Browse Category: photos

The Blue Angels came out today.

Bang and Vyl got married today at the James Leary Flood Mansion in the heart of San Francisco. After a dreary day on Friday, the sun came out and made the day perfect. To top it all off, it happens to be Fleet Week in SF and the Blue Angels flew over the city all afternoon. Vyl looked so elegant and just smokin’ HOT in her white mermaid-style gown and pink sash. Bang was glowing and wore a matching pink tie. The ceremony took place in the Grand Hall that overlooked the bay and rolling hills of SF. Their vows were very touching and the party was ragin’. By the end of the evening, everyone was nice and toasty and I took over 500 photos. Congratulations you two!! Have a great time in Asia!

Here are 190 of the photos. Enjoy.

left out

I’m missing another photo class tonight.  I have to catch a plane to SF tonight.  Luckily, I have my instructor’s email and he gave me my assignments.  They’re actually going on an outing to take photos of the lake at sunset.  Boo…that sounds like fun.

Well, we’re going to be in SF this weekend.  The party should be fun and the weather should be nice and crisp…just as I like it.

more food, friends, and photos

Our second day started a bit later than expected. We got up around 11:30 and left the apartment at around 12:45. The first stop was lunch at Fatty Crab (in Chelsea) where we met up with Jason. We ordered the chili crab and boy was it messy. I ended up with crab chili sauce on my shirt, jeans, and even on my bag that was on the floor next to me. I actually found sauce inside my bag too…crazy. Anyway, the food was great and the crab was a lot of fun to eat. Jia stopped by afterwards to briefly hang out with us before we went our separate ways.

IMG_4645.jpgWe go back on the subway got off at 42nd St. where we visited the Photograph Museum. The photos were huge and mildly impressive. On our way up to Central Park we stopped at Rockefeller Plaza to check out the different landmarks.

At Central Park, we strolled the paths and took some more photos. It still amazes me how there can be such a lush park in the middle of an urban city. There was an Apple Store across from the park and we HAD to check it out. I couldn’t believe how busy it was! The store is quite large and it managed to feel small with so many people in it.

Dinner was supposed to be at Corner Bistro in West Village but we ended up at a sucky restaurant down the street. CB was way too small, way too stuffy, and way too crowded. Afterwards we checked out Little Branch, an underground bar that charges 12 bucks for a vodka tonic! That was way too steep so we headed over to East Village. On the way, we met up with Johnny’s friend Bernadette and walked through some cute neighborhoods. Justine met up with us at the bar and after hanging out at two more bars we stopped for Japanese food and beer.

It is now 5 am and we’re already at JFK. We got back to the apartment with just enough time to tidy up the place. Our car service came at 4 am sharp and I haven’t slept yet. I guess it’s pretty convenient being on West Coast time still. I’ll nap on the plane.

Overall, it was a fun and adventurous trip. Two days is pretty quick for a trip to NYC but I think we really made the most of our time here. I can say that I’m much more comfortable with the subway system and I finally got to see each of the different buroughs. I’d have to say that New York really doesn’t sleep and that’s cool. I’d love to live here one day but I’m also happy to be going home. My dog deserves grass to poo on and I enjoy having a car. Until next time New York…see you again soon.

Update: Ok…here you go…hot off the presses…a whoppin’ 121 photos from New York City.  Enjoy!

I have goals.

I went to my first photography class today. It’s called “Beginning Photography” and taught by a professional photographer. He’s be taking photos for 50 years and primarily shoots weddings now. We went over the basics of photography and how to use our cameras. It was a nice review and I feel pretty good about my basic knowledge of f-stops and shutter speed. I suppose reading all those photography books really did me some good.

So, my first assignment is to take 3 different photos with the subject with back lighting, front lighting, and side lighting. I’m also supposed to manually overexpose and underexpose each photo 2 f-stops…so I guess that makes 9 photos. Anyway, it’s really exciting to have assignments and to be working with 35 mm film again.

My goals:

  • to become a stronger, faster “manual” photographer
  • get a better understanding of darkroom techniques (so Photoshop makes more sense)
  • learn how to use a gray card
  • understand what makes a good black and white photo
  • learn new tricks for problem lighting conditions
  • gain new ideas on composition

OK. I have a lot of goals and none of them are measurable. I suppose their objectives then. I’m done rambling now.

Patty and Johnny are hitched!

pj_wedding.jpg

Patty and Johnny got married on Saturday at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach. The day started at the Irvine Marriott where the girls got ready. Hair and make-up were done by about 2:00 pm and Patty was ready by 3:00 pm. At 4:00 pm the bridal party squished into the limo and rode off to the wedding site.  Seven Degrees is an art studio that holds lots of special events, especially weddings.  The ceremony was on the roof where the sun set behind us.  Mochi and Fuji wore fancy outfits and had to be dragged down the aisle.  Mochi practically mowed the rose petals down to the altar.  Patty and Johnny looked so excited to be getting married. 

Cocktail hour was on the roof with a complete martini bar.  By then, my feet hurt so bad and I realized that I forgot my flipflops at the hotel.  DOH!  Anyway, the wedding was really nice and the decorations were to the nines.  It was also a casual high school reunion with girls I hadn’t seen since Juliet’s wedding three years ago.  Some hadn’t seen each other since high school.  I had to make the bridesmaids’ speech and was so nervous.  Luckily I pulled it off and Jesse said I did well so I think I did ok.  He’s the only one who would tell me if I blew it.  Johnny and Patty did such a great job coordinating all the flowers, colors, and everything else.  Johnny had his Martini Menu for all to try and the ice cream cake was yummy.  At the end of the night, we held sparklers for them as they ran down to their limo and took off.  Congratulations, you two!!

Here are the photos.

found a gig

I was on craigslist last night and found a neato gig. I’m going to be a volunteer freelance photographer for a charity walk that’s taking place at UCI next month! It’s just a funny coincidence that the Brother and I went around the Westside looking for stuff to take photos of. Now we get to do it for a good cause!

Here’s a description of the assignment: “Cover the Festival area and walk path (on campus, goes through beautiful Aldrich Park) looking for action shots, candids, poignant moments between patients & families. Firemen, puppies, children shots.”

How perfect is that?! Should be fun.