http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:packgrad2k1&section=today deviantART RSS for by:packgrad2k1 en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:52:14 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/28943957/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/28943957/ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:49:26 PST giveaway rules & regs on PittmanPhoto.com.

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/25401607/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/25401607/ Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:46:57 PDT
I swear, I'll be back in action soon. I've recently moved from Spokane, WA to New Haven, CT and that has kept me QUITE busy. As soon as I can, I swear I'll become an active member of the dA community.

--Mike

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/22365620/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/22365620/ Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:34:06 PST
I recognize, quite readily, that I'm not a heavy-hitter on dA. I don't get gabillions of pageviews every day. I'm late to update, I update in batches, and I don't update that frequently.

Today, I was trying to figure out which of my deviations has been commented on the most. When I went to my stats, I felt pretty comfortable that it would be Hold Me and I wasn't disappointed. What I was surprised by is the fact that of my ten most commented images, 7 of them came from the same shoot. Of all of my images that have 10 or more comments, all of them came from the same shoot. And even more interestingly, it's the same 7 photos: all from the same shoot, the 7 most commented upon and the only 7 that have 10 or more comments.

Have I really been all downhill since then?

Here are the photos in question:






Here are some others I think are worthy; what do you think:









]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/21279580/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/21279580/ Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:53:29 PST
I hope to have stuff up soon, so please keep an eye out. I'm digging out of messages and deviations to comment right now.

--Mike

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/18124695/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/18124695/ Thu, 01 May 2008 20:57:47 PDT
I keep seeing questions about this, and having the same question posed to me quite often: what do you think it will take to change the direction of this country? Most think it starts with the President, and that in 2009 one way or another things will change. I whole heartedly disagree with this, and believe especially that if McCain is elected, the difference between 2009-2013 will be minimal compared to 2001-2009. Even if Obama or Clinton win, I still don't see much really changing.

I believe that the larger problem is with the voters, not the people who are elected. Those who cry for change must be willing to elect the person / people who will bring about change. This doesn't, unfortunately, start at the top. It starts at the bottom on the local level and works upward to the highest elected offices in the US. In any elected office, you are only as powerful as the people around / below you will allow you to be.

I personally don't believe this will ever really happen. The electorate is just too ignorant. I'm guilty of this myself, just as many people are. I don't research every person running for local office like I should. I do my research on the folks running for president, governor, and sometimes mayor, and always the judges.

Nationally, for the most part, I feel that people voting aren't educating themselves enough to realize that the issues aren't what Obama's pastor believes; nobody is trying to elect Reverend Wright as President. The people voting aren't educating themselves to realize that Clinton may have been wrong about the sniper fire in Bosnia, but that's hardly an issue. The people voting aren't educating themselves enough to realize that the Republican fear tactics about national security are just that: fear tactics.

The electorate needs to inform themselves on all issues, and on true issues, not what somebody's pastor says or husband says. I do believe that you are judged by the company you keep, but in all honesty, doesn't every one of us have that one person in our lives that we love dearly, but just don't agree with?

Maybe if people really took the time to research the candidates instead of listening to the media, reading e-mails, and watching the talking heads on TV pull out sound bytes... maybe then things would begin to change.

I believe that is what got us to where we are today. Ask about 73% of Americans (based on Bush's 27% approval rating) and I think they would all answer Ronald Regan's question "are you better off now than you were four years ago?" with a resounding "NO!"

A quote I really like that is often attributed to Albert Einstein sums up this election, and perhaps this country, very well: "the thinking that got us into this mess is not sufficient to get us out."

(also quoted as: "The thinking it took to get us into this mess is not the same thinking that is going to get us out of it." And more appropriately, though most certainly not Einstein in origin: "Stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?") ]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/16997833/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/16997833/ Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:56:40 PST
I finally have a deviation w/ 2 pages of comments. Yay! Granted, it's kinda cheating because I reply to all comments, so the numbers are skewed, but WHO CARES?! :-D

Yes, I'm that much of a dork that I want one of my deviations to go to page 2.

The deviation in question is Hold Me.

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/13931120/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/13931120/ Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:18:42 PDT
Fucking hell Polaroid!!! When I found how much fun Polaroid photos could be, I realized you'd just discontinued type 85 film, and I was sad.

Then I found I could at least get type 665, and I was happy... Until research showed that too was being discontinued. At least I could still get it, and have some around for fun when I wanted it.

Now I see that ALL type 80-films were discontinued. What the hell!? I'm going to have to shoot non-squares in my Holgaroid! Not to mention that fabu square shooter I paid $1.50 for is now a $1.50 DUST MAGNET.


GGGRRRR!!!!!

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/13531325/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/13531325/ Thu, 28 Jun 2007 21:29:52 PDT
All of these are from my time in Spokane up to this point. Most were shot with my Canon 20D, though there are some polaroids in there as well. I hope you guys enjoy them!

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/11729621/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/11729621/ Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:24:14 PST
On a personal note, the acclimation has been rather interesting. 20-degrees in Spokane is NOT as cold as 20-degrees in Raleigh. When it snows in Spokane, nobody seems to care; when it snows in Raleigh, you better not be out of bread, milk, or toilet paper because the grocery store surely will be by the time you get there. And probably the most difficult thing for me so far, when you come to a residential intersection and don't have a stop / yield sign in Washington, that does not mean you have the right-of-way!

Professionally, I've got a lot to do! Through years of working with people in and around Raleigh both while in school there as well as after graduation, I built a very strong and dependable client base. Here in Spokane, I have nothing but my advertising to rely on. In the coming weeks I need to get a business license, update my websites, get new business cards, and get the word out that I'm here. I'll be contacting Gonzaga in case they need sports stuff, local high schools, bridal shops, and of course people in general!

If you're in the Spokane area, I'd love to hear from you! I'm still learning the area, and for a transplanted Southerner, I'm happy to be here and learn. And really, any place with a coffee shop on every corner can't be a half-bad place!

--Mike



More Photo Samples:
PittmanPhoto.com
deviantART
Sports Shooter
















]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10953982/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10953982/ Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:57:07 PST
--Mike

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10755462/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10755462/ Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:08:35 PST
RALEIGH,NC (FP) - Mike Pittman (DBA Pittman Photography), nationally recognized photographer and photojournalist announced today a complete overhaul to the PittmanPhoto.com online presence. "We've come a long way, baby!" stated Pittman, speaking via phone from his lavish headquarters in Raleigh, NC. Pittman currently serves as CFO, CIO, CEO, Director of Marketing, administrative assistant, and photographic contractor for Pittman Photography.

"If you check out PittmanPhoto.com using Archive.org's 'Wayback Machine' you can see our site design has changed drastically over the years." ( [link]) PittmanPhoto.com was registered with Network Solutions on March 28th, 2000 with the help of a generous donation from Mrs. Peggy Webb of Shelby, NC. Since that time, the site has had hundreds of visitors, some of which were even unique.

The new site design features many new works from Pittman, as well as some old favorites. The technology involved works best when viewed with a computer-based web browser, but should work on any web browser with Macromedia Flash 9 installed. Over time, new shots will be added as they are deemed worthy, assuming of course Pittman actually takes any worthy shots. When asked what happens should no new photos be deemed acceptable, Pittman simply stated, "Well... I guess I'll overhaul the site with all the old (stuff) and call it new!"

When you first arrive at the newly designed site, you're greeted with three images representing the sections of the site: weddings, portraits, and art. Each image was chosen from recent assignments to best give a visual impression of what each section holds. The photos feature (from left to right) the wedding of Gary & Christa Reinersman, Mark & Holly Almond with their daughter Faith, and binoculars at the top of New York's Rockefeller Center.

As with any website redesign, Pittman Photography has prepared for a deluge of visitors. In preparation, Pittman has notified the service's hosting provider, Loose Foot Hosting, LLC ( [link]), to expect a surge in visits over the next several weeks. According to Pittman, "After reviewing the website hit statistics over the past three months, I can say with little doubt LFC can handle the surge in interest." Statistics kept by LFC, and provided by Pittman, show that from August 1st of this year through midnight November 14th, approximately 217 unique computers accessed the PittmanPhoto.com website. Of these, three were located in Shelby, NC (Pittman's home town) and are largely believed to be his mother. Two hundred nine individuals visited from the Miami, FL area and promptly left to visit PitmanPhoto.com , the site of Pitman Photographic Supply. The remaining 5 may be visitors who actually meant to visit the site, but statistics alone cannot support this rogue theory.

"I'm certain once word spreads, hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions, will visit the site, and we're prepared for that eventuality." Pittman continued, "After all, any press is good press."

At the very least, you can be sure Pittman's mother and perhaps his uncled Ed, who is also a photographer, will eventually visit the site.

--map

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10630563/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10630563/ Sun, 05 Nov 2006 21:37:08 PST
I've been tinkering with a new design for PittmanPhoto.com in my spare time for several months now. I felt like tonight was as good as any to roll it out for all the world (or at least mom and the one other person who visit on a weekly basis) to see! Surf over, check it out, and let me know what you think!!

--Mike

Ph: 919-622-2861 (Raleigh, NC)
Ph: 509-599-6762 (Spokane, WA)
More Photo Samples:
PittmanPhoto.com
deviantART

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10563755/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10563755/ Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:40:32 PST [link]).

At any rate, the last few weeks, and upcoming weeks, promise to provide a bevvy of photos to post. I hope to find time to get them edited and posted here. The weekend of 10/7 I had a wedding, though I'm not sure if I got anything that I'll post here. Of course today I added the images from my trip to Spokane, WA. Saturday (10/28) I shot the wedding of one of the photographers I worked with in college. Yesterday (10/29) I worked with Ken & Tasha and got what I believe to be some of the most technically sound images I've taken in a while. Next Sunday I work with Brian, I've shot him before, but don't have any of the images from that set posted, for some reason, I now realize. After that, I have a few other people I've promised I'd work with.

The crux of all of this is I should actually be able to post some images in the coming weeks and get involved in this community again!

Take care, and thanks for reading!
--Mike

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10213383/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10213383/ Thu, 28 Sep 2006 10:02:08 PDT
[link]

Please, I'm an attention whore! :-P

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10048066/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/10048066/ Tue, 12 Sep 2006 08:45:58 PDT
In my last journal I posted a/b GayLesbianTimes.eu borrowing one of my photos without my permission. I finally heard back from the hosting company on the matter and they said they would address the problem immediately. The link now goes to another photo that is not mine, which is good for me. I do wonder, however, whether they have permission to use any of the photos they have out there for advertising purposes.

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/9996898/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/9996898/ Fri, 08 Sep 2006 10:19:09 PDT
So Adam called me at 12:15 last night (this morning technically) to tell me he'd seen a photo on MySpace that I took, being used on someone else's page. He called in a hurry to tell me, not because he knew it was illegal, but because he was proud that I "had become famous."

While that's a rather interesting thought, I took it as someone using my photo without my permission. When I got up this morning, I found a link from Adam letting me know where the image is ([link]). I was quite surprised to find out it's now being used as an online dating ad! So the original image is at [link] and the violated image at [link] , while my dA link to the same image is [link]

So I'm in the process now of contacting a few people to let them know they can't really do what they're doing, not legally anyway. Hopefully this can be worked out without too much trouble.

I do wish though that dA would go to more lengths to protect images more from borrowing, I know the technology is out there to put clear gifs over images so you can't right-click & save, it just needs to be instituted.

Hopefully I'll remember to keep everyone up-to-date on what goes on. I've never been copyright violated before!

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/8517893/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/8517893/ Wed, 19 Apr 2006 06:23:45 PDT
Mood: Whoring
Listening to: Bad Day (Daniel Powter)
Reading: Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (Five book set)

Hi guys... my name's Mike, and I'm a MySpaceaholic. [Hi Mike ] It seems like everyone else (or at least 2 or 3 of my friends) are whoring out their MySpace page.

If you're on MySpace, add me, I'm at [link] Just let me know via mail who you are and I'll add you.

Thanks!
--Mike

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/8308129/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/8308129/ Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:00:21 PST
Mood: Overworked
Listening to: Hey Big Spender (Sweet Charity soundtrack)

Hey guys! First off, thanks so much for the support of my recent submissions!

Unfortunately, I've not replied to any of the really nice comments I've gotten on them. Work has been kicking my tail seven ways from Sunday, and I really honestly haven't had time to comment and give the replies the thought I want to.

I know how much I love getting comments, and really love it when the artist acknowledges my comments. I promise, however, that you will get a reply on each and every comment. (I say this like it's a thousand comments... it's 9... I don't know how the heave hitters deal with their comments).

Thanks again for your support!
--Mike

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/8062792/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/8062792/ Sat, 04 Mar 2006 07:15:48 PST
Mood: Hmm... Contemplative
Listening to: Hey Big Spender (Sweet Charity soundtrack)
Reading: Harry Potter
Watching: Rent

So, I just started to submit a new image to dA, and found that a new User Agreement popped up. Has this changed any from the last? I didn't take the time to read the last, and that's my own stupidity.

What's changed? What are your feelings on it? For the folks who post great works on here, are you worried? I hate seeing that dA can use my stuff whenever, wherever, and however they please without so much as a kiss before I take it up my keister.

After reading this, I hate to flee from dA, but I just don't like that UA! If it were up to me, this would be an artist site for the artist, and even w/o the legal mumbo-jumbo, dA would make a promise not to screw us, and then put that in legaleze, but I haven't seen that yet from anyone on here.

I've loved this site since I joined. There are GREAT artists on here about whom I'd have never known otherwise. I love the passion shared here, as well as the feedback I always get when I need it. I like seeing other people's work, and getting ideas and inspiration from them. I also love sharing what I'm doing with people of like minds. I can't show everything I shoot on my main site. Some people would be offended, som wouldn't get it, and still others would think it less than my best, and judge me on that, not the body of my work.

Please, dA users, give me some feedback on this one.

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7863741/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7863741/ Sat, 11 Feb 2006 10:14:19 PST
Mood: Hmmm... Contemplativ
Listening to: Hey Big Spender (Sweet Charity soundtrack)
Reading: Harry Potter
Watching: Family Stone

Hey guys... I've added a new image in my scraps section. I'm joining Model Mayhem & OneModelPlace and need something fun to put as my main image.

This is what I've come up with. I've seen so many compcards that rock, and my creative ability to come up with something is almost nil. So, I'm hoping this works. I've seen many people use digital "slide mounts" as their borders, so I thought I'd go old school with some metal slide mounts. I think these look different, and neat, and just fun.

Let me know what you think, I want feedback on this, good or bad. If you have other ideas, please let me know!

For future cards, each one will be targeted toward a specific model, probably around 6 or 9 photos per model.

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7567587/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7567587/ Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:40:55 PST
Mood: Hmmm... Contemplativ
Listening to: Hey Big Spender (Sweet Charity soundtrack)
Reading: Harry Potter
Watching: Family Stone

Quickly... anyone who has used a 4x5 camera, what do you recommend as a starter system? Field camera or view camera / monorail. Lens? Dummies guide?

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7511274/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7511274/ Wed, 04 Jan 2006 18:47:46 PST Mood: Giddy
Listening to: Hey Big Spender (Sweet Charity soundtrack)
Reading: Harry Potter
Watching: Family Stone

Hey dA folk! Got back from NYC with a few photos to post. I think most of them are cliche, but they're my cliche photos! Take a look, and let me know what you think.

Highlights of the trip:

Top of the Rock
Hotel 57 Bed (down... down mattress cover, down comforter, down pillows...)
Good friends
Sweet Charity
Lips (www.lipsnyc.com)
"What's 'The Kristen?' Does your vag light up?!"

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7390607/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7390607/ Fri, 23 Dec 2005 09:21:50 PST
Mood: Thankful
Listening to: Trim Up The Tree (Grinch Soundtrack)
Reading: Harry Potter
Watching: Family Man

I hope everyone has a great Holiday, whichever you celebrate.

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7245207/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7245207/ Wed, 07 Dec 2005 08:26:54 PST
Mood: Blah-de-dah dah
Listening to: The Internet is for Porn (Avenue Q)
Reading: Into This World We're Thrown
Watching: Rent

I hope to get some more stuff up soon. I feel pretty bad for not updating on a regular basis for those of you who watch me. I think I owe you guys more than I've been giving. It makes me feel special (so special) that anyone gives a damn about what I'm doing enough to watch what I'm doing. By not giving y'all something to say "you rock" or "good lord man, you suck donkey ballz" about, it's a disservice. I hope to have something up fairly soon. I hope.

I wanted to get some stuff up from this weekend but I didn't get anything. I was home with the old people for my Grandfather's 80th bday party. I left the camera at home and let my uncle do the photography so I didn't have to worry with hit. I should've taken my camera though. that'd have at least protected me a little bit from my uncle taking photos of me. Ugh. What more vile, disgusting thing is there than seeing pictures of ones self. Photos make me look so bloated and fat. maybe they're not lying. I should stay behind the camera.

So yeah. I'm going to get updates sometime. It might just be a photo of my dog, but by golly you'll have something to critique! :-P

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7200597/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7200597/ Fri, 02 Dec 2005 04:55:35 PST
Mood: Madder 'n hell
Listening to: La Vie Boheme
Reading: Into This World We're Thrown
Watching: Rent

I took a vacation day today b/c I have 10.5 days left to take before the end of the year. Those who read my last journal (if you didn't, READ IT!!!) know I was worried earlier this week I might not get to take today. Well, I'm dressed and on the way into work. Ugh. As of last count, my boss has me working on 5 major projects, the Project Manager of 4 of them, and I'm just a lowly "Support Analyst." OOH, gotta go, getting late.

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7184452/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/7184452/ Wed, 30 Nov 2005 10:22:15 PST Mood: BUSY!
Listening to: La Vie Boheme
Reading: Into This World We're Thrown
Watching: Rent

So I still haven't seen the new Harry Potter movie. I also still have vacation scheduled for Friday, but my boss sent me this note yesterday when I asked for final approval on my remaining vacation (10.5 days!!)

"Please let me know if these plans affect any of your commitments."

I replied (in what I thought was humorous) with:

"How about I let you know if these commitments affect any of my plans? "

I don't think he got the humor. "Let me know. We'll discuss changing your schedule or other options."

O'well. Anyway, the point of this journal is to share with the dA community a little incident I had when shooting Jon. (Yes, he survived.. but barely)

Jon was fun to work with, easy to get along with, and quite a good subject if I do say so. Not to take anything from Matt & Jamen, but Jon was at the time someone I mainly wrote over e-mail this summer while we were both bored at work. He came to visit and took me up on his portrait session offer. So he got up early Sunday morning, drank a little water to stifle a hangover, and after lunch off we went to shoot Jon... right between the eyes.

So, with Jamen & Matt we were out in public view downtown or in a public park. I was nervous b/c I was afraid people would think it strange: a guy taking photos of a guy. Nobody said a word, not that I heard or recall anyway. So anyway. I don't know if Jamen or Matt was nervous, but I was.

When Jon and I set out that Sunday morning, I wasn't worried so much b/c I was getting kinda used to it. Jon, having never been involved in a portrait session, was a little on the nervous side.

So, we went to a location I liked. It was an abandoned farm, or what looked like it might have been a farm. The house was falling apart, the barn (shed?) was definitely no longer in use. We got probably one look in, and were in the middle of the 2nd when a guy drives up and parks in front of my car, gets out, and starts walking towards us. I turn to face him, and say "Hi there..." and he says promptly, 'Hey... so, what are you guys doing here?" I'm holding a camera in my hand with a fairly large lens, and my gut instinct was to say, "Making lemonade." I didn't, I answered "I'm working with a client on a portrait session."

Long story short, the guy owned the land and was curious why we were there. He was pretty rude about it, but he did have a point. I assumed the place was abandoned. For his part, he was rather rude (to which Jon will attest). I tried to do all I could to be nice, and think I pulled it off. I gave him my card, and asked if in the future I could use the site as a location, and he said it was fine so long as I asked permission. His biggest problem was that I never asked permission. Granted, that'd be tough b/c there was no address numbers on the house, and I really can't see me calling town hall and asking "HEY! How do I get in touch with the owners of that run-down house on that road over there?" I don't think I'd have gotten far.

There is more I'm sure. I recall examples like "if I showed up on your lawn, how would you feel?" and "people are always coming onto my property looking for things like arrowheads w/o asking."

The upshot of it all was that he let us stay, no harm done. And I got a new location (so long as I ask permission). And, got some good shots of Jon too. So it all worked out well. And I have a good story. Granted, it's easier to TELL than to TYPE. My fingers are tired of journaling. Take a look at the photos, PLEASE give critiques!! :-D

[link]

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/6881723/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/6881723/ Thu, 27 Oct 2005 11:52:12 PDT Mood: Confrazzled
Listening to: My Dingaling
Reading: Into This World We're Thrown
Watching: Goldmember :-P

HELP! I need HELP! You people that rock with photoshop, I need help!

The last two folks I've shot have really pretty blue / green eyes. However, when I get home and look at the shots I have of them, they seem to always have ooky eyes that aren't as fun as I was expecting. I'm almost always using some form of fill light (either off-camera, on-camera, or just a reflector) and all photos have been color corrected in PhotoShop. BUT, I can't get the eyes to have that pretty color I want. Those of you guys who have worked with PS and brought the fun out in people's eyes, I really would appreciate some help in this area.

Thanks dA folks!

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/6737344/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/6737344/ Tue, 11 Oct 2005 08:11:27 PDT Mood: In the Doldrums

I had to get rid of that other journal: too long, too boring, too busted, too tired.

Tired is my word of the day.

I'm:
Tired of not knowing where I'm going.
Tired of being afraid to go.
Tired of hiding.
Tired of working toward no conclusion.
Tired of feeling lost in my own house.
Tired of the dreary weather.
Tired of causing fights.
Tired of screwing up lives.
Tired of second guessing.
Tired of me.
Tired of being tired.

]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/6695731/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/6695731/ Thu, 06 Oct 2005 14:00:03 PDT
Mood: Perplexed
Listening to: The Ants go Marching In (wtf?)

First off, before I begin my little diatribe, a big shout-out to Canon's CPS (Canon Professional Service) group. One of my Canon 20Ds went screwball on me a month or so ago, mind you at my own stupidity. I was trying to remove the perfectly attached, giving no problems, vertical grip. When the thumbscrew to remove it wouldn't turn, I turned harder. And harder. And harder. Then *POP* the thumbscrew moved. "Great!" thought I, "it's moving, I can get the grip off now." (Keep in mind, I had no reason to remove said grip.) Then another *POP* and another... and next thing I knew, the screw was moving freely... but the grip wasn't coming off: I'd broken the plastic thumbscrew that turned the screw that held the grip on (sounds like the beginnings of a Rube Goldberg [link] machine, doesn't it?). No big deal. I leave the grips on all the time anyway, and if I did need to remove one, I'd pull the one from my other camera. Until last Saturday. I was shooting the UNC v. NCSU football game, and noticed that if I was shooting horizontal, the camera lost power. Some quick research showed the problem was that the grip was wiggling loose, and the power connectors were disconnecting. Woopsie-doo. So, I sent it off to CPS fully expecing a $150 repair bil. The body came back today, all repairs were "warranty repairs" and I paid $0. I could go kiss the CPS people, but they'd probably not be as appreciative of that as I am of their service. Now, that's a long story. Moving on.

What do photographers in the profession owe each other? When I was learning way back in the dark ages, my Uncle took me out to South Mountain State Park, and spent a full day with me showing me how to use my new Canon EOS Rebel G. He taught me about f-stop, about shutter speed, film speed, the Sunny 16 rule; basically he gave me the foundation I needed. I then read tons of magazines, processed tons of film, and eventually started working at the NC State Technician, our school paper. When I got there, I met lots of great student photographers: the AMAZING Japanese Cowboy, ADT (not the security folks) Obi-Wan (not Kenobi) and others who would help me learn what to do. Each time I came back with film, someone was there to show me how much I f*cked up, and tell me, "well, that one would've been good... but in sports you need face / ball / action" etc.

The more I learned, the more people started to ask me questions. And I gladly answered any question anyone ever asked. I love it. I love giving back to others since so many gave to me when I was starting out. I've since learned from my friends in the business that I'm not alone. I've gotten help from so many pros in the area, some from far far away, that if I sent Christmas cards to anyone who helped, I'd be writing all year, and my fingers would hate me.

However, recently, I've found that not everyone is as helpful as I once thought. I've had a desire to get into portrait / model work for a while, and found many photographers whose work inspired me, or just hit me as amazing. I've written them (photographers and models alike) all in hopes to get pointers and advice. About half have written back. Only one photographer was really willing to say how he started, how he found his models, what he charges / pays, how he shoots, where he shoots, how he handles the time, etc. The others have routinely ignored me. Keep in mind, those who have ignored me largely don't live anywhere near me, so competition is no fear they should have. Those who have helped me the most have been the ones I can go have a beer with after lunch, swing by to pick up a book after work, and in all reality they're the ones whose clients I'm most likely to talk to. The models have replied, a few, but none really helped. I'm far more disappointed in the photogs though, as the models could legitimately see me as just a perv wanting to shoot hot guys / girls.

So what is it? Are people not as nice and helpful as I once thought? Are the people I'm writing not replying for some reason, like they're too good to stoop to my level and offer advice? Please, help me understand what's going on, and convince me that the family of photographers and the trade I care so deeply about isn't jaded and cold as I fear it is at this point.

I know this profession is changing at lightning speed with digital and photoshop and affordable equipment. Which, to me, is the VERY reason those who are good at their trade should do all they can to keep the standards of the profession h... ]]> =packgrad2k1 http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/6677849/ http://packgrad2k1.deviantart.com/journal/6677849/ Tue, 04 Oct 2005 12:36:43 PDT
Finally, I picked up a membership to dA! What that means, I don't know exactly. My thumbnails are bigger, no ads, and supposedly it'll be faster. We'll see. So yeah, that's it for now.

For those who look at my photos and think "golly gee... that looks nothing like his favorites" you're in fact... right. I'm looking a lot now at different styles of portraiture of both male & female bodies, and how to shoot them. I'm learning the way I want to shoot portraits, and to that end I've not gotten any online yet. Those will be coming hopefully in the coming weeks and months. I've got one shoot sitting on the hard drive at home that I have as of yet not edited. I have another coming this weekend of a friend of mine, and yet another this weekend of a coworkers young kids. We'll see how these turn out, and hopefully I'll have something on here the little boys and girls of dA can and I'll get watched and have a feeling of self worth. :-D (Hey, I can dream!)

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