Bless me Father, I have sinned. It's been twenty days since my last public post...
QOTY: "You already have the answer you seek."
QOTD: "They eat us!"
Where to begin? A funny question since I have very little of note to recount; though I have a feeling I'm going to be typing for a while on this dysfunctional keyboard.
Several weeks ago, I had a dream where I was lying on my back on a bench in a sunny green space. I've seen the benches before, though I'm not sure where. They're made of a metal kind of weavey wave covered in a thick plasticized rubber. I think the bench was dark blue, but it may have been brown. When the dream starts, I open my eyes and am looking directly at the sun. I squint immeditately and note that there are some deciduous trees nearby, which aren't fully leafed. I have a workbook or paperback book laying open on my chest and it seems to be more of a decoration or pretense more than something to be used. I am near a building, though it doesn't seem to bear any gravity on the dream. Two more benches are placed in the general direction of my feet, off to my right, in a slow arc following a moderately wide curving path. A bench is on either side. People are at both benches. I don't make a cognitive observation of the space beyond the benches, though it seems to look like the perfect image of college PR photography, with vivid greens, open spaces, and people casually interspersed on agreeable walkways.
Timespeed in the dream accelerates, and after five or six seconds I've been lying on the bench for about four minutes when someone attracts my attention. I open my eyes and pull my head up and look toward the other benches. Jake is lying on the bench on my side of the path, oriented opposite, and has pulled himself up temporarily as I had. He is holding a spiral-bound notebook and is pointing at it, saying that it's something (story? book?) that he's written and that he wants me to read it. It doesn't look like he's gotten very far from what I can see at my distance (maybe thirty feet). I can see the front page (remarkably well), which is written in ballpoint pen (the pen is still in his right hand) and is heavily edited with things scratched out and more circles and arrows that I'd have expected from something of his design. At the top is a title repeatedly scrawled into a makeshift boldface which reads, "The Donatist." I agree to read it, but a skip in the dream blocks my recall of what happened immediately after that.
Shortly thereafter, I heard the opening notes of the signal that the National Anthem is about to be played, as played at Keesler. A quickly pulled myself up from the bench and stood to face the flag. Others stopped what they were doing, including several people walking nearby, and did the same. I was surprised at this since I'd expected them all to carry on their business. That's all I remember.
I photographed an Airmen Leadership School (ALS) graduation several weeks ago for the class that I shot the group photo for. It was a good graduation ceremony and that shot got full-screen display, which kind of alarmed me, and the class seemed very cohesive and friendly, which was nice to see. I think the girl that got named winner of the Achievement Award almost fell out of her seat when her name was announced. And I swore the guy (SrA Beck) who won the Levitow Award was just about to cry. He could barely speak well enough to thank the presenter, he was smiling so hard. It's nice to see that kind of thing. Anyhow, while I was reviewing the photos, namely this one...
I noticed this:
Which is that group photo that I'd done, matted wide with signatures and messages from the class on it. I didn't provide them any prints, so someone cared about the class enough that the photo meant enough to them to go to that effort. Made me feel good about the work I do, and also validated the extra two hours I spent properly detailing the background replacement. Of course, there are two - and only two - which suggests to me that they may be gifts to the class and flight instructors, but still.
Alicia and Daniel got engaged since my last update, so I've been studying up on wedding photography. I've never been interested in doing wedding photography due to the stress factor: easy-to-miss important moments, generally terrible lighting, white dresses, astronomical expectations, etc. But this will be good for me to shoot since I know both of them (so I know kind of what kind of behaviors and interactions to expect) and since Alicia knows enough about photography to not only be aware of what is and is not possible/easy but also has made concessions/adjustments in her plans to improve her wedding photos. It will be lots of good experience, but that doesn't mean that I don't have to really read up on how things are done and how things are done well. There are definitely some trends going on, and I'm interested in getting as much exposure as I can stomach in examples of photos. Alicia showing me what kind of photos she hopes to get out of it helps me out a lot, too. I don't like making New Year's resolutions, but if I were to make one, I think it would be to use my film camera more and shoot a ridiculous amount of black and white film. Looking at my photos from right after I got my digital camera to some of the photos I've shot recently, I've really slipped in my quality control and innate knowledge of camera operation. I need to stop using digital as a crutch and resume knowing how to get the shot before I shoot it. Digital is a tool, not life support. More film. Will give me something to do, too. Not that I have the money for shooting lots of film, but hey, it's a start.
I took advantage of several promo offers on a couple of digital photo printing services online last night and should be getting about 50 prints in about a week. Cost me about $5 for S&H, but I guess that's fine. I need to get a few enlargements from Winkflash since they do irregularly shaped enlargements that conform to aspect ratio and also have flat rate shipping that beats everyone else hardcore. Oh, and in case anyone out there needs some prints done, here's the rundown on free prints:
Winkflash - 50 free prints with new account. 99¢ shipping.
Dotphoto - 50 free prints with new account. Shippping $3.17.
PhotoWorks - 25 free prints with new account. Shipping $2.90.
Snapfish - 20 free prints with new account. Shipping $1.97. Free shipping until January 14th with code FREESHIPJAN. Free shipping may not apply to free print offer.
Clarkcolor - 20 free prints with new account. Shipping $2.09.
Yorkphoto - 20 free prints with new account. Shipping $2.09.
Yahoo photos - 20 free prints with new account: 10 mail order, 10 in-store pickup at Target. Shipping $2.29.
Shutterfly - 15 free prints with new account. Shipping $1.99.
Photomania - 10 free prints with new account. Shipping not listed.
Photosite - 10 free prints with new account. Shipping not listed.
Colormailer - 5 free elargements (13x17 or 13x19) with new account. Shipping included.
* free prints are 4"x6" only unless otherwise noted.
So provided you haven't already signed up for one of these, that's 240 4x6"s and 5 13x17" or 13x19"s for about $15-20. That's a hell of a lot of photos. Just looking at the number is one thing, but to actually deal with 240 photos is crazy.
I got a copy of Risk 2210 from my parents for Christmas, which was nice since I wanted a copy, and horrible since I have no one to play it with. Ben sent me a copy of the Threshold DVDs, which was glorious. Hopefully it will allow me to get some screenshots for me to use for a new userpic since there's nothing adequate online to use. My next big hunt is going to be for the Threshold promo poster, which doesn't seem to exist anywhere. I got a few other things for Christmas, including a non-stick wok and a significant bit of cash. I also got a big 5-quart pan thing with a lid that my mom apparently hunted all over for. It's certainly a nice thing to have, but it sure is big. Next apartment needs to have more cabinet space.
Went bowling with Jeremy and Leslie while they were down. I demonstrated my famed rapid skill decline in the game. I think I need to work out more if for nothing else than to be able to use heavier bowling balls at my discretion. Alicia also gave me a shirt and underwear for Christmas, which was delightful. They fit well and that's amazing. I spent New Year's watching Space: Above and Beyond and crossed into 2007 watching "The Angriest Angel," which is probably the only real way to ring in a new year.
I've been toying with my LightScribe drive lately, which is kind of an expensive hobby. I finally found color background discs at Office Max after an extensive store-to-store search. Unfortunately, colored discs aren't yet in DVDs, but I've been entertaining myself with designing labels for the CD-Rs before my trial software expires. Finding good images is more difficult than I'd imagined, and there isn't a huge following of LightScribe fans, though the ones that there are have derived some great ideas and good products which they communicate via obscure forums amidst other people bitching about how they should just be printing on water shield discs faster and in full color. Some people just don't get it. There are a lot of upgrades and tricks to getting a better product and that really appeals to my tinkerer side. It's like there's a lot of opportunity to find a little crack in the technology that could allow you to do more with it. I find it very interesting and very promising.
Went to Shady's with Brian during the Christmas break some time. It was very good. Just as good as last time, I'd say. I was able to order from their drink menu this time - which is better than their food menu - and that improved my visit and increased my bill. Was a good outing. We also went to Shiso several days later, which failed to disappoint. I was more impressed overall this time than the last time I was there with Alicia. Brian gave it his seal of approval and I decided that I should make sure that Erik ate there sometime.
Ben gave me a call a few days ago to make sure I hadn't died of the injuries I sustained prior to my previous post. Was good to very talk to him. I always mean to call him, and I never manage to actually pick up the phone, so I feel bad every time I let the gap last like that. Talked for a good while and ended after hysterics of the human race literally devouring an alien species that nudged a black hole our way. The backstory is too convoluted and not worthwhile to recount here. "Chicken?"
Erik called me tonight, which was good also, and bothered me that I hadn't kept in contact like I really should've. I talked at him at length, boring him with my complaints of military and contract operations. I'd very much like to take a trip up to Hattiesburg, but my money, especially right now, is just not going to afford that. And while everyone seems okay with that, I'm not. destinys_brink mentioned lately feeling out of place in groups and feeling more reclusive and I can't say that I haven't been feeling the same way. It's actually ridiculous. Jeremy moved away, who was my last friend in the area, and she moved into the area weeks and weeks ago and I haven't even seen her once. After she's been gone for years. Last time I saw her, she was still pregnant. The fact that I haven't seen her isn't her fault, it's at least half mine... and given that she's at least contacted me, I'd saying she's doing better than I am in this game. The point is, I'm drifting. Hattiesburg represents something to me and I feel somewhat robbed when I can't exploit it at my descretion. So there.
I haven't taken as many photos in the last, oh, nine months as I would've liked. Brian was kind enough to accompany me on one excursion down by the water in OS. I took a few shots of Christmas ornaments on my parents' Christmas tree. Haven't really done much for myself photographically. I have this desire to work on my portraiture skills, though I absolutely lack models. Jamey keeps saying we should do some kind of collaborative creative photography, though he never suggests anything in particular. He often jokes about nude photography, but one day I'm going to hold him to it and demand he model and we'll see how that fares. You never know, a Nobel Peace Prize may be a shutter release away. Talking with Alicia gave me a good idea for a photo book that I think I could really sell into a niche. I might look into that.
Anyway, I have shot a few things, so here they are:
Some boring boats. Was going for something different, but the tripod shadow interfered in the other compositions.
The Ocean Springs - Biloxi bridge being disassembled.
Front beach, Ocean Springs, MS.
A Christmas ornament on my parents' tree that my mom made before I was born.
This ornament is one in a series in this theme made out of ceramic.
This is pretty macro, but I've got another one that's so macro it's not aesthetic.
QOTD: "They eat us!"
Where to begin? A funny question since I have very little of note to recount; though I have a feeling I'm going to be typing for a while on this dysfunctional keyboard.
Several weeks ago, I had a dream where I was lying on my back on a bench in a sunny green space. I've seen the benches before, though I'm not sure where. They're made of a metal kind of weavey wave covered in a thick plasticized rubber. I think the bench was dark blue, but it may have been brown. When the dream starts, I open my eyes and am looking directly at the sun. I squint immeditately and note that there are some deciduous trees nearby, which aren't fully leafed. I have a workbook or paperback book laying open on my chest and it seems to be more of a decoration or pretense more than something to be used. I am near a building, though it doesn't seem to bear any gravity on the dream. Two more benches are placed in the general direction of my feet, off to my right, in a slow arc following a moderately wide curving path. A bench is on either side. People are at both benches. I don't make a cognitive observation of the space beyond the benches, though it seems to look like the perfect image of college PR photography, with vivid greens, open spaces, and people casually interspersed on agreeable walkways.
Timespeed in the dream accelerates, and after five or six seconds I've been lying on the bench for about four minutes when someone attracts my attention. I open my eyes and pull my head up and look toward the other benches. Jake is lying on the bench on my side of the path, oriented opposite, and has pulled himself up temporarily as I had. He is holding a spiral-bound notebook and is pointing at it, saying that it's something (story? book?) that he's written and that he wants me to read it. It doesn't look like he's gotten very far from what I can see at my distance (maybe thirty feet). I can see the front page (remarkably well), which is written in ballpoint pen (the pen is still in his right hand) and is heavily edited with things scratched out and more circles and arrows that I'd have expected from something of his design. At the top is a title repeatedly scrawled into a makeshift boldface which reads, "The Donatist." I agree to read it, but a skip in the dream blocks my recall of what happened immediately after that.
Shortly thereafter, I heard the opening notes of the signal that the National Anthem is about to be played, as played at Keesler. A quickly pulled myself up from the bench and stood to face the flag. Others stopped what they were doing, including several people walking nearby, and did the same. I was surprised at this since I'd expected them all to carry on their business. That's all I remember.
I photographed an Airmen Leadership School (ALS) graduation several weeks ago for the class that I shot the group photo for. It was a good graduation ceremony and that shot got full-screen display, which kind of alarmed me, and the class seemed very cohesive and friendly, which was nice to see. I think the girl that got named winner of the Achievement Award almost fell out of her seat when her name was announced. And I swore the guy (SrA Beck) who won the Levitow Award was just about to cry. He could barely speak well enough to thank the presenter, he was smiling so hard. It's nice to see that kind of thing. Anyhow, while I was reviewing the photos, namely this one...
I noticed this:
Which is that group photo that I'd done, matted wide with signatures and messages from the class on it. I didn't provide them any prints, so someone cared about the class enough that the photo meant enough to them to go to that effort. Made me feel good about the work I do, and also validated the extra two hours I spent properly detailing the background replacement. Of course, there are two - and only two - which suggests to me that they may be gifts to the class and flight instructors, but still.
Alicia and Daniel got engaged since my last update, so I've been studying up on wedding photography. I've never been interested in doing wedding photography due to the stress factor: easy-to-miss important moments, generally terrible lighting, white dresses, astronomical expectations, etc. But this will be good for me to shoot since I know both of them (so I know kind of what kind of behaviors and interactions to expect) and since Alicia knows enough about photography to not only be aware of what is and is not possible/easy but also has made concessions/adjustments in her plans to improve her wedding photos. It will be lots of good experience, but that doesn't mean that I don't have to really read up on how things are done and how things are done well. There are definitely some trends going on, and I'm interested in getting as much exposure as I can stomach in examples of photos. Alicia showing me what kind of photos she hopes to get out of it helps me out a lot, too. I don't like making New Year's resolutions, but if I were to make one, I think it would be to use my film camera more and shoot a ridiculous amount of black and white film. Looking at my photos from right after I got my digital camera to some of the photos I've shot recently, I've really slipped in my quality control and innate knowledge of camera operation. I need to stop using digital as a crutch and resume knowing how to get the shot before I shoot it. Digital is a tool, not life support. More film. Will give me something to do, too. Not that I have the money for shooting lots of film, but hey, it's a start.
I took advantage of several promo offers on a couple of digital photo printing services online last night and should be getting about 50 prints in about a week. Cost me about $5 for S&H, but I guess that's fine. I need to get a few enlargements from Winkflash since they do irregularly shaped enlargements that conform to aspect ratio and also have flat rate shipping that beats everyone else hardcore. Oh, and in case anyone out there needs some prints done, here's the rundown on free prints:
Winkflash - 50 free prints with new account. 99¢ shipping.
Dotphoto - 50 free prints with new account. Shippping $3.17.
PhotoWorks - 25 free prints with new account. Shipping $2.90.
Snapfish - 20 free prints with new account. Shipping $1.97. Free shipping until January 14th with code FREESHIPJAN. Free shipping may not apply to free print offer.
Clarkcolor - 20 free prints with new account. Shipping $2.09.
Yorkphoto - 20 free prints with new account. Shipping $2.09.
Yahoo photos - 20 free prints with new account: 10 mail order, 10 in-store pickup at Target. Shipping $2.29.
Shutterfly - 15 free prints with new account. Shipping $1.99.
Photomania - 10 free prints with new account. Shipping not listed.
Photosite - 10 free prints with new account. Shipping not listed.
Colormailer - 5 free elargements (13x17 or 13x19) with new account. Shipping included.
* free prints are 4"x6" only unless otherwise noted.
So provided you haven't already signed up for one of these, that's 240 4x6"s and 5 13x17" or 13x19"s for about $15-20. That's a hell of a lot of photos. Just looking at the number is one thing, but to actually deal with 240 photos is crazy.
I got a copy of Risk 2210 from my parents for Christmas, which was nice since I wanted a copy, and horrible since I have no one to play it with. Ben sent me a copy of the Threshold DVDs, which was glorious. Hopefully it will allow me to get some screenshots for me to use for a new userpic since there's nothing adequate online to use. My next big hunt is going to be for the Threshold promo poster, which doesn't seem to exist anywhere. I got a few other things for Christmas, including a non-stick wok and a significant bit of cash. I also got a big 5-quart pan thing with a lid that my mom apparently hunted all over for. It's certainly a nice thing to have, but it sure is big. Next apartment needs to have more cabinet space.
Went bowling with Jeremy and Leslie while they were down. I demonstrated my famed rapid skill decline in the game. I think I need to work out more if for nothing else than to be able to use heavier bowling balls at my discretion. Alicia also gave me a shirt and underwear for Christmas, which was delightful. They fit well and that's amazing. I spent New Year's watching Space: Above and Beyond and crossed into 2007 watching "The Angriest Angel," which is probably the only real way to ring in a new year.
I've been toying with my LightScribe drive lately, which is kind of an expensive hobby. I finally found color background discs at Office Max after an extensive store-to-store search. Unfortunately, colored discs aren't yet in DVDs, but I've been entertaining myself with designing labels for the CD-Rs before my trial software expires. Finding good images is more difficult than I'd imagined, and there isn't a huge following of LightScribe fans, though the ones that there are have derived some great ideas and good products which they communicate via obscure forums amidst other people bitching about how they should just be printing on water shield discs faster and in full color. Some people just don't get it. There are a lot of upgrades and tricks to getting a better product and that really appeals to my tinkerer side. It's like there's a lot of opportunity to find a little crack in the technology that could allow you to do more with it. I find it very interesting and very promising.
Went to Shady's with Brian during the Christmas break some time. It was very good. Just as good as last time, I'd say. I was able to order from their drink menu this time - which is better than their food menu - and that improved my visit and increased my bill. Was a good outing. We also went to Shiso several days later, which failed to disappoint. I was more impressed overall this time than the last time I was there with Alicia. Brian gave it his seal of approval and I decided that I should make sure that Erik ate there sometime.
Ben gave me a call a few days ago to make sure I hadn't died of the injuries I sustained prior to my previous post. Was good to very talk to him. I always mean to call him, and I never manage to actually pick up the phone, so I feel bad every time I let the gap last like that. Talked for a good while and ended after hysterics of the human race literally devouring an alien species that nudged a black hole our way. The backstory is too convoluted and not worthwhile to recount here. "Chicken?"
Erik called me tonight, which was good also, and bothered me that I hadn't kept in contact like I really should've. I talked at him at length, boring him with my complaints of military and contract operations. I'd very much like to take a trip up to Hattiesburg, but my money, especially right now, is just not going to afford that. And while everyone seems okay with that, I'm not. destinys_brink mentioned lately feeling out of place in groups and feeling more reclusive and I can't say that I haven't been feeling the same way. It's actually ridiculous. Jeremy moved away, who was my last friend in the area, and she moved into the area weeks and weeks ago and I haven't even seen her once. After she's been gone for years. Last time I saw her, she was still pregnant. The fact that I haven't seen her isn't her fault, it's at least half mine... and given that she's at least contacted me, I'd saying she's doing better than I am in this game. The point is, I'm drifting. Hattiesburg represents something to me and I feel somewhat robbed when I can't exploit it at my descretion. So there.
I haven't taken as many photos in the last, oh, nine months as I would've liked. Brian was kind enough to accompany me on one excursion down by the water in OS. I took a few shots of Christmas ornaments on my parents' Christmas tree. Haven't really done much for myself photographically. I have this desire to work on my portraiture skills, though I absolutely lack models. Jamey keeps saying we should do some kind of collaborative creative photography, though he never suggests anything in particular. He often jokes about nude photography, but one day I'm going to hold him to it and demand he model and we'll see how that fares. You never know, a Nobel Peace Prize may be a shutter release away. Talking with Alicia gave me a good idea for a photo book that I think I could really sell into a niche. I might look into that.
Anyway, I have shot a few things, so here they are:
Some boring boats. Was going for something different, but the tripod shadow interfered in the other compositions.
The Ocean Springs - Biloxi bridge being disassembled.
Front beach, Ocean Springs, MS.
A Christmas ornament on my parents' tree that my mom made before I was born.
This ornament is one in a series in this theme made out of ceramic.
This is pretty macro, but I've got another one that's so macro it's not aesthetic.