MemDay530

I totally did not expect this event to be anywhere near reflective, figuratively speaking. There's something about the gathering and the lanterns and the high emotional presentation of this event that made it enlightening. Maybe it was the stunning visual spread which the event created that plucked a cord somewhere. The lights were glistening and organically forming random non-patterns - it moved me. I started thinking about my grandma at first, the one I knew well...then I thought about my other grandma even though I can't remember her...and then it just kept rolling onto my two grandfathers, one I never got to meet and the other I never got to know well. Never have I experienced Memorial Day this way, really the way it is meant to be observed.










I flicker searched lantern ceremony today and befriended folks who posted photos from the event...one of which found a photo of her floating lantern on my photostream. Hundreds and maybe thousands of floating lanterns, and hers happened to be one of the very few that I had photographed. Purely kismet connection made, kinda put a happy tingle on my day.

I was sorta intimidated at first. So many profesh photogs all steaked out in three feet of water and there I was in the middle of it with my good 'ol nikkormat. But then really when the whole experience of shooting takes over it doesn't  matter because I lost myself in the frame. Endless number of compositions created looking through that viewfinder since the getgo and I was as comfortable as anyone out there. In fact, I think I might've been the only bad ass one who shot in full manual and unwinded and reloaded a film while being halfway submerged in the sea....and my Nikkormat takes wonderful photos.

This pic to the left was taken right at sunset shortly before the lanterns floated...Don't let me be misunderstood though, I still want fancy camera with a fancy lens, much fancier than the D3000 I currently own, whose light meter is doing all sorts of discombobulated metering. If you feel like looking at more check out the rest of my MemDay530 photos here, some of which are taken by my Pentax waterproof cam, too.

The last few months

I am re-learning how to write. The last few months there's been a block, but maybe because I started working six days a week. It's a good thing, though. I got my hands dirty on some photo and design work for my company, working a day or two at the office. Here's a few I took for our Neiman Marcus Hawaii collection.



Big thanks to my good buddy P-shop for helping me make these cookies perfect. Clone stamp for president.



Note to self: don't ever eat hot chips before taking off contacts. Even if I wash my hands really well. Do the opposite of nike: Don't DO IT!

So back to the regular programming. I bought some iron-on print paper and recently did some graphic tees for my lil neph.



Mele Kalikimaka. That means merry christmas in Hawaiian. I'm still trying to memorize how to say happy new year. They have some pretty spectacular displays here for the holidays. I took pics of them the other day.



Santa does the Shaka


hau'oli makahiko hou means happy new year. now say it five times.


I can't believe my mother got an Ipad before me. what da!??


I like this new Nikon d3000 camera. I kinda wished I knew that I was gonna receive a pretty decent bonus before I bought this camera though.





Lastly, this is for Lori. Thanks for your kind words.

Spring break of the mind

I decided to scrap all my grown up plans for the week and enjoy some Chicago while it's here, because before I know it, the weather is miserable again. Just cause I aint in school don't mean I can't have spring break. So today I went to the Museum of Science and Industry. I must say, it's the most enjoyable museum I've been to in a while.

La ti dah ti da. There is an American named Joe. This is him.


Joe used to dream about fetuses when he was younger, though not quite sure why. Today, his spine tingling dream came back in reality. Now Joe remembers why he dreamed about unborn babies when he saw thisssts (Joe has a lisssp).



Dun. dun. dun. Indeed. Joe decided this is enough, he needs a better experience from this museum. He looked for young, innocent chickssthss.



Just hatched (very pissed that the hatching pics came out bleh!..ry).

Moving on, Joe started imagining that he was a giant. Then all of a sudden it became real. Well sorta, When he found the miniature downtown Chicago.



Then Joe saw butterflies in the form of electronic visualization. Sadly though, even fake butterflies didn't like him - but it played with this lady's hand shadow.



The American didn't realize at first that he was tired and hungry. But as soon as he did, Joe decided to poof on out of the museum. *POOF.

See more fetuses at different stages of development here.

disclaimer: The person and events in this blog is sorta fictitious. Any references to dreams and reality might be purely coincidental, and no American, genetic chicks, or unborn babies were used and abused by this blog entry.

Homesick Control

I got a new, used film camera, I need to get used to shooting with it. Sweet goodbye whispered in my ear. I was taking pictures before the sun came up.

The most loyal ally. This room is my home. I will miss it most.











The White City, almost undefiled at the break of morning.









The Shedd. I'll be seeing more of these...in their natural habitat.





It's been a productive day. Now I get to watch Lost and then crash. For more pics check out my flickr.

Frostbites and green house

I finally got to see the Chicago Botanic Garden, along the way shot some photos on film. A proactive attempt to enjoy the cold, despite the frostbites,
and to maybe remove the 'dis' to make it my winter of content. Dunno...never read the book, but Steinbeck is good from what I did read from him.

Brittle cold


Shackled...Japan style


The green house gave me this pink eye.



At one point I thought I was in planet Pandora...when I met this alien.


Thornburst come to mind when I see this.


Yellow is a good color when done right, I think yellow is proud of me.


See the rest here

Wintertyme Chi

Good 'ol Nikkormat came out of retirement. He had the urge to document
some wintertyme Chi, but not till after enjoying some baba ghanoush.

This photo makes me think of Where the wild things are. The light, maybe?


Hafta admit, this May 2 expiration date has brought a new sense bearability
to my winter. I'm all for it, because otherwise I would be depressed. egwhw!!

This one is tender, such a far contrast from this summer, It's the same view.


It feels good to shoot analog! haven't done so since 2007, graininess and all.



Do I see a little spring peaking through, some glimmer, good good glimmer?



See more of 'em here, nice and big. You know you like 'em big ;p

Movers and Shakers

I just finished going through my whole body of work, was looking for anything holiday related to post, besides the photos posted a week ago. Much to my dismay, I found none. The closest I have are these salt and pepper shakers, because of the colors, I guess. And I have to thank my design partner for this project, Moe. He wet-sanded the prototype with them holiday colors.



The scene: Walmart paint isle.

Moe: Juju, I found the colors we are gonna use, look!
Juju: (gives weird face) Those look like xmas colors, I don't like it.
Moe: (gives annoyed face) Really? "x-mas!" you're weird. It's Chili's!
Juju: (gives just as annoyed of a face) I don't feel like saying the whole
        thing, got a problem with that? Chili's was only a hypothetical
        restaurant inspiration for our project!
Moe: (gives decisive face) Whatever, we are using these colors!
Juju: (gives defeated face) Fine, but I'm not painting our models, you are!



So that's how Moe and I decided on the Holiday colors. Good times.





Click here for more from this project. May the merry bells keep ringing!!

Holiday Poladroids

The fact that I'm not going anywhere this holiday season is just devastating. I don't even know where I'm gonna be for NYeve yet. In light of it all, these pics help me reminisce. NYC December 2008. Dear Santa, a DSLR would be nice.







Merry Holidays everyone and no one. See the whole set here.

Sublime is the Night

Back in my unencumbered photography time, I once sent chills down my spine the first time I printed this photo. She and I decided to name herself Rosemary.


All Hallows and All Saints are fun. Candy and costumes are great too.


Needless to say, Rosemary is now four months pregnant in real life. I wonder what Rosemary's baby's name will be? Damien perhaps...Ichabod maybe?

Buildings don't sit, they stand high.

But my Halloween costume is still the shizznit! Representing Chicago's own.

I needed to have a project, and candy triggers my creative juices to flow.

Foamcore is back, along with acrylic paint, electric tape, and the glue gun.

Somebody be Sears Tower with me. Props to my brainstorming buddy, Joe.