Holidays 2009

It has been a while since my last post ... as so often, the holidays are getting the best of us ... if we like it or not ...

First there's the never ending remodel of my studio that is taking a toll on my time ... there's still so much to do ... at least my subterranean termites are under control after removing my hardwood floor in the studio and kitchen ... trying to decide what my next floor covering will be ...

Then there's the travel ... both domestically and internationally ...

I'm writing this from Batam, Indonesia where I'm involved in a project launch for an exciting new product for a major consumer electronics OEM. I find myself shuttling between Singapore and Batam quite often ... it is only an hour ferry ride between these two vastly different worlds ... there's no way to describe this, you have to experience this to get the full space ...

Travel with its inevitable people watching is always a time to reflect for me ... there's so much distance in between locations giving me sufficient time to space out in appreciation for all I've got ...

My thoughts revolve around friends and those people around me that know how to live the unconditionality of true friendship ... true love ... total acceptance ... the no-need-to-change-you love ... the friends that are solely there for a no-expectation journey and know how to keep any destiny desire at bay ... The friends that only need a sentence to understand where you are in life and likewise know to express their space in 160 characters or less ... the friends that love to love ...

Thoughts and love also go out to those who only briefly touched my life but made a profound impression yielding immense growth regardless of the pain any perception imparted on our lives ... it is after all all about growth for the next connection, the next love, the next romance ...

Yes ... it is a season for thanks ... although I like to think that every day is a reason for thanks ...

I've been photographing a bit less the last couple of months because of travel and the need to catch up on editing and retouching images ...

The long evenings in business hotels have giving me some opportunity to retouch work for a couple of publications ... I've also laid out a few books I'm self publishing @ blurb.com in 2010 ...

Back to the grind with a smile on my face ... just having witnessed a colliding space and time continuum ...

* * *

Images from different photo opportunities ...

Halloween 2009 ...

A rather magical time ...

A mysterious voicemail ...

A soft commanding voice ...

A full moon ...

A daring adventure in a world of Mystery ...

A Woman in the mountains ...

An invitation collide ...

An unexpected spectacle of mythical proportions ...

... the Beloved Lady of the Universe ...

* * *

The images below are out-takes from the November 1, 2009 lingerie shoot for LuLa Lu

Model Heather Hartel

MUA Lauren Warner

NYC

It was years since I've been in NYC ... last week I had an opportunity to spend 4 days in the big apple and it was well worth the travel and expenses ...

The first funny thing is that the city looked much smaller than I remembered ... weird experience though ... felt for a second like I was first time in a place since childhood ...

I've always loved the atnosphere, the hustle and bustle, the everything is possible attitude ... and yes ... there's always life ... and you can get food at any time of the day ...

Last week was about connecting and reconnecting with friends ... some of whom I've never seen other than "on-line" ... ;-)

Central Park on a sunny day is still an experience that can't be missed ...

For those who think that NY is all about business ... well ... think again ... I got to experience to be around two marvelous kids with a super set of parents ... it made me soft for a while and I couldn't help but remembering growing up with loving parents ... and how I miss them both ...

Parents ... remember your kids have only one childhood ...

Shot about 4,000 images on the trip ... more about those later ...

While I was in the city one of my on-line friends I've never met wrote me this:

"I just wanted to say thanks for your occasional words of wisdom. Because of something you wrote yesterday, I got in touch with my grandfather (who has been reaching out to me) - I haven't spoken with him since I was a toddler.

Sometimes people need a slight prompting to forgive, or to remember important things, and I wanted to let you know that your posting gave me a little nudge. Thanks. :)"

Needless to say that this made my day even more ...

Continued ...

The ride.

"Your ride is there ..."

I interrupt my conversation and slowly turn around towards the conference room window ... I peer through the blinds and see the silver convertible top down cornering into the parking lot ... it is my ride ...

I chuckle ... you know ... it feels funny when you see your car drive around without yourself in it ... so used of driving it myself ... ;-) ... I seldom let anyone drive my car ... and ... you're early ...

I excuse myself from the meeting and walk to the side exit door ... by the time I hit the bright sunlight, you've circled the parking lot ... you're looking for me ... you don't know which door I'm exiting ... you're scanning 900 feet of building ...

You finally see me and you throw both hands high up in the air while driving over the speed bump and you're waving at me ... crazy ... but it gets a big smile on my face and can't help thinking that the whole building is watching you ...

I cross the parking lot your direction and you intercept me in the middle ... you're beaming ... you get out of the car ... grey cap ... white satin top with ruffles ... Rock & Republic jeans ... Betsey Johnson heels ... blonde hair spilling from underneath the cap, bouncing with each step, flowing in the wind ...

We hug ... we kiss ... the building cringes ...

You try to hand me the keys ... I give you the keys back ... you look at me in disbelief ... but you're happy you get to drive some more ... you like the car ... you love the way it makes you feel ... I take the passenger seat and you take off ...

I can feel the building rubbernecking till we're out of sight ..

We talk during the ride about the day, the stuff we've done, the stuff we still need to do ... then ... quiet ... we look at each other while you navigate traffic ... we smile ... we don't need to talk ... we know ...

The sun is out and I'm watching to my right as we're approaching the long bridge over the bay ... it's a beautiful day ... little wind flowing through the hair ... perfect blue skies ... blue water ... no choppiness ... no fog, no marine layer ... no nothing to spoil the moment ...

I turn towards you and you're not wearing the grey cap any longer ... you're sporting my brown leather aviator hat ... straps loose dangling and bouncing up and down with the turbulent air from the ride and you're bobbing your head up and down, singing silently along ... you look at me with those beaming blue eyes ... your blonde hair flowing wildly underneath the cap ... your laugh shattering the silence ... we both laugh ... pure bliss ...

I put my chrome and black leather aviator goggles on and we laugh some more ... you're more gorgeous than ever and you're elated exuberance makes this a wonderful moment ... instinctively I grab my camera but it is not there ... such a shame ... a unique moment in so many ways ... gone for ever

You read my mind ... "we can do this again and you can shoot it" ... you grab my left hand and pull it onto your lap and hold it there ... tightly clutched ... I close my eyes and savor the moment burning this image forever in my mind ... you're bobbing your head on the tune of track 10 ... we both love that track ...

For seven eternal miles we are one thought ... one soul ... one love ...

You corner sharp left when we reach the end of the bridge and let my hand go as the car demands all your attention ... we smile ... we're quiet until we continue with the rest of our day ...

I unmistakably know this one of a kind experience is gone ... there is no return to perfection ... there's no need to ...

* * *

When I wake up out of the darkness every day, that image is the first reality I see ... I feel the warmth of the sun ... the wind through my hair ... the exhilaration of that one moment lasting seven miles ... I dread the emptiness in my heart ... then I listen to track 10 ...

The yellow rose is all dried up by now ... beautifully muted colors ... but standing firm ... just the way you wanted it to dry ... you couldn't bear to see this memory go limb that last morning we ever talked at home ... we cried ... we connected ... we knew ...

To be continued ...

Waves ...

Last weekend brought me back to Los Angeles visiting friends and family ...

I was guest in this picture-perfect coziest hide-out perched high above the Pacific Coast Highway ...

Talking all day about life, love, friendship, art, wants, needs, expectations, catching up on what's important on this journey while listening to the crashing waves of the ocean and seeing the light change throughout the day ...

A walk on the beach ... watching the sun set ... harvest full moon ... the quietness of it all ...

Wine, cheese, gourmet olives ... chocolates ... it doesn't get more perfect then this ... sleep was sound ... dreams were sweet ... waking up ... well ... the waves were still there ... so was the perfect company ...

One of the most livable places I've stayed ... no care in the world ... escapism at its best ... this also reminded me how much I miss the ocean, the fresh salty air ... one day though I'll have my own nest high above the ocean ... my own red barn ...

* * *

Fortune cookie wisdom ... your kindness is surely to be repaid ...

When your don't care who gets the credit, there's no limit on how high you can fly ...

Boston ...

Traveling this week ... during the day in training and in charge of content management for a sizable web site overhaul ... all other hours are dedicated to editing and retouching images for my second photo book

A couple of teaser images are included in this post ... the whole concept was photo-journalistic with the models having the option to "pause" at any time ...

I shot this a little over a year ago, mulled the retouch/edit process over for a while and finally got the impetus to get this going ... all lighting is natural ... no make-up for a very natural look ... yes, I did change my mind about the all B&W approach ... ;-) .. the retouching process runs from B&W to a variety of color processes ...

* * *

I was cleaning out my wallet of receipts today and came across two forgotten fortune cookie notes I picked up in early September ... I keep those religiously as I'm constantly working on improving my Chinese vocabulary ... ;-)

Your career will soon be enhanced by a new friend ...

A beautiful person is with you, confide your problems ...

Variations on a theme ?

Time for real coffee ... continued ...

Insomnia ...

Just having one of those nights where I can't sleep because my brain is running haywire ... thousand thoughts going through my mind with no resolution ... seemingly no progress ... no actionable items ... just emotionally piecing together the disconnects from recent stressful events ..

Even my visiting cat knows something needs fixing ... she's always outside ... roaming around in the backyard ... she loves the backyard, so much more room than the studio from my ex ;-) ... but this night, she's in the kitchen, office ... wherever I go ... maybe it's because of me or maybe it's because there was a skunk passing by a couple of hours ago ... who knows ... for now, I'm happy with the company ...

Been working al day yesterday on editing and retouching my second book ... I photographed the concept a little over a year ago and I've been mulling my options over on and off ... going for a photojournalist B&W approach... that's how it was shot, that's how it still feels after all this time ... hope to publish this book before December ...

Insomnia also means that I have opportunity to do some more editing ...
I shot Jillian Ann and HDC (Grant) last Friday in the Voodoo Lounge in San Jose ...
I enjoyed the music, the atmosphere and just see everyone passionately go all out ...

It was good to see Jillian again, our next shoot is long overdue ... I posted the images from this event to my Facebook account ... yes ... I'm on Facebook ... ;-)

* * *

Looking through the Facebook shatter I come across this quote ... I'm pretty sure it was left for me ... coincidence ? ... synchronicity ? ... who knows ... all that matters is that someone cares enought to put it out there for all to read ...

When people can walk away from you ... let them walk.

Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left ...

(T.D.Jakes)

We have read this quote before ... We may have heard the quote before ... this is just a timely reminder ...

I do know one thing for sure ... I do have a very bright future ... time for real coffee ...

* * *

Images from last Friday's photography in the Voodoo Lounge, San Jose. The wire image detail was shot in an art gallery in La Jolla, CA in 2008. ,,,

The Red Knight - Part 1a

I'm repeating part of an earlier blog post to ensure an easier follow up connection with an upcoming personal story

* * *

The Willy Vandersteen strip series "De Rode Ridder" or "The Red Knight" with over 200 albums published between 1959 and today has a serious impact on my life ...

Johan (John) , the Red Knight, is the main character in these strip albums. His character embodies the chivalric ideal ... brave to the point of intrepid ... loyal and of course, an expert swordsman ...

In most of the albums he's a traveling knight fighting all sorts of evil threatening peaceful communities ... his travel have brought him all over the world ... Egypt, South America, Atlantis (!) , China etc. ... even outer space figured as a background for a couple of stories ...

Chronologically the stories are placed from the 6th century to the 16th century, thus covering a wide range of historical events. King Arthur, Crusades, Battle of the Golden Spurs and 15-16th centurylife in Flanders.

These strips always featured gorgeous damsels in distress in need of rescue ... and were pretty much the sexiest books I got my hands on in elementary school ... lol ...

Relationships are purely platonic in line with the ideals of chivalric duties.

The Red Knight however is in love with Galaxa, the Faerie of Light. She can only appear for a few brief moments in Johan's world. Together however they fight evil and injustice in the hope to be joined together in a future ...

There is also considerable romantic tension suggested between the Red Knight and Demonia, the henchwoman from Bahaal, the Prince of Darkness.

Other recurring women in the strip are Morning Star and Isjtar, both loyal colleague faeries from Galaxia, always ready to give a lending hand when Galaxia is weakened in battles with Demonia.

As such these strips have appeal for both teenagers and adults alike ...

The women in this strip series do not follow the stereotypes of the historical background.

These woman are all emancipated, independent, love their personal freedom and all have important responsibilities to fulfill in the story.

Although The Red Knight often has to rescue damsels in distress, they are all strong women.

The Red Knight's unobtainable love for Galaxia is often the driver for his actions and needless to say that all plots have a happy ending.

* * *

The Red Knight is looking for a damsel that is not in distress ...

... but what would the Red Knight do with a damsel that is not in distress ? ...

* * *

Images from the August 30 shoot with Sarah Ellis and Kayla, make-up and hair,

Lauren Warner

The White House - Part II

Continued from "In the Shadow ..." (June 10, 2009)

* * *

I open the double door fully and let the light flow in ... I can see the 17th century fresco's on the left wall ... a woodsy scene with young women in pretty dresses with lots of ruffles ... wearing little cute hats ... their maids seem to be preparing a picnic .. couple of sheep in the background ... the rest is all faded out and was unrecoverable ...

I had discovered these fresco's after acquiring the house and scraping off some old cracked paint of the wall .. these wall paintings turned out pretty unique because of their size and quite a few art and historic architectural magazines were in and out the house to document the uncovering and restoration ...

I glance over the now familiar art and make my way down the entrance hallway to the right hand side kitchen door with window lights ... I'm trying to remember the name of the local painter to no avail ... I'm more pre-occupied with what I'm going to find in the kitchen after my last visit ...

I crack the kitchen door open .. it is dark inside ... no power yet and the only light comes in through the double door hall way and backyard kitchen window which Roman curtains are closed ... the clean smell of fresh lemon is puzzling ... no one was in here and this place is supposed to be a mess after my last visit ...

I ignore the clue and let my eyes adjust to the darkness before walking in ... I can see some light peering through the backyard kitchen window and I slowly make my way to open the curtains ... broken porcelain is cracking under my feet while I make my way ... this place is still a mess ...

Pulling the curtain open I can finally see the extent of the disarray ... broken plates all over the floor ... my eyes wander up to the cupboards ... all doors are closed and latched ... what the hell ?

The meat cleaver on the butcher block draws my attention ... there's blood ... fresh ... red ... my stomach turns for a split second but I decide to take a look at what's hanging in the cooking fireplace ... a skillfully skinned and cleaned hare is still bleeding out ... fresh kill... the fireplace is cold ... odd ... I don't remember seeing this scene last time I was here.

Before I can finish the thought, I hear the kitchen door slowly closing shut ... I check ... there's still no door handle ... I can't get out this way ... I cringe as I now need to make my long way to the other side of the house ... can't shake the feeling off that I'm not alone and that's no different than the past experience ...

I look over to the dark far corner as I know there to be the door to the hallway leading to the antechambers of the house. As I'm making my way to the corner, loud noises in the cupboards make me duck and close my eyes ... just in time ... dozens of porcelain plates fly across the kitchen and get shattered against the walls and various pieces of furniture ... I stay put till the violence subdues ... I stand up and there's one more layer of shards strewn over the floor ... all cabinet doors are closed and still latched ... it's erie quiet now ...

I quickly jump and stumble to the far door ... rattling and cracking porcelain shards on my way ... thankfully this door is not locked and I step in the hallway, quickly closing the hallway door behind me ...

To be continued ...

* * *

Image above shot on July 19. Model is Kayla, make-up Lauren Warner, styling Seema Hamid. Hat design Jasmin Zorlu

Cleaning out ...

... the studio ... the house ... paint ... flooring ... more paint ... color ... done with the white walls ...

Getting rid of remnants of past lives ...

Books ... more books ... french ... german ... dutch ... music scores ... tapes ...

Less is more ?

Thanks Kayla for helping me out in this endeavor ... more hands = lighter work ...

;-)

Studio Shoot - July 18-19

Two beautiful models graced my studio July 18 ... so nothing better than making this a 2 day shooting bonanza ;-) ... some images below ...

SaraLiz and Kayla ... make-up and hair by Lauren Warner (SaraLiz) and

Christal Saville (Kayla)

The images of me at work are all courtesy Ankha Desh who did an excellent job of watching my back and came up with some great prop variations for her own shooting sessions with the models.

On the 19th Seema Hamid joined up for wardrobe styling while Heather Hartel made sure I got my solo venti white chocolate mocha ... lol ...

Great images, great camaraderie and

no drama ... just the way I like it ... this team performed flawless and we got some great images to boot ... what else ;-)

SaraLiz and me ... this was my second shoot with the Florida based pro model ... beautiful, gracious, great posing and easy to work with

This image and next are (c) Ankha Desh

Chimping ... SaraLiz and Kayla delivered great team work on their first shoot together ...

No time to loose ... shoot Kayla while Seema is fixing shoes ... this was our 8th shoot together ... like I wrote a couple of weeks ago ... watch ...

Seema did a fabulous job mixing and matching wardrobe, shoes and accessories ... I had the pleasure working with her before at the Salton Sea shoot ... she's highly recommended ...

Los Angeles trip ...

Breakfast with Lu, sushi with Betcee, dinner with Amarilla and Salim ... wardrobe shopping on Melrose Avenue ... more window shopping in Santa Monica ... checking out Courtney's new studio ...

Looking at new faces in agencies ...

exploring more of the window lights at the Custom Hotel ...

Making new friends ... intense ...

Casting call ... long drive home ... time flies ...

* * *

Three days of shooting on the street with Kayla on her first shooting trip to LA ... she flies ... on heels ... in a long dress ... defying traffic ...

Beautiful ... sweet ... tall ... confident ... graceful ... unleashed ...

* * *

This journey started the last day of May ... Kayla arrived in my studio for her first shoot ... a bit nervous ... tense ... unsure of what would happen ...

It took only 11 minutes to discover her affinity for the camera ...

She came back in June to shoot some more fun ...

Then July ...

Then the trip to Los Angeles ...

Watch ...

More images soon ...

Cecil Beaton

" ... to make beautiful images of women you have to love women ..."

* * *

Victoria Vertuga in my corner. Beautiful. Talented. Sweet. Cecil would have loved her ...

In the shadow ...

of the St Bavo cathedral in Ghent, lives a white house ... it stands out from all the other houses in the street ... majestic ... old and original ... flaking and cracked once white paint left and right ... a most beautiful double wide carriage door with bronze inlays and scrollwork hinges with a wonderful patina ...

There are ancient cobblestones on a sidewalk ... uncomfortable cobblestones ... two gray blue stone piers flank the entrance ...

As I come closer I keep watching the door ... the color is a dark green ... many greens of as many layers of paint as there were lives in this house ... it feels ancient ... it feels familiar ... a strange awareness crops up ... I suppress a shiver ...

I stop and slowly let my eye wander

over the facade ... all window shutters are closed except the balcony windows on the first floor ...

I stretch and try to peer through the darkness of the balcony windows ... to no avail ...

Yet ... I can't help imagine the grayed sheers moving gently as if someone just briefly touched them and pulled away ...

Maybe ... just maybe ...

I hesitate a brief moment but then slowly make my way across the street ... I hear the faint sound of a horse drawn carriage clattering over the cobblestones ... I look around ... nothing ... no one ... the sound disappears ... just imagining the noises of the past ...

The cobblestones feel uncomfortable ... remnant of centuries for sure ... passersby don't seem to notice me ... no one looks ... no one greets ... no one is taken in with the beauty of this house ... all are navigating cobblestones ...

I stop in front of the massive doors ... my left hand is touching the cold bronze inlay ... I shiver briefly again but my hand keeps following the the playful curve of the exquisite decorative detail while I slowly pull a keychain out of my cloak ...

There's only one key ... heavy ... large ... with an impressive 5 pronged beard each side ... another promise from the past ?

I wipe the cobwebs away from the keyhole while I insert the key ... to my surprise the key turns almost smoothly and the bolt unlocks with a solid resonating thump ... the door is heavy ... too heavy and I have to use my shoulder to crack the door open ... a whiff of old air greats me ... dust ... moldy stale air ...

I turn around and look into the street ... there's no one there ... all passersby are gone ... total quiet ...

A crow circles overhead and drops down onto the balcony ... watching me ... I stare back unfazed ... she takes off with a loud cra ... cra... craaaahhhhh echoing between the houses ...

To be continued ...

* * *

My chair has become a fun project ... everyone treats my chair differently ... and I'm sure my chair *loves* vintage clothing ... from top to bottom, Donna, Sarah Ellis and Kayla ... May 2009.

Swamped with retouching ...

... didn't realize it was that long since I've posted anything ... a matter of life interfering with passion ... ;-)

* * *

More chair pictures ...

Kayla on her first shoot ... beautiful and talented ... will shoot again ;-)

Make up by Lauren Warner ... more chair images shortly ...

Continued

Light Up The World

I had the privilege to meet Dr Dave Irvine-Halliday this morning ... for those not familiar with his work ... check out http://www.lutw.org

Great cause .... great impact and his talk at the OPTOmism executive "green" seminar left me teary-eyed ... talking about making a difference in the world ... active since 2000 and growing the initiative step by step ... we can all make a difference ... for sure ...

*   *   *

Heather, old Hollywood style ...

On the sidewalk of Mission Street ...

... many people will walk in and out of your life ... only true friends will leave footprints in your heart ...

Wednesday May 14, 2009

Heather, make up Christal Saville

Business as usual ?

Everyone is talking so much recession that it has become a depression ... in a recession you can expect things to bounce back to business as usual ... in a depression you're left with a landscape that is altered forever ... 

The future is to the disruptive innovators ... those who can see beyond the horizon and are not afraid to cannibalize and reinvent themselves over and over again ...

*   *   *

It seems like many lifetimes since I've done a shoot ... retouching images ... retouching memories ... 

*   *   *

I love waiting to retouch a shoot from time to time or to leave critical images for a later time ... it makes it so much easier to disconnect from the emotion of the moment and see images for the pure value of it ... the visual and emotional aspects... taking a step back and gaining a different perspective rather than being caught up in the futility of the moment

*   *   *

Dreamt about the Red Barn again ... funny ... still working on it ... never ending work of love ...

Mother's Day

... thought about Mom all day long ... regardless of what I was doing ... 

I miss her ... but I do know she's somehow watching out for me ... we still talk ... often ...

*   *   *

April was a stressful month ... planets didn't line up properly ... did whip them back in shape though .. little set-backs don't stop me from achieving what I want ... 

*   *   *

Images below are from a recent shoot at Salton Sea ...

Model is Nicole Shanahan, make up and hair by Gina Novotchin, styling by Seema Hamid.

Nicole staying graceful while taking flight just before golden hour ...

Love is ...

... bringing me a venti single shot white mocha to the studio before a shoot ... ;-)

Catching up on editing ... more images soon ..

Continued ...

China Dragon

 ... is no more ... closed their doors because they couldn't afford the new lease anymore ... figure it out ... the lease owner increased the lease fee rather than adjusting it to business ... 

Three empty locations now in the same strip ... doesn't make sense in a depression ... 

I will need to find another source of good fortune cookies ... they were the best ;-)

*   *   *

Model in the images is Deb F ... we did a full day portfolio shoot in studio and on location a while ago ... wonderful work of the model ... make up by Lauren Warner ...

Random reading ...

When a friend calls to me from the road 
And slows his horse to a meaning walk, 
I don't stand still and look around 
On all the hills I haven't hoed, 
And shout from where I am, What is it? 
No, not as there is a time to talk. 
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground, 
Blade-end up and five feet tall, 
And plod: I go up to the stone wall 
For a friendly visit.

Robert Frost.

Not a fortune cookie ...

Getting sloppy with the blog ... nahhhhh ... lots of events during the last couple of weeks have me pre-occupied with writing, research and photo retouching ... so lots of new goodies coming .. promised ;-)

*   *   *

A friend send me this quote yesterday ...

"Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth" [Ludwig Borne]

I was not familiar with the quote so I read up on Ludwig Borne ... he hits home ... ;-)

A very similar quote with a slight twist ...

"Getting rid of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a truth"

I wonder why this is resonating so much ... hmmmm .... continued ?

*   *   *

In LA doing a variety of things except shooting ...

Wet camera photography ...

... this is how my D3 saw the Alameda Creek when it switched to auto-shoot after I fell in the creek ...

Only way to stop the shooting was to pull the battery out ... admire the beautiful "water bokeh" ... ;-)

*   *   *

Fortune cookie of the day:

Enthusiasm can change the current situation

What situation ?

There is no situation ... only denial ...

Will not be continued ...

It was bound to happen ...

... I do love shooting in and around water and last Saturday it did happen ... I slipped in the Alameda Creek getting ready for a shoot ... and ended up taking my beloved D3 down under ... 

Although I got up fast, water had gotten into the camera through the zoom lens and the lens ring ... remarkedly, there was no water in the battery compartment nor the memory card compartment ...

As soon as I pulled the camera out of the water, it started shooting random images ... there was definitely water in some of the buttons ... 

Gave the camera and lens a quick dry with the back of my shirt ... the only thing that remained dry in the fall ... 

Camera came back on line after 24 hours of exposure to warm flowing air ... sensor needs some cleaning as that one got drops of water splattered all over it through the actuation of the mirror ... 

It could have been worse ...

Hopefully there is no further corrosion in the long run throwing things further off ...

The lens took the brunt of the fall and the zoom ring is very stiff ... this appears to be more mechanical damage in nature ... 

Lesson learned ... a couple ... lol ... through it all I did pick up I'm in good company when it comes to dropping or falling in water with gear ... luckily I didn't have my BlackBerry on me ;-)

*   *   *

The images in the blog post are environmental shots from my last weeks shoot at Salton Sea ... more about that one later ... two photographers, two make up artists, stylist ... quite a few models ... great company ... more friends ...

Continued ...

Not so friendly ...

... is to wake up on Friday morning and find out you can't go anywhere because the front tires of your vehicle are slashed ... either they didn't like my tires or they didn't want me to go somewhere ... hmmmmm ....

One tow later and 4 tires later I'm rolling again ... ;-)

Karma is wonderful but karma is also a bitch ... 

Friends

I grew up in a forest in Belgium, remote from my school buddies ... no friends to play with ...

I grew even more up in a small house with 4 sisters ... no room for friends to come over and play ... no one inviting me to come over and play ... 

I was alone in my room engaged in Red Knight chivalry ...

I was alone in my room with my science books ...

I was alone in m room with my projects ...

I was alone in the world racing my bicycle ...

Music ... performing ... composing ... conducting ... an ivory tower comes to mind ...

I got married, got kids, got career busy, moved a couple of times, got different career busy, moved Transatlantic ... and I left the few friends I developed behind ...

Wife one left ... I raised the kids some more till they left ... love struck ... then wife two left ... 

What happened ... where was I ... what really is being alone ... the fear ... the solitude ...

*   *   *

Then one friend showed up because she was worried for me ...

A second friend reached out and listened  ...

A third friend showed me the other side of the mirror ...

A fourth friend drove me to the airport at 5:00am ...

A fifth friend  took me out for lunch ...

A sixth friend took me out for dinner ...

A seventh friend shared an opera ...

... wait ...

I have countless friends ...

Countless friends showed me unconditional love ... any time ... every time ...

I'm truly a blessed man ... I'm lucky ... for sure ...

... I savor every friend-moment how brief it may be ...

To friends ...

... all friends ...

Continued ... for sure ... 

Pixie Sunday ...

Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself ... before you can move their tears, your own must flow ... to convince them you must yourself believe ...

Winston Churchill was sure an artist ...

*   *   *

It was raining like hell last night and I was falling asleep while listening to the raindrops clattering the skylights ... I dreamt a red barn dream where I'm dreaming of listening to the raindrops clattering the panes of my father's father little farm in Flanders ... I was six ... sleeping on the attic where one could see the stars through the cracks in the panes ... where one would wake up in the winter covered with powder snow making it through the roof ... it was cold ...

The red barn was warm and cosy ... I curled up and listened some more ...

*   *   *

Image of Betcee May from our very first shoot a little over 9 months ago in LA ...

I had a great shoot ...

... with Jessa, Kristin and Kay ... make up artist Gina Novotchin joined us for the fun ...

Images later ... much later ... still having hard drive issues to resolve ... enjoy one of the images from Betcee and Tiana in the meantime ... shot in my studio one moon ago ...

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Added new music to my car CD changer ... Paris by Night ...  a compilation of classic French songs and singers from 1929 to 1964 ... 

Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Maurice Alexander, Leo Mariant, Lucienne Delyle, Tino Rossy, Charles Aznavour, Line Renaud, Django Reinhardt, Jean Sablon, Mireille, Les Compagnons de la Chanson, Lys Gauty, Frehel, Eva Busch, Damia

Milord (Edit Piaf) makes me cry ... that good ... Eva Busch is a close second and who does not like Django Reinhardt in "Nuages"

French classic street song entertainment at its best ... I grew up listening to this music ... my parents were fond of it ... 

EMI CDP 7 94478 2

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I dreamt about my Red Barn again ... pleasant ... it was full of people and art ... you were there too ...