Update

So I havent updated this in a long time. I don't know what I'm doing with all my time. Oh yeah, Im working.

Blah.

I've had some good ideas lately though. I need to get some people to model, I also need to find a smoke stack....

College aps!

Yup.
I'll real update this next time I shoot

Posted at at 1:55 PM on Thursday, November 15, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 1 comments   | Filed under:

Announcing:

Mah GFF


The start of a brand new D300 fund. if you would like, a few hundred bucks here and there to show your appreciation would be fantastic. We'll see though. My goal is to have it by a little after my birthday, which isn't too far off at all. (Maybe then I can switch wallpapers)

....
You know, I was going to post a picture... but all new DSLRs basically look the same. You get it.

This weekend went pretty good. I really do like hanging out with my friends but if i don't have a good picture every week or so I really get depressed. Not necessarily depressed but ARGH! it bugs me so much not to have used a camera in so long.

Right now I'm looking at colleges, really really really trying to figure out what to do so I'm not either poor or get a crappy school. I think if I keep up this trend of getting out pictures regularly, I'll see a little more improvement hopefully.

To put it bluntly, the things that need to happen in order for more pictures to come along:

1.) Meet new people
2.) Go to new places


Holy crap, it's a Blogger exclusive! Only really because I don't like this one. Bleh.

Not hard, but somehow I've managed to be pretty slow on both somehow. The thing that annoys me most is that i see I am improving, but it's at a much slower rate than I would like. It feels like it's going to take a long while before I finally have a gallery of pictures I really enjoy. And to break up the monotony, I won't end this paragraph with a "We'll see."

I think now I might make a ModelLaunch account or something similar, even though I don't use my MM too too much.

Mhm, well I wish I had more really but nothing terribly interesting is going on right now. I'll have more later. =)

Posted at at 5:01 PM on Sunday, October 14, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 1 comments   | Filed under:

Some Sorry Flower


I wish I didn't spend entire weekends without taking pictures. School always presents itself as some obstacle when it isn't one at all. I love fun but I wish I could .....blah!

Posted at at 11:05 PM on Sunday, October 7, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 0 comments   | Filed under:

Waste.

I've been feeling really discouraged lately. I haven't taken any pictures worth a breath. None of my pictures mean anything to me.

I wish a fire would take everything. They've always felt these distant things, something I can't touch or feel but only watch. It'd be nice to see something with depth rather than an afterthought. When you're tired and lost like this thoughts don't seem to connect. Nor do my sentences. It's bothering me. The fact that I'm thinking in broken English might just help to underline my lack of any solution.

Everything past technical learning is a creative plateau. There is no growth. I don't know what it's going to take.

Still, I've been writing pages of ideas. There are maybe six of so completed pictures I've visualized in my head. They're a bit basic, well most of them, but I think if I can actualize these then I might be able to feel more confident.

Outside of that, I'd like to get in some pictures with suspended time... which means I need to get out more.

I'm writing this now, but I've always felt like this. I can't imagine hanging up my own pictures. (outside of a birthday gift to my mom) My room is filled with other people's work. It's not that I want to get past this, as I actually do prefer others in my house, it's that I want my work to be more personal, at the least.

I don't want this to last, really. I know I'll never be satisfied, but I at least want to see creative growth, at least.

I really don't like this post. Mostly this blog is a stream of consciousness, and my ideas aren't connected to begin with, but I feel this one has been all over the place. I DO have standards! And I do like to write.

Posted at at 11:47 PM on Monday, September 24, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 0 comments   | Filed under: , , , ,

Thanks

For reading this! I've never thought I'd get actual comments, that's kinda cool, considering everyone on the internet already hates me. The more people who actually comment make me feel like I should actually make my life more interesting! Hopefully. I love my friends. I'm trying really hard to make everything better. Senior year is going to be great.

Anyway, I just sent another app to a photographer. They might be a little "high up" for me, but I don't think anything else would be good for me. You have to aim
high. Right now I'm filling out a Shoprite application, but hopefully I won't have to use it. We'll see.

This isn't really a post I guess, I'm just saying thanks. Hopef
ully I'll be able to get some good pictures soon and I'll make an interesting post. I'll just dot this one with some pictures from the other day. (These won't be on my flickr.) I dunno, they might. For some reason I didnt really care for them too much.

Argh! One thing I DO need to do is to pull off some ideas I have for shoots. Just need a little money I guess. Let's wait for a job. Later.









Posted at at 2:28 PM on Sunday, September 16, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 3 comments   | Filed under:

I GOT A NEW STOVEEEE

Check this shit out! First thing we do when we lug it in the door and hook it up - "LET'S BOIL WATER!"

So we got out a huge pot and put it on our "power heater". This shot was taken with the light out and lit only by flash. I put it in TTL and fired off camera left with my SB-800. That way I got a nice shot of the smoke. CLS worked really well here, I'm impressed.

Boiling baby, because you know, all water is blue. (I just had to mess around with it)

My stove has quite a rack.

Art-fag shot of the grill. (Yes, it's actually in focus, except I was too lazy to get my flash for most of these so it was shot at 1.8 and probably a shaky shutter speed. I don't think I sharpened any of these except the first one. Eh.


See above.



Anyway, that was the first time I've shot in days. I got so excited it reminds me how much i love taking pictures. I haven't had a chance, all I've been doing is school and sleep. I have a four day weekend coming up though, I'm looking foward to getting some nice shots before then. This break is also COLLEGE RESEARCH BREAK. Bigtime, I have to get my facts straight before it's too late.

Anyway, I've decided to be reading more. It'd be a very neat idea to base some photography concepts on books, but we'll see. Maybe soon you'll see a picture named "The Same Deep Water As You", a Cure song shot I've been trying to do for a long time...

Anyway, I plan on reading King Leopold's Ghost after reading Heart Of Darkness. I'm really interested in colonial Africa. Also, after Africa, (or along with it), I want to read a biography of Napoleon. It's amazing so interesting and legendary a man is completely unknown to me. That's all. =)

Posted at at 9:33 PM on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 2 comments   | Filed under:

Diane Arbus

Today I was at Barnes and Noble for about an hour reading about photography. Mostly I've been looking through this book; Revelations with the work of Diane Arbus. I don't have a large collection of knowledge on older photographers in the least bit, but today I'm glad I got to appreciate some of her work.

I didn't have time to fully read much at all but the picture's I've seen had that intangible quality that i love about them. I guess you can say she truly shot from the hip, because she used a Rolleiflex =) Can't do that with DSLRS. I also noticed in the book she used a Leica M3 I think. Might be confusing this with others. It's refreshing to take time to absorb a picture. I enjoyed most of her words too. Here are two quotes:


The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is the cutting edge of the mind.

Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats.
The picture above is of two twins taken in Roselle, actually. Very expensive picture :P It's a funny thing, while I was done reading, I realize that although I DO spend a lot of time reading and researching about photography, I was immediately wishing for my camera after having read all of that. I should just go out and shoot. And I did, a bit at least. I went over Emily/Amanda's and picked this shot of the staircase that I love. A little heavy on the left side, but that's what makes this one so dynamic and interesting,It's grainy, but I wasnt about to drag a tripod in their house, haha.



I might leave it at that, as tonight hasn't exactly been an inspiring post. Maybe I should edit it a little. I've been writing what's coming to mind. Goodnight.



Posted at at 12:25 AM on Friday, September 7, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 1 comments   | Filed under:

where are my pills?


where are my pills?
Originally uploaded by Sekator
Sekator, who I've just stumbled upon. Awesome diptychs.

Posted at at 11:29 PM on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 0 comments   | Filed under:

Chapter II


It's eleven o' clock and the night before my orientation for school. I'm looking forward to this school year. It seems I have a lax schedule and might have time for photography/ a job / a life! Tomorrow afterwards I have to write out my cover letter and resume. Hopefully I'll be helping out a photographer as my job. Hopes.


I've realized a lot of my ideas involve clothing and props. That may sound like a plain statement but for the most part that is something I've never had or utilized. Once I get a job I want to start a number of series - I can use the money I have to pay for all of what I need, hopefully.

I'm hoping this year is one of actualization. I'm not satisfied with my photography ( though I never am) because of what it represents; which is currently nothing. I'm hoping I can make some ideas I have come to light and actually have an impact on the viewer. I feel like my pictures are detached non concepts. That's fine sometimes, but I want to change it up. I want meaning.

Right now I am trying to learn flash. I'm going to be trying to participate with the Lighting 102 assignment this time. MAYBE I can actually get some decent out of this. I'm pretty excited because this post of David's was on my "to-learn" list, so that works out.

Since I dont think I can save any of them easily here I am going to post two extra posts after this one. They'll be pictures, like the last. I want to connect with photographers and watch them more on flickr since I've upgraded. Hopefully I can order some prints. =)



I'm going to cut this post short because I forgot my original intention. Oh. I was going to talk about how this feels like the start of a second chapter for me. Start of senior year, hopefullyyyy... and interesting job, time for projects, money for it! I'm excited. Don't have much time now though, going to head to sleep and then early tomorrow for orientation.

Posted at at 11:09 PM on by Posted by Jack | 1 comments   | Filed under:

Autumn's Monologue II


Autumn's Monologue II
Originally uploaded by EvilxElf
From one of my favorite photographers.

Posted at at 2:52 AM on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 1 comments   | Filed under:

Whatever Becomes of Us...


It's hard to think sixty-five days have gone by, but they have. I won't consider this summer a victory really, I didn't get half as much done as I had wanted to. Lack of effort? No. Lack of planning, really. I didn't know the half of it.

I keep wondering when it's all going to take off. I plan things for myself, and say, "this is the summer"- the Summer turned into "this is the month", that turned into "The week" (This week, since Saturday). Maybe there will be a day I take fifty great pictures better than any I've taken before. Sounds right, I guess? I suppose what I'm leading to is the simple fact that change doesn't happen that fast. Does it? It seems most of me believes in an adamant No, but I guess time will have to tell. I do know I am getting better though. The simple fact of me trying has slowly helped me improve and understand photography more. I'm actually applying concepts I've known about six months ago. It's not as bad as I make it seem.

This picture epitomizes what I love to do. When you think of it, I'm not a professional yet. I feel like my entire life is a movie. I wish to make it that. I love being with friends, just being there, and able to make pictures; moments that seem suspended in time, like driving in the dark as the street lights pour over you and streak through the windshield. Time will slow down and you're able to reflect over the simple fact that you are alive and living this "scene".

There have been so many days I feel like I've wasted. I keep driving looking for pictures, but I guess that isn't the way to find them. My next plan is to just GO someplace and walk around for a bit. What I've been really wanting is a nice secluded beach, woods, field, but all I've found is people in New Jersey. Bit annoying sometimes. I've been brainstorming a sheet of concepts a day this week so I'll always have ideas for shoots. I can't wait to actualize some of the bigger ( more expensive) ideas I have. I'm saving those for when I feel I can handle the lighting. Hopefully soon I will get to do some model shoots as well, I find fashion photography to be a great area.

I realize now is also the time for college. I need to find a good one! Ideally I want to live on the West Coast. That's just an idea, more actually a gut feeling. I think it makes sense I go to college where I later plan to live. (Speaking of, not really looking forward to New York, I don't know why, I just don't feel as attracted to the city) On the East Coast is SVA, Parsons, FIT, RIT, blah blah. We'll see. I'd go to Art Center but I'm not a millionaire. I'm really hoping my photography teacher in this is actually good. I've never really had anyone but myself to learn, so I'm hoping I can get some direction or help somehow. Also I think I'd benefit from assignments.

Not sure how often I will be updating this. Not daily. Being as I have no clue what audience will be reading this, we'll see.



Posted at at 10:48 PM on Monday, August 20, 2007 by Posted by Jack | 3 comments   | Filed under: , , ,