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 ...

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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 ... ;-)

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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 ...

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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

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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.

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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 ? ...

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

Lauren Warner