This summer in Costa Mesa, CA SUP for a Pup held it’s 2nd annual sample sale/dog adoption/vendor tent event. If you’re like me, even after going to the event I still didn’t get why it was called ‘SUP’ for a pup, so after some research, and complete un-obserrvationalism (look it up) on my part, it stands for Stand Up Paddle [video]. With puppies and dogs everywhere it was tough to resist the urge no not snag one up and add a new addition to our apartment-living family. This little fella was just looking for a new home. Penned with 3 dogs easily 6+ years his younger, this old chap was fighting for his territory on the 2×2 puppy pad. Clearly age wins over youth in a battle of king of the pad, because small as he was, this guy held his throne with a mighty growl and an attack that forced the volunteers to break up the court and boot a couple jesters.

Not being a fan of baseball in the least I took the opportunity of a game day double date to give my T2i and 75-300 zoom a breather from the bag and lens envy of my 50mm prime (drool). Sitting right field nosebleeds on home turf, we had a pleasant first 4 innings with the sun directly in our faces and no awning to shield the pupil-shattering southern california sun. So, naturally, my attention wasn’t on the action of home plate, but more the bleachers of empty seats behind us and the two guys sitting in the farthest back seats of the stadium… alone. C’mon guys, I think the cotton candy guys would have given you a break to move in on the riveting 5-0 slaughter that was happening before us. I mean, really, you’re only a sitting target for the 6th inning “Kiss Cam” to make for a very awkward car ride home.

Like a kid whose parents just got him the new Lego pirate ship, all I wanted to do when I unboxed my EF 75-300 lens was shoot. First day out of the box and excited to play with some low light situations, Frankie (my cat, aptly names after Frank Sinatra) was my inspiration. She was sitting by our back door begging to get out on the balcony and sitting in just enough light scattering through the window blinds for me to roll across the room on my swivel chair and open this new treasure up to it’s maximum zoom length. Snap. Done. The only photoshop work was to B&W everything but the eye.

A clear choice for my #2 image post was the Chucks. How is it that Chucks go with everything? Hell, I was best man in a wedding where all the groomsmen wore brown and baby blue high-tops with their suits. Originally designed for basketball, adopted by the punk scene, snatched by the skate crowd and still finding ways to hold market share in this overly saturated market we live in. I salute you Charles “Chuck” H. Taylor. Thanks for the Chucks that we all know and love.

Under the guise of “lets go for a bike ride”, I took the opportunity to take my Canon T2i out to some old railroad tracks near our apartment for some much needed photo-therapy. There’s always been a fascination of mine with old railroad tracks, possibly stemming back to the nights in Rosamond when the distant thud thud, thud thud, whoooooo-whoo of the mile-off train would put me to sleep. Or maybe the familiar heat from the elongated face of good old Abe when we’d tape him face down to the railroad tracks anxiously awaiting the next graffiti art show to come screaming by. There really is something about destroying a bunch of pennies with your childhood friends that tickles the nostalgia nerve. Ahhh, memories. So, to get to my point, and to start this countdown (or is it a count up?) off right, here’s photo #1 of my soon-to-be-gone twenties.

Well well well… Blog being neglected, check!

Mail going unoppened for weeks at a time, check!

Girlfriend being neglected, check! (hey, I’m not proud of it!)

Work taking a driver’s seat… always… BUT, I’ve managed to find a new spark to make me feel like I’m being creative again. About a month or so ago I entered the world of digital photography, again. My previous dabble involved an over priced, underperforming Nikon point and shoot (god help me if I ever have to buy another Nikon) and I thought I was hot shit with my infinite depth of field and complete inability to take a decent indoors shot without blowing everyone away into a red-eye haze of pretty little spots against they’re closed eyelids… Yeah, I was hot shit. Watch out birthday parties because those memories you wanted to save just might be a little to intimate when grandpa slices off little billy’s finger because he’s blinded by 8 watts of pure single-bulb action while cutting the birthday cake grammy made! Ahhh, what a scrapbook moment it would make.

Anyhow, I digress. Bashing Nikon wasn’t my intent, but instead bragging about my brand new Canon T21 was! This camera makes me feel like I actually have a hobby again… Been a while, I know. My inner child has been on mind-numbing Ritalin and number crunching in Excel spreadsheets for far too long! The first week all I had was a kit lens (18-55mm), a battery that seemed to never die and a New Found Passion (see what I did there) for something, well, new! It felt amazing to look at trash in the street or someone’s lip-crusted old cigarette butt and think, “ART!”. Like I do when I find anything I like, I latched on… and HARD! Within the first month now I’ve amassed 3 lenses, a tripod, a backpack camera bag and a loathing from my girlfriend every time I just “test out the settings” on her. (Side note: I think it’s my super power to catch the most beautiful people in some of the most unflattering facial expressions… I should bottle and sell this skill!) I think I’m on the right track.

So, as always, my hope is to start updating more frequently and actually get some of my work out there for the world to see. I mean, really, I’m hot shit again!

Well, sadly i didn’t quite make it to the 2 week, 14 day straight mark. I had to go out of town this weekend and my job has been keeping me pretty busy. So, in hopes to get back ON the wagon, or ride the white snake as the kids are calling nowadays (source: unfounded), i’m posting a new photo of the day that yours truly actually took. Lazy sunday lying in bed. Kristen with Frankie. Yes, Frankie is a girl. i named her after Frank “Old Blue Eyes” Sinatra.

Ohhhh how fitting that my #13 photo of the… would be on a night when i’m just thoroughly run down… need sleep… need sleep…. (i had to correct about 10 typos in this tiny tiny sentence)

“and now we dance…” ohh Mike Meyers, you so crazy….

Another perfect photo from my default, go to guy, amazing photographer… Stuck in Customs!

I was doing some browsing of my blogroll and got stuck on Jill Greenberg – The Manipulator’s website… again.

The portraits are so perfect.

Her portfolio is completely stacked with huge named actors and actresses that she’s worked with. This particular image just struck me. The framing is perfect, the colors are vibrant and the lighting is stark and crisp. Great contender for my Photo of the…

To the next big thing…. onward!

Feeling in a destructive mood, i decided to post this nice little shiner for the photo of the day. Yup, one more for the books. Buying myself an exotic sixxer when i get a full 2 weeks worth. then i’ll have some quality posts. HAHA.

Great image from Flickr user CTRL-F5. Thanks.

For some reason this is the only photo i like of myself, i think its the colors that i like. I use this pic in most of my profile photos on all the sites i am a member of, and to answer everyone’s question.. No it is not photoshopped, it is real.
I gained this magnificent shiner just before xmas 2002, which isnt the best time to get facial bruising.

A drunk guy tried to start an argument with me on my way home from work (i was sober). After walking away from him he (or a friend) hit me with his car, my head hit the windscreen and this is the result. Fortunately this was the only damage i got.. I think i must a thick head and legs.

And a follow up five days later (after a shave)

Thanks again to another stunning HDR photograph from Stuck in Customs. I can’t seem to get enough of the photos on Trey Ratcliff’s website.

10 for 10. Looks like someone’s butter… because he’s on a roll…. crickets…..

Albino Peacock by unknown.

I didn’t even know there was such a thing. One more new wrinkle for my brain i suppose. It’s comprised of a lot of useless knowledge already. I just tell myself that I’m training for the World Series of Pop Culture, others just say i have way to much time on my hands.

I’m not really sure why baseball is the American pasttime, because when it comes down to it, who really likes playing baseball anyway? It’s all about bowling. Next time you’re in a group of friends and you don’t know what to do, mutter the words “bowling alley” and see the buzz you create! There’s beer, nachos, bowling, beer, beer beer, drunk bowling… gutterballs…

Not to brag or anything, but i used to be quite the little bowler back in my day. Best game i ever rolled was in the 280′s… i want to say 287, but my memory is pretty poor.

Ohh, yeah… the image, silly me. Another brilliant HDR shot from Stuck In Customs.

I wish i had more info to share about this photo… all i know is that it was supplied to OCMETRO BUSINESS magazine for a dining review of some restaurant. Vague, i know. Someday if i track down the info (or if by some act of God any of my readers happen to know) i’ll update this post to give credit where credit is due!

Booze, Beach, Sun, booze… booze…

Capo beach and a long relax after spring break is all it really takes to catch my attention. Amateur photography at it’s best. Not much else to say… hey, c’mon, i had a long day. Just be happy i got 6 of 6… gotta hit a week, gotta hit a week, gotta hit a week………. trailing…………

Photography by Katie via myspace.