A Boto Phlog

A Much Needed Change

2008-09-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

Photos should be big. Always.

So I am moving this to WordPress. It is much more photo friendly and I like what it has to offer.

To the 3 of you who read this: My blog is now located here.

(http://photopperman.wordpress.com)

See you there?

Football Season (Obviously)

2008-09-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

Seems like work has been going football sportrait, football game, football sportrait, game, etc. However, I was able to get away for the weekend and not shoot this weeks game. And maybe this sounds wrong, but I am grateful for that opportunity. This pattern has me in a rut.

So here are some rut photos that I took hoping to give myself a fresh feel for the pattern. The first two are portraits of Terence Scott, receiver for the Ducks. The last is a picture of family and friends of Todd Doxey, the player who drowned a few months back and was honored at the first Duck game.

Just some more that I feel like were almosts.

One For You, One For Me

2008-08-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

So I got a call around 3:30 today that we'd need a feature shot of Jeremiah Johnson for this week's "Game Day." I'd have to make it after they practiced, around 5. Here's where this always goes wrong. Players don't look tough or cool or even happy after practices. They look tired. Other problems: Practice uniforms. They don't pop. In this case, they look like they don't even fit! Practice fields are also notoriously boring and cluttered. And to top it call off, you usually have about 5 minutes with the players before you're being told to move along.

Actually, there are probably too many problems to list. The point is, I created a photo that I know is a failure. What happened is what usually happens. I start to feel the pressure of my time limit, I start focusing on all these "problems" and my anxiety goes through the roof. Cold sweats and all. So then I lose track of all the things I really know to pay attention to and take care of.

It started raining again, which was fitting the mood I was in. But then it stopped and there was this beautiful light pouring into my apartment where I was about to fall asleep. I realized I needed to get outside and just enjoy the day by myself. So I hopped in my car and wasted a bit of gas in a fit of self-indulgence. And while I was out, enjoying the drive and the sun, I made this photo. Nothing special really, but it made me feel good again. Now I'm not really a metaphorical person, but all that rain letting up just in time for a shiny new sunset felt real nice.

Really Tall Girls

2008-08-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning and remembered that it was the UO Volleyball Media Day. Luckily, I am still on Grand Jury time and so I was actually up hours before I needed to be there. So after a couple cups of coffee I headed out there with a light, an umbrella and my 50mm. I think I ended up with a bunch of almosts, but I was pleased with some of the results from my first use of an umbrella.And I have to say, this is the first time I've photographed athletes here and not had them complain about having to take a picture. And this was right after they practiced! Amazing...

Personal Vision

2008-08-20T22:37:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I hear that phrase: Personal Vision.

I'm not really sure what it means. I like to attribute it to all the photos of mine that I like, that probably not too many other people would enjoy. Here are a few, past and present.

Failures Can Be Rewarding

2008-08-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile my brain starts working and I begin that process called thinking. So yes, I've been thinking:

The more I shoot, the less I like my work. I am forever in a state of self-doubt and anytime I am able to break out of that doubt and create something I like, that little prick of confidence isn't verified by any of the people I respect in this business/hobby/passion. That, or it is completely smashed, squished, obliterated by those same people. And so my self-doubt increases.

Luckily, I know that others share a similar doubt. So I am changing the direction of this phlog. I started with simply sharing the pictures that I had a little bit of liking for. That's probably why the posts weren't too routine. But I think the community (the two people who read this every few months) would benefit more from the truth of both my failures and successes.

I just hope that when I'm, ya know, successful and creating images like the ones I admire now that someone who feels as completely uncomfortable in this passion as I currently do can read about my very similar feelings when I was doing this.

You can always hope.

So to start, here are some photos far less than perfect from when I got my tattoo two weeks ago.

Portraits

2008-08-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

Really, I am trying to keep this updated. Realistically, I just need to get out more.

What have I been up to lately? Portraits. Mostly.

Talk about a funk.

Oops

2008-07-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've decided to be one of those people.

Blogger from beyond the grave. Or rather, blogs long forgotten.

Most recently, I've just been shooting friends. I testament to their existence and mine, I suppose. I've decided I want to start doing this blog thing again, so here it goes.

Yes, they are predominately my best friend's girlfriend, Renee. Apparently she's one of the few people who doesn't mind me snapping away all the time. Plus, she likes to hang out with me. So it works out.

Sorry folks. Hope to have something more interesting for you in the near future.

Vertical Circus

2008-02-17T20:18:00.000-08:00

Vertical Circus at the Student Rec Center this weekend. It was a rock climbing event.

And a costume contest.

Complete with noodle obstacle course.So basically, one of the better events I've covered recently. Better than anything I got at the Ducks game this weekend.

Yogi Malik

2008-01-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

Only one photos today. This is one of those photos that I look at now and think, "If I only had one more minute, I could have made this perfect!"

Alas, I didn't have that extra minute. In fact, this is one of those Needs-To-Be-Shot-In-Under-A-Minute photos. In fact, I'll put a simple version of the story here.

I came into the Emerald office after class at 2:00pm to chill for a little bit before I tried to bare the freezing walk home. Chris says "Hey buddy, want to shoot a feature of Malik at 3:30?" Well, I'm a nice guy.

"Sure," I says.

"Awesome. The story is about the seniors basketball players doing yoga or something. Maybe you can get him to do a 'yoga pose.'"

Now I think to myself, "Self: There is no way any of those guys is going to do a "yoga pose."

So I talked to Sports Reporter Jacob who says, "Yeah, Kevin is writing that. He was supposed to get you an appointment yesterday, so I don't know if he was able to get you one for today. But it is supposed to be before practice. I doubt Malik will want to do a 'yoga pose' though, so just get a feature shot if not."

Great. This is going to be such an opportunity, clearly. Well, after getting my gear, heading to Mac Court and sitting around playing with my lights for half an hour, I called Kevin to let him know nobody was even there.

"Nobody? I made an appointment with the media coordinator. He said he'd be there. Well, wait for a little longer and if they don't show up, we'll just run a shot from a game. I doubt he would have done a 'yoga pose' anyway." Click.

Even better. Luckily, 5 minutes later, here comes Bryce and Maarty up the stairs to the court. Churchill, Cameron. Finally Malik makes his way up.

"Hey, Malik. (Introductions, etc.) So I guess the story is about the group of you guys doing yoga. I was thinking maybe we could do a shot of you doing a yoga pose or something."

Of course, he gets this real awkward look on his face. "Uh, I don't really know any of the poses. Um."

"Well, how about the cheesy cross your legs pose?"

Awkward look again. Crap. "Yeah. I could put my hands like this."

I got psyched until he asked "Where you want to do it at?" I suggested the center of the court, inside the "O". "Uh, maybe somewhere more private. I can't let my coaches see me." Well, that left the hallway by the hot dog/pretzel vendors.

Anyway, to wrap this long story up, I tried a two light setup for once. Vivtar 285 with an optical slave to the right of the frame, my canon strobe with a grid hitting the ground in front of him. I wish I had more time, I would have realized I needed to move the grid off his feet a little and get some more light to his face. But, I am still somewhat pleased with this.

My Grandpa Bill

2007-12-28T17:34:00.000-08:00

About two weeks ago my mom let me know that my Grandpa was sick. A 91-year-old WWII vet, surgery for what appeared to be lung cancer was not an option. He was put into hospice care at his home in Chicago and I flew in with my sister ASAP to see him.

But his condition worsened during our flight and he was hardly conscious when we got there.

I wish I had seen him before he was in this condition, but I made some photos of my family and him during this time anyway. I felt it was important to his story.

Things were really looking grim just before he died. This photo is the last time I think I saw him with his eyes open.

He received his last rights and then passed on the day my sister and I were supposed to fly back out. So we stayed for the funeral. It seemed like the days in between were used for planning, rather than mourning.

There is no way to put his life in words. He was a great inspiration to me and is someone I love. I miss him. I take his words to heart more and more now: "I'll give you something to cry about."

Kwanzaa Has 3 As

2007-12-15T16:25:00.000-08:00

There was a Kwanzaa celebration just down the stairs from the Emerald office in the beginning of this month. I have never seen such an abundance of delicious food.This little guy just wanted a drink though. Kids really miss out on a ton of awesome things.

My favorite part was the fashion show. Though I'm not sure I could pull off any of the outfits.
And to finish it all off, a tiny talent show.