Joss Whedon, creator of Firefly, Buffy, Angel and the new Dollhouse on FOX has been working on a little project called Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, a musical starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day. It’s an epic little story told on a shoestring budget, written and directed by Whedon himself. It’s an incredible bit of indie filmmaking and oozes with raw talent out of every silly orifice. You can stream all three of the current acts live at the show’s website through the rest of July. When you fall in love, do the world of indie filmmakers a favor and buy the episodes at iTunes.
And here’s the best birthday present of all: Apple today releases the iPhone 2.0 software update, the iTunes App Store and, of course, iPhone 3G. I won’t be getting the 3G anytime soon as I am more than happy with my first generation iPhone, however the 2.0 update will serve me well. I already have my sights on the piano and photography apps and it blows me away [still] that free apps like AIM and Facebook will be available. There’s also a free remote application that will enable me to use my iPhone as a remote control to my Mac’s iTunes library. Cool stuff. Thanks, Apple!
It’s My Birthday! I’m 29! I’ve survived another year…somehow! Woot!
Update (10:57pm): The guys took me to Willie B’s BBQ in Edinburg and then we head to the park to take some really stupid pictures. The rest of the day I’m gettin’ hugs from all the work hotties and handshakes and man-hugs from all the dudes. So everything’s groovy. Tomorrow we’re having a barbecue party and over the weekend I’ll be heading to the beach with a bevy of hot babes. Life is good.
iPhone users click here to watch the video.
Okee dokee, I’m insane. And here’s why:
I work for a television station that broadcasts the syndicated Martha Stewart show. On this repeat episode (dated from mentioning the recent writer’s strike) the special guest was Catherine Bell, whom I personally lust over because I so dig women in uniform. Anyway, as of this episode she and her husband are trying to get their pilots licenses and she’s working on getting a Cirrus SR22 single engine airplane. Mrs. Bell likes that the Cirrus features a gigantic parachute designed to lower the craft to the ground in case of an emergency. I had to look this thing up. In doing so I came across a blog where someone had posted what I am about to link to here: an article called Why I Own My Own Aircraft by Jeff Bryant who is the Southwest Regional Director of the Beech Aero Club, whose 9 year old son regards his Beechcraft Sport as his own, personal X-Wing starfighter.
The story that follows is actually very sweet (not something I say very often) and I encourage you to read it. It’s just a nice little story and I’m sure it says something about bringing people together somehow…I don’t know, I’m just a stupid guy. Check it out.
I have a great big huge crush on Bonnie Hunt. I just wanted everyone to know that.
She’s getting a two-year commitment from Paramount for a syndicated television talk show and we’ll be airing it on the FOX affiliate where I work. I’ve always known Ms. Hunt’s work but I don’t think I actually became immensely sexually attracted to her until the remake of Cheaper By The Dozen with Steve Martin. There was something especially hot about her making out with frickin’ Clark Kent during the end credits outtakes. Bonnie Hunt is totally hot and I want to take her to dinner. You listening out there? I’ll be a guest on your show and give you a photoshoot! :)
In 1994 I was introduced to 35mm single lens reflex cameras with the Pentax K-1000, an inexpensive amateur device that required no batteries unless you wanted to take advantage of the exposure meter in the viewfinder. The K-1000 was assigned to me in journalism class during my sophomore year in high school. Before then I had used a little plastic point and shoot 110 film camera whose brand and designation I can no longer recall. It may have been a Kodak 104 Instamatic, but I’m not too sure about that. Regardless, I had never used an SLR until high school and the little bugger changed my life.
The next year, I was asked to take over the photography department while the journalism supervisor dealt with the reporters. I was then responsible for teaching use of the cameras, dark room technique and basic photography etiquette to my peers and upperclassmen students alike. And I was good at it. The kids learned a lot and their photographs got better as the semester trolled along.
My senior year, the school upgraded to Canon EOS Rebels. Gone were the days of K-mount fully manual, heavy metal cameras. Now, you could have a fully automatic experience with little photographic insight in a plastic, lightweight camera with an on board flash. These new auto focus cameras needed batteries and the consumer-class zoom kit lenses weren’t as sharp, fast or precise as the Pentax’s 50mm primes, but the Rebel did auto forward the film.
After graduation, I signed up for a Discover Card on my way out of an English class my first semester of college. One of the first things I ever purchased on a credit card was a Canon Rebel XS-II kit along with a Canon case from Best Buy. The setup worked fine for several years until one day the curtain stopped working. I never sent it in for repair and because of my hectic work schedule, I silently walked away from photography.
In 2002, after shooting some short films and getting my schedule in order, I decided to pick up a Canon PowerShot G3. I figured digital was the way to go for an uninterested consumer like myself and that’s because years ago I swore that I’d never go digital anyway. But that was also when I swore I’d never leave photography.
The G3 worked great as I started to feel the pull back to photography. In 2003, I figured I would stay digital and move up toward the SLRs again: this time I got the Canon 300D Digital Rebel. The Rebel worked great until I dropped it after one of my first model shoots (in fact, I think it was my second model shoot ever) in 2004. The damage to my Rebel was an excuse to upgrade to the Canon EOS 20D which I still use in 2008.
I have no idea how many shutter cycles I’ve actuated on my 20D. Considering it’s four years old, it may have something around 40,000 cycles on it. Regardless, it’s a great little camera and I love it to death. Even when I upgrade to the 5D or 5D Mark II in the fall I’ll still keep my little 20D around as a backup body. In fact, the 20D has been so good to me, I haven’t been concerned with camera bodies at all for years, focusing instead on purchasing awesome Canon L lenses. Because remember: a camera body is just a light-tight box with a hole in it. Image quality and control is all about the glass in front of the body.
This year, however, I’ve decided to apply what I’ve learned about photography back into 35mm film. One of those “if only I knew then what I know now” paradoxes. Except this time, I’m going completely old school and am currently bidding on Canon FD-mount manual cameras and lenses on ebay. If all goes well, I should have two Canon AT-1 bodies and two fast Canon FD prime lenses, a Vivitar flash and some JC Penney 80-200mm zoom…all for about $120 after shipping.
Then I’m going to pick up all this unused Kodak T-Max 400 film (I somehow forgot to give back to the school in 1997) and some newer consumer snapshot film and…see what develops. It also helps that I now own a Sekonic light meter which will definitely come in handy.
So, that’s a little history of my photographic journey. I can’t wait to see what happens and share it with you. But right now, I have to get ready for another model shoot. Cheers!
Today is the recognized birthday of the United States of America, the country which I am a member and working participant of. Today, families and couples and loners head to the beaches and to the public parks, waiting until dusk for the annual fireworks each respective town and city throughout the country will display. As for me: I have nowhere to go, no one to hang out with and nothing to do so I’m blogging.
I went to McDonalds yesterday and got enough food to last me the weekend. I have a nice collection of cold Landshark beer and half of a Little Caesars hot-n-ready pizza in the fridge, so I’m pretty much covered as far as food is concerned. I also bought a gallon of whole milk which will also tide me over. So basically, I don’t have to go out for anything this weekend. That means money stays in my bank account.
Tomorrow afternoon is a rock concert shin-dig happening at South Padre Island called Bandtango On The Bay: Rockfest 2008 that I’d like to photograph for the Rock Station, but it’s almost a full tank of gas, round trip, and I just filled up at $40 so by the time I come back early Sunday morning I will have spent $80 just on fuel. I’m debating whether or not this expense is worth the price considering the main band will be Alien Ant Farm. And like I always say, “if it’s not Led Zeppelin, I don’t care”. And on Sunday is another concert thingy for Tejano artists called Gran Concierto Gratis which is happening in the much, much closer town of Donna. But I have tons of concert shots. But I can also get in free and be surrounded by hot chicks. Hmm. Decisions, decisions.
Over the weekend I’m supposed to have some models come over: Ellie on Saturday and Rebecca on Sunday. I’m pretty sure that going to Bandtango and Concierto will upset that so that’s another reason not to get out this weekend. Plus, I need to do laundry and wash the dishes. The trash is out, so that’s done…I guess I have everything covered. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone on Saturday and shoot Ellie at the beach and then have her assist me at Bandtango. Whatev’a. I guess we’ll see what happens.
I found some gag reels from Battlestar Galactica on the net. Here’s one from Season 3 and another from Season 1. Enjoy!
I was videotaping joggers in a nearby public park last week for a series of television advertisements regarding training for a local marathon to be held in December.
A few passersby stopped and asked what I was shooting and were quite friendly. I struck up a conversation with the lead instructor of a fitness group who were exercising nearby. But most everyone else just sort of stared at the camera for a few moments and continued on about their day.
It probably helped that I was using big, expensive professional equipment and was wearing a shirt that said FOX News all over it.
RSS 2.0 feed