Crossroads... (#3)

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a little bit obsessive-compulsive when it comes to things I'm interested in.  Cars, boats, motorcycles, biking, skating, surfing, sailing, radio controlled airplanes, photography, backpacking, shooting...  It is a long list, really long.  Unfortunately my time and money isn't as long as my list.  Maybe someday I'll create something that becomes wildly popular and produces enough income to be a full-time adventurer.  But for now I have to create a hierarchy of importance.  Decision time.

BMX (Bicycle Motocross) used to be on top of that hierarchy, it had a long reign in fact.  I rode BMX bikes from the age of 5 until 22.  Really getting serious around my sophomore year in high school.  The JV soccer team cut me and I pretty much swore off team sports and jumped on my bike.  That same week I completed a four foot tall launch ramp and landing, shoved it into the street and started jumping.

Working all summer for my dad, I was able to save up the $575 it cost me to build my "dirt jumper".  A beautiful chrome GT Fueler with Profile three-piece cranks, 48 spoked double walled rims.  It was a beast. When we moved to northern California it was all about racing.  My Fueler was cannibalized for the cranks and a very expensive 20" racing machine was built.  It's pretty amazing how much money I spent on BMXing.

Now, as I'm sure you have gathered if you have read the past blogs, photography is right up there in importance to me.  When I think about it, I was always the one trying to get pictures and video of my  friends when we were riding.  Maybe photography has always been that important to me but I just didn't recognize it.

Here is where the decision comes in.  I have a limited amount of fundage to spend at will.  So if I buy a bike, I have to wait to get camera gear.  What makes this decision difficult is that the emotional satisfaction of creating images is nearly identical to the satisfaction of riding.  The riding requires more physical work, but when you manual through a rhythm section, flow through a skatepark, or float a simple table-top over a smooth double, there is a feeling that you just created something pleasing.  It is art.  People enjoying watching it, you enjoy making it.  Just like photography.

So last night,  I was telling Michelle about my dilemma and she said I should go after photography.  Initially I resisted and stuck to my guns about buying a BMX bike.  But last night I couldn't sleep.  Sad, I know.  Seriously every time I woke up, which was often, I was thinking, "BMX or Photography".  Part of what I am afraid of is that if I don't get a bike now, the opportunity will never come again.  Talk about an irrational fear!  So after that sleepless night.  And this blog.  I think I am going to stick to photography.

Maybe I can do some stuff for the local BMX track with my photography.  Plus I have a son I can live vicariously through...

-dg

The Journey. (#2)

Last week I had an awesome opportunity to hang out with few really cool people and get to help out on the set of a "fashion film shoot".  My friend Jesse has been turning his Red One digital camera on its side lately and filming stuff in portrait format.  You can read more about it on his website jesserosten.com.  Anyway, Michelle was the make-up artist for the day and I tagged a long to help lug lights around.  It was kind of a date for Michelle and I because we both got to hang out and do things we love! 

I try to jump at every opportunity to be involved with things that interest me.  Lately that interest has been heavy in the photography department.  I'm not really an aspiring cinematographer, but a lot of principles from film-making bleed over to photo-making.  Even when moving light stands around there are little concepts that I pick up and it encourages me to stretch my own creativity. 

Speaking of stretching, our friends the Skinners asked me to take some photos for them and I agreed.  It was a little nerve wracking considering this was my second time doing a photo shoot with someone other than Michelle and Daniel!  They seemed to be happy with the results which is what really counts, but I definitely was not breaking any molds.  

As a novice photographer, I am noticing how it is a journey to find my own style.  It seems that some people pick up a camera and have a distinct view on the world and it shows through their work.  Someday I'll have a signature look.  In the meantime it is a lot of copying and experimenting, which is kind of fun and frustrating. 

I guess the whole purpose of this post is to say that I am on an artistic journey, although it doesn't always feel that way, and I am grateful for the opportunity to participate.  What journey are you on?

-dg

52 Blogs.

With all the "365" and "52" projects I see on Flickr and Photography-on-the.net, I figured it may not be a bad idea to do one of those for blogging.  Part of the reason is because I think that this trend towards online communities and social networks is going to be an important part of society and I for one do not want to be left in the dust!  The rest of the reason is that I believe writing (typing) your thoughts increases the flow of creativity.

You may have noticed that photography has been a recent hobby for me and it is slowly growing into a pretty important part of my life.  Lately I feel like I have been hitting a wall in the creative department and would really like a break through.  After a few conversations with some friends about art, creativity and life, I decided I need to commit to do something to get the juices flowing.

So here are my ground rules for this project.  I am making a commitment, starting with this one, to write a blog per week for 52 weeks, a full year.  They may include photos, they may not.  It may be about photography, it may not.  We will just have to see how this all pans out.  I feel like this is going to be a good journey, tough, but good.  

-dg

Michelle's New Hair

IMG_9355
Originally uploaded by er_gold

Alrighty, I'm trying out this blog from Flickr thing. So here is a recent picture of Michelle that I took with our new lens. I'm trying to learn more and more about photography and it is exciting to see small improvements as I go along. I really need to start learning some Photoshop stuff. Anyway, I'm really proud of this photo, I think Michelle looks stunning with her new hair style and I feel like I was able to capture an image that shows how stunning it is! Thanks for looking people.

-dg