revjim.net

September 15th, 2006:

I like your enthusiasm

Sep 15th, 2006
by Jim Reverend.
1 comment

One of you, though I’m not sure who yet, was very enthused by the announcement of my “new photoblog”:http://djamesphoto.com/arranginglight/. So enthused that you ordered a very large print under the unintentional “at cost” pricing that it defaulted to (thanks for that, ExposureManager). So, thank you, I think. Now, who are you?

Since it was an “at cost” order, ExposureManager doesn’t give me the customer information (huh? why not?). It just wants me to upload my print-quality image so they can ship the order. So now I’m working with their Customer Service to figure out how to cancel the order and contact whoever it was so that I can straighten this whole mess out.

I don’t mind selling an “at cost” image to the enthusiastic new patron or existing fan who placed the order. In fact, the fact that it happened delights me. However, I don’t want to sell an “at cost” image to some random link follower who happened to know a *very good deal* when he saw it.

the exhibit: this is what I do

Sep 15th, 2006
by Jim Reverend.
No comments yet

The exhibit is tomorrow. I’m not sure how many of you are planning on coming. If you are, I’m very grateful for your support. On one hand, I want to be really excited about this. But, on the other hand I’m a bit reserved.

It is, after all, an opportunity to show my work to people who might not otherwise ever have a chance to see it and that’s awesome for me. Any photographer who does anything but keep his images to himself obviously has some ego staked in those images and I am no exception. I want my work to be viewed. I want my worked to be liked. I want my work to mean something. A photograph without a viewer is without purpose.

However, most of the parameters of the event are unknown to me. The space being used is not specifically for exhibiting work. It is, in fact, a restaurant. An actually gallery would be ideal. A coffee house or wine bar would be quite acceptable, and maybe even preferred when looking for new people who don’t normally seek out art. But I’m not sure what to think of a restaurant. A space is being designated for the exhibit and people are welcome to view the work without making a purchase from the restaurant. These are good things. But outside of that, it’s unknown to me. I guess I’ve learned that too much anticipation of an unknown thing almost always leads to disappointment.

So I’m weary.

Part of me wants everyone I’ve ever known to show up and have it be a huge success. The other part of me wishes I never agreed to do it in the first place. The fighting between them has left me quietly moving forward without making too much of a commotion and silently hoping that everyone and no one shows up.

There’s another part of me that knows that if I start seriously and specifically inviting people, and then very few people show up, it’ll hurt a lot more than if I sit there all alone having not invited anyone. So, I guess I’m just being cautious.

Sometimes I’m too cautious. I’m always the one stirring other people up but, believe it or not, sometimes I need someone to jump in and mix me around a bit. That’s a topic for another time.

Myschievia Portrait Studio?

Sep 15th, 2006
by Jim Reverend.
1 comment

When I find myself so strongly aligned with and interested in something, I generally want to jump right in without reservation and Myschievia is no exception. However, with such short notice and an already hectic schedule, I’m a bit short on ideas. But, I think this is a really good one.

If possible, I will be opening the “Myschievia Portrait Studio”:http://tribes.tribe.net/myschievia/thread/a890650a-3bfd-4aeb-9be3-ffb8e6c29d06 this year at Myschievia (suggestions for a better name strongly encouraged). I’ll bring artificial lighting, camera equipment, props, posing furniture, and use the Myschievia Wilderness as a backdrop for making portraits of my fellow participants.

Pretty fitting, huh?

I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I’ll need to bring and how to build it to be able to make well lit images with a Myschievia flair. I’m also hoping to create a menu of fun and interesting photographic services starting with “blurry walmart portrait w/ cheesy smile”, through “standard portrait”, and ending somewhere near “fuzzy, blurry, nondescript genital portrait”. Any ideas?

yes, I know the ways and means

Sep 15th, 2006
by Jim Reverend.
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Despite the fact that I worked from home yesterday, started at 6am, and only took a 30 minute lunch, I ended up working straight through until 5pm. There was just too much work to do. So, I didn’t get any of the “Photoblog”:http://djamesphoto.com/arranginglight/ changes done, nor did I get a chance to work on the “Website”:http://djamesphoto.com/. Thanks for taking a look at it, though, and offering your opinion. It’s nice to have feedback on stuff like this. Hopefully, I’ll have some time tonight and tomorrow to get it in shape.

Jess and I spent the majority of yesterday evening framing photographs for “the Exhibit this weekend”:http://revjim.net/2006/09/05/exposure-dallas-presents-ambiance/. The matboard cutter we have (generously donated by Mike and Rachel) is 20″ wide (and therefore can fit things smaller than 20″ inside of it). Of course, the matboard I use comes in 40″ sheets so, the first cut we made in each matboard was made with a steady hand and a razor blade. Ugh. Additionally, I did my math wrong and was off by one inch on the border width calculations so we had to make those over again. In the end we wasted half a sheet of backing board due to a poor cut with the razor blade and 3/4 of a sheet of matboard due to my bad math. They look awesome though. Really, really awesome.

The best camera for you is the one you’ll actually carry!

– Unknown

A lot of my frustration lately has to do with me having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. This means I’m doing many things quickly or while actively doing something else. This leads to me not being my usual cautious and observant self and, in the end, mistakes being made. Case in point:

The instructions that I got for the exhibit expressed 14×20″ frames. So that you know I’m not crazy, I’ll quote the original email:

Each photographer will show three(3) framed prints. Each photo should measure 11×14 to be matted and framed to 14×20.

– Email from Exposure Dallas organizer

So, since it said 14×20″ frames, I ordered 14×20″ frames. That was a mistake. With 11″ of image and only 14″ of frame, that only leaves 1.5″ on each side of border. That doesn’t look very nice. Further more, 14×20″ is NOT a standard frame size. This wouldn’t normally be an issue, but, because I was in a hurry, I forgot to mash the check box to order glass with my frames. So, yesterday I went to Michaels to pick up 14×20″ glass and then it hit me, I’m never going to be able to find that odd size at Michaels. Of course, I was right. So, I had to buy all new 16×20″ frames and glass at Michaels. That’s $86. Plus the $33 I spent on the wrong sized frames. Ugh.

*him*: Today is officially my last day, and of course, they piled shit up for me to do…

*me*: of course. then again, you’re a short timer. Just delay by a few more hours and then… well… the work is no longer yours.

– a conversation with Mike regarding his new job

Jess and I ordered tickets to see Barenaked Ladies and Mike Doughty play together in Austin, TX in November.

Yes. You read that right. I’m going, with my wife, to see Barenaked Ladies and Mike Doughty, together! If I could bring a few friends and a couple of naked girls (those groups need not be exclusive of one another) and I don’t think I could possibly invent a better time.

Also, of her own accord, Jess has decided to go to “Myschievia”:http://revjim.net/2006/09/14/attending-myschievia/ this year. Now that’s awesome! I was excited and looking forward to it ever since I considered going, but I was still a bit sad that I wouldn’t be able to share such potentially profound experiences with the one person I love and care the most about. I’m glad that she’s decided to be a part of it and I’m even more glad that I didn’t try to talk her into it.

Most of you who know her realize that she’s a bit of a recluse when it comes to meeting new people and especially in social situations where there is no standard of behavior or activity. That’s part of her charm and part of what makes the open honesty we have with one another so meaningful. So I’m sure you recognize how big of a step this is for her. I’m very proud of her for realizing that this is potentially one of those situations where, if she just lets go a little, trusts herself, me, and her surroundings, she can really have a lot of fun and some amazing experiences.

I’ll be leaving work a bit early today and heading straight home to edit more pictures and work on the website. Any of you that would offer enouragement toward the completion of those tasks are welcome to join me.

Jess should be home by 7:15pm and then we’ll be heading to Keller to work on my sisters wedding inivitations, spend some time with my parents, and hang out with friends.