! I couldn't ask for anything more!

We are leaving tonight to drive out to Las Vegas for a Dr. appointment tomorrow, to return right after for Art Show preparation! I can't freaking wait!

Here is yet another discarded photo I will not be using at the next art show. Perhaps if I do a series on a fairytales one day, I will use this same concept. Otherwise, it can definitely be used as a going green promotion for myself!

Oh yeah, my bag fell on the floor today and not my lens is all effed up! I guess this is one of the consequences of carrying my camera with me at all times. :( Bummer dude.

Last night was the first practice for Elvis Goes Hoggin' with their new bass player, Cedric Knight. Tony wanted to drag me along to take pictures and we ended up doing a few group photos, although I had no flash. (Thank goodness for raw processing!) I don't know what they were expecting out of these, but they wanted to do it in that location, which means the middle of the garage, so this is what they get.

Cedric did pretty damn well for his first time playing with these guys. We already knew he was an amazing bass player, but what we didn't know is that this guy loves the music already and adds a special groove you can all see when they have their next show.

Friday, woot.

Note: Never believe everything you see in a picture. And for the record, I am not sad all the time, but would rather hide my face on bad hair days, especially after running!



The weather was A+ yesterday. Who could ask for more than a rain and thunderstorm after several weeks of heat and wind. The wind of course was horrendous yesterday as well, but the lack of sun and ten degree decrease was enough to put a smile on my face.

My photos for the next art show, June 13th if you didn't already know, are in the process of being printed as I type right now. I have a really good feeling about this one, and an old friend from High School who lived with me in Reno might even make the venture down to show some of her newest work. I'm crossing my fingers, hoping she can make it! I sent a mass email to other participants on Myspace, looking for any ideas for names. Unfortunately, only one person responded with "Southsider Art". I do also like the idea of playing off the Burning Man theme this year, Evolution, credit to Braxton. I'm open to anything, but might just put anything down for now and plan for something spectacular for the next show.

Lastly, check this out. It is rad!

Last night T and I went out for a little bike, photo, movie return adventure. I am slowly inching closer to something.

And, we are back.

After ten days of being surrounded by nothing but trees, we are back to the open desert. I love the green, I really do, but not being able to see a mile ahead of you in any direction can be very claustrophobic.

Our week away with the family was fabulous. We got to explore a little, relax a little, eat amazing food (Oh my I am so obsessed with the Mellow Mushroom!), and spend lots of quality time together. It is always hard to adjust back to the normal routine, so I am grateful I planned a trip with Monday as a holiday. (Don't think I'll ever change that.)

With the next art show rapidly approaching, I really need to get my a** into gear. I've started two different concepts, and because I can't decide on either of them, I'm going to continue to do both. What a way to relieve stress eh? Enough for now, back to work.

Virginia.

My little brother Donald cut his hair for the first time in six years.

We sang Karaoke at a place called Tokyo Rose. (Just like Lost in Translation, but in a basement.)

We made a family visit to TJ's home in Monticello.

I was told I am obsessed with jumping pictures. I'm just on a jumping kick.

My sister Melissa cut her hair after over ____ years.

My flash broke in my checked luggage, so much for my recent goal.

Mellow Mushroom, here we come.




Hope everyone else is having a great week. I love vacations.

Working at my work. Where else am I supposed to practice making images?

Looking back on my past year of photos, I have a new goal in mind. In my perspective, a photographer is a painter; a painter with light. My lighting has never been as good as I would like it to be so I am going to invest more time in studying light, specifically artificial lighting. I've always tried using my flash indoors to light my subjects, but it is usually an on camera bounce flash. I dug up an old flash slave I used to use doing film, and I would like to get a speedlight to use as another fill for outdoor and indoor lighting. In any given situation, lighting can change any environment dramatically, even if only used as a fill flash outdoors. I cannot always depend on the outdoor lighting to be satisfactory, or the indoor lighting to suffice as the only light source.

My flash has taken the empty seat next to my camera in my bag, now to perfect it. I am going to use my flash with every image I take for the next few months. Soon I will hopefully have a speedlight to take the empty third seat, then my bag will be completely full. So much shit to carry around.

This morning I was told that I was in the paper for the wine tasting art display.  Where the hell does Ridgecrest come up with these so called writers?  I submitted an 'about me' paragraph to Bob Peoples, and naturally they had to edit what I really said to make it sounds, well shitty I guess.  At least it was advertised, and hell, my job got free advertisement as well. On the bright side, more of my fellow artist friends have an opportunity to show some of their work here in town. 

This weekend we are headed to Virginia for my older sister Melissa's graduation from grad school.  If you are wondering about the pains and struggles of earning a higher education, you can read all about it at her blog. ;)  I plan to take many a million photos while I am there.  Last night I had another one of my Laura can't make up her mind and thinks her plans for the new art show are crap.  I always doubt myself as I get halfway in to a project.  Only time will tell. 

Now to figure out if that link even works for my blogger blog. I did update it in case anyone looked at it.  Check it out and tell me what you think.