This is a test shot my friend Don took of me today. We were in the studio shooting the 4x5 camera for our studio lighting class all day. We were there today because the tension springs on the camera back are loose and cause light to leak ruining our previous weeks of shooting. We knew this day would be just as bad when we arrived at the studio and the key for the main gear locker was missing. We wasted an hour looking for keys and talking to maintenance until me and Don finally decided to use a hammer and awl to knock the pin out of the lock hinge. After we sorted out the equipment that worked from the equipment that didn't work we started shooting. We had to take proof shots with my digital camera because the 2 Polaroid back at school are malfunctioning. We had successfully taken two film shots when the strobe (or flash) we had placed above on the lighting boom popped, sparked, and smoked ... we had blown a strobe and the fuse for the studio. The lab technician, Antonio, let us work well past the normal hours of the studio. Because of that we finally got some work done after we used extension cords to conduct our power from neighboring rooms.
This is my friend and fellow classmate Don. This is another photo we took to test the lighting arrangement in the studio. In this photo I was trying to recreate a historical portrait that used a background pattern to create an "urban" effect. Out of hunger caused by frustration we eventually went "halves" on a pizza.
It rained all day. That didn't stop a lot of people from showing up at the World War II Monument that opened Friday. My friend Andrew read an article that said they were planning on having the "soft opening" earlier in the month. According to Andrew they postponed the soft opening because the monument wasn't yet handicap accessible. Being that the youngest WWII veterans are now about 74 years old, many of them use wheelchairs. The informant also mentioned that 1000 WWII vets die everyday. He said something about how once someone brought up the death statistics the project seemed to go faster.
My friend Seana from class asked if I was interested in freelance work. I went with her today. We helped make a Paralyzed Veterans of America television commercial. This photo is one of the gentelemen from the PVA going over his lines for the commercial. Thank you Seana ... what a unique opportunity.
This is Dave Smooth (aka "Nose Ring Dave") with Rick "Rude" taking a little breather from the crowd at tonight's Fine Art Photo opening. Their nick names may be similar to those of professional wrestlers, but I assure you they are not. Although they do share the wrestling persona. Dave's project consisted of photographs of peoples' scars (one of them mine) and Rick displayed simulated-antiquated Cold War spy document photos (none of them mine). ... Tonight I also enjoyed the Fine Arts and Graphic Design openings. The feeling of the Fine Arts show made me think of exhibits I've seen at the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh, which is also my favorite museum. I don't count on much these days, but on Thursdays I know I can count on good art and free wine at the Corcoran Gallery.
This is Jen. She is my ex-girlfriend. She works at Swing's, the coffee shop I hang out in. My friend Andrew runs the place. He gave her the job after we broke up. (Some friend!) Me and Jen still get along. I am happy that she will soon be officially graduating from Georgetown University. She is really smart with no common sense. She is a really nice person. Almost ... No, everyday I ask her for an iced coffee. Here she is getting me an ices coffee today. Hey, that use to be my skivvy shirt! Weird.
I looked for a job today. I am going to check out another lead tomorrow. It seems like things are starting to stand still.
Worst than a man who rides his bike on the sidewalk, I made a terrible judgment error on a paper I turned in over a month ago. To say the least I didn't put the effort into it that I should have. Worse, I have lost self-respect and the respect of my instructor. I haven't got my bike out yet this year because I'm afraid I'll ride it on the sidewalk and become a hypocrite.
Some organizers say the number of protestors today reached over 1 million. The Metropolitan Police released the more conservative estimate of 800,000 protestors. I went to the Ellipse, the park between the White House and the Washington Monument. There was a picket line that could possibly have reached over a hundred thousand people. It was an amazing site. In the future I imagine they'll have booths set up offering free abortions. I wish they had food vendors too.
March for Abortion Doctors' Jobs
I saw these two abortion doctors marching past the Washington Monument and asked their names. The woman was stand-offish and then just said, "No." I understood why later. It's a touchy thing being an abortion doctor. A lot of folks don't like them. I don't think I could have one as a friend ... It would be weird. Who do they hang out with? Undertakers and embalmers?
Two schools in Annapolis, the Naval Academy and St. John's had a croquet tournament today. It is a unique annual festival welcoming the summer. They tell me St. John's wins the match every year. Much later tonight I went to the 9:30 Club with some friends but I had a headache and decided to go home. I was expecting to relax but my neighbors are partying. At least they're normal people.
Today I went with Kat to try the iced-coffee at Caribou Coffee. It's definitely not as good as the coffee at Swing's. It tasted like watery instant coffee, Kat agreed. But, she said Caribou has an awesome air conditioner ... and they did. Kat is from Boston and goes to the Corcoran for fine arts. Behind her in this photo is the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery, formerly the Corcoran Gallery.
