Weekend Update

Hi I'm JJ and you're not!

Sorry, Saturday Night Live Moment.

This was a remarkably quiet weekend overall. Given the medical testing this Thursday, it was a particularly long weekend as well. Much of it was spent sitting in front of the computer formating and fixing photos taken at several activities. For example, photos from Fright Night LA (Friday the 13th of October) are done completely. The CD-r is cut and going in the mail today. I'm also going to send out individual photos to the various folks I have e-mail addresses for. When I post photos, I'm only going to post highlights due to the large number of shots.

I also worked on the photos from the shoot with madame_lily. OMG some of these are spectacular. I'll post a couple samples of those today as well. There's subtle color and lighting differences between the flash and non-flash shots I'm going to preserve. Overall, I think everyone will be pleased.

Last but not least on the photo front, I resized and performed some minor Photoshop work on photos from Antelope Valley Pagan Pride Day (early this month). On several photos, I was asked to preserve one person's privacy by distorting a face. I have done so hopefully without making it stand out more.

This weekend was also not all about my photos though. On Saturday, we drove down to LA and visited The DRKroom Gallery which was hosting an exhibit of movie stills. What was special is these were stills from Roger Corman's adaptations of various Edgar Allen Poe's horror stories staring Vincent Price. Mr. Corman showed up while we were there. Within moments, the kids and I were adrift in Hollywood royalty of an earlier age that showed up to reminisce. So many faces I recognized, but names I couldn’t recall. One person who did show up was actress Barbara Steele, who co-started in several on the highlighted movies. In fact, prints of this photo of her from "The Raven" were for sale at the gallery. Sadly, I did not take pictures. I’d asked the galley owner and he declined my request out of respect to his guest, which was completely understandable and I agree with. I may want to photograph stars and celebrities, but if ever given the chance, it will always be with the respect and dignity that everyone deserves.

After that, we drove cross town to check out opening night of Boney Island. I took a number of long exposures using my tripod. Most were marveleous. This was a wonderful cap on a great night.

Webhosting

I know I asked before, but I'll ask again. The website is nearly done (so I'm told), and now I'm looking for a home. I already have an account with GoDaddy.com, but I'm looking to see what's offered elsewhere and what's recommended. maubast didn't you mention once that you do hosting for websites?

Antelope Valley Pagan Pride Day (7 Oct 06) – part 1 of 2

Early this month, we visited a unique one day event in Palmdale. Each year, the local pagan community hosts a gathering that supports diversity, tolerance and religious expression outside the mainstream. In the hyper-conservative Antelope Valley, this is a welcome and needed event. The Pagan Pride Day in Palmdale is part of the international Pagan Pride festivities. The event is to promote understanding, religious diversity and charity. The local fete was lightly attended but well organized (by Ariadne Morningstar dragonhearth). Being the eclectic faith that I hold, knowing there would be some very cool shops represented, and having told Ariadne I’d be there to photograph, I gathered the household and went to visit. All in all, we had a very good time and I may start visiting their meetings (schedule permitting). In addition, I captured some photos of the park, the festival, various visitors, and the band Hauk – which performed at the event.

Links:
http://paganpride.avpagans.org/
http://avpagans.org/
http://www.spiralscouts.org/metadot/index.pl



( Merrily Met! [12 behind the cut] )

Antelope Valley Pagan Pride Day (7 Oct 06) – part 2 of 2

Music and art abounded at Pagan Pride Day.

Links:
http://paganpride.avpagans.org/
http://avpagans.org/
http://www.spiralscouts.org/metadot/index.pl

A drum circle formed

( Merrily Met! [12 behind the cut] )

Initial results – Photoshoot with madame_lily

It’s a slow day at work, and I’m feeling particularly creative. Here’s a preview of how the shoot went with Madame Lily. Consider these are some of the first photos taken and that I’ve uploaded, but in my humble opinion, they are stunning. As the shoot progressed, everyone relaxed, had fun and the images got better and better.



( Strike the pose [2 more behind the cut] )

Halloween Treats

Nightmare Before Christmas has reopenned in the theater and I want to go see the retouched version. Check out the article below.

http://www.miceage.com/suekruse/sk101906a.htm