From Geek To Chic

Remember this movie? I watched it a few weeks back and I couldn't believe how scrawny Patrick Dempsey was back then. A skinny, nappy, scrawny dude that played a nerd who became cool. He had hired a cool girl (who needed the $ because she messed up her mothers dress wearing it to a party and needed to get the dress cleaned) and made believe they were a pair. They'd go to lunch, parties, and hang out with each other elsewhere just to make things seem real. Unbeknownst to the nerd, the cool chick was falling for him. He did extremely stupid things. He operated with blindfolds on and didn't see what was happening between him and the cool chick. One day the cool chick decided to let her emotions go and tell him what she really felt about him. With his blindfolds on he didn't see what she was really trying to say. Instead he thought she had initiated the exit plan that they had discussed (according to the plan they were to get into a big fight in the middle of campus which would thereby end their business relationship.) Disaster. He was the flavor to be had from there on out. Dating whoever he pleased until the real story got out. He had hired a girl to make him cool (ofcourse you and I could care less if we had found that out but...) and from there he went from chic to geek once again. The story got rather slow from there on out. He finally saw the light and realized the cool chick wanted him but it was too late. She made her decision and "mind-screwed" herself into thinking that she didn't like him. He showed up in the wee hours of the morning mowing her lawn, he called her house, and he did other stupid things. Right when the viewers thought it was done and there was no more hope, the cool chick came upon a revelation in thinking that she did really want to be with him. And ofcourse they got back together and rode his lawnmower off into the sunset.

That movie was way beyond cool. I didn't do it any justice by giving my short version of it. What was funny is that Patrick Dempsey in that movie went from "totally geek to totally chic". He's in Grey's Anatomy now and the same could be said about him and his real self. He aint scrawny and nappy anymore.

In Between Games

I thought I would post a picture of Skylar. I really like this shot because of her position (body facing left looking right). Pretty classy look and she's only 3...well 4 next week. Back to the game. Will the Clippers do it? Now remember I aint one of those band hoppers I bought Clipper tickets before the season started.

The DaVinci Code

I haven't watched the movie yet but The History Channel has something called Beyond The Da Vinci Code that aired tonight. I watched this before but this time something caught me off guard. I wasn't paying too much attention last time so I missed out on the discussion about Da Vinci's "Last Supper". The image depicts Jesus having dinner with 12 apostles. That's what we have been told anyway. The show indicates that next to Jesus wasn't actually one of the 12 apostles but a woman, Mary Magdalene. I was like what? Um ya sure. I googled "The Last Supper" and downloaded it opening it up and zooming in. You know what? That is a woman! I am sure there are even more of Da Vinci's secrets in the painting. Why was it passed on through the years that there were 12 apostles, all men, wherein there's a woman seated right next to Jesus? Brings me back to Arsenio Hall's, things that make you go hmm.

Ideas

I met with Eric this morning at Starbucks in Fashion Island. Man the guy is an idea machine. I love it because it's contagious and I found myself coming up with new ideas to add to the ideas he had already. 3 hours later we concluded that idea 1,2, & 3 have to be implemented. I'd share the ideas but it would take too long plus I don't want you running with it. I love being creative and coming up with new things and it would be even better if they worked. We all know I have come up with stuff that went to shit as well. These ideas, however, are solid. Both, ideas with current projects and stand alone ones. The ideas were great. Ok ok, hint....dogs and cats. I ran the numbers and it came out to be off the charts. Sorry the hint wasn't meant to help all that much.

What's Up With Pavilions?

I had to make a late night run to get some water and a few other things. At the checkout counter the lady asked me if I had the Vons/Pavilions card. I said I don't have it on me but I know my number. She inputs my number into the system and nothing comes up. She asks for another number and I don't have one for her. I know I have a card and I signed up for it in that store. She says it takes a month and sometimes 2 months to get into the system. Bottom line no savings for me. Not a big deal I would have only saved 30 cents maybe. What gets me is that other stores such as Albertsons would just have the checker swipe a store card that would allow for you to take advantage of the savings. If I had over $100.00 of grocery I would have missed out on a good amount of savings by not having my card on me. At Albertson's I would have saved with or without one. There is something to be said about customer service.

While we're on the topic of customer service, a friend of mine doesn't answer his business calls and seldom returns calls because he wants to leave an aura of success. He waits for an assistant to handle the calls for him. It was interesting because I used to do the same thing years back. I figured that if I answered the calls then my clients would think I am not successful. Total lunacy as I look back on it. Sure as you become more successful it becomes harder to handle calls but you can still do your best to distinguish yourself from people who think that by not answering they leave a better impression. Well here's what happens, you don't answer the calls the customer or potential customer hangs up the phone and calls someone else. Not like this would happen all the time but lets say it happens 1 out of 10 times. You just threw away 10% of existing or worse, new business, because you wanted to make it look like you're Donald Trump. I don't know what he's gonna do in the end but in his line of work he has to answer the calls or they're looking elsewhere.

Back to Pavilions. Maybe this card thing doesn't apply to all Vons or Pavillion stores. And maybe Albertson's could have a different policy elsewhere. In the end it's all about traffic for these guys and Pavilions doesn't have mine. Not that mine would count..or would it? Besides Albertson's has fried Lumpia in the frozen section!!!

Going To A Hockey Game!

Haven't been to one in a long time. Watching the Ducks and Oilers should be fun. We'll see if it was as crazy as the last time I went. I'm operating on 2 hours of sleep considering I went to bed at 5 am. Hope I can stay awake. Let's see if they let me bring my camera into the arena.

Katie and Corinne

I was in Hollywood with Katie and Corinne as my sidewalk models. It was a ton a fun watching all the looks and stares they got as they walked up and down Hollywood Blvd. Ron's up shooting scenics and I am down here shooting lifestyle. We'll be doing another shoot soon, possibly in Venice or Santa Monica. I am also drawing up the outline for workshops as well. Oh I forgot, Corinne and Katie I need you for these workshops. We'll talk more about them later. Click here for slideshow.

New Camera Settings

I have been playing around with the settings for both Nikon and Canon. Tone adjustments, sharpening, hue, contrast, and more. I was able to get punchy colors right out of the camera with settings that I would have never fooled with unless I fooled with it, get it? I kept hearing that you want to keep your adjustments targeted towards the low side. I looked at some pictures in magazine spreads and saw new image styles as well as pictures that just hit you in the face they were so punchy. I was thinking to myself that I should try different settings and find out what the cameras are actually capable of. Plus processing sucks. If images out of camera were great and super minor processing would be involved ie..sharpening and crop, then I would be in wonderland. I must have taken north of 3000 pictures in the past 2 1/2 weeks and a bunch of them need to be processed. Now imagine the time you would make up if the camera had ready to show images. And I mean ready to show..They've got punch.

I played around with the settings for all my Nikon bodies and my Canon 5d. What I get now out of the cameras are "cross processed" like looks. Images that just stand out. I would try to achieve these looks in post. Top image Canon 5D cropped only for composition. Bottom image Nikon D2x nothing done.

Chriselle and Marcus (Album)

I have pretty much completed the overall design of Chriselle and Marcus' album. I say pretty much because there a couple of pictures and pages I need to fix up or change around a bit. Out with one picture in with another...add an opaqued background here and there. Other than these minor changes we're done, with approval for print that is. All the pictures will go online this week so you can view the entire bunch, make selections and print for personal use. By the way the above picture is one of the pictures that was chosen for the commercial.
Click here to see their album.

Super Long Lunch Appointment

I met up with a friend of mine, Mike, at Tommy Bahamas today for lunch. With Big Picture we are looking into the future preparing ourselves for more products to merchandise. That includes adding more photographers as well. People with different niches and personalities that potentially can help us increase revenue. Mike and I spoke about a potential collaboration which could mutually benefit both parties. We'll see, Big Picture is still a month away from generating any revenue. But we need to be forward looking. My meeting ran a bit long and I had to reschedule a shoot planned with Corinne and 2 of her friends. My business associate is heading to Yosemite next week to initiate filming on another project geared for the travel seeker. I plan on initiating another project which involves shooting people along with street photography. Filming that will commence sometime in the next 3 weeks on Hollywood Blvd. and in Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade. I sure could have used some of the shots I would have taken today. It would have been fun, but my meeting ran a bit long. Sorry Corinne. I know she reads this stuff so...I'd like to shoot you and Michael whenever he can get away from script writing, acting, and all that stuff. Oh and remember I 'm shooting your wedding!

All in all today was a good day. I have an interesting meeting tomorrow with someone who has an interesting opportunity so stay tuned for that. I miss my kids.

Big Picture

And we are coming down the home stretch. Stars are aligned and we are looking to kick off very soon. Here's our trailer:

Kids...

...are nutty. They noticed that they were being recorded and started to ham it up for the camera. It was fun watching them fight for "airtime" my turn no it's my turn no it's mine. Whew!

Chriselle and Marcus (update)

I was running around crazy all day today. In between L.A. and Irvine I got to working on your album and made some of the changes. I have about 1/3 more to go in design so stay tuned for those pages. By the way, notice the show looks like a book now!

Chriselle and Marcus...

...I have a preliminary album design. 18 pages so far with lots to go. I normally don't throw up an unfinished product like this but I wanted you guys to get an idea what's coming. There will be tons more Wednesday. I'll be waiting for that e-mail Chriselle! See ya later.