Surfing with the Anti Team

Twitter

It was only a few months ago when I mentioned social media. Now that I'm working on a small business start up, I'm doing what I can to connect everywhere. Twitter. Facebook. Email. Whatever. So many things to keep up with but I'm having fun with it.

I do need to take more pictures though. And I need to learn how to photoshop an HDR photo.

No Words

Simply Put

Took some pretty awesome pictures for Simply ANTI yesterday. I had a lot of fun. It was kinda tough just figuring out how to set up the people because I've never really dealt with a on site photo shoot. It was another good photo shoot experience. Now I've taking pictures in a makeshift studio and on a site. Now I just have to do those over and over again to get better. Still no external light sources. Just natural lighting or lights that are already there. It's a natural feel, but not production quality. Hopefully people will help me throughout the year to figure out how to get better. 

Re:

New outlook on life.

I'm burdened by that though for now.

Hopefully things will get better soon.

Sudden knowledge

Unfortunately, that little piece of paper known as a degree is far more valuable than the knowledge you gained while obtaining it.

Unfortunate

Tough times. Difficult times. Big decisions.

I'm gonna handle it somehow. I'm gonna make it through.

I'll find a way.

I'm not done yet.

Mac vs. PC

Apple. PC. It's like war. Some hardcore Macheads despise PCs and vice versa. There was even this video of this girl that admitted that she would never sleep with anyone that used a PC that she knew of. That's insane. That's blasphemy.

I have used Macs and PCs pretty much equally. The first 11 years of my life, I was more about PCs, mainly because that's what I had and from what I remember, it was pretty awesome. I had this Millenium Edition Desktop from HP. But after I got the first generation iPod, I started to use Macs. I went from the iBook G3, to the PowerBook G4, and now I have the MacBook Pro. And now I'm kinda biased towards Macs. The design, the operating system, the packaging, nearly everything is integrated to near perfection. I appreciate those small details.

For all of those people who are against Macs and say that they are overpriced, pieces of junk should really realize that their PCs are actually essentially derived from a Mac. Especially nowadays. I saw this one comment stating that whoever buys a iPad is the biggest moron of 2010. How can this be true? The people who buy the iPad are only early adopters. They are investing in a company that has history of great products. Not only that, but also many companies are playing catch up, creating their own versions of the iPad. Most companies are still trying to perfect their mobile devices to match up with the iPhone. Sure the iPhone lacks a lot of capabilities, a lot of that "pro" look that BlackBerry has, but in terms of overall functionality, the iPhone is essentially the best phone out there for the masses. It's not meant for specific people. It's not specifically meant for programmers, business people, athletes, teenagers, adults, or any of the above. It's meant for everyone. And that's the whole appeal.

I'm not trying to put PC users down. In fact, I applaud PCs. I want one. I have been trying to buy a Dell XPS for a while now just because it's so versatile. I see my friends use it all the time. I want to learn the ins and outs of Linux, Windows XP/Vista/7. I want to understand those things because they are so useful. People use them because they are efficient, cheap, and highly customizable. If you don't like the processor on your desktop computer, you can change it relatively easily. With a Mac though, you are essentially trapped with the ability to only change your RAM modules, sometimes your hard drive, and switch out your battery. And even with your battery, you can't even expand your battery like Dell or Levono allows you to. Wait. What am I talking about? With the new Macs, you can't even take out the battery. It's soldered to the computer. The back plate won't open. It's essentially in there for good. Sure it gets 8 hours of battery life on a single charge, but still, it's pretty ridiculous that you can't change out the battery if you need to.

As for the iPad: people have been putting this product down so much recently. I don't understand why. It's ok to have your own opinion, but it's ridiculous to put down a product that is obviously going to change computing. It may not replace the computer, but it will make how we do things. More computers will be gesture based, touch screen, and even more portable. How is buying the iPad not a good thing? You're just helping out our future by inputing some advice to advance iPad v.2. Not only that, but it will also open up more opportunities for other companies to form and play catch up and there will be cheaper versions of the iPad that do specific things for specific demographics. I find that the iPad to be revolutionary not only because it's a beautifully designed product, but it's also a functional and efficient piece of technology that we dreamed of years ago. Apple didn't invent the tablet computer, they just made their own version of it. They are attempting to optimize an idea for the future. I find that inspiring.

Here's to the Crazy Ones.

Earth Day

Taking pictures for a competition or a purpose is so hard. I had no idea. I submitted one for the competition anyway. I'm not too happy with what I came back to my dorm with after 20 minutes of shooting, but I waited too long to take a decent shot so I suppose I deserved not to get the perfect shot. Oh well. 

I didn't listen to any music while taking pictures... does that affect my ability? We'll see. 

Live Music

When life brings trouble
You can fight or run away
I have no struggle
Relax watch me float away
I'm coastin'
I'm coastin' on a dream
I'm coastin'
This one's for you and me

-Zion I

I feel as though live, raw music really defines musicians. Sure musicians and artists also have to be technically sound in the recording studio and understand audio engineering, but most amateur recording studios can produce sound that really sounds professional.

I always had a passion for live music for some reason. As much as I love recorded versions that the audio technicians put so much work into, I always look for the live version because it's so pure. There are virtually no edits. Bands or musicians that can pull off a good show or a good live recording somehow become my favorite bands. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, and JM3. I always trade between these awesome bands. I love their studio recordings, but what I love more is their passion for live sound. They always bring something different to the table.

The Chili Peppers had a great show in 2001 at Slane Castle. Occasionally, I will go on YouTube or on iTunes to listen to that album or watch them dance around stage like psychos. The filmography for that particular concert was beyond words. Everything, the music to the visuals to the lighting, fit together perfectly. The director of photography is a visionary genius in my book. But all in all, the Chili Peppers always stun me with their sound. I feel as though their best line up will always be with Anthony Kleidis , Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith. Their sync with each other is uncanny. They could be the most passionate group ever conceived. I regret never going to one of their concerts before John left.

John Mayer and JM3. John Mayer in specific is a great live performer. He has a specific sound that cannot be reproduced. Sure people come close, but it's just not the same. He has this understanding of live music. His latest recorded concert "Where the Light is" directed by Danny Clinch (another awesome photographer) is one of the greatest ideas that I have seen. Going through all of his different reincarnations, he stunned the audience and myself with his versatility. All of the songs he played that night were amazing. Some of them hits, some of them weren't, but all of them were played with his "live" side. He put in a little extra. He added five more minutes to his solos. He felt every note. I haven't really understood blues until I listened to him. Now I'm listening to the greats like Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, SRV, Eric Clapton, etc. At first I didn't "feel" his trio. But after watching him perform, and opening myself up to something new, I found that I loved that sound more than anything. The blues sound. I can't get enough of it. I try to understand it but it's so complex. Maybe someday, I'll find out what it is.

I didn't get to take any pictures today because I was busy with schoolwork, but I'll probably be out a little tomorrow to snap some shots for the Earth Day competition. We'll see how that goes.

Here's to the Crazy Ones.

School And Golfing

Today, my team for the hovercraft made a serious breakthrough. We finally got the starter engine to kick over. A momentous achievement, one that the previous group could not even do even with the immense amount of research they did. Sure when it kicked, there was a gigantic spark, and it made me jump, but we got it. Now we just need to figure a way to attach a solenoid and an emergency kill switch. And after all of that, we just implement it within the hovercraft, then we're done.

After class, I walked over to Hillside to retrieve my Simply ANTI t-shirts. I have to say that I'm very impressed with the quality and the artwork. Pretty fun stuff. Some of the guys were there and they invited me to go to the driving range up on mountaintop campus to hit a few balls. It was a great afternoon. We actually met more people up there. It was like a family gathering. I noticed that I haven't forgotten much from my golf lessons that I took a few summers ago. I'm glad that I took those. I might try golfing again this summer. It was actually pretty fun. Maybe I just have to go with friends. But friends at my level...
I brought my camera along with me, as usual, and I got some pretty fun action shots of people hitting. Some Happy Gilmore shots here and there, Gutty learning how to swing a golf club, etc. Overall, I'd say that these last two days have been phenomenal.

Post April Fool's Day

Taking pictures with people you enjoy being around on a sunny Thursday afternoon is one of the best experiences. It started off with walking down to Taylor Street and taking some Simply ANTI pictures and then it moved on to the Game up on Mountaintop, then it ended with a boxing match. All within a few hours. The sun make pictures so much more exciting. A lot livelier. It was a great day.

Here's to the Crazy Ones.

Shooting in the Evening: Sights around Lehigh

It's like night diving. I found that some things are just better in the dark. Some, are not. But what's for sure is: I need a tripod.

Shooting Playlist:
The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song - The Flaming Lips
Angel - Flipsyde
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
We Don't Care - Kanye West
Day 'n' Night - Kid Cudi
Baba O'Riley - The Who
Forever - Chris Brown
Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi
Soundtrack 2 My Life - Kid Cudi
Like a G6 - Far East Movement
Shine On - Eric Bibb