Between Dreams and Reality

4 Months in and I feel Great!!!

2011-05-01T13:01:00.000-04:00

On Weight Watchers for around 4 months now...I've lost 12 lbs, 2 inches off my hips and 1 inch off my waist. Now that Spring is here I'm out walking. The other day I walked for just under an hour and walked 2 miles. I hit a roadblock earlier in April when my grandfather passed away. I didn't track or anything for about 2 weeks...gained 2 pounds back but hey it'll happen. Now with this new week its gone again.

No Photoshop, No Camera Raw...as Pure and Real as it Gets

2011-03-03T14:26:00.000-05:00

Anyone that knows me well enough knows about the misc illnesses my father has gone through. Hell even I've forgotten most of them by now.

Truthfully how the man is still alive is mystery to me. I would have given up years ago. He's gone through heart surgeries, multiple heart attacks and strokes, more heart caths than any one person should go through. He's also had gastric bypass surgery. The poor man is only 65 but it feels like he's 85.

I took these images the other day after I walked into the diningroom to work on wedding photos for my best friend. There he sat by the fireplace just sitting there. I sat with him for hours and just listened as he reminisced about his mom, bluegrass music and whatever came to his mind.

I hate taking pictures when he's in so much pain. But images like this are how he wants my brothers and I to remember everything he's gone through so we don't repeat it.

Why Weight Watchers?

2011-02-07T18:57:00.001-05:00

I've seen a lot of posts lately about why everyone joined WW, besides the want to be thin and the support system. Me? I just got tired of being lazy and having no energy or motivation to do the simplest thing. That's not me. I easily gave up on things just because something didn't originally go to my plan. Life happened. After graduating from college my family was hit hard by the economy. I returned home though I had planned on being on my own for quite awhile. My dad got sick and weak and needed me around the house. My mom needed me for emotional support. I just stopped caring about me. I was so busy dealing with what everyone else needed me to do.

Its not like this just started after I graduated. I didn't give myself a chance a long time ago. Pretty much right when I started to gain weight in middle school/high school. I assumed because I was the way I was (not fat but just getting fat) that there was no use trying to do anything if it involved me being "accepted". I loved playing soccer in gym class but didn't try out for the team. I played guitar but didn't join any bands, I barely talked to the other "music kids".

Fast forward to 2010-2011. Tried of not trying for myself. Made the decision that in August 2011 I'm moving to Florida with one of my two best friends and her family. I'm eatting better even if it kills the fun budget. And finally, the weight was coming off. No Matter What. And if anyone wanted to say anything negative about it they could be told, does it concern you? Probably not, its for me and only me. I am tried of being the photographer who hates having her photo taken because she hates what she looks like. I want to go to any store and buy off the rack and not worry if its going to fit. I want to be able to wear the heavy metal gear and what not to shows. I want to amaze people because I did something, and finished it.

My second weigh in day and I've lost 6 lbs. I'm proud of those 6 lbs. I worked for them. Ok so I haven't exactly exercised for them. I just counted my points and did my usual routine of housework and running around at work. But I have the Pilates and Tae Bo videos to work with when I finally clear a space to work out.

Like my profile says, I'm working to be the person I know I can be. And if I can I wanted to help other as I slowly help myself.

Weight Watchers Week 2 - Homemade Egg Rolls and WI 2

2011-02-07T18:53:00.002-05:00

Sadly I got a bit lazy with posting and posted in the WW blog but not this one. So the below entries are from there.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011
So last night was the shopping trip. Bought some cabbage and lettuce for sandwiches, bananas to flavor the cereal. Wheat bread to replace the white bread and turkey instead of beef bologna. Carrots and apple slices to snack on. Even bought some tofu to experiment with, I've had it before but it was a roommate cooking it not me. Also got some eggroll wrappers to experiment making some veggie or low point rolls.

Dad was talking about making spaghetti sometime this week, so i got a box of whole wheat noodles :)

Must admit I have the greatest support from my family. Ok well the parents at least. Dad has been eating more fruit already, and he wanted to change breads altogether until my mom accidentally bought some white along with my wheat. He even asks if I can have something. Both parents had me put the WW app on their phones since my blackberry only has the counter. That way I can search foods and see how many points something would be.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Yesterday I made 4 egg rolls worth 2 points each. Stuffed them with a bit of pork tenderloin, red cabbage, shredded carrots, and shredded cheese. Today I plan on making them again but without the pork.

Already in the week I've noticed the minor aches and pains I was feeling in my back and sides are gone or at least not as frequent.

I should note with the pork tenderloin I used half an ounce of each veggie and about 2 oz of pork I think. This is actually not a points crazy treat. Even without pork because of the wraps I used its still 2 pts. Next I'm trying this with tofu. I love experimenting with this, plus I didn't look at the use by date and bought my cabbage right before it so I need to use it up.

First Weigh In Day....

2011-01-30T21:18:00.002-05:00

Ok so when I woke up this morning I contemplated if I was going to weigh in today, since I started Weight Watchers on Wednesday/Thursday. Figured ok its only been three days nothing is going to have changed. Sure I've been counting my points and its been busy work days so my activity level was up...but yea figured nothing would show. I got on the scale and yea...lost 3 lbs!!! I dragged the scale into the kitchen to verify with my parents that I was reading it right. But yep...159 instead of 162. I'm excited but in reality I already know I usually flucuate between 155 and 160 regularly.

I think I've been doing well on WW, not my only problem is using up all my daily points. With measuring and what not I've found I'm actually not that hungry. Yesterday ended with 9 left over and today might be a very similiar day, unless I get hungry enough to eat the Kashi bar someone gave me. Oh yea and here's another proud moment...I turned down food. I started to eat the Kashi bar when it was given to me but then I realized hold on I'm not hungry, why I am eatting?

So hooray for small victories.

So I did it...I joined Weight Watchers

2011-01-27T22:42:00.001-05:00

Ok so I'll admit I was nervous at first about joining. I saw that my food choices would have to change. I was afraid that when I first put what foods I ate into the tracker that I'd be far out of my limits. Surprise to me that I'm actually 7 under! Now lets see what happens when I'm at work all day. One thing I hate about being a security guard, we do not get a break time. And food is normally whatever you can grab and bring with you. Here's hoping I can keep up.

So life makes sense yet again....

2011-01-07T10:27:00.002-05:00

Well for the most part at least. Besides being swamped with post-holiday bills because I forgot to reserve money for January student loan payments.

Otherwise everything is just peachy. Woke up this morning got my coffee and opened up the laptop to see what all was going on in the world. Sometime today I should probably continue writing the novella I'm working on with a friend of mine. Though I think that will postponed until later tonight when I'm at work. For now, after I fix another pot of coffee, I'll continue my venture in the basement. Finally got it through my head to move back into my bedroom. Though we'll see how that actually works out, I'm pretty sure theres some kind of mold or mildew set in that was making me cough and hack while talking to my aunt. Either way I'm finally packing up stuff in the dungeon and sorting it. Boxes being marked to go to Florida or stay here in wintery Pennsylvania. So far I have about 7 boxes marked for FL, Office/art supplies, candles, craft stuff, rubber duckies (yes they have their own box), frames, camera accessories mostly made up of old cameras.

After stuff that are taking up flat surfaces get packed up I should work on sorting my books and CDs. I also have to figure out how to store them once I get to FL. I'm planning ahead for a small ass room. So I can almost guarantee there will be no wall space left, between art and shelves.

Well off to do whatever I can before work tonight...woo....

Return to Florida :)

2010-11-16T22:50:00.001-05:00

So here I am again. Sitting in an airport, and waiting to go to Florida. I miss this trip, I’m still use to taking this trip two times a year. I like airports. I’m probably crazy for saying that but I do. Ok well I could do without paying $4 for a frappe but that’s another story. I’m sure when most people think of airports, the first though to their minds is the hassle of going through airport security. My first thought is to one of the most beautiful moments I’ve ever seen. Which I thought would be fitting to talk about since it’s a week before Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Probably about two years ago I was flying to Florida, just chilling by the gate so I could board. Well the one thing I always hated about flying was trying to get a good sit near the gate. Flying during the holiday season is even worse because then you’re lucky to get a seat near any gate. So even the concourse was packed with people. Either way, I was sitting against a wall waiting for the passengers on the plane that I’d be boarding to finish unboarding so I could board. I looked up and probably about 20 service men and women got off the plane. It almost seems like the crowded concourse actually might have cleared the way for them to walk through. But as they walked the concourse, every person standing around clapped and cheered them. I think some may have actually thanked them.

The scene was so moving I’m still amazed about it. Because if you think about it the holidays are not only about family but they are also about looking at what we have and how it is that we can have it. George Washington was a soldier and he helped form the country I proudly call home. The men that fought the American Revolutionary War were soldiers, and it is because of them I’m not living in a newer Great Britain. They gave us the first modern sense of freedom. Now it’s the 21st century and we still have soldiers giving it their all even their lives to keep us free and save. But also we have the great men and women that work for the TSA. See the whole airport theme I have going here? Yes after September 11, 2001 its gotten to be more hassle to fly with new security regulations and what not but think of it this way… would you rather go through extra security or have your family mourn your lost because someone took down the plane you were on? Especially if flying to see said family. This is why I’m always thankful for the TSA, even when I had to go through extra security myself because I forgot my id expired. Even then all the TSA personnel were very nice and still managed to get me on my plane on time.
For most the members of TSA are probably like dentists, you hate seeing them sometimes but they provide a great service that you’d regret not having if it wasn’t there. So as you sit around with your family this holiday season, remember it isn’t about if you received or bought the hottest toy of the season. Its about being thankful for all those around you that give their service and lives to make sure you were able to buy or receive that toy or luxury. Also think of it this way, if something was to happen at an airport it would be the TSA to be the front line of defense. So as you go through airport security this season thank the TSA personnel that assist you. They are not just there to pick on you and make you late for your flight. They are there to serve and protect.

Come to think of it, you may want to thank your dentist too. After all its hard to enjoy dinner without teeth.

First harvest :)

2010-07-15T13:41:00.004-04:00

My first successes in gardening. One squash and 5 cucumbers. Tonight for dinner shall be chicken with fried squash and cucumber salad.

My father enjoying the first cucumber.

Weight Loss Pt. 2 :)

2010-02-16T13:57:00.002-05:00

Ok so I've been horrible at logging in food and what not. However, with the new job and all the walking I do I actually burn more calories than I consume. So with that, I've lost 5 pounds :)

Not a New Years Resolution....but a goal.

2010-01-10T11:33:00.002-05:00

I heard/read somewhere that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. So if I can keep up my new weight loss habits for those 21 days, I'll be set. Yes I know as being female we are always plagued with having the perfect figure or what not. Being perfect was never important to me, I have always been fine with just being me.

The history of this latest decision:
I actually use to be extremely underweight until about middle school. According to my parents they couldn't get me to weigh more than 40-60 pounds. Once I hit middle school and my teens I started to gain here and there but it was never more than a few pounds every few years. Even when I first attended Hood College I didn't really gain a huge amount, i think at my max i was 140. When I started Ringling I actually managed to lose 15 pounds freshmen year! But then again I had to walk the entirety of campus to get anywhere, even to the cafeteria/commons.

Now I'm out of school, I sit around all day since there is absolutely no work here unless I go to a temp agency. I do housework when I have the motivation, but with the stressors of moving back home that doesn't happen often. I now weigh about 164 (i lost a pound since yesterday counting calories). Thats 4 pounds more than I've ever weighed.

Why concentrate on weight loss now? 1) I'm 26 years old, now is when all the health problems will start to set in. Now is the time to bite them before they bite me. Bad enough I may already be suffering from low blood sugar. 2) my family is commonly plagued with diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholestrol. I've thankfully been able to keep the last two in check but who knows for how long. 3) i just want to feel proud of myself for something, that i finish something i start.

But yea I was roaming apps on my iPhone and found this one called LoseIt...figured I'd try it. With just calorie counting I already started losing a little bit of weight. So here's to a new year and a new start.

Dreams and Reality go hand in hand

2009-06-29T23:50:00.002-04:00

Flew back from Atlanta today. My airport writings will be posted later. Overall quite happy times with only a few upsets. When I was about to get on my plane in Atlanta to come back to Baltimore I talked to my dad...as he was being wheeled into the Emergency Room. Funny how life balances itself out, loads of happiness meets worry and whatever else I might be feeling right now. Either way, one thing I have learned so far in life, sorrow makes great work. Or at least I get through things by taking photos, hence my Thesis. And as a continuation, there's more photos for this bout. The photos below were taken today as my dad laid in the hospital bed in pain and there was nothing else I could do but take photos of it.

Summer Entry #2 - More cute puppies

2009-06-15T22:53:00.003-04:00

Just because I spend more time with dogs than I do humans, here's more adorableness Prise puppy style.

Brady is a maniac. Enough said, oh and big floppy ears and a big nose equal adorable.

And here is proof that yes Duke loves his tv.

When the little guy isn't chasing things on the tv, he sleeps.

And a puppy post wouldn't be complete with the girl. More views of Sugey.

This one my father may hate me for.

My summer to do list....besides finding a job...

2009-06-11T00:30:00.002-04:00

So even though I've graduated from Ringling, my list of stuff I still want to do is still pretty long. Whoever said I wasn't an adverturous or ambitious one doesn't know me very well.

1) Start my greeting card/postcard line. (I'd love help with inner messages)
2) Website (ok so as soon as I'm done in GA this is getting done)
3) Comic, ok so this is on the 5 year plan. Starting with a rewrite now that Carabasi means nothing.
4) Set up darkroom in the backshed. This also includes researching using recycled rain water and a pump so there is no new waterline needed in the ground.
5) Actually make a working list of what is on my hard drives.
6) Finish my stories for Steiling (hey i got a grade already so now its time to finish them)
7) Misc book projects. I have a 12x12 already cut, now its just continuing it.
8) Leave-behinds/Advertisements for Weddings, Babies, Bands and whoever else might want pictures of themselves.
9) Misc jewelry projects, those to be put on a different blog later.
10) Unpack...still....never ending unpacking...

ugh. I should not complain about being bored.

Summer Entry #1

2009-06-10T01:57:00.001-04:00

Its kinda sad when summer goes to the dogs...but here's a cute puppy shot anyway. More are sure to follow.

Life Week 1

2009-05-13T22:12:00.002-04:00

So Monday I arrived home ok well technically Tuesday being it was 12:05. Florida was in the 90s and Hanover, PA...50 degrees... Dogs really happy to see me, brothers heh. Jay was more concerned with the performance of his truck and Jerry was just...Jerry?

It was nice to sleep in my bed. My own bed, not dorm issue. Though I kinda miss the way the plastic mattress felt through the sheets. I also kinda miss not needing a metal chair to climb into bed. hehe Nah its nice to just fall into bed, especially when you aren't exactly awake in the morning and lose your footing. Yes that was me this morning. Oh and I got up at 7am one day this week with no alarm clock.

Last night my parents and I got my desk up. Desk that hasn't been used in about ten years and even then my dad used it more than I did. Now its another flat surface until I get furniture arranged the way I want it. Its a bit eerie looking around the room. Hell just looking around the basement in general. The shelves in the storage area are all mine from Hood. And then there is all the stuff in my room. Oh god the stuff...8 years of college worth of stuff. It would be only 4 but no one went through my stuff with the move because I was in Florida. Now I get to have some fun going through old memories and just old crap in general. The progression will be documented.

Theres 3 bookcases to be moved, 2 old desks and a school desk. Oh and lets not forget the dresser, blanket chest and whatever else might be hiding. Oh and a dollhouse. Yes I have a dollhouse. Look in my book and its there. Hasn't really been changed much since the original photo was taken, one of my projects for downtime.

Other moving in projects, converting the backshed into a darkroom/craft room. Right now it has the seasonal decorations and random bikes in it. I plan on making a pump system that will just use a bucket of water and keep it flowing. So I won't have to worry about running a water line. Also I'm going to look into recycling rain water. All my wood and painting crafts will work nicely in there. Especially since its next door to the garage :) And its perfect to just put up some plywood to block windows and then hinge them up when I want daylight. The room also has a nice view of the neighbors tomatoes. Thats the one thing I love about spring, watching things grow. Bookmaking/card/jewelry making will be kept indoors. Woo a use for all the desks!

Well back to digging through the stuff. Won't get a decent looking bedroom sitting on this blog all day.

drum roll The Thesis Statement

2009-04-21T20:43:00.002-04:00

The Strength You Have

Within life we are inspired or driven by those we meet and their impact on us. The first people we meet are our parents and mine have been the most influential on me. Especially my father who has shown remarkable spirit in the past nine years as he has fought illness and the possibility of death. His struggles are a test of human strength, not only moving him forward but making all those around him just as strong.

I grew up in a family of storytellers. Every holiday and campfire there would be stories about this family member or another. When my father was cleared to have gastric bypass surgery I decided it was finally time to start documenting his experiences. The images I use for this project were taken from March 2007, with his surgery, to January 2009. Within those two years I witnessed his isolation, depression, as well as his joy and happiness.

At first I pushed not to work on this project due to it being too personal. It's one thing to witness something like this, but it's another thing to recall it. My father had his own ordeals throughout those two years, however there is another side to the story. My struggles throughout those years are not recorded in images but it is present within every frame. There has not been a day since my father started to get sick that I was not afraid. I was always afraid of wondering what day would be the last one I spent with him. I was always afraid of what life would be like without him. Throughout the years my emotions were kept hidden until this project started two years ago. This project soley rests on my father not just because of his strength but also the strength we all show.

I grew up with stories my father told, now I tell his.

Thesis Preview: The book

2009-04-19T13:21:00.002-04:00

So I managed to scan a few pages before being dragged off to the darkroom.

Just a preview of the book I made to go with the prints.

Yay books

2009-04-16T13:08:00.001-04:00

The Strength Y...

From Gastric to an ...

By Becky Prise

Book Preview

My book for thesis :) Go buy it! Partial proceeds are being donated to the American Diabetes Association.

Writing....

2009-04-14T20:45:00.002-04:00

So...I've been taking a writing Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy class this semester. And for some reason everything I seem to be writing for it lately could be cool in a small comic form. Theres the movie thats now on youtube....could definitely be turned into a photo comic. Then there is the Undead Seas thing, it would be short but hey why not. Now I have some futuristic thing with big buildings and Scandinavian names. So...I guess I need to work on my comic again huh? Ok back to writing...maybe I can get enough writing on this damn thing done so i can do a few comic thumbnails...damn illustrator tendencies.

just because

2009-03-10T05:25:00.001-04:00

i realized i hadn't posted this anywhere yet and i love it. so here's an epic landscape.

Why my friends love me I'll never know.

2009-03-06T00:56:00.003-05:00

So yea as part of being here, Nate got to be featured in a "film". Cyan, Shannon and I had to do a world building assignment for use in a Planetarium. So yea...here's a sample of so far.

why my friends love me I'll never know.

new stuff

2009-03-02T02:30:00.002-05:00

So a few weeks ago Nate decided to visit again. Finally got awesome pictures of his tattoos.

Kinda funny.

2009-02-13T12:51:00.002-05:00

Today I'm reminded of something a friend of mine said when I told him I was going to school in Florida. Ok multiple friends have probably told me this but whatever. He said you go to Florida to die. Then again when the majority of the population is either stupid college students or the elderly I guess its a pretty good assumption. Seems like the weather even matches that idea.

Kinda funny how the weather fits the mood so well. Yesterday around 11am I found two dear friends from the past passed on. Both of heart failure one way or another. Andrea was gone as of Wednesday and Chris sometime before that. So I spent my Thursday either in a useless critique or on the phone with people I haven't talked to in 4-5 years. Strange how death brings back the old times and old friends. Five years ago I'd be at lunch making plans to go to Market Street Cafe in a few hours, probably around 7pm. There'd be musicians like Chris, Lloyd, Tomy, Daryl, and misc others. There'd be old souls reading their prose. And then there would be the high school kids who probably felt left out in school so they came to the cafe to be with like-minded individuals. Reading would be Nels, Dave, Don, Patrice, Kelly, Susan, Daniel and Andrea. Faces I probably haven't thought about in 4 years but still so fresh in my memory. I think I became a bigger fan of coffee because of that place.

Then after the poetry, prose and music came the food. I can still taste Venutti's garlic rolls. I ordered my first alcoholic beverage at Brewer's Alley, Baileys and Coffee I believe. There were quite a few other firsts because of that place, all of which made me the person I am today.

But sadly two of them are no longer with us. Though for Andrea at least I can say she is no longer in pain. Her RSD is finally cured. I admit, I'll miss those political debates her and I always got in. I'm also quite sorry we stopped talking over stupid crap that now belongs in the past. Chris, I'll never forget his jolly laugh and his big teddybear hugs. I'm sorry we never kept in touch, wish we had.

Yesterday was a day of irony and pain, and the weather here in Sarasota was like being in a rain cloud. It was beautiful, somber, and very mystical. Perfect for my friends. Today its sunny and a slight breeze. A new beginning. A new day. Two souls are finally at peace. Thank the gods.

And tonight in honor of friends no longer with us, I'll have a Baileys and Coffee and perhaps a garlic roll.

That time of the year.....

2009-02-01T01:55:00.004-05:00

So two times of the year I go insane....ok more than usual. Halloween I get all giggly and cute and weird, then again its my birthday what do you expect? Second time of the year, I get passionate and not in the common sense of the word...more like passionate hatred. That second time of the year being Valentine's Day, I hate it enough said. But for some reason I came up with the image you see below.

For those wondering...yes I'm alright.

Another Day

2008-12-02T18:46:00.002-05:00

So its after Thanksgiving and I'm having to think of a direction for life, thesis, everything...ok well the first two anyway.

Luckily I have great friends, especially ones to do logo design for me. The beauty below was designed by Ean Moody. His info will be posted later.

Thesis tests #1 - Bar scene

2008-09-21T15:56:00.003-04:00

So I like complete control over the situation, hence why I'm a studio shooter. Heres two tests, one note already made is that my background needs some light. Lowest read I should be getting is 40 maybe 35 in the info tab, I'm getting readings of about 20-22. Not enough detail for me. Maybe even put up a brown seamless? something to bounce lights off of at least...and then do a brick texture in photoshop.

Thesis Blog #2

2008-09-20T21:27:00.003-04:00

Apocalyptica's video for I Don't Care...very beautiful.

Edit 11:27pm eastern...

So yea spent most of the day scanning fashion books I borrowed. The CanoScan finally feels love for the week. It definitely inspired me a bit, some of the images came out kinda interesting. Some of the colors were a bit muted or something...its a scanner thing but almost like an aged photo. Yay for open scanners and direct sunlight. I'm starting to wonder how much life really does inspire someone. Its almost no secret, I was born in 1983. A lot of the fashion that is inspiring my muse costumes is circa 1985-1988. Funny thing is thats probably about the time I started sketching little fashion things. Thankfully none of those exist anymore.

I guess this would be a good post to talk about why I would want to take on such a project as a photo comic. Though this isn't just any photo comic. It's me.

Anywho, to begin...sometime sophomore year (2006-2007) I took Literature of the Graphic Narrative with David Steiling. Lets just say I loved that class. I was introduced to something different than I could ever remember. I had read comics when I was little but nothing like what was in this class. I was introduced to Blanketsby Craig Thompson and Contract with Godby Will Eisner. Two novels that changed how I look at my chosen medium, photography. Eisner's novel could have easily been a photo book, same with Thompson's really. So why couldn't a series of photos do the same job as a series of illustrations? Especially since photo is such a storytelling platform. Its one of those things that can go anywhere you want it to go. It virtually has no boundaries. The current practitioners just don't push it beyond commercial or documentary or fine art aspects. I'm a storyteller, always have been, just never had the right story to tell. I love philosophy and religion, or at least the study of it. I am always studying, I vow to never stop learning. I love mythology, big surprise. I love history, hell I have a degree in it I love it so much.

So how could I possibly put all that together? A story. Why not take that a step further, a photo story? Done. But why not a different type of story? Hmmm maybe a comic? Hmmm that is something different. A merger of different mediums, my love of illustration and photography. I hang out with too many illustrators with Wacom tablets. They influence me greatly. My comic is a dedication to them, for the influence. Stories are also great ways to spread ideas. First book to be printed was The Bible. Big surprise? It shouldn't be. And its a collection of religious stories. You know what else is a collection of religious stories? Myth. A myth as well as say the Bible tell how and why things are. With each of these stories are heros. So why not reinvent the hero? Its fun, really.

We all have stories. Mine just happens to be about me, my quest for finding why I'm here. Why do I do what I do? What makes up me? What do I believe? Why do I believe? One of the only opinions I hold deeply is my faith. I've worked hard to understand it, or at least why I believe what I do. Many people have told me how to think and believe. I refuse to conform to that. My story is that no matter how convincing, only you can choose what and why you do something. No one else can tell you. We all have our own truths. That is what I believe. Even when everything goes to shit, only you and your essential energy will drag you to continue. God can move continents, but can he move someone who is truly down and out? Probably not. Thats what I've found to be my truth. Its not the same as yours or the next persons. However, I will understand what you hold to be truth. We each have our own opinion, and thats what makes life grand, discovering each opinion.

This comic will be a long process, even after graduation. So before the ride gets out the gate I'm thank those who need to be dearly...my friends. Axel, Shannon and Violet...each of them has let me look over their shoulder and see how they think. Especially with art. Each person has had some sort of effect on my style. Thank you. Dan...my metal twin. Continuous letting me throw ideas at him and reminding me that when you have an idea or a vision, you have to keep going with it. People may not get it now, but when its finished they will. To the epic thesis, we both know how they go. Finally my dad because he loves it when I do something different. Also an idea guy, always there when I need to vent.

More about my story will be posted as I go...til next time

-Becky

Thesis Blog #1

2008-09-18T22:12:00.004-04:00

So...finally the hardcore organizing and planning for thesis begins today. Well...been working on it for a year but now its go time. Talked to the lovely local model, Robbie, set a shooting date for September 27th. Get to do my "club" shoot on the 28th hopefully. And yay test shots tonight soon as the studio opens up a bit, that way its not all crap. Must gather models for the audience and "band". Good luck to me.

Edit: 3am-ish

Problems for this weekend to solve:
- Double sided paper or get comics professional published
- Call LexJet
- Find a drummer, guitarist and bassist
- Find willing audience members
- Shoot scenes at a bar? Hit Gator club or somewhere 27th (night of)

Do test shots all next week, GET PREPARED no screw ups allowed.

Renaissance/Baroque Styling

2008-04-05T01:16:00.003-04:00

So here's a work in progress. The assignment is to do a staged narrative. This is one of five pieces. Description and narrative will be added to this post later. Male model is Dan and female is the always lovely Shannon.

Last of the Long strobes

2007-10-19T14:37:00.000-04:00

So yea these end my series thus far. Model is Axel aka The Fury in the first 5 or so. Then I got him and Shannon to do a duet. The duets are definite favorites. The lines of the movement are beautiful. Very poetic. All of this equals a very happy demon :)This "series" will be continued, trust me.

Long exposure strobe continued-Shannon

2007-10-16T17:26:00.001-04:00

So yea procrastinating some homework so I'm updating again. Also taken September 23rd. Don't think I need to say how much this shoot made me happy :)First few are for some reason desaturated...that'll be fixed later. Curves, levels, and some color balance/depth add done in photoshop CS3..again sacrifices in tone were made for motion. Experiments will be done to fix that.

Latest Long Exposure Strobes

2007-10-16T13:13:00.000-04:00

So yea finally newer stuff. This shoot I'm breaking down into four posts because there is just that many photos. The first one is Kyler, if I had to assign a character to this shoot it would have to be metal demon. Great album covers. The cyan tones were added in photoshop to give depth that I sacrificed for the "motion trails". This is what I call fashion. The work is all about movement and expression who and what you are, something I think we don't get to do enough because of trying to fit social or professional expectations.

First Experience with long exposure strobes

2007-10-06T17:09:00.000-04:00

Taken about a year ago. The theme was a fun Halloween type shoot to hang on our walls. This is my typical lighting give or take. 2-4 strobe heads with gels on 75% of them. Models are Axel, Shannon and Violet. Oh and one of Cyan. One black and white snuck in just to show how nice this stuff looks in bw as well :)

Beach Happiness

2007-10-06T16:37:00.001-04:00

Mixture of beach stuff from last year. I'll make a new entry later for this year's stuff. First pictures are generic beach wildlife shots. After that I've put some fun stuff to do at night. Two of the pictures are actually on campus no where near the beach but they in this post better than a new one.

Fun Movement capture

2007-10-06T16:24:00.000-04:00

Before I got into doing long exposure there was a time I just wanted to stop motion and capture someone in time. Hence why I only use strobes. So this is Axel doing what he does best, move. The first picture was edited and silhouette added.

Classic Portraits: Sandra

2007-10-06T15:23:00.000-04:00

Nicknamed the yellow shoot. Mostly because of the yellow background I never use until Sandra requests it. Again no retouching.

Classic Portraits: Violet

2007-10-06T15:00:00.000-04:00

Still one of my favorite shoots to date. Amazingly its not my typical low key either. These are the unretouched versions, mostly because my Intuos is in the shop and I wanted to redo some previously bad retouching. Once it returns I promise retouching...maybe. Either way enjoy.

Classic Portraits: Fashion Class

2007-09-26T17:23:00.000-04:00

So yea...finally I get around to uploading. The images in this first post are taken from my Fashion photography class from last semester. Hell hole of a class but the images are pretty decent. Some people you may recognize. Most images have NOT been retouched in photoshop.

Introduction

2007-09-14T14:56:00.000-04:00

Well now it seems I move to this new territory to mark my claim. As soon as technology decides to work with me I'll be posting all the work everyone ever wanted to see in the Hobbit archive. So feel free to leave some picture requests in the comments. Til then its time to kick a few external hard drives into submission.