Tink Tink

Yepper, still tink tinking away at the Fusion. I've been trying to figure out the basics of MIDI and utilizing a computer as a sequencer but hit a roadblock. In typical PC fashion my computer refuses to recognize the MIDI/USB hub no matter what I do. I managed to get it to connect to Shawn's four year old G4 Mac but I knew it would. I did it just to make sure there wasn't an issue with the keyboard MIDI ports. I so hate PC's and want to get a Mac but I have to wait a bit. Money money money. PC's are the Devils spawn and need to be melted down into scrap. . . nuff said.

I spent so much time over the past week trying to make this work that I forgot about what I bought the damn keyboard for in the first place, so after another 4 hours of not getting anywhere last night, I stopped and went back to doing some composing. I used the onboard sequencer on the Fusion which is very powerful and did a few ambient tracks. However, wading through submenus on a tiny blue screen is not conducive to really editing things so I've got to get this computer issue straightened out. Until then, I'll be recording sonic ideas in to the Fusion.

Keyboarding Away. . .

Well I'm in total OC mode right now. I've read the entire manual for the keyboard and now things make more sense. I'm in elementary composition mode... making up 8 measure phrases of multiple timbres or layers and recording them into the sequencer. I listen to alot of contemporary music more closely now, particularly electronica, dance and alternative stuff and realize that there is nothing all that complicated about what is being put out there - especially club music. It's not really my area of interest, but I would like to venture into the more avante garde experimental areas of trance music.

Anywho... again coffee has not kicked in yet. . .

Total Backtracking This Past Year

Well this past year has been a revisting of things past for me. First going back to school and finishing my degree in Photographic Fine Art and now electronic music. It's been twenty years since I've touched one. I've always regretted getting rid of my equipment when I first went away to school (needed the money). I've told myself that someday I would get back into it, but someday never came, until recently. It all started with some fussing around with GarageBand on my baby's G4. I did some playing around and made up my mind. So much has changed and progressed. I've just ordered an Alesis Fusion 6HD Workstation. If anyone remembers the old Fairlight CMI's that were hovering around 30 to 60 grand back in the mid 80's, this is kind of like that to a degree, only much much much less expensive. It ain't quite a Korg Triton, but it's a start. It's heavy on the synthesis side and that's what I'm looking for. Also it's an open ended system with hopefully continous upgraded as time goes on. Anywho, where I'm going with this "new" revisit remains to be seen. I've got an incredible learning curve to hurdle :).

Panaramic Experiments

This is my first experiment of hand held panoramic images. I was turned on to this by a friend who is a professor at R.I.T. His name is Joe and he is a real nice guy. He would send me some images of his own usually of him and his father every once and while in an email. There was something about those images that always left me with a feeling of anticipation.

This particular image leaves much to be desired. I like the general subject and composition, but technically it sucks. I went back and looked at one of the images belonging to Joe and noticed that when he does his, he tends to take many shots and then lines them up. One in particular that I looked at seems to have as many as seven shots. This one is only three.

I'm not to concerned about the crazy converging perspectives that are off, I like it actually. It is a collection of individual images taken from the same viewpoint to make one image. It is as if the mind can not fool itself into piecing together what we see through the eye regarding our field of vision any long, because a flat image will not allow it.

I like these panoramas. Up until now every image was a static image that was assumed to stand on it's own. An entire story or emotion conveyed in one image. Then I was introduced to the concept of sequencing and artist books by Professor Pilcher during my last semester. I've really been turned on to the concept of sequencing as well. I intend to take a workshop by the godfather of sequencing, Nathan Lyons. He is the founder of the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, NY and rumor has it that he may not be doing many more workshops due to his advanced age.

I am not interested in cinematography by any means, but there is something about the panoramas that is reminiscent of the wide frame of a motion picture. The inclusion of more field of vision might be one of the elements. There is less isolation of subjects in the composition as well. I intend to continue to pursue this experiment a bit more over the summer months. I've hit a wall since the semester ended and have begun to feel extremely bored by my style and images.

Going through countless images in the preparation of my final project made me very aware of how similar my images have been. I now recognize that when I shoot. I don't suppose I'm any less likely to shoot the image if I'm captured by it, but I don't approach it as if it's the first time I've ever seen it's elements anymore - LOL! I may just be taking my tenebristic style into the realm of panoramas - who know.

Done for now...

Semester if Over :)

Well I made it through my first semester back to college and me very very happy! As best I can tell I believe I've got all A's but finaly grades won't be available for another week or so. Now I need to keep the momentum up. Let's see what the summer brings :)

Grumpy Frumpy and Mean. . .

LOL, that is how I feel right now. I've been in my bathrobe and fuzzy bunnies since I woke up this afternoon (don't ask). I've been working on images since 3:00 pm then with an occaisional break to munch and do some dishes. Whahhha whahhha whahhh whiney slimey poopey head!

I did too many images today to even remember them - and that bothers me. It is as I said in an earlier post, I'm not about cranking out images for the sank of quantity, but I've got "projects" due. That's how it is. I don't like feeling like images are just temporary incidents to be sniffed at and left to be forgotten as we head for the next quick fix of imeadiate gratification (stab at sardonic observation of contemporary consumeristic society).

Anywho... amongst the minions cranked out today I did play a bit and did this one in a style inspired Robert Frank and Atonie d'Agata (notice the grain and contrasty crappiness hint hint).

Anywho... just pasted up my teeth with some o' that nasty crest tooth whitner stuff and headed to bed... grumpy grumpy piss and moan grump grrrrrrrr argh!

MY HUBBY IS GOING TO R.I.T.!

Wooooohooooo my hubby was accepted to Rochester Institute of Technology today!!! I'm soooo proud of him. He's been waiting to hear back from them after sending his portfolio in a month ago. He was all nervous and doubtful... silly boy! Everything he does is amazing (dat's why he's my hubby)!!! Click his image to visit his blog!

I'm almost finished with a photo project for M.O.C.H.A and I am really happy with a lot of the shots of some of the kids that were there. They were incredibly photogenic! The experience peaked an interest in portriature. There is something in capturing a person's essence. I just wonder how much of what we think that essence is, really isn't us reading into the images our own projections. Unfortunately I can't provide examples of some of the shots due to the confidential nature of the organization.


Another topic. . . Falling in love with an image. What a strange occurance which leaves me feeling empty an sad. I've fallen in love with this image that I'm hoping to include in my final project. I guess it's the issue of images being a dime a dozen these days. We are an oversaturated society of image consumers and thus, images can sometimes feel so disposable. I suppose I treat a lot of my images as if they are people. I find it hard to be dismissive about them. Yes, photography is a ceaseless activity of shooting and processing and of course one will accrue countless numbers of images. I suppose that is what saddens me sometimes. I don't want any of my little "people" to become lost amongst the crowd.

Sunshine!

Hehehe, the sun is out today yeah!!!

I've been busy this week doing some volunteer work for M.O.C.H.A.
a local non profit H.I.V. educational organization that helps focus on the needs of the Latino and African American community. I've been helping them out with some in house photographic work for their use. I like doing that. So far I've been spending time post processing images at home, color correcting, cropping etc. I suppose by the end of the week I'll have quite a bit to give them. Even though I'm only there for this week because I'm on spring break, I would like to be able to do this for them whenever I can fit it in. Thank god for summer break. I've definately decided that I'm taking the summer off (not that there is any classes available for me to take anywho. . .).

I've got my monthly flu/cold. Part of my ever teetering state of burning out due to my grueling work out routines. I really need to force myself to take every sixth week off for my own good. Bartending doesn't help much either when your always kissing people with colds LOL - not to mention handling glasses and bottles. Thank the Gods for Sudafed and Theraflu!

I've created a galler link to my gallery using a cool free program called JALBUM and uploaded it to Photoblogs.org and linked it from my blog and back. Seems to make it easier for me to publish images all at once rather than piecemeal like.

Gotta run, not much time and I have to head back down to M.O.C.H.A in an hour.

Ciao!

Antonie d'Agata

I came across this photographer a few days ago and felt compelled to mention him. His work. . . raw, unadultered, and hard. There is a body of his work at Magnumphotos but you need to be a member to view them, so I've included one here for your enjoyment. There is some of his work here although not much Agencevu.com

I personally am rarely awed or inspired by nudes or the human form in photgraphy, however I was dumbstruck by some of d'Agata's work. His images reflect the unglorified reality of human existance. No airbrush, soft lens, perfect abs and scrawny beauties here. Just survival and the undeniably animalistic nature of humans in it's rawness. In many cases I was amazed how he could make the human form appear lifeless and cadaver like - even in the many highly graphic sexual images of men and women having intercourse.

Aside from the incredible technical rawness of his images (heavy grain, high contrast, blurr etc.,) his work portrays "us" as we are. Not the sanitized unhuman objects we hold ourselves up to be. I like that - I have no heros and no illusions of life and tend to be existential. I will be doing more investigating into the why of d'Agata's work as time moves along.

Out Out Damn Spot!

LOL, I spent three hours yesterday scanning neg's tedious as that was. . . now I'm spending hours spoting the scans. You might think you got all the dust off a negative before you scan it, but oh nooooo - they are there in all their minions! I used a Nikon Coolscan and it's truly a great machine. It does have ICE but unfortunately it is completely uneffective with black and white neg's. . . go figure. So I'm taking a break right now to blog a bit about nothing... back to spotting.

Gallery

Click An Image To See It Larger

Exhausted. . .

This is my long day of the week. Been up since 7:30 for school and gettin ready for work at the Pub. I should be gettin home hopefully no later than 3 am. I ain't got much energy to write anything elaborate... Must ... get... coffee. . ...

Messing Around with Matt Black on the Epson 2400

My brief introduction into the world of matt paper via fiber based left me very very non-plussed. I did a test to see just how black the Ilford matt would go and discovered that it was not pleasing to me. However, I've just begun experimenting with the Epson K3 inks and epson matt paper and found out that what they've been claiming seems to be true. The dmax or black is visually darker. I don't even need a special dmax meter or whatever to verify this... I can see it! I did some contact printing today on a few prints on the matt and at first I wasn't all that tickled about it. It was because of the the non reflective nature of matt and not the inks. I've been so used to the richness of glossy that matt has me visually confused. It's as if I'm looking for something in the images and can't find it and I know it's there. So I hung the contact sheet up, away from all the glossy prints I've tacked up to let it stand on it's own. I came back a few hours later with a fresh pair of eyes and I have to say that ! I do like them. The black is black, the white is white. Of course there is little reflective light coming from the paper itself but I'm beginning to see the medium for what it is and appreciating it. I haven't decided in what manner I'll print the final prints in a few weeks, but it's too soon to think about it anyway.

I am very very pleased with this printer. The next deal of course is figuring out a way around the expensive 13ml ink carts that constantly need to be replaced. At about $12 or more a pop, that's alot of mulah!!! I'm checking into refillable carts and using ink drained from the 2400 hundreds bigger sisters ink cartridges that hold 110 or 220 ml respectively. I know Epson doesn't make it's money off of the printers. It makes it off the inks, papers and other stuff. but come on - we do need a bulk ink alternative for the 2400.

Work Posting

I thought I might try posting a sample of some stuff I'm working on at the moment. Firstly to see if it works and secondly to give you an idea of what I've been talking off. . .

Notes on above.

Memories in the dark, not always what they seem or what they were, the essence of who I was or thought I may have been. Not in this life perhaps, genetic memory? Those olden days, those golden days. . . Mobsters, fedoras, cigars and tatered clothes... Newspaper boys on the corner.. I remember Atget's prostitute in a doorway. . . THAT LIGHT! Something is going on inside... in a back room.. smoke filled, dice and moonshine.. . A description, a story, a memory that never specifically was...a collection of many possibles having taken place. . .over and over and over... scenes from movies glorified, isolate, crisp and dark. . .


For each lit object there must be a shadow. . . For each shadow there must be a light. The balance, the balance the balance. . . where is that to be found? Nighttime is heavy in shadow.. it isn't for me to change that or make it fit into something more pretty. Accentuate the negative and forget the positive. . . . No wandering people, aimless or meaningless... just because they're a human presence. . . for a vieweres speculation or input. . . They weren't there for any other reason then they just happened by. . . they weren't or are not part of the memory, the story... the ongoing story.


It's the light. . . it's always the light. But it's the shadow... it's always the shadow. I need them both.

In that light there is such cleanliness... pinesol... Gain laundry detergent... bleach... clothes hanging on the line. . . wind... newness for me. I'm just a boy. . . I remember a little. A fruit stand next to the car wash, just a few block from Aunt Roe's house... I dont' know those politics of family squabble, I just go where I'm led. Amy and Terry's house, Aunt Roe always lived above Nonnie's and nonnie smelled of garlic and gave me things to eat. Soup, chicken soup and coffee with cheerios in it. It's all in that light and it makes me want to heave, sob I miss it and got different.. . .very different.

I'm mixed with what I never experienced and what I have in this image. Stories and movie stills of what was and wasnt' true about where I come from and family. What was and wasn't true about family. What is the difference?

I miss what never was.

Photo photo photo

Officially passed the half semester mark and heading into the final half. This has been an adjustment on many levels considereing I haven't been in school since 1991. So far so good. As for my photographic work, we've been handed free reins the rest of semester. I'm returning back to the digital world for my final project with Kirby's blessings (my proff). I'm glad and happy he has a accepting and validating stance on digital. There seems to be so much childish posturing and debate amongst the "traditionalists' and digiheads these days. It's a useless and unproductive argument. They're different mediums and two different ways to approaching a result, with a lot of space for hyrbriding if one chooses. I think traditionalists feel threatened in some way... the defensiveness hurts my ears LOL. Hell, if we reacted the same way to every technological change that came along, we would still be using daguerreatype or grinding botanical pigments and still painting on cave wa! lls. As for my final project this semester, it seems I will be focusing (no pun intended) on the relationships of light and shadow and line. I need to investigate it more. Kirby seems it is something I have a strong handle on and should investigate further, especially in cases where the light source is not seen yet it's result is a major element of the image composition and mood. So I'm returning to digital as of this week. I'll probably continue to shoot in filma nd scan negatives (love it) and work them in PS. Oh by the way. . .I splurged and bought the Epson 2400 and I am very much happy with it. Inks can be expsnesive, but then so is film and it seems to be evening out in many respects when it comes to cost analysis. Taking into consideration the convenience of having and electronic darkroom in my own home as opposed to renting space continually, it actuallay seems much cheaper over the long run.

Quikie Entry

It's a complete change from the past few weeks, with the snow finally falling. It's very pretty and I like to sit here and watch it from my desk. The Pub was unusually busy last night. I hadn't seen it like that since maybe the holidays. It was a strange crowd though. Full moon makes things a bit batty and like riding a rollercoaster with the ever changing sea of emotional crap that people can aim at you. Especially if they been drinking or stars know what else. I took some shots today. There was a very calm gray light coming through the bathroom window hitting the mirrow on the medicine cabinet. The mirror is beveled and I discovered that a tight zoom on that bevel really alters what one normally sees in this world. I will have to experiment more with that. I gotsta work at the Muthers tonight. I'm a bit tired, so I'm hoping to wake up by then LOL. My mood is a pensive one at the moment. That will definately have to change before I go in and dance around in my skivies LOL!

Coffee Coffee Coffee

It turned out to be a pretty good night last night. I just got up an half hour ago, coffee not in my system totally yet. . . It's unusally warm out for this time of year. It's 51 degrees :) and the sun is shining right through my window as I type this. I'm in a bit of a strange mood. A little melencholia I guess. Shawn's been working late shifts yesterday and today so I haven't seen him much at all. I miss him when that happens. My mind is filled with strange and non-connected thoughts so I'll make this short cuz it won't make sense to go on LOL. I NEED TO WAKE UP!

Mary Tyler Moore

I got home from work about an hour ago. I worked the Avenue Pub tonight. It was a pretty good night considering January. I had a lot of fun. Unusual amounts of beer got spilled all over me tonight. Never had that happen before in the 7 years I've been doing this LOL. Last week everyone else was spilling beer on themeselves, tonight they spilled it on me :) I'm watching the first season of Mary Tyler Moore on DVD right now. I never watched it when it was on tv, but I kinda like it now. It seems so much more gentler than some of the stuff on tv these days. I downed my dish of penee and pork sauce and will be heading off to bed shortly. Tomorrow is my day off! Yippee! But I'll spend most of the afternon at the gym. I'm just babbeling now, blah blah ROFLOL

OOoooooh It's Late.

It's a real late night. I've rearranged my office to make it more suitable for use when I go back to school in two weeks. Nervous, excited, tired LOL.  I've got my ol' smooth 70's music playing on my ITunes.  I like my office now... It feels nice and comfortable.  I haven't worked on an image yet cuz I spent most of my time downloading Widgets for my 'puter. I'm good at wasting time. . .


Hasn't been much snow here in Rochester since a week before Christmas.  Kinda blows,  but I know we will see more than our share in a few weeks.  I just hope we have as great as a summer as we did last year.

I've had to give up my Thursday nights at the Bachelor Forum until May. One of my photo classes is on that night. Ooooh it sucks.  It's been a good night for me. I'm hoping that I can awaken Wednesdays to something comperable.  I really would like to make it Classic Rock night.  I did it impromtu last week and it seemed as if everyone rather liked it better. 


Oh well... soo  tired.  Gotta sleeep now...

I Dumped Myspace

Oh well, I dumped my MySpace account. I found out the other day that it was owned by Rupert Murduch. I wont' go into much on that, 'cept he's a media mogul and greedy beyond beliefe. I was always annoyed that everytime I went to the site I was bombarded by cookie requests for ad tracking and stuff. Now I know why. The site poses as a community building effort when in reality it's nothing more than an ad tracking dust bin. No more for me.


Anywho. I start school in three weeks. I have 36 credits left for my BA in Studio Art/Photography, then I'm on to my Masters. I'll be dropping my Thursdays at the Bachelor Forum as a result. I have a class that night. But it's only for the semester.