I still remember.

Burn On Space Cowboy

How did he do it, how did he get on the machine Fish O'Death. He's a Space Cowboy!!! Rock on Space Cowboy!!!!!!!!!

Burn On

I'm off to Burning Man.
We're probably going to try to be around 4:30 and Esplanade.
See ya...

Up The Creek Without a Paddle

Strangely, I didn't get a shot of the actual house... It's beautiful. People were having such fun at the river, I didn't even think to shoot the house. Enjoy...

Notice the Golf-quality Lawn...


M working to get back to shore, and the soaked ass to prove it...
Come back young one, come back!!!
All the moms, so concerned. Notice the concern... ;)
I really was having too much fun to actually "try" to take pictures I guess. Oh well, next time I'll get some "Better Homes and Gardens" shots...

Perrott Island

Three acres of beautifully manicured Nortwest Oregon. It seems that each of my Mom's nieces and nephiews are finally coming into their own. My cousins MK and K have a beautiful 3 acre property outside Eugine. It's actually an island and has a melodic river that splits around it. Absolutely gorgeous! I've got pictures... soon...

S and M's "Support an Artist" Party

S and M were wonderful hosts this last weekend. They were gracious enough to let me put 25 pictures up on their walls and have friends and family come over and critique my work. I was surprised that 15 people I didn't know so well came, and gave me some great advice. Also, I had them vote on their 6 or 10 favorites. So now I have a better idea of what people want to see.

I was surprised by the responses. I didn't think that some of the pictures would go over that well, and was doubly surprised when some of my favorites didn't make the cut. The comment that I was most interested by was the support of my black and white imagery. I never really considered myself an exceptional B&W photographer, though that's where all of my training has been. But, a woman who lives across the street told me that I may actually have an eye for it. I'll have to go back and check it out again...

Also, for other photographers out there, she made a great point. If you want to see if you have a good shot, change your image into a B&W version and see if it stands up. If the subject of your photograph stands up to a B&W image, then you've got a good shot. Then you can leave it in color, and continue...

Again, I'm so happy that S&M hosted this party. And it was okay that very few of my friends came up to see it. I knew that they would tell me how cool everything was. I didn't really need that, though I would have appreciated it.

I needed some opinions from people who didn't know me.
Here's the proof sheet from the showing.

From 17 to 347 in Three Days

Well, it shouldn't be any wonder that I've had the xB for several days before I post. I was too busy driving, dont ya know...

What a cool car. Yeah, it's a bit underpowered. But, I've only filled half the tank once since I started driving. It's a great exchange. Plus, the it gets the job done.

So, from the pictures you might be able to tell that I lowered it. Also, I tinted the front windows. And put some REAL wheels on it. I've always hated stock wheels. Tacky plastic hub-caps. So, at long last, I don't have to think about HUB CAPS!

And, yes, the stereo pumps. Stock, sure, but it PUMPS.

::crickets::

# Still waiting for the xB!!! #
Here's a photo for now... Sunny G, the best muzzle model in the USA!

Skid Marks

I'm thinking of buying a Scion xB (Called Toyota bB in Japanana). I fell in love with the cars over there, and though the reviews I've read say that a tall person can be comfortable in them, my Pop and I decided that some aftermarket seats to move the seat back 2 more inches would be perfect. Plus, it's aftermarket goodness. And that's part of the culture, right.

More than meets the eye...

But ya know it's a hip vehicle when you can find Skids, the autobot Scion!!! Yeah, this is right up my alley. Underpowered sportiness, with that cartoon feel. Gunna love it I think.

I'm the weiner!!!

FINALLY!!! I've won something... The BetterPhotos people have given me a gold medal. Yeah, I'm really a winner now. I've been submitting photos for quite some time now, and have gotten both a silver and gold in the details and macros section. Here's the image that just won!!!

I'm still here... things are just a little crazy right now.

Plus my friends have told me that I'm on the wrong site. Like they know... Just wanted to let you know that I'll be posting more in the near future. I promise more images for you to daydream over soon. Just gotta get this last "super-panic-project" out of my hair.

Stay tuned.

Pant

It's been hectic, and I feel like all I've been doing is e-mailing and replying to e-mails... The job is great, and it makes me happy most of the time. In two weeks, I spent 1800 minutes talking on the phone. I know this because my parents tripped out when they found out how much time I'd used. They had said that it would be okay to just use my phone. I told them... but... Anyway, it's all solved, so there's nothing to worry about. The only time I get upset is when the people I'm talking too complain about how they haven't had enough time to check their ad. They feel rushed, and it's actually all their fault. They wait until the last minute to purchase their ads, and then they get whiny when we press them. The truith is, the deadline was on the 22nd of March. Now, I know the secret print date, but these people... well, you get the idea. Suffice to say, I'm quite happy with the one or two people who say they'll sue me or won't pay or something. That's not my area, and I don't have to worry about that at all. So, I don't.

The Dongle Did Me In...

They are akin to shoelaces. Have you ever gotten home from a store in the old days with a new pair of shoes, and then when you went to put them on, there weren't any shoelaces? It's like that... Brand new super-spiffy graphics card that would have let me try Oblivion 5 days after I bought it, but NO, I needed a DONGLE!

Would you like a business card?

So, it's time to make a go of it. Sure, I keep saying that, but I'm really trying to get this thing called artist happening. Problem is, I don't have a muse, persay. And I can't ask my friends to keep me propped up. They have their lives, and they do the stuff that they want. And that's what it's supposeed to be like. That's what's really supposed to happen. Meanwhile I'm still here, trying to figure out if what I'm doing is for me, or for other people. Guess the meds aren't working as well as I'd thought when real dissapointment comes creeping up. But the point is, I've got to get this freaking artist thing going. I've been given many very nice comments, and I may actually have made a sale from Sakura Con 2006. Though they haven't purchased anything yet. And of course I have to remember that Japanese people don't want photos of Japan so much. Still, I guess it's good to be home, it was good a couple days ago, and it may be good again sometime next week. So, who's complaining? Not me. Not actually...

Sakura Con 2006 Hand Outs

Oh Hanameeeee....

Sakura Con 2006 is Here

So, I've got two big projects running at the same time. So, the lack of posting here is dissapointing, but I gotta sacrifice something in all this mess. So, des ne.

Visions of Japan Tryptich by: Jason Gehrman

Here's the other image that will be featured in our show. My tryptich of the Nara Statues, and then this Tryptich that I put together for Jason Gehrman. His central image won the second place award for the Internationally acclaimed Website Better Photos.com. He's someplace in Asia right now, heading toward Australia and eventually Parague.

Sakura Con 2006 @ the Seattle Convention Center

I've been working feeverishly to get all the frames put together, because I'll be showing 12 works in the show. Turns out I may be the only one there that's showing photographs. I may also be the only one that's framing... But, I am going to be the only one with class enough to not wear cat ears... tabun. So, there will be ample opportunities to see all the cos-play kids, and maybe some of them will be cute, like in Japan... tabun.

O Hanami in BP

Two trees is all it took to get these beautiful Cherry Trees. I was always amused that many Japanese people thought that Cherry Blossom Season only existed in Japan. Sheesh kids, it's everywhere. When I was a baby living in Longview most of the roads leading from the central park had cherry trees along them. I remember going back later and being amazed at how many there were. They were the super pink kind, and truithfully, I think that the pale pink ones are a bit more beautiful. These are in between... Ya know, there are over 100 kinds in Japan. I would agree that Japan IS the place for Cherry Trees. It's not the only place, but probably one of the best. Enjoy the season. I've seen a bunch more trees along the wharehouse section of Fife. It's strange where they put these trees. Not really concerned with the trees themsleves I guess, just that they ad color once a year. It's nice though, sorry the job is keeping me from doing some real photography. It was money before, now it's job. That's the way it works I guess. Anyway, enjoy the season, and go out and take som e pictures yourselves... Show me how pretty the trees are in your part of the world.

So NOW it's official...

Okay, so before when I said I'd been hired by CHOICE, that wasn't exactly true. Actually I was considered a Sub-Contractor at the time. After a little bit of consideration, and a few conversations that considered my worth and risk, they finally decided that I should be hired. SO NOW I'M HIRED! Not a really big deal, I just let them know what I expected, and let them decide what to do. I'm glad they put me on the payroll. I feel better about working in a situation where it's not about doing the time, but doing the job. If they'd kept me on as a sub-contractor, I would have been more concerned with getting the hours. Now, as an employee, I'm more concerned about getting the work done. I have a responsibility to the company now, and any thing I do to make the job more satisfying is helpful, both to me and them. Anyway, I'm glad I'm getting to do some great work. It's time to make myself invaluable now.

Connecting Back

Had an opportunity to finally see what me mates are doing back in J-land. Rob T had his son, and Bren and his wife have taken some really great photos. Check em out... Bren's shot of Kyoto in the snow, and T's son Kai.