Sips From the Dribble Glass of Life

An Important Lesson About Photography

2012-01-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

Each month, the photography club I'm a member of, the Las Vegas Photographic Society, has a photo contest. They call it a challenge, but it's a contest.

I try to enter each month, and won early on, but in recent months haven't had much luck. I grew frustrated, because my photos were clearly "better" than the others, but the voting by club members just didn't go my way. I'd spend hours on coming up with concepts, and hours more making the photos happen, including even more hours doing extensive editing of the images in Photoshop to ensure their perfection.

Last month, the theme of the contest was "expressions." That was it. Having grown weary of spending lots of time submitting losing entries, I looked for a candid shot that would even remotely fall under the category of "expressions." I submitted this shot on a whim, despite it not being a great photo, technically.

Stuff on his face. My niece's arm in the background. My nephew's hand cut off.

But here's the lesson. The photo won the contest. Not just the club vote, but also the vote of some objective, third-party folks who said it was the photo they'd be most likely to shell out money for.

In the end, it's necessarily about technical perfection. It's about evoking an emotion. It's tough to know what people are going to connect with, but most often, ordinary humans aren't going to care about the little details photographers obsess over. They want an emotional connection. Who knew?

It's Time to Sip From the Dribble Glass (Again)

2012-01-19T23:47:00.001-08:00

Man, alive, it's been awhile since I've blogged here. The reason for that is fairly obvious. I now blog for a living for Caesars Entertainment. I've thrown myself into the Pulse of Vegas blog, and am probably putting in about 60 hours a week on it. And those long hours seem like almost nothing because I truly love what I'm doing. Day in and day out, for the last two years. It's been a blast, and continues to be.

I had no idea I wanted to blog for a living. Especially not a corporate blog. But come to find out, it's an ideal occupation for me because it almost never feels like a job. I love Vegas, and can't really imagine being so passionate about blogging were it not for my subject matter.

Note: I know I haven't been making time for personal blogging because I don't even think I mentioned I won a "Most Valuable Las Vegas Blogger" award from CBS Local and KXNT News Radio. Most valuable. In Las Vegas. All of it.

My personal blog has always been an as-time-allows kind of thing, and time hasn't allowed for much lately. I've fallen for a young woman who's turned my world upside down. (Much more about her soon, I suspect.) She's also a handful, and that can be a full-time job in and of itself.

I'm thinking, though, I should make more time for my personal blog. I'm learning so much about the power of blogging, and I have a lot more to say, so I should probably say it here.

I fear my loyal readers have all drifted off. I get that. Same with the visitors to my site, Dribbleglass.com. That's OK. I haven't updated it in ages. We just kind of grew apart.

These days, I live on Twitter and Facebook, for the most part. And occasionally I post on Flickr.

Yep, that's Maria. I didn't say it would be too much later before you heard more about her.

So, today, I'm changing the name of my blog to "Sips From the Dribble Glass of Life." Because it's a metaphor that's always kind of summed up my core belief about life and the world. It all feels like a bit of a cosmic joke, and it's really important that we all make the most of it, while keeping a sense of humor about, well, everything.

Thanks for reading this far, and I intend to keep the words flowing, even if only to highlight some of my work on the Pulse of Vegas blog. Or to share photos of Maria. She's kind of into that.

Fifty Years of Patience, Love, Patience and Patience

2011-12-07T00:06:00.000-08:00

On November 23, 2011, my parents Coleen and Robert Roeben celebrated their 50th anniversary. Amazing.

My sister, Patty, spent weeks scanning photos of my folks during their 50 years of marriage. I strung them together for a video which my parents seemed to like.

Here's a look at the photo book my sister made. She found pics for 48 of my parents 50 years together.

Here's another book of family photos. Lots and lots of them. I'm the cute, stout one.

I'm so thankful for having the continuity of parents married 50 years. I've had the benefit of a lifetime of love and support and guidance and a safety net.

My parents have always known the secret of a lifelong marriage. It's simple to say, but I don't suspect it's as easy to live. All you have to do is put the other person first. Day after day and year after year. Til death do you part. That's all.

It's Gotten Chilly Here in Vegas

2011-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Caught this fellow trying to keep warm outside M&M World here in Vegas.

It's Been Awhile

2011-12-03T03:55:00.001-08:00

Wow. How long has it been since I last posted in this poor, neglected blog?

I guess doing a Las Vegas blog all day makes it less likely I'll want to blog when I get home.

However, I don't want this blog to die, so here's a photo.

Hey, it's something.

This Showgirl is Angry

2011-07-23T00:51:00.000-07:00

Not really, but it made for a good publicity stunt at work.

All Smiles

2011-07-23T00:43:00.000-07:00

I took this pic at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden at the Mirage.

I love dolphins!

An Inspiring Story

2011-07-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

My mom sent me this, so I thought I'd share:

"Hi. I would just like to share an experience with you all, and it has to do with drinking and driving. As you know some of us have had brushes with the authorities on our way home from the odd bash over the years?

"Well I, for one have done something about it. Last night I was out for a few drinks with some mates and had way too much Captain & Coke, knowing full well I was wasted, I did something I've never done before. I took a bus home.

"I arrived home safely and without incident which was a real surprise, as I had never driven a bus before!"

Today's Keeper

2011-05-14T23:12:00.000-07:00

Today's portrait took some time. Hours, actually. Chasing. Cajoling. Entertaining. Ignoring. Chasing again. Waiting. Trust-building. Strategizing. Charming. And clicking away...until just the right moment.

Sadly, a simple photo can't really convey everything it took to get the photo. I shot a birthday party today, and knew this was a shot I had to get. The young lady had no interest in having her photo taken, so I knew it was going to be a long trek.

At first, I made it clear she didn't have to have her photo taken. I chatted with her grandparents a bit. I tried to engage her like I do other kids. No interest. On to other things.

Awhile later, I noticed she was holding a dinosaur. That was the start of the thaw. I talked to her about dinosaurs, and quickly found out they're her favorites.

I did the usual. I was silly. And snapped a pic occasionally, nothing special. Ignoring a kid is a great way to get their attention, so I did that, too.

As the afternoon progressed, I bumped into her again, and she was climbing through a tunnel in a jungle gym. She was eyeballing the camera, and I knew I'd have my shot. I asked her to act like a dinosaur, and she did. Between snarls, I got her. No forced smile. Just simple calm.

I get the feeling a parent could take a thousand photos of their kid and not get one like this. I hope they like it when they see it.

The Keeper

2011-05-08T23:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't quite decided how I'm going to share the photos and stories from our trip to Europe, but I thought I'd at least put this one out there. I felt like it was special when I took it, and I still feel that way now that I'm seeing it again.

We were making the long walk to get to the even longer walk to get to the amazing (and remote) hill town of Civita in Italy, and I caught this nun out of the corner of my eye. I stopped behind a tree, just out of her sight line, fumbled with my camera case, aimed and got exactly two exposures. I blinked, and she was gone.

It was exhilarating in the moment, and this image was the one that stayed in my mind throughout a trip filled with wonderful photo subjects.

I have no idea if it's a technically good photo, but I just keep staring at it. Like so many things in Italy, this scene feels like it could have been captured a week ago, a year ago or 50 years ago.

I took 6,298 during this trip, so I'll probably have more to pass along soon. This one was really special.

Chris Says This is Perfect

2011-04-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

My friend Chris called this photo perfect. I don't know if it's perfect, but it's nice to hear that.

Oddly, I took this photo some time ago, and didn't think much of it. Probably a good idea to review one's work from time to time.

In the News

2011-04-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

An unexpected surprise that came out of my April Fools' adventure on the Pulse of Vegas blog: It was mentioned on the local news.

Reporter Dayna Roselli tipped me off to a segment where the Charlie Sheen-retweeted post I did was mentioned. Watch it here.

Toys 4 Smiles in the News

2011-04-03T16:05:00.001-07:00

The nonprofit my dad volunteers with (cutting wooden toys for needy kids) made the news again.

Take a look.

More than 81,000 cars to-date.

Here's a link to their Web site.

A Big Day for the Pulse of Vegas Blog

2011-04-02T00:08:00.000-07:00

The blog I write for Caesars Entertainment had a big April Fools' Day today. I worked for weeks lining up posts that would go live throughout the day (every hour on the hour).

At one minute after midnight, I posted the first item, a piece about Las Vegas changing its sign to include a word now made famous by Charlie Sheen: "Winning."

Here's the post.

Yeah, I've kind of done this before.

Two minutes after I posted it, I posted it on Facebook and Twitter. I used Charlie Sheen's handle (@CharlieSheen) in the post, and he (or his people) retweeted it. Well, things went a little nutty from there.

Many thousands of people clicked through to the blog. There were 3.1 million raw hits and 43GB of data downloaded (that's a lot). Visitors viewed an average of 2.95 pages during their visit, and the bounce rate (people who don't find anything they like and click off to another site without looking at a second page) is just %2.88 (the average for the Web is 50%).

The link I created for Twitter was clicked 90,000 times.

Let me help you visualize what this kind of traffic means for a blog like the Pulse of Vegas blog.

Yeah, a bit of a spike. Big day for the blog.

Honesty in Advertising

2011-03-27T02:58:00.000-07:00

I don't really make fake billboards anymore, but I wish I did, because sometimes they made me laugh.

Meet Flat Justice

2011-03-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

Lots of people have heard of Flat Stanley, the flat guy who travels the world as a way for students to learn about community-building.

A friend of mine (a second grade teacher in Albany, New York) has a student in her class who decided Las Vegas needed a visit from Flat Justice instead!

Ordinary people just take pictures with their flat friend. But this is Vegas, so video seemed a better idea! Flat Justice and I had a great time sightseeing in Las Vegas!

Duran Duran: For the Record

2011-03-23T21:42:00.001-07:00

For the record. I know you have music you like, which is fine. That does not impact, however, the fact Duran Duran is the best band in the history of pop music.

Toys 4 Smiles Gets Some Ink

2011-03-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Toys 4 Smiles, the Vegas nonprofit my dad cuts wooden cars for, got some sweet ink in the Las Vegas Sun. Check it out.

My dad's the one that looks thrilled to be having his photo taken.

Carolyn Goodman May Be the Next Mayor of Las Vegas

2011-03-17T00:24:00.000-07:00

While roaming on Fremont Street (in downtown Las Vegas) an evening or two ago, I had a chance encounter with mayoral candidate Carolyn Goodman. Her husband is Oscar Goodman, the legendary Vegas mayor whose final term is up soon due to term limits. Bummed about that.

Anyway, Carolyn Goodman was taping what appeared to be a campaign of some sort, and I jumped behind the camera, caught her eye and snagged exactly three exposures. I was happy with the result!

Hanging out around the taping really gave me a sense of Carolyn Goodman's demeanor and personality, and I have to say, she's as likable and funny as her husband. She also didn't freak out when she saw my camera. Pretty sure if I vote, she'll get mine.

Sometimes, It's Truly Not Goodbye

2011-02-20T16:40:00.000-08:00

My friend Del Reisman's memorial was on Feb. 17, 2011 at the Writers Guild Theater in Los Angeles. I knew Del back when I was at the WGA. He had served as President for a number of years, but stuck around the Guild to act as the unofficial ambassador for the Guild.

He was smart and funny and warm and generous and all the things people say about friends after they die. In Del's case, though, all those things happen to also be true.

My friend Sean was nice enough to scan the program from the memorial, and I was pleased to see one of my photos of Del was used in the program.

Click here for a larger version.

It feels like a cliche to say that when some people pass away, they aren't really gone. Well, again, in Del's case, that's kind of true. He didn't just create brilliant stories that will live long beyond his own lifetime. (Among his many accomplishments, Del was story editor on the original "Twilight Zone" series.) Del was also an educator, and touched the lives of innumerable other storytellers whose work will be influenced by his insights.

Del worked tirelessly on behalf of writers and knew the power of the written word.

Here's more about Del.

Del was the man, and I'm proud to say I knew him for a time.

The Movies Oscar Screwed: Comedies That Should've Won Best Picture

2011-01-29T23:01:00.000-08:00

Year after year, Oscar gets it dead wrong.

When it comes to giving out Oscars, the members of the Motion Picture Academy have a serious blind spot—specifically, comedy. Though people often list comedies among their most loved and admired movies, those same films are overlooked for Best Picture Oscars year after year.

It's simply not fair that comedies continue to receive such atrocious treatment at Oscar time. Everyone knows comedy isn't merely "as difficult" to pull off as drama, it's actually much harder. It's not just wrong, but a downright embarrassment, that great comedic films, successful by any other measure, are so often overlooked during Oscar season.

It's time to make things right. It's time to give credit where it's due by recognizing the comedic films and performances that should have won Oscars. It's time for Oscar to get off his epic-loving, British-accent-loving ass and start laughing with the rest of us. Here are 30 years of the movies that should have won.

(Note: These films are listed by their year of release, not the year in which the Oscars would have been presented.)

2010
Best Picture: "How to Train Your Dragon"

Ever ponder whether your sense of wonder is intact? Look no further than "How to Train Your Dragon." Yes, it's animated. But it's gorgeous and touching and, yes, funny as hell. Sure, "The Social Network" has some snappy dialogue, but "Dragon" matches it and leapfrogs over it in sheer imagination, heart and technical wizardry. Oh, and did I mention how funny it is.

Best Picture Runner-Ups: "Date Night," "Toy Story 3," "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"

2009
Best Picture: "Zombieland"

All right. It could be argued the Best Picture of the Year may not have been a comedy, but it most certainly was not "The Hurt Locker." The thing with a lot of dramas is they only do one thing. We get it. Diffusing bombs is hard. Do we need to see 20 examples of that? "Zombieland" is funny and gory and touching and smart and utterly unforgettable. The stated purpose of the Oscars is to recognize excellence in filmmaking. Let's get on that mandate, Academy.

Best Picture Runner-Ups: "Adventureland," "Up," "The Hangover," "500 Days of Summer"

2008
Best Picture: "Tropic Thunder"

"Slumdog Millionaire" was contrived, unrealistic and sappy. How does it stack up against "Tropic Thunder"? It doesn't. "Tropic Thunder" had everything going for it, except for love from the Motion Picture Academy.

Best Picture Runner-Ups: "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," "Kung Fu Panda," "Wall-E"

2007
Best Picture: "Juno"

How often have you watched "No Country for Old Men" since it won "Best Picture"? Right. But wouldn't it be fun to watch "Juno" again? It was so smart and funny and real and moving. Being nominated might be an honor, Motion Picture Academy, but comedies don't need your pity, they need your hardware.

Best Picture Runner-Up: "Knocked Up"

2006
Best Picture: "Little Miss Sunshine"

The Academy choice for Best Picture was "The Departed," but was there anything all that different or memorable about this police drama? Is it a movie you're still excited to pop in the old DVD player? How about the true winner, "Little Miss Sunshine"? Being nominated is cool, but winning is cooler. Making a good drama is hard, but making a great comedy is much harder.

Best Picture Runner-Ups: "The Devil Wears Prada," "Cars," "Stranger Than Fiction"

2005
Best Picture: "The 40-Year-Old Virgin"

"Crash" wasn't a horrible movie, it just definitely wasn't the best movie of the year. That honor would lie with "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," just edging out "Wedding Crashers." "Virgin" is a case study in how when a comedy works, it appears effortless. Beneath the illusion, of course, is the ugly reality that a great comedy takes a magical mix of performers and writers and directors and myriad other variables that can fail to gel, evidenced by all the horrible comedies (and dramas for that matter) out there. If the Academy was dead-set on picking a drama to win, it should have been "Serenity."

Best Picture Runner-Ups: "Madagascar," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

2004
Best Picture: "Shaun of the Dead"

There has perhaps never been a better example of a Best Picture nod so completely missing the mark. "Million Dollar Baby" could even make an Academy Award statue yawn. "Shaun of the Dead" is perhaps the greatest comedy ever made and was given a shaft so long and barbed that it still stings to this day.

Best Picture Runners-up: "Starsky & Hutch," "Anchorman," "Garden State"

2003
Best Picture: "Finding Nemo"

We don't have to see the rest of the films likely to be nominated this year, we already have a winner. This funny, skillful, touching tale has it all, and it's sure to be a favorite for years to come. The likelihood of it even being nominated for a Best Picture Oscar? Not good.

Best Picture Runners-up: "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," "Elf"

2002
Best Picture: "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding"

It's inconceivable that a dud like "Gangs of New York" got so much Oscar buzz just because of its director and pretty costumes. Such films are a great example of just how misguided Oscar voters can be. We've all heard about the astonishing financial success of "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding," but it's also a great movie--charming, heartwarming and downright funny. It's another year where the best film won't be the one that gets the Oscar.

Best Picture Runners-up: "About a Boy"

2001
Best Picture: "Shrek"

This unforgettable comedy wasn't just slick in terms of its cutting-edge animation, it was equally impressive in its storytelling, characters and pathos. Does anyone really think the winner of Best Picture for 2001, "A Beautiful Mind," will endure like "Shrek" will? A classic case of where Oscar screwed up, bigtime. Oh, and let's not forget that Mike Meyers and John Lithgow deserved Oscar nominations, at least, for their voice work in "Shrek."

Best Picture runner's up: "Legally Blonde," "Monster's Inc.," "A Knight's Tale"

2000
Best Picture: "Shanghai Noon"

This year was a close race. The film that got the Oscar for Best Picture, "Gladiator," was an impressive bit of filmmaking, granted, but so was "Shanghai Noon." Both were period pieces, but "Gladiator" didn't have Jackie Chan or Owen Wilson. "Gladiator" had some great action sequences, but no kung fu. Case closed.

Runners Up: "Meet the Parents," "Almost Famous"

1999
Best Picture: "Galaxy Quest"

This was a big year for comedy. "American Beauty" won the Oscar for Best Picture. Oh, please. We're talking about the Best Picture of the year, and "Galaxy Quest" was it. It had a great story, great comedic acting (that's "comedic acting" meant as a term of admiration, not as an insult), and it had heart. Let's check back in 10 years to see which film still resides in your collection. Or which films your kids want to see, or their kids.

Runners Up: "American Pie," "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," "Toy Story 2"

1998
Best Picture: "Shakespeare in Love"

This was the last time the Academy got it right. Bravo. This film had it all. Only complaint, how in the hell did gesticulating nitwit Roberto Benigni win Best Actor that year? Joseph Fiennes should have put in a call to somebody in Tony Soprano's crew.

Runners Up: "A Bug's Life," "The Wedding Singer"

1997
Best Picture: "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery"

This was a close race. Not between "Austin Powers" and Oscar-winner "Titanic" (yawn), but between "Austin Powers" and "Men in Black." Is comparing "Austin Powers" with "Titanic" like comparing apples and oranges? Maybe, but few would disagree that "Austin Powers" was inspired, deft and downright hilarious (and, remember, it did manage to come in with a running time under three hours—that should be a requirement for all Best Picture contenders).

Runners Up: "Men in Black," "The Full Monty," "Grosse Pointe Blank"

1996
Best Picture: "Jerry Maguire"

This was a year where there's no room for disagreement. No Oscar race better makes the point about how comedies don't get their due. Let's see, which was the better movie, "The English Patient" or just about any other movie made that year? What in the world were Academy voters thinking—and one can only wonder if any of them had regrets about voting while under the influence of hallucinogens? "Jerry Maguire" had such great writing (thanks, Cameron Crowe) and the acting was all top-notch (and award-worthy). Perhaps it's time the Academy instituted a new "do-overs" policy.

Runner Up: "Fargo"

1995
Best Picture: "Babe"

All right. Some races were closer than others. "Braveheart" won the Oscar, and probably even deserved it, but "Babe" should have at least been in the running. This captivating, funny story was just as worthy of Oscar's attention.

Runner Up: "Toy Story," "The American President"

1994
Best Picture: "Forrest Gump"

Hey, the Academy got it right again. Miracles happen, even in Hollywood.

Runners Up: "Dumb & Dumber," "Four Weddings and a Funeral"

1993
Best Picture: "Groundhog Day"

It almost feels wrong to say that "Groundhog Day" was more deserving of a Best Picture Oscar than the film about that other Oscar, "Schindler's List." But, hey, let's say it, anyway. "Groundhog Day" was one of the most astonishing movies of 1993 or any year. It was just plain brilliant—and it even had a point. Bill Murray should have won for Best Actor. Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis should have won Best Screenplay. It's great when movies can move people to tears, but what an astonishing thing to be able to move them to laughter.

Runners Up: "Grumpy Old Men," "Dave"

1992
Best Picture: "Wayne's World"

How does "Unforgiven" get a Best Picture Oscar? Who knows? All we know is that "Wayne's World" was far and away the more entertaining film. How many lines can you quote from "Unforgiven"? And from "Wayne's World"? "Schwing." "Party on." "We're not worthy!" Everybody loves a good Western, but Best Picture of the year?

Runner Up: "The Player"

1991
Best Picture: "L.A. Story"

How many Oscars has Steve Martin won? A travesty! Steve Martin deserves to be more than a host of the Oscars, he deserves to have a room full of Oscar statues. It's just so sad that certain actors and films are ignored year after year after year, though their contribution to cinema in undeniable. (Let's hope their pools and servants help ease the pain of their ongoing disappointment.)

Runner Up: "City Slickers"

1990
Best Picture: "Tremors"

Yes, it was campy, but it was intended to be. It was also wildly entertaining and funny as hell. Nothing says funny like "Graboids" as far as we're concerned. Yes, "Dances With Wolves" was a dandy film, but it didn't have Kevin Bacon, nor did it have much goo. Enough said.

Runner Up: "Pretty Woman," "Green Card"

1989
Best Picture: "When Harry Met Sally"

"When Harry Met Sally" raised questions we all thought about but rarely discussed, and it managed to do it in a disarmingly amusing way. It was about the last time we enjoyed seeing either of the film's stars in a movie, and they had great chemistry together—there were few others more deserving of Best Actor and Best Actress nominations. The self-important "Driving Miss Daisy" won the Best Picture Oscar that year, but we know which film truly deserved the distinction.

Runners Up: "Parenthood," "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen"

1988
Best Picture: "Big"

Whenever the so-called experts put together lists of the best movies of all time, the same lackluster names appear—"Citizen Kane," "Casablanca," "Gone With the Wind," "Lawrence of Arabia," blah, blah, blah. We say you can't make a list of the best movies of all time without listing "Big" at or near the top of the list. This story of a boy who becomes big overnight is a perfectly woven tale with masterfully crafted dialogue and characters. The story is simple and moving. "Rain Man" (which won Best Picture) was a good movie, sure, but "Big" was a great movie. And Dustin Hoffman (Best Actor) was good, but Tom Hanks' performance was sheer genius.

Runners Up: "Beetlejuice," "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad"

1987
Best Picture: "The Princess Bride"

The perfect mix of wry humor and swashbuckling adventure, this classic comedy bested the forgettable Oscar winner, "The Last Emperor," by a mile. Has any actor ever been more deserving of a Best Supporting Actor nod than Mandy Patinkin as the revenge-obsessed Inigo Montoya?

Runners Up: "Raising Arizona," "Roxanne," "Spaceballs," "Moonstruck"

Oh, all right, my hands are tired. So, let's just cut to the chase. These are the movies that should have won Best Picture in these years.

1986
Best Picture: "Nothing in Common," just nudging out "Big Trouble in Little China," "Crocodile Dundee" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

1985
Best Picture: "Back to the Future."

1984
Tough year! "Ghostbusters" snags Best Picture, in a field containing "Splash," "Beverly Hills Cop," "Romancing the Stone" and "Bachelor Party."

1983
Best Picture: "A Christmas Story."

1982
Best Picture: "Tootsie," although "48 Hours," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and Woody Allen's "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" were on its heels.

1981
Best Picture: "Stripes."

1980
Best Picture: "Airplane," just beating out "Caddyshack" and "The Blues Brothers."

1979
Best Picture: "The Jerk."

1978
Best Picture: "National Lampoon's Animal House."

1977
Best Picture: "Annie Hall." (The other last time the Oscar voters got it right.)

1976
Best Picture: "The Pink Panther Strikes Again."

1975
Best Picture: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," but the underexposed "Love and Death" could just as easily have taken the statue.

1974
Best Picture: "Blazing Saddles." Unless you're more of a "Young Frankenstein" person.

1973
Best Picture: "Sleeper." One of the biggest travesties in the history of cinematic awards. "The Sting" was pretty good, but we're talking a whole different level of genius with "Sleeper."

1972
Best Picture: "Harold And Maude."

1971
Best Picture: "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory."

1970
Best Picture: "M*A*S*H."

Sure, you might disagree with some of the individual selections here, but big picture, everyone can agree the Motion Picture Academy needs to lighten up and realize comedy deserves a fair shake when it comes to Best Picture. The recent change to include 10 nominations, rather than five, was a horrible move, but if 10 it must be, how about a fair mix of comedies and dramas?

Michael Caine once said, "Comedy is underrepresented in every actor's life, because it's so bloody difficult to write." Comedy is underrepresented at the Oscars, too, because it looks so bloody easy.

Not Just Another Mall

2011-01-23T02:06:00.001-08:00

It's the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. A mall, times, oh, infinity.

I Guess We Have a New Penny

2011-01-23T00:33:00.000-08:00

Am I the only one that misses out on news like this? Apparently, we have new pennies.

I got a few at a casino tonight. I wonder if the Treasury Department gets people calling to report that they've been given counterfeit currency when they see something like this. Shouldn't they give us a little heads up (so to speak) or something?

I guess we'll survive.

I have to agree with this writer, though. It's kind of on the lame side.

My Chip Collection

2011-01-17T23:24:00.000-08:00

I've always collected things. Antique cameras. Movies on DVD. Quirky tools. Magazines from birth month. Music CDs. These aren't really ongoing collections. I kind of collect things fanatically, then move on to the next collection.

I think I've completed my latest collection! I've gathered together a collection of casino chips from every casino in Las Vegas that has a craps table.

The collection is made up of $1 chips, but there's a $5 chip from the Hard Rock, just for good measure. There's also a 50-cent chip from the Fremont.

There are, of course, chips from several casinos that are no longer with us. The Stardust, among them, the first place I stayed on my first visit to Vegas.

After the opening of the Cosmopolitan recently, some have suggested it'll be awhile before another major hotel-casino opens up on Vegas. So, my collection is complete! Even though I'm kind hoping not.

Paris Vegas

2011-01-09T01:27:00.000-08:00

I never tire of the sights and sounds of Vegas. A personal favorite is Paris Las Vegas (at least in terms of decor, I have other favorites for gambling). They did it up right when they designed this place.

I Have the Edge

2011-01-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

I took this photo for a contest in the Las Vegas Photographic Society. The theme was "lines." Not sure if it qualifies, but I like it!

My Favorite Tweets of 2010

2011-01-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, I read them all. And these were my favorite Tweets of 2010. I tried to whittle them down to a top 10 or 20, but hey, it's me.

Dear Mexico, you will always be a Third World country as long as you use accordions in your popular music.

Today, I get what I thought was spam. It said, "Dude, we're spamming those other people, but you could really use a larger penis."

If two special characters on your computer keyboard got married, would their vows include "Tilde death do us part"?

People are surprised to learn I'm an ordained minister. But I live in #Vegas, so I refer to myself as an Irreverend.

Happiest words ever: The office will be closing early today. Second happiest, "Is that all YOU?!"

Today's common word that sounds like a sexually-transmitted disease: Thwarts.

Everyone should leave Jesse James alone. He just did to Sandra Bullock what she did to ALL of us with Speed 2.

They say when God closes a door, he opens a window. What a pain in the ass to have to get into the house through a window all the time.

Scientists discover part-plant, part-animal sea creature. Finally, Crispin Glover is back in the headlines.

Rescuers pull girl from rubble 15 days after Haiti quake. Name? Betty.

"My bad" is not an apology. Unless you're apologizing for being an idiot.

Debating which nickname I should use, inspired by "The Situation." I could do "The Inflection," "The Predicament" or "The Phlegm Shawl."

My whole life, I've heard things along the lines of, "I want you to be who you are, but, you know, within reason."

You will not crush my spirit, DMV. My dad did that long ago, thanks.

The voice announcing numbers at the DMV was the same one calling people to Carosel in "Logan's Run." Coincidence?

Hummers to go off the market. Double entendre fans in mourning.

Powerful quake strikes Argentina. Actually increases property values.

I think it might be fun to raise money for a BAD cause.

And on an unrelated note: Have you ever seen someone who was combobulated?

I recently went green. I think it's a dietary thing.

No matter how bad your situation might be, mine is worse. Because, you know, my situation involves me.

Putting "fest" at the end of anything makes it more fun. Next time, make it a colonoscopyfest!

Ha! I just hit my funny bone. Thus refuting those who say, "He doesn't have a funny bone in his body."

I just saw a label that said "contains pro-vitamin B5." What's a "pro-vitamin"? Are the rest just dabbling?

Sorry, believers, but if there were a God, he would have made bladders with a capacity that at least exceeded a two-hour movie.

When was the last time you saw a movie with an Asian but without Kung Fu?

Retweeting is the pitiful refuge of those who can't think of anything original of their own. Please RT.

I have a "leading economic indicator." In my pants.

Is it possible to have too much moderation?

I judge, therefore I am.

If this van's a-rockin', there may be a problem with the suspension.

I want to be easy, breezy and beautiful like Cover Girl. But, you know, in a dude way.

There's nothing quite as disheartening as seeing someone wearing a hat, and realizing they don't mean it to be ironic.

I just pocket-dialed my other pocket. Got voice mail.

Wouldn't it be freaky if a zombie attacked you, but it was a really old one, and she just kind of gummed at you and you were fine?

Today's factoid is for race fans: Funny Cars? Not that funny.

I probably Tweet about myself too much, but I'm the most interesting thing I can think of.

I'm kind of losing interest in "making a difference." From now on, I'm making a similarity.

Why don't you ever hear about anyone being "below reproach"?

Most amazing thing about the Chilean mine rescue? Rev. Jesse Jackson has yet to appear and take credit for the rescue.

Social networking is the new office water cooler. And you don't herniate yourself lifting the tank.

"Most companies do listening, but do nothing with it." Just like my relationship.

Dear rap artists. "Floor" does not, technically, rhyme with "know."

Update: Cable guy may be the result of breeding between humans and sloths.

Question: Is it inappropriate to call the pine used for coffins "mourning wood"?

If you find yourself always struggling to make ends meet, it's probably time to change the ends.

Dude, you can call it a "briefcase," but in the end, it's a glorified purse.

Life rule #431: Beware the comedian who never jokes about gonorrhea.

Awesome sometimes asks me how to be more awesome.

I'm so green, I just copied a long report onto two-sided paper and threw away the original. You're welcome, Earth.

Life tip #81: People in marching bands could get there a lot quicker if they just took longer steps.

You know what you never see? Drink cozies knitted with phlegm.

Retweet this and a Who dies.

Retweet this and I'll fornicate with a corn husk.

LOLB. (It's like LOL, but with boobs.)

The holidays are a time to count our blessings: Friends, health and the fact Yoko Ono no longer sleeps with anyone famous.

Based on the strength of concept, how is it, after all this time, no company is making shoes with mirrors on them?

Well, that's a switch. I just molested a Catholic priest.

Goal for our office holiday party: Unprotected sex with a cannoli.

Goal for tonight's office holiday party: Get myself drunk and get into my own pants.

Weird how "crack whore" has taken on such a negative connotation, rather than translating as an exceptional entertainment value.

I just took a Wikileak. (Somebody had to say it.)

I totally get the benefits of kicking ass, but I'm a little fuzzy about why one would also feel compelled to take names.

Just dropped a tin of Altoids on my lap. Now certain parts of me are "curiously rigid."

I have an appointment with H.R. on Monday. Apparently, people in the office didn't care for me wearing mistletoe on my belt buckle.

I can't help but feel I'm destined to hit the F8 key.

Two more glasses of @Captn_Morgan and diet, and I swear to God I'll Tweet a picture of me with a beard made of placenta.

Heard I have another session with Human Resources. Some of the folks at the office didn't appreciate me showing off my Yule log.

To get into the holiday spirit, curled up with a warm blanket. Then realized, "What in the HELL is Michael Jackson's kid doing here?!"

Only bummer about the New Year's Eve countdowns? Counting backwards reminds me of a sobriety test.

Happy New Year!

Merry, Merry, Happy, Happy

2010-12-25T23:52:00.000-08:00

Hope you and yours had a great Christmas. Here's one from 1967, if you can believe that.

Just Another Day at the Mall

2010-12-21T22:59:00.000-08:00

Well, not exactly just another day at the mall. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace here in Vegas are anything but an ordinary shopping mall!

My Vegas Love Affair Begins

2010-12-20T23:48:00.000-08:00

As my grandmother's health has waned, my mom has been carefully sharing some of the items my Gram's been saving for whatever reason. Old newspaper clippings, family letters, my earliest copy of the New Testament (age 7, didn't stick).

My mom found a rather remarkable item amidst my grandmother's keepsakes. It was the postcard I mailed to my grandparents during my very first stay in Las Vegas!

I now know, officially, when my love affair with Las Vegas began: July 10, 1991. Holy camel coccyx, Batman. That's about 20 years ago if my math is right.

I made my first stop in Vegas as I drove from Albany, New York to Los Angeles to pursue my dream of being a screenwriter. That dream quickly ended (as I learned more about what that job actually entailed), but my dream of being in Vegas had been sparked.

I still love this town, and often think of the Stardust, the first place I stayed in this town. The love affair continues.

Thanks for the memories, Gram.

Top 10 Hittite Kings or Kinds of Pasta

2010-12-15T20:41:00.000-08:00

1. Tudhaliya
2. Hattusili
3. Vermicelli
4. Suppiluliuma
5. Manicotti
6. Zidanta
7. Fettuccine
8. Capellini
9. Muwatalli
10. Fusilli

Vegas Gets Its Christmas On

2010-12-07T22:59:00.001-08:00

Snagged this photo of the lobby at Caesars Palace today. Pretty!

Holly, Holly, Holly

2010-12-05T00:26:00.000-08:00

I finally got to meet Holly Madison today. We've bumped into each other at various events in the past--I've been behind a camera, and she's been, well, doing her Holly thing. But we've never really met-met.

Today, at a toy drive for Toys for Tots here in Vegas, I brought over a couple of toys to donate, and I took advantage of her offer for a photo in exchange.

It's weird. When I write the Pulse of Vegas blog, I play kind of this character that pretty much adores Holly. It's a marketing thing. But the blog is also me, and I tend to think highly of Holly Madison's ability to market herself, her confidence, her causes. So, when my blog character, and my real life self, meet Holly Madison, it should be this momentous day.

It was, however, just a pleasant encounter. She seemed friendly, but distracted. I'm not sure mere mortals can really understand what her life is like. The history there. The public scrutiny. It made me wonder what Holly Madison is actually like. Not the photo op one. Or the one on her reality show, "Holly's World." The actual person that seems to care about animals and children. And who likes attention, but who most times appears to skillfully avoid giving off a pretentious or arrogant vibe so many celebrities do. (I've been around a lot of them.)

So, now I have a photo with Holly Madison. I guess I can check that off my bucket list.

I should probably put "Making a Bucket List" on my bucket list, too.

On the Fly

2010-11-28T01:30:00.000-08:00

Today, I met some friends for breakfast near McCarran Airport here in Vegas. I went out into the parking lot of this restaurant, and planes were flying by so close, it felt like you could reach out and touch them.

In lieu of that, I took some photos. I thought this one turned out pretty well.

My Dad Turns Out to Be a Pretty Cool Guy

2010-11-26T01:24:00.000-08:00

My dad just turned 70. Strange. Because I'm fairly sure I'm not a day over 34, but that's neither here nor there.

In recent years, Dad has found a pet project, a nonprofit called Toys4Smiles. The group of volunteers, mostly seniors, makes toy cars for kids. Amazingly, this merry band of woodworkers has churned out more than 73,000 cars, many of them cut out by my dad, one of the original members of the group.

How my dad has all his original fingers, I have no idea.

What I do know is that this pursuit is perfectly suited to his talents, having been a longtime craftsman, although he'd say that's overstating his skill level. He's just a guy that works with wood sometimes.

A local news station featured Toys4Smiles recently. It's a great segment. Watch it here.

I'm so impressed with the commitment of the volunteers involved with Toys4Smiles. Their mission is simple, and they've far surpassed even their own goals and expectations.

They're always looking for wood, volunteers and donations. Take a look.

In Honor of Veteran's Day

2010-11-10T23:45:00.000-08:00

This is the day we honor those who have served.

That would include my grandfather, Earl Palmer. Speaking at his funeral was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Whatever I'd have said would have been inadequate. Gramp was just the best kind of man. Strong and silent and funny and just steady. He is missed, often.

My father served in the Navy for 30 years. His service was an integral part of our lives. He worked in incredibly dangerous situations, such as on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Enterprise. He taught all his children about the sacrifices made by those charged with ensuring we are safe.

He never quite managed to impart in me the ability to embrace the military sensibility. I'm not big on following orders without question. I'm not big on things being black and white, as they so often seem to be in military circles.

But I think being in a military family changes your view of the world. You understand, deeply, the importance of honor and dedication and commitment to something bigger than oneself. Dad would probably say he was just doing his job. But there are a lot of ways to make a living that don't involve weekly paychecks of $19 (which is not much of an exaggeration, he's shown us his early pay stubs). And there are jobs where you don't have to leave your wife and kids for months (or for some, years) at a time. There are jobs where you don't risk losing your legs or life because an arresting cable snapped, or because someone is forgetful and gets sucked into a jet engine.

I once toyed with the idea of joining the Air Force. At the time, I asked my father to write a recommendation for me. I would have gone to Officer's Training School, and my first day out of that training I would have held a higher rank than my father. (He preferred to be an enlisted man for his entire career, rather than move up to being the lowest officer rank.) In his recommendation, he said that he would be proud to salute me, and to this day, I can't read or think about that letter without tearing up.

That's because I know in my heart I can never hold a candle to my old man. His integrity. His devotion to his wife and family. His strength in his convictions. My father is, without a doubt, the greatest man I have ever known. And the military helped make him the man he is.

So, Dad, I salute you, and all of your fellow military men and women, on Veteran's Day and every day.

Not Quite Sure About Me

2010-11-07T00:59:00.000-07:00

I don't always have time to build rapport with the people I photograph. Probably for the best. Sometimes, the apprehension actually provides for more subdued, subtle emotions. Smiles are fine, but there's room for other expressions, too. Here's today's capture. Six or seven photos total. And, no, I didn't make her eyes bigger!

That Which Causes Photographer Chagrin

2010-11-01T00:12:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to hear that the parent of this child loved the photo.

But here's the thing. The story of how I captured this image is kind of a long one. First, I went to the trouble of dragging this woman and her child outside our office for better light. I asked his mom to put the child on the ground (rather than on her lap or something).

I knew I'd want a shallow depth of field, so I started shooting in aperture priority mode.

I got down on the ground. Flat on my back. I lifted my 12-pound camera with one hand, and shot dozens of photos. I made funny noises. I encouraged the mom to dangle some keys behind me.

I got a massive cramp in my stomach from the awkwardness of my body position. I kept shooting.

I wriggled forward, on my back, while taking more photos, watching the light, focusing and re-focusing, recomposing over and over again.

Later, I reviewed all the photos, and picked the one I thought was best. I worked on the image for an hour. I tweaked the exposure. I worked and reworked the eyes to make them pop. I selectively augmented the color in the child's costume. I cloned out tiny bits of lint on the costume. I resized and sharpened.

I've gone through this process often in the past. Time and time again, upon seeing a photo like the one above, someone will say, "Wow, you must have a great camera."

That would be the chagrin-causing part, by the way.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

I didn't dress up for Halloween this year. I'm not sure why. It might be the first one I've missed. I guess it kind of snuck up on me. Some people were in the spirit of Halloween, thankfully.

I Never Get Tired of Looking at This

2010-10-25T23:52:00.000-07:00

And am never going to be good enough a photographer to capture its spectacularness.

Well, Now, That's Charming

2010-10-25T23:12:00.001-07:00

I recently sent my camera to the Canon factory for repair, and when it was returned, the memory card had been removed and put into an envelope.

Ah, the memories. Film? What's that?

I'm Not Entirely Sure Why, But...

2010-10-19T20:07:00.001-07:00

This Makes Me Smile

2010-10-15T00:58:00.000-07:00

A Halloween Thang

2010-10-09T00:50:00.000-07:00

Just trying to get into the spirit of Halloween, I guess.

Old School Mic

2010-09-29T00:12:00.000-07:00

I like old things.

Riding to the Park

2010-09-27T00:09:00.001-07:00

My folks have a sweet dog, Bonnie. Today, they let me ride to the park with them.

Bonnie is a sweetheart, and when I visit, I get all the benefits of dog ownership without having to do any of the difficult parts of dog ownership. Yay.

Children: What's That All About?

2010-09-25T03:46:00.000-07:00

You Meet the Nicest People Online

2010-09-24T23:40:00.000-07:00

I love the Internet. No secret there, I guess. But I love the magic it makes happen. For instance, today I got a letter from a professor in India. Here's his note.

"I'm a professor at Xavier Institute of Management and am currently working on a book for Business Communication. While researching for my book, I came across your Titanic press release and frankly, was very impressed with the way you've written it. I was hoping that I could use the press release as one of the case studies in my book; with, of course, proper citations and due credit to you. Please let me know if I have your permission for the same. I think students could learn a lot from the press release. Looking forward to your reply. Regards, Prof. Mallika Nawal."

The article in question was written a decade ago (I think), and in reading it again, I'm proud of what it does. It's written as a mock news conference for the White Star Line the day after the Titanic sank. Read the article.

I think it's funny, but also makes some interesting points about public relations "spin" and how companies handle crisis situations. (See how I wrote "crisis situations" there? That was because I didn't know what the plural of "crisis" is.)

Anyway, I love that this professor found me, and I'm always amazed when I hear from people around the world requesting one of my billboards for their seminars, or when they want to use something I've written in a Toastmasters contest or in a textbook.

The world has truly become a much smaller place, even while my world is bigger than I ever thought was possible.

UPDATE (10 MINUTES LATER)

I wrote back to the professor, and he responded immediately. Of course, I have to share his response because he says nice things about my work.

"Dear Scott (I'm taking a liberty here, let me know if you like to be
addressed as Mr. Roeben). I did not only like your work, I thought it was brilliant. It somehow managed to incorporate everything that I teach in class. Therefore, I
really wanted to use it. Just to give you a heads-up on the book, the publishers are Cengage Learning (erstwhile Thomson-Learning) and the book is roughly 400-500
pages, covering all dimensions of Business Communication - Oral, Written, Grooming, Etiquette. You have a very witty style of writing. In fact, it's been quite a while
since I came across something so good. Once I put the manuscript in place (we are expecting to release the book by Nov/Dec), I'll send you a copy. Once again, thank you for your permission. I'm truly grateful."

Told you. You meet the nicest people online.

Yeah, We Got Us Some Culture in Vegas

2010-09-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

Does architecture count as culture? If so, Vegas has some of that!

This is the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, designed by world-renowned architect and guy I'd never heard of before today, Frank Gehry.

Not a Dry Eye in the House

2010-09-22T23:10:00.001-07:00

This young woman shared her story at the Spread the Word Nevada Storybook Gala on Sep. 11, 2010. Veronica is such a sweetheart, and it took a lot of nerve to get up there in front of hundreds of people to help inspire others to support the efforts of this nonprofit that gives books to at-risk kids.

Kind of the reason I've devoted so much volunteer time to Kids to Kids.

Hogs and Heifers

2010-09-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first time at Hogs and Heifers, a biker bar in downtown Las Vegas. It's a colorful place, so I thought I'd try and give it a colorful photographic treatment.

A little photo magic, combining three exposures of the same image. Love the look. The place? The jury's still out on that one.

Kids Don't Generally, Y'Know, Look Like That

2010-09-20T23:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I wonder if people look at my photos and think, "It's easy to take a photo of that kid! The sparkle in the eyes, the flawless skin. Perfect." Well, yes, kids are perfect, blah, blah. But even good genes get a nudge with Photoshop, people.

Here's an "after."

And here's the before.

The perfect little angel got, well, she got perfecter. Wasn't my fault she dove into that cupcake! Photoshop just makes what's there, there-er. The perfect, perfect-er.

Then again, sometimes, you just show up.

Sometimes, You Get to Meet Your Heroes

2010-09-14T22:57:00.001-07:00

A week or two ago, I got to meet a couple of my heroes. I went to the Monte Carlo and saw one of my all-time favorite bands, Wang Chung.

I wouldn't say the show was Earth-shattering, but they played some '80s classics, and it was a good time. I was truly delighted, though, that the guys in the band, Jack Hues (below) and Nick Feldman, stayed afterward and mingled.

It was great being able to just hang out with these guys, and to have the opportunity to let them know how much joy their music has given me all these years. I can't say I'm a real music guy. But their records (along with those of Duran Duran) are a part of me, kind of the soundtrack of my life, as they say.

Thanks, Vegas, for making it happen. Because everybody plays Vegas, eventually.

Happy Birthday, Kiddo

2010-09-14T22:55:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday to my nephew. In photos, he almost seems human.

Jeff Dunham, It Ends Up, Is a Nice Guy

2010-09-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

I got to shoot some quick portraits of comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham at Rao's restaurant inside Caesars Palace today. Funny, unassuming, nice guy. Multi-millionaire guy.

Jeff Dunham factoid: His video, with Achmed the Dead Terrorist, has 188 million views, and is the eighth most-viewed video on YouTube ever.

I learned about this performer, both in my research about him (research I hoped would enable me to ask him questions that didn't make me sound like an idiot during our interview), and from the man himself.

Among the things I learned was that Jeff Dunham makes all his own characters. ("Puppets," to you and me.) I also learned how incredibly skillful he is at his craft. There were times when his puppet's eyes looked at me, and Dunham was actually looking in another direction, and there was this very, very weird feeling that the dummy was alive. The puppet exhibited a range of emotions, essentially moving on its eyebrows, eyes and mouth. Astonishing and a wee unnerving.

The character in question is Diane (below). Both Dunham and Diane made an appearance in the recent movie "Dinner for Schmucks." According to Dunham, the director of the movie, Jay Roach, asked him to create a puppet that was "creepy hot." Yep, that pretty much sums her up.

See? Freaky!

I also learned, from someone I believe is Jeff Dunham's manager, that manipulating a puppet with that level of sophistication takes a huge amount of focus and dexterity. Dunham makes it look easy, but there's a lot going on inside that puppet's body. His manager also told me that same dexterity helped Dunham learn to fly a helicopter, something that often takes weeks or months to master, in a weekend.

This pic includes Jeff Dunham's girlfriend, helping to primp Diane for her close-up.

I didn't have any idea what to expect before I met Jeff Dunham. But the encounter was completely pleasant, as was Jeff Dunham. I look forward to seeing his show sometime.

Now, That Feels Pretty Good

2010-08-27T00:06:00.000-07:00

Today, I got a wonderful message through Flickr.

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!

Hi Scott,

I work at a homeless shelter in WI and we wanted to know if we could use your photo "Dan the Man" in a mailing we're going to be doing this Fall, or anytime in the future. These mailings generate the funds that enable us to rescue, rebuild and renew the lives of those who come to us for help. The photo would be attributed to you.

Thanks,
Justin Vajko
Hope Gospel Mission
www.hopegospelmission.org

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!

Here's Dan.

Always kind of liked that portrait. I think it's the juxtaposition of Dan's soft, seemingly kind face, and the lights of Vegas. It's a contrast you see a lot downtown. The glitz, the lights, the revelry. And feet away, people begging for money because they're hungry (or more often, thirsty).

It's nice to be able to help organizations that do the actual work of helping people. Snapping a photo or two seems easy by comparison, so how could I ever say "no"?

Best. Online. Purchase. Experience. Ever.

2010-08-19T23:26:00.001-07:00

So, I ordered this lens not too long ago from Photojojo.

Oh, man, you totally fell for that! It's not a lens! It's a drinking cup. Looks awesome, though, doesn't it? Even better than I expected. Complete with a lid that looks like a lens cover. For a Canon shooter like me, I can't imagine a more fun tsotchke.

Having the product exceed my expectations isn't even the best part of the story, though! (And the fact that it cost half of what I would have paid isn't the best part, either.)

As I'm about to throw out the box the lens/cup came in, I see a little plastic dinosaur.

A few things ran through my mind. Maybe it had fallen in the box by accident. Maybe somebody packed it by mistake. Either way, it made me smile. It was so random, and a surprise.

Then, I looked at the receipt for my purchase.

Hysterical!

In the hotel and casino and hospitality business, we talk a lot about wanting to "surprise and delight" our customers. Sounds nice, but how often do we really do it?

Well, Photojojo did it. And I'm not the most easily surprised or delighted person in the world, trust me.

My Most Famous Capture Yet: Sylvester Stallone

2010-08-14T16:26:00.001-07:00

Yep, it's the man himself. The one we love. "Rocky." "First Blood." When a movie's as good as those, you can forgive a guy for "Judge Dredd" or "Over the Top" or "Cobra" (OK, that one might be unforgivable).

I got pretty close to the movie icon at a red carpet event for "The Expendables" (another one that requires forgiveness) at Planet Hollywood here in Las Vegas.

He seemed like a nice guy, and aside from the toupee and eyebrow issues, I think he looks pretty darned good even at this range, even better than onscreen. Anyway, he seemed like a nice guy during our brief encounter.

I'd venture that no other photographer got a shot like this that night. The red carpet is a frenzy of flashes and jostling for position. I am lousy with flash, so while I snag a few with flash, I tend to hang out and get shots without flash as the celebrity moves down the carpet. Tracking them a few extra minutes tends to get photos less flat, and a bit more intimate. (Most pros need to get full-body shots to sell them to the tabloids, etc. Very few give this much emphasis to the face.)

I had the same experience with singer Matt Goss. After all the pros drifted off to other subjects, or their cars to head home, I got this photo, one of my favorites of all time of any celebrity. His fans seem to love it, so that's a nice vindication of my lingering/stalking technique.

Oh, and here's a random piece of Sylvester Stallone trivia: He was in one of Woody Allen's earliest, and funniest films, "Bananas."

Some Kids Just Like the Camera

2010-08-14T16:22:00.001-07:00

This was one of those kids! She's just two, but already very photogenic, with personality to spare.

I haven't been doing too many portraits lately. Not sure why. Maybe it's the agonizing pain in my arm and shoulder from my 20-pound camera rig. Or maybe because I'm lazy. Or maybe because my growth in photography has kind of leveled off. Or maybe because I do so much photography for work now.

Oh, well, looking forward to whatever's next.

Erin and Kai

2010-08-08T22:05:00.001-07:00

My friend Erin got married. Loved this shot of her and daughter, Kai.

I Never Shoot Weddings

2010-08-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

Well, "never" might be too strong a term. Congrats to Erin and Brad.

My Crutch

2010-07-31T02:01:00.000-07:00

I rely on the Topaz Photoshop plug-in far too much in my photography, especially in the case of homeless people and buildings. It adds a lot of drama, and turns ordinary photos into eye-catching, distinctive ones.

In the case of buildings, I create an HDR image using three exposures of the same subject. Then I run the HDR image through Topaz, and out it comes. Sure, it's a crutch. But as crutches go, I really like this one.

Taking a Step Back

2010-07-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, we're so caught up in life, we don't take the time to take a step back. Stepping back means we can see the same thing we see every day in a new way. That new way can be enlightening or shocking or, in the case of these roadside beams, amusing.

These beams were giving drivers the finger for weeks before I finally risked life and limb to get a photo.

Taking a step back can be a powerful tool in relationships. We get caught in the drama, in our own pride and agenda, but often all that's required is a simple step back. Hopefully, not into traffic.

One. Million. Dollars.

2010-07-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

Me. With a million dollars at Binion's. Just another day in Vegas.

A Weird Connection

2010-07-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

Former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn passed away on July 22, 2010. I met him once.

Everyone speaks highly of him, and he was supportive of Spread the Word Nevada, the children's literacy group I volunteer with.

His was a fairly senseless death. Like I said, I didn't know him well, so I can't say it's sad, exactly. But I think he did good things during his lifetime, and that's all we can really do, right? Whatever we can do.

Read more about Kenny Guinn.

I Have the Best Job in the World

2010-07-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it's true. I'm giving myself over to the fact that I just might have the best job ever. First, I get to write and do photography, all the time. I also get to explore Vegas. The good, the bad and the cross-dressing.

The other night, I met female impersonator Frank Marino. He was signing a cookbook he whipped up to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Good cause, nice guy!

From what he says, he's the longest-running, continuously-employed headliner in Vegas (25 years worth).

I get to meet such interesting people in this gig! From a female impersonator, to someone like comedy-magician Mac King.

I just loved Mac King's show. The guy is a true pro, and seems like just the most down-to-earth person.

I picked these two people because, to me, they exemplify Vegas. They kind of exude it. Their shows and personalities are very different, obviously, but they're not doing what they do for a one-off payday. They're in it for the long run. They do what they do to the hilt. And they seem to really be having fun in the process.

And I'm having a lot of fun lately, too. I meet not only entertainers, of course, but people from around the world. I meet dealers and bloggers and photographers and people who are funny and drunk and talented and, quite often, having the time of their lives.

Added bonus: I get to turn around and write about my experiences and encounters. I get to be funny, and I get to share all the things I love about this town. And they are many.

Just the best job ever, and I'm having the time of my life!

See the latest on the Pulse of Vegas blog.

The Suncoast

2010-07-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

The Suncoast is a "locals" hotel-casino here in Vegas (Summerlin, specifically). It has a different vibe than Strip casinos. More serious gamblers come to the Suncoast, as opposed to recreational gamblers. You sometimes get the sense paychecks are on the line.

The Suncoast also appeals to a more, uh, mature crowd. Oxygen tanks often line the aisles of slot machines.

I like the Suncoast because it's close, and because the table minimums are usually reasonable.

Solid buffet, too. Although pretty much every buffet pales when compared to the buffet at the M Resort, another off-Strip offering.

I think my girlfriend is correct in that I'd probably be happy hanging out in a casino every night of the week. Not necessarily to gamble, but I just like the activity, the lights, the sounds, the energy of casinos. All the things people who know me would say I'd hate. Oh, and the smoking. I don't like it, but it doesn't bother me much in casinos. It just comes with the territory.

I like that people seem to be having fun in casinos. (Not necessarily the locals places, but the other ones.) You're always a quick ride away from a party in Vegas. The party's there whenever you're ready to attend. The hooch flows freely, and often, lots of other freebies do as well.

You never know who you're going to meet, but you can bet they'll be interesting. People from all walks of life come to casinos. So many stories. So many quirks. So many characters.

I do love this town.

Meet Ali

2010-07-18T23:23:00.001-07:00

Can't believe I haven't shared this portrait sooner. I love it! Not just because I think it's a great portrait, but also because this guy is such a character. It's Ali Pirouzkar. Look familiar? He had a role in "Casino," and he just exudes Vegas. One of the reasons he caught my eye, and one of the reasons I tracked him down.

I did a big write-up on Ali for the Pulse of Vegas Blog for Harrah's:

Awhile back, while roaming the storied halls of Caesars Palace, this Las Vegas blog spotted a distinctive-looking gent making his way among the shops of the Appian Way, destination unknown.

He looked so familiar. Immaculately dressed. Large, unmistakable glasses. Thick hair and pencil-thin mustache. He just had a presence, and honestly, carried himself like he owned the joint.

So, in the days that followed, we sought out this mysterious fellow. We asked longtime Caesars employees. We talked to P.R. We talked to marketing. But to no avail.

A week or two later, we received “Casino” from Netflix. As a Las Vegas blog, we are obligated to view a steady supply of Vegas-themed movies, and “Casino” is one of the classics about the town, the early culture of Vegas, and, yes, the unfortunate whacking that sometimes took place in Sin City’s formative years.

There’s a sequence in 1995′s “Casino” that we’d forgotten. Sharon Stone is cozying up to a high roller, and gets on a hot roll. She steals some chips from the “whale,” and they get into an argument resulting in her throwing his chips into the air (in slow motion, of course). And there, right there, we saw the very mystery man we’d spotted at Caesars Palace.
So, we quickly pursued our lead and learned the character’s name was, of all things, High Roller. The actor? Someone named Ali Pirouzkar. Now we were getting somewhere!

The Interwebs were fairly useless in our quest, but then we came across a mention in an article by one of our favorite local journalists, John Katsilometes. He wrote that Ali Pirouzkar was currently the “maitre d’ for the fun new supper show ‘Only You’ at Hennessey’s Tavern on Fremont Street.” The trail of clues had gone from warm to hot.

We ventured down to Fremont Street, and sure enough, we met Ali Pirouzkar, a man with a colorful personality and a one-of-a-kind style to match.

It doesn’t take much prodding to get Ali to talk about “Casino” and the history of Vegas.

The Iranian-born Pirouzkar was discovered by “Casino” talent scouts while strolling through the Fashion Show Mall (where he managed a men’s shop at the time). He hit it off with the film’s director, Martin Scorsese, and stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci.

Here’s a little Pulse of Vegas Blog exclusive: On Ali’s first night of filming (at the Riviera), a man snuck into a secure area and offered Ali $10,000 to walk off the film (so the man could presumably snag Ali’s part). Ali, obviously, declined.

Ali’s sequence took 12 days to shoot. Nights, actually, since filming was done during the casino’s off-hours, midnight to 10:00 a.m.

The rest is cinematic and Las Vegas history!

These days, the animated and ever-eccentric Ali is still recognized wherever he goes, asked for his autograph dozens of times a day. The “Cult of Ali” is in full effect! In fact, his presence causes such a stir, security at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace has asked that he let them know when he’ll be visiting so they can better manage crowd control.

If you bump into Ali, trust us, you’ll always remember your encounter.

Tell him this Las Vegas blog says, “Hi!” In fact, he even said you can call him anytime at 702-612-3587 (especially if you’re a casting agent). Only in Vegas!

Update (7/17/10): We hear “Only You,” the show for which Ali was maitre d’, has closed. In Vegas, a lot can change in a week! We wish the cast, and Ali, the best in their future endeavors.

Million Dollar Smile

2010-07-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

Say "hi" to Barbara. Such a sweetheart, and clearly going through a tough time. Will my $2 help? Not sure. But it can't hurt.

Johnny on the Street

2010-07-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

Another day, another guy just trying to make it day to day on the street. This is Jonathan. Like most of the homeless folks I meet, Johnny was on Fremont Street. Soulful eyes. Great smile. And very grateful for the two bucks.

Eyes of the Wolf

2010-07-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

This is Wolf. Homeless, and a little intimidating. Not! He looks rough, but before the photo, he was dancing with a friend of his (also homeless) on Fremont Street.

Wolf made a point of saying he's part native American, but his dance did not appear to have originated from any native American tradition. It appeared to have originated from Pabst Blue Ribbon.

It's the Ice Man

2010-07-11T03:08:00.000-07:00

This is "Ice." I overheard him telling a couple of his homeless buddies on Fremont Street, "I only need 85 cents to get a beer." So, of course, I offered up the idea of his being part of the $2 Portrait, and he was happy to join in the fun.

Richard

2010-07-11T02:24:00.000-07:00

The $2 Portrait Project continues! I met Richard downtown tonight. He pulled a switcheroo on me, too.

After I got the portrait, and gave him his two bucks, I said, "Thanks. That might get you a beer." And he said, "Or maybe I'll have another coffee." Didn't expect that one.

As Artsy as I Get

2010-07-07T00:26:00.001-07:00

Hey, if it's black and white, it's artsy.

Hanging With Matt Damon

2010-07-04T03:38:00.000-07:00

I got to snag a few photos of Jason Bourne himself today, Matt Damon. He was playing in a charity tournament, Ante Up for Africa, as part of the World Series of Poker here in Vegas.

He seemed an affable, accessible, decent guy. He accommodated every request from journalists, fans and (often annoying) photographers.

His philanthropy is done in a very classy way (it's not about getting publicity for himself), and he's very active with a group called water.org. Read a great interview in Esquire.

As photo ops go, that was pretty damned cool.

One of the Reasons They Invented "Aieeee!"

2010-07-04T00:07:00.000-07:00

Tonight's macro adventure featured a giant, hairy-legged spider that one of our cats detected on the ceiling. With a little help from my critter wrangler, and five minutes of fridge time (doesn't hurt the creatures), this was the result.

Two words: Frea. Ky. Emphasis on the "Aieeee!"

Getting up close to these buggers is pretty nerve-wracking, but when one sees the results, it's kind of worth it. Especially the part about seeing those eerie eyes.

A few minutes later, things warm up, and our subjects are released back into the wild, none the worse for wear.

Hey, some people go on dates. We do macro photography of creepy-crawlies.

It's Roly Poly Time

2010-07-01T00:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight I committed to doing something productive for a change. So, I spent about four hours capturing this photo of a roly poly bug.

Roly poly is, according to the Interwebs, "the colloquial name for isopod crustaceans of the family Armadillidiidae, also known as 'pill bugs.'" Or as our cats call them, "creatures to torment and, probably, eat."

One of the things I find most fascinating about macro photography is you get this new appreciation for life, big and small. When you see that a roly poly bug has a face, it's hard to view them the same way. Ever again.

It's amazing how casually we extinguish lives during the daily course of our own. The line of ants we step on without another thought. The roly poly bug we let kids (or cats) poke and prod and often worse.

I'm as guilty of these acts as anyone. The other day, I killed a scorpion. But what's changed is that since doing macro photography of a scorpion (and other critters), I always, always think twice, and I am always conscious of my decision to end a life.

Because that scorpion has a face. And so does the roly poly and the ant and the roach and the spider. Some of those faces aren't the prettiest. But how many of us are? Do we want that to be the deciding factor as to whether we live or die? Our face. Our height. Our brain size?

All I'm saying is, tread softly. My new pal the roly poly would thank you if he had vocal cords. Definitely.

Still Kicking

2010-06-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

I survived my birthday. I survived my medical drama. And I'm still kicking.

Life is not always what you expect, and getting older sucks in a lot of ways. But, as has been said, it's better than the alternative.

My First Billboard Since August 2, 2007

2010-06-10T00:07:00.000-07:00

There was a time when funny billboards were my life. I created hundreds of them for my site, Dribbleglass.com. Today, I made a new one. It's the first one I've done since 2007.

I'm not entirely sure why I stopped doing billboards, or why I kind of lost interest in updating Dribbleglass.com. I guess it just ran its course after 10 years or so. Maybe the billboard well ran dry.

My site still gets a lot of traffic. And my billboard book, Twisted Billboards, still sells quite well.

Making a new billboard kind of reminded me of why I loved doing them so much. There's a challenge and discipline involved in coming up with a concept, and encapsulating a perspective (often a subversive or contrary or irreverent one) within the constraints of the medium of a billboard, which, by definition, can contain only a few words.

I love billboards because they're the perfect blank canvas. And, if they strike a chord, they can easily be shared with literally millions of people, as many of mine have (usually via e-mail).

Creating an image that is circulated that widely is a kind of fame (sometimes infamy), and a kind of immortality. Oh, and it's fun. I'll take it.

Oh, I Debated Whether to Post This Photo

2010-06-07T21:33:00.000-07:00

Then, I thought, hey, if you gave birth to twins, you'd probably share photos, too.

And, yes, I thought the same thing. The one on the left looks a whole lot like Gérard Depardieu's nose.

This Makes Me Laugh

2010-06-06T17:48:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm feeling better, because I find myself (finally) able to laugh about some of the ups and downs of my (fingers crossed) nearly-resolved medical drama. The doc has me taking something called Rapaflo.

The potential side effect below should make going back to work interesting. If I have a weird look on my face, it might not necessarily be kidney pain.

Well, That Was Something

2010-06-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

It's been an interesting couple of weeks.

On May 19, I went into the hospital for what was described as a simple procedure, albeit with a fancy name: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). This course of action was decided upon after a visit to the E.R. after weeks of pain in my side and back, and a not-quite-right feeling in my stomach (like a stomach ache that never went away). X-rays showed a healthy, baby, 8mm kidney stone.

I have no actual clue what a millimeter is, but it sounded big.

So, the "surgery" happened May 19. I was pretty much told I'd ache, but that I'd be up and about in day or two. That kind of didn't happen.

For nine days, I had no appetite. I had pretty severe side and back pain that would subside occasionally, but only long enough to make me think I was "healing." I couldn't sit up for more than five minutes. I was dizzy and disoriented. I was restless and couldn't sleep. The meds were pretty much useless.

It was about the most helpless I've felt in my life. With most ailments, you hang in there, and you might suffer, but you get better. I never got better. I lost 10 pounds, living on a cracker or spoonful of soup or two a day.

That period was surreal. My girl and my parents were feeling as helpless as I was. One day blurred into another as I kind of withered away. Or the Western version of it, anyway.

I headed back to the ER on May 28. The x-rays this time showed that while my kidney stone had, in fact, been successfully broken up, the pieces of the stone were busy lining up in a part of me that was exceedingly unhappy to have stones lined up in it.

So, after an overnight stay in the Summerlin Hospital, it was time for another surgery! The specifics of the procedure weren't entirely clear. I asked questions, but there were a lot of broad arm gestures and pointing, none of them even remotely approximated what I believe transpired during that surgery. The surgery was called a "cystoscopy," and it included a stent implant. This pretty much covers it:

"A patient is usually placed under general anesthetic before inserting a ureteric stent. A special telescope called a cystoscope is then passed through the urethra into the bladder. The stents are then placed in the ureter and kidney via the opening of the ureter in the bladder."

Yeah, the doc left out some of those details. It was kind of all the stuff men have nightmares about. Especially that "passed through the urethra" part. Honestly, I thought this was going to involve an incision in my side. Probably because the other option was too much to contemplate.

After the surgery, I experienced the kind of pain you hear about, mostly from comedians. Ironic, because during this post-surgical period, there is nothing more painful than laughing.

One of the weirder aspects of the most recent surgery was this little release, cradled among the myriad other releases you sign and never actually read in a hospital.

I'm consenting to what?!

All I can say is that I think they did bad things to me during this procedure. The good news was that the previous pain was gone overnight. My head began to clear, and I got my appetite back.

The next few days weren't fun. The details aren't pretty. Actually, none of the details about this experience are pretty. It's inside stuff. And bodily function stuff. And pain stuff.

But even with the post-surgical weirdness (among them, the strange, dark fishing line-like string coming out of me), I did feel better. I craved all the foods I hadn't been able to eat. I could sit up and type. A biggy for me.

The doctor told me a few days later I'd have the "stent" removed. I did a lot of research about that process, and could find exactly nothing about it. On the whole Interwebs. There were lots of lines like this, though:

"If a doctor recommends a stent for a patient, the doctor should be able to estimate how long the stent will be left in, and he or she should articulate a plan for the removal of the stent."

"During stent removal, the patient is usually placed under a local anesthetic while the doctor visualizes the area and gently removes the stent."

"Gently"? Now, that's a procedure I can get behind!

Today, I found this:

"Kidney stent removal is a short procedure. The stent is removed using a cystoscope, usually under local anesthesia. Sometimes a stent can be left with a thread attached to its lower end that stays outside the body through the urethra. The doctors can remove such stents by just pulling this thread."

"Just."

Famous last words.

I guess in some ways I'm happy I didn't know more about what was going to happen before it happened. "Pulling the thread" was one of the scenarios I'd thought about, but I think my brain kind of shut down to that possibility. I mean, it's modern science, right? You don't just leave a string hanging out, then kind of pull on it like a ripcord, right?

Well, yeah, that's pretty much what happened. The doc said, "Go to a happy place." Which kind of took me to a whole new level of freak-out, of course. He asked, "Have you ever been to Hawaii?"

As he asked, he then proceeded to pull the ripcord! It was like having a rubbery worm pulled under your skin, the entire expanse of your upper torso, and out of places you never imagined could permit such abominations. It was, by far, the strangest thing I've ever felt.

You know how sometimes you have something bad or painful happen, and in time, you can kind of laugh about it? Stent removal is, without a doubt, not one of those things. I feel a little haunted by that procedure, and the visual isn't going away anytime soon, I don't think.

Ironic that the doctor asked me about Hawaii just before doing something horrific and emotionally scarring. Kind of my experience of growing up in Hawaii, actually. Except for the rubbery worm thing.

The latest x-ray showed a few straggler stones, but those appear to have exited now, thankfully.

And, so, I have emerged from my medical ordeal, I think. I am feeling better, although I'm still pretty weak for whatever reason. But I can write. And blog. And Facebook. And Tweet. And eat. And eat more.

Fantasies about food kept me going at various times during this experience. And I have a new appreciation for comfort food. Things like Otter Pops and Fudgsicles were lifesavers.

I have, as I've always had, an appreciation for my family and friends, all of whom were very supportive during these trying times.

I appreciate the many, random kindnesses of those who watched over me in the hospital, even those who poked and prodded, and they were many.

We take so many things, and people, for granted. And when we are in good health, we definitely take our health for granted. We take food for granted, of that I am certain. Lately, I've been enjoying every bite. Although "enjoying" is an understatement.

So, that's been what's up with me. I live in a world where I'm always in control. But this experience has involved day after day of feeling like nothing is within my control. I felt lost. I felt a new sense of empathy for those whose conditions are far, far worse. I felt helpless and weak. I felt on the verge of insanity.

And all because of a little stone.

Oh, That's Just Plain Cute

2010-05-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

Gloria Estefan at Flamingo Las Vegas

2010-05-01T01:40:00.000-07:00

My job is interesting sometimes. Lately, I've been shooting more celebrities. Being shoulder-to-shoulder with real photographers (who make their living at photography) is a world all its own. I like my world, thanks, but some of the photo ops make the scrambling and long periods of waiting (nothing involving celebrities EVER starts at the stated time) worthwhile.

Gloria Estefan and her husband got a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. (Like the Hollywood Walk of Fame.) Here, she speaks with a reporter outside Flamingo Las Vegas. She and her husband were so gracious with the media and their fans. I suspect that's a big part of why some entertainers have more longevity than others. Glad I waited around until the hordes moved on AND glad I was one of the few that didn't use a flash.

Anything for the Shot

2010-04-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

A friend caught me in action at a recent event at Paris Las Vegas. This ain't always easy, folks!

This Guy Makes Me Smile

2010-04-25T12:10:00.001-07:00

This Ain't a Kid Portrait

2010-04-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

But I like it.

Let Me Be Frank

2010-04-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

OK, he's Frank (and yes, he's homeless), but I'm going to be frank, too.

Frankly, I'm so happy with this portrait. Why? Because it's in focus in the parts where it should be in focus, and out of focus where it should be out of focus.

One of the reasons I spent to much on this lens (50mm, f/1.2) is I loved the blur. But I quickly learned that the blur (called "bokeh") is tricky, and more often than not, an ear's in focus and an eye is out of focus. Or a lip is in focus, and not the eye. I've tried to learn how to wrangle this lens, but the results have been inconsistent.

But this is what I was looking for. I love the look, and I'm going to spend a lot of time trying to replicate it. I wish I were better, or knew what questions to ask in this area, but I'm not and I don't.

So, I'll take the little victories when they come. I count this as one of those.

I Don't Do Malls

2010-04-04T03:34:00.000-07:00

But if I did, I imagine the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace would be the mall I'd do.

A little HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography. Three exposures, taken on a tripod, combined with Photomatix, and run through a Photoshop plug-in, Topaz.

Picking Your Moment

2010-04-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when you're shooting kids, you just have to pick your moment. This young lady was generally cooperative on the day of our shoot, but a slightly-forced smile kept creeping into her photos. (The photographer's fault, not the subject's!)

I tried the usual bag of tricks, but ultimately, packing up my camera bag was the first time she really seemed to relax. I said, "Hey, help me out. See that big window? That's really pretty light. Just have seat for a second before I go." She didn't have time to think too much, and we found a nice spot by a big window. We just kept chatting, and I think by that point, she was relieved to be done. I think it shows!

Bing!

2010-04-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome Home, Daddy

2010-04-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

I've been so lucky to be involved with a group called Operation Love: Reunited. It's a program where photographers volunteer to do portraits of military families before, during and after deployments. I recently got to shoot a family being reunited after nearly a year-long deployment.

Very emotional stuff, but also very rewarding!

One of the bittersweet parts of the recent family reunion here in Las Vegas was seeing the expression on this baby's face. Her dad had been deployed for almost her entire life, and wasn't quite sure what to make of this uniform-clad "stranger."

These folks in the military make sacrifices, on so many levels. It means a lot that I'd be invited to witness, and document, their journeys.

The Other Vegas

2010-03-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

They Don't Call Me an Internet Icon for Nothing

2010-03-25T23:40:00.000-07:00

People are so right about me. Got this today: "On behalf of publisher Bedford/St. Martin's, I'm writing to you to request your permission to publish screen shot of your home page, http://www.animalrightsstand.com. We wish to include the screen shot in the upcoming college writing textbook, 'Writing from Sources,' 8th edition by Brenda Spatt."

I'm the most successful lazy person I know.

Sometimes, I Just Show Up

2010-03-24T22:41:00.001-07:00

My biggest secret to children's photography? Try to take photos of CUTE KIDS. Yep, it often has nothing to do with light or lenses or technique or Photoshop.

I got about three shots of this little pip at an event yesterday. Yep, I pretty much just showed up.

A Peek Into My World

2010-03-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

My mom says I've been neglecting my blog lately. (Anyone else horrified that my mom knows I have a blog?!)

So, here's something to tide you over until I do the post I need to do about the fire at a local nature sanctuary.

We obviously have a bit of a sanctuary here, too.

The Shot Only I Got

2010-03-13T17:50:00.000-08:00

I had a moment of glee last night. It happened at, of all things, a red carpet event at Caesars Palace.

I have been vocal about my dislike of flash photography. Partially because I don't know how to do it, and partially because even when done well, I don't love how photos of this kind look.

But last night, I got a shot that was special to me for a number of reasons. First, I used a flash to get it. Second, I know, for a fact, that nobody else taking photos on the red carpet got a shot like this.

I think it's special because it's something I doubt I'd have aspired to capture even under great conditions, with natural light, or in a studio.

It's special because I actually took the advice of a mentor, photographer Laurence Kim, who suggested that sometimes you want to point your flash BACKWARDS, despite the funny looks you might get. (That's also one of the reasons I know nobody else got a shot like this...everyone else had their flashes facing the right way. Ark.)

Also, no one got this close (people tend to do full body shots at red carpets for some reason...maybe because the fashion is of interest to magazines...but I still want to get in close!). And absolutely no one waited around for this moment.

It resulted in an image that looks like I had a full day with singer Matt Goss, posing, etc. This was captured during the frenzy of a red carpet event...with myriad distractions and horrible ambient light and comings and goings and a throng of photographers vying for position. All that. And I got this. The shot only I got.

Thanks for letting me share a moment of pride! It's those little victories that make the journey or learning photography so enthralling.

I Have a New Sister

2010-03-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

My folks got a dog! At long last. We've always had dogs in our family, and I'm so happy they took the leap. I love dogs, but just haven't felt right having one. I don't think it's fair to get a pet when you're not around all that much. Long stretches of day without people aren't nice, and there are often nights I'm not around either. So, my folks' new dog is going to get lots of attention. Starting with some portraits, of course.

Meet Alton

2010-03-09T22:05:00.000-08:00

Meet Alton, a homeless guy I met on Fremont Street, downtown.

I learned a lot about Alton during our chat before I took his $2 portrait. Alton used to train animals (and had a dog with him), including "ligers" and even an albino cobra.

He's from South Carolina, and having a rough go of it. He's looking for work as a cook. Go, Alton. Find out more about the $2 Portrait Project.

I Don't See Why Not

2010-03-08T23:48:00.000-08:00

I don't see why, after all the photos I have posted on this blog, that I can't post one of me. I'm happy to say this is a full 70% of what I look like in real life.