I just got home from school and I am exhausted. I have been in the photo lab all night and got two more prints done for BFA. I wish I could just go to sleep right now but unfortunately I can't just yet. I cannot wait until I can sleep for 12 hours straight. Maybe in a few weeks.

Umm...

...Just kidding on that last post. I figured it out. It was user error. I think it is a sign that I need sleep. Night Night.

What the ef is really going on?

I am trying to post links on this damn blog and it just is not working. I refuse to believe that I am this technically retarded. I understand that it is one in the morning and I have had very little sleep for days now but seriously!?! I went to layout then added a gadget chose links list and put in the info. I managed to get a picture up (my Wii bowling record) but I can't seem to do this. UGH! I am annoyed. I accept defeat.

p.s. Fingers crossed that Costco does a good job printing my stuff.

So I figured out that I can save a copy as a .jpg from the RAW screen in CS4 and now I can actually post photos. They are not the final images since I am having to save them from RAW but what the hell.

Here is one that I was just screwing around with.

I have been working on color correcting my images. I worked on a few yesterday and a few this morning. I am still trying to decide what I want to print. I have several different buildings I can choose from but there is one building that I really liked and I shot a lot more of. I am torn between showing several different buildings and details of those or showing different details of the Compressor Building which is the one that I shot the most of.

P.S. I don't know why CS4 will not let me save a copy as a damn .jpg so they are easier/quicker to upload to this damn blog. Every time I try to upload a .psd this site takes half a century and it is driving me freakin crazy. I cannot post any pics. I have tried 6 times and I have somewhere to be so I'll try again later.

Damn computers

I have updated to CS4 but for now it is still only a trial version. Three times tonight it has encountered an "unexpected error" and "has to close" UGH! This has taught me to save often. I can't stare at this damn computer any longer, so I will post some photos tomorrow when my urge to throw this effin thing out the window has diminished.

Of the buildings I shot the other day, this one is probably my favorite. I have not made any corrections on this one yet, but it is a good example of the kind of stuff I am looking for.

This was spray painted on one of the buildings shot the other day.

Evidently technology is testing me tonight. First I cannot upload the photos I shot today, then blogger starts hassling me. Obviously I finally got logged in but I still cannot upload my photos to my computer. I think the problem might be that my trial of CS3 has expired but I am not sure. I guess I need to download the CS4 trial. Montana was wonderful enough to lend me her camera so I could get some shooting done but now it seems that I have to bug her for tech support too. She has a wonderful heart to put up with my inept digital knowledge. I think I got some good pictures and I'll post some when I figure out what the hell I am doing.

Sze Tsung Leong

I am doing a presentation on Sze Tsung Leong for my 499 class. This was a really good suggestion for me. I really like his work, especially his series History Images. Here is an image from that series. His website is http://www.szetsungleong.com/

I've been driving around looking for places I want to shoot. I found few good spots. Now I just have to get my hands on a camera so I don't have to shoot film. I only have 35mm color film which I would rather not use.

Project Description

Project Name:
Decay
Project Description:
This project will be landscape images of industrial and urban decay. It will include images of now obsolete industry, such as the fishing industry in San Pedro and Terminal Island. I will also be looking for neglected urban structures.
Conceptual Concerns:
The concept behind this project is ruins. I want to show the physical remains of these buildings that have been abandoned and neglected. They have been left to decay and are considered an eyesore, but most people do not even notice them. They are not considered ruins because that word has the connotation of being ancient and beautiful. They are ruins but instead of being exalted, like ancient religious ruins, they are left to decay until they are torn down to make way for something new.
Technical Skills Covered:
I cannot say that I want to master using a digital SLR or shooting in RAW because this is my first experience with both. It would be naïve to think that I could master it in one project. The same can be said for Photoshop though I do not intend to do a lot of manipulation. I am hoping that this will be a good first step into working digitally and color correcting in Photoshop.
Formal Guidelines:
There will be 8-12, 7x7 prints. I am still considering shooting film and scanning it, but am working on borrowing a camera because I think it would be very beneficial for me to learn to shoot digital. I am still undecided as to whether or not the photos will be mounted.
Artistic References:
Sze Tsung Leong’s work, including HISTORY IMAGES, HORIZONS, and CITIES.
Readings:
Industrial Ruins: Space, Aesthetics and Materiality by Tim Edensor
The Aesthetics of Decay: Nothingness, Nostalgia, and the Absence of Reason by Dylan Trigg
The Aesthetics of Ruins by Robert Ginsberg
Grade:
The basis for my grade on this project should be a combination of the formal qualities of my work and the technical skills I will learn.
Goals List:
My main goal is to stop resisting digital photography. I know that it is the next step but I am apprehensive about making the leap. I will let go of all of my preconceptions and embrace the learning of something new.

My friend told me about this and it made me think of the Chindogu stuff Kyle showed last week. Although, I find this less funny because it seems humiliating for the dog.

We made a little art while sitting around the table hanging out with my cousin on his last night here before going back to Italy. I call this one Peanut Pond.