I almost forgot about this little short film called bigLove directed by Leif Tilden back in 2001. It’s one of the first films ever shot and digitally, having never touched celluloid. It’s a very sweet story and you should check it out right now at SPIKE powered by iFilm. It stars Sam Rockwell and Mary McCormack.
Summer, my “girlfriend” last year, who was supposed to come and see me but left me hanging like an old coat right before the prom…and without so much as a phone call, finally sent me an email last night to apologize. Before today I was unsure about her, her feelings and where we stood with each other. I even kind of forgot about her and made peace with the whole thing.
So she writes me last night. Her apology sounds legitimate enough and she defends herself against the surprising support of her former ex. Unfortunately the only probable reason she thought to email me was because last night I changed her status on my Flickr account from Friend to Contact, which the contact is notified about.
This reminds her of me and she checks me out, looks for my contact info and finds this blog in which she does a little search and finds all the posts I’ve written about her. She asked me to remove her last name, just like her mom did before, again so interested in keeping up her perfect Christian appearance; if people found out how much she broke my heart then there’s no telling the ramifications and the other things that would never happen since no one but me reads this thing. It would seem she merely contacted me to have me remove her last name from my blog, the apology acts as leverage to get her way. I did it anyway because in my opinion, Summer isn’t worth going to court over. But then again, what really is?
Regardless, she apologized. Too little, too late, though. I’ll never forgive her and a part of me wishes she never contacted me today. It all goes back to that day I was stood up at the airport: She should have called me.
Well, I’ve decided: Conchata Ferrell is my favorite actress. She stands atop a short, distinguished list of personal favorite film actors along with my favorite actor, Gene Hackman. Kinda make a cute couple, don’t they?
Belen was being silly in-between takes so I snapped this one for fun. I was using a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens inside a controlled studio situation which contained a large softbox on the right, an umbrella for fill on the left and a hair light aimed right at the back of her head which made her dyed-blond hair explode with apocalyptic proportions. The rest of the shoot was, of course, professional and serious but I like to show off this photo because it shows the personality of the model. She also has a nice singing voice. In the final images that made it to print, her wild static-electricky hairs were removed.
Adriana lost a bet: the Cowboys didn’t go to Superbowl XLII so she had to dye her hair blond. To celebrate her loss, she asked me to photograph her on January 21. I admit I made her sexy. From what I remember, I had an octabank on my right, an umbrella on the left, a hair light and a silver/gold reflector underneath.
The only real digital manipulation I allow myself to get away with on portraits is a bit of surface blur, matting out the eyes, hair, lips, teeth, nostrils, fingernails, certain lines that make up the jaw, and any bling the model may be wearing. All the skin is nice and smooth with just enough texture to show model really is human. I also make sure to get rid of any lens defects or sensor dust. I then add a bit of my secret weapon, then unsharp mask the whole thing ever-so-slightly. I don’t like to talk about my post processing because it really is minimal, and also because in the end, it’s all about the light.
One final note: that’s vegetable oil in the glass.
So there’s this girl Marla who likes how I photograph her and I do so on an intermediate basis.
For this, our most recent collaboration (January 19), I decided to actually try something other than the typical “stand here and look this way” method of posing, more than simply getting the feet and weight allocation perfect; I decided to try something more glamorous.
I thought I’d have her bend and contort her body until it gave me interesting shapes and lines. I decided to play more with my lights to give an idea of a model rather than just a simple depiction of one standing before a photo backdrop.
In this photograph I used an octabank on the right at full power, a gridded light on the left for tone and a hair light behind the model which also shaped her right side a bit. You can see the video of that photo shoot here. The grids and special placement of the octabank (as seen in the video) were necessary for rendering the white background I was using to black.
This past Saturday I ordered a portable power supply for my light kit so I can take studio shots anywhere I want. I may consider purchasing more wireless triggers as the monos’ optical slaves don’t respond well in bright sunlight.
In playing with Marla in front of my camera, I began to explore new ideas of model photography for myself that I had only previously seen in magazines. I’m starting to open my eyes to new methods of expression and I want to learn more. I like what I am becoming as an artist.
Today is celebrated my least favorite holiday. It would probably be my least favorite still even if I did have a girlfriend or wife or whatever. But at least I don’t have to spend money on anyone other than myself. My favorite holiday, on the other hand, is Easter, because it reminds me that Jesus is alive. So…yeah. I’m a Christian and I cuss. I also love South Park.
But just like last year, I’m here at work doin’ my thing, getting ready to leave, and this: “anyone I may have called to do some hanging out with never picked up the phone and probably won’t call back anytime soon” from last year still applies this evening.
Eh. Boo-frackin’ hoo. I’m alive, aren’t I? And there’s always next year.
This has to be one of the oddest, most life-altering things I’ve ever seen. The less you know before you see this, the better. Just watch it! Trust me.
iPhone users click here to watch the video.
It’s a good thing that the 2007-2008 WGA Writer’s Strike is finally over. I’m glad the studios and distributors finally opened up and that talks have begun. I hope the writers get what they’re asking for and I wish them all the best. Now I’m going to feel really, really good about Ronald D. Moore and his return to my favorite TV show as the final season of Battlestar Galactica airs sometime in March. Kudos!
So I’ve applied to Blizzard Entertainment in regard to a recent employment opportunity for a Video Editor. I think I’d much rather work in their Cinematic department, but oh well. Aside from the cover letter, this is what I submitted. I’m actually pretty scared about getting this one as it would require I move to Irvine, California. I’ve never been one to be afraid of commitment, but now…I don’t know. I guess we’ll see what happens. Either way, at least I tried.
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