Sometimes

Sometimes, even though you're supposed to love all your photos equally, like your children, it's hard not to be biased.

Earth Day Can Bite My Butt

Earth Day is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of. Not because I don't like the Earth. The Earth and I get along fine. But I just hate these fad-driven, made-up days intended to give people the feeling they're making a difference, when they're in fact printing up information about their special day on paper made from some of the same trees they're trying to save.

So, in honor of this ridiculous, useless, infuriatingly masturbatory and profoundly stupid day, I made a list of other special days I'd like to see:

• Dog Drool Day
  
• National We-Hate-Special-Days Day
  
• People Who Hate Being Told "Bless You" When They Sneeze Day
  
• Uvula Day
  
• National Too Few Socks Day
  
• Supid Fake Smile Day
  
• Green Frogs With Red Eyes Day
  
• Pretending to Think Your Boss is Funny Day
  
• Blender Appreciation Day
  
• Windshield Bug Oblivion Day
  
• Paper Cut Days
  
• Stupid Religion, Including the Xenu Thing, Day
  
• Pennies Are Useless Day
  
• Crushed Ice Appreciation Day
  
• International Day of Making Stupid Lists
  
• Mucus Day
  
• Find Waldo a New Shirt Day
  
• International Day of the Last Donut Hole
  
• broken cap key day
  
• Looking Back at What You Tripped Over Day
  
• Monobrow Day
  
• Playing Rock Band is Not Being a Musician Day
  
• Beer Backwash Day
  
• Bras Are for Boobs Day
  
• Snappy Comeback You Think of Later Day
  
• Popping a Cap Day
  
• Remember When Newspapers Made Money Day
  
• "Yarp" is Not a Word Day
  
• Cigar Smoker Murder Day
  
• People That Only Show Up for the Free Food Day
  
• Can't Fit Into My Jeans Day
  
• Wild-Eyed Apathy Day
  
• Day of the Gerund
  
• Cab Driver Smell Day
  
• Dithering Nitwit Day
  
• That Mouthwash's Been Tampered With Day
  
• National Numb Thighs Day
  
• Stop With the Useless Meetings Already Day
  
• Clouds Without a Silver Lining Day

Who do I send those to? Some kind of government agency?

Now Them Is Blue

That Awkward Feeling

You know that awkward feeling where you think something's a joke, and then you realize it's not, and then it's kind of a cringing feeling, and then you're not entirely sure what it's supposed to be. But mostly you cringe? Yeah, well, that's this.

Photographs Are Like Children

I think photographs are like children. We're not supposed to play favorites. Every shot has its good points, and areas to work on. Sometimes, though, you can't help but have a favorite. This shot, taken this weekend, would be one of that. See? I don't just take photos of smiling kids at play! What a trooper.

It's Spring

To me, this little guy symbolizes the first proof positive that spring has officially arrived. Which, in Las Vegas, means we've got about a week of perfect weather before the temp hits 140 degrees, every day, until December 1.

Motherly Love

Motherly love is nice. Motherly love with some Photoshop? Even better.

Pure Gold

How to nail a job interview. Practical, informative and funny as hell.

http://www.howtonailaninterview.com

Loving the M

I'm really loving the M resort that just opened up here in Vegas. They've taken all the things that work at local casinos, and refined those aspects to really create a happy casino-resort experience.







And they splurged and sent out an awesome coupon book with tons of free slot play and table game match play vouchers, dining discounts, etc.

Oh, and winning at craps isn't the only way I measure the success of a casino-hotel, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

And because it's Vegas, I don't really have a problem mixing a random kid portrait in with shots of a casino.

Easter Portrait

Hope you had a great Easter. This is one of the results of mine.

Senior Pic

Hey, Baby

Brilliant, I Say

I was reading an article today about how to get served in a bar. I guess the old "standing there like an idiot waving cash" technique doesn't work all that well. Never did, really.

So, there's this:

"Here's one subtle, calculated technique that can be highly effective...When the bartender is scanning the sea of eager faces at the bar and trying to work out who is next, point to the person next to you. They will get served and then usually you will be next, the bar staff having acknowledged your impeccable etiquette."

Now, that's just smart. I'm going to try it. Often, I suspect.

I'm So Proud of My Dad

My Dad's a pretty cool guy. He has strong opinions, but sadly, (aside from the very Republican ones) they often end up being right, so I can't complain too much about that.

Several times a week, my pop donates his time and workworking expertise to making toy cars for kids. He's part of a group called The Happy Factory Las Vegas. Here's a write-up in the local paper.

Thousands and thousands of toy cars later, he still has all his fingers.

The toy making IS cutting into his book collecting time, but I'll let it slide this time.

Been There, Done That

On Sunday, I volunteered to shoot senior citizens at my grandmother's retirement home. In the end, I did 31 portraits. Exhausting, but such a great time, and it's hard to describe the reaction of these amazing folks...before they'd even seen the results.

I think many were happy to be getting the attention, and others felt appreciative that they'd have images to pass along to their kids and grand kids, perhaps the only portraits they'd had taken in many years (and for some, ever).

The idea was to do simple, flattering portraits, but that doesn't mean I don't get to play a little! (This is probably not a version I'd give to the senior herself, but I still think it's interesting.) What a gem! She was a feisty one, to say the least.



What stories these people have to tell. And they're so happy just to have someone to tell the stories to...

A Paying Gig

I don't want to make a habit of it, but I recently got a paying job to do some photography for a local business here in Las Vegas. I thought the resulting postcard the company created turned out pretty well.

Inside a Jumpy Thing

Imp

Duh!

That's right, baby. Funny guys got it going on!

Life Lesson #5

Life Lesson #5: Sometimes, you just have to cave.

Say you make walkers for the elderly. Say that just about every walker you've ever built ends up with tennis balls on the back legs.

There's a reason that happens. Listen to that reason and make your walkers that way. Or maybe with something that does the same thing, but better.

You can only live in a bubble so long, doing things your way, not listening. The minute you really start listening, then you're getting somewhere.

Sometimes it means you just have to cave. But maybe in caving, you realize it isn't "caving" at all. That's just the name you've given it. It could be something much, much bigger.

Need a Smile?

Wish granted. Thanks for sending this one my way, Brandon.



Do I really have to re-think my position on keeping dolphins captive? Sigh.

Just Because

Just because something looks easy doesn't mean it is.