Thursday, June 19, 2008

Chairs: Photo of the Week


I can't take credit for this cool shot but I supplied the camera and lens :)

A few things to chat about:

I had an interview with a writer at Boston Magazine who's writing for Consumer Reports and the topic: retail computer service repair companies...like Geek Squad from Best Buy. Shout outs to Phil, Randy and the rest of the former techs at BB. Anyway, I told the guy it wasn't Geek Squad when I worked there but he said it was fine. Hopefully I'll spot this at the news stands when it comes out and maybe I'll get a quote in there. If you google my name you'll see that I've been interviewed before for videogames. Geeky, I know.

Also, everyone needs to go to Costco, buy a watermelon, cut it into pieces and stick it in the fridge. It is hot and the watermelon helps a lot! The way you choose them is you pick them up and smack them a few times to look for the hollow sound.

We're narrowing down a date to shoot Barb and Mike's engagement within a month.

Finally, AVOID HP COMPUTERS. They have friendly service but SLOOOOOW. It's going to take around a month for a laptop repair even with an extended warranty. I'm not messing around from now on, I'm buying Lenovo/IBM brand only. However, I didn't have a choice for a new desktop which is HP, but I do get a 24" monitor :) Oh well...long winded this post but more soon.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Some Dinner Pics


Alea, UCI undergraduate Class of 2008!


B - I just threw her in there cuz this was a nice pic.


Khiemy and Ty - who I owe a refund for the red envelope. I actually owe Johnny Lam one too, but he got me a gift certificate. I'll have to figure out a way to pursuade them to accept their refunds.

I have been patiently awaiting my more powerful lappy computer which is in for repair to do some retouching so pictures have been trickling out veeerrry slowly. Here are a few more guests who only attended the dinner portion (which was probably the smarter thing to do). Also, congrats to my former research assistant Alea, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCI and attending Hastings Law School! There was a lot of brain power in that room come to think of it.

Also, on the Sienna front - that little girl might be getting an agent so hopefully I can get in on the action for pictures. The talent scout really liked her and my "professional" looking photos :) Anyway, these photos were snapped by me just for fun. (I only shot a handful that day). I notice that photo newbies tend to shoot horizontal shots a lot. I guess it feels more natural. I suggest changing things up - go vertical, try shooting upward from below, and even ... do I dare go there??....TILT the camera. But please use sparingly at non extreme angles (just my opinion).

Hey Jeff, I know you have 2 kids and a wife to get out of, but we need to get together soon!

Friday, June 13, 2008

A Few More from Graduation


Me & Kris - Susy and Sienna were in El Salvador.


Beef and his wife Evelyn.


Jenny, AC


Joleen, Lori, Lyndsay, Lynn, Rita, and Phil


Johnny, San, Ann, Sandy, Howard


My hood.


John D


Me and Bryana


Anisa and her parents (Ramin and Brenda)


My sister, my parents.

Here are the obligatory family/friends pictures after the ceremony. Nothing was really taken for the purpose of "photography" or getting anything artsy, just good ol fashioned everyone say cheese shots. I got these printed to include with some 'Thank you' cards.

After the LONG ceremony, we headed over to Sumo restaurant in Irvine where I met up with a few more people for some seafood buffet action and the manager there Jay was really cool and gave me a discount and we chatted about photography for a while.

Anyway, I'm not technically finished yet - some last edits on my dissertation so no new pics just yet, although I do have an engagement shoot that needs to be shot. More pics and news soon.

Sunday, June 08, 2008

UC Irvine Graduate Class of 2008




There was a sea of people.


Here's me being hooded by John Dombrink.


This is an INCREDIBLE shot!

Saturday was my day to be on the other end of the camera. I'd like to thank all my family and friends for coming out on my big day. I got some wonderful gifts (some a little TOO good) and I'll be sending everyone individual thank-you cards soon but for now, this blog post will have to do. Thank you for all your support through so many years. Yes, I do feel bad for the ceremony part, which was extremely long and dare I say it - boring!!

Here are a few snaps thanks to Anisa, who received a serious crash course on how to use a DLSR but she had a little bit of help thanks to the incredible Nikon D3 - which didn't break a sweat going up to ISO 6400. I'll have a review of the camera soon. I'll also be showing a lot more pictures from that day and talk about my future plans in life in addition to photography.