Time Keeps on Slippin'

My name is Rob, and I make the most of it. Sometimes people give me good ideas that turn out to bad ideas that I turn into good ideas.

A few weeks ago, I saw someone post in a local photography group about going to shoot star trails that particular evening, which I've dabbled in before. After doing a little bit of research, it seemed like the perfect night - clear, no moon, cold weather, and low humidity. I even had a location that I thought would be suitable.

I headed out around 11:00 p.m., picking up my buddy Mike to keep me company.

We arrived at Ditto Landing to find a sign that says the place is closed at sun down, and that campers and boaters should check in with the security desk. Security desk, eh? I decided to be responsible and seek out the security guard to explain what I was doing there.

Driving directly to my destination, and not spotting a security hut, I decided I didn't really need to be responsible after all.

Upon exiting the vehicle, Mike and I both look up into the night sky and see something completely unexpected.

Clouds. A sky full of clouds.

Shit. What am I gonna do now? I can't shoot star trails like this.

After a brief discussion about trespassing, and getting arrested, and not being able to get the shot I was after, we decided to set up shop and take pictures

I found my composition, and set the exposure just so. I then locked in my remote shutter release to keep snapping away until I told it to stop.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with all these pictures, exactly, but that's what I had set out to do initially and I was sure I'd come up with something once I get them unloaded onto my desktop.

The next 45 minutes or so were spent chatting, and watching YouTube videos on my phone, and bitching about how chilly it was outside.

Mike and I decided to pack it in right around 1:30 a.m. Examining the shots that were captured in a rather rapid fashion, it became immediately obvious what should be done with them.

Time lapse.

I've always kinda wanted to do one, and now that I have one under my belt, I can't wait to have another opportunity.

Keep On Keepin' On

My name is Rob, and I am mute. When it's winter, when things are slow, I watch a lot of YouTube. I watch videos of equipment reviews, and lighting techniques, and what people are doing in the world of photography.

I watch these things when I cannot find the motivation to brave the cold, dreary, outside world to create something I call my own.

Among my perusal I've run across folks like Jared Polin, Chase Jarvis, and Zack Arias - all interesting guys with valuable lessons to give.

One video recently gave me pause, and I've been thinking about its implications ever since.

It's a talk by Zack about being honest - a trait I like to think I have.

In this video, I find that Zack and I have a few things in common.

He started out working for the same company I do shooting apartment complexes.

He talks about being down to earth, and not puffing yourself up to impress whoever you happen meet - a characteristic I've been told I exhibit.

He talks about getting into a funk in the winter - something I experience mildly with Seasonal Affective Disorder

He goes on to talk about a guest blog post he did for Scott Kelby, and it left me floored.

Here's a short transcript from the beginning:

Who am I as a photographer?

What is my voice?

I don't even really know what that means, but it keeps me up at night.

What is my vision?

What is my goal?

What do I bring to the table that countless others have not already served up[...]?

I've considered these questions. I've examined them at length over the last several days. I keep coming back to the same answer.

I don't have a fucking clue. Not one.

I have no voice as a photographer. I'm a baby in the photographic world, having not yet learned how to speak.

I'm nobody in the photographic world.

I've yet to find my style, my signature, my voice, my thing that separates me from the crowd.

I don't know where I'm going as a photographer, and I don't know how I'm going to get there.

All I know is that I must, and that I'm on my way.

It's a struggle, and it's going to be for some time to come, and that's okay.

It's okay because I pay rent with my camera.

It's okay because I get to eat breakfast with my girlfriend on the back porch at 10:00 am on a Monday.

It's okay because I love what I do, and I'm passionate about it.

I'm content with my life, but I'm not satisfied.

What am I to do about this?

Keep going. Keep pushing. Keep struggling. Keep pressing the shutter release. Keep creating. Keep making noises until they form words, and use those words to make my voice loud and clear.

That is precisely what I'm going to do.

Spring has sprung. There's new life, new opportunities, new inspiration.

It's time for me to get off my ass and keep on keepin' on!

You Get Worked

My name is Rob, and I'm surprised. People say you'll be surprised what you can get if you just ask for it. As it would turn out, they're right.

Today is 311 Day, and sadly, I'm not in New Orleans at the show. I'm sitting here pushing buttons on my laptop.

But, I do have reason to celebrate.

For one, 311's new album dropped today, and it's awesome!

Second, something happened last week in the form of a series of emails between me and a gentlemen named Peter Raspler.

I pre-ordered the new album a few weeks ago. That's something I almost never do, but I had reason for it this time. They were holding a contest to win all sorts of stuff: an autographed guitar, hand written lyrics to a song, VIP passes, etc.

I don't really care about most of that stuff, and statistically I wouldn't have a real chance at winning any of it anyhow. But, there was one thing that swayed my opinion: a photo pass.

I was gonna buy the album anyway, so I figured I may as well do it now with a chance to win something of real, substantial value to me.

When I placed my order, there was a little box to send a message to the band. I didn't think anything of it at the time, as most of the messages probably wouldn't make it to the band to begin with. So, I left it blank.

A few days later, it started eating at me. I should have said I'm a photographer by trade. It didn't make any sense. It was a random draw. It's not like they would choose a name out of a hat, then decide which prize to dole out based on the message they left.

Still, it stayed in the back of my mind, creeping forward periodically.

I finally loosened my grip on logic and rationality.

What if...? It couldn't hurt to ask, right? No, it's dumb. These guys are bombarded with this shit all the time. But..? No way, everyone's a professional photographer these days. They don't need another person harassing them.

Then I let my grip go completely.

Screw it! What've I got to lose?

I spent the next several hours asking Google questions it didn't know the answers to, in an effort to try and find an email address for the appropriate person to talk to about my situation.

Needless to say, I finally found it. I spent the next several hours composing an email trying not to sound desperate, or like I was looking for some hand-out.

The gist of my email was that I was a photographer, a big fan of 311, that I'd like to photograph a concert, and if he even read the whole email I'd be a happy camper.

I received a reply the next day saying he'd be more than happy to get me into the photo pit for whatever show I'm attending.

Holy shit! Was this just that easy?

It was.

So, I'm shooting a 311 show in May. I still can't quite believe it. It's surreal.

It reminds of a particular song:

I'm on a new high

With a pen and a pad,

And for fun I attend

A jam that's super bad.

At the same time

I give it all that I have

Whether you're a square

Or the coolest lad.

So what are you waiting for? Ask, and ye shall receive. It is just that easy sometimes.