opemist.com

Here I thought I was going to update my website. Alas, that has fallen to the wayside. oh well. Fuck it all.

Opened my Targus Chill Mat and oiled the fans so they are now whisper-quite once again. I also opened my computer, installed a new HDD, and got the water heater working. Not bad for a Thursday!

It’s funny. I had the weirdest dream last night. Something about camping and then a small snowy village in the mountains. My room was just a little wider than shoulder width, and it was just a little longer than I was tall. But it had a pretty high ceiling and a small table that I put my camera and my camera bag on. Then there was something about ice cream, seriously? Ice cream?

Anywho, that’s that as they say. My post is done.

I have been thinking. This is kinda weird, being in between quarters for the UCLA Extension gig. I feel like I should have homework… but then, I do not… not really in anycase. It is a weird feeling. Just thought I would take the time to comment to no one in particular.

Lately, I’ve been throwing caution to the wind and “investing” in some lenses for my camera. Why? I do not particularly know. I mean, other than the fact that I like photography and that I think I’m decent at it, was there really any need for them?

I can say that yes, because I shoot many things where there is poor light quality so that the lenses I have don’t work. But, there’s always the flash that you can use, although that created horrible pictures because it just flattens everything out — not to mention that it blinds all the bystanders as well.

Now I am thinking it would be good to get the professional zooms for the wide and telephoto ranges at the least. It would seem that at those fast apertures even the third-party lenses are on the more expensive side unless they neglect to put certain, helpful, features on the lens.

Nikon has been kind enough to split the range to 14-24mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm. Each of which are about $1900USD. My goodness, that’s a like $2k each which puts the entire 14-200mm range at a whooping $6k!! Geezz!

WTF man. Seriously.

The Photography website has been updates and re-categorized by year! I believe that will help with navigation and what not.

Anyway, new pictures for 2008 and 2009. I will attempt to keep it up to date as I take more and more pictures throughout the year!

photos.opemist.com

There has been no posts for so long because I have been… well… nothing to write about. But in anycase, I will update you on what has happened so far.

I am now going to UCLA Extension for a DCA Certificate program. The main goal is to get more familiar with internet technologies and also print — mainly web since that is the way things are going now-a-days.

Other than that I am jobless and searching. Thus far, I have not heard back from any of the ones that I applied to but I suppose that does not mean much as it is near winter and also, the economy sucks. Might get some jobs from the people I know in my classes also, which is kinda cool.

I also still suck at utilizing the flash on my camera although I am learning more and more as I use it.

This year was also a year of firsts. I actually dressed up for Halloween… something I have not done in a long, long while. I also registered to vote and voted this year. That is pretty big I suppose. Who will win? I am hoping Obama will. I do not believe that he will be the best president ever, but I believe that he will be a better choice than McCain.

Other than that, just living life.

Sometimes, I wonder what my purpose in life is.

Sometimes, I think that I just don’t belong here and my life was a mistake.

Sometimes, I feel that it would be better were I not here.

Sometimes, I believe that I am probably the most pathetic being on earth to think those thoughts.

Sometimes, I know that thinking more than acting is a godsend which has kept me alive.

Sometimes, well, sometimes things don’t seem as hopeless as they can be.

Have you ever considered how far you would go to learn forward what you are passionate about? Right now, I am somewhat passionate about photography. I like taking photographs and recording events or just taking pictures of things I find interesting or beautiful. I also like taking headshots of people.

I think I would like to pursue photography a little more seriously, but that would mean taking classes and then also, because I like taking pictures of people, I would probably also want to take some classes in how to apply makeup and hair styling. I mean, if you are going to be doing something you might as well do the whole thing right?

Find out what makeup works well with photography equipment, how to apply them to get the best effect — things like that. Then I may be able to do some decent headshots of people and, well, everyone will be happy. I will get to do what I like to do and they will get a headshot that they can be proud of. I mean you can always touch up a photograph, but it is always better if you do it properly when you take the photos. Besides, knowing the theories behind the application of makeup will also allow you to touch up photos better.

Of course this all takes money and I was planning on saving money. Hmm… this is quite the pickle that I find myself in.

Between the here and now, I sit. Feeling the need to be somewhere — to be some place. Once again, a feeling of not belonging takes hold of me. In an alien world, do I exist where nothing makes sense and nothing seems familiar.

Why is it I am here?

I feel the need to be somewhere else. Doing something else instead of sitting here typing into the computer.

Addiction.

I believe that’s what this is — an addiction that I cannot get away from. Sociable? What a joke. I am not sociable. I am a quiet soul drifting along the currents of life unnoticed, unheard.

What am I looking for? I believe I have a clue. I believe that it sits in front of me, and yet, it still lies so far away, just beyond reach. It may seem like only inches away, but the way things are going it may those few inches may as well be mountains of miles.

Perhaps it is the waiting that is getting to me. They say waiting is the hardest thing to do in life. I would say I am a patient person, but I have found that as time has gone on, perhaps I am not as patient as I once was.

Someone once told me that they are amazed that I am always cheerful during times of duress. I do believe they are mistaken. Or perhaps, what they view as duress, I view as fun. I mean, I am passionate about my passions. And as my art teacher once put it, “the details are the devil, but when you care about what you’re doing…“ I suppose he’s correct. When you work on something that you love time passes by quickly and joy permeates the very air around you.

What am I trying to say? I haven’t a clue. They say that in meditation, you think your thoughts, but you do not entertain them. As one Enlightened monk put it, if you are sitting and not thinking, you are no different from a rock. The purpose of meditating is not to not think, but it is to allow you to think and let go, letting your mind clear itself and opening itself to the absolute truth.

Or something like that…

Perhaps this is my form of meditiation… except that I am entertaining these thoughts… and yet, I am not. I think them, set them free and continue on. Heh, therapy for the mind. Sounds pretty good to me. Clearing the thoughts and expressing them to cleanse the system. Perhaps I should look at this as a way of defraging.

People are interesting. They go through all these deceptions and intrigues to find something or to accomplish something. They play games with one another in the hopes of getting the upper-hand or in the hopes that the other person will show their cards first. My question is why do people make things harder than it is? Why not just be forward and blunt with someone?

Because that could create situations in which friendship would not be possible?

Well, if that is the case, did you need that friendship?

Did you need that relation at all?

That’s just something I have been pondering. Something that has been on my mind. I believe I am being as forward as I can be without being irritating, but what does the other person think? What is their stance on this little relationship?

This past weekend was awesome. I started the weekend with setup on Friday, and then on Saturday, again, except this time it was from morning to night. It was a crazy 15hr day but it was fun! This year I got to walk around the event and take photos instead of guarding the door, which was very fine with me.

We also had a Sunday brunch as a sort of after event get together. That was nice seeing everyone even though we were all tired. We ended up sitting there and chatting for a while as well, talking about the event, the feedback we got, and stuff. It was a nice end to the weekend, especially when I got to spend some time with friends walking the venice canals!

That was especially great because I have always meant to check it out but never made the time to actually do it! All in all it was a fantastic weeekend!

Photos:
Friday Setup
Plate by Plate 2008
Sunday Brunch

So this weekend my friend, who is deathly afraid of water and does not know how to swim, went swimming. It was neat to see him facing his fear but it was also rewarding knowing that we were helping him learn to get comfortable in the water and to swim. It was also interesting to see that, what I have taken for granted since I learned to swim when I was young, was actually a skill. Kicking, paddling, and breathing all requiring syncing and coordination between the muscles to accomplish each feat. Having to break-down how I do it and then explain to him how to do it was interesting.

Sometimes its frustrating to see that fear or hesitation on how or what to do occur. But at the same time, it is quite rewarding to see him progress. Although I think it would be better for him to take lessons, I guess the comfort of being around people you know is a help in calming him so he can be comfortable in the water.

Next weekend we will go swimming again. I think we will make even more progress, but first is to have him get comfortable enough in the water that he can float without panicking and also to somehow get his muscles into sync to accomplish what he needs to do.

This weekend I also went to Pasadena for its Fine Art Fair. It was small, but very interesting. It was in front of the Pasadena City Hall — which is amazingly beautiful. In fact, that whole area around it is quite pleasant. Across the street there is a Church that looks like it take much of its design from a European castle, and in front and stretching toward the east is a fountain filled with bronze creatures spitting out water.

Not to mention that the Asia Pacific Museum is a block away from City Hall. That was quite a pleasant surprise to find.