UNT Alumni - Asia

I just created a group for UNT Alumni to collaborate. The focus is on Asia, but the reach is universal. The world is extremely interconnected and our alumni network should be as well. The simplest application of this group, considering the first batch of invites is to facilitate music in and through Asia - local gigs as well as tours. The more difficult and equally important goal is to strengthen ties between alumni of all disciplines, much like other schools of the same size (>30,000 students). UNT offers a top-notch education, but the alumni network is not as strong as it should be. This will change, and the "UNT Alumni - Asia" is a step in that direction.
Join today and collaborate!

Tokyo: Graffiti

Tokyo: Graffiti

One Year and going strong!

Today, I've been blogging for one year. Hooray! Here a shots from Carbon Market to celebrate!

...And you helped me get here. In this year, there has been an exciting shift between countries and people I have met and become close to. I made a number of goals and reached them: published in magazines, shot for Fashion TV and am working at a film production studio. I also returned to Asia and found I really like it but do miss my Texas roots. I want to thank all my family and other friends that supported me during this very transitional year for me and a strange different thank you goes to those that have made my life a positive (or negative) challenge to overcome. If I didn't have character before, I certainly found it!
Now the next challenge has arisen - finding another job in the next two months. Offers, ideas, and encouragement are very welcome.

Hair & Makeup: Sally Paganoni
Wardrobe by Cherry
Models: Tara Elizabeth and Tabatha Nielsen
Shot Tuesday November 18th by Michal García





This year I was in Texas, New York, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. It would be nice to settle for just a little bit...

Tokyo: Scenes

From the Metro in Ueno to the technology shops of Akihabara, Tokyo is a happening place.

















Photographed Summer '08

My bokeh is bigger than yours

Cars don't really fascinate me, lifting weights isn't my thing, I don't drink, and guns are boring. In terms of macho-ness, I'm just chillin', man - what's to prove! But the one expression of tradional, societally-taught manliness I will claim is the bokeh I get with my Canon 85mm L-series f1.2 lens. Sure, it's no Stanley Kubrick / Barry Lyndon f0.7 lens (or an out-of-production 50mm f1.0 Canon) but one thing is for sure: my bokeh is bigger than yours.
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Bokeh is a Japanese word used to describe the background blur achieved using lenses with a large aperture (or special effects lenses like tilt-shift & lensbabies) which give a large depth of field. In the process of lens construction, it is both difficult and expensive to manufacture high performance lenses with large apertures, thus a celebration of traditional manhood and patriarchy is achieved after one has purchased and photographed with this heavy piece of glass.
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Photo above is one I took while momentarily distracted by raindrops on a car hood in New York, while on a shoot with Sarah Renfro. Shot very, very late at night. My mommy wouldn't approve.

Under the Mandap

I had the pleasure of flying to New Jersey last month to shoot a wedding for Vidya & Yutaka. A week of hanging with their amazing family (plus yummy vegetarian food) and 5,000 photos later, I present to you a few of my favorite shots. The main ceremony was in Jersey City at the Liberty House Restaurant (overlooking the New York skyline). This was definitely the coolest wedding I have ever been a part of - the couple met doing Capoeira (a form a Brazilian martial arts / dance) so it was a very eclectic ceremony and reception. Since I was in the neighborhood, I also took many photos in New York, and of vocalist Sarah Renfro in Brooklyn - keep posted for those shots.

New York City skyline (from New Jersey).

Capoeira - in exchange for a first dance, there was a first play. Yutaka soars as Vidya ducks.

In a previous post, you saw Vidya's Henna - here's a look at the other adornments.


All in all, it was an inspiring time on the East Coast.