the wind engine

What a weekend!!!
Actually, before I get to that, let me tell you about one of my new favorite movies = Gigantic. If you haven't seen it. Go rent it. I'd like to talk to you about it.
Zooey Deschanel is my new favoritest actress. She's terribly cute and has great style. And name.
I got a lot out of the movie. But most importantly, I think I walked away thinking about how in our culture, we are given unreal expectations. About everything. From school to love. Life is complicated and I wish kids were taught how to embrace failure and mistakes. That the things worth living for are sometimes messy. Sometimes they are not. But it's ok if things don't go as planned. But keep at it. Don't be sad, be enthusiastic. Be passionate. Things will fall into place.
Yea, that's my take on Gigantic. Watch it.

This weekend we had our first wedding shower! We'd like to thank all our dear friends and family for such a beautiful evening. AND THEN on Sunday Rebecca had a shower in her home town and everyone was so kind and generous. They love her.

I took the photo this morning at her parent's ranch. They are putting up a windmill on the property. It's original and awesome. The windmill is for aesthetics.
I love it.

solvent or glue?

Will Wright, developer of The Sims , Spore and other computer games, talks about business management skills in The NY Times. Some real gems.

“…There’s value in failure, because I think everybody’s leaving school kind of with a mind-set that, “Oh, I’m going out and I have to succeed. You have to succeed.” And if they hit a failure it has the potential to, you know, de-motivate them, and push them in a bad direction. But, if they can embrace and celebrate their failure, it kind of gives them a totally different outlook on what they are doing.
I think also the way the world is changing today, particularly when somebody leaves with a degree and they then go look for a work spot where they can really, you know, fit in: “This situation fits me very well.” And I think I would encourage them — rather than try to fit in somewhere — to find someplace where they can craft the environment, the job and the situation — basically, make it fit you.”

*I straight jacked this from jeffstaple's blog. But it's too good not to share.

love me or hate me

Friday night I had the privileged to photograph: Lil Wayne, Birdman, Jermih, Pleasure P, Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy and almost every other artist on the Young Money Entertainment label. Although I didn't get to shoot from the pit like last year, I was still pretty stoked. We shot from a raised platform on the floor, just behind the sound board. Which I am starting to enjoy, I like getting shots like the one I have shared above. Especially when the crowd is live. I like the contrast and the depth. When the over head lights weren't hammering the crowd, the pyrotechnics were filling the venue with smoke... Yes, this tour has a very impressive pyrotechnics display. Not just once or twice, but throughout his entire performance.
Lil Wayne is officially the first artist I have photographed twice at the BOK center. Which is cool.
Last year I walked into the lil wayne show with more than my camera and my doubts. I was a hater for sure. I didn't like the way he was portrayed in the media. I wasn't sold on his music either. However, I did respect his lyrics. He is a brilliant writer. I walked out of his show last year with a lot of respect. I shot his show last year from the pit. I was able to use my 200mm lens and get in close. I evaluated every facial expression with my microscope. With every sincere laugh and interaction with the audience, I learned that young Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was quite passionate. He was very genuine. He was ridiculous. He was entertaining and in a way... Through all the tattoo's, platinum and diamonds, he was humble.
I know. Right?
"You can love me or hate me - I swear it wont make me or break me"
One of my favorite lil weezy verses.

I will tell you this. You HAVE to go to a lil wayne show. You have to get up close enough to see his smile. Not because of the ice, but because of the love he has for what he does.
I appreciate that sort of thing.

Aside from that kids. Life is beautiful. I miss my friends. I can't wait to see them.... SOON!
This fall is going to fly by.

want a postcard?

I just stumbled upon a huge envelope of postcards. I buy postcards during my trips, but I never actually send them anywhere. Over the last 20+ years I have amassed a healthy collection of random - glossy - blank card stock. Do you want one?
Send me your address and I will be sure to mail one to you.
My email as at the bottom of this page.
I'd like to apologize to my friends and family who I intended to send these to, it's too late now. Next time.

Anyway, this seems to better fit my modus operandi. Random.

paul mccartney piece finished

Here is a photo of the Paul McCartney piece. Just delivered it and I hope he loves it.
It was tough deciding on which photo to use. It's Paul McCartney! There are a lot of photos and a lot of eras to choose from. I decided to use this one because I felt it encompassed his career. I was having lunch today and I was asked if it's stressful to create such things. It is.
I'm doing a portrait of an icon - for the icon. That's heavy.
I typically experience a variety of emotions. But I just rely on my instinct and I do my thing.
But it's weird to know that in a few hours, Paul McCartney will be looking at an interpretation of himself through my eyes.
Til then.

paul mccartney

I'm trying to wrap up the Paul McCartney piece.
Paul McCartney dude. That is crazy....
It's been a busy weekend. A lot of golf this weekend. A lot. I need more golf in my life.
I must get back to working on these pieces.
I will share photos once they are finished.
I get to meet PAUL McCARTNEY!!!
Crazy.

bikes are rad

This was a long week.
Yesterday alone we had six photo shoots.
Setting up and breaking down lights for 6 separate sets is a lot of work. Started at 9:30 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m. [ish]
I love my bike.

boise state, I still hate you

Look, you got lucky with a couple well designed trick plays a few years back against the University of Oklahoma, but let's be honest... If you want me, or anyone else outside of the fine city of Boise to take you seriously, you need to move out of the WAC.
Start playing some real teams outside of your weak ass conference [WAC - see what I did there?] and then let's see how you fair towards the end of the season. While other top 20 BCS schools are fighting it out in the trenches and suffering from exhaustion and injuries towards the end of the season, you guys simply kick back and prepare for the bowl game - nice and refreshed.
You guys expect the nation to stand behind your program and support your half-assed efforts. Not me! I'm so pissed you guys got a preseason ranking of 16... It appears your crying and bitching has paid off.
Well..........
I'm not impressed.

Come down into the BIG12 for a few years.
I'd love to see that. I'd love to see Boise State play [in consectuive weeks]: Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas Tech....

Blah. You and your field are terrible. Take a lap....

*dictated but not read. I'm too angry.

jackie jormp-jomp

The title of this post: If you don't understand, you better start watching 30 Rock, only the greatest show on prime time TV. "Jackie Jormp-Jomp" is probably one of the best story lines on the show. Janis Joplin biopic goes from Janey Jimplin to Jackie Jormp-Jomp. Also some of the best quotes come from these episodes: It’s pronounced ‘weiner slave.’ and the Decoy candy drawer. Is Genius! here is the episode - you have to watch it. Incredible.

The photo: I stole this from Eric Nakamura's blog. I need that tee shirt. Bomber Man was my favorite video game on Super NES. We spent countless hours playing Bomber Man. While moving I found out Rebecca has a Super NES! I'm going to hook it up and find Bomber Man.

In other dork related video game news, I'm so much better at COD4 [Call of Duty] than COD WaW [Call of Duty World at War] What's that all about?

So did you know I'm practically a vegan now? Only kind of kidding. I'm more of a vegetarian than anything. Well, that to is a lie. I just don't eat beef anymore. And I am staying away from poultry now. I'll probably eat organic/farm raised beef every once and a while, but that will only be once in a blue moon. [Once in a blue moon.....? What am I 80?]

Sorry about my crazy blog lag.
You know what is a great word? Speakeasy.
Did you watch Tiger this week? Wow. Very impressive. Throughout the tourney he was 64 of 65 putts within 10 ft. What an animal. I love watching he and Steve Williams chat. You know I had dinner with Steve Williams, right? Hell yea I did, definitely one of the coolest experiences I've had.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

I sometimes hate her

My fiance is in Florida working on some wedding details. This is a photo she sent me this afternoon.
I hate her. I want to be there...

birthday weekend

Birthdays are the best.
I like that there is one day dedicated to me. I suppose that is part of being a Leo.
Here are some traditional Leo traits:
Generous and warmhearted
Creative and enthusiastic
Broad-minded and expansive
Faithful and loving
The dark side:
Pompous and patronizing
Bossy and interfering
Dogmatic and intolerant
I'd say that is a fair assessment.
Thank you for all the birthday wishes, I appreciate it. Thank you.
Hemingway once said: "That is what we are supposed to do when we are at our best - make it all up - but make it up so truly that later it will happen that way."
Hemingway should have written a book titled "the secret."
I agree. I have been trying to slow things down lately. It's been such a crazy summer. I've had so much going on that I haven't been able to find the time to organize. Organize thoughts, hopes, dreams, letters, emails, pictures, clothes, music... etc. I've been trying. But to no avail. This week I am going to find the time to wrap up a few projects and organize. Along with finding some time to chill.
That is what was so nice about my birthday weekend. Becky and I found some time to just be. We have so much going on right now. We've been traveling the whole summer. I've been gone, then she's been gone, then we've been gone... So it was nice to just be. We found time to watch some Dexter [our new favoritest show], go shopping, play with the dogs, clean, nap, eat and read.
It was soooooo nice.
The presents were a beautiful accent to an incredible weekend.
I got some of the best bday presents ever!

Audrey has been found

Audrey has been found! This is a photo from the new owner Krista. She was guided to Audrey's whereabouts by Lil Parrott [who was in Phoenix AZ]. Pretty awesome.
I saw a note from Krista that read: "Parrott, thanks again for making me go to The Boulevard...by far this has been one of the most random things I've done in SF so far..."
It's all about being random and finding the time to play.
Krista, I am glad that Audrey found a good home.