Wrapping up a decade.

Wow, I cannot even wrap my mind around all the events, changes, and growth I've experienced this last decade. I am still wondering how I can wrap it all up in some photographic project.
All I know is, I am happy to revert back to film.
I am kicking this year to the curb with my Pentax K1000 and Diana+  in hand, all loaded up and ready to fire.
Also, here is an inspiring sexymeow video that very much suits me right now.

So this is happening...

this weekend. Two events, one mission: to do them both. Simple enough. 
I am spreading the word, in case you are looking for something to do in the LA area.

So first thing Saturday, I will be attending this:

http://www.renegadecraft.com/holiday-la#1

And then later that evening, will be getting to this:

Martha Cooper, "Happy Holidays by Jayson (J.SON) & Richie (Seen)" 1982, South Bronx, digital C-Print, 8 x 12", Signed Edition of 100

Wreck the Walls A Winter Group Exhibition Featuring Over 30 Artists December 11, 2010 - January 15, 2011 Opening Reception: Saturday, December 11, 5-9pm  Valet Parking Provided!

Ventura Art Community

Here is a super cool article about a super cool Lomography project some friends participated in. Be sure to check out the gallery at the end of the article, these folks have some great shots in there.
I sure miss my Holga.
And the link:
LomoAmigo

A photo from their collection...
L: Brook Dalton; R: Seth Peterson; C: Brook's iced tea

Film enthusiasts

For those of you who recognize that film will never die, here's a great deal from Adorama. I've always wanted my own film scanner, but when I was more involved in the film world, I  didn't exactly have the spare moneh to buy one. Times have changed. So for those of you who still keep on with the film tradition, this may just make you happy. And if you are one shopping for the film photography geek in your life, well here you go.
Jolly good.

FPSCAN Flashpoint Scanner

This is what it looks like.

Reconnecting.

I had a very productive day today. Got some house organizing done then headed to Barnes & Noble to do some research.
I decided to deactivate my Facebook account for a variety of reasons, the most easy to explain being that it was taking up too much of my time. I could go on a tangent on other reasons, but it’s no matter, really.
So I am taking a break off it to reconnect with myself. I will miss being in the loop, but in a way that's my intention. Focus on my photo projects and goals for a bit, distraction-free. So this means that I will be resorting to old means of communication, like actual visits, emails and phone calls (whoa, 2001 is calling!)
Majority of my time will be spent: sorting through photos, getting down with some post-production, scanning, brainstorming, cooking tasty meals at home (mainly for friends to come hang out with me), updating website, watching lots of movies, photographing, drawing, trying to reconnect with my close friends, feeling lonely :'( , getting distracted by my guitar, crafting, designing and planning.

I must try this!

101 Photos Taken With the Lens Detached (from Gizmodo)

Take your DSLR in one hand. Unscrew the lens with the other. Tilt the lens away from the camera body-maybe even flip the optics backwards. And take photos that you never imagined you could without expensive upgrades.

This Could Make Me Extremely Happy

The 360 Spinner Pano Camera

 

A 35mm camera that spins a complete 360 degrees for epic panoramas.

A sweet little sample of a photo capability

Link to Photojojo article.

Today, and lately

This has been my mood. A beautiful photograph and a more than inviting environment. It's nice to go there. I want to go to there.

All rights reserved by Foreign Roads.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hollandjk/3886108850/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Photo Advice Brought to You by The Oatmeal

So they say...

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/photos

Going soon...

..., to San Francisco!
If all goes well, my brother and I will be taking our first official road trip together to San Francisco the weekend of Nov 6th. The ultimate purpose for going though, would be for this guy:

 

Paso Robles Wedding Shoot

Angie Chong asked me to shoot a wedding with her a couple weekends ago. Megan & Jacob Dallas were wed at the picturesque Firestone Winery in Paso Robles. Great wedding and super cool people to work with all around. I've posted a link below showing photos we shot. It was my first time shooting with Angie, it was really fun and she is one talented lady! Mine are the first batch (before another image of the mason jar with flowers is shown again.) The photo shown below is one of my favorites, mainly because this kid was such a little character :)

(Click HERE to be directed to gallery)

Photo Series: Whistling Through the Graveyard

I decided to get out of town and venture out into the city, camera in bag, photo project in mind. I always feel a bit distraught on this ill-reputed date (Sept. 11th) and every year, I tend to have a moment to myself in reflection and appreciation of my life.
This year, I decided to give myself the entire day to really immerse myself in the things I love that I don't get to make much time for. Document a day where I fully take advantage and am in control of my happiness, decisions and walk of life. A way to slow my life down a bit to be able to sit and appreciate the world around me (without whining about the obvious downers about city life).  As a result, the images captured are eerily lonely, yet full of the life created by WE the HUMANS :]
I am hoping that the images portray my overall mood: despite the madness and things you cannot control around you, it's nice to know that you have the ultimate freedom to manage your happiness.
These are a few select images from the series. I will be posting the series on my site soon.

Fresh start.

Tragedy occurs, such is life. I've had my share of bad stuff happen and without getting too sappy and emotional into my past, I'd like to share a recent sad time.
All my photos from... hmm, roughly 2004 up to this year... are gone. Erased. Wiped out. Exist no more.
There were client photos as well as memories backed up on my external hard drive. Most client photos are backed up on CD/DVD. I'm not too worried about those. What makes me want to cry myself a backyard pond are the silly and sentimental moments that were captured within those years that are now GONE. In case you haven't figured it out, my hard drive is dead. DEAD. No longer spinning, all data gone. *sniffle, tear, wahhh*
I do have some printed out photos which seem to help in holding back the tears but for the most part, nearly all memories have vanished. I suppose I could try to come up with an idea to make some extra money to try to get it restored, but I've decided to handle this event as a lesson I should learn.


Now that I've grieved, I'm trying to look for any possible positive outcomes.

Here's one: a fresh start. A fresh start to memories, time and environment, and a fresh start to a photographic eye.
I've grown quite a damn bit in the past few years, especially with all the rollercoaster of events that I've been thrown into in my  life. Family changes, new lifestyles, ex boyfriends and friends you disconnect with, new people to connect with and the floaters you reconnect with. A different perception of life, especially behind the lens. New artistic influences as well as new places I want to travel. Here's my chance to capture a new life. I'm extremely obsessed with documentation and preservation. I might be seen as a person who is stuck in the past but really, I just like to reflect and appreciate a life well lived.
So to all the memories lost in that stupid broken external hard drive: Fare thee fucking well.
I'll start anew and this time, fully appreciate all memories captured, whether silly strange stupid or beautiful. I've always had the bad habit of taking tons of photos and then letting them sit on little bits of megabytes, completely ignored and unaccounted for. I will be better about that. I will take the time to process and upload, print, share, etc etc. Time for new photo projects, aim for a photo show and up to date website... and time to use my fully paid-for Flickr account, damn it.

July.

What an exciting month so far! I had the honor to celebrate my best friend's wedding, and yes I did sneak in some shots while the hired photographer wasn't looking :) . I shot some candids with my digital SLR, some with the Instax Mini, and a few on high-speed B/W film. Now just gotta make some time to process all the photos so I'll be posting in the very near future.
Then there is San Diego Comic Con 2010, less than a week away. I will be working the Con Friday through Sunday. I'm pretty excited to document all the madness of the people, places and things I will encounter. Not looking forward to the stink clouds I will probably walk into.
Here is a link to Sideshow Collectibles, the company I am a full-time Staff Photographer for.

The latest gallery I shot that is listed on our website is Darth Maul Cyborg, I'll make it easy for you, here is the link: Darth Maul Cyborg gallery

Seams for Life.

This lovely lady just got tatted with some sexiness.
Shot this with my handy dandy Nikon D80... normally I'd use my Canon G11 since it seems to handle low-lit environments much nicer. Unfortunately, it got mishandled and fell on it's face, so off to the repair shop it goes.

TFW (The F#$^g Wrath) promo shoot

Got to hang out with the Wrath guys at the DONO building :) Had fun with the live shots (a couple Instax Mini shots too) and got a free show, just for me, and yes, I was wearing ear plugs!
A link to their musical goods: TFW on myspace

And some photos of the lovely fellas:

Photo Series: No Place Like Home.

Patty Cakes just completed an intense fitness class that left her with some serious trophy bruises... we had to document the champ she is at kicking ass.
An impromptu silly shoot turned into some fun role playing
Here are a few shots, more to come soon.








This is one of my favorites so far:

Banksy pranks in LA

 

A fantastic way to wrap up the weekend... mission with Gracie to track Banksy art in the streets of LA and check out Exit Through the Gift Shop @ The Landmark.

The film was BRILLIANT and the Landmark was one of the nicest theatres I've been in. Our second attempt to find Banksy at the corner of 9th/Broadway was a success, high five!

Photo featured in VC Reporter!

Yay exposure! Here's a link to the article with the photo from teh Joe Baugh photo sesh (post prior to this)... it will also appear in print (which will actually show photo credit :/).

http://vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/home_spun/7763/

Late Night Photo Shoot..

Musicians and their schedules, gawwwwwsh ;)
This was a fun shoot with a close friend of mine... got the motherload of guitar clusterf@#k!
Joe Baugh, Joebaugh, Joseph Baugh, whatevs... google him. Not to be confused with Smoky Joe Baugh, although probably related. Ask him, it's a great conversation starter.
Guitar studio session player, music director, instructor, etc. etc., here is his contact info:
joebaughmusic@gmail.com
805.701.6043
A few shots:

Benefit Show Huge Succes!!!

So here's a copy/paste of info of the final numbers for Gavin Peters:

Brook Dalton: I am very, very happy and proud to announce that we raised over $11,300 last night for Gavin! There were $5300 in the art sale profits alone. This is incredible and we owe a big thanks to everyone who participated in any way. Gavin is happier than you can imagine. You guys rule.

Here's a link to some photogs I shot of the event: Gavin Peters Benefit Show

Oh and my piece sold!! Thank you Janet Levy, whoever you are!!

 

INSTAX MINI!!

Yay, just bagged me one of these cuties, thanks Photojojo :)
They were having a special promo, every repost on Tumblr dropped price 10 cents. They usually go for $99, I gots mine for $64, free shipping! It's a great Friday.

Benefit for Gavin Peters

"RINGO" - acrylic/mixed media on wood, very excited about this event. Positive vibes, yeah :)
Please click on link below to read about this event and most importantly, Gavin Peters.

http://michelleleclerc.com/GavinPeters/

And flyer for event:

New Photo Project

An ongoing nagging urge of mine has been to start a photo series capturing the personal effects of erratic weather patterns. Not only does it have an aesthetic impact on the eye, it affects the mood, a look (facial expressions or a sense of style), and the personal creative spirit.
Here goes... kick it off, rain.
(this project title is subject to change... I'm actually pretty confident it will)

Cake/Edibles Photos

Some unique cake building from the talented and lovely Dez Lake! I'm honored to be her photographer. Become a fan on Facebook... and place an order for a special event, or not so special event, she will make your edibles FUN.

Monkey Business

Disney Bday

Got to play with photography while celebrating birthdays?! WIN!

Inspirational images...

...by Swedish photographer Kalle Gustaffson

Carnage Photos/Sideshow Collectibles

Carnage Bust photos! Lighting this was fun :D

Carnage Life-Size Bust gallery