dean.

New Twist On Old Photos

2010-06-22T11:59:00.001-07:00

Lately I've been digging back through older photos and practicing some of the skills I've learned over the past year. The latest technologies and ideas to hit the photography and illustration fields is interesting to say the least.

This is called Tilt-Shift. It's a post-processing method that, when done correctly, should make the subjects in focus appear as they're a small space of focus on a miniature environment/setting. By miniature I mean tiny fake plastic or die-cast toys. I'm relatively new at this, but it's an interesting perspective.

Really proud of this photo

2009-11-06T08:39:00.001-08:00

The more and more I look at it, the better I feel about it.

Chilly in the Bay this morning.

2009-09-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Following yesterday's 30 mph (plus) winds, today's air, though much slower, feels like a cold knife that's come ashore from the depths of the Pacific to slash at my core, which was so pleasantly brought to boil during my last visit to Texas a few days ago.

Much has happened since my last update. New York was a hit... and a bust. I realized that while it was great to see my friends and become a bit more acquainted with the 'city that never sleeps' I really should have only stayed in NY for about four days. I was there for seven. Three too long. This Texas boy couldn't hang. And where's my 'Pilobolus' t-shirt, dammit! Alas, I left NY bruised, smiling, and dead tired. From there I went on to Kansas and spent about ten days with old friends and colleagues. It was great to see all of them and it was great to feel the open road once more. In the Bay area that sort of 'open road' thing isn't as easy to find.

After my visit to Kansas, I returned to the Bay area and everything was (obviously) very pleasant and perfect and easy and blah, blah, blah... not much changes around here.

Now, as for now, I'm just returning from another Texas visit. Why? Mostly because I have a new niece. This is my sister's second child (both being girls) and *now* I am an uncle of two.

Now. It's healthy to think about life in its current state. When someone is typically asked about 'now' they often quickly review the past and capture the future in order to assemble a statement or word that is reflective of what has happened and what they wish to happen. "Dean, what are you doing right now?" Well, right now I'm on the Internet updating my blog. This means that I'm reflecting on my past and present, and might write something about my future. I think it's important to ask people what they're doing now. It's also important to remain curious as to how they arrived at that location and where they intend to go. This curiosity holds answers that amplify the moment and help add to the celebration of 'now.' Yes, don't forget to celebrate. Too often we get caught up in the details. Next time you're around someone ask them about now, have a genuine curiosity for the details leading up to that moment in their life and what they wish to happen afterward, and then help them celebrate that very moment of 'now.' Try to stay old-fashioned about it, too. No e-mailing or Facebook Wall writing. Write a letter or have a face-to-face conversation.

Now, I have two beautiful nieces. The oldest, Evelyn, is 3.5 years of age. The other, Liza, is brand spankin' new.

starts July 30

2009-07-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

July 30 I head to New York to see several people. Primarily my bros. Jun and Cody. Jun is with the World Class performing act called Pilobolus.

Coincidentally, if I hadn't biked across the country last year, I would've met up with them in New York around this time as they perform every year for a month solid at the Joyce Theater.

I'm looking highly forward to this as it'll be my first time to set foot on New York concrete for longer than a few hours. I'll also get to see several other friends and old colleagues while I'm there. That reminds me, I need to study up on the transit system, oh, and rob a bank while I'm at it (no job = not much cash!). Nevertheless, I'll find a way to make it work.

I'll stay in New York for a week and then I'm off to Kansas to breathe some familiar air and absorb some old friendships for the next ten days. I never thought I'd miss Kansas. Well, at least not this soon. What makes it difficult, honestly, is when friends post pictures like this...

taken by David Ryan: 7/16/2009

I really miss big Tornado Alley thunderstorms. I can count on one hand how many times it's sprinkled over the past four months here in the Palo Alto area. Hell, I can count on two fingers.

Stay tuned for an update on my trip and adventures in NY and KS.

camera gear... complete.

2009-01-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

Hold up a second... need to get a cup of coffee from downstairs.

Ahhh.... all better. About coffee, I swore I'd never drink that stuff. My folks drank coffee religiously (much like myself now) when I was growing up. Whether they left it in the microwave or spilled it in the car, it was always the bane of my morning existence. But, what do I realize now that I didn't then? The shit works. I've succumb to the drink of the bean and I couldn't be happier about it.

On to the topic of my post. I've been snatching up what I feel is appropriate camera gear based on a somewhat reasonable budget and the overall style or theme I enjoy seeing in my photos. Here's what I've put together...

Camera Body: Canon 50D
For what I budgeted, this was the best horsepower I could get for the buck. It's been awesome so far. Couldn't be happier. In the end, it's the lens that's most important.

Lens: Canon 17-55mm |2.8| IS USM (zoom lens)
After a ton of research I found this lens to be a very strong performer in what's called the "walkaround" category. Simply snap the lens on and walk around. No matter where you go or what you photograph your chances of getting the shot you want are increased substantially with this lens. It has a great range, weight, size and performance. Things this lens are great for as it relates to my shooting...
Shots in the paddocks at the race track.
Night photography.
Indoor parties or events.
Urban low-light cityscape.

Lens: Canon 70-200mm |2.8| L IS USM (zoom lens)
This is my beast... it's heavy. It's a pig, but also built to tolerate most weather conditions. I've already put it through rain...

*see the rest of the gallery here.

This is almost the best lens for motorsports photography. As you can tell, it helps me get some great shots. Things I shoot with this lens...
Motorsports - cars, motorcycles, racing, etc.
Portraits of people or objects.
Nature and Wildlife at a safe distance.

Aside of a small list of accessories that help me get a better shot, these are the major components of my gear. I couldn't be happier. The 17-55 lens is new. I'll post some photos once I get a chance to use it.

Thanks for tuning in and feel free to look through my galleries on:
Smugmug
Flickr

things part of me would like to be doing right now

2008-12-17T20:34:00.001-08:00

Seriously folks, if I could be part of that team in lower Eastern Asia... you know, the team that's discovering an average of 2 new species a week? I'd be a happy spider-finding bastard right about now. It's like discovering Earth all over again.

And what about all this green movement stuff going on? I'm not ready to hop in with the likes of some of these non-profit organizations, but I mean seriously getting in line with something that's unique like installing free solar panels at schools. Sounds fun.

Should I be planning my next adventure? I'm currently not, but right now my life's uncertainty seems to be quite an adventure. Is uncertainty adventure?

I need to learn new languages. I'm burdened by the barrier that separates me from my Anime... amongst other things. I'm also burdened by the fact that I'd use another language (vocally) about as much as I'd drive a really expensive sports car. I digress.

I'd like to head home and that's what I'm going to do. Life flexible. Those two words go well together. Just like two weeks, which is how long I'm going to stay at home. It's been about 10 years since I've been back for as long. Wish me luck.

I really should have been a programmer. Seriously, my parents put me in programming classes when I was like 8 years old. I was hacking programs on junior high and high school computers. The taste was there. I guess things just get in the way. I could start now, but I'd rather use the energy to...

Learn how to build and maintain race motorcycles. I can't argue that picking up a trade/skill would not be fantastic right about now.

time to go

started a SmugMug

2008-11-28T07:30:00.000-08:00

I'm actually making a little cash off my photos. Can you believe it?

So I fired up my very own SmugMug. There you'll find mostly pictures of Motorcycles racing around a few tracks near where I live. Hopefully names like Laguna Seca ring a bell. These are the photos that are earning a tiny bit of cash for me.

I've started to contribute other images to my 'portfolio' as well. I hope you enjoy.

it happened to me, too

2008-11-16T09:50:00.001-08:00

You know you love it when people release books that say on the cover, "Includes 80 never before seen photos!" I always think, "Ha! They did that on purpose!"

Well, I just found a lot of x-country bike ride photos that never made it to the site that probably should have. I just plain passed over them.

This week I start building my manuscript for my book. If any of you have a favorite book or series of books that fall along the lines of coffee table-ish with mostly photos and some anecdotal stories let me know if you could please. Part of my preparation is finding publishers that may like what I have to offer.

Stay tuned everyone. I really have photos that haven't been seen. Such a pleasant surprise.

Freelance

2008-11-12T14:51:00.000-08:00

I combined a couple of fun things a couple of weeks ago and found an outlet to potentially exploit that for some small *fun* monies.

I love racing motorcycles. I also love taking pictures. I met a fella around here that would like to start an outfit of freelance photographers to take pictures of mainly the race (car and motorcycle) scene around northern California. I joined up.

This past Monday I was at a race track called Thunderhill Raceway. What a beautiful place!!! It was buried in the hills and mountains of northern California. I was able to get some decent pics. See them here: Thunderhill Raceway, November 11, 2008

I'm really looking forward to attending these events and using the profits from the photos to help pay for my entry into them!!

you put yourself out there

2008-10-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

So I did it. My friend, Adrian, many moons ago suggested that I put a video on YouTube of my playing/singing abilities. I shuttered at the idea at first. "But you rode a bicycle across the country, Dean", I said to myself most recently. "What's a video on YouTube? It's the idea of sharing that makes this such a unique place", I said to myself. "Remember all the things you wouldn't know about if it weren't for YouTube." While there are many things on YouTube that are quite silly there are also many things that are downright amazing and could potentially go unnoticed in life otherwise. Here's an example...

Air Tap

Inspiring.

So I did it. I don't have proper equipment and I know that I sound better in person, but why not share my enthusiasm for music? See it here.

This makes me think about my bicycle trip.

I found out there was much more to learn in the desert than meets the eye. The desert landscape, as I'm sure everyone can imagine, is bleak. It's treacherous. It's sad. Along with many other things it's also inspiring. Allow me to explain.

I'm convinced the desert is Mother Earth's confession room. Though I've never really been in a confession room, I can only imagine the darkness, the silence, the all-engulfing stranglehold or claustrophobia that sets in while awaiting whether or not you'll be forgiven by the being that has the right to sit across the partition. We're not talking about lush mountains here, if you catch my drift. It's downright intimidating... to the bone. "Should I tell him about this" is replaced by, "Did I carry enough water?" After a number of days in the desert you're turned inside out. Your thoughts and internal conversations turn into, "Where am I going? Where is this taking me", and finally,"Am I happy with my life?" Perhaps it's a bit trite to say that the real journey begins there, but it certainly felt that way. As I witnessed, personally, you learn more about yourself in the desert than you do anywhere else. Perhaps it's different for everyone. Perhaps I need to spend some time on the open seas. But, I felt the thirst for adventure. I define it as the will to drown one's self in seclusion, in nothingness. Completely alone. There at the center of us all is a place that holds the strength to carry on. I found mine.

I don't consider myself a true adventurer, as I was only in this environment for a short period of time, though, it was long enough for me. There's nothing more inspiring than reaching the depths of your inner-self and fighting your way back up to the surface. I promise, the air is far more pure than it was before. You'll never go back to the same, however, I feel the desert may be less kind to others. It's God's will to forgive. Mother Nature has no interest in such a word.

My Dash dies

2008-10-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

Such a monumental day.

Allow me to explain a few last thoughts my phone likely had (if it could talk) before it died.

I've traveled to many states and cities by way of airplane... mostly in a front left pocket.
I've taken many pictures of things my owner thought was funny or extraordinary and sent most of them to important places.
I've helped coordinate events and keep my owner in touch with his friends and family.
I've certainly saved his ass more than a few times.
I've even been swallowed by the frigid waters of the Gasconade River, yet, when dried, and fully charged, I arose from the depths once more.
I've been to Belize and heard the sweet sounds of the ocean. Though, I was rarely used because of the carrier that was forced upon me. Should I have considered that a vacation for me as well?
Perhaps saving the best for last, I've traveled in the left front pocket of tan colored cargo shorts across this entire nation over the span of 3 months.
With the aide of Google Maps, I became an even more valuable resource to my owner along the way.
In all of this I was only left behind three times.
Today I must go.
Owner, may your next phone be as kind, as strong, as resilient, and as evolutionary as I.
It has large shoes to fill. Large shoes to fill indeed.

Red Bull Soap Box Race

2008-10-19T00:35:00.000-07:00

Went to San Francisco today! The soap box race was awesome. I'll post some pics tomorrow.

*note to self: never drive anything less than an off-road vehicle on the streets of SF.

moving to new format

2008-10-15T20:04:00.001-07:00

Since my trip is over and "normal" life marches on, I've decided to switch to more of a blog format and get back to covering more aspects of my life than simply one adventure.

You'll see that I've linked any cycling related content off to the lower left (I'm not a cyclist).

The upper left (Twitter) is a way that I keep up with my tech friends in the news, computer programming and design industries. Sometimes what I say there will make sense, sometimes it won't. Twitter is a great way to simply keep people up to speed with what I'm doing day-to-day. The rule for Twitter is that your updates be 140 characters or less. Love it.

I've placed my photos below the main blog entry area. My latest photos will always be visible there.

As for blog entries, I'll likely cover a wide array of topics within the areas I explained above, as well as jump outside the fridge from time to time. Hopefully some of you are still keeping track. I'll do my best to not disappoint.