ZachIsHere

You Are Drunk

// January 27th, 2006 // 2 Comments » // Thoughts

Duane and I went to the SWMO Camera Club meeting and it was very imformative. There was actually a lady who did a whole presentation talking about how she built up her business from just a simple love for photography. It was quite an inspiration. Next month I will sign up to become an official member. I really look forward to some interesting things coming out of my involvment with this group of passionate people.

I sat around tinkering with some different things tonight and ended up stuffing some christmas lights into a bottle of Malibu that was emptied by some of Ashley’s sorority chicks. I like how it turned out. The original picture was taken so that red shades become more vivid. I played around with the curve settings some and then cropped the shot to give that specific field of view. After that I brought the trees out and made it so they stayed fairly sharp while blurring the rest of the bottle. My favorite part of this picture are the trees.

After I was done fooling around with the camera Ashley came in for a bit to get a few things. She was going out with some friends and when she walked in she just started talking. The spectrum of things she was talking about was incredible. I just sat and listened as she went on and on. It’s not really like us to talk about stuff at length. I know that sounds very strange because we live together but generally our coversations are brief and very superficial. There was a point where I just stopped her and said, “you are really drunk.” She laughed and agreed. She then proceeded to pat me on the head like I was a cute little puppy and wished me a good night as she shuffled off to some fraternity house. It was just a funny exchange all in all.

Friday I am off to KC!

Days End And Days Begin

// January 26th, 2006 // 2 Comments » // Thoughts

I realized today it has been a while since I have actually “written” anything around here. Life is pretty much work and pictures. I need to figure out a way to have more energy when I get off of work because I am not quite as productive with my offtime as I would like.

Last night Natalie barked at me for never going out with and the verbal strong arming produced a night with a few drinks. We went to Fox and Hound on the south side of town. Not wild about the place in general but it was lots of fun to hang out with Natalie and her friend Megan who I have met a few times before. Our waitress was a girl I used to spend a lot of time with my freshman year but have not seen in 2 or 3 years. I eeked out a few shots from the night.

There was a bit of a financial meltdown this week. Shoddy book keeping and stupidity have caused a money crunch but things will be able to happen with a few adjustments and a keen eye.

Not everything is dull and dreg. There a few exciting things on the horizon. I go home on Friday to attend a banquet that my dad is a part of for being nominated “Outstanding Citizen Of The Year” in the Blue Springs area. Can’t wait to go do that and spend some time with the family. It’s not about “winning” really but it would be nice if the old man reeled in that award just to recognize all of the amazing things he has done in the community and for the community through the years. It is incredible.

Thursday night will mark my first visit to the SWMO Camera Club. The group’s website describes it below…

Club members come from all walks of life, with varying degrees of photographic experience – from the novice to the professional and everything in between. The most important aspect of the organization is it’s members. We learn from each other by sharing our photographic experiences and skills. Plus, it’s just plain fun to share camaraderie with other photographers (who else will listen to you talk endlessly about f-stops and help you figure out why your last sure fire picture didn’t quite turn out?). Club activities go on throughout the year and serve as a forum for the membership.

I found out about this through someone who came into my work. After telling me he was a photographer I told him about some things I have been trying to do and he invited me to come along. I can’t think of a better learning oppurtunity for the place I am at right now in my photography journey. I am excited to be a part of this group. It seems I will be the youngest person involved by quite a margin but I believe I have a lot to offer and learn when it comes to something like this.

Blue

// January 24th, 2006 // No Comments » // Thoughts

Checking In On Springfield Blogs

// January 23rd, 2006 // 3 Comments » // Thoughts

There is a lot of activity with the ever growing blog community of Springfield.

Duane of Minutia is driving and taking wacky pictures at the same time.

Steve of House Of Warwick is playing around with an XBox.

Greeny Geek provides audio evidence of how stupid callers to a local radio morning show are.

Bevin tells of a much needed night out.

The great thing is I could have gone on and on and on with more posts from people writing in the area. There is a wealth of great content by a wide range of people. Quote of the week via Andy of Rhetorica.

There are many wingnuts, ding-dongs, bumpkins, and yahoos out there just itching to scorch a good discussion with their flamethrowers.

Seahawks/Broncos Superbowl

// January 22nd, 2006 // No Comments » // Thoughts

Sorry Bronco fans it just did not quite pan out for you…

There is going to be some pretty mean football played in the AFC West next year. It just sucks we have to trudge through this “off season” thing. Bleh. As a huge Chiefs fan I am dissapointed they are not a part of this but I feel great about the two teams in the Superbowl. The Steelers are a class organization with a team and fan base that has always reminded me of the Chiefs. I would love to see their owner Rooney and Jerome Bettis get a ring.

The Seahawks on the other hand are getting to the big dance for the first time in the franchise’s history. Seattle fans have really stood out to me this year. Those folks have been rocking and rolling every time I turn on the TV to watch a game. Growing up watching games in Arrowhead stadium it isn’t very often I am that impressed with other NFL fans but they are an exception.

I look forward to a well played game.

Some minor website tinkering is going to go on. Some will be noticable some won’t. I am going to shake up the category system because I think it is too limited. I have been using the same set since this thing was born. Technorati tags will be added and the about page will actually be written. I am also going to try and find out how to make a 3rd column.

Trip To The Stockyard

// January 22nd, 2006 // No Comments » // Thoughts

Right off of 13 highway under a bridge is a stockyard. I am not sure if it is totally abandoned because parts of it seemed like it is used every now and then while other parts make it look like it is a thing of the past. On this day it was empty and I did some exploration with my camera in hand. I really like the shots that came out of it. Some of the work that was done inside of the huge set of buildings didn’t turn out like I thought. I feel myself getting better and better like I am on the brink of something…

Click here for a slideshow of the complete set.

Hangy Thingy

// January 19th, 2006 // 4 Comments » // Thoughts

Mouthy Parrot Reveals Sex Secret

// January 18th, 2006 // No Comments » // Thoughts

Woops… (Via CNN.com)

LONDON, England — A computer programmer found out his girlfriend was having an affair when his pet parrot kept repeating her lover’s name, British media reported Tuesday.

The African grey parrot kept squawking “I love you, Gary” as his owner, Chris Taylor, sat with girlfriend Suzy Collins on the sofa of their shared flat in Leeds, northern England.

But when Taylor saw Collins’s embarrassed reaction, he realized she had been having an affair — meeting her lover in the flat whilst Ziggy looked on, the UK’s Press Association reported.

Ziggy even mimicked Collins’s voice each time she answered her telephone, calling out “Hiya Gary,” according to newspaper reports.

Call-center worker Collins, 25, admitted the four-month affair with a colleague called Gary to her boyfriend and left the flat she had shared with Taylor, 30, for a year.

Taylor said he had also been forced to part with Ziggy after the bird continued to call out Gary’s name and refused to stop squawking the phrases in his ex-girlfriend’s voice, media reports said.

“I wasn’t sorry to see the back of Suzy after what she did, but it really broke my heart to let Ziggy go,” he said.

“I love him to bits and I really miss having him around, but it was torture hearing him repeat that name over and over again.

“I still can’t believe he’s gone. I know I’ll get over Suzy, but I don’t think I’ll ever get over Ziggy.”

Taylor acquired Ziggy as a chick eight years ago and named him after the David Bowie character Ziggy Stardust.

The bird has now found a new home through the offices of a local parrot dealer. Collins, who admitted the affair, said: “I’m not proud of what I did but I’m sure Chris would be the first to admit we were having problems.

“I am surprised to hear he got rid of that bird,” she added to The Guardian newspaper. “He spent more time talking to it than he did to me.”