Goodbye 2008. Hello Awesome!

This New Year's Eve will be celebrated in Denton!

New & Old & Groovy

A new portfolio is coming in the new year. If you've been following the blog, you may have seen many of the images, but a few are secret. Shhhh!
For now, enjoy this shot and the excellent music of Brian Mulholland, who according to Clay Ross "This man is extremely ill. He is suffering from acute Funkentitis, chronic deep pocket (a groove disorder), and a nasty case of triadic augmentation. It's a scary situation!" But this is one case where I hope he doesn't get well soon :-)

Li Fan has left the building

Li Fan has left the state, as a matter of fact. You can now find him in Chicago from now on, and even China for a few months this summer. Check out his work at liography.com - take an especially good look at his fashion work with Kendal. Those are shots I wish I had taken!

If that wasn't cool enough, Li's also into metalsmithing. As a fellow photographer, I have experienced 3 years of the excellent work Li Fan has done. In his freelance work and for the University of North Texas, Li has proved himself by creating beautiful images as exhibition pieces and promotional material for UNT. His talent and digital work is grounded in a firm arts education, including much use of medium format film cameras, film/photo developing and relevant side work such as metalsmithing.

Nice.

Crazy Sweater Party

Today we're kickin' it old school with some shots from a Crazy Sweater Party featuring Oso Closo (c.2006) Merry Christmas! (and a little rapping video featuring Colin)

Warning: Explicit lyrics and moderately funny



Ben Jackson and Baileys


Festivities!


Note the Miles Davis poster in the background. That's right, North Texas is a jazz school!


Chris McQueen takes it home.


Me & Colin

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

I was thinking of a few different titles for this blog post. Since the only cohesive factor was snow, I didn't choose "Here today, Gone tomorrow" nor "We're not in Kansas anymore..."
I never thought I'd have a reason to go to Kansas, but my sister lives there now - in the best darn city in middle America: Lawrence. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. Like the beloved Denton, Lawrence is another oasis of culture. More on that later, enjoy the snow. If you don't have snow (in Cebu) stick your head in the freezer like I did last week.

This is what it looks like when you're about to get pelted with a snowball by your nephew. Your nephew might look different, but it's a given that if the snowball hits you, it probably has an icy core.


These dogs are huge. They only looks small because there are no people nearby for scale.


Snowball!


Chillin'

Happy Holidays from Hong Kong

In transit to Texas from the Philippines, an [unexpected] 8-hour layover is just enough time to take the express train to the city, walk around a few hours and catch up with a friend - so I did. It certainly does feel like Christmas in Hong Kong - the air is cold and decorations are everywhere! Little did I know I'd be going progressively colder in Texas then Kansas. Snow is in the forecast!


Ashley and Phil at Pho Saigon. After work, Wan Chai is the place to hang.



Here's the lovely Harbor :-) and a tram dressed up for the season.


Here's hoping I make it back to HK for a longer period of time in the New Year!

Tokyo: Graffiti

Tokyo: Graffiti

Masters

Photography by participants of my Photography Masterclass.


I led a Photography Masterclass at Bigfoot Entertainment and the participants took some outstanding pictures in the process. I'm proud, yay! The photographer's names are placed below each of the photographs except for the first, which was taken at the Shangri-La by Konstanze Pelargus. I picked it as the first because it is reminiscent of Brigadoon, a very cool old school drama. For more of their work, visit bigfootphotoclass on flickr.

Self-portrait by Fiona Cross, she says:
"trying to get my reflection in the glasses, and have my pictures and family in the back ground.
I chose the sunglasses as a reflection for various reasons: because you are what the other see, because you wear sunglasses to hide yourself from others and because i just love those sunglasses"

Macbook abstraction by Tascha Eipe

Filipino boats by Nathalie Heugas

The sun at noon (yes, it's the sun) by Tascha Eipe

Melinda with a hoodie, by Nathalie Heugas

Cowrie's Cove by Konstanze Pelargus. Konstanze says:
"These water photos are inspired by Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir. Her photographs make water and other landscapes look otherworldly and mystical. I am transported into another world when I look at her photographs. They look magical to me and I wish I was there and even that this particular world really exists."

Sunset, sea, and the Hilton by Charles Lastierre

film school

The International Academy of Film and Television is featuring a number of my photographs on the newest version of their site. Click on the small image above to view to view it larger and my three photographs headlining - the large group shot, guy with a boom microphone, and students editing at a computer. Below are a few different shots that are among my favorites :-)


Bya explaining a few concepts in the editing room


Taiwo, slate in hand and ready for action!


An end of the day group shot - I even jumped in on the right :-)

Kitty Kats yaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!

The Outpost: Pinoy awesomeness!

Photography by Nathalie Heugas

The Philippines is an intriguing place when it comes to music. The club scene is playing a lot of house music these days and the live music scene is about 85% cover bands or what I have termed "Karaoke Favorites" bands. That's what makes Cebu's venue The Outpost such a joy to listen and play at. It is the little chunk of Denton or Austin, Texas in its own way. The Outpost plays predominantly Reggae music, but the beauty is in how they pull it off. Nathalie took these shots of Coolie Dread and the Microphone Commanders (CDMC) and they play a mix of Reggae, Rock & Hip Hop plus yours truly adding jazz licks over the top. Rock on CDMC!
I love love love to hear new creative music (especially improvisitory) and I wish that not more groups in the Philippines followed suit with Coolie Dread. Historically, the Philippines filled with mostly love songs but there's so much talent lying dormant, but like a Phoenix it will rise. Oh yes, you wait and see! But, I guess for now it's just gonna be "Apple-bottom jeans and the reeboks with the pumps..." which I'm, admittedly a fan of. As for George Michael and his "Careless Whisper" - well, that's my cue it's time to leave.





Thanks for shooting Nathalie!
PS - I'm playing at outpost tonight!