mindless.matterz

New Blog...

2011-04-13T11:46:00.002-10:00

I'm not sure what's going on with Photobucket right now, but it's affecting this blog, so I decided to start utilizing my blog on Wordpress, which I've had for a while, but never really used. It's a bit different and it'll take some getting used to. For now, I'll be posting there instead.

Happy hump day!

My new blog:
www.mindlessmatterz.wordpress.com

April 9, 2011

2011-04-09T04:15:00.001-10:00

To Raena & Justin, and the rest of my Muragin/Bleakney Family:

As I write this, you are all gathered together for Kailee's service. Although I am not there in body, please know that I am there in spirit. My love, thoughts and prayers are with you all. While great distances may keep us apart, our love & support for each other can never be divided. As Kailee watches down on us from Heaven, she will forever remain in our hearts.

I wish we weren't oceans apart...

2011-04-07T13:36:00.003-10:00

A Change in Scenery...

2011-03-31T12:34:00.003-10:00

I haven't had a chance to take photos in a while, so here are some old ones from my Alaska Trip. I honestly need a change in scenery or some kind of adventure in my life right now. I haven't been feeling very motivated or inspired lately... I hate when I get stuck in that slump. When I finally do have time away from work and school projects, I have a hard time forcing myself to get out and actually do something... I end up wasting my day at home watching TV and being lazy. How lame. Anyway, hopefully this weekend that will change. My husband is off, and I don't think I'll have much homework to do, so I really want to do something different... not sure what yet, but something we've never done before... go on a little adventure. I'm open to any suggestions if you have any!

M8 vs MK

2011-03-24T12:51:00.004-10:00

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts... as usual, I've been busy with work and school. Here's a few photos that my friend Mark took of my friend Leina and I a while ago. He was testing out his Leica M8... lucky bastard! I haven't had a chance to take much photos lately... most of my weekends have consisted of homework. On a positive note, however, I recently found out that the Intermediate Photography class at KCC will actually be offered in the evenings for once, so I'll be back in the darkroom this Fall! I'm so excited! I'm looking forward to being reunited with #12 again.

Tomorrow's a holiday for me! YAY! Have a great weekend!

Photos taken by Mark Kushimi

No Trespassing

2011-03-05T11:34:00.005-10:00

Took this photo of my friend Angie last weekend on our mini photo field trip. We didn't take as many photos as we wanted to... hopefully we'll be able to produce more photos on our next trip.

Photo taken with my Canon 5d Mark II
85mm f/1.2L

85

2011-02-26T08:31:00.005-10:00

Photo by Mark Kushimi

Friday!

2011-02-24T21:44:00.019-10:00

I made this little GIF to express how Fridays make me feel. Thank you Bella for working it and being such a great model! Watch out... you may be bombarded with modeling offers because of this...

Have a great weekend!

February 21, 2011

2011-02-23T20:44:00.005-10:00

This past Monday I took some photos of my friend Leina to help her out with her school project. Aside from the momentary sand storm we got caught in, it was a lot of fun. It's been a while since I've gone on a random photo shoot just for fun... I need to do that more often. I've been so busy with work and school that I've been lacking the motivation and inspiration to venture and take photos... getting stuck in the routine of daily life and responsibilities I suppose. Hope I can escape and take more photos this weekend. Who's down for another photo field trip?!

February 20,2011

2011-02-21T00:55:00.004-10:00

Here are a few pictures from last night. We celebrated several February birthdays last night at Crazy Karaoke then Next Door. Super good times! Happy Birthday all you February cats... you know who you are...

Mai + Miles

2011-02-14T00:07:00.003-10:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of helping my friend John Hook shoot a wedding for one of the funnest couples ever, Mai and Miles. They had a beautiful wedding and reception at the Halekulani Hotel... everything was perfect. Congratulations Mai and Miles! Here are a few photos I took of their special day.

Good Morning Bumble Bee!

2011-01-30T10:53:00.005-10:00

Sorry for the sudden absence lately. It's that time of year again... when I average about 12-16 hours of work a day... not fun. After a 12 day working streak, I finally had this weekend off! I haven't had time to take any photos because I've been working insane hours, and on top of that, I'm taking an online English class too. It's hard to juggle, but somehow I manage. I really miss going out and taking photos though. Seems like the only camera I've been using lately is the one on my iPhone 4, hence, the Bumble Bee photo I posted above. However, I must admit... those camera apps are pretty fun.

Last night a few of my girlfriends and I had a "Dance Central" X-Box Kinect party at my friend's house... we decided to make it a monthly gathering, with themes, of course. Last night's theme, which was pulled out of a hat, was "Disco/Sparkle." My friends don't mess around and they take their themes pretty seriously. I've got to step it up! Haha. Next month's theme is "Flash Dance". I'm super excited! I'm going all out for that one! I took a bunch of photos last night, but to save anyone of embarrassment, I don't think I'll post any... unless, of course, I get approval to do so... we'll see.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Case Scenario + Pantone Universe

2011-01-14T20:18:00.005-10:00

OMG, I think I NEED one of these... in several colors! Not sure how much they'll be or when they'll be available for purchase, but I'm keeping my eye out for this one...

Case Scenerio - Pantone Universe Collaboration

Canon Lens Mug

2011-01-13T16:14:00.002-10:00

My new coffee cup arrived in the mail yesterday! I LOVE it so much!!! It's without a doubt my favorite coffee mug of all time!

You can get one here!

Stepping Stones...

2010-12-30T10:17:00.003-10:00

So sorry for the sudden absence. The holidays and the cold I caught from my husband have been holding me hostage. Hopefully this cough will be gone by New Year's Eve. Hope everyone's having a great holiday season! I Can't believe another year just went by! Yikes! Happy New Year!

Photo taken with my Polaroid 250 Land Camera
Fujifilm fp-100b

Nick + Polly

2010-12-20T11:49:00.003-10:00

Here are some photos I took of my Mom and Dad while they renewed their vows for their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past weekend. Once again, Happy Anniversary, you two love birds!

Playing tourist...

2010-12-17T08:47:00.004-10:00

Took these photos of Dean several weekends ago in Downtown. He looks like a Japanese tourist, don't you think???

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping... gonna finish up this weekend. Can't believe Christmas is only 8 days away! That's just crazy!

It's FRIDAY!!! Have a great weekend!

Golden

2010-12-16T10:45:00.002-10:00

Today is my Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary. I scanned this photo of them which was taken on their wedding day. I love this photo... I was thinking of fixing it up in photoshop, but I decided not to... I kinda like the bends and folds... it gives it character. My mom looks so classy & beautiful... and my dad looks handsome, yet gangster at the same time... haha! I love it. One of my favorite stories of them is one that my mom told me about when they were in their teen years. My mom would see my dad walk by her house every now and then. My dad was shy, but had a crush on my mom. One day, he finally mustered up the courage to ask her to go steady, using four very simple words that will never be forgotten... "So what, get chance?" The rest is history!

Happy 50th Anniversary, Mom & Dad! Thanks for being such amazing role models for Dean and I. Hope our marriage is filled with as much love, compassion, understanding and joy as yours. Love you both!

Easy...

2010-12-15T08:06:00.002-10:00

Currently stuck in my head:
Dragonette - Easy

This song has been on repeat in my brain the past few days...

Photo Excursions: Part lll

2010-12-14T10:40:00.003-10:00

A few photos from several weekends ago. Gonna miss having a darkroom...

Photos taken with my Canon EOS-3
50mm f/1.4
Tri X Pan 400

Light + Funky Flares

2010-12-13T08:24:00.009-10:00

Between errands and attempting to do some Christmas shopping this weekend, I made it a point to stop and practice taking some backlit photos of Dean. I've always had a hard time taking these type of photos, but I'm trying really hard to learn more about lighting and to get more comfortable with the manual settings on my camera. Here's what I got... some funky flares.

Hope you had a great weekend... it went by too fast...

White Sandy Beaches + Gradient Skies

2010-12-10T10:45:00.004-10:00

Taken with my Polaroid 250 Land Camera
Fujifilm fp-100c

#12

2010-12-08T21:18:00.003-10:00

I’m going to miss you, #12. We got off to a rocky start, but over time we became inseparable, like two peas in a pod. What we had was real… you will surely not be forgotten. Thanks for the memories.

Photo Field Trip 01

2010-12-06T08:33:00.007-10:00

Photos from our photo field trip yesterday on the North Shore! Thanks so much to John for helping us out... and to Sam for dinner and for just being totally awesome! I love those two...

Can't wait for our next photo field trip! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Photos taken with my Canon 5d Mark II
50mm f/1.4 & 135mm f/2.0L

Early morning sunrise...

2010-12-03T09:01:00.007-10:00

Took this photo last weekend with my Polaroid 250 Land Camera... it was such a beautiful sight to see. I think I should make it a habit to get up early and watch the sunrise every now and then... it's good for the soul.

I'm looking forward to this weekend... it's going to be an eventful one for me. I'll be busy finishing up my final photography project on Saturday... I booked time in the darkroom for the entire day. Then on Sunday, it's a photo field trip with friends! Can't wait... hope the weather is decent. I plan to try out my new reflector. I've never used one before... should be interesting to play around with. Watch out sun... get ready to be chased again!

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Mowgli's Road...

2010-12-01T07:17:00.004-10:00

Currently stuck in my head:
Marina and the Diamonds - Mowgli's Road

Quite interesting video, I might add...

Chasing the Sun...

2010-11-29T12:49:00.008-10:00

Photos taken with my Canon 5d Mark II
16-35mm f/2.8L

Photo Excursions: Part ll

2010-11-29T11:53:00.005-10:00

Been meaning to post the rest of these portrait photos from our photo excursion the other week. Sorry for the delay... things have been pretty busy lately. Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!

Photos taken with my Canon EOS-3
50mm f/1.4
Tri X Pan 400

Ka'imiloa

2010-11-28T15:24:00.007-10:00

A while back, my counselor at KCC emailed me some info about a student publication called "Ka'imiloa", which features student writing and art. She encouraged me to send in some of my artwork, so I thought to myself, "What the heck... shoots!". I submitted 3 digital art pieces with no expectations. Several months later, I received a voicemail from Ka'imiloa's advisor with some great and unexpected news. Ka'imiloa had chosen 2 of my digital art pieces for their publication, and one of them was chosen to be on the cover! I was shocked! They chose my self-portrait, entitled "Taking Risks" for the cover art. It was a digital self-portrait I did for my Art 101 class, which was based on this blog entry I posted some time ago. The other digital piece they picked was my Saint Milk Illustrator project. You can pick up a free copy of Ka'imiloa in the Kalia building on KCC campus.

Taking Risks

I decided to base my Self-Portrait on recent realizations I’ve discovered about myself. Let me start by first introducing myself. My name is Cassandra Song, but you can call me Cassy. I graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1997 and attended one semester at HCC immediately following my graduation. After that brief semester at HCC, I dropped out of college to work full time. Fast forward to 12 years later, and here I am… a young woman in her early 30’s, uncertain of what she wants to do in life.

I’ve never been one of those people who knew what they wanted to do in life… and recently, it got to the point where it began to worry and frustrate me. I truly wish I were one of those people who knew at a young age what they wanted to be when they grew up. I envy those who have a strong passion for one thing and strive for it… I don’t think I’ve ever had that kind of passion before. Aside from not knowing what I want to do, I also suffer from a fear of failure… I suppose I lack self-confidence at times and am unaware of any potential and capabilities I may have. These fears, uncertainties and self-doubt had repressed me from going back to school all those years.

Four months ago, I decided to kick my fears to the curb and enrolled into KCC for Fall 2009 Semester. My goal is to try to get into the New Media Arts Program for Interface Design, as I am currently taking the required prerequisites. Upon receiving my KCC acceptance letter in the mail, I decided to look for my old HCC report card in a file cabinet where my mother has stored documents and memorabilia (most useful, informative & nostalgic; some absurd & completely embarrassing) that pertain to me dating back as far as 30 years. While shuffling through all those old artifacts from my childhood, I came across my grade school report cards with notes and progress reports from my teachers. There were two progress reports that really caught my attention… one from my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Akinaka, and the other from my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Miyahara.

Mrs. Akinaka (2nd grade teacher) wrote: “I’ve enjoyed working with Cassy. She’s an eager learner. I like her positive attitude & sensitivity to others. I’d like to see her take more “risks” in doing things & be more independent. Encourage these behaviors whenever possible.”

Mrs. Miyahara (5th grade teacher) wrote: “Cassy is a serious child and tries hard to succeed. She is capable of doing good work but is held back by tenseness. She needs to take “risks” and develop more confidence in her abilities.”

Reading these comments about myself from my grade school teachers was such an eye-opening experience. I can’t say why I’ve always been fearful and have held back… but reading these progress reports made me realize that I have been that way since childhood, and it’s helped me understand why I am the way I am today. In a strange sort of way, it made me feel a little better knowing that it’s something I had struggled with since an early age and not something that I had acquired recently… it was an unusual sense of relief.

Since being back in school, my fears are slowly but surely diminishing, and I am developing more confidence in myself. I also like the fact that I am tapping back into my imaginative and creative side, which had been dormant in my mind for far too long. I remember loving to draw when I was a kid… constantly sketching and creating characters, but that came to an end, as I got older. I often wonder why I stopped drawing or never took an art class in high school... I may never know why, but an interesting section in our Visual Arts textbook helped shed some light on that topic, and made me realize that I am not alone.

I quote: “Young children often demonstrate an intuitive sense of composition. Unfortunately, we lose much of this intuitive sense of balanced design as we begin to look at the world from a conceptual, self-conscious point of view. Most children who have been given coloring books, workbooks, and pre-drawn printed single sheets become overly dependent on such impersonal, stereotyped props. In this way, children lose the urge to invent unique images based on their own experiences. Without ongoing opportunities for personal expression, children lose self-confidence in their original creative impulses.
Most abilities observed in creative people are also characteristic of children during interactions with the world around them. What becomes of this extraordinary capacity? According to John Holt, author of ‘How Children Fail’, “We destroy this capacity above all by making them afraid – afraid of not doing what other people want, of not pleasing, or of making mistakes, of failing, of being wrong. Thus we make them afraid to gamble, afraid to experiment, afraid to try the difficult and unknown.”

My Self-Portrait is an expression of myself overcoming my own fears. I chose a recent picture of myself, looking off to a distance, reflecting into the past. Arranged and tiled in the background behind me are scanned images of the actual progress reports written by my 2nd and 5th grade teachers, which gradually fade out, symbolizing my fears diminishing over time.

Lomo Camera Keychains

2010-11-21T09:37:00.004-10:00

So cute! I want all of them!

Buy them here!

Photo Excursions: Part l

2010-11-11T21:10:00.010-10:00

Here are a few photos from the three rolls of film I developed this week. I have a lot more to print... it's gonna be a long day in the darkroom this Saturday...

Have a nice weekend!

Photo Shoot Sundays

2010-11-08T09:47:00.002-10:00

Yesterday I went on a photo shoot excursion with my friend, Angie. We hit some random spots around town. Here are a few photos I took with my Polaroid Land Camera. I have three rolls of film to develop in class today... hope I got something decent.

Portraits

2010-11-04T08:00:00.004-10:00

Been working on my 'portraits' project for photography class. I developed one roll of film from Halloween. I didn't have a chance to make prints of all the photos I wanted to yet... but here's what I was able to print so far. I'll post more portraits as soon as I'm able to spend more time in the darkroom to make more prints. I have about 5 rolls to shoot this weekend... time for a photo shoot with the girls! Let's do this! If anyone else is interested in tagging along with us for a photo shoot this weekend, holler at me!

Photos taken with my Canon EOS-3
50mm f/1.4
Tri X Pan 400 film

Tricks & Treats

2010-11-01T12:07:00.006-10:00

A few pictures from this past Saturday night... we celebrated my friend Angie's birthday at Karaoke Hut, then went to Downtown for Halloween. Note to self: Never go to Downtown on Halloween again... I'm getting too old and too claustrophobic for that shit.

Maiden Hell

2010-10-29T15:53:00.004-10:00

My new favorite hoodie by Maiden Hell! Get yours at In4mation Ward. Check out the rest of their clothing and jewelry line too while you're at it... there's some sick shit going on there.

Jumping Bears!

2010-10-29T08:29:00.005-10:00

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween, y'all! I wasn't planning on doing anything for Halloween, costume wise, but I think I may pull together a last minute outfit and lurk the streets of Chinatown tomorrow night with friends. Hope you all have a fun Halloween! Be safe!

Photo taken with my Canon EOS-3
50mm f/1.4
Tri X Pan 400 film

Passion Pit in Hawaii: Saturday, December 11th

2010-10-28T08:04:00.006-10:00

Words cannot describe how excited I am to go to this concert! It's been a while since I've gone to a concert. The last ones I remember going to were The Strokes and The Dance Hall Crashers... good times. I'm really looking forward to seeing Passion Pit! Hope to see your sweaty and make-up smeared faces in the crowd!

I'll leave you with these videos of a few of my favorite Passion Pit songs...

Passion Pit - To Kingdom Come

Passion Pit - The Reeling

More from the Darkroom...

2010-10-27T08:51:00.005-10:00

Photos taken with my Canon EOS-3
50mm f/1.4
Tri X Pan 400 film

Under the pier...

2010-10-22T09:10:00.002-10:00

More darkroom prints...

2010-10-21T13:46:00.004-10:00

Help...

2010-10-19T09:24:00.003-10:00

The photo says it all...

Photo taken with my Canon EOS-3
50mm f/1.4
Tri X Pan 400 Film

Yipee!!!

2010-10-15T08:43:00.004-10:00

It's Friday!!! Have a great weekend everyone!

Photo taken with my Canon 5d Mark II
50mm f/1.4
Model: Donkey Song

Light + Shadows

2010-10-14T08:28:00.007-10:00

Been working on my 'Line/Form/Texture' photography project the past week. I made a few prints in class last night. I'm not sure if I'm just too slow or too picky (perhaps a combination of both), but it takes me forever to get one decent print! In 2 1/2 hours, I was only able to make three full/decent prints! The rest were test strips and bad runs. I have seven more prints to make for my project. I reserved 7 hours in the darkroom this Saturday, and I intend to make as many prints as possible. Wish me luck.

I took this photo of my mom last week as the sun was setting, casting interesting light & shadow line patterns through the blinds of our home. She was a great model... thanks mom! :)

I'll post more photos throughout the week.

Photo taken with my Canon EOS-3
50mm f/1.4
Tri X Pan 400

Vanishing Points...

2010-10-12T09:31:00.007-10:00

Photo taken with my Polaroid 250 Land Camera
Fuji fp-100c film

... and then there was light...

2010-10-08T08:23:00.004-10:00

It's been a really tough week for some of us... I won't get into details here, but let's just say that I've been strapped in an emotional roller coaster ride the past few days... and I'm not the only one. At least it's Friday and we have the weekend to look forward to... taking it one day at a time. I need to finish up two rolls of film and work on a paper for my drawing class. What's your plans this weekend? Whatever it is, hope it's a great one.

Photo taken with my Blackbird Fly TLR
Agfa CT Precisa 100 35mm film

Hotel Green Plaza Hakone

2010-10-07T09:49:00.017-10:00

On this day one year ago, Dean and I were on our honeymoon in Japan. Specifically, it was day 6 for us in Japan... the day we trekked from Shinjuku to Hakone. We had planned to take the Romance Car Express Train there, but it wasn't running because a typhoon had just passed, so we ended up taking the regular train, making several stops along the way. We then had to take a long bus ride up the windy mountain roads to our hotel. When we got to our stop in the middle of a deserted road with no signs, we didn't know which direction our hotel was... we ended up getting lost for a bit... but eventually, with some help from the very friendly hotel workers nearby who graciously offered to pick us up, we found our way there. Here are a few pics I took of our room while we were there... we had a private onsen outside our room with a gorgeous view of Mt. Fuji. I wish I were there right now...

Hotel Green Plaza Hakone

Photos taken with my Canon 5d Mark II
50mm f/1.4

...

2010-10-05T14:52:00.004-10:00

Here are some random photos from a few weekends ago...

Contrast Filters & Lessons Learned

2010-10-04T20:29:00.006-10:00

Darkroom lesson #1 (aside from the obvious of not getting light on your unused paper): Do NOT forget your negatives in the enlarger! This is one lesson I had to learn the hard way... I forgot a strip of negatives in the enlarger as I rushed to pack up all my belongings after class last week. I didn't even realize I had forgotten it until three days later. When I got back to class today, I searched everywhere for it, with the hopes that a good samaritan had set it aside in the lost and found. There were several other negative strips there, but none were mine. I lost five photos, including the one in my last post. Bummers. That's one mistake I'll be sure to never make again.

Today in class I worked on this photo I took of Dean last weekend at The Pancake House (yum). I made six prints, using contrast filters 0-5... in this case, contrast filter #3 looked the best out of all of them... I might even want to try 2 1/2 later. Next class I'll try printing some other photos.

Hope you all had a nice weekend.

Photo taken with my Canon EOS-3
50mm f/1.4
Tri X Pan 400 film

Test Print

2010-09-30T08:55:00.009-10:00

I was finally able to successfully develop not one, but two rolls of film this week in photography class. The very first roll of film I shot a couple weeks ago was ruined by my own hands (R.I.P.). I must have inadvertently exposed the film while loading it into the developing tank because there were huge blotches of haze all over the place. This week I made sure I was extra careful when transferring two rolls of film into the developing tank, and thankfully, there were no blotches present this time around. I finally made some contact sheets and did a quick print of one of the photos. I didn't have too much time to work on this print because class was about to end, but hopefully next week I'll be able to make more prints and do some contrast filter tests as well. Also, my scanner really sucks, so this scan doesn't look so hot. I'm seriously considering buying a film scanner now... I'd really like to shoot more film in the future, and scanning negatives is so expensive at photo labs... I think I'd be saving a lot more money in the long run if I purchased my own film scanner. My friend has the Epson Perfection V700 and likes it. He also suggested several Nikon film scanners as well, like the Super CoolScan 5000, 8000, and 9000, but those are much more expensive. We'll see... I need to do some major research... a film scanner is next on my "want" list... that along with the 85mm f/1.2L II USM... *evil grin*... it will be mine... oh yes, it will be mine...

Photo taken with my Canon EOS-3
135mm f/2.0L
Tri X Pan 400 film

Inspiration: Jerry Uelsmann

2010-09-29T10:49:00.008-10:00

(Click on image to enlarge)

Jerry Uelsmann is a genius... a true master of photography, in my book. Not only are his prints amazingly breathtaking, but the fact that he created these masterpieces by hand in the darkroom with multiple negatives and up to a dozen enlargers at once is absolutely astonishing! I love everything about his prints... from the tones and contrast to the meticulous and unique blending of different images. His selection of images to combine and his ability to successfully marry each image to one perfect whole creates a surreal world beyond my wildest imagination... it's like being inside a beautiful dream.

“I am sympathetic to the current digital revolution and excited by the visual options created by the computer. However, I feel my creative process remains intrinsically linked to the alchemy of the darkroom.” -Jerry N. Uelsmann

I would love to hang out with him in the darkroom just for a day... or more...

Things are Looking Up...

2010-09-24T09:13:00.003-10:00

... and I have you to thank for that, Friday... have a happy weekend, everyone!

Photo taken with my Polaroid Land Camera
Polaroid 669 Instant Film

Silhouettes

2010-09-21T10:07:00.003-10:00

Photo taken with my Holga
Kodak EPP 120 Film

Expired 669 Film

2010-09-20T09:56:00.003-10:00

I tried out an expired pack of Polaroid 669 instant film yesterday... very interesting results... lots of blue tones and a very faded and vintage look. It's definitely a lot different from the Fuji fp-100c. I'll post more polaroids periodically...

Happy Monday... or shall I say "UN" Happy Monday...

Photograms

2010-09-19T20:47:00.005-10:00

(Click on image to enlarge)

Here are the photograms I did for my Photography class. For the title page, I made a type design in photoshop and printed it on college ruled filler paper. The rest are just random things I had around the house... some film negatives, a windmill, light bulbs & clocks, fake oranges, frogs & butterflies, jewelry, jewelry holders, cassette tapes, and specks. FYI: That's not my hand in one of them... it's actually a hand shaped jewelry holder I got from Claire's. It was a pretty fun project to work on and I really enjoyed being able to experiment in the darkroom.

Hope everyone had a nice & relaxing weekend... back to reality...

Wired

2010-09-13T09:57:00.003-10:00

Feels like I'm always apologizing for the lack of posts here... things have been a little busy and I haven't had much of an opportunity to get out and take new photos lately. This past Saturday I spent most of my day in the darkroom working on photograms for my photography class. I can now say from personal experience that I understand why being in the darkroom is so addicting... time really seems to fly by when you're in there... it did for me, at least. I'll try scanning some of my photograms and post them here when I get a chance. Hope you all had a nice and relaxing weekend.

Photo taken with my Blackbird Fly TLR
Agfa CT Precisa 100 35mm film

Distant...

2010-09-10T09:25:00.008-10:00

Been in a weird mood lately... I think the word 'distant' sums it up... hope I get out of this funk soon.

Have a great weekend.

Photo taken with my Diana+
Fuji Neopan 400CN

I love you, Friday...

2010-09-03T09:43:00.008-10:00

I have never loved any other friday as much as this one. This week at work was a pretty intense one for me... it's been busy and I've had to guard the fort all by my lonesome because my co-worker retired this week. What's worse is that my office hasn't found someone to replace her, and I honestly don't know what's going on with that. I hate not knowing, and unfortunately, 'not knowing' is something normal around here; it comes with the territory of this job. By the time I get done with work, I'm exhausted, but I still have to go to school. Once I finally get home from school, I'm totally drained, both physically and mentally. It hasn't been easy. I hate having to split my focus between two things, in my case, work and school. I do it because I have to, and I understand that everyone needs to be able to juggle things in their daily lives, however, I really wish that I could just put all my focus and energy into school alone. At work, my mind is programmed, much like a robot... answer phone, check emails, compile paperwork, answer phone, fax out papers, schedule meetings, answer phone, file paperwork, did I mention answer phone? Then when I get to school, my brain has to instantly switch gears and be creative. The transition isn't always smooth, in fact, it's pretty much never smooth... it's like if you're driving down the freeway 60 miles per hour, and all of a sudden, you pull on the emergency brake... major damage. Anyway, I guess I just needed to vent a little. I have never cherished the weekends as much as I do now... I've got to soak it up when I can. It's depressing being a prisoner at a cubicle 50 hours every week, not being able to enjoy all the simple and beautiful things in life that many take for granted... being able to see the sun rise and feel the wind gently press against your skin... I miss that.

Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend! I'm looking forward to the extra day off. My friend Angie and I plan to drive out to Maleakahana this Sunday to hang out with family & friends and to put our Polaroid Land Cameras to good use. Hope I get some decent shots.

Thanks for listening.

Photo taken with my Blackbird Fly TLR
Agfa CT Precisa 100 35mm film; Cross Processed

Lost: The Complete Collection

2010-09-02T12:42:00.002-10:00

... I really want this. Unfortunately, I can't afford it right now, but hopefully I can scrounge up some dough to get it, preferably sooner than later. I also want to get the Sons of Anarchy Season Two DVD set... that is a bit more within my price range... I may have to scoop it up this weekend so I can speed watch the entire season in time for SOA's Season 3 premiere on FX, Sept. 7th. Can't wait!

Empty...

2010-09-01T08:05:00.003-10:00

Photo taken with my Holga
Kodak EPP 120 film

Gloomy Mondays...

2010-08-30T09:25:00.004-10:00

Hang in there, kiddos... Labor Day is nearing...

Photo taken with my Polaroid Automatic 250 Land Camera.
Fuji film fp-100c

80 Proof Fun...

2010-08-29T17:42:00.008-10:00

Last night we celebrated the release of Contrast Magazine's 04 issue in downtown Honolulu... specifically at Thirtynine Hotel and Nextdoor. Free Vodka samples, disco balls, great music, girl crushing, family & childhood classmate reunions, good conversations, people watching, taking a blast to the past, 80's & 90's nostalgia, bringing back cassette tapes & remembering midnight make-out sessions... it was a lot of fun. Surprisingly, I didn't take too many photos, but here's a few that I did take. Where ever you were last night, hope you had a great one.

Chinaman's Hat

2010-08-27T10:05:00.005-10:00

Took this photo of Chinaman's Hat several weeks ago with my holga. Film: Kodak EPP 120 format; cross processed.

I'm so glad it's Friday... it's been a tough week and it's only going to get worse from here on... hope the weekend makes up for it.

Have a great weekend!

Myia Bonner / The Diamond Collection

2010-08-26T11:53:00.002-10:00

More funky fresh jewelry by "Jewellery Designer" Myia Bonner. See more pieces from her Diamond Collection.

Fleathers by Linda Smyth

2010-08-26T09:45:00.004-10:00

Came across these pretty cool rings on Etsy by Linda Smyth. Check out her Etsy shop for more cute stuff: Fleathers by Linda Smyth

80 Proof

2010-08-25T14:01:00.004-10:00

Come out & celebrate the release of Contrast Magazine's 04 issue this Saturday.

80 PROOF
August 28
8PM-2AM
21+

Nextdoor
Clones of the Queen
Falcon Lord
Shopping List
Jim Jones
MattRatt
Drop Shadows

Thirtynine Hotel
Alt/Air
Kause
No Evil DJs
Vodka Tasting (8-9PM)

By volume, vodka is typically 40% alcohol, which translates to 80 proof.

Mr. Ed...

2010-08-24T13:51:00.007-10:00

Here's another photo I took on my Blackbird Fly TLR camera several weeks ago on the North Shore. Film: Agfa CT Precisa 100 35mm color slide film; cross processed. Don't you just love horses? I do...

Happy Tuesday... two days down, three more to go...

Monday Blues...

2010-08-23T10:07:00.007-10:00

It was a nice long weekend, but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Today is back to work and back to school for me. Hope I'm able to juggle both work and two studio classes this semester. It's not going to be easy... wish me luck... I'm going to need it.

This photo was taken several weeks ago on my new Polaroid 250 Land Camera with Fuji fp-100c instant film. Have a great week!

The Analog Sunshine Recorders Opening Night

2010-08-22T21:11:00.012-10:00

Saturday was a blast at Manifest! The Analog Sunshine Recorders opening night was a great turnout! The place started to fill up pretty early and by 10 p.m. it was packed. We even had some celebrities in the house... anyone remember Rufio from the movie Hook? Lookie, lookie, I've got Hookie! That's right, actor Dante Basco in the flesh! He was super chill and friendly... really down to earth. We had a nice conversation and he was even kind enough to take a photo with me. It was awesome! Thanks to everyone who made it out on Saturday night! If you didn't make it out, the photos will be up at Manifest until September 13th, so you still have some time to check it out!

Analog x Manifest

2010-08-20T22:20:00.011-10:00

Here's a sneak peek of The Analog Sunshine Recorders exhibit at Manifest... it's looking pretty, pretty, pretty good...

When Thursdays Become Fridays

2010-08-19T14:36:00.018-10:00

Tomorrow is Hawaii's Admissions Day state holiday, so I have the day off! I love it when my Thursday becomes a Friday!

Here's a photo I took with my Blackbird Fly TLR camera a couple weekends ago, which was loaded with a roll of Agfa CT Precisa 100 35mm color slide film, then cross processed.

Have a great weekend everyone! I can taste the long weekend already...

Analog Sunshine Recorders this Saturday at Manifest!

2010-08-19T09:56:00.011-10:00

Please come to Manifest this Saturday for the opening of The Analog Sunshine Recorders photo exhibit! My friends have been working really hard the past few days putting up over 200+ photos from 12 different artists while I'm a prisoner here at my work cubicle. All photos were shot on film in various speeds and sizes. Everyone has some really amazing pieces of work... makes me quite intimidated to be honest, but that's ok... consider my photos an element of total randomness in the bunch! Haha! It'll be a lot of fun, so please drop by... it's the last weekend to get nuts before school is back in session! Don't be square... be there!

Weekend Recap: August 15, 2010

2010-08-16T16:18:00.013-10:00

Yesterday I tagged along with my friends and their kids on an outing to the Honolulu Academy of Arts for the Family Sunday event they have every third Sunday of the month. It was a nice day... hot, but nice. Can't write much today cause I gotta run, but here are some photos from the outing. Enjoy!

Inspiration: Swedish Photographer Kalle Gustafsson

2010-08-13T10:00:00.008-10:00

Inspiration: Swedish Photographer Kalle Gustafsson

His photos make me melt… I absolutely love his work…

See more of his photography here: Kalle Gustafsson

Friday Has Finally Arrived...

2010-08-13T08:30:00.005-10:00

... Friday the 13th, but still a Friday, nonetheless; and that works for me. Have a great weekend!

Is it Friday Yet?

2010-08-12T15:56:00.006-10:00

Just asking...

Polaroid Automatic 250 Land Camera

2010-08-11T15:27:00.010-10:00

I scored a Polaroid Automatic 250 Land Camera off eBay recently and it just arrived the other day. While it was in transit, I ordered some batteries for it from RadioShack.com, and I scooped up the last three packs of Fujifilm fp-100c & fp-100b from Imageworks. I got a chance to test it out after work yesterday. Unfortunately, some shots were sacrificed along the way, but after messing around with the film speed settings and the L/D dial, I was finally able to get some decent shots. The flash that came with the camera has some major battery corrosion, but hopefully I can fix it up somehow. Although the photos do tend to come out slightly on the darker side (I have to turn the L/D dial almost all the way to lighten even in daylight), the blue skies do stand out, and there is a really nice vignetting effect as well. I really like it so far! I also ordered a couple packs of Polaroid 669 film from eBay yesterday... looking forward to trying it out. I'm planning a polaroid excursion with my best friend, Angie (she has the Polaroid Colorpack II Land Camera)... hopefully we can go sometime soon... that should be fun... can't wait! If anyone else is interested in joining us on a fun polaroid excursion, let me know! I'll be sure to post some photos when I get a chance... stay tuned.

Also, forgot to mention that I started a tumblr blog recently. Check it out here: My Tumblr Blog

The Analog Sunshine Recorders

2010-08-10T10:51:00.008-10:00

Some of my photos will be showcased at the Manifest from August 21 - September 13 (Thanks John and Chris for letting me be a part of the show).

Please stop by the Manifest for ‘The Analog Sunshine Recorders’ opening reception on Saturday, August 21, 2010, 8:00 p.m.

“Join us as we showcase a heterogeneous mixture of our many sensitive emulsions, i.e. an explosion of all our shit on the wall.”

Opening reception:
Saturday, August 21, 8:00PM
Manifest (32 North Hotel Street, Honolulu, HI 96817)
21+

Exhibition through September 13.

The Analog Sunshine Recorders:
A Hodgepodge of Photographic Wonderment
August 21 - September 13 at the Manifest

FEATURING WORKS OLD AND NEW FROM:
Ikaika Akana
Meagan Bent
John Hook
Natalie Nakasone
Sandra Ng
Justin Ornellas
Chris Rohrer
Gary Saito
Bronson Shimabukuro
Cassy Song
Keisuke Takahashi
LeAnn Yamamoto

Weekend Recap: August 7-8, 2010

2010-08-09T08:54:00.016-10:00

A few very random photos from this past weekend...

Around the World in 80 Girls...

2010-08-07T23:20:00.017-10:00

Several months ago I was contacted by the Creative Director of BUST Magazine in New York to take some locale photos for an article on Honolulu for their 'Around the World in 80 Girls' travel section. The article, written by Jessica Machado, features several 'must see' local spots (Bogart's Cafe, Laniakea Beach, Waimea Bay, Leonard's, Fighting Eel, thirtyninehotel, Manifest, Mu'umu'u Heaven & Waiola's just to name a few). This was my first paid freelance job, and it was a lot of fun! The Aug/Sept 2010 issue just hit the shelves... pick one up at your local bookstore or magazine stand!

BUST Magazine

Lighthouse + Weekends

2010-08-06T09:01:00.006-10:00

Took this photo with my Diana+ at Lighthouse last weekend. So glad today is Friday and another weekend lies ahead... I wish weekends consisted of 5 days and the work week consisted of only 2 days instead... that'd be nice.

Have a great weekend!

Byodo-In Temple

2010-08-05T09:06:00.006-10:00

My husband and I visited the Byodo-In Temple in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park this past Sunday... I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I don't recall ever visiting there before, although I do remember seeing it on an episode of Lost, "House of the Rising Sun" in season one as the home of Sun's father. It's a beautiful temple... definitely worth visiting if you're in the area. These are a few photos I took there with my Holga.

Around the Island in 8 rolls of film...

2010-08-04T11:45:00.011-10:00

I developed 8 rolls of film yesterday... most of the photos were taken this past weekend on an adventure around the Island. As my husband drove aimlessly with no destination in mind, I enjoyed the scenery and looked for potential photo opportunities... stopping off here and there. It was kind of nice... more for me since I wasn't the one driving... hehe. I wanted to try out some different types of film that I had never tried before, so I had purchased one box of Kodak E100G and one box of Kodak EPP film in 120 format for my Holga, and had them cross-processed... I was quite pleased with the results. I also took some photos with my Blackbird Fly TLR camera that I bought in Japan and my Diana+, which was loaded with some black & white film. I'll be posting photos periodically... stay tuned...

Better Late than Never...

2010-07-23T16:35:00.007-10:00

While on our Alaskan Cruise with the entire family, my niece, who was also my Maid of Honor, mentioned that she still hadn't seen our professional wedding photos... yes, our wedding that took place back in April 2009! YIKES! Sorry, Raena! I guess I never uploaded them to my flickr. I promised her that I would upload them when we got back from Alaska, so here they are, as promised. I apologize for the delay in posting these, especially to those who were in the wedding party and never saw them. Better late than never, right?

Click on either one of the links below to view the photos:
Our Wedding - 04/04/09 (Flickr set with thumbnails)
Our Wedding - 04/04/09 (Flickr set shown as a slideshow)

Undefeated...

2010-07-23T09:05:00.003-10:00

I survived the week... have a great weekend everyone!

Alaskan Cruise...

2010-07-18T16:58:00.028-10:00

I finally finished uploading photos from our Alaskan Cruise vacation. This is just a handful of them... you can find the entire set on my flickr account by clicking here. Sorry for the delay... Enjoy!

Alaskan Cruise 2010 - Entire Set with Thumbnails (Flickr)
Alaskan Cruise 2010 - Entire Set Slideshow on Black (Flickr)

It's Gonna Be a Bright, Bright Sun-Shiny Day...

2010-07-16T07:59:00.005-10:00

Have a great weekend, everyone! Don't forget to wear your sunglasses...

Editing Away...

2010-07-15T09:27:00.010-10:00

Dear Family & Friends:

Please bear with me as I try to overcome my obsessive editing & re-editing behavior as of late... After sorting through about 1800 photos from Alaska, I have been attempting to edit over 300 of them this past week and I'm only about a quarter ways through. I'm trying to pump through them as fast as I can and will continue to work on them this weekend. Thank you for being so patient with me...

On another note, thanks to my friend Kaimana of He>i, I am in love with this new iPhone app called Diptic! If you haven't gotten it yet, it's definitely worth checking out! I'm always on the hunt for new and exciting photography apps for the iPhone... I can't seem to get enough!

Get the Diptic app here!

SwitchEasy Nude Case for iPhone 4

2010-07-12T19:16:00.010-10:00

If you were lucky enough to get the iPhone 4, but are tired of waiting for a screen protector and case to come out, look no further... I just got my SwitchEasy Nude for iPhone 4 case in the mail today, and it is pretty dang sleek! For the low price of $19.99 you can order yours today and it also includes two anti-static front screen guards, one microfiber wipe, one squeegee for your screen guard application, two headphone jack protectors and two 30 pin connector protectors... pretty good deal if you ask me!

Buy it here!

SwitchEasy.com

P.S. Off topic, but just wanted to mention that I haven't forgotten to post pictures from my recent Alaskan Cruise family vacation, I'm just still in the process of going through thousands of photos and editing them as well. Maybe that explains the migraine I got on Saturday. I'll post them as soon as possible... pinky swear!

Ciao for now...

2010-06-24T12:32:00.006-10:00

In exactly t-minus 8 hours, I will be in one of these, on my way to Vancouver... then it's off to Alaska on a cruise ship! I won't have cellular service or any access to internet while on the ship, so I'll see you all when I get back. I'll post pictures as soon as I am able to connect back into the internet world that I have come to know and rely on way too much. It'll be quite interesting and nice to be on hiatus from the internet world for a bit... pure freedom!

Ciao for now...

Photo taken on my Canon 5d Mark II
135mm f/2.0L

Aloha Tuesday...

2010-06-22T08:57:00.006-10:00

I start my vacation tomorrow... it's Aloha Tuesday for me! No work for the next 2 weeks! Freedom has never felt so good...

Photo taken with my Canon 5d Mark II

50mm f/1.4

The Squeeze Inn

2010-06-18T18:57:00.007-10:00

I really want to try one these burgers from The Squeeze Inn Burger Joint in Sacramento, California. I saw it on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network recently, and since then I can't stop thinking about it! Being as I won't be going to Sacramento, California anytime soon, I wonder if I can make one at home myself... that burnt cheese hanging over the bun looks sooooooo darn good... yum!!!!

Rejoice...

2010-06-18T08:05:00.004-10:00

... It's finally Friday! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Photo taken with my Canon 5d Mark II
17-35mm f/2.8L

Trying to hang in there...

2010-06-17T16:26:00.004-10:00

The day is going by so darn slow...

Photo taken with my Canon 5d Mark II
50mm f/1.4

Re-Editing...

2010-06-16T13:34:00.006-10:00

Sorry for the major lack in posts... believe it or not, I've been keeping myself extremely busy the past couple of weeks. Now that I have some down time, I'm trying to touch up on photo editing. I posted this Off the Wall photo of Dean a while back, and decided to play around with it a bit in photoshop. I've been trying to take more photos lately... soon I'll have ample opportunity to do so because I'll be going on vacation. My family and I are going on an Alaskan Cruise next week to celebrate my mom & dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary... we'll be staying in Vancouver for a few days as well. Can wait! Something about being a tourist makes picture taking extra fun! Also, the fact that I did something crazy like purchase a new lens that I really wanted for the trip will make it even better! It was a last minute decision to purchase it... it sort of just happened... I couldn't control the urge... it was one of those "but I really need it for the trip" kind of purchases. Haha. Anyway, can't wait to try it out... it's out for delivery on the UPS truck as I type!

Happy hump day!

Rebirth of Summer...

2010-05-26T08:29:00.008-10:00

So I entered another Hipstamatic contest a few days ago... and today is the LAST DAY to vote for my print 'Poolside Loungin'...'. To celebrate the opening of The Gallery and Dijitalfix’s 2nd store in New York, they will be exhibiting the top 100 Hipstamatic prints as determined by the community. The top print from these 100 will be chosen by 3 judges, and the winner will receive the Best of Show Prize, furnished by Dijitalfix, as well as a limited edition printed book of the show pieces. Thanks to the votes I've received already, my print is within the top 100... but I still need your help! Please, if you haven't voted for my print yet... please do so by clicking on this link now:

Poolside Loungin'...

Thank you so much, everyone!

Baby steps...

2010-05-21T11:13:00.005-10:00

It's finally Friday, people! Get me the f*ck out of here!

Have a great weekend!

Rain Rain...

2010-05-20T07:35:00.004-10:00

Hearing the early morning rain outside my window while I'm asleep makes me want to just stay under the covers and not go to work...

Photo taken with my Canon 5d Mark II
50mm f/1.4

Aloha from Paradise...

2010-05-14T07:44:00.007-10:00

Today is the last day to vote for my Hipstamatic print 'Aloha from Paradise...' in The Big Hipstamatic Show's Life - "Sunshine and Moonbeams" contest. I took this photo at the Kaneohe Bay Sandbar last weekend. I don't normally enter these type of contests, but I have fun using the Hipstamatic iPhone camera application and decided to do something fun and out of the ordinary by giving it a shot (no pun intended). My goal was to make it in the top 100, and thanks to all my family and friends who voted, my print went from #2,434 to #45! Yay! Thanks everyone who voted!

If you haven't voted yet, you can vote by clicking here! Today is the last day to vote.

Have a great weekend, everyone. T.G.I.F.

Alternative's Spring 2010 Lookbook

2010-05-11T09:05:00.005-10:00

Love these looks in Alternative's Spring 2010 Lookbook!

Le Coeur du Spring

Incorporating bright pops of color in violet and cobalt, retro-style prints and mixed media pieces, the spring 2010 collection was inspired by the romance and vibrant allure of 1960s French pop culture. From music, art and cinema to the unforgettable cultural icons themselves—Brigitte Bardot, Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin—the 60s French pop scene was abundantly rich in style and creativity. Shot in L.A.’s Laurel Canyon in a mid-century architectural home with a Danish modern interior design influence, the spring 2010 campaign captures the casual luxury and effortless, unequivocal coolness of a bygone era.

See the entire lookbook here!

The Bears

2010-05-10T10:33:00.007-10:00

Here are a few pictures I took at my nephew's first flag football game of the season, which took place this past Sunday. They did great, winning their first game with a smashing score of 19-0! Go Bears!