I love photographs. I love looking at them just as much as I love capturing them. Seeing a single instant captured in time just entrances me. Especially when the image shows emotion. The fact that just a slit second can tell such a story amazes me, and I love it.
So moving on, this afternoon I went to Conway, Arkansas with 3 other guys in my advanced photography class to do a project. We were given a list of things found in any city, and were told to choose a city and take pictures of the things on a list. They were mostly generic things...a statue, a body of water, the most popular attraction in the city, something showing motion, a night shot, something funny..things like that. We had a list of 30 and we had to find as many as we could. Most of them didn’t take too long, and it came around 6 o’clock or so and we decided to stop and eat. We found this very nice (we were completely under-dressed) italian place and ate there. We were there for 2 hours, so we had plenty of time to figure out how many more pictures we needed and decided all we needed was a picture of an old person. That’s all the paper said, a picture of an old person. Being almost 9, we decided we had better find someone in the restaurant because we weren’t going to find many old people out that late. This would obviously prove to be slightly awkward. “Hello sir or mame. I am doing a photography assignment and would you mind if I interrupt your meal in this fine restaurant to take a random picture of you?” uh...no. But we had to do it, so one of the other guys and I decided to get up and leave (after paying of course) and hope that one of the other guys would take the picture. No Luck.
So after walking outside, trying to decide what we were going to do, because none of us wanted to ask anyone in the italian place, I see this guy. He was standing there, leaning up against a building, smoking a cigarette. The lighting was good, there were cool lights down the street, he was old, it was perfect. So ignoring my partners making fun of each other, I approached the dude. I told him I was doing a project, and asked if I could take his picture. He seemed cool with it until I said he should just stand there, act like i wasn’t there, and continue on smoking his cigarette. For some reason the fact that I told him to just keep on smoking offended him or something. He sort of went into defensive mode. “are you serious?” he said. Quickly confused, I was just like, “uh, ya. It’s just for a school project.” I was getting slightly worried that I angered him. He mumbled something about no, not smoking, I won’t have that. So I told him, oh ok. That’s ok, do you still mind if I take a picture without smoking? He grumbled something and said it was fine, so i quickly took it, showed it to him, thanked him, and left. In the end, I came away with a great image, probably the best one from the whole day.

As I walked away I could only wonder about this guy’s story. What was it about the possibilities cigarette and him smoking it in the picture that he didn’t like? There are so many . He could have been smoking since he was twelve but is needing to stop because the doctor told him. Maybe it’s because he is having marital problems with his wife because of smoking, or his kids. Maybe there’s a smoking law in Conway I don’t know about and he didn’t want any proof he was breaking it. For all I know maybe he was just a pissy old man. All I know is that my camera+him smoking=not a happy dude. But I get all that from just one image, taken in 1/6th of a second....

Bee-ee-aaa-youtiful

So in between running around during my even packed day, I found an hour to take advantage of my new camera and the macro adapter it came with. I walked around the front lawn and in front of the student center taking pictures for an hour.










Isn't God awesome?! Even down to the innermost parts of the tiniest flower have so much detail. It's possible that no one will ever again see those parts of those exact flowers, yet each one is a little different. Different with an amount of beauty unimaginable. Looking back at the creation, I can see why God took that 7th day to rest. I think He deserved it.

Guess What Came in the Mail Today!!

So as you can see in my last post. I like many forms of graphics, imaging, and photography. And my interest in photography has grown immensely. So after my (almost) 2 years using the schools DSLR's. I FINALLY got one of my own! The d70 i won on ebay last week finally came in today. I got a great deal on it. I got the camera, a bag, a nikon 28-80 lens, a 2gig card, a wide angle/macro lens adapter, an extra battery, a huge book on the camera, and all the accessories it would come with new. so now I am one happy camper! one happy, photographing camper!

but i had to take the picture of me with the camera in photobooth, i only have 1 camera....

I Love What I Do

For those of you that don't know, my major in college is electronic media production. basically that means that if there is any type of media, that is produced electronically, chances are i have had a hand in it at some point. Television, radio, photography, journalism, web-design, graphic arts...etc. Everything i just mentioned I have, am, or will be doing in school. And I love it. I've worked on countless projects in these things, and I enjoy it immensely. And I enjoy it for many reason. I get to be creative, I get to influence, entertain, and inform people. I get to produce something and have something to show for it, and the main focus of this blog, is I get to meet many people and experience many different things.

Along with being a media junkie, I am a people person. I always made fun of my dad when anytime we go anywhere, he would find someone he knows. I've actually stopped making fun of him for that since the day I got back from my first Honduras trip. We spent most of the day together, and ended up keeping track of how many people each of us saw that we knew. He did ended up seeing more, but for most of the day I was ahead. I just love meeting knew people from all over the world. In the room I'm in know (my dorm), in the past 24 hours, there have probably been people here from about 8 different states. That is definetly something I love about college. I get to meet people from all walks of like. And my involvement in electronic media has directly included that. Just yesterday I helped some latin students shoot a video for future students from latin america. I have no idea what they were saying as it was all in spanish, but now I know several of them. Like Flor from El Salvador (I think that's where she said she was from)

I also love experiencing new things, which is also expanded by my involvement in electronic media. In my 3.8 semesters of college I have filmed basketball and football in dozens of gyms and stadiums, including high school, college, semi-pro, exhibition games, conference games, tournament games, even a couple nationally broadcast games. I've helped film religious videos, intro videos, newscasts, commercials. And that is just video. I've photographed all of that, plus news events, theatrical plays, a mock disaster, portraits. I love doing new things.

Basically, this is the career for me, and I'm glad I chose it. In my short time in the industry, I've met hundreds of people, traveled across the country, and done things very few people can say they have done....and this is only the beginning. Look out media world, there's a tall goofy kid coming your way. Well, I guess you can relax for a while. It's past his bedtime.....



Here's a couple pictures I had Russel take while we were at the Arkansas Twisters Arena Football game tonight. We were shooting for the news.

I told you I've met new people! Ok, so i didn't actually talk to her, we were both busy during the game....but I bet you've never gotten your picture taken with a cheerleader at a football game like this!

Yes, we were right there in front of the action. Yes the players were mere feet from me as I filmed them scores touchdowns. No I did not get trampled. Russel on the other hand didn't have such luck. On one play, the quaterback for Tulsa was tackled as he threw the ball. In the process, the QB and the lineman came tumbling down, rolling towards those of us on the sideline. Many of us had the sense to move out of their way. Russel on the other hand, moved only slightly, thus preventing his knees from being shattered, but not quite far enough to avoid the flailing limbs of the active players. That's right, Russel caught a foot to the crotch, and I was filming the whole time. It was hilarious.

Sleeping Habits Gone Wrong

If you've read my last post, you will know that I stayed up all night working on stuff. While I'm glad i got stuff done, it has really messed up my sleep schedule, although it wasn't great to start with, this isn't helping. I went to bed at 9 o'clock, then woke up at about 2:30 and have been up since. By the time i finish typing this, it will be time to crash...hopefully.

Anyway, after I woke up, I got my computer out and was randomly surfing the internet. It was the normal...check messages at various sites, play some moola games, hang out in a forum or 2, and ofcourse stalking people on facebook. It was that last one that sent me over to youtube, to see a video of Bob Knight. It was an ESPN top-10 countdown of Knight's best quotes. Personally, I am a Bob Knight fan. He does have a good and a bad side, but you have to respect the man. He knows the game of basketball, and knows it the way it should be. His game of basketball is all about discipline, teamwork, effort, and heart. If you are missing one of those things then you won't be playing for Knight. Knight doesn't want a showy player who just wants to look good. He wants a player that will work hard (that is on and off the court) and will follow directions. In the history of Bob Knight's coaching ( a long time) I think there have been a small handful of students not graduate. He stressed the education they were receiving jsut as much as he stressed the game of basketball. You will not find Bob Knight cheating or breaking any rules. Contrary to another former Hoosier coach, Bob Knight will follow regulations by the book. Don't get me wrong, he has a temper and a language that are indescribable, but his motives are in the right place. Reading Steve Alford's book, "My Six Seasons With Coach Knight" and Feinsten's "Season on a Brink" told alot about Bob Knight and his coaching style. Needless to say, I enjoyed those books.

But what does this have to do with anything? It goes back to that youtube video of the top-10 quotes of Bob Knight. I had seen this before, bit i still get a kick out of watching it. (By the way, props to the guy that had to take the time to bleep out the soundbite) The top-2 quotes in the video are defiently my favorite. Number 2 was his opinion on the term "gameface." I cannot even begin to describe this, but it makes me laugh everytime. then the number 1 quote was a statement Knight made in his yearly speech to the students at Indiana University. This speech usually caused Assembly Hall to fill up almost to the same amount as it did for the actual games, and this one in particular was no exception. During his speech, Knight says this, "When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury my upside down. So my critics can kiss my..." Well i think you can finish that sentence.

After reading this far, I'm sure you're wondering where I'm going and why on earth this is my favorite Bob Knight quote. The idea, or attitude, that Knight expresses here is something that I tend o agree with. I even try and live my life like this (does this mean i treat Bob Knight as a great philosopher or something?? *shudders*) But in all seriousness, why do we judge what we do by our critics? Do we take what our critics are saying as truth? And if so, how does this make any sense? They are our critics, not our concious. We don't need to be looking at out critics for guidance. If i have a goal in life, I don't care what every other person thinks about it. It's not their goal, it's mine. There are of course other people that influence my decisions, but I don't think that we should 100% use that as a decision maker. I think this is a constant struggle for many Christians. We often let the opinion of others overpower what God wants us to do, when he is the one that knows what is best for us. Bob Knight ignored the critics and coached the game of basketball his own way. As the most winningest coach in NCAA division 1 basketball history, it shows the this method worked out well. So as christians in our daily walks we should not be influenced by the people surrounding the path, but instead by the light leading the way

Psalm 119:105 " Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

early morning beginnings

I was gonna start this early this morning when taking a break from working on assignments all night, but i didn't so I'm just gonna act like i did...

So this morning i realized a couple things, and I'm going to start my blog off by sharing them with you. The first one begins last night actually. I started working on the website for class and i just decided to keep working on it all night. So i worked through the night, not always diligently, but i was working. Then at about 6:30 this morning I took off to get my laundry out of the dryer (left it in before curfew) and I realized something. Now this might come as a surprise to some that know me, or you might not even believe me, but I realized that I love being outside in the mornings. I love the comforting isolation, the gentle tranquility, the soothing sound of the birds, and the lack of sound from the street. In the day time around campus there are people everywhere. They're all talking, singing, listening to music, driving their cars around. In the morning none of that is there. It's just you, the birds, God, and nothing else. I always enjoy being out in the early mornings. It's great alone time and allows you to see the beauty of God's creation in a way you can't see in the middle of the afternoon when everyone else is there. Now if only I could experience these times without staying up all night....

The 2nd thing i realized is a bit odd. i realized how little I like clothes. As I was walking to get my laundry (i hate that about clothes. the effort neeed to clean them) I honestly had very little on; a sleeveless t-shirt, sandals, and a pair of athletic shorts. o ya, and my glasses. At first I was a little worried that I was going to freeze on my way to the laundry room, but the cool air was nice, and I was very comfortable. Then I realized the most comfortable I ever am, is laying in my bed in my boxers. But I am most comfortable in small amounts of clothing. Now that I think about it, this whole thing may just be because people don't make clothes that for me. stupid manufacturers.. But anyway, God put this first man on earth with no clothes, and brings every other human into the work like that still. I just get a strange comfort out of it, rather than a bunch of clothes that don't fit right. But don't take this wrong, you're not gonna find me walking around naked anytime, soon. I think I just enjoy being in a space I can call mine, chilling in whatever feels comfortable.

morale of the blog, take time to see the beauty in things. Whether it's the tranquility of an early morning walk or the comfort of clothing (or lack thereof), just don't experience of the same time. and if you thought this was a little weird, gimme a break I didn't sleep last night!