deviantART: by:uberfoto

http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/21463268/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:14:19 PST
Hey guys!

Anyway...

I bought an Imola Red 2002 BMW ///M3 back in June but had some issues when I flew out to L.A. to pick it up. Ended up flying back home so I could meet my bro at the airport for his homecoming. Instead of driving it back home, I had the car shipped back so I could get back in time. The problems started when I got to L.A. and never seemed to let up. Now, before I start, I need to get something off my chest:

Bob Thomas BMW in Calabasas SUUUUUCKS!!!

(Deep breath)

Through this experience, I've had a few issues come up that have reminded me about something called PATIENCE. Long story short, there was a relay that went bad causing the SMG box to drop out of gear leaving me stranded. The dealer I was at couldn't seem to diagnose the problem and they were dragging their feet. To top it off, my service advisor was CLUELESS and they wouldn't let me talk to the mechanics. (I'll just say my background is more than qualified considering my experience with these cars and what I have made a living doing for 3 years...). I could have fixed the car faster myself but since the previous owner said he was going to float the bill, I left it at the mercy of the dealer and fly back home.

The dealer sucks to deal with over the phone and they are taking their sweet time. It takes them another week before they do anything. They finally inspect the relay I told them to replace (and told them about the relay recall that affected my car year). They replace the relay again. Car works. Takes another week before I can get a truck by the dealer soon enough that they don't leave. The first time I had a truck stop by to pick the car up, he was 10 minutes late, called ahead, and was told nobody would stay around for him. F***ers.

Finally get the car back to Salt Lake and it is running fine but the previous owner is being a turd in getting the title released to me so I wasn't able to register it. My bank is also on my case about getting their name as the leinholder. Phone call after phone call after phone call after...

In the mean time, I have also purchased a set of Moton Club Sports (and springs, plates, etc) and a front bar for it back when I first bought the car. It ended up taking 4 months before I got most of the parts and could install it.

In the end, I had to make a lot of phone calls and do a lot of bugging but it finally paid off. I finally got the title last Tuesday, the license plates on Thursday and the suspension installed last Friday. [sarcasm] Yay, just in time for winter.[/sarcasm] At least now things are finally coming together. The car is definitely fun to drive.

I'm still waiting for some adjustable rear control arms but they aren't holding things back at least. Maybe I can get it finished before next spring.

What a lesson in patience....

On to other news.

I haven't been shooting as much as I would like. Just taking pictures here and there as I get time. Took a few when I was down in Lake Powell. Which, by the way, was cold and rainy. We left October 3rd and came back the next week.

Ada and I are going to shoot soon. We have an idea in the werx. Check back soon.

Also, somewhat good news, I decided my deviations are all too small to enjoy. I will be updating them in the next few days with larger versions so that they may be better appreciated (if you appreciate any of them).

Cheers!

Oh yeah, one more thing.

I hate winter.

- The end.

Here are some new features:

=uberfoto Random Inspirational Artwork http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/17840459/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/17840459/ Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:06:30 PDT

]]> =uberfoto Studio Time. http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/16351786/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/16351786/ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:28:18 PST

Will I still enjoy the studio by the end of the term?

Who is placing bets?

]]> =uberfoto Nikon D3 http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/16043822/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/16043822/ Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:33:32 PST
Just when I thought I wouldn't get it this year and would have to wait well into January, I get a phone call from Pictureline. (HIGHLY recommended BTW. These guys stock stuff like the 200-400VR) [link]

I didn't have my hopes up and was not expecting anything so it was a bit of a surprise.

The phone call went something like this:

"Hey Josh, this is Nick. What's up?"

At that point, I remembered why he must be calling. Cool.

.... blah blah

"Yes, I will come pick it up today."

I like it so far but I need to put it through its paces before I can get a real understanding of its characteristics. So far, it has some pretty impressive capabilities.

]]> =uberfoto New Thoughts http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/15555106/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/15555106/ Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:24:46 PST

How does it fit in with my own expectations vs others'...

What is the difference between my own photography and "real world" paying jobs...

What is acceptable/good/excellent/outstanding...

I know after seeing SO many great photos it is sometimes hard for me to see any value in some of my own photographs and those of others that don't meet the standards set by the best of the best shots. I have had to re think these other shots and am realizing that there are a lot of great photographs out there that I am missing while only searching for the ideal (in my eyes).

What are your thoughts on these questions?

]]> =uberfoto DeviantART is a f***ing joke. http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/14763137/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/14763137/ Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:58:11 PDT
Before I rant a little I want to say that I don't feel like my art is unappreciated or neglected. I am not looking for praise or recognition. I am here for feedback and to learn by watching others. A persons photos (mostly) speak for themselves. If I don't get favs, it is probably because it sucks. But getting more exposure would always help. Now, the topic at hand...

Why is it that a fairly recognized artist can post a really shizzy photo and STILL get ~3k favs on it?

Once they get their following (read: cult) of watchers, their watchers will fav anything they post and I mean ANYTHING. They get 1500 favs on a camera phone picture of themselves taking a dump!

Then you start to see images from these artists that are all the same. They are all taken in the same field at the same tree or all have the same heavy Photoshop effects applied. Nothing new. Nothing unique. Cookie-cutter images. Why are people still worshiping these people when they aren't producing great art anymore? Where is the innovation now?

Half of the popular images here are junk. It may have some decent lighting or subject matter (usually looks like they got lucky) but the quality is laughable at best. It is out of focus where it counts, overly soft, there are flaws and distracting things in the BG, it isn't straight when it should be, sometimes the subject sucks too. The "judges" for these images have no taste for quality or ANY ability to look for technical qualities in the photo.

My other bone to pick is with artistic nudes. Yes there are a lot of good artistic shots but there is also a lot of ridiculous amateur pr0n posted. Again, taken with cheap P&S cameras and phones. Artistic nude is supposed to be artistic. If you post a shot in the bathroom with your Coolpix or Elph squeezing your tits in the mirror, you are posting amateur pr0n. That is NOT art. What really gets me on this is that there will be 50+ (sometimes hundreds) of favs on a camera phone pic of (insert girl's name here)'s new boobs/piercing/tatoo with some sort of nudity in it. Don't support these idiots looking to get their jollies on dA!

Now go post in the poll on the shoutboard and tell me what you think.

Poll-> [link]

]]> =uberfoto HOT babes and lengthy journal entries. http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/13763728/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/13763728/ Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:11:49 PDT
Poof.

It's gone.

I know, you don't have to thank me.

Anyway, I cleaned out my gallery if you haven't noticed already (and you probably didn't).

Getting to the point of creating this journal... I saw the robot movie from my childhood and I just wanted to say that the girl in Transformers is HOT. Sooooo HOT.

Anybody have any contact info for her? I need to schedule a photoshoot with her. (...and dinner ...and to go hot tubbing ... and to have a sleep-overÂto stay up and play with our Transformers of course.) Keep your thoughts clean. Sheesh.

I really need to set up another model shoot...

]]> =uberfoto Sore Feet, Lost Keys, Golf Balls, & Hot Dogs http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/13271435/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/13271435/ Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:22:41 PDT
I didn't.

My feet hurt, I have somehow managed to sprain them, they have a few blisters, and I ruined my good shoes to top it off.

My friend Trent and I have been enjoying the outdoors; really wanting to see what nature has to offer. There are some REALLY beautiful places right here in our own backyards. We are trying to make the most of what we have and get some great photos out of it.

Now. Before I go into all the details, let me start again from the VERY beginning. Let me explain the post title.

It all started with an invite to a shoot out at the Salt Flats...

Once upon a time I got a message on Model Mayhem regarding a photoshoot a photographer was trying to put together out at the Bonneville Salt Flats.... I said I would go so I took work off. I wasn't able to get the entire day off so I had to meet them out there. I had a co-worker come in at 3:00 so I could leave. The group originally planned to meet out by the airport at 2:30 so I would be running about an hour behind them. Not too bad considering we would be out shooting until 9:00 or so but it meant I might miss the group.

I had invited my friend Trent to come out with me for company so I had to swing by and pick him up as well. Figured I would eat before I left so we didn't head out until 4:00. Everything was good. Filled up the tank in my car and we left for Wendover. We made good time, found the recreation turn off and headed out onto the salt. It was a pretty good day to shoot and the salt really was a great area for photography. I had never been out there and actually driven on it before so we had a little fun before really looking for the others. Well, there were two others out there shooting. No models, no other photographers anywhere. I had a feeling they never went out. After checking the thread on MM, I found out my suspicions were true. Not enough people showed up at the airport so he cancelled the shoot. Oh well, we had some great ideas for landscape shots so we weren't too bummed. We found a place to start and began shooting away.

We were out there until about 8:00 then we decided to head back. We had some great shots but we had been talking about going to a movie or something that night so we were anxious to get home while the night was still young. We had our last little bit of fun drifting around and the lookout point where we get back on the road was in sight. Just before we we drove up onto the road, I decided we might as well get one last shot of the sunset over the west mountains while we were out there. It's such a long drive and it was such a nice night, I didn't want to miss an opportunity! We headed toward the mountains to find a good place to set up. I was paying special attention to the ground we were driving on to make sure it wasn't getting too soft. We were starting to leave tracks behind us so I was getting a little worried. I said to Trent, "I don't know, this is a little sketchy, maybe we should turn around?" He said it was up to me. He will stay and get the shot if I want to. I decided to head out just a little further and stop. I didn't want to go too far out and chance getting stuck. I slowed down and hit the gas a little to spin the car around to face the right direction. BAD MOVE. "Uh oh." I thought. I better move the car a little to make sure we aren't stuck and so we don't sink. No dice. We were already sinking and stuck. I rushed out to look at the situation, told Trent to start pushing while I rock the car forward and back, and jumped back in. I figured we better act fast if we were to get it out. After 10 minutes of fussing with the car, I knew it wasn't going anywhere on its own power. I didn't want it to get too bad so that we could get it out easily with a strap and some help. We waved down a couple we had talked to earlier, which thankfully saw us, and got a ride back to the gas station. Just before we left my car, Trent and I threw all of our camera gear inside and locked it.

At the gas station, we talked to the clerk and asked for some towing companies. The only guy able to get out there that night was $120/hr but he said he was located in Wendover just 10 minutes away. "You better head out then. My car isn't getting any more unstuck as it sits. Let's get this over with." I said. We thanked our new friends Copper and his girlfriend for the lift and they left. Tow truck on his way, it looked like we might still be able to get home tonight.

Well, we waited. Then waited some more. Then it got dark and we waited even longer. I called him at 8:40 and he didn't get there until 9:45. He had to stop by his shop and load everything up. All I could see was my bank account draining. I wasn't happy either. We get back out to the lookout point in the tow truck and unload his pickup. He wasn't about to dri... ]]> =uberfoto 337 Project http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/13000634/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/13000634/ Fri, 18 May 2007 12:21:03 PDT
Here is a link to the website: [link]

]]> =uberfoto Newness from the last week. http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12784319/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12784319/ Mon, 30 Apr 2007 23:17:12 PDT
grumble.....

Ok, SO, long story shortThey wouldn't ship it because apparently I couldn't get two or SOMETHING??? But I got them to ship it. It will be here tomorrow. *sigh* Oh life. What a roller coaster.

First time I got to use the new cam was for my little brother's Junior Prom on Saturday. I've got a few pics to show for it. BUT, they were running late and I only got 9 minutes (TRUST ME. I checked the exif data.) to shoot pictures (amidst the other parents trying to squeeze in shots with their P&S cameras). From the first picture fired to the last, it was 9 minutes. 5 of which were them loading back up into the limo and pouring some sparkling cider before they left. In the limo I did some available light with the windows down and then hand held an SB800 with a diffuse dome on it aimed into the center. I squeezed in a few more shots... Then they were gone. I wished I had had some time to pull my brother and his date aside for some pictures and to add some creativity to the mess. Next time I guess... Or I better improve my shooting speed and ability to think fast!

Anyway, enough blabbering. I love the new camera, it is fast. It is a blast to use and it makes my photography easier. Great colors too. The flashes are awesome too. Great investment for what I do.

The photos:

Ok, so I know, on this last one, that the skin looks a little weird. I blew the exposure (stupid mistake) and had to paint the highlights back after salvaging the rest of the image. I was pissed. It was the only shot I could get with him making a straight face! And don't tell me I should have framed the shot lower 'cause I know. lol

ADDITION:
How cute is this kid? One of my good friend's little baby daughter. (I think she counts as "newness." All babies do!)

That's it for today. Later.

]]> =uberfoto Lyndsie's Photo Shoot http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12629142/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12629142/ Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:36:49 PDT
Behind the Scenes

OK, so apparently posting images in your journal is a subscriber only feature so you'll have you copy paste the url in your browser until I can get a subscription. That sucks. I am willing to bet MAYBE 1 person will actually copy/paste...

Funny, I had totally forgot about it until I was going through the images again to re export for the internet. I joined up on the Model Mayhem site and they require at least 4 shots before your profile will be accepted. I haven't been accepted yet... hmm. :/

Anyway, my friend Mike had picked up my camera and took a shot of me while I was screwing around with the flashes and stands. The flash was up on the camera so it set the remotes off. I thought it was a funny moment and I liked the expression on Lyndsie's face.. I forgot how much fun that shoot was. For me, it's off-subject shots like this that really count. They say, "Hey, this is what is going on behind the scenes! Check it out!"

Thanks Mike for the wonderful shot. (Credit goes to ~slcShOcKeR)

So I also just wanted to say that I ORDERED A D200 BODY AND 2 SB800's!!! YAY!

This means I don't have to rent/borrow flashes anymore and that... I am completely broke for a while.

But it also means that I will be shooting more. I have a model waiting for my gear to arrive (should be here mid next week) so watch for new material soon!

Anybody want to donate a subscription???

]]> =uberfoto Creative Ideas http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12512052/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12512052/ Sun, 08 Apr 2007 15:11:47 PDT

For all my local amigos, where is a good formal dress rental store in the greater Salt Lake area?

I need some models for a few shots. I can't afford to pay anything right now so it would be strictly trade only for now. Anybody willing?

I am also tired of my job. I think something cracked inside my head Friday during work. I have never been so tired and pissed. I am usually a pretty happy guy. I am the kind of person that can somehow find a way to have fun at a funeral. I'm just happy inside. FRIDAY on the other hand... not so much.

I need a break. I am ready to quit and support my photography business full time. Now if I could JUST land a few more shoots/month...

]]> =uberfoto Photogging Dilemma http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12367288/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12367288/ Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:56:12 PDT
Here's the dilemma,

You do photography strictly for yourself. Every once in a while you get lucky and somebody else really likes your work. (Or you just have pure TALENT and the majority like your pictures). Chances are you don't make any money at it.

You do photography strictly for others. Shooting what your "audience" if you will, likes to see. It tends to get a little boring sometimes because you generally just go through the motions. Every once in a while, you get a photo that you can say is YOURS; your style, your taste. Likely, you will make some good money but it might not be doing what you enjoy.

There is a middle ground somewhere but this is a question I have been asking myself lately. When am I doing photography for myself and when for others? Even when shooting a subject I want to shoot, I could have a chance to make some money if I change my mindset to just capturing something a client would purchase...

]]> =uberfoto iPod Solitaire - Check http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12360355/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12360355/ Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:20:12 PDT
What an anticlimax. Winning doesn't produce the slightest sort of visual pleasure or "congrats," just a simple "You Won" at the bottom. (Or something of that nature. I think I was so let down that I don't even remember the exact wording.)

I have officially removed "Win iPod solitaire" from my life to-do list.

]]> =uberfoto Automotive Media Forum http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12120852/ http://uberfoto.deviantart.com/journal/12120852/ Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:48:47 PST
We do mostly european cars, BMW's, Audi's, etc but most of us are open to other things...

Check it out if you are interested. We mostly BS about photography, equipment, lenses, and whatnot in general and post up photos/shoots of anything as well as the dedicated automotive shoot forum.

[link]

See you around!

*EDIT*

So being an idiot I forgot that I have new registrations on the forum turned off. I'll turn them back on tonight after class. Sorry if any of you tried to register...

]]> =uberfoto