over the weekend, [url=http://www.bastalaranza.com]geoff[/url] and i were waxing philosophy about photography. it sort of reminded me of what it was about photography that i loved.

i would say that most people are pretty casual when they take pictures. these photographs are generally taken so that they can capture a moment. some people are very specialized in the kind of photography that they do. some focus on landscapes, while others do portraits. i’ve always sort of fell somewhere in the middle. i enjoy landscapes, but i also enjoy photographying people. animate, inanimate objects, abstract, whatever, i’ve probably tried it all.

though capturing the moment is part of my goal, i think that what i strive for when i take photos is to show someone something that they haven’t seen…or to show them something they’ve seen a million times, just not quite the same way i do.

there is a school of photography that is all about the commercial image. the one that is tried and true, and people universally seem to enjoy. i like that look, but i cannot say that that is what i strive for. i’ve shot with more traditional photographers and they know exactly how to shoot something. it’s the shot that has the highest commercial value. it’s a very mainstream perspective and it works quite well.

but that just isn’t me. i think one of the things i enjoy most about photography is that i can share with someone else how i see the world. a lot of the images that i take are about how i interact with the environment that i’m in. so when it comes to photographing people, i feel that i really get a lot more out of it if i get to know the model a little bit.

it’s sort of like capturing how i see them. like i’ve said before, i’ve worked with models who are bold and some that are shy. each shoot varies, the poses aren’t the same because the people aren’t the same. it’s just a matter of me trying to figure out how best to portray them. so far i think that i’ve been reasonably successful, though my friend also told me once, “if you start with a beautiful model, your pictures can’t go too wrong.”

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i am in such a foul mood right now. i don’t even know why i am in such a bad mood. it sort of concerns me because i think that i’m beginning to snap at people. that can’t be good.

snappish!

i’m not sure why it was so hard for me to get out of bed today. i didn’t stay up too late. i didn’t forget to set my alarm. i didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, but today i was contemplating sleeping in and getting into work 3 hours later than i usually do.

“it’d be ok,” i thought to myself as i snuggled under the warmth of my blanket.

but then it guilt finally struck and i started to get up and get ready for the day. now, several hours later, i’ve gotten a fair bit of work done and i’m pretty happy with the results, so i guess it all works out for the best. i’m going to costco today to get some food for a bbq tomorrow and i think that i may consider making pot roast tonight. mmmmm. pot roast.

but definitely some kind of meat. mmmmm. meat.

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this last weekend was a bit of a liberation for me. i think that i’ve been feeling down the past few weeks, but i’m starting to notice something that’s turning things around. i think part of it had to do with dealing with some of the troubles that i’ve been avoiding for all this time. and in avoiding those issues, i started to create new ones. i started to feel burdened with all of the weight of the previous problems piling on top of me.

but this last weekend lifted those things from my shoulders. it was a little unpleasant at first and difficult to do, but i’m feeling much better these days. now, if only i wasn’t so busy at work, i might be able to take advantage of this and go do something fun.

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With or Without You

See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you
With or without you
With or without you

Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I’m waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can’t live with or without you

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give, and you give
And you give yourself away

My hands are tied – my body bruised
She’s got me with nothing to win
And nothing left to lose

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give, and you give
And you give yourself away

With or without you
With or without you
I can’t live with or without you

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i’m sort of bummed about this weekend and sort of happy about it. conflicted, i guess, best describes this weekend. the westwide vegas volleyball tournament is this weekend and i was supposed to go to it with some volleyball friends. but instead, because of circumstances out of my control, i’m unable to go and play anymore. part of it is because my ankle is still not 100% and i guess that’s reason enough for me not to go.

but still, i was really looking forward to it. all year. and i won’t be able to hang out with charlowe who i haven’t seen since forever, too. major bummer.

to offset that, i’ve actually got potentially two photo shoots this weekend. pretty crazy stuff, i’m not sure what the theme will be, but i’m sure that it’ll be fun. i’m also going to go to shirley’s bbq of eclectic food. i’m still not sure what eclectic food i will bring, though i’m now leaning towards miso salmon. hrmmmmmm.

i also want to spend some time on sunday making some good food. i’m thinking pot roast. mmmm, that would really hit the spot.

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when did noah’s start making full sized chocolate chip bagels? i know they made the mini chocolate chip bagels and i was actually outraged that they didn’t make the full sized version of them. i used to complain to anita back in college about that during one of our CE lectures.

ahh, those were the good old days. but anyway, it appears that they now make the full sized chocolate chip bagels. mmmmm.

today’s already shaping up to be a pretty good day.

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