Aztec Calendar...

Hi...
I went to an exhibit of world religions at the Stahl Center. This was an Aztec calendar. The exhibit included different religion's take on different aspects... some of which were ways different religions fixes what's broken... but the main discussion was about the recent sectarian violence between the different sects of the Moslem faith, and how religious violence is mostly at its core a human choice... think about this statement: If you had a choice to denounce the name of Jesus only to exhibit what Jesus would do and you choose to to denounce the name of Jesus... does God looks at that favorably or not?

I'm blue...

Well, literally blue. This was taken yesterday at church in the sound booth area. Photoshopped and enhanced. Today I will go to a wedding in Newport Beach...in a yach no doubt. I will have photos tonight. Have a great Sunday.

my new "old" toy

I recently been fascinated by medium format cameras and decided to get a vintage folding camera... Agfa Isolette III. This was originally made in the 50's and it's compactness and simple mechanism makes it ideal for candid photography. The fact it uses 120 film (4x larger than a 35 mm film), makes beautiful enlargements. It doesn't typically have the light leaks and vignetting like a Holga type camera, but I can't wait to see what kind of photos it takes.

new but looking old...

my new tacoma made to look old... (repost)

5th Street

Just one of the hidden streets of my town....

Breakfast at Denny's

couple weeks ago while having my car serviced I ate breakfast at Denny's

aaron christmas program elementary school

just posting some old film scans of aaron in elementary school christmas program.

Pat Metheny and I (circa 1990)

I was scanning through my old photos and came across a photo of me and Pat Metheny. I believe this was taken around 1990-ish when I saw the Pat Metheny Group at Royce Hall in UCLA. A brush with greatness indeed!

playin' around with photoshop-holga

Here's a recent photo of son.. :)

Byron and Tracy Wedding

Yesterday I went to one of my friend's wedding. It was becautiful. :)
(I helped with technical sound engineering)

real holga photo

This photo was scanned from a real Woca camera, which is a Holga camera with a glass lens. It was an experimental photo which inadvertently had mutliple exposures, becauße the camera film was not advanced.

Last Friday at Denny's

Last Friday, I had to get my truck serviced. Since it was a bit of a wait, I went to Denny's and had breakfast just to pass the time. Nothing like a Denny's breakfast in beautiful San Bernardino.
As I was waiting for my shuttle ride, I noticed a vintage 'vette outside Denny's and took a photo.
After that, I donated blood... and did some more errands. It's nice to have Fridays off sometimes...

Thanksgiving reminder....

I was shopping at a popular shopping center near my home, and took this photo... Again, I used a photoshop action called Old Toy Camera by Smaragd. Family and Friends for Thanksgiving is always a good time.

holgafied digitally

So, here's a holgafied digital image. Actually I do like the way the photoshop plug-in modifies the original image... you can find that plug-in here <- this one was used on the lighter image, and another photoshop plug-in was used for the darker image. As you can see they vary, and actually in photoshop you can modify the effect of each plug-in to your liking. The second PS Action can be found at Adobe's website here.

what is this holga phenomenon?

Holga, is a cheap chinese made plastic camera with a fixed shutterspeed and a 3 focus settings, and an aperature setting, that is actually broken from the factory. It has been used by art photographers for its inherent "cheap-look" photo. Due to light leaks, plastic lens, and image abberations, the resulting photo looks "artsy". This photo was actually NOT taken by a Holga Camera, but rather it is a photshop plug-in that simulates a Holga photo.

tried posting this a couple days ago...

but the servers were very busy... so here it is. This was taken at work on my lunch break. I just happened to bring my camera to work to show a friend the "new" used lens I got from ebay. outside were these plants and I wanted to take a photo to test the bokeh... have you heard about "bokeh"? It is a japanese word that means literally describing the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas of an image. Well... to me the bokeh in this photo is pleasing... :)

update: apparently blogger has gone to potty... i can't upload this blog.

Praise Band 102106

It's gonna rock tomorrow as this band will lead out in worship. I wish I can be there.

At church practice w spectators...

Most friday nights,our praise and worship band practices at church. This particular night, a friend who is leading out brought some of their friends. These were the two "spectators" as they practiced, and I did sound engineering, and took photos of course. I wish I could be there tomorrow when my friend's band plays. Unfortunately, I have to work at the hospital.

Testing new 28-200 lens

Just got a lens I bid through Ebay. It's the Nikkor 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF. More to follow as I play around with this lens.

More Night Photos

good evening

It's been awhile since I've posted, so Monday night I was about to go into the local coffee shop when through my truck's front windshield was this colorful cigar sign. Hmm I thought since I did get a quite fast lens I should probably test the lens (a Nikkor 50mm 1.8 AF) with the D50.

Havasupai #3 Proof I was there!

Ok... so was I there? Of course I was! This was taken as we hiked down a steep trail coming off the top of the falls (see previous photos). I think my legs were numb now and it was a nice little rest before walking down to the valley floor.

Havasupai #2 Anniversary October 2005

This is another photo looking down into the valley. Pretty isn't it?

Happy Anniversary - Havasupai October 2005

It was a year ago when I was invited to go for one of the only hikes I've been to and one of the most beautiful places in the U.S.A. to hike. The place is Havsupai, Arizona which is located within the Supai Indian Tribe. The photo above is taken at the mouth of the falls which is about a couple hundred feet tall). It is now October, and time sure has flew, I'm reminicing about the hike today and sort of miss doing something this time of year. Work has been a bit crazy and perhaps I can't really take off for any extended period of time. Anyway Happy Anniversary - Havasupai!

The Illusionist

Today I saw the Illusionist with some friends. It was their first and it was my 2nd time. The first time I saw the movie, I was enthralled by the movie, love story, and satisfying ending. For those who have seen it you know what I mean, but for those who haven't, I recommend it highly. Typically, I do not see a movie twice, but this one I wanted to see the 2nd time so I could share my thoughts about the movie with others, and to see their reaction. There is really nothing controversial or earth-shaking here, it is just a very entertaining move. I would give it a 8.9 out of 10.
Check out the Tomato Meter rating of this movie Here.

The Children's Learning

I live where there is quite a stark contrast between those who have and those who don't have. Just down the street there are neighbors who live near or at below the povery line. Today I decided to help. The Children's Learning Garden is sponsored the local Medical Center and it's purpose is to take care of children with after school programs by tutoring, health care education, arts/music, gardening, and more. Today, the place needed help in basically upkeep, and cleaning up. Ironically, I was prepared to get my hands dirty, but the Director of the program (Dr. Ron Graybill) directed me to take photos. Next time in about 6 weeks we go at it again. If you are interested in helping please visit their website http://www.healthycities.com

Eye-Ku

my eyes have seen you
with and without my glasses
love in my mind's eye

Death Cab for Cutie December 5

Death Cab For Cutie at Bren Events Center - 12/5/2006, 8:00 pm UC Irvine~ yay!
who wants to go? I've got one xtra ticket...

More from the Bowl last night.

It was a fun evening. John Williams had some funny moments when during the Star Wars songs, all the light sabres were lit up, and he turn around towards the audience as if to encourage them and conduct the kids with the light sabers. At one point the crowd was responding to the kids that started lining up with their light sabers and started marching down the isles in single file.
I wished they had played the theme from the Olympics. BTW they also played music from other composers... especially from the Hitchcock films, Psycho, Vertigo, and North by Northwest.

John Williams L.A. Phil at the Bowl!

Aaron and I went last night to see one of the most prolific and extremely popular composer of music for cinema. John Williams, along with the L.A. Philharmonic. It was an amazing evening which climaxed with Superman; E.T., Jaws, Indiana Jones, Star Wars medley; Imperial March, ...and more... it was fun to see the light sabres go up when all the Star Wars songs played.

Birthday and Baby Shower

Wednesday - At work we had a double celebration. One of our employees was her birthday and the other is having a baby shower. It was fun. Many participated and brought food. The highlight was the one having the shower had no idea about it and totally was suprised and was overcomed with emotion and started crying.

A church that isn't afraid to....

First, let me say that my church (Seventh-Day Adventist or SDA) for the most part is very conservative. Music that speaks about God and Life, doesn't necessarily have to be specifically a "Christian" song. Many of our songs in the "secular" world do speak to many of us about God, and so, my church is very intentional when it chooses music that is played as a special or background music. So here's a partial list of the songs we've played in church.

Some of the "secular" music we have played at my church are:
Fragile-Sting
Dead Man's Rope - Sting
Whenever I Say Your name - Sting
Lean on Me - Bill Withers
Pride - U2
Grace - U2
40 - U2
Switchfoot... various (obviously Switchfoot has many christian lyrical content)
Sarah MacLachlan - World on Fire
Sarah McLachlan - Fallen
Sarah McLachlan - Sweet Surrender
Pat Metheny Group - Letter From Home
Pat Metheny - Thanksgiving
Pat Metheny Group - The Falcon
Pat Methny Group - The Bat Part II
Pat Methny Group - Estupenda Graca (Amazing Grace)
Depeche Mode - Waiting for the Night (Bare)
Supertramp - Lord Is It Mine
James Ingram - Ya Mo Be There
Take Six
Sigur Ros
Imogen Heap
Coldplay - Fix You
Coldplay - Talk
Larry Carlton
Richard Souther
Douglas Trowbridge
Hadley Hockensmith
Dave Grusin

Saturday at the Park

it was a pretty late afternoon picnic at the park. this park is actually a private park which belong to the various homes in Highland, CA. One of our friends had her 50th birthday in the park. here is a photo of a young girl fishing.

Sound of Settling

I'm pondering about my age and the future... and I wonder if the song from DCFC Sound of Settling really hits it on the head?
------------------------Sound of Settling by Death Cab for Cutie------------------------------
I've got a hunger
Twisting my stomach into knots
That my tongue has tied off

My brain's repeating
"If you've got an impulse let it out"
But they never make it past my mouth.

Bop ba Bop ba, this is the sound of settling
Bop ba, Bop ba
(x2)

Our youth is fleeting
Old age is just around the bend
And I can't wait to go gray

And I'll sit and wonder
Of every love that could've been
If I'd only thought of something charming to say.

Bop ba Bop ba, this is the sound of settling
Bop ba, Bop ba
(x4)

i've got a hunger twisting my stomach into knots.

I need you so much closer. . .

a sentiment that many of us feel when the one we love is so far away. Long distance relationships can relate to this song by Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism.
Note: This song has to be experienced live.

TRANSATLANTICSM by Death Cab for Cutie

The Atlantic was born today, and I'll tell you how:
The clouds above opened up and let it out.

I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
When the water filled every hole.
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean,
Making islands where no island should go.
Oh no.

Most people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.
The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flat lands to your door
Have been silenced forever more.
The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row
It seems farther than ever before
Oh no.

I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer

I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer
I need you so much closer

So come on, come on
So come on, come on
So come on, come on
So come on, come on

Another photo of Nick (DCFC)

This is Nick in action from the DCFC Berkeley show

Finally a rare "focused" photo of Nick.

DCFC San Diego!!!

What a beautiful setting for the last concert of the west coast tour for DCFC. San Diego Marina, behind the Convention Center.
Ben's stack of guitars.
Our group. Aaron's two friends Courtney (looking away--camera shy), Lindsey, and me of course. In the front row! Best show yet!!
The crowd filling up the venue.