Canon vs. Nikon
Thanks to Lindsay for showing me this. Hilarious. When will we all just get along?
Dream Deferred
Aside from being proud of my final project, my classmates in my photo class did a great job with theirs and I’d really liked to showcase them. Everytime I watch their photo stories it inspires me.
The first one I’d like to present is from my really good friend Ana Goni-Lessan. When I heard what her subject was I was very jealous. Being hispanic, I’ve always wanted to help tell the story of fellow hispanics, and get rid of stereotypes. Ana has done just that with her video Dream Deferred . To think that hispanics, specifically Mexicans, don’t contribute to this country is such a lie. Here’s the story of a man who has it rough but still finds time to help others. Good job Ana. Enjoy.
Cheers!
Derby Dedication
I finished my photo story. I’m really proud of how it came out. I feel that I helped tell a story of a very interesting person. I knew nothing about roller derby before I started this and now I have a completely different view and appreciation of the sport and the women who play. Sarah was a great subject and was always willing to help me.
The greatest thing about doing this story is that it was (hopefully) a preview of my future. Every day that I worked on this story was something different. One day was at derby practice, another day was at a bat conservancy and another day was with a tiger. Photojournalism is all about spontaneity and improvisation. That’s exactly what I want for a career.
Unfortunately, I can’t upload the slideshow to this blog, but it is on my website. As an incentive to go visit the site check out some cool pictures of a tiger.
Now go check out the full story on Roller Rebel Sarah “Leethal” here !
Cheers!
If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It
This short video is about the newly elected High Springs, Fla. commissioner, Dean Davis. At 72 years old, he is the oldest person to be elected in High Springs. We spent about 3 hours with him on a monday, and it was probably one of the most interesting mondays of my life. To meet someone and have them tell you their whole life story in one day is pretty amazing. Try doing it. You’ll feel brand new.
The video was produced by myself and my good friends David Cumming and Lindsay Wadelton. Enjoy!
Cheers!
The Future
I’ve decided to write up a little post as I wait for a video I’m working on to render.
So, I have a confession to make. A lot of my friends know this but others don’t. John Mayer is probably one of my favorite musicians. But this post doesn’t have to do with John Mayer’s music. It has to do with something he said. I was watching his DVD “Where The Light Is,” and there is a part when he is talking to the audience and he says “I’ve made a lot of stuff happen for myself.” And he mentions how that is something cool to say when your in your 20s.
I’m starting to understand that idea. I’m not saying I’ve made a lot of stuff happen for myself because there are a lot of important goals I haven’t accomplished. But I’m in this zone where everything I do is about progress. It’s about making progress for my career and for myself as a human being. Before, everything seemed out-of-reach. Everyone else wow-ed me, but I never wow-ed myself. And now I am starting to recognize my skills. My finish lines are still miles ahead, but now I feel that I have just as much of a shot as anyone else.
Don’t get me wrong it’s hard, and there are days where you feel like your taking hits from all sides. But I always remind myself that it’s supposed to be this way.
There is another part in the DVD where Mayer says that your 20s are a part of your life where you’re supposed to fight it out. Now I’m realizing that my life is going to be about fighting it out. It’s about the struggle. He says, “It’s only fun when you’re trying to get it in your grasp. Once you catch it, throw it back in the water and catch it again.” The “IT” he is talking about can be anything in your life that you are striving for.
I don’t know if this idea is true, but it really keeps me going. Now, I don’t just enjoy my successes but also my failures. I enjoy my failures because they are mine. They’re special. Failures show experience, knowledge and maturity. Because it is only after you fail that you can really grow.
Many of my friends are either scared about the future, or they have let the thought of a future paralyze them. I guess what I’ve realized, and what this post is saying, is that I’m not afraid anymore. I’m confident in my skills and in myself. I’m confident that I will succeed and that I will enjoy my failures. And I’m not confident just because I’m saying that I’m confident. I’m confident because I’ve put the work in. This year has all been about putting the work in. Not just any work, but the work I love, the work I’m passionate about.
It’s gotten to a point where I almost don’t care where I end up. I care about how I got there. And I care that once I’m there I still have a camera in my hand and stories to tell.
Cheers!
Me shooting some video in High Springs. Courtesy of David Cumming
Let’s Not Lose Our Heads
Check out the new Morningbell music video for their song “Let’s Not Lose our Heads.” Andrew Ford and I helped them shoot it and Eric Atria did great job with editing. And of course, the thing that really makes this video great is Morningbell.
If you loved the video come check out Morningbell tonight at The Atlantic with Bang Bang Boom. It’s going to be a great show!
Cheers!
Halloween Dreams
Friday night I had a dream.
Everyone has been obsessed with Halloween, and The Fest was coming up, and I had this weird dream. I couldn’t describe it to anyone, so I created this machine to export my dreams into video (very Michel Gondry of me). The following is what came out of my brain.
Just note to everyone that I dream in black and white and grainy. Enjoy
Cheers!
Can’t Get Any Shittier
I don’t know why, but typing bad words makes me feel weird.
Anyways…
On Friday I went to see Shitty Wilco and the Shitty Beatles at the Common Grounds. For those who don’t know, these are cover bands that consist of members from Morningbell, Umoja Orchestra and Michael Claytor and His Friends. I always attend Shitty Beatles shows because I think it’s the closest thing I’ll ever get to hearing the Beatles live. And Shitty Wilco was a great bonus, especially since they performed Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in it’s entirety.
I took some pictures and shot some video not really knowing if anything was going to come from it, but as I started editing I got more excited about finishing this video. Every video I do I try to add something new to it, and you’ll see some new stuff in this one. The video only covers the Shitty Wilco part because I didn’t want it to be too long. Expect a Shitty Beatles soundslide soon with Colin Whitlock rocking out harder than any man I’ve ever known.
I’m really proud of how this came out. I just wish I could get better sound from my T1i. I’m trying to find a way a rigging a shotgun mic or something. If you’ve got any idea of how I can improve the audio let me know?
Enjoy!
(oh, and by the way, these bands are nothing close to shitty. They are much closer to great!)
Cheers!
[Note: Go to my VImeo site to watch it in HD!]
[Note: I forgot to put Nicole Miglis in the credits. She was on keys. Sorry]
Fall Fashion
For one of my class assignments I had to shoot a fashion shoot with a specific color scheme. I picked fall colors and took advantage of Duke University when I went to visit my girlfriend. Duke has these huge, beautiful gardens that have beautiful flowers and nice landscapes, and of course I had to use my best model- my girlfriend. The colors really help the photos but the soft lighting make them better. Enjoy!
Cheers!
