Okay, maybe I will give this another try.

Recently put up a video project that me and friends made with Pro Skateboarder Ray Barbee. Its called Traveling Sounds, and it showcases Ray's musical interests and collaborations. Here is a link to Part 1 and 2. There are 4 parts but we have to finalize the other segments. Thanks for watching if you decide to watch!

Part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1vq5j9mc4U

Part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAYIxke8Nnc&feature=related

Life is busy, too busy to blog

Just thinking aloud today, haven't blogged in long while. Because quite frankly I've lost all interest in blogging, especially when it turns into something I feel I have to do and feels more like a self promotional tool for my photography business. The good blogs out there are about spreading information and educating, although I hardly have the time to pay that much attention to the good blogs either. I just don't plain have the time. Just about any creative thing you can think of can be applied to the computer and the fast progression of technology. Well it seems that everything is progressing these days, some for the better, others for the worst. I used to think it would make things easier and in some ways it has. But its also made other things more time consuming and time wasting for myself. Besides I feel I'm doing a shorthand blog when I update facebook or twitter, so why should I spend more time writing about something on another self expressive virtual journal/diary.

Well I think if you love writing, the blog is a great thing. If you love spreading new and old information around then blogging is super great. Its a good tool just like anything when used for a good purpose. I get pretty amazed when people can find so much stuff to write about that they're blogging every hour or day! That's finding a lot of stuff that you personally can get into or criticize. I personally cannot find that much stuff, well because I just don't have the time to look around and I'm just not that super psyched on all things and I really don't care to write up negative things about stuff I can't stand like politics, bad music, and the just plain horrible culture that lurks out there in our daily lives. Besides, I'm more hands on when it comes to making stuff. I'd rather be out there taking a picture or playing an instrument than writing about it.

I'm not quite sure if I've killed this blog, as far as what a more prolific blogger might consider of my blog. But I will come back and write when I feel like it. Maybe I'll find something in this ever growing information landscape that will get me psyched on it enough to feel compelled to get on the keyboard and type away. But for now thanks for reading and checking this blog out!

I remember when keyboards weren't cool!

Was Looking at this photo recently of the band Brainiac and was thinking how a lot of bands utilize keyboards, computers, and synthesizers to create music these days. This photo was taken in 1996, a year when Nirvana was the biggest thing since the Beatles and when hip hop and rock where fusing together in different ways. The band Brainiac and a few contemporaries of the time like Girls against Boys and Clickatat Ikatowi where utilizing keyboards in heavy, punk rock infused ways. Some of it a little danceable but mostly in way that most people probably overlooked at the time. Besides it was way too uncool to have a keyboard in your band, especially if you rocked! A band like Brainiac not only made it sound and look cool but they created an energy that was very punk rock in uncertain punk rock times. Here the late great Tim Taylor can be seen frozen in time during what was probably a noisy spazztic freak out of a Brainiac show. I've noticed how those that are way ahead of their time are often overlooked and forgotten, despite the contributions of their art. Hopefully there is some documentation of what has been done to remind us that somebody helped paved the way and contributed to the progress that we take for granted. Cheers to Brainiac and the other pioneers of their days, RIP Tim Taylor.

Pics from the Protec Combi Bowl Pool Party 2010!

Some pix from last Saturday's Protec Pool Party 2010. Was a good one this year with Cabby dethroning Chris Miller in the 1st place masters category and Bucky Lasek winning in the Pro division. Also a great live performance by Punk rock super group OFF! Fronted by Keith Morris, with Steven McDonald on bass, Dimitri Coats on guitar, and Mario Rubalcaba on drums! The bands these guys have been a part of, reads like a great punk rock mix tape. And I really liked the sticker that was on Dimitri's guitar.

Nicky Guerrero lofting a big frontside tail grab in the square bowl.

Keith Morris making the set list!

Keith and the rest of the guys doing what they do best!

Hosoi entered and skated really great! Came close to a Mctwist, but hadn't tried it in some time. That's alright because he'll probably be back next year doing them super big. Best style on that spin as always.

One of my favorites Jeff Grosso, wasn't in the best place for a good skate shot of him, but I like this shot of him exiting the pool.

Duane Peters making a fakie rock look super sick! Man I hope I can still do a 50/50 on a four foot trannie at 49.

First place winner Cab and third place winner Lance Mountain!

Alien Skin Software Rules!

A friend recently turned me onto this great plug in software for Photoshop called Alien Skin. The software has great simulated film stocks that make for a great starting point when working on your digital pix. That is if you like the look of film and want to get close to the look of tri-x 400 or say 160NC Portra. There are quite a few film stocks ranging from Fuji, Kodak, Ilford and Agfa, in both color and B&W. There is also filters for infrared and slide film simulations that are quite impressive. I know film purists will probably disagree with me, but if your that into film your probably not going to shoot digital anyway. But if you are this is a great way to get something as close as possible to making your digital files look like you scanned a print, neg, or slide. Trust me nothing comes close to a B&W fiber print in my opinion, but if your a working photographer and workflow and speed is important. Then this might just be a great solution for you!

Standard processing from RAW to jpeg, no color film simulation.

Kodak 160VC simulation.

Fuji Astia slide film simulation.

Kodak tri-x 400 simulation.

Infrared film simulation. Never was big on the infrared look, but its nice that you can play around and have this option with this software. For more info here is link to the Alien Skin website.

iPad=iPortfolio

Well, I guess I'm one of those Apple nerds who got the iPad the first week it came out! I thought the devise looked really cool from the day I heard about it, but now I'm for sure convinced that this is where the laptop or portable devise is headed. User friendly and compact, the iPad is exactly how I thought it would be and more. I've heard people say its just a big iPod touch, and yes it is the same user interface as the iPod touch, but its got a 9" screen! A bigger screen means something closer to a laptop or compact flatscreen tv. Since my main purpose was to use this as a portfolio, I definitely wanted to get my hands on one to tinker around with and start creating sample portfolio's. Its cool because the Photo application allows you to sync with iPhoto much like an iPod, and create your own galleries. Since most photographers have multiple portfolio's this is great, because you can catalog, categorize and create separate galleries. Instead of having an entire separate book/portfolio for different kinds of work you can now create a separate portfolio with a button that instantly accesses your specific portfolio. I'm always trying to look forward 5-10 years into the future and this devise gives a pretty good indicator to the evolution of personal computing. I won't be surprised if we will start to see more of these types of touchscreen devises used all around us. I'm just figuring this thing out, but so far I've been using it more than my laptop for all non Photoshop, lightroom, or other professional applications. Just downloaded my first ebook and so far it has a nice feel when reading. Its also cool because I'm not adding to more household clutter with another book lying around. I just hope that the ebook store library expands quickly, right now there aren't a whole lot of titles that get my attention. Man, I wish I had one of these when I was in school, I remember carrying a backpack that weighed a ton. Now you have a virtual book case library and all you have to carry is a 1 pound flatscreen devise! Well, back to the subject of portfolio's. Right now I have a few 11x14 portfolio's that I mail out when requested. The iPad is a little pricey and delicate to be doing that right now, but for a personal meeting I think it would be really cool! I feel certain that as the price point comes down on these things, perhaps we will see a portfolio specific kind of devise that won't put you too much out of pocket expense wise. You gotta figure a nice portfolio these day will run you anywhere from $350 to $600 and thats not including the prints or carrying case! All in all I really like this thing and am excited to see where things go from here!

SKATEBOOK!

This is my friend and fellow Photographer/Publisher/Editor Mike Ballard. Also his friendly Dachshund

Mike works on a cool book called SKATEBOOK! Mike has always had a really strong work ethic and has been committed to skateboarding for as long as I've known him!

This is Mike's other Dachund who was recovering from surgery but wanted to eat my face and camera!

Mike is on his 6th SKATEBOOK, which not only covers current skateboarding, but also the past history of skateboarding. If your a fan like me, these are a must have for your bookshelf collection. Some of the older ones are hard to come by but you might find a copy on ebay going for whole lot more than what they were going for when they came out! For more info log onto www.skatebook.tv.