I suck at Film

So I acquired a Diana F+ off of Craigslist recently, and what started out as a hobby has turned into an obsession. I went through 4 rolls of film in about 10 days, and most of the results have been less than stellar. I also purchased a scanner so I can scan in my negatives and not have to pay a printer, mostly because I’m a cheap bastard and film can be quite pricey.

Well right now I’m working on a 35mm roll in my Diana, and since the Diana normally shoots 120, the picture should bleed through the sprocket holes, kinda like this. I’m not expecting much with the first roll, but we shall see.

Here’s my first foray into the wonderful world of film:

The B&W film I used was Lomography 100 speed and it looks really crappy. I doubt I will ever use that brand of film ever again,

So I haven’t updated my blog in like a year, but I plan on updating my exploits with film more frequently. I also have my sisters Canon AE-1 35mm, I’ll post those as well.

Filed under: California, Fun List, Lomo, Orange County, Photography , analog, diana f+, film, lomography, southern california

What I Learned Today – CSS + Salton Sea Photo’s

Well, to be honest I’ve combined two posts into one. I posted Salton Sea photo’s were coming and since the next project in the CSS book I’m working through is a thumbnail page, I figured I would do both.

I took 454 photo’s of my trip to the Salton Sea, and posted a quick 15 here on a thumbnail page.

Here it is:
TDP Thumbnail Page

There wasn’t much CSS markup because I linked to the previous style sheet of the photo gallery that I created last week.

Any comments are welcomed.

I usually like to post a photo with each post, and during my trip I had discussion with Steve regarding HDR, which I’m going to be honest, I’m not really a fan of, but he likes it. So I created a photo of Steve in an attempt at HDR using Photoshop and Color Efex Pro.

It’s a little wild.

From CEP

Again, any comments are welcomed.

Filed under: Books, Cascading Style Sheets, Fun List, Javascript, Photography, Web Design , Color Efex Pro 3.0, CSS, HDR, Javascript, Photo, Photoshop, Salton Sea, thumbnails, Web 2.0, Web Design

CSS > Photo Gallery

I’ve given up on the sIFR for now, I couldn’t get them to work, so I’ve moved on to basic photo galleries using CSS. When I say basic, I mean basic. Once I get the style sheet typed up, I’ll post a link to an example.

Also, I need to learn Dreamweaver asap, because anything that will save me time is welcomed. Once I finish the book I’m using now, I think I’ll start on a Dreamweaver book.

Here it is:
Basic Online Gallery

Once again, it is very basic, I will work on styling it up a bit later, but baby steps dawg, baby steps.

Also, I think the best thing about book and website support is when companies allow you to download their css code and dissect it so you can see the errors that might be holding you back. One simple little thing can screw the whole page up.

Here’s my work space:

Last but not least, my current favorites:
Song: Telephone by Erykah Badu
Drink: Pepsi
Food: Chimichungas
TV Show: The Office
Movie: Religulous
Website: Tie: Flickr & Hulu

Also, I downloaded Google Chrome and first impressions is Opera and Firefox fucked and out popped Chrome.

Filed under: Books, Cascading Style Sheets, Current List, Fun List, Javascript, Photography, Web Design , Flickr, Online, CSS, HTML, Dreamweaver, Javascript, Cascading Style Sheets, Web Design, britney spears, hulu, google chrome, photo gallery, the office

What I Learned Today: Cascading Style Sheets 2

Flash Replacement. One major downside to image replacement is that it requires a lot of manual labor. Thankfully there is sIFR.  Scalable Inman Flash Replacement.

Example:
Noodlebox

Sorry I don’t have a before or after picture.

Basically, sIFR is a javascript file that scans your headings, copies the text from inside those headings, and uses it inside a Flash object that replaces the HTML text. Pretty awesome huh?

sIFR can be affected by the extra whitespace in your HTML tags. This would be proper code:

<h1>Yo! MTV Raps!</h1>

No spaces, no problem.

You can get ready made sIFR from many different sources, including one from the author of the book I’m using.
Fontsmack

Once you have the .swf file they’re ready for your web page. You should really call the .swf by the font they include. example: bitwise.swf

Customizing the Javascript. You do need to insert into the head of your page one line of script.

<script typre=”text/javascript” src=”scripts/sifr.js”></script>

You’ll also have to insert some of your own code to indicate which headings you’ll want o replace.

Alright, it’s 4:30 Pacific time, I gotta get ready for work.

Here’s some visual stimulation for that ass:

Presidio Cemetery S.F. with the 300 effect.

Goodnight munchkins.

Filed under: Books, Cascading Style Sheets, Fun List, Javascript, Lomo, Nikon D80, Photography, Web Design , Cascading Style Sheets, CSS, DOM Scripting, Dreamweaver, Javascript, Sitepoint, Web Design

My first video on YouTube – Time Lapse of course

Here it is:

It’s nothing special I know, but I was just playing around with my new Pclix having fun.

Filed under: California, Fun List, Music, Nikon D80, Orange County, Photography, Time Lapse, Uncategorized , CA, D80, Nikon, Orange County, Scion, Time Lapse, Vampire Weekend

New Time Lapse @ 6 FPS – T & J Playing Games

I’m not sure what this game is called, but Jim & his family call this game Lagger’s. It was introduced to the family by a man named Bill, and he thinks he is way pro at this game. Jim & I school this guy everytime we play him. Not to gloat, but yeah we whip his ass and it pisses him off.

The Notorious TDPT & J

Best if viewed at the original site:
Vimeo in HD

Filed under: California, Fun List, Introduction, Music, Nikon D80, Orange County, Photography, Time Lapse , Beer, Camera Control Pro, Fun, Games, Music, Nikon D80, Orange County, Time Lapse

My Top 10 Albums of ‘08

10. Vampire Weekend | S/T : Released Jan 28, 08
The Buzz band of ‘08. I have no idea what they’re talking about. maybe because I’ve never been to Boston, but overall fun, catchy album.
Key Tracks: Mansard Roof, Campus & Walcott.

9. Fleet Foxes | S/T: Released June 3, 08
I’m kind of embarrassed this is on here, because they kind of became the Starbucks house band, but there’s no denying these hippies can sing.
Key tracks: White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood & Meadowlark.

8. Nas | Untitled : Released July 1, 08
Nas is hands down my favorite MC, and this album is a little disappointing only because he has set the bar so high from jump, it’s hard to live up to those expectations every single album.
Key tracks: Sly Fox, Breathe & Black President.

7. Erykah Badu | New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War : Released Feb 26, 08
I never listen to R&B except old school Jodeci and Mary J. Erykah is another exception. Every single album of her’s is a great great listen. This one also does not disappoint.
Key tracks: The Healer, The Cell & Me.

6. Radiohead | In Rainbows: Released Jan 1, 08
This album would probably be number 1 had it came out later in the year, but it already feels like it’s 3 years old. I can’t add anything new that the critics haven’t already said.
Key tracks: House Of Cards, Nude & Jigsaw Falling Into Place.

5. She & Him | Volume One: Released Mar 18, 08
This is probably my daughters album of the year. Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward create an album that sounds like it was made 50 years ago. All songs written by Zooey except her Smokey Robinson cover.
Key tracks: I Thought I Saw Your Face Today, I Was Made For You & You Really Gotta Hold On Me

4. Kings Of Leon | Only By The Night : Released Sept 23, 08
One song on this album, is better than about 75% of anything you’ll hear on the radio right now. Manhattan is probably the greatest KOL song ever.
Key tracks: Manhattan, Sex On Fire & Revelry.

3. The Roots | Rising Down : Released April 28, 08
Best Hip Hop album of the year. 75 bars is Black Thought ripping everyone a new asshole. More guest stars than I usually like, but after awhile it added a new element that i came to appreciate.
Key tracks: 75 Bars, The Show & Rising Down with Mos Def & Styles P.

2. TV On The Radio | Dear Science : Released April 28, 08
TVOTR and KOL are probably the most consistent band putting out music nowadays. Dear Science is near perfection. They might also be the most off putting band that’s able to sell tickets to shows and sell merchandise at the rate that they do, but I’m beginning to think that they might also be the band nowadays that people say they like just to look cool. Bright Eyes, Death Cab and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s were also victim’s of this hipster curse. This album is also impossible to pigeon hole as well, due to the soundscape being all over the place. Call it abstract, but I think it’s more confusing than that. I call it dope.
Key tracks: Family Tree, Dancing Choose, Stork & Owl, Golden Age, Red Dress & Halfway Home.

1. The Last Shadow Puppets | Age Of The Understatement : Released May 6, 08
This album is number one because I probably listened to it more than any other album that came out this year. Fronted by The Arctic Monkey’s & The Little Flames lead singers, they channel The Kinks, The Monkees and craft pop ditty’s your momma can listen to.
Key tracks: Standing Next To You, Calm Like You, The Meeting Place & My Mistakes Were Made For You.

Honorable Mentions:
Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
Conor Oberst – Self Titled
The Cool Kids – The Bake Sale
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Tanya Morgan – The Bridge
Q-Tip – The Renaissance

Q-Tip’s album is amazing, but I just got it yesterday, so I don’t know if I’ll still love it in a week.

I did my list a little earlier than usual because I got other shit to do.

enjoy your holidays.

Filed under: Current List, Fun List, Music, Random Thoughts, Uncategorized , List, Music, Hip Hop, Top 10, Indie, Rock, College, End Of Year, Jenny Lewis

Salton Sea Photo’s

Salton Sea was once a fun little touristy town where people would vacation and swim, camp and boat…But that was in the 50’s and 60’s. Today it’s like a Mad Max all over the place.

A vast wasteland of abandoned homes with boarded up windows and a stench in the air that will make your eyes melt. I wish I could say that it was frozen in time, but it looks more like time melted the whole area. Strangely odd and beautiful at the same time.

Abandoned Hotel:

Rotted Camper:

House that once was:

Playground Equipment that is now underground:

Half Buried Bus lighted up with Flashlights:

And finally, Sunset:

Again, desaturated beyond what the original raw file looked like.

From what I could gather from info after the trip, the Imperial County board of Governors want the Salton Sea to be restored back to it’s original glory by the time 2035 hits. Good luck!

Now, who needs a drink?

Filed under: California, Fun List, Introduction, Nikon D80, Orange County, Photography, Uncategorized , Adobe Lightroom, California, Fun, Nature, Nikon D80, Photo, Photography, Photoshop, Salton Sea, Sigma 10-22 Wide Angle, Sunset

Joshua Tree Photo’s

Went out to Joshua Tree over the weekend with some friends, and took some pictures. I had never been to Joshua Tree (J-Tree if your cool) and had no idea what type of picture taking there was to had.

Joshua Tree w/ Boulders to the right:

Cholla Cactus:

I desaturated them in Lightroom. I was trying to give off more of a visual feeling than anything else. Does that make sense?
It does to me.
It was in the middle of the desert. Super dry was the visual feeling I was going for.

The clouds obviously add quite a bit to the picture, and I used my Wide Angle most of the day, which made Steve super jealous.

Salton Sea was next.

Filed under: California, Fun List, Nikon D80, Photography, Uncategorized , Adobe Lightroom, California, Fun, Joshua Tree, Nikon D80, November 1st, Photo, Scenary, Wide Angle

End of the day. What’s in your pocket?

JPG magazine did this little theme a few weeks back about what’s in your pocket at the end of the day. I looked the article over, thought it was cool, but never paid any mind after my initial look over. Well, it sat and sat in the back of my mind for these last few weeks, and today I realized that I had something different than the average keys, phone, & wallet.

Now I have two daughters, Sofie who’s 4 and Tegan, who’s now 2, and they have brought me more joy than anything else in this world. I know that when they get older I’m going to miss finding these little surprises in my pocket. My wife Amber cut Sofie and Tegan’s hair the other night, and Tegan isn’t going to need a barrette for quite some time, as Amber cut it short to avoid the tangles she causes.

Today was a nice surprise and yes, it did bring a small tear to my eye.

I rode my bike to school tonight and it was so relaxing. I listened to my iPod all the way there and back and man o man was it fun.

TV on the Radio’s latest album Dear Science is in constant rotation, but on the way home I put it on shuffle all.

Filed under: Fun List, Nikon D80, Photography, Random Thoughts, Uncategorized , Adobe Lightroom, Bike, everyday, Fun, Green, hand, Ipod, Kids, Nikon D80, Photo, pocket, Shuffle, Transportation, TV on the Radio