John Pierce, April 30th 2011
John Pierce was in my room talking about running for president, ambassadors, and life in general. Good guy.
Actual Date of Photo: 4/4/2011
Xuong Do / Internship with Happy Photos, April 29th 2011
Goal #8 for 2011 (Get an Internship) COMPLETE
Of course, at this point, my internship with Xuong Do of Happy Photos is still on going, but it is official and I have been shooting weddings, and so this goal has been achieved.
This internship with Happy Photos is one of the best things that has happened to me all year. With Xuong (Pronouced ‘Song’) I am more of a camera assistant / second shooter than an intern. I go to weddings with him and different shoots and back him up. I have learned more from Xong than from any class I have taken at Chapman this year.
I get personalized, one-on-one training from Xuong that I couldn’t even get from a classroom and touts its ‘personalized’ education as one of its strongest points. Xuong will trust me to get shots of the groomsmen at a wedding, and then afterwards go over my shots with me and tell me what I can improve. He will tell me why a certain shot isn’t good enough to present to the Bride and Groom and what I can do differently next time to fix it.
Xuong also did a shoot with me as the subject, going through the different poses he has grooms do, so that I actually feel what he is having his clients do. That way I know exactly what to look for and what to get the subject to do. Talk about hands-on learning! I am so thankful for this opportunity to learn from someone who makes a living as a photographer and watch what they do and how they do it.
Another awesome thing about working with Xuong is seeing the business side of photography. Xuong has made pictures his livelihood, and so he has to stay on top of all the back-end processing, dealing with clients, taxes, prints, etc. Xuong has made it clear that in order to survive, we have to be all about customer service. If the client asks, there isn’t anything we can’t do (and if we don’t know how we learn real quick.)
I’m making a list of specific things I’ve learned from Xuong, but I’ll hold off on posting it until the end of the school year so it is complete.
Until then, here are some shots of Xuong in action.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/19/2011
Skit Practice, April 28th 2011
Skit night is a huge event at Chapman.
40% of the student body is affiliated with a fraternity or sorority, and Skit night is one of the big competitions between houses. Bragging rights last for a year, and people go all out in their costumes, choreogrophy, and set designs.
Delta Tau Delta usually does fairly well, last year we got second over all and this year…. well, you’ll just have to wait till I post photos of this year to hear how we did. But lets just say we’re competitive.
I did not participate in Skit because I did not have enough time. I asked a guy in my fraternity approxmitaley how many hours he had put into just learning and practicing the dance. He said around 140 hours over the course of about 6 weeks. Yeah, I just didn’t have enough time to put all in one place like that.
But if I did have time like that to spend… Skit would be one of my first choices.
I hung out at dance pracice a couple of days and it reminded me of Mr. Spartan dance practices back in highschool. Hanging out with other cool guys, learning dance moves, joking around. All good stuff.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/29/2011
Trevor Clarke Come to Visit, April 27th 2011
Lets go back four years.
Four years ago I was a sophomore in highschool, and I was in a band called ‘The Obvious.’ Trevor Clarke was the drummer of that band and we made music that sounded like this:
Yes. That is me singing.
Anyway, Trevor is now down in Southern California making stop motion movies and hanging out with his girlfriend. They came and visited me, and it was most pleasant.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/28/11
Vick Ravindran’s AP paperwork, April 26th 2011
Vick Ravindran is a role model of mine. He’s ambitious, professional, tanacious, direct, and funny.
So when he asked me to shoot his Advanced Production (thats his ‘Junior Thesis’ film) I was honored.
This year I switched from an editing emphasis to a cinamatography emphasis in my Film Production major at Chapman. First semester sophomore year I edited an AP and I just couldn’t get myself into it. Plausibly, I could be an editing empasis if I were to only editing stuff that I shot and wrote, but I couldn’t stand being in a dark room for hours and hours on end editing something I didn’t even have a hand in making. The material just didn’t seem interesting, so editing it was awful. It was a good experince to have, but it ultimatley taught me that I shouldn’t be an editor.
So then it was either directing or cinematography. And honostly I think I’d direct if I had the money. I probably won’t end up being a director, but being in that spot at the top with everything working under you is just fun. I’d be fine doing that in college, but then once I graduated there would be ZERO jobs. That, and if you’re going to be a director at Chapman, you have to shell out your own money for your film. The school gives you the equipemnt and crew, and some money for food (which sounds like a lot) but then you’re on your own for everything else. And everything else can be a lot. That inculdes paying for locations, actors, props, film stock, extra equipment that Chapman doesn’t have (RED cameras, shoulder mounts, grip trucks, etc…) materials to build sets, makeup, the list goes on and on. Most directing emphasis students at Chapman will easily drop about 3 Grand for their Advanced Production, and then anywhere from 8-10 Grand on their thesis, sometimes a lot more.
I just don’t want to pay that much money, especially with how high tuition is already, AND, its a student film, so all that money doesn’t gaurentee that you’re going to have a good film. You’re just a student, so you’re learning, e.g. you’re making all of your first time mistakes on this film. Chances are you’ll come away with something that won’t ever get you a job. Maybe you can use parts of it in your real.
Now, Im being pesimistic, I know, a lot of people come out with great stuff, but I didn’t want to take that chance, especailly now that I’m pretty sure I won’t ultimatley get a job in the film industry (I want to be a photographer, in case you didn’t already know that.) So Cinematography was the way to go.
Long story short, in preperation to shoot Vick’s AP, I did camera diagrams, shot lists, and a buch of other paperwork. We spent a night or two in my room getting it all togehter so things would run smoothly on set. And I have to say, Vick was great at pre-production. He didn’t work me too hard like some directors I’ve heard about, but made sure we had the essentials.
When Vick’s AP is finished with post production in late May, I’ll be sure to link the blog to it so you can check out my cinematography.
Actual Date of Photo: 3/26/11
Photo Wall Completed, April 25th 2011
Goal #29 for 2011 (Cover a wall in my dorm with photos) COMPLETE!
This took a lot longer than I expected, but now that it’s done, my room looks SO FREAKING COOL! It’s like having Your-Life themed wall-paper. I love waking up in the morning, opening my eyes and seeing my friends, family, and adventures covering the wall opposite to me. This was definitley one of the best goals of 2011.
The photo wall also serves as motivation and inspiration for me to continue working at becomming a professional photographer. Every time I apply for something, whether its the event photographer at dodge or an internship with Happy Photos, I think, “Hey, I’m qualified for this, psssh, YEAH I’m a photogpher, my whole ROOM is covered in photos.”
It’s quite the confidence builder.
Another thing I really like is I’ll be out and about at Chapman talking with someone I haven’t seen in a while and then I’ll go back to my room and my eye will be drawn to a photo I have of them. It’s like the people I see recentley pop out a little more from the hundreds of other pictures in my room as if to say “Hey! It was good seeing you today!” I think its really cool that all the people in my room are people that are also part of my daily life.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/25/2011
Madison Lanesey, April 24th 2011
Madison was applying for the BFA in Screen Acting and needed some headshots for her application.
Guess what? She made it!
Now I’m two-for-two in taking head-shots for actors in the BFA program
Actual Date of Photos: 3/24/2011
Eliot Spaulding’s Junior Show, April 23rd 2011
At Chapman the graphic design majors do a Junior Show as part of their graduation requirments. Eliot Spaulding wanted to document her show and asked me to photograph it.
Her show was a themed living space. Each part of her room was supposed to reflect the imaginary lady who lived there. See if you can get an idea of what that lady is like by the stuff Eliot created.
All of her stuff was intricate and amazing. Very cool.
Oh! And Eliot bought me a lemonade to say ‘thank you’ for the photos. BAM. Compensation. Love it. I’m being paid to take photos hahaha
Actual Date of Photos: 3/23/2011
Heston Horwin Headshots, April 22nd 2011
Heston Horwin was applying for the BFA in Theater Acting and needed a recent headshot for the application. I obliged.
Heston was going to put one of the normal shots as his standard headshot, but after setting the one of him with the pink bowtie as his facebook profile pic and getting tons of positive responses, he ended up going with that one.
And guess what? He made it into the BFA program! Yay Heston! That’s a pretty prestegious program, and getting in is competitive. Way to go.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/21/2011
Intermediate Set with Nick Ower, April 21st 2011
During the month of March I was on film sets virtually every weekend. This particular weekend I happened to be DPing (Director of Photography, aka the cameraman) one of my classmates Intermediate Productions. It was about a guy who had to get to a job interview but couldn’t seperate from his nagging girlfriend.
Nick Ower happened to be in town and so he helped out on set. He did boom for a bit and helped grip. What a nice guy. Nick graduated from the University of Hawaii last year. He’s was in SoCal for a week to look at film schools but he’s already got jobs on legit film sets so I don’t know why he’d need to go to grad school.
On January 1st of this year I was out light-writing with Nick back in Corvallis. Light Writing
Actual Date of Photos: 3/20/2011
David and Stephanie’s Wedding, April 20th 2011
Shot this wedding with Xuong Do for Happy Photos.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/19/2011
Balloons, April 19th 2011
I need to gain weight. These balloons are pullin’ me off the ground.
Oh, and this is Patrick Kelly, he’s a senior RA in Pralle. I’m going to miss him next year.
Last year I did some BMX photos with Patrick and his friend Ray. They’re back on my old blog here: BMX Madness with Patrick and Ray
Actual Date of Photos: 3/18/2011
Delta Queen, April 18th 2011
In 2008, the members of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at Chapman University started Delta Queen, an annual philanthropic pageant benefiting a non-profit organization in the Orange County area. Each Greek chapter on campus nominates and supports one contestant to compete for the title of Miss Delta Queen, a responsibility that upholds the spirit of philanthropy and the vision of Delta Queen. Contestants participate in talent showcase, personality walk, Greek spirit section, and question-and-answer segments, but strive to achieve their ultimate goal of increasing awareness and support for our adopted non-profit organization.
It is Delta Queen’s mission to strengthen the community by inspiring university students and the local community to be philanthropic in service and fundraising. We make it our responsibility to carry out the mission of our beneficiary, in hopes that we too can increase awareness and support for their cause.
Check out the site to learn more: http://cudeltaqueen.com/
I had a blast taking photos at Delta Queen this year.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/17/2011
Taylor Stoffers Headshots, April 17th 2011
Taylor Stoffers lives on the first floor of Henley but he’s pretty much always up in my hall hanging out with Zach Guenther and Hunter Helman.
Taylor is an actor/model and needed some head shots for his portfolio.
I also did a photo shoot with him last December, and some of the shots I’ll be using in my portfolio: Taylor Shoot in December
Also, Zach and Taylor are pretty chill’ so hanging with them is quite fun too. You may remember the day we went to Laguna in the morning, but didn’t do much cuz we were so tired: Laguna with Zach and Taylor
Actual Date of Photos: 3/16/2011
Josh Sorosky Headshots, April 16th 2011
Josh Sorosky is a fantastic RA, he’s also graphic design major and an all around cool guy. When he asked me for some head-shots, I enthuiastically accepted.
Next year Josh is going to be doing some pretty crazy stuff, which may include but is not limited to:
Sailing the Caribbean
Studying in Cairns, Australia
Creating his own minor in Oceanogrophy at Chapman
Josh is really talented with Photo-Shop and Adobe Illustrator, and recentley he has been getting into photography. I was proud to be the one who drove him to go pick up his first DSLR camera, a Canon Rebel T2i, which I am quite certain he will be most happy with.
He started a photo of the day blog, which you should check out!
http://joshsorosky.wordpress.com/
Actual Date of Photos: 3/16/2011
Delta Queen Rehersal, April 15th 2011
Delta Queen is Delta Tau Delta’s big philanthropy event each year. Each greek house on Chapman’s campus nominates a girl to be a contestant. The contestants do fundraisers and put on a pageant that benefits Beckstrand Cancer Foundation.
These are photos from rehersal night, tomorrow there will be shots from the actual pageant.
Learn more: http://cudeltaqueen.com/
Actual Date of Photos: 3/16/2011
Fitness Center, April 14th 2011
In addition to being an RA, working at Dodge as the Event Photographer, and having an internship with Happy Photos, I also work at the fitness center.
I got bored one day and took some photos of Jamie, my co-worker (Who is super cool by the way, he’s a 27-year old senior and this summer he got a job with the 49ers).
And some other random stuff.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/15/11
DJ K Dream (Kelsey Laroche), April 13th 2011
Kelsey Laroche, AKA – DJ K Dream is a DJ and a host of her very own Chapman radio show. I heard that she needed some photos done so I hit her up and offered her my services. Any chance I get to be around music I’m gonna take, and here I got to take pictures as well. Fantastic. Kelsey was super chill and really easy to work with. Hopefully in the future I’ll get her in action at one of her gigs.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/15/11
John Brian Pierce Runs for President, April 12th 2011
John Brian Pierce is a Delt, and he ran for Student Body President. He asked me to do a photo-shoot for his campaign. It was pretty fun.
John ended up losing the election by 11 votes, but hey, now he’s got some cool photos.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/14/11
Before Date Skate, April 11th 2011
Before going to Date Skate at Becca, Alex, and Ryan’s House!
Actual Date of Photos: 3/13/11
Photo Finish, April 10th 2011
My Intermediate production was about two guys who fight over a girlfriend, and end up seriously hurting themselves. It is currentley in post-production. Zack Tennant and Justin Cagel were my wonderful actors. Logan Hall was my DP.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/12/2011
Croquet with Professor Apodaca, April 8th 2011
Professor Apodaca is a pretty amazing dude. He’s the head Sociology professor at Chapman, is the former Editor of the Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, and he won an Academy Award in 1985 for the feature documentary “Broken Rainbow.”
I asked him to be part of one of my RA programs in order to give students time to hang out with him outside the classroom. We played Croquet.
Apodaca won every time.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/11/11
Rachel’s Rabbits, April 7th 2011
Morlan Hall is famous for its bunnies. Rachel adores them. Somehow she got a hold of a couple and had them in her room…
They scared Le’Quan.
Actual Date of Photos: 3/10/11
