Happy Easter

I wish I had a web cam on my computer.



I've had to use Dana's computer while at Steph's because my battery is dead on mine. I forgot the charger too. I really need a new battery because mine suddenly dies on me all the time now. The thing that really sucks now is that it's going to cost me $120 for a new one. I can't wait until we get a new laptop too. Mostly because it will come with a built in web cam and a copy of photo booth. The effects are well worth it. I spent a good 20 minutes taking photos with it.

It's amazing how different you can make yourself look. I had to keep myself from laughing in most of the photos. Good stuff all around. Can't think of a better way to waste spend my Easter.

Self Portraits

When the wife is away...



I'm bored. I miss my wife. Yeah, I know it sounds lame, but it's true. I wanted to shoot photos all day, but didn't have any good ideas. So I decided on a few self-portraits. I could have done a better job on these, but I was just playing around anyway. One thing I really noticed is how badly my camera needs cleaned. The sensor is rife with dust. Hopefully I can get it done at the IPPA conference in 2 weeks.

Oh, and don't tell Stephanie I miss her...she might start thinking I like her or something.

Wedding Crasher

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Grabiec.



It took me a few days...or almost a week, to post photos from Jay's wedding last weekend. I've been busy and lazy. The combination of the two isn't good for blogging. Anyway, I hope Jay and Jill like the photos as much as I did.

It's always great when you get to photograph a wedding and the bride and groom are fun people that want interesting shots. The boys definitely got creative, which helped me get creative. My three favorite photos are the one above, the "Reservoir Dogs" photo and this shot of Jill. I also really liked this one of Jay and his brother. Congratulations.

Finally!

Somebody in New York has finally seen the light like I have. The song "Danny Boy" has been banned for an entire month due to being overplayed and the fact it was written by an Englishman who never set foot on Irish soil. If I had a nickel for everytime the song was sung to me I'd probably take that bag of nickels and hit somebody with it. I even had a teacher who sent me a limrick using the the song because I wasn't showing up to class. I consequently dropped that class like a bomb.

Remembing my own mohawk

Coolest mohawk I've seen on an elementary student.


I shot this photo last week without knowing what I would use it for other than I think mohawks are cool. Turns out it was kind of useful. Gives me an illustration to complain about the story where a kindergartner was suspended from school for having one. In fairness, it was a private school. You send you're kid to a private school you open yourself up to this stuff. Read your policies carefully people.

How come my initials aren't there instead?

Just some random graffit.



CAP is hot....or CHP is hot...I'm not sure. This was just some random graffiti I found while doing our Street Sense section. Who marks up the Dollar General Store anyway. With gray marker on steel nonetheless. The photo was enhanced to bring the letters out if you couldn't tell.

Beer on the brain

I've started brewing my own beer with my Mr. Beer kit. Thanks Mom and Dad for the money for my birthday which allowed me to buy this kit. Probably not what they had in mind.




I have beer in my closet. No seriously, I do. And not that crappy Bud Light or Guinness crap. Okay, so it's not crap. And I did just drink a few Guinness so I can't complain. But I did start my own brew of beer tonight. Well, actually it's Mr. Beer's brew, but I put it together.

Stephen mentioned beer brewing a few weeks ago and I started thinking that sounded like a great idea. So on my day off I did the only possible thing I could think of. I impulsively ran to the Tanger Outlet Mall where I had seen a brew kit.

Turns out it can be quite simple. Right now I have 2 gallons of Pale Ale fermenting in my closet. (To keep direct sunlight away.) If I stick with this I'll update you on recipes I use and new techniques I'll try.

The key to a good beer is sanitization from what everyone says. I'm a little worried abut that because I didn't sanitize the boiling pot, but I figure hell, I'm boiling it, should be good enough. Plus the basic instructions weren't entirely explicit about that. The indepth instructions were though.

I'm proud of myself. I actually read the entire instruction before doing it though. I never do that. I typically read as I go. Just wish I would have read the book before going.

The fermentation process takes between 7-10 days and then there's the carbonation period. I need to get some bottles before bottling day though.

I'll keep you up-to-date on how things go though.

Lamest wife ever

I posted a photo of Steph for two reasons:

1. I haven't shot a photo of her in a long time.
2. She fell asleep on the couch at 8:45 p.m. tonight and I needed to make fun of her. Lame!!!

If I was really mean I would have shot photos of her sleeping, but I'm not that cruel. Not tonight at least. Wake up old lady.

Tis the Season

Basketball season isn't quite over yet.


Tuscola squeeked out a win in Friday's regional championship game in Chrisman. Quite the display too. Clayton Meyer pulled out a three point shot in a last-minute play to put Tuscola up by two. Now I get to go to Parkland College Wednesday night for the sectional tournament. Should be a good time.

I was really worried it was going to be on Tuesday because it's my birthday, but I don't have to worry. Tuscola will be playing Fisher one Wednesday.

New Stylee ( the extra 'e' is for added effect)

I think I embarrassed Joel when I shot this photo, but once he sees it in the paper I think he'll like it.


This marks two weeks in a row I've been ecstatic to see it come out. We're trying some newer things with the issues and I think they're turning out great. I just hope other people think so too.
I still can't say design is my favorite thing in the world, but I'm slowly learning from things that Jeremy and Rodney in the office do. Thanks for the help with all the projects guys.

Going home

Basketball's not all that bad I guess. Or maybe I'm just too tired to care



It's 10:30 p.m. I'm finally leaving the office. There's some things I love about the news and somethings I dislike. The hours, not so much. The thrill of a job well done and capturing a great moment - unbelievable.

Regardless, I'm tired and heading to bed.

Wishing I was outside

Football season was so long ago. I want it here again.



After another long hiatus I'm back. Nothing new to really report. I'm working a lot and going through some older photos. Maybe one of these days I'll finish my wedding photos. Regardless, here's an old shot of John Wienke from the first football game of the 2007 season. It seems like such a long time ago, but it really wasn't. Only a few months. How I wish I was outside covering football games instead of basketball in low-lit gyms. Stephen, Eric and I are planning to get together soon to put together our side business for weddings. Should be a good time.

If I come across a few photos tonight I'll post another one or two. I feel so neglectful when it comes to the blog.

Wind storm, ice and powerline, oh my!

Sitting in a snow storm waiting for the utility company to repair a powerline might make you see funny things like this.



Work has been pretty exhausting lately. Lots to do, lots to do. Didn't help the weather turned insane earlier today. It was near 60 when I went out in the middle of the day. The next thing I know I go to leave and it's near single digits with gushing winds.

A powerline was called down west of town and I headed out to get photos of either firefighter moving it or utility men repairing. it

Unfortunately I couldn't sit around long enough for the utility men, but I did get a photo of it catching the grass on fire. Kind of crazy to see a fire sparking the ground and catching about a 5 foot wide area ablaze.

I probably sat there for about 10 minutes until I got bored and started shooting random pictures. This one was my favorite.

Heart attack anyone?

They call this a horseshoe in springfield. It looks nothing like a horse or a shoe and is not shaped like one either. Maybe they call it that because it pads your arteries like a horseshoe pads their foot.



Last weekend Steph and I took a trip to Springfield to visit some friends. While there, our friends introduced us to something called a horseshoe at Darcy's, a restaurant there. It would be interesting to see where the name for it originates, but I'm afraid anyone who consistently eats these may have died from a heart attack.

We also got to go see the state capitol building and went to a really cool pub downtown where we played card games and sampled imported beers. My favorite by far had to have been the german beer I got. I was surprised the Chinese beer was as good as it was. It was called Tsing Tao. Tasted like Heineken but better.

This photo really caught my eye today as I'm in the middle of doing a Big Loser competition. My goal is to drop 25-30 pounds over 12 weeks. Quite feasible as I've done it before. I joined a gym and have been lifting and running all week long. Feels good to get back into shape. Well, minus those days where you can barely move your arms and legs. (i.e. yesterday!)

I go for my second weigh in tomorrow for it. I'm hoping to have dropped at least two pounds, but at least 1-2 would be good. I've changed my diet up back to when I was at the N-G. Roughly 1500 calories a day and lots of exercise. Difference being I actually have money to buy good food instead of Ramen and Pizza Hut.

2008

Happy New Year



Happy New Year everyone. Steph and I went to Indiana for the celebration and had a blast with her friend Julie and her boyfriend Ryan. If the photo makes me look a little rough, well....it was a rough night. I'm not in college shape anymore, but I made the best of it.

The best part of the night was probably indoor bags. Trying to avoid things like a ceiling and hot water pipes makes it quite an interesting game.

Merry Christmas

This doesn't look OSHA certified to me.


I finally downloaded a bunch of photos from Steph's camera. I shot this picture months ago, but still have yet to download it, edit it or post it.

I just thought it looked really neat when I passed by it one day and against the bricks it looked even cooler.

So that's my Christmas present to you. Speaking of Christmas...I got an iPod Touch for my big Christmas present from Steph and her parents. I'm trying to get everything organized so I can get my contacts and calendars in order. Maybe I'll finally get a .mac account, but we're trying to save money not spend it.

I also got a few light stands from my parents with swivel umbrella heads. I'm pretty stoked about being able to use them. I also bought a bunch of cords from Lundgrens while I was back to use my flash units.

Portraits Round 2

I make her look good.



So instead of sitting on our butts tonight I decided I'd like to go back to the office and play with the lights a little more. I've had these portrait obsessions lately. I know she doesn't find it nearly as fun as I do to go do this, but at least she brings a book with when I'm fiddling with lights or my camera.

I did successfully get some Rembrandt lighting done. It took me a little bit of testing, but I'm pretty happy with it. I guess it could be a bit more low-key, but not everything has to be. I'm starting to realize more and more that light is not always about where it is, sometimes it's where it's not. I know that so many lighting guys say this over and over, but you don't truly understand it until you're not getting what you want.

The other thing I'm finding is that you don't need a super-fancy studio to do really nice work. Something Scott told me today is that if you spend a long time on any project you can make it look great. "Heck, if you spent enough time in this lobby you could make a great photo story out of it," he said about the lobby of the Community Building today.

I know he was being a tad bit facetious, but in another way I know he was absolutely right. A New Year's Resolution of mine is to do at least one photo story by the end of May. That gives me six months from now. I already have an idea of what I want to do for it. It's perfect. It's close to work and I enjoy the people there. What better way of working. My plan is to spend at least one day a week there until the end of my time period or until I feel I have what I'm looking for.

I'd also like to find a shorter term story to do as well. Well, enough motivation for the night. Time for bed. Time to put words into action tomorrow.

Headshots

She's a good sport.



Steph's letting me use her as a model for the headshot tests. Maybe I'll get to shoot a few tonight when she's done with dinner. I've got two more techniques to try for the basics. Then I'm going to start playing with some creative things.

I saw Scott Strazante at the FutureGen announcement this morning. I've seen Scott before, but never got a chance to talk with him. He's a very nice guy and very intuitive. I guess you kind of have to be in order to be Illinois Photographer of the Year.

We talked a little bit about his "The Season" project and he told me about how he finds time to be a photographer, a husband and a dad. Most importantly, he told me how important it is to work hard. And he's right.

Oh, and congratulations to Mattoon on getting FutureGen. I'm sad for Tuscola, but happy to see it here in Illinois.

Wedding photos

Thank you Noise Ninja and Raw files....oh and thanks Stephen and Eric.


I've been editing a ton of wedding photos lately. I do have to say thanks again to Stephen and Eric for all the photos. You've definitely kept me busy the past few days. I actually felt productive this weekend. I got over 100 of our photos done. I got to read a little bit, read both the Saturday and Sunday papers and even played in my "studio" a bit.
I'm trying to teach myself class lighting techniques so I know the absolute basics of portrait lighting. I'm going to start bringing people in for headshots to just to play around.
I've got a business idea that I may try this spring just to get myself a little extra cash.
I'm also gearing up for the FutureGen announcement this week. It's going to be a long week at work, but it'll pay off when I get to see my parents this weekend and see Steph's family next week.

I love this game?!

Shooting a lot of basketball lately. I really need a second light, but I liked the way this photo turned out.



I've been quite busy lately. Not really an excuse for not posting, just letting you know. I've been in full basketball mode lately. It's actually kind of nice b/c I don't have to switch from football mode to volleyball mode or anything, but I did shoot boys basketball the other night for the first time this year and boy was it different than girls.

So much faster than girls. I was going to try the Strobist light setup tonight for gyms, but forgot I need another pc to pc cord before I do that. I really need to buy like another five of them, but Xmas is coming up so we'll see.

I've got a few photos I'll throw up from work the other night in a day or so. I actually made prints. My next order of business is to get my wedding photos completely done. Hopefully I can do it before Christmas so the family can see.